[Sandbox] Onyx Prairie

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
Hulta , naïve to the ways of the City, merely smiled as Lolo mentioned a gentleman that she spent time with. A finger pointed out one of the tallest buildings and Hulta’s eyes went wide. “Wow. He must be really important.” Took a liking, merely meant that Lolo was like a protégé to the man. Obviously. The elf continued to bounce over the cobbles, egged on by Lolo’s acceptance of the silly dance. “You make every dress the prettiest dress.” Hulta said with a matter-of-fact tone as she leapt from one especially large cobble to the next.

“So I took Farrah out on a date to go watch” Her smile dropped an inch and Lolo’s hand in hers suddenly felt cold. The words of the story continued to brush over Hulta’s skin but there was a new found churning in her stomach. Was it jealousy or was it sadness? Hulta tried to keep a smile on her face but all she could think of was the many burning questions buzzing in her skull. Was this actually a date? Or was Lolo humouring her? The silly stupid elf that didn’t know anything about the city. Hulta was listening just well enough to retain information and say the occasional ‘Wow’ ‘He sounds like a nightmare’ ‘That’s amazing’ But the emotion wasn’t there anymore. It had dropped like the wind had left her sails.

The story was interesting, it had the right amount of humour and excitement. It should have had her bouncing from cobble to cobble, squaring up alongside Lolo to this imaginary Red Cyclone but her body had stopped vibrating with sugar. The Busty Brawler got a tiny sliver of a wider smile blossoming onto her lips. “Five seconds!! Wow” Hulta said, continuing with the fake enthusiasm even if her chest was starting to hurt. It was only moments ago that she was full of life. Swinging Lolo’s hand and dancing over cobbles, listening to their stories of a grand life within the city. Part of her said that she should continue the date as she had before, that it might have been in the past and that it was a one time thing. But a tiny part of her, squirrelled deep within her skull, told her that she couldn’t compare to this Farrah.

That this was nothing more than friends wandering around the city. Had she taken the near kiss mere moments ago the wrong way? Her mind was a torrent of emotions. So, after a pause, Hulta swung her arm with Lolo’s hand and started to jump from cobble to cobble. “I don’t know if my help will be enough to fight off Blanka but I can be quick.” She raised her other hand shadow boxed the air before her. “Where are we off to now?" Hulta wanted the conversation topic to change. Away from past dates.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Marble Ascent
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Lolo was engaged with storytelling. She didn’t notice the energy that swept over Hulta right away. But once she did, she didn’t know what to do with it. It was fell, and she didn’t know what happened. She kept hoping that the next part of the story would get some kind of better response, but it never came. Lolo had that creeping sensation that she was being tolerated now. That she was talking, but not really being listened to. But she was nothing if not persistent. If she just kept sharing, maybe… No, something was wrong. Had it been wrong to share, maybe? But Hulta had asked, so if she weren’t interested then, unless of course, she’d actually only been humoring her before too. Had she imagined the rooftop and the elevator? Her heart sank.

The worst part of Marlowe was, in some cases, the best part of her. She was easily distracted. Hulta skipped, and some life seemed to return to her. She didn’t know what that had been about, but she was as willing to move past it as Hulta was. She wasn’t one to linger. “Don’t be silly,” she nudged the woman, following her hop to the next stone, “I saw the way you took down Mir a couple weeks ago! You’d tear Blanka up.” She was sure of it. And just like that, Lolo was not only happy, but eager, to switch gears. “Oh! Uhm,” she peeked around, gathering where they were after walking, “It's called Smoke and Mirrors. It’s the place to be.”

And they weren’t very far from it at all. They passed onto the next street over and it was right there. The building itself wasn’t anything to look at - except for the bright glowing neon sign that depicted the establishment's name. It didn’t seem tall enough even, the building was abnormally squat. But she hadn’t been kidding, there was a whole line of people waiting for the chance to enter. Unlike the occupants of the Marble Ascent, not everyone out here looked like they came from the highest echelons of society. Though they were pretty much all done up. The other difference was age. This crowd was all about their age, the young adults. “Come on, we’re not going to wait for all of that.” Lolo said with a grin.

Leading Hulta right up to the front of the line, they were stopped by one of the three men in their nice suits who were watching over the door. He held up a hand and shook his head, “We don’t take walk ups. Back of the line.” He eyeballed the pair, giving Hulta and her attire in particular a scrutinizing up and down.

She wasn’t so easy to deter though. Plus, she knew this game. “You’ll take these walk ups.” She beamed, “I don’t recognize you,” she peeked at the other two doorman, “Any of you.” Though it had been a bit since she’d come here - three, maybe four months now - so maybe that made sense.

“I don’t think I will. Get gone, come on, don’t make a hassle.” He brushed them off with a little flick of his hands, like he was dusting away dirt.

Marlowe’s brow tightened and she made the softest of little growls. She didn’t like being treated like that normally, and certainly not in front of her date. “Why don’t you call Collin. Tell him Lolo is outside. I don’t think he’ll have forgotten the time I stopped those punks his staff let in from ruining the place.” She flashed a pearly smile.

The bouncer grunted and grabbed his phone to make the call. Marlowe leaned in close to Hulta, “One night while I was here, there was a little group that snuck in some Arcanite devices to cause a scene. But they came by the wrong table, and I saw what was going on. Saved Collin a ton of damage.”

Hanging up his phone, the man cleared his throat and approached the pair much more humbly, “Miss Ashe, my apologies. I didn’t realize. Come right in.” He made a sweeping gesture to allow them into the establishment, much to the roaring displeasure of the people who were at the front of the line waiting. Inside, Smoke and Mirrors was one part club, one part lounge, one part bar. The name was its gimmick. The walls and ceiling were made of seamless mirrors that reflected everything going on back and forth creating this endless back and forth that made it seem impossibly large and busy all at the same time. The floor was shrouded in a calf-high layer of fake smoke that swirled around people’s feet. Live music played to be danced too on the floor, but it wasn’t as loud as you might find somewhere dedicated to that. The building got away with being so small, because the entry actually took them down a set of stairs and into a building that was almost all basement. There were two seating areas on either side, separated by a wall of light that hung like a curtain and spread out in the smoke. Large plush furniture sent in unique patterns to create spaces for groups of all sizes to be together. Then of course there was the bar and a more casual seating area.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 25th | Mid-Morning (~9am)
Location: Streets of Onyx
Wearing: This
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta, Lyra | Maria
“Lyra!” Lolo had blurted, tumbling out of her bed and landing with a thump. She hurried into her partners, “Lyra wake up!” She'd given her a little shake, straddling her over the covers, “I want to introduce you to someone. You’ll love him. Come on, we’ll have fun.” She gave the elf a little tug, then rolled off the other side of the bed to get to tend to her morning routine. Despite the urgency of it, it wasn’t until Lolo had finished showering that she revealed there were hours before they could go. She had just been excited. Lolo gave Lyra the brief details - he was an elf and a scholar and there was a surprise that she was positive would excite Lyra. After a little begging and getting her to agree, Lolo requested that Lyra meet her down in Onyx at eight-thirty. “There’s someone else I want to bring too!” She announced, halfway out the door as she said it. “Don’t be late!” As if Lyra was ever late.

