etraya | un: butterfly

[he doesn't know but that comment hits her. her face doesn't even show a hint of that because she's become adept at hiding things. she's had to.] Touché. [she lifts her glass for a toast before taking a sip of her drink.

nothing shows that she's bothered by what he says and she shrugs a shoulder.] You can ask questions all you like. I'll consider it a compliment. [truly, she's just happy to talk. happy to be around people. she had been denied that simple thing and so even things like this made her day.]

Maybe some of the answers will even be true. [she smiles in a way that makes it seem like this is a joke but it isn't.]

[He sensed something in her body language, but he couldn't put his finger on it and wasn't in the business of making someone he was sharing a drink with uncomfortable in the pursuit of a hunch. That was a good way to ostracize a good thing.

Oh he planned on asking questions now and again, and he expected she would duck, dodge and evade most of them. She was clearly someone who guarded her secrets, and he was someone who enjoyed learning people's secrets when they were ready to tell him.] Will you? Even if the answers aren't true, it's nice to have a conversation. I'm very adept about talking about the weather, trade industry and old wife gossip.

[He was just going to extrovert on her if she let him.]

So, what's your favourite topic of discussion to avoid pointed questions, hmm?

You're good at talking. It comes with the job, huh? You have to be everybody's friend as you serve them. [it isn't meant to imply it's all fake but well, he has to be extroverted for the sake of business.] I understand it. [given her backstory of being an exotic dancer, it was a bar, right? you did what you had to.

a cough starts to form before she can answer and she takes a napkin to clear her throat and gives him an apologetic smile.] Sorry. Cough just won't leave me. But let's see. I feel like everything's got its tricky parts. Can't talk about politics or religion. Friends, family, lovers? Still tricky but juicier, right? Lately, people like to ask me about my hobbies.

[she's still working on getting those!]

I've always been good at talking, and I'm woefully short on friends since arriving here. I'd like to think we are friends though. [He was suffering some a complete detachment from his support network, his friends, his family, his allies and even the familiarity of home.

He watched her as she coughed, and he reached out to lightly set a hand on her shoulder in a show of support. Maybe she should see a healer instead of drinking with him.] Does it? Well, some people are easy going about topics than others; I figure we're in this together so we may as well try to get to know one another. It's a good way to learn how to manage all the competing agendas anyway.

[He wasn't certain about hobbies either.]

Well... do you have any hobbies?

Good thing I consider us friends too, then, so you are a little less short on friends. [and she absolutely needed friends, too. Vander was nice, extroverted, and just the energy she needed. Maria herself could be playful and outgoing when allowed. hopefully she could be a positive friend for Vander as well.

truly, she walked into the hobbies question and she laughs.] Not really? It's a boring answer, huh? I just never really had the chance, I guess. I was always running around at odd hours. When did I have time to take up knitting or I don't know, gardening? [not a lie!]

It feels like something I should get around to. What about you? Any hobbies?

I appreciate that. I knew you and I would be good when you decided to talk to me when I wasn't at my best. [Throwing up in any garbage can that he could find while oversized drug-addled mess. She had been kind to him when she had no reason to be. They had good chemistry, friendly and she was calm.

He smirked, sipping from his drink and wiggling his eyebrows at her.] Odd hours, huh? I'm sure that's as exciting as it sounds. [He considered, making a thoughtful face.] Not sure I picture you as the knitting and gardening type.

[He lifted a hand and looked at the back of it.] Unless you considering exercising and bulking up a hobby then... no.

Believe it or not, I've seen worse. Would have been real crappy of me to judge you. Seemed like you needed someone. [and she'd been given the advice to make friends and so she did. someone who needed help was a good place to start with that. luckily for her, Vander ended up being a decent person.]

Yeah, strangely not as many customers watching me dance during the day. [she gives him a smile and takes a sip of her own drink.]

Maybe you can try gardening? Definitely not my thing. I'd suggest knitting but I think your hands are too big for that.

Oh, you've seen a man double his size on a drug-addled bender, have you? Well, you are truly a saint to withstand worse than that. [He liked to think that he would have not been a threat to her, but in that state, there had been no guarantees. She had taken a risk being close to him that day.] A friendly face had been a boon to me that day. I don't think I'll be able to to fully repay you for that kindness.

[He snorted in amusement, tipping his head to her. Of course not. Odd hours were expected in their profession. The night life was a great time to be alive.] I suppose not. Everyone is usually sleeping off their indulgences from the night before.

