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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 12, 2021 18:19:31 GMT -8
Lucas munched away on the mozzarella sticks while listening to Linden. Another curiosity was brewing inside of him that in some ways was tied into the heart of their conversation. Linden had openly put themselves down a couple of times. They did so in a way that was humorous and gave them a sort of authentic vibe that he could see many a Summer courtier approving of.
But was there something more to it?
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
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Post by Linden on May 12, 2021 18:50:02 GMT -8
Flagging the bartender down to rectify their empty drink, Linden leaned in to order. "Can I get a margarita, strong? It's on his tab." They grinned, pointing toward Lucas.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 12, 2021 19:01:48 GMT -8
As it turns out, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. A sprinkling self-deprecating humor every now and then keeps one humble.
"Make that two. " Lucas returned the grin, he might as well give the other specialty a try.
"We all have our roles to play here. Heck, a great many of us are still trying to figure out what our role is. If you've got that figured out, you're a step ahead of a lot of employees. When you're not punching in for the 9-5 shift, what are you all about?"
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Linden
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Post by Linden on May 12, 2021 19:24:59 GMT -8
Linden gave him an arch look, but there was nothing behind it. "I'm about my people, whoever they might be. Like: tonight, I'm making sure a particular gentleman doesn't make himself a nuisance to Ares after his shift is done." They nodded toward a particular dancer, a compact masculine figure with softer angles who was engaged in a complex routine. "It might be necessary, it might not- but in the mean time I'll be here. With mozzarella sticks and good company, f course."
Maybe they needed hobbies; their work bled into their life and vice versa. It was just hard to dim particular drives.
"I'm also very much about hashbrowns, lobster rolls- good food in general. If food is a love language it can be used for self-love too, right? What about you, what do you get up to when you're not investigating?"
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 13, 2021 5:32:50 GMT -8
The more he listened to Linden, the more he picked up on their sense of duty and protecting others as being values of great importance to them. Those sort of values were easy for him to understand and respect. They weren't too far apart from his own personal values, although they tended to fall into line philosophical moralities rather than personal connections. Heh, maybe that's why his dating life was always such a mess.
He couldn't help but grin as he mentally poked fun at himself.
"Until recently, I've been something of a homebody. I enjoy reading and it's hard to beat home sweet home as a good place to nestle up in and get lost in a book. I've been trying to expand my horizons more lately. I know I'm pinging some queer stereotypes here, but I enjoy theater and live performances in general. Before coming to Vegas, I used to hit up a lot of underground performances as well as niche community arts and entertainment gigs. I've had a hard time finding similar kind of performances here in Vegas, but maybe I'm looking in the wrong places."
Most, if not all of the performances he had watched in Vegas across various venues, always felt like they were tied into some bigger ambition. There were plenty of performers who loved what they did but he never got the sense that performing in front of a smaller, more intimate knowledge was enough for them. He partially attributed that to Spring's influence over the Strip. The other part was Vegas itself was known as a premier destination. Much like LA, when people came to Vegas to perform, they were trying to make it big.
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Linden
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Post by Linden on May 19, 2021 16:31:11 GMT -8
"Oh, god, give me a garage band's third show at a dive bar," Linden said, looking wistfully into the middle distance for a moment. "I hear you, I feel like there should be a pretty strong alternative scene, but it's a hard place if you don't fit the image. It's gotta be here somewhere, though- maybe we can find it." It was a soft invitation, more of a general signal that they liked him well enough to consider another hang sometime.
"What is it about theater that gets you? I just haven't had any experiences that made me feel like, 'damn, need to do that again.' Or read a review that made me excited about a show... not that I read reviews, but-" They shrugged expressively, pretty sure Lucas would understand what they were trying to convey. "What keeps you going back?"
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 23, 2021 1:07:17 GMT -8
"I'll drink to that." The bartender slid their margaritas their way as the two of them discussed their interest in the alternative scene. He picked up his drink, raising it in salutations to garage bands, and then he took a long, healthy sip from his glass.