From there she went to Swagger’s dormitory and activated the little chime. It wasn’t even six in the morning. Maria opened the door, and Lolo smiled bright at her, “Good morning, Maria.” Lolo bounced on her heels, “I’m here for Hulta, thanks!” She rather casually slipped past the Silenus into the dorm like it was the most casual thing in the world and merely answering the door was an invitation. Given the identical layouts, Lolo strolled through Swagger’s dorm like she belonged there, and before a still-waking Maria could stop her, she entered the actual bedroom.

She scanned the bunks quickly, identifying which was the one she wanted. With the grace of a cat, Lolo latched onto Hulta and Mugi’s bed, quiet not to disturb the rest of Swagger, and pulled herself up into it. She crawled alongside Hulta and dropped beside her, draping an arm over her even as the elf’s eyes began to flutter open. “Good morning,” she said softly, “I wanna take you on an adventure today.” Lolo leaned forward and nuzzled her nose against the sleepy woman’s cheek, “There’s someone I think you should meet. Will you come with me? Lyra is coming too. It’ll be fun! Please?” Once she got an agreement, Lolo wiggled against Hulta and leaned in to kiss her cheek, asked her to meet her in Onyx at eight-thirty, and then rolled over the edge and dropped to the floor to make her exit.

Lolo had run off after that, passing Maria a small wave and “Thank you, have a good day!” on her way out. She descended down into Onyx, got herself something to eat, and then picked up a couple of mini-tarts. Blackberry with a lemon custard. And even then, out of an abundance of caution, Lolo made her way back to the bottom of Hammer tower almost thirty minutes early to make sure that she wasn’t the late one. Once Lyra and Hulta arrived, she offered each of them the treat she’d picked up for them. Lolo hadn’t really considered anything beyond wanting to share this with them, because they were both interested in things like what her friend had to offer. But once she had both elves here, Lolo found herself suddenly unsure of what to do. “Have you two had a chance to actually meet?” She tilted her head, “Hulta, this Lyra, my partner,” she gestured appropriately, “Lyra, this is Hulta. She’s with Swagger. I think you two would have lots to talk about, besides the ears.” She felt rather self conscious about having rounded ears right then. It hadn’t seemed to bother Hulta before, but who knew in front of another elf.

“We should get going,” Lolo reached out for both girls and took their hands to guide them onto the walk and. She turned, fell into step with them, and once they were en route, she released Lyra’s for now. But she kept hold of Hulta’s, and smiled over at her, walking between the two women. “I think you’re both going to love the doctor. He’s really smart, and he collects stuff from all over Toil. It’s not that far,” she indicated ahead with a little nudge of her head.

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
Smoke and Mirrors. ‘The place to be’ Hulta tried to picture why a place could be called Smoke and Mirrors. Her mind conjured up images of a sauna scenario or maybe a hall of mirrors. She was easily led by Lolo as she pulled Hulta past the crowd. Hulta noted a few of the queue scowling at her and she opened her mouth to say that they should wait. Shrinking further behind Lolo’s arm as one of the large men clearly ran his attention over her outfit. It wasn’t meeting the cut, it seemed.

Embarrassment burned through her and she tried to disappear behind Lolo. Hulta’s free hand tugged lightly on the sleeve of Lolo’s dress. “W..We can wait.” But the request was shot down by a bright cheeky smile that Lolo gave the bouncers. Hulta knew that Lolo was pleading her case but all she could really concentrate was the way they were looking at her. Not just the bouncers but the stares of those at the front of the line. “Um…Marlowe.” That seemed to get Lolo’s attention on her as words brushed her ear.

Saved Collin a ton of damage and yet Collin could not save Hulta the embarrassment of forcing themselves to the front of the line. Even when the sweeping gesture allowed them entry, Hulta found herself glancing at the people whose stares burned through her skin. Lolo led her into the building and Hulta instantly felt like a tiny fish in a large dangerous pond. Mirrors covered every surface which gave them a distorted look at themselves. Smoke clung to their ankles as Hulta kept a tight grip on Lolos hand.

“Is…Is this where the sweet cocktails are?” Hulta asked, her ears almost perking up with the shaking of ice in a drink. Tempting Lolo to follow her footsteps, Hulta craned her neck to look at the bar. No clear menu behind the waiters heads. This felt like a place where money was not listed on a menu, anyway. “Do we sit or dance?” Hulta asked, feeling more and more stranded in the sea of smoke.

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 25th | Mid-Morning (~9am)
Location: Streets of Onyx
Wearing: This outfit
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo, Lyra | Mugi
Hulta had already woken that morning. She had ventured down from the bunk in search of a glass of water. Only when her thirst was quenched did she return to her glorious bed. Her mouth was hanging wide open with soft snores leaving the bunk when Lolo arrived in the room. Groogily, her eyes half lifted as someone appeared in bed beside her. Lolo. With a dopey smile, she curled into the arm that draped over her and accepted the nuzzles. “Mhm” She murmured, still believing herself to be firmly in a dream. Someone to meet. Lyra. With a bumbling nod, Hulta only snapped her eyes open when a kiss landed on her cheek.

Colour flooded the elf’s face, running all the way up to the very tip of her ears. Marlowe was in her bed. In her bed. While still in shock, all she could make out was 8.30 in Onyx. Then the woman tactically rolled off the edge of the bed and landed gracefully like a cat before scurrying from the room. Hulta scrambled to the side of her bunk and leaned her head and shoulders over to stare at Mugi. “That was real, right?” The Silenus merely chirped and waved away Hulta’s words as they attempted to sleep a little longer.

After much swithering on outfits, Hulta finally left her dorm around 8.27. Speeding through the corridors and easily slipping past some of the early birds, she appeared at the chosen meeting place with barely a second to spare. Wide excited eyes landed on Marlowe and then Lyra. They hadn’t really spent much time since the plant incident. “We met. I helped with the plant problem.” She grinned at Lyra, remembering how much pink had flooded the pretty elf’s face on that fateful day. "Buen día" She let the elvish trickle from her tongue. A small formal greeting from one elf to another.

Hulta let her arm slide past Marlowe’s as she led them off their new destination. As they got further on their journey, Hulta let her hand slide down Lolo’s arm and linked her fingers with the taller womans. “A doctor…Who?” She asked leaning forward slightly to include Lyra in the conversation as she might not be fully visible past Marlowe’s masses of curls.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Smoke and Mirrors
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Once they were inside Lolo became more readily aware of the reservations in her date. Even if it hadn’t been obvious in the way she approached the situation, she would have been able to tell just by the way that Hulta stayed close and squeezed her hand. It wasn’t the fun affectionate squeezing of before, it was more anchoring. Hulta wasn’t vibrating with energy or pulling her around to engage in the location like she had among the statues. Which perplexed Lolo a little bit, because what wasn’t there to love about a place like this. “No, well, it’s not where we’re going at least.” Lolo said, trailing after Hulta’s steps through the fog. “But we can get a drink if you’d like.”

Dancing sounded delightful too, “We could dance…” she left it open. Lolo would have enjoyed dancing with her quite a bit, but she recalled Hulta mentioning that she lost grace once music happened, “But, actually, here. Come here.” Taking control of their walk, Lolo strolled up beside Hulta, then past her, to lead her through the sea of smoke. She wandered far across the bar, navigating them a path through the people, to a little corner tucked out of the way off to the side of the bar. It was a little quieter there, and a lot less in the thick of things. Secluded, if it weren’t entirely visible. But no one was looking, which was the point.