[He let out a bellow of laughter.] I wouldn't even know what to do with a garden. Surely there are other hobbies for these big hands, yeah?

Yes, that exact thing. [she is teasing because no, she has not seen that but she had seen worse.] I just know what it's like to need a friendly face, especially after coming here. Hearing something as crazy as saving universes and the like. It's a lot. Least I could do was offer some help. [and it had been the right decision.]

It's been strange to become a morning person, gotta say. [just one of the many things she's had to change about herself.]

Hm. What is there? Isn't there pottery making or something? You could make some big pots.

Wow, you really are a friend who's seen it all. [He teased right back at her, smile lighting up his expression.] Yeah, I'm used to relatively small stakes compared to what this place is asking for. Feeling pretty small in the grand scheme of things, which isn't easy given I'm larger than average.

[He shot her a sympathetic look.] That's quite the transition. I bet you're not actually happy about it. Or... perhaps you're chronically sleep deprived and looking great.

[Those were some ideas, but none of those seemed like his thing.] Maybe mechanical stuff. I like taking things apart, though getting them back together isn't always as easy with these fat hands. I'm also not bad at cards.

Makes you think about your place in the universe, huh? [a small joke, an amused look on her face. but it's true, isn't it? what you thought you knew really did change once you came to a place like this and had a whole universe put upon your shoulders.]

Yeah but under the make-up? [she shakes her head.] Whole other story. Just don't see me first thing in the morning and the facade can stay up.

[she considers what he says, humming to herself.] There's probably uses for that here, huh? I know one of the missions before I came here was apparently building a car? Which I have no idea why that was a thing but nothing about this place makes sense.

I'm a bartender, so I usually don't question my tiny presence in the grand fabric of space, time and universes. [He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. This was definitely a sort of job promotion he wasn't certain he would ever wish for himself.

He gave her a feigned suspicious side-eye.] I'm not sure I believe you... but because we are friends, I'm willing to take your word for it. For now.

[There were plenty of mechanically inclined folks here. He wouldn't consider himself good; maybe he should go back to his terrible roots and start looking at rocks again.] A car, huh? Sounds novel to me. We have trains. I used to mine, but I doubt anyone would appreciate me digging in the mountains much.

Right? I'm dancing to crappy music on a stage and thinking more about keeping up with the beat, not about the meaning of life and my purpose. [which is a lie because actually, that's all she ever had time for and she'd certainly thought about it. but well, she has a persona to keep up.]

If you ever see me in the morning before my make-up's on then you'll see. But that's the thing, I'm careful about that. [she offers him a wink.]

I don't think anybody's considered digging the mountains? It isn't a bad idea. But also, not much of a hobby.

Yeah right? Life was so much simpler then, just the beat of the music, the flow of alcohol, chatter of people trying to lose themselves after a day's work and suddenly bam here we are with existential priorities. [He shook his head and made a point of t'sking as he drank down the last of his mimosa, sliding the glass away from him.]

I respect that, but if you ever want to show, I will keep only a straight face and compliments no matter what lurks beneath. [He would try to only be a gentleman about it. He'd seen some grizzly disfigurements after all, and she was way too put together for those.]

Ah well, I used to be locked done in the mines. That knowledge might come in handy someday, right? Besides, better than push-ups all day.

I still think this place made some awful choices. No offense meant to you. More towards myself and some of the people I've met. But I've got no business doing here. [Maria wasn't positive why she was here. James had said it certainly wasn't because of him but she wasn't sure. it made more sense that she was here because of James and not because somebody decided she was well suited to save her universe.]

Ah, spoken like a man who knows how to keep the women in his life happy. [she was being dramatic though really, she hated seeing herself without makeup. it didn't look like her.]

Not much of a fun pass time. Well, I'm still suggesting gardening. Getting your hands dirty but way better conditions. Hopefully.

Oh, one-hundred percent in agreement. There are people from my world that are absolutely damning my world to deletion. And a few of the people I've met? They also seem like abysmal choices. [He patted his fingers on the bar. He wouldn't say he was better off than many, but at least he could be cooperative.] I imagine you are here for a good reason. You have a good heart.

[Vander did not grow up with sisters per say, but he had learned quickly in youth not to offend a lady before her face was on. It was a good way to earn a sharp swat or worse.] Ha, a smart man only needs that lesson once. [He offered her a friendly wink.] And keeping a woman happy is always a priority.

[Well, gardening, mining... it was all dirt, right?] I can't imagine the conditions are worse here than back home. Safety was never first.

