etraya | un: butterfly

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.

Huh, I'm going to need detailed list of what the right punishment is. [He eyed her smile, corner of his lip tugging upwards in response.] You know, different strokes for different folks and all that.

I suppose I haven't been here long enough to experience that yet. No doubt it will happen. I don't have novel or fantastical powers, never will I expect. [He didn't consider what had happened to him while he was high on Shimmer to be anything that would affect his future dealings in this place.

He returned to rest his arms on the bartop, leaning on them as he watched her next to him.] Win-win indeed. You want another drink or should we call it, hmm?

Oh, you'll get the list. But it's like I told you, a girl has to have some mystery left to her. Next bar date. Which will be a preferred punishment. [and there was her promising for more.

Maria considers if they should get another drink. a big part of her wants to say yes and talk to him more. she's liked this time with Vander. but she's been lucky she hasn't been coughing and the last thing she needs is to cough and make him think she's sick.

so she sighs.] Probably call it before I end up drinking more than I should and I've really lost all my plays. Have to keep you guessing.

Always a mystery with you. Geez, you sure know how to string a guy along with these breadcrumbs. Consider me interested. [Next bar date, huh? Vander snorted a sound of amusement from his nose and tapped his palms on the bartop in a drumroll fashion.

He then pushed himself up and off the stool, offering her a hand to assist her off of her own. The cough had seemingly resolved with good company and a nice morning drink, but now it seemed that they had to continue the day on their own separate paths. Both of them seemed in better moods for seeing each other, and wasn't that just the truth of friendship?]

Well, now that I've cured your cough with my charms, I suppose we do need to part ways so you can continue to hold some mystery. We need a few more meet ups before I drag all those nitty gritty details out of you.

But it's working well for me, I think.

[she would like to spend the day with him but that seems dangerous. she needs to figure out what to do about the sickness before she's spending considerable time with anybody. especially someone like Vander.

she takes his hand and gets down. she smiles, openly playful and flirty.] I'll give you one for free, as thanks for spending time with me. I'm single.

[Vander's eyebrows rose at the offering of information, and he had no doubt that she was stating that very specifically given their previous interactions. If they weren't bordering on flirting at all times, it wasn't them having fun with each other.]

I'll keep that in mind. You ever need someone to wingman for you, I'm your guy.

[He was only half-teasing. He gestured at them to head out of the pub to the street and smiled once the fresh air and sun hit them outside.]

A pleasure, as always, Maria. Have yourself a good rest of the day.

un: butterfly | text

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