Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Oct 27, 2020 8:54:20 GMT -8
On the edge of downtown, enough out of the way that only the most dedicated of tourists could find it, is a collection of thrift shops housed under a single roof. This now converted warehouse connected the patch work of thrift shops along a single, modern aesthetic hallway. One can find any number of different thrifting varieties, from street grunge, to passed down party wear, to last season street fashion. Unable to sleep, and looking to beat the late afternoon heat, Riley wandered the racks of clothing, both for personal wear and for work. The moth wore a pair of skinny jeans, a fitted slim high collar button up shirt, with a loose knot white stripe tie. The sleek look was finished off by a fringe trimmed leather jacket. Their iconic silver and bejeweled glove gleamed on their right hand. Thrifting was like treasure hunting for Riley. A meditative act of imagination, each piece of clothing a piece of a story from before, of people and places Riley had not met. Like half forgotten songs, they whispered to the Moth as they wandered idly through the rows of clothing, Their fingers moving across each piece like a dowsing rod. It wasn't just the remnants of old stories that inspired the Darkling, but the potential of what stories they could be. |
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Post by Kai Rose on Oct 27, 2020 22:02:04 GMT -8
Being color personified was interesting and all, but one thing Kai Rose had learned about being a Changeling was that it did not pay the bills. Even the Fairest who came out too strong with their charms and their strange magic couldn't last forever, the world rewriting sanity over the Wyrd - or something. She didn't always get how it worked, but it sure seemed like the way to being rich was really about mundane work, connection and existence.
Kai's mundane existence was absolutely minimal. Cash from anonymous ditch-digging was better than nothing, but it was in this mall of thrift shops that she did the vast majority of her shopping. She wanted more, to be sure, but when you had little to begin with, you focused on getting the little things. A name, for one. An identity, for another...
Her colors were muted blues as she rummaged through a rack of sweaters, trying to find something, anything, that made her feel like this was where she wanted to be. The thrift shop wasn't why she mourned. It was just a place that she found herself contemplating all that she didn't have. It was harder since she met Ivory, despite liking the Hunterheart well enough.
Her offer of a home was tempting, but how could she trust that there weren't strings? Especially after all her flash of insight about Spring's insidious workings had told her?
It set her teeth on edge. Trust was hard. Accepting help was sometimes harder.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Oct 28, 2020 7:29:37 GMT -8
"Not sure that goes well with the teal"
The moth had appeared on the far side of the racks. Their crystalline gauntlet thrummed with a dull Bioluminescence as their hand moved across the shoulders of the sweaters.
"At least in my opinion" Riley paused at the rack they were passing and glanced down.
"Ah much better!" stated the moth as they found something in the racks. Their tone confident in the find.
The darklings fingers slipped into the sea of sweaters and pulled forth... a god awful loose-knit pumpkin orange grandma sweater. They held it up with a small shake, revealing the moth holes in its arms. Riley gave the other lost a smile, revealing the jest.
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Post by Rowan on Oct 30, 2020 15:54:01 GMT -8
Was it a sleepless night? Not really. Rowan' janitorial duties made him work in the afternoon and he slept during the day. He was a creature of the dark and the harsh desert sunlight did nothing for his pale complexion. So he lived during the night, wandering those liminal spaces between the Banal World and the Changeling reality.
But be that as it may, janitors didn't really get that bread and most of the time, that was fine. But not that time. His anniversary was approaching fast. No, not his birthday, because that holiday meant nothing to him now. It was the anniversary of his Escape, the greatest trick since Houdini, or something. Rowan shivered at the thought and brought his hands to his mouth. Once upon a time, he had to do this to keep warm. Now, his breath felt lukewarm at best against his frostbitten fingers.