Lolo turned so her back was to the wall and pulled Hulta in close. Almost like the elevator, but a fair bit less intimate. She swayed slightly to the thrum of the music, but it was more like an idle animation than something she was trying to do. “Are,” Lolo furrowed her brow and looked out into the establishment for a moment, “Do you not like it here?” Scarlet eyes darted back to her, and she tilted her head. “We don’t have to stay. I just…” Marlowe reached up and pressed back a strand of Hulta’s night-swept hair, hooking it back around the tip of her ear, “Smoke and Mirrors is really popular. You saw the line!” She grinned a little, thrilled that she had been able to get them in. Someday that was going to be her everywhere. “Not everyone gets in, so it’s even a little exclusive.” This mattered to someone like Lolo, who was very pulled by trends and popularity. She wasn’t sure if she was trying to explain herself, or convince Hulta. Either way, she knew it was right. She’d been expecting something like their Marble Ascent visit, and this was clearly not that. “If you want to head right to Oasis, I’ll take you. We can go right now.”

Had whatever happened earlier really made her so eager to end the evening?

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
Lolo sounded optimistic and full of life. Hulta could not bring herself to match it, she felt like too many people were looking at her and the place felt smothering. She didn’t even reply to Lolo’s suggestions, she just let the woman drag her through the crowd. Pushing past more bodies and smoke that seemed to drift upwards to choke her. The corner tucked away felt safer. Away from scowling glances and the embarrassment of outside.

Hulta was like clay. Fingers pulled her closer and she swayed along to the same beat as Lolo. Easily manoeuvrable as her mind drifted away from her to be snapped back when Lolo looked at her and asked that question. “Um.” Hulta mumbled as Lolo seemed to stumble through her words. Fingers brushed her skin and Hulta leaned her face towards Lolo’s touch. “I’m just not used to this..all of this.” Her fingers moved from Lolo to the club around them before landing back on Lolo’s waist. “It is lovely…I had hoped for something quieter…unless this was your plan to have my lips by your ear all night long.” Hulta gave her a playfully narrow of her eyes.

She slowly raised her right hand to brush over Lolo’s cheek, her palm cupping Lolo’s jaw as she smiled at the woman. “I’m impressed…but I would be impressed by anything that you can do.” The music beat rattled through her spine, and she momentarily tensed up before. “How about we stay for one more song? Then we go to Oasis.” Hulta took a small step closer to Lolo and let her thigh brush against the taller woman’s.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Smoke and Mirrors
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Hulta leaning into her touch was nice. It was nice that it was enjoyed, and even seemed wanted. Lolo smiled gently at the gesture. It really hadn’t occurred to her that this might not be Hulta’s preferred environment. But then as she thought back to the situation that had ultimately led to this date, she felt a bit silly. It probably should have. Staying here had never been the goal of course, but maybe it would have been enough to pass by and point it out instead of trying to get her to experience it. On the other hand, she had wanted to give Hulta a little taste of it so that when it came up she had some experience. All of her concerns and thoughts bled away at once, erased by the remark about lips and ears. Lolo grinned, “Well when you put it like that,” she laughed, leaning in brush noses with the elf again, “I can think of many worse plans than that, and I am not a creative person.”

It was her turn to lean into the touch. Lolo hummed quietly, a gentle sigh escaping her lips as she nuzzled into Hulta’s palm. Maybe she hadn’t ruined this after all. The commentary made her heart thump excitedly. Where had this elf come from?! Didn’t matter, she was glad she was here now. Marlowe nodded, “One song,” she agreed. And they didn’t even need to leave their little corner. Lolo wrapped a hand around Hulta’s waist and tugged her into the step she’d already taken until they were pressing together. “I won’t let you fall.” She squeezed them together.

What played next was not a slow song by any means, but that didn’t stop Marlowe from treating it like a gentle rhythm. The beat might have been explosive, but the way she swayed softly against Hulta was not. “I’m sorry, Hulta.” She murmured as they writhed in place, sheltered away from everyone else, “I think… You said home had festivals and music and dancing. I thought this might be like that.” Minus the line and prestige of it all of course, but for Lolo that only added to the fun. “There’s not a lot of that in Onyx, so I just thought that maybe you’d enjoy something, uhm, energetic like that.” At the small of Hulta’s back, Lolo’s fingers spread out to hold more of her. Her other hand had found its way lower, sitting on the outside of the elf’s thigh. “Oasis is much quieter.” She promised.

She leaned her forehead to Hulta’s, closed her eyes, and enjoyed being together. The location, the music, the people, all of that was a nice backdrop. But ultimately secondary to why she was here. “I should have asked.” Which would have ruined the surprise, but, trying to surprise people had not been working out for her recently. “There are some really nice lounges around that don’t have, all of this, I could have taken you too. Maybe… Next time?” Probing gently, hoping that this hadn’t cost dates two and more!

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
Hulta’s thumb brushed against Lolo’s cheek and relished in the moment of calm. The red headed elf nodded once in agreement; they could just stay here for one more song. A hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer until their bodies melted together. “Thank you.” Hulta said with a grin. Even with the music thumping around them, Lolo kept a soft sway which Hulta was mentally thankful for. “No apologies.” Hulta said and let her fingers leave Lolo’s cheek to tap the end of her nose lightly. “My festivals are like this…but open, the dancing is wilder and the music is full of life.”  Hulta paused and blinked rapidly. “Next festival. You need to come to it.” There. Resolute she was in her decision.

There was no blush or flinch as Lolo’s fingers splayed out on her body. Infact, one of Hulta’s hands twisted in Lolo’s hair while the other lay lightly on her upper arm. She could sway like this. There was no real risk of her falling and granting them both horrible bruises. No. This was nice. Hulta kept her eyes open as Lolo closed hers, letting her gaze flick over Lolo’s features. Tracing them onto a map into her mind. Something like the stars to lead a sailor home.

Words nearly brushed against Hulta’s lips and her gaze dropped to those soft lips of Lolo. “Yes. Next time.” Hulta responded with a breathy chuckle. Her gaze was trained to Lolo’s lips. It would only take an extra half inch of movement. She was so close. She could smell the rich perfume that Lolo had dabbed behind her ears. She could feel the warmth coming from Lolo’s body pressed against hers. Everything felt right but the location felt wrong. This needed to be special. Hulta paused and couldn’t help herself. Just the tiny brush of her lips against Lolo’s. A small taste.

Then Hulta pulled back and spun under Lolo’s arm. “Let us go to this Oasis. I hunger for your words” She grinned widely at Lolo. Did she even feel the kiss? It didn’t matter. Hulta could feel confidence surging in her stomach. Even with Lolo’s previous comments about Farrah….Lolo was here. With her. Only her. For this evening, if it was only this evening, Hulta would greedily hungrily take up ever little drop of Lolo’s attention.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Smoke and Mirrors
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Reassurance. Forgiveness. And even continued playfulness. Lolo was ready to swoon right there as Hulta’s finger booped her nose. It twitched beneath the touch, as if wriggling it could chase after her finger and take a second more. She tried to imagine the difference that Hulta was describing, but as she had mentioned she wasn’t particularly creative. The dancing could be wild here, she knew. So what she latched onto was open. Smoke and Mirrors was  a lot of things, and among them was a closed space. It sort of made sense that Hulta liked open spaces - that was what the rooftop of Marble Ascent had provided and she had liked that. Lolo filed that new knowledge in the back of her head for future use.  Lolo was so in sync, enjoying the gentle rubbing of their bodies that she didn’t really notice the pause. But she did take note of the words - were they a request, or an instruction? Either way, she didn’t much mind, “If you lead, I’ll follow. I’d love to go.”