"if there's not, we could do one even better; help start the scene up. Whitney is prime grounds for that kind of scene."
He was partially joking, partially giving it some serious thought. If he was leading the charge, they would be able to setup shop in Whitney without any issue since he was a Winter courtier and it would be considered his business.
"I like the community surrounding theater and performing arts in general. When you get to know the performers, you know their passions, their drive, and you can see that playout in their performances. It gives you a whole new appreciation for what they are doing. Then when the performance is over with or during the week or whatever, you can meet up with them and discuss your own thoughts and feelings on whatever material interests you. I guess that's at the heart of it; the creativity. It's fun to read a book and imagine things in your mind. With plays, you get to see other folks' imaginations brought to life and combine it with your own imagination. Sets can get elaborate but they aren't movie level elaborate. In order for the play to succeed, you as an audience member also need to buy in and apply your own imagination to help bring the sets to life."
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Linden
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Post by Linden on May 23, 2021 18:55:26 GMT -8
Linden returned the margarita salute and took a thoughtful sip. "I wouldn't know where to start," they admitted. "But I'd like to." Whether they would like to start something, or just know how, they left the thought where it was and returned to their drink. The idea was exciting, but it could be a passing whim. On either of their parts.
"Mm, okay. Maybe I have trouble with the buy-in, that suspension of disbelief." Was that really it? Their lips pursed, trying to parse the thought. "You know, I actually think its something else. More like... I don't think I ever learned how to have that conversation, that one you're talking about; the thoughts and feelings on the piece. Maybe I don't know how to think about plays."
They pulled a face. "That was some fake-deep sounding shit, but I think its sort of like, there's a language I don't speak. Even if you feel something doesn't mean you can make a good point. But I'm with you on the creativity front, the things people can imagine are incredible. That kind of self-expression is something else."
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 27, 2021 1:48:16 GMT -8
Lucas laughed at the fake deep-ass sounding quip, shaking his head.
"That makes sense. Different folks use different sides of their brain more than others to speak different "languages", so to speak. You know, the whole if you're right-brained, you're the creative, artistic type. Then if you're more analytical in your thinking, you use the left-side of your brain. If you ever do want to learn more about that language, Riley is a great starting point. Everyone is buzzing about their Spring-fling performance."
He took a much larger sip from his drink than he had previously.
"As for the whole underground scene, it really comes down to what speaks to you. When it comes to expressing yourself, what's the language you use?"
He was half-expecting Linden to crack another self-deprecating comment about how they expressed themselves. Everyone did in their own ways, even if it was a more subtle right. The thing about communication was that being silent or pointedly ignoring certain situations or emotions could speak volumes about a person.
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Linden
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Post by Linden on May 30, 2021 20:17:52 GMT -8
"Yeah, well deserved," they added to the mention of how Riley's performance went over. But, it didn't escape them that it was the second time Lucas had mentioned the Moth this evening. Maybe they were hyper aware, maybe he wanted something- maybe it was just supposed to be a suggestion that they had a friend, acquaintance, in common.
"Me? Hm. I guess a lot of it is more about physicality- I know how to hold myself so most folks don't fuck around, and I can usually read similar signs in someone else. " Chewing the peel of the lime that had been on the lip of their margarita, they considered. "I sort of feel like that's not what you're asking, though? Like, Riley doesn't communicate in dance in their day to day life- though I would love to see that. It's about something more. I don't think I have that." They shrugged. "Do you?"
"How do you know Riley?" They already knew the most literal answer, the Freehold, but it would still be interesting to see how he presented it.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Jun 1, 2021 0:49:06 GMT -8
"Hmm?"
Lucas figured Linden was mostly curious although he was surprised that Riley hadn't said anything, given Riley had made a point of letting Dani and Ivory know they were exes. Then again, that was likely because Riley was trying to "protect" Ivory from their "sad, troubled ex "or whatever descriptor they may have used.
"Ah, we used to be close back when we were both in Winter. I arrived in Vegas while Riley was still in Vegas. Around a year or so into my stay here in Vegas, they bounced to Spring. We're not close any more, but I'm glad they are doing well." He shrugged his shoulders and coupled his well-wishes for the Moth with a smile.
"But we are talking about you here." He threw in a playful wink.
"Martial capability is very much something that can carry over into someone's every day life. Influence their attitudes, thoughts, interactions with others, and all that. For me, it used to be singing. I've not been able to reconnect with the feeling in awhile."
The Fairest helps himself to another mozz stick.
"Which goes back to what we were talking about earlier. The scene here in Vegas doesn't inspire the muse within me. I need to find an environment that I can connect with again and want to tell those stories."
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Linden
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Post by Linden on Jun 6, 2021 19:07:42 GMT -8
Lips pursed thoughtully, they couldn't quite decide if his well-wishes were truthful or a nicety- but with no evidence to the contrary, they erred on the side of sincerity. Lucas seemed decent, and his mentions of Riley had been casual enough. When he redirected the conversation back toward Linden, they laughed and let it go.
"Yeah, you're right, it's just not a creative force. Singing?" They paused, thoughtful, and stretched a piece of cheese between their fingers and teeth. "How does that influence your interactions? I always thought singing was a little like dancing, like..." Linden gestured as if evoking something from their chest, and shrugged. "I'm not sure what word I'm looking for. Really personal... visceral, maybe? It's not quite that either. Let's stick with really personal."
"An environment you can connect with... other creative folks, people who want to listen?"
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Jun 8, 2021 23:12:07 GMT -8
"Look at musicals or even sound tracks to various movies, tv series, and all that. When a good song comes on, we feel it. When we have a bad day, we wanna crank up our favorite song on the radio and scream into the wind. This time I am going to be the one who shares some pseudo deep bullshit, but really, when we sing we get to bring to life the words our hearts and souls are feeling. Whenever I spend enough time with someone, I find that they remind me of a song. Maybe it's one I already know, maybe it's one I am creating in my head."
He paused to finish of the last of his drink. The Fairest had a good buzz going now which caused his body language to become relaxed.
"Exactly. An environment where we listen to each other. We take a step back to see who the person really is through whatever medium they best express themselves. Dance, for example, is really healing. There are mental health holistic recovery programs that incorporate dancing as part of the treatment plan. We carry trauma in our body so being able to express the words that are minds aren't able to say yet can be incredibly healing. Same with painting, music, and all that. But anything physical helps a lot.
Do you find any of that to be true for you with your martial capabilities?"
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Linden
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Post by Linden on Jun 10, 2021 20:44:56 GMT -8
We carry trauma in our bodies.
Linden looked down at their hands, clasped around the margarita glass, and gave an involuntary slow blink of agreement. They couldn't imagine dancing it out, though. The Ogre couldn't pretend there was any art to their late night exploits, skinned knuckles and other people's loose teeth- but there was catharsis, wasn't there? Linden knew they couldn't beat the bad out of the world, but there didn't seem to be any other true alternative, nothing but to try.
"I'm sure I do express it," they responded baldly, meaning trauma. "But I think any healing may be independent of that. It's complicated." It was a door quietly closing, a signal they didn't want to talk further about themself in that capacity.
"What do you want people to hear, when they listen to you?" It was a sincere question, but the Ogre's own tipsiness was showing at the edges.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on Jun 10, 2021 23:19:14 GMT -8
Lucas picked up on this being a stopping point for Linden. There are times when it makes sense to give someone a nudge to open up more, but this wasn't the place to do it. The two of them were just getting to know each other, they had been drinking, and they were in a public place. He nodded to acknowledge both that he heard them and he understood they wanted to shift gears.
"I want them to hear themselves in the song when I sing to them. " His own tipsiness could be heard in his voice while he looked thoughtful before his face grew into an eager smile.
"Do you want me to think about a song you remind me of? I know we've only just met but even first impressions can give off certain vibes."
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