He wandered the streets, looking to buy something to mark the occasion and remind himself what it was he stood to lose. His feet took him downtown first, but most of the goods there were overpriced and lame. Tourist traps. So he did what Darklings do: he ducked into a dark corner and cut through the heart of the city. He turned left, then right, striding with the calm confidence of someone who knew what darkness could hide and knowing that more often than not, they were worse. That was when Rowan emerged onto a warehouse. He'd heard of it, but never visited. What the heck. Why not?
To say that he regretted his decision would be an understatement. It was a subtle thing, but it was enough to catch his eye. When he wasn't looking, things would shift colors, creating an almost hypnotic pattern. It was unmistakably a Mantle and one that he'd seen before, at that. He wasn't looking forward to meeting its owner.
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Post by Kai Rose on Oct 31, 2020 17:00:59 GMT -8
Whoa. The gauntlet attracted her attention. Was that... Hedgespun? She had heard of it, of course, seen it on nobility rich with power and entrenched in the Freehold. People usually saw it as a sign of status, a mark of their strength or ingenuity or authority. The sweater didn't get a lot of Kai's attention, though she did smile back at the joke. "Did you make that? Seems too lucky to be a thrift store find," she joked as she offered a hand for a shake. "Kai Rose. Nice to meet you."
God. If she could make such things, Kai just had to know her. What a cool thing to be able to do! The colors beneath her skin shifted away from dark hues of dark emotions to something more curious.
Something spooky this way came, and her posture changed a little, tension in her shoulders and a bit more height as she stood tall. Yeah, she remembered the Autumn Courtier from the Mabon Feast, the one who had drove her to fear the Magistrate...
"Fancy seeing you here," she said to the fellow as he neared. "I took what you said to heart. Faced my fears. Icarus is really quite something, isn't he?"
Beautiful. Terrifying. Sassy.
"And his man's kitten is just the sweetest. Thanks for the good idea."
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588 
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Post by Ivory on Nov 1, 2020 14:40:03 GMT -8
Sifting through these thrift shops was a common practice for many of the Lost. Securing an identity and financial stability was difficult and the decision to take on the unwanted cloth of others was less about choice than it was necessity. The Pale Dragon, too, was here, rounding a corner from a row that had mostly obscured her height. Over one arm were draped a few choice selection: some navy blue high waisted slacks, an old weather-beaten denim jacket, and a vintage, cream colored cardigan. The Fairest's expression was held in a sense of pleasant distraction, like a lady given to silent musing, as she browsed. She wasn't entirely sure what she was looking for, but she had, as always, time to kill. Ivory was dressed far more eclectic than normal, sporting a fun blue romper, a cream wide-brimmed fedora, and a pair of cream colored flats. However it was the Hunterheart's accessories that set her apart from many of the patrons. Sporting a pair of Prada aviators and a vintage Louis Vuitton fanny pack, Ivory showed that her venture into the thrift shop was propelled purely by want. Whether or not this was intentional was unknown. It was as she was moving to another rack that Ivory beheld the familiar form of Kai with an unfamiliar figure. Granting the Wizened a little wave with her unburdened hand and begins her approach, her golden eyes resting briefly on the stranger's bejeweled glove with faint interest. The woman's captivating nature even drew a small smile from the Pale Dragon.
"I was beginning to wonder why my day was suddenly brighter," she says, complimenting Kai as the gaze shifts back to her, "It's good to see you making friends?"Nonetheless, the attention wavers as Kai speaks to a figure Ivory had yet to notice and, following the Polychromatic's eye line, the gilded gaze of the Pale Dragon finally rests on the Pale Man, a gentle shiver hitting her spine and incoherent, subtle whispers touching her ears as she felt the man's Mantle. To him Ivory merely grants a slight tilt of the head, curious as to whether or not the man would engage now that Kai's comments had given him reason. |
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 1, 2020 15:21:49 GMT -8
“ I’m Riley.” they said reaching out to take the hand shake, their antenna flickering slightly at the touch of the other changeling. The darkling gave a playful smile “Its a pleasure.”