An unwanted tension released between her shoulders. Hulta’s confirmation that there was still going to be a next time brought her relief. This one was going, overall, so well. The idea that it might be the last had been terrible, and probably entirely unwarranted. Her lips curled upward at the corners as they danced - even if that dance wasn’t much more than swishing in place. She really didn’t need it to be any more than that. This really was a good date. Hulta was… Her thoughts parted like smoke under a breeze. She felt the ghosting of something against her lips. Instinct bayed her lean in for more, but there was nothing there. Her eyes opened and she peered at Hulta already on the move. Had she imagined that?

No, she was pretty sure she hadn’t. And she wanted more, but even she recognized that this wasn’t the place. Unfortunately, knowing what she did now, she wasn’t sure Oasis was either.

Marlowe was slow to start moving, and as Hulta drew on her she was an anchor for a second before everything caught back up to her. Then she was right back in step, and ahead. No one had ever said they were hungry for her words before. Hungry for her certainly, but Lolo wasn’t sure that she had anything terribly interesting to say. She made a better listener than a conversationalist, or so she thought. But if that’s what Hulta wanted, that’s what she was going to get. She was quiet at first, but only because she didn’t want to shout over the noise of Smoke and Mirrors. Instead she focused on getting them quickly back out. And the same people were still standing at the front of the line, appalled that they had gone in and come out before they had even had the chance to proceed.

Their plight tickled Lolo a bit and she grinned at them before tugging Hulta back across the street at a playful jog to get away from them and back to just them. She pulled Hulta to her side and bumped her gently, before wrapping an arm around her shoulders to keep her in proximity. “It’s not very far,” she said, indicating ahead with a little nudge of her head. She briefly glanced at the line on the other side of the street they were walking past. “I didn’t fit in when I came to Onyx.” She murmured. It wasn’t something she talked about much. But as she thought about how this date had occurred, the events that had led to it, she realized that she could empathize with Hulta.

“I didn’t know all of the places that people talked about. Or the people. Or the things that were happening.” It had been a hard transition, only made easier because she was relentless in her pursuit. And because she had taken the opportunities that had presented, for better or worse. “I couldn’t get into places like Smoke and Mirrors. I was so… Lost.” She sighed and furrowed her brow, “I knew that I belonged here, but I didn’t know how to be here.” Her tongue swiped across her lips, “I’ve felt that way about Hammer sometimes, too.” She admitted quietly, but she wasn’t sure where she wanted to go with that thought. Instead she shook her head, “This has been really nice, Hulta. I’m glad I chased you up that tree. Thank you for coming out with me tonight.”

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
Hulta was grateful that they left the club. She would have preferred to sneak out a back door so that they didn’t have to greet the nights air with those people in that queue. Her fingers curled tighter around Lolo’s as she hugged the woman’s side. Ignoring their looks and the snide comments that rang from them. Hulta concentrated on Lolo rather than their surroundings. The way that she wrapped her arm around her shoulders. The way that her hip seemed to mould against Hultas with every step. The way her dark hair cascaded down her back and tickled Hulta’s bare arms.

She couldn’t imagine Lolo not fitting in. In every instance where they had met, it was like she was a duck to water. Oh. It all became painfully clear. That was why Lolo had followed her into the tree. That was why they were on a tour. Lolo was giving Hulta everything that she had wished someone had done for her. The elf curled her fingers tighter against Lolo and rested her head against the slightly taller woman. “I’m glad that I have you to lead me through this.” Every swaying step brought them closer to what felt like the final destination, even if it wasn’t. “Thank you for taking me out.” She turned her face towards Lolo and scrunched up her nose as she grinned.

Her corsage hand came closer as she plucked a petal free. Raising it towards Lolo, she gently pushed it past the woman’s lips. Then her fingers dropped to pluck another for herself. “This has to be my most favourite night that I’ve had since coming here.” Her chest swelled with emotion as she placed the petal on her tongue. “You have big boots to fill for the next date.” Her eyes twinkled with something, was it a wicked glint or happiness. Her lips kissed the sugar from her fingertips before her hand wrapped around Lolo’s waist. “This place better have those sugary cocktails…or I might have a sugar crash so severe that the people of Oasis will think the end of the world is nigh.” She exaggerated and swayed her body against Lolos before letting out a gentle giggle.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: The Oasis Lounge
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Marlowe hummed contently, pushing her head against Hulta’s as she leaned in. She gave the elf the smallest of appreciative nuzzles. The gesture, and the thanks that accompanied it meant a lot to her. “I can’t think of anyway I would have rather spent tonight.” She fixated on the petal as it approached. Her lips parted and she flattened her tongue to accept the sugary sweet petal like a snowflake. That really had been one of her better ideas, she thought, as she pressed it against the roof of her mouth and felt it dissolve. Her breath stilled at the admission. Lolo felt like she had created some unique moments for people, but had any of them been anyone’s favorite? Other than hers? She didn’t know. If she had, it hadn’t been made clear. And here, yet again, Hulta was just offering it. This was so easy, it felt impossibly simple to be in her presence. She was warm and inviting and beautiful. And tragically unkissed. Lolo glanced at the street lamps, which made poor substitutes for the stars a top Marble Ascent. “Well, I’m positive I have a hat that’s up to the challenge.”

Should have kissed her there, so she could be doing it again here.

It felt nice to have an arm around her. Lolo leaned into it, until it would have made walking awkward if she pressed any tighter. She laughed, “They have the absolute sweetest, I know you won’t be disappointed.” Marlowe pointed with her free hand as they turned a corner toward the entrance to the building. Oasis glowed on the exterior of the building, surrounded by lit up trees not native to Johtan at all. “You really like your sweets huh? Has that always been?”

Oasis was a full experience lounge. There was a host at the doors they had to check in with, but it didn’t require reservations. The building stood a bit isolated from the others around it, giving it a sort of ‘standing alone’ feeling on the outside. Once inside, the place was decorated like an adult rainforest cafe. The center of the open space was a small pond, and carefully cared for plants lined the walls, which were otherwise covered in vines and leaves and flowers of all sorts - anything to obscure the architecture and make the interior feel more like a little slice of woodland reprieve. The floors were marble, but they were a sandy brown color, with streaks that looked like waves of even darker browns. There were central tables, hidden in little nooks of waist high stacked stone walls and trees all built around the pond. But the real highlight were the wall side booths, even more private miniature caverns whose entrances were obscured by fronds and more. Small lights indicated if a cavern was taken, and they had to pass two before they came to one that was available.

Lolo swept the foliage out of the way to reveal the interior. The air inside was cool with mist. The table, and the bench that surrounded it, were all carved stone, but not polished or finished - it was jagged, given a natural hewn look. Along the back and covering the tops, long stemmed plants reached high and curled in, creating a faux-canopy where the gentle light filtered in from above. “What do you think?”

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
“I plan to see every single hat in your repertoire.” Hulta said with a grin. The elf let her fingers curl into the fabric of Lolo’s dress and almost bumped her hip against the slightly taller woman. “Perfect” Hulta took in a deep breath to fuel her excitement within her chest. “I love my sweets.” She half turned towards Lolo and fixed her with a serious look. “It all started when I was four. I climbed a little too high on the great oak in our garden. No one could convince me to come down. Not until father came out with a small bag of lemon drops. They say it was the only thing that could tempt me down.” She said this all with a serious look with her face. Wide eyes and nodding as if to convince Lolo.

Then the mask cracked and an almost wicked giggle left her lips. “I tease!!” She wrinkled her nose with a smirk. “I always have loved sweet things but we don’t know where it came from. My dad hates sweet things but adores sour. My mama adores sweet things but hates sours. Maybe its because I am the perfect blend of the two.” She nodded once as if to confirm this was the true story now.

Slinking in behind Lolo, Hulta drank in Oasis. There was nature all around them. Her fingertip stretched out to touch everything that they passed from the purple flowers to the mabrled trees. It truly was an Oasis in the middle of the dense city. A place of green and life. Hulta ducked under the foliage that Lolo brushed to one side. She closed her eyes as she felt the soft pattering of mist coating her skin. With her eyes closed and muting the soft voices and music…she could imagine she was home. During one of those famous late summer rain storms. Hiding up in a treetop, feeling the mist drift in off the wind.

Slowly, Hulta dragged her eyes open to settle them on Lolo with a soft gentle smile on her lips. “This is perfect.” Her fingers tightened around Lolo’s. “I don’t think they will let me climbs these trees.” Scrambling into the cave, she crawled on all fours before turning and thumping herself against the soft booth chair. Her fingers stretched out for Lolo. “Come on. Join me” She wriggled her fingers violently and looked truly in her element.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: The Oasis Lounge
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Even if Lolo hadn’t been something of a dunce, she probably would have fallen for the tale about the great oak and a small Hulta refusing to come down for anything other than candy treats. It was very convincing, and she could picture it perfectly. Bright red locks amid a backdrop of greens, staring down fearlessly and determined to hold her ground unless she got what she wanted. It brought a giggle to her lips, matching Hulta’s in joyous amusement. The real story wasn’t as fun, but it was, well, sweet. “You really are wonderful,” she cooed affectionately alongside Hulta’s confirming nod. Lolo lightly nuzzled their heads together.

Before planning this date with Hulta, Marlowe had heard of Oasis but she’d never been. It wasn’t as old or as popular as Smoke and Mirrors or the lounges that she had tended to spend her time in. But while looking for somewhere to take her date, it clicked right away as exactly what she was looking for. She’d only scoped it out the day before briefly, but the atmosphere was great. And seeing the way her elven-maiden took to it, and lit up as she took it all in confirmed it. Two out of three wasn’t so bad - but she’d do better next time. And once more, the knowledge that there was going to be a next time brought her great happiness.

Perfect. Was there a better word that could have been used? Marlowe squeezed back and watched her make her way for the booth. She glanced up at the trees and grinned, “No, they would probably frown on that,” Lolo turned and ducked under the brush, following her into their little space, “But, I’d be happy to get into some trouble with you.” Playful mischief danced across her face and she laughed. Marlowe extended her arms and brushed her fingers against Hulta’s wiggling digits, crawling them forward and pulling herself forward until she was wrapped around the woman’s wrists, soaking in Hulta's wants for her to be close. She slid into the booth beside her, wiggling around until they were side by side, absent space between them.

It wasn’t but a few seconds after they were seated that a man came in behind them. They were always watching, and things at the Oasis were slow and steady, rather than over the top busy. He was dressed in fairly casual attire that was themed for the space, but didn’t reek of uniform. A quick greeting and he offered them a laminated pamphlet that had all of their offerings, a selection of thematically appropriate dishes and an even wider selection of drinks. But Marlowe already knew what Hulta wanted, and she looked at her, “Do you mind?” Once she had permission to order for her, Marlowe turned back and asked for two sunrise specials. They were boozey, more than Marlowe typically drank, but they were also said to be the sweetest cocktails in Onyx - like tequila sunrises with the sweet fruitiness dialed to twelve. “No sugar crashes once you have one of those.” The man left to get those, and Marlowe glanced at the menu, “Do you want anything else?”

The mist really was a nice touch. Lolo felt a bit warm. Entirely because she was soaring. She took Hulta’s hand and laced her fingers from the top, setting Hulta’s hand on her thigh. “Would…” Marlowe squeezed Hulta’s hand, “You like to walk a little longer with me, when we’re done here?” This had been intended as the final stop, but Marlowe hadn’t anticipated… Well, any of this. And the idea of it drawing to a close was deeply unfortunate. "Just, around, anywhere?"

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
A soft giggle left Hulta as Lolo agreed that she was wonderful. It was one thing to fake an ego but another thing entirely to hear someone she was in awe of tell her that. Hulta held her fingers out towards Lolo and when she gifted her them, Hulta felt a small trickle of relief flood through her. There was something familiar about Lolo’s hand in hers. Already. Maybe she was thinking too far. Maybe this was just a date. Like that date Lolo had with Farrah. Nary a breath of air could pass between them, her thigh pressed tight against Lolo’s and Hulta kept a snug grip on Lolo’s hand.

Turning her hand in her lap, Hulta let her fingers drag over the small lines on Lolo's palm. She could get herself lost in the threads of Lolo’s life but a stranger appeared at the table. The elf flicked her gaze up to Lolo and nodded once. Sunrise specials. “Will I get a sugar boost…or will I be overwhelmed?” She grinned at Lolo and leaned forward. “Then again, I have yet to find a thing that is too sweet for me!  But you are coming close.” Hulta scrunched up her nose with a wide smile and turned to drink in the menu. “Maybe…one of those.” Her finger pointed on something called ‘Magic Berry’.

A shot of something dark that looked like it had glitter floating in it. Beside the drink was a list of ingredients. Hulta had spied the lemon and blackberry and knew that was perfect. “And no more. Too much alcohol and you’ll be carrying me home…and I would say some terribly naughty things” She smirked with confidence but the colour of the tips of her ears told the truth. Here. In Oasis, she could forget about Lolo going on dates with other people. This felt special. Like it was just for them. Their spot. Oh. She should tell Lolo that.

But Lolo took her hand and let it rest on her thigh. Squeezing her thigh through Hulta’s hand. Hulta subconsciously started to brush her thumb against Lolo’s warm thigh and rested her elbow on the table so that she could lean her chin in her palm. “Yes.” She said quickly. No hesitation. “Anywhere. Up another tree. Along the corridors of the dorms. Anywhere.” Hulta sighed softly and her gaze trickled off Lolo to see the waiter return swiftly with two large glasses of a peculiar looking drink.

Hulta seemed to vibrate in place as she saw the slices of lemon and orange that decorated the lip of the glass. When the waiter placed the drinks and made to leave, Hulta leaned over Lolo’s lap and let her wriggly fingers reach out for the man. “And um. Can we get two Magic Berries?” She grinned at him and he nodded before leaving. Slowly, returning to her previous place but leaving the delicious scent of lemons and whatever glorious shampoo Hulta uses. “Okay….Explain this to me.” She said as she eyed up the drink like it was the last lemon cake on display.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: The Oasis Lounge
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
A wave of faux-shock swept across her face. “Well I don’t want to be too sweet,” she murmured, leaning over and giving Hulta a gentle nuzzle that left her lips near the elf’s ear, “Just sweet enough.” The tender way that Hulta stroked across her palm made her fingers wiggle and curl. They wanted to take hold of her hand, and encourage her to keep going all at the same time. Instead Lolo just made pleased, content little sounds as the exploration. It felt good to have that kind of attention. “Hhmmm,” Lolo sounded, focusing her eyes downward to the extended finger and grinned, “Sure! Let’s get some.”

Sitting back up, keeping the distance - or rather, the lack of it - between them, Lolo laughed. “Careful, if I carry you home, I might just carry you right to my bed.” That didn’t make her blush, but it did hopefully make it clear just how interested in naughty things being said she was. Studying Hulta’s smirk, all Lolo could think was how badly she wanted to kiss it. And the trail kisses right up to those burning ear tips of hers. “But no more alcohol.” She agreed. Marlowe ranked low on the inhibition scale long before alcohol got involved. If something special was going to be found before she kissed Hulta, adding too much to drink to the mix was a bad idea. Really should have kissed her on the rooftop, Marlowe thought.

Marlowe acted like a mirror, planting her elbow and dropping her chin into her palm, turned just enough to face her date. There might not have been anything there, but the subtle brushing against her thigh was more teasing than she cared to admit. She’d not have minded if Hulta used many more digits to explore. Staring at her, Marlowe couldn’t help but appreciate just how much she liked the way they interacted. It was like in just a few hours they had gotten tangled up, and she didn’t want to untangle it. Hulta was warm, and brought her warmth. She was familiar, in such a short time, in a way like no one else she had known. The quickness of Hulta's answer brought a bright smile to her lips, “Anywhere.” She repeated quietly in full agreement.

As the drinks were laid out, Lolo followed Hulta’s gaze toward them, shifting somewhat and reaching out for her own and taking it from the man. The second order got met with a glance from Lolo toward the man, a smirk, and a little nod of affirmation. Her finger swiped the sugar-coated rim of her glass to pick up a tip full of the sweet crystals, and she held it out for Hulta to dab it on her tongue, “Sugar on the rim, so you can get some ever drink,” she began to explain. The top was orange juice, Lolo revealed, and the bright red underneath was a sweet reduction of pomegranate - almost a syrup. “Give it a little stir,” Marlowe demonstrated, giving her thin black straw a quick little whoosh around the glass and clinking the ice. The red spun up and bled into the orange, and she positioned her straw about half way and took a drink, then nabbed some sugar right from the rim and gulped it all down. The drink had that boozy after burn, that was dulled by how sweet the drink was but defined it unmistakably as an alcoholic drink. “So,” Lolo said, licking her lips and leveling mischievous scarlet's on Hulta, “Is alcohol the only way to get you to say naughty things?” She lifted a brow while wrapping her lips around the straw and pulling up a little more.

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
A soft shiver trickled through Hulta as Lolo’s lips brushed her tender ears. There was a brief moment when a cheeky glint echoed in Hulta’s eyes and a response died on her tongue. Her ears continued to burn as confidence churned in her stomach and then the words trickled from her. “Promise?” Just enough of a gentle tease. Hulta was grateful that Lolo agreed with no more alcohol. They still had classes to attend the following day. Two drinks should be more than enough. There was a line in a book once she had read. Something about mimicking can be a sign of adoration.

Hulta’s fingers hovered either side of the glass. It was temptation in a glass. Lolo’s finger swept the sugar-coated rim and held her finger out towards Hulta. Without hesitation, she dragged her tongue over Lolo’s fingertip. Not just dab. No. She removed every last morsel of sugar on Lolo’s fingertip. “I don’t know if there is enough.” Her attention was back on the drink, like she hadn’t just flicked her tongue over Lolo’s finger. Following the instructions given, she swirled the straw and then dragged the liquid up greedily.

Swirling her tongue around her mouth, she scrunched her nose in her analysis. “I give it…a…6…no 7….” She paused and let her tongue slowly drag over one section of the rimmed glass. “8….Still lower than you.” The straw was plonked past her lips again as she downed a good third of it before the alcoholic taste really hit her. Lolo’s question hit her hard and her cheeks burned. Even as embarrassment trickled through her, the alcohol seemed to have its claw in her confidence. And the way that Lolo wrapped her lips around that straw had her feeling all sorts of ways. “Depends.” The word left her as Hulta’s gaze latched onto Marlowe’s lips.

“Alcohol is one way. Temptation is another.” Hulta leaned forward, her fingers creeping to rest on Lolo’s thigh. “And you are temptation.” She was close enough that her words felt like they could brush against Lolo’s lips. The red headed elf let her gaze drag from Lolo’s lips back to her gaze as she smiled. Barely another inch forward and her nose brushed against Lolo’s. Was it now? Was this the perfect time? “Two Magic berries.” The waiters voice sliced through them and Hulta sighed back to give them distance. “Thank you.” She called to the man who was already walking away, though her gaze was driving daggers deep between his ribs. “We do these as shots right?” She asked as she raised the new deep purple glass towards Lolo.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: The Oasis Lounge
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
That question implied a desire, and Lolo was there for it. She could so easily picture laying Hulta down and plucking those strings that held her bodice together undone. The longer they were together, the more she wanted it. Which wasn’t atypical for Lolo, except that Hulta was so much that she wanted all in one delightful redheaded package that she was a bit overwhelmed by it all. “Promise.” Normalcy told her to kiss this woman, and fulfill that promise. But she liked the way things were right now, too. The teasing and playfulness, the gentle affection, and the learning. This was different because Hulta was different, Marlowe was the same creature as always, just unusually stuck looking between left and right, unable to make up her mind on which way to go. Of course things like Hulta greedily tonguing her finger for every remnant of sugar certainly pushed her mind toward one direction.

She watched as the elf ran her tongue along the glass. It was hard not to imagine herself in its place. She had the familiarity of that moment just seconds earlier to call back on. The warmth of her breath. Marlowe fidgeted with desire. Not at all helped by the way she caught Hulta looking at her. Marlowe leaned in mirror to Hulta’s movements, putting them not even inches apart. “I could be more than that,” she whispered, as their noses brushed. That was it. She cracked. Specialness be damned! Marlowe must have looked like she was chasing after Hulta. She was not deterred by the voice that denied her the chance. She leaned for the kiss, trying to take it, but came up slower than Hulta applied distance.

It was hard to say that it was for the best. She wanted it very badly. But it had been exactly the break needed for Lolo to remember the special moment that could have been. As much as she wanted to curse the waiter, she cursed herself for not kissing Hulta up on that rooftop. Well, he wasn’t getting a thanks from her. Lolo sat back and licked drying lips, looking down at the magic berries. “Yeah, exactly.” It took her a second to realize what Hulta was doing, but once she did she grinned wide and took the second one and held it up to Hulta. As the shot got close, its powerful berry lemon-berry aroma hit her nostrils, and even she was excited to get it. Her eyes widened like Hulta’s and she pressed the glass to Hulta’s lips. Truthfully she’d never done this before. She was being so careful about not splashing the drink on Hulta, that as she dipped her head back to receive the shot, she nudged it and ended up getting a trickle of it running down her chin.

Otherwise, the delightful blend of tastes hit her tongue and made her shiver with glee as she swallowed it down, trying not to laugh as the excess stroked down her chin. “I didn’t get you, did I?” Lolo asked as she leveled out and set aside the glass, slowly reaching to clean herself off.

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
Hulta had noticed the way that Lolo leaned forward. Following her for that missed kiss but the elf merely smirked at the other woman. A flicker of wickedness drifted in her stomach as she wanted to make Lolo beg for it. Just a simple kiss. A small chaste one. But still…beg for it.  Twisting her arm with Lolo, she rested the glass against Lolo’s lips. Hulta tilted her head back and managed to keep an eye on Lolo as she took her shot. Hulta somehow managed to get every sugary drop past her lips. Some sticky syrup landed on her fingertips as Lolo nudged her glass. “Oops” She said as she plonked the glass down. “I got you!” She ignored Lolo’s question and leaned forward to catch some of the sticky mess that lingered on Lolo’s chin.

“Who knew shots could be so dangerous?” Hulta said with a cheeky smile as her fingers brushed over Lolo’s chin. The red headed woman leaned forward towards Lolo again as her fingertips remained on Lolo’s chin. “Magic Berry is ranking at a solid 9. What did you think?” Hulta’s gaze slowly trickled down to Lolo’s lips as she raised her fingertips to her own lips and lightly licked the sweet drink off her fingers. Keeping her gaze fixed on Lolo’s soft lips, Hulta hummed lightly. “So, how does this tour end?” Amber eyes jumped back up from Lolo’s lip to her eyes before inching back just a smidge. Just enough that she could pluck up her drink.

Another mouthful of the sweet drink floated past her lips. The elf leaned back in the booth and kept her one leg twisted up resting against Lolo. “We go for a walk and….is that how the night ends?” There was a cheeky glint in her amber eyes as she settled her attention back on the beautiful woman beside her. Oasis behind them was still buzzing lightly with life. Waiters moved around and people milled about waiting to get their drinks or checking out the scenery.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: The Oasis Lounge
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
Lolo shifted her head back, lifting her chin as if that was going to stop liquid from dribbling down. She liked to think it gave Hulta’s fingers time to catch it! There Hulta was, getting all close again, stirring up the needy butterflies that made Lolo want to pounce her. “Nine is good,” she answered; if it got her more of the attention, it could have been an easy ten! For a moment she had thought those drink-wet fingers were coming for her mouth, and she had been all too ready to suck them clean. If getting her to beg was the goal, Hulta was certainly pressing the right buttons. Or, at least, in theory. Marlowe was a lot like a jack-in-the-box. Hulta kept cranking that lever, and eventually she was just going to spring out and do it. Either way, every one of those teasing moves was coiling Lolo tighter.

Restraint sucked. Why was she doing it, again?

The more Hulta teased, the harder it was to remember. Every little glance to her lips felt like a beckoning. Like she was being challenged to make a move. And she wanted to. The only thing that stopped her there was Hulta reclaiming her drink, a signal maybe misread to believe they were still waiting for that moment. “Well this was the last stop,” she admitted, the light tingle of alcohol buzzing in her brain as she watched Hulta drink. Oh how she wanted her tongue to be the chaser to that gulp. “It doesn’t have to be…” Lolo trailed off, slowly leaning in toward Hulta. It seemed an invitation!

“I know a few ways we could keep it going much longer.” Her cheeks rose high with a mischievous grin. Lolo ducked her head to the side and nuzzled her nose along Hulta’s cheek, “We don’t even have to go back to Hammer at all,” she said, exhaling a warm breath just below that pointed ear, “Say the word, and I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.” Marlowe purred as she drew the tip of her nose along Hulta’s ear, “Show you anything you want to see.” Her hands settled on the leg resting against hers, and she pushed forward, nuzzling into thick red tresses, “How do you want the night to end, Hulta?”

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Evening
Location: Shadarong Restaurant
Wearing: Blue and white wrapped dress with blue floral pattern, dark blue sash, this hairstyle, teal Arcanite necklace
Tagging | Mentioning: Azir | Kiba, Marlowe

For a long time, Lyra stood silently in that stretch of hallway where the hidden bridge was, watching where Kiba and Aujus had rounded the corner. A part of her heart still ached, even as she doubled down on her determination of her choice. She remained quiet the entire trek back to the dorms, deep in thought, with her fingers curling around the pendant hanging from her neck. Soon, she found herself in front of Mockery’s door. All thoughts of embarrassment were cast aside as she knocked gently, waiting for Azir to let him know the slight change in plans for that evening. His wandering eyes made her blush, only realizing a tad too late she was still wearing that rather revealing outfit Marlowe had picked out. Agreeing on the plans after explaining the tickets and dinner reservations, Lyra bid him farewell with a quick kiss to his cheek, before retreating back to her own dorm to mull over the events of the day and rest up before that evening.
 
Azir had met her at her door to pick her up for the evening, a shy smile crossing her lips at his appreciative gaze. Her silvery hair was pinned up in a mass of curls tucked into a bun, leaving the nape of her neck bare and her pointed ears unobscured, with only a few tendrils to frame her face. She couldn’t help but let her own gaze wander and offer compliments to him as well, accidently matching their outfits. She had mentioned to be a little more dressed up for the evening than just for dinner, since they were to attend a play first, but he had exceeded her expectations.
 
The play had been a story she had only ever heard about but did not know intimately. Well, she certainly had now! There probably was not a single moment of the entire production where her face was not some form of shade of red. At some point during it, her hand had found his and their fingers were laced together. And even long after it was over, they still were clasped together, directing him towards the restaurant Shadarong Marlowe had made the reservations at. She had to get directions from her partner prior to leaving for the evening, to make sure she could find it okay. “I believe there should be a reservation under Myalis?”
 
After being directed to a secluded table in a far corner of the room, with a great view of the outside city covered in that delicate white dirt, they settled in for the evening, a pair of menus being left for them on the table. It was romantic and cozy. Marlowe had really outdone herself. She’d have to thank her partner later for allowing her to take Azir in her place. Powder blue eyes lifted to settle on the man in question, that shy smile returning to her features. “I am really glad you came out with me tonight, Azir. You make this all the more special for me.”

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Azir Venris Kil-Mitter
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Evening
Location: Shadarong Restaurant
Wearing: Blue and white Unovian not-so-casual
Tagging | Mentioning: Lyra | Marlowe
Lyra arriving at his dorm so early caught Azir off guard. Not that he didn’t want to see her. He lit up when the door swished open and he saw her there. He’d stepped out into the hall and listened to the change of plans, and the tale of what Marlowe had done - or tried to do. Azir was good at being stoic, so he didn’t show it, but his insides got wrapped up as he realized what she had done. Azir had gotten her a gift, of course, but he hadn’t been anywhere near so elaborate in preparation for this. He felt jealous of her. Envious that he didn’t have her foresight, or her ability to do things. And part of him felt sad that he was taking that from her. But it was a small part, because most of Azir was… Glad that she had chosen to stay to their plans - even if they had been minorly altered. The whole time he had been unable to keep his eyes from her. What she was wearing was so uncharacteristic, but he liked it.

When he had come to the Gravity door and hit the signal, Azir was stricken by what she had chosen. The pale skin of her shoulders and collar called to his eyes. But so did the way that she had done her hair. Azir really liked Lyra’s hair, and while he would never suggest she do anything that wasn’t what she wanted to do, as he saw it up he did wish she’d wear it like that more. Of course the cut of her dress made it effectively impossible not to notice the necklace that hung around her neck. He didn’t recognize it, and was positive that she hadn’t worn it before today. A gift then, maybe? His stomach did the tightening thing again. Who had given her something so precious - more precious than he realized, as he didn’t clock it as Arcanite. It made his own gift feel wholly inadequate where it sat within a hidden pocket on the inside of his jacket. He was almost embarrassed to give it to her, now. So he decided to wait.

Azir was fairly fluent in elvish stories. He was no bard, but they were something of a hobby for him. He found them comforting, and often inspiring. Many of them told of people he wished to emulate, and many more told of a world that he wished to help create. The Dragon’s Pact was one with which he was familiar. Once, years before coming to Hammer, he had read a version of it. The live adaptation of it was much more intense than he remembered. He was surprised that they didn’t get asked to leave. By the time the dragon Saphiron watched over Elowen and Thalion’s mating, Azir was pretty certain that both he and Lyra were glowing. During that scene in particular, Azir was so embarrassed that he couldn’t even hold her hand because he feared for sweating over there. He would never have guessed the performers would be so thorough and explicit in their recreation.

But it was good, and he enjoyed it immensely. And when their hands did finally meet again and lock, he wouldn’t have let go of hers for anything.

He followed easily through Onyx Central to the restaurant that he had never heard of. How Marlowe had managed to find it was beyond him. Her thoughtfulness was a gift. Though her deep attachment to Lyreilynn was something that he didn’t know what to do with. Best, he figured, to ignore it. That was for them and had nothing to do with him. The place was fancy, fancier than what was typical for him. He scooped around the place and the demure atmosphere of it while she called in the reservation. Her name drew his attention for just a second, as it always did on the rare occasion that it was spoke.

The table they were taken to was perfect. It was exactly the sort of place that he wanted to be. They were out, but alone. He didn’t want everyone else, he really just wanted to be with her. They could have spent the evening in the park, off the trail, for all he cared. Though, admittedly, the play and this dinner were much nicer plans. Slipping in across from her, the only thing that he wished was that he was closer. He yearned to be at her side again. It felt right. He thanked the waiter for the menu, and he looked up at her. Instantly a smile formed on his lips as he met her gaze. “There is no where I would rather be tonight,” Azir turned his gaze out and swept it over the snow covered city, “Or any night.” He reddened, looking quickly back at her.

“This has been,” Azir swallowed, unsure that he really wanted to draw attention to Marlowe’s birthday planning success, but recognizing that she had to already see and acknowledge it, “Wonderful. I’m… Gaudeo hic tecum esse, Lyreilynn.” He lifted his hands and gestured lightly at her, before extending them half across the table, palms up to take hers if she wished to give them, “Lucidus es, et sum felix hanc noctem tecum communicare.”

It finally felt like time. Azir began to pull a hand back to himself, “I,” his gaze averted somewhat as those feelings of inadequacy stirred up in him again, “Got you something.” Azir withdrew his other hand and pulled open his coat, reaching into the pocket and pulling out a simply wrapped rectangle. No one sane person could mistake it as anything other than a book. The wrapping was not fancy, a simple brown paper tied in a cross with a cloth twine. He held it between both hands, as if nervous to extend to her for a second, but he did eventually reach out with it. “I hope,” he continued to look toward her, but still down, worried to meet her eyes - worried to see disappointment in them, “You like it.”

Inside the wrapped was faded leather bound tome. It was old. A handwritten copy, a so-called first edition, of The Sixfold Path, written by Thaddeus Wren. The book would not be unfamiliar to Lyra. It was one of the earliest books she had read regarding the practice of Amacara. Modern copies of the book were as rare as anything relating to her sorcery, but it served as a sort of base primer to get people familiar with the concepts of the fundamental elemental energies of Toil. But this copy was older, less refined than any she had read before. This journal had hand written notes from Wren, and entire passages that had been left out of the copies made later. The book was unlikely to teach her anything new, but it would almost certainly give her insights about what she already knew on a slightly deeper level. Not that Azir had known any of that, he had just banked on it being old and historical and that being interesting to her, in combination with generally being about something for which she was passionate.

[TheFluffyOne]

Character Name: Hulta Elderfond
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: Outside the Academy
Wearing: This outfit with brown boots, cream tights and green cape!
Tagging | Mentioning: Lolo |
The sugar on the rim was certainly her favourite thing on the drink. Hulta made sure to turn back to Lolo as her tongue dragged along the rim and gathered up some more sugar crystals as a chaser to the drink. Hulta wanted to wriggle her eyebrows at Lolo’s suggestion that it doesn’t have to end now and that she had multiple ways to extend it. Then her nose nuzzled against Hulta’s warm cheek and Hulta let a small giggle leave her. “Anywhere?” She asked as Lolo seemed to melt into her. Her fingers landing on Hulta’s leg, her words brushing against her ear and her face nuzzling deep into her red hair.

Hulta hummed gently as she thought. A whisper of air spun the straw in her drink and mixed the alcohol more into the sweet nectar like drink. “I want the night to end on a high point.” She said with a warm smile as her fingers crept to resting on Lolo’s thigh. “Finish these…a little walk and then we can think up what we are doing next time and the time after that.” Hulta turned her face towards Lolo, narrowly missing brushing their lips together. Instead, she booped her nose against Lolo’s with a grin.

“That is if you can still walk after you down this.” Hulta smirked and raised her straw to her lips. Her thumb started to rub along the side of Lolo’s thigh as she took two large gulps of the drink. Before blinking rapidly and scrunching up her nose. “Oh…That’s where all the alcohol is.” The elf leaned forward with a smirk. "Vamos. Ponerse al día." There was a light pink to her cheeks as she so easily switched to her native tongue. There was another brief moment where Lolo’s straw seemed to drift towards her but Hulta merely rested her own straw past her lips again and took another hearty gulp.

[FyreFoxx]

Character Name: Lyreilynn "Lyra" Xyrven Myalis
Date | Time: November 12th | Early Evening
Location: Shadarong Restaurant
Wearing: Blue and white wrapped dress with blue floral pattern, dark blue sash, this hairstyle, teal Arcanite necklace
Tagging | Mentioning: Azir |

The way he admitted to wanting to be nowhere else than with her made her smile widen in response. She had made the right choice, she knew. This was where she wanted to be – with Azir. Lyra had made a big fuss over what to wear that evening and finally settled on a rather elegant dress from her homeland. The lower neckline had been an initial concern of hers, but a quick glance in a mirror had soothed her fears. There were very few scars showing that high up on her body, the worst of which were just below the hemline, out of sight. So, the fact he couldn’t keep his gaze off of her caused her face to heat up, shyly looking away as she reached up to tuck a loose tendril of hair behind her ear.
 
As he reached out for her, Lyra reciprocated the gesture, placing her hands in his outstretched ones, her fingers brushing along his wrists. His touch was electrifying. After that play, witnessing some of the more erotic scenes played out so vividly, her mind had been reeling. Between her newest pastime in her choice of reading material, the confession in the park that led to a near intimate encounter, the strange dream she had had… Lyra shifted slightly in her chair, dropping her gaze to their linked hands. She wanted to show him something very special that night, and she could only hope he would accept all of her.
 
When Azir started to pull a hand away, powder blues flicked up to his face, a slight frown on hers, wondering if she did something wrong, further fueling that fear as he withdrew both of them. She curled her fingers in on themselves, creating little balled up fists as she dropped her gaze to her now empty hands. Should she have said something then? But it wasn’t because of her, she soon realized, for he mentioned getting her something. “A-a gift?” Lyra blinked, her attention back on his face before watching him reach for something within his jacket. She hadn’t expected anything from him. Just him spending the evening with her would have been more than enough! “Y-you need not have troubled yourself. Just being here with me would have been more than I could have hoped for.” Still, she was not so rude as to decline an offered gift, reaching out for the simply wrapped object. “T-thank you, Azir.”
 
Carefully, Lyra pulled on the twine, letting it unravel on the table as she unfolded the paper wrapper. It was simple in execution, but it did the job it was intended for. She didn’t need fancy wrapping or bows. Fingers delicately