[Heather had told Maria that there were some awful types here. Maria hadn't met too many but well, what she did know? she knew being a good person didn't mean much.] Then clearly it's the same for you. Helping a girl get out of her head is a small thing but it means a lot to me anyway. [and that she did genuinely mean.]

Cheers to the women who taught you well. [she lifts the rest of her drink in a toast and downs it, placing it away from her.]

At least with gardening the worst you might get is a worm...or whatever it is they have here?

[Vander made a point to keep track of the network as much as he could, and honestly, he had time to burn usually. This place perhaps didn't make it easy, but their Aurora's choices were questionable at best.] Well, I've noticed your cough has nearly been cured in my dashing presence too. I'd do this for you even without the cough.

[He smirked, remembering them fondly.] Toast to the Matrons then. And miner women; you do not mess with them. [No, he did but only for fun and to tease them in an earnest way.]

Yes but mining you might earn yourself pretty rocks. Some are even valuable.

Who knew all I needed was a charming man to spend time with me? Call the doctors. We found the cure. [she knows it isn't gone and Mary's sickness is still lurking inside of her and she will have to do something about it. but right now, she would rather spend time with Vander. you had to take the nice moments.]

Oh, and I'm sure they could punch harder than you even. Both the Matrons and the miners. [a hardened woman wasn't one to be trifled with.]

What would you do with the pretty rocks here, though? Unless you wanted to start jewelry making.

Oh yeah, curing lung ailments is definitely my super power. [Of course, given how much toxins he inhaled, it was probably a miracle he didn't have lung disease.] I suppose you just have to spend more time with me to keep the effects at bay because of my devilish charms.

[He snorted and did not contest the point.] Definitely and I'd deserve every paddling that I felt too. We're built tough in the trenches, thankfully.

[He shrugged his shoulders. That kind of creativity was for someone else. He needed to be occupied right now, pass the hours away.] I wouldn't know enough about jewelry styles to ever try that.

Oh no, how horrible I'll have to spend more time with you. Certainly a cruel fate. [she playfully rolls her eyes at him.] Think you won't get sick of me? [she doesn't see herself tiring of his company any time soon.]

I bet they could teach anybody here a thing or two. [though there were certainly all kinds here.]

I suppose I'm bad at the advice on hobbies. Pretty unsurprising considering I have none. Well, what did we expect?

Geez, how are you going to survive repeated encounters with a guy like me, huh? I don't think you're drunk enough. [He tilted his head and made a point of looking her up and down as if deciding on a very important fact.] No, I definitely won't get sick of you. I've made up my mind about that.

[He smiled and nodded his head. Those old butch ladies could whip this place into shape, Aurora and Echo and all.] No doubt. I figure all these snarky kids just need a tough woman to show them a thing or two and they'll settle in.

[He turned and held out a hand her for a shake.] Let's make a deal. You and I both have two months to get a hobby of our choice. If one or both of us fails, we have to network asking people to give us a hobby to participate in.

Somehow, I think I'll survive. [she makes a show of also looking him up and down, much like he had and smiles.] I'll even enjoy it. [their last two meetings had been nice, she couldn't see herself ever unhappy with Vander.]

And there is no shortage of snarky kids. Think it might be the default. [not that it bothers her. gotta keep up the humor if you want to make it through something like this.

Maria takes his hand and shakes it without a second thought.] Deal. If we both fail then we have to take up a new hobby together. How about that? A partner of sorts. Always makes things more fun.

Ah, glutton for punishment, are you? Well, this isn't my first dance and doesn't seem to be yours either. [He winked at her as she gave him the once over. He appreciated the attention, especially after... well, literally everything else happening behind the scenes.]

Right? It feels like home already, though most of them have these weird supernatural abilities. [It was interesting, and he didn't feel fear or offense about the fact that someone a quarter of his age could remove him with one punch.

He was gentle with his shake, her hand disappearing into his own briefly.] Yes, I can agree to those terms. We'll have that hobby within a few months, regardless.

Glutton for the right punishment. [she gives him a flirty smile. before her post to the network, she had been feeling scared. sad. Vander has taken care of those feelings easily.]

Yeah, this place has a way of making me feel a little too normal. ["normal". though really, she was good at the persona of it. she knew she wasn't but well, easier to be that than to be honest.

she likes how big his hand is. it feels safe enveloped around hers but she lets go when he does. seems awkward if she hung onto it.] It's a win/win. We have a hobby and we spend more time together.

un: butterfly | text

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