They smiled at the reaction to the gauntlet sparing it a glance, its glowing seemed to pulse for a moment to the moth's own distant light. Riley's memory fluttered at the question of the gauntlet's creation. Time, energy, secrets and favors had been called to make the item. But in the long term it had been worth it. It wasn't the most luxurious item in the court but it was enough for The moth...for now.
“Not entirely by myself but thank you. “ Glancing about the rows of clothing in the thrift shop Riley smirked.
“Well you never know what you find in places like this. Lots of stories, lots of memories..”
The cold sensation slithered its way across Riley’s shoulder, sending their hair on end and their feathery antennae shuttered. They glanced to the new arrival, the darkling examined the new stranger once over.
And who is he?
It was clear Kai knew this man, but Riley couldn't place his face from the freehold. Kai’s comment teased a deeper story here. Intrigu-
As if a porch light flickered on at night, their black orb eyes moths fluttered away from Rowan towards the now approaching Ivory. Riley straightened in a visual indicator of their surprise. They would expect to see Ivory at one of the clubs or private parties they worked, or during Spring court meetings, but a thrift shop. They weren't on name bases, but it was hard to overlook her presence within the court or during a night's work.
The darkling relaxed a bit as they came to terms with altered reality of the moment. Riley smiled approving of the hat before giving the Dragon a nod in greeting.
“See, lots of stories and memories” Riley said running their hand through their silver hair.
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Post by Rowan on Nov 1, 2020 16:05:18 GMT -8
Well, at least it would be easy to get away, he thought. Big personalities, all of them. And big personalities tended to look at one another, not at the shadows creeping just out of reach of their light. His stomach did that weird thing with the tightening and the churning. It wasn't entirely unpleasant, but it was foreign and uninvited. Therefore, Rowan hated it. Kai Rose mentioned the Magistrate. His eyebrows would have gone up, and he might have even blushed at the thought of Icarus, if his face were not frozen. " You actually did that." He had meant it as a question, but it came out as a quiet, indifferent affirmation. The rainbow lady had more balls that he had given her credit.
His gaze flutters to the other person, the source of the weird stomach feeling, before his attention is yoinked to yet another Mantle. His skin felt... humid. It was like walking into one of those rare hot springs in the Forest, where water vapors clung to everything before solidifying into ice crystal suspended in the air. The ratio of High Season/Low Season wasn't working in his favor. And they all seemed to know each other.
Rowan stayed slightly behind one of the racks, his existence slightly flickering in it's shadow. It's like he was there, but not really. They were so conspicuous, flaunting their lights, and colors and wealth. They were practically a big billboard for the Gentry. 'Easy Prey' written in bright, neon letters. It was like Paradise, and Rowan was getting ready to dip.
He looked at the general direction of the lost, he dark, black eyes devoid of emotions. Why did Mantle had to be so dang tactile? The Snowskin was absolutely miserable, but he trusted himself to not show any sign of it.
" It's just cheap clothes," he says to Riley Sorsa. He didn't see the point of romanticizing financial precariousness. |
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Post by Kai Rose on Nov 2, 2020 20:31:30 GMT -8
Kai wasn't really sure what the heck Ivory was doing here. Not that she minded the fortuitous appearance of the friendly dragon, but this was a rather ragged hoard to haunt. It certainly wasn't where she wanted to be, not with the nagging feeling in the back of her mind that once, once, she had wanted for very little. Still, whatever had led her here, she was here now and that was fine. She gave the Hunterheart a smile as she pulled up a gently-used pair of black athletic pants from a bundle with little windows that showed calf muscle beneath a mesh. "Think I could pull this off?" Riley. "Well, hi. Riley, this is Abigail. Y'all run in similar circles, yeah?" Maybe not, but the codewords for Court were fairly ubiquitous.
Leaning in a little to Rowan, she replied, "Mmhmm. Courage is a teaching of your club, and sometimes, the reward for courage is an audience with just the cutest tiger." The Polychromatic flashed a playful smile. "For such a scary pair, those two sure know how to strike an image."
She let His Majesty, Lord Grumpygills III, have his moment of being emo about things being cheap. The best treatment for emo was Spring.
"Abigail, Riley, I think our friend here needs to see the magic that burns within these old threads yet. What do you think?"
To be fair, she didn't think it was all that. She didn't want to be here all that much, either, but he seemed more miserable it all than she was.
"That one would look good on you, dude."
She was pointing at a coat. Black, leather, men's. Probably a bit big for the Darkling, but some leather jackets looked dope no matter how built you were or not.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Nov 2, 2020 23:05:37 GMT -8
The Pale Dragon observes Riley, taking in the Bright One, her features undertaking a more mischievous mood as she remembers seeing Riley during a performance that was… evocative to say the least.
“Memories indeed…” she quips, her voice almost a purr before she lets a pause linger thereafter. All the better to leave Kai and the Pale Man to wonder. "Oh I am quite aware of Riley, dear Kai. Though we've never had the chance to meet properly. As you said, similar circles."
A hand is extended to the entertainer.
“Abigail Cartwright,” she offered, repeating her name as a means of making the introduction more... formal, “I was hoping we’d become more acquainted eventually. A pleasure.”
Then the Pale Man spoke. First, Ivory’s eyebrows rose in faint surprise as he dismissed Riley’s romanticism. Then she laughed. How absurd was it to think that a Lost denied the power of story?
“And that cold front you have going on is just a look,” she quips, stepping closer to the Pale Man, “That decision to stay on the edge? Just a preference. The four of us? Just people. And Them? Oh, well, they're. Just. Stories.”
Reaching the rack the Pale Man hid stood behind, Ivory parked herself before him on the other side, Gold Eyes meeting Dark as she plucked away her aviators.
“Honestly, looking at things as black and white as you seem to would be refreshing, if it wasn’t so... impossible” she said, her face waxing to a more philosophical countenance, “From the moment something is created it has the potential of being more than just what it appears. And that’s driven by sentiment and reaction. Someone like you understands this. Your experiences have shown you the danger of viewing things strictly as they appear... And the benefits that comes with assuming them to be something greater.”
How did Ivory know this? Because he was Lost, just like the three of them were. Torn, shattered, broken down, or otherwise manipulated into becoming Something Else. Reforged into a new form that needed to be shielded from the eyes of Mankind, lest they draw on a terrible truth and gain the attention of the Others.
Then a warm smile hit her face.
“And that’s why I don’t believe you're telling the truth, though whether your lying to us or yourself? Dunno,” she stated, her tone erring on the side of friendly as she gave a shrug. Even playful. “You know the power of stories. First hand, even. It’s a terrible gift, isn’t it?”
She was making light of it, but no one got out of Arcadia unchanged. No one. And all were presented with the terrible knowledge of what lay beyond the old ink of fairy tales. Things were not as they seemed and they never have been.
“When you're ready to join us on this side of the rack, we welcome you, but don’t pretend you lack the ability to see beyond what seems-to-be,” she offered, her tone aiming to soothe, “Quite frankly, it's unbecoming and insults your intelligence. You need not do that. Not with us.”
An olive branch and a round-a-bout compliment in a neat little bow.
The Winter was more than welcome to dwell with them in this space, but she wasn’t about to let him tarnish the day without a little resistance.
Then came Kai fanning the flames and Ivory's eyes lit up, even as they remained focused on the Pale Man.
"Yes! Absolutely!" she said, "An olive branch from me to you. If you'll take it, I'd be more than happy to help you find a new look. Or... modify your current one. Hell, you can even just tag along. I doubt any of us would mind."
They said misery loved company, albeit not in the flavor Ivory intended.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 3, 2020 10:30:36 GMT -8
Just clothes? Sure. Thought the moth. The Darkling gave the frostbitten man a weak smirk and a light shrug before the presence of the regal dragon entered the preverbal fray. Their attention once more swiveled to the approaching Fairist
There was something about that look on the Dragons face upon spying Riley that tugged at a distant memory, or more the sense of one. The sensation was only momentarily before the moth pushed it aside and reached out their hand to shake Abigail's.
“Riley. “ I was hoping we’d become more acquainted eventually. That lit Riley's mind a flutter. Was that a polite introduction? Or was it regarding their court, or was that flirting?
“Is that so?” Riley responded with a smirk reminiscent of rouges from old westerns.
That's when the Frosted man got his ribbing. As it progressed Riley broke into a smile, almost a laugh. It was part impressed by Abigail's statements, part pity and part social embarrassment boiling up. They raised their gauntlet to cover their mouths so as not to be rude. Gaining composure as they moved around the rack they stood next giving it a look over as things came to an end.
If it had been Riley, they would have let the Frosted man hold his own opinion, but it seemed Kai and Abigail had some vocal opinions on that matter. It was a telling moment.
“Well then Mr- Sorry I didn't catch your name” Once (or if) Riley received it they continued.
“It seems if your up for it...your going to get some pro cheap clothing tips”
They nod to Kai’s Jacket and invite them to try it.
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Post by Rowan on Nov 3, 2020 12:26:40 GMT -8
Rowan looks down to his janitor's jumper, to the leather coat. Back to his janitor's jumper. This whole situation was getting ridiculous. Out of them four, he was probably the one who looked like he belonged here the most. And that lady, that Abigail, was assuming a lot of things. Too much, even. He thought about just apologizing, brushing the incident aside, but this had been the second time that someone from Spring stuck their nose where it didn't belong. His face stay neutral however, as the Lost invaded his boundaries. She was starting to get on his nerves.
"You waltz in here, with your expensive clothes, flaunting your wealth like some sort of armor against the world. Not everyone can do that."
Even if his anger was rising, his nature kept it in check. Any trace of fire was squashed by the winter within.
"When I was growing up, I didn't have the luxury of thinking whether a piece of clothing had a good story. My family didn't shop in thrift stores because it was trendy. We did it because we couldn't afford regular stores."
The long nights when his mother patched up their most recent haul, sewing on fake tags so that the second-hand clothes would at least be seen as expensive second-hand. The state of her fingers, the little cries of pain because she's never learned how to sew before. And the way he had repaid her kindness and love. He shut that memory away. Now was not the time for a trip down that thorny memory lane.
"Romanticism is the purview of those who can afford more than just survive. When I say that these are just cheap clothes, I don't mean it in a derogatory way. You start adding value to them, and the prices go up. Suddenly, a bunch of people can't afford then anymore. Just because you felt the need to be bougie."
But then again, the rich had a way of taking thinks from the poor, things they needed to survive, and make them sound expensive. Like they weren't worthy of them. He'd seen before, this gentrification.
They were having fun at his expense. His own Mantle was trying to whip up into a storm, but he wasn't letting it. Trying to bait him into a confrontation? Maybe. He was new to politics and was probably overly cautious. Better safe than sorry, he thought. He answered Kai first.
"If you think that this was about courage, then you've missed the point entirely."
Then he turned to Riley.
"You can call me Rowan. Do you enjoy seeing others embarrassed? Have you been twisted that much? And here I was under the impression that us Lost had to stick together."
They were ganging up on him. He didn't think that the situation would escalate into an outright brawl, but it also did very little to foster Court goodwill.
Rowan's gaze finally settled on Abigail, blocking out the rest of the Changelings. He opened his mind to Autumn and asked the Wyrd a simple question. 'What is she afraid of?'
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Post by Kai Rose on Nov 4, 2020 20:22:57 GMT -8
Kai rubbed at her temple as she carried on looking for passable options for work wear. She had moved down the line to the boots and was looking around at beaten-up steel-toed options. She was a ditch digger to get by, even if her world in Summer was something far more important. She got it, but Abigail and Rowan were basically two passing ships in the night. The Spring Courtier really couldn't understand where the remarkably poor Lost were coming from anymore, even if she had once been that way. Poverty had a way of being forgotten by the wealthy, and it showed. On the other hand, Rowan was poor and had a chip on his shoulder so juicy it might as well have been a Dorito. She let the comment about courage pass. Frankly, it was the least concerning thing he had said.
"You okay, dude?"
She held up a gentle hand to Abigail. There was clearly something more going on here, and her colors were still and concerned as she watched him.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Nov 4, 2020 21:27:01 GMT -8
Ivory continued to watch as Rowan maintained his standoffish nature. She let him say his piece free from harassment, although, as he spoke of wealthy armor and leveled what seemed to be an assumption that she had been wealthy even Before, the Pale Dragon's smile couldn't help but tug a little bit wider.
"Oh now that is just rich!" she said, "You think I was always privileged."
The statement was not a question. The Pale Man had made his view perfectly clear in the eyes of Ivory. He thought she was the Enemy, a figure present to place a price tag on his amenities greater than he had intended. Briefly, Ivory mused over the idea of informing him that, not so long ago, their lives were likely quite similar. However, she decided against it. He was sticking to his guns and she doubted he would believe her regardless of the truth. The man also seemed to think she fell into her wealth and, frankly, her pride demanded that little detail be rectified.
He wanted to be rude? Fine. Ivory could do rude. The smile faded as a cool anger colored Ivory's features, her head shaking lightly in disgust at the audacity of it all.
"Then I'll tell you this," she said, "I gained what I have after I returned with a lot of hard work, a lot of trial and error, and a few favors earned. I earned what I have and I'm not about to let-"
Ivory stopped herself from saying more as Kai's hand rose, reigning the Pale Dragon in with a motion. It is then that the Wyrd weaves a path for Rowan to the fear within Ivory's heart. In it he senses something dark, gnawing at the root of the Hunterheart's psyched while her fingers balled into fists and the nails dug into her palms. It is a call to something more feral, more violent. Ivory's greatest fear is losing control and giving in to her darker nature.
Well... technically she did have the time. Benefits of lifestyle she now lived. However, the civilized mind that held sway doubted things would go well. Hearing others tarnish her successes rarely did. This wasn't the place for civility to end.
Not tonight.
Ivory remained in control. Nonetheless, her eyes firmly locked on Rowan as Kai spoke. Her jaw tensed with restraint.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 5, 2020 10:27:05 GMT -8
Riley took a pause at Rowan's strike at their laughter. Their hand fidget adjusting their tie. It had caught Riley off guard, putting them on their back foot for a moment. Had the laughter meant something? No likely, a reaction to a tense situation, a coping mechanism. Maybe it had been an unconscious grasp at a power dynamic, but had Riley thought it.
They were about to open their mouth, but closed it again. The chance to speak had passed as the tension continued to grow between Rowan and Ivory. Riley’s feet took them with soft steps to circle around a new rack of clothes, their attention moving between the clothing and the “conversation”.
Stories and memories. A simple musing of Riley’s had begun this but it seemed it had struck a chord with the dragon and the man of frost. There were stories here within these old cheap clothes. Stories of others' lives and others' experiences, and there would be more for them to witness in time. Riley would take some and tell stories with them for the enjoyment of others. They shopped here because they could afford it, and they shopped here for work. Cheap clothes that caught their eye, cheap clothes to remove for the sake of others and sometimes for themselves. Their fingers ran over a worn tweed blazer as the thoughts fluttered by.
What was that saying about assumptions? Riley smirked at the thought.
The conflict sparked by Riley’s thoughts continued but it was not going to dampen Riley spirits. They had reason to be here. Grabbing a few shirts, and a jacket from the Rack. Riley paused glancing up to Kai taking a moment to observe the Polychromatic lost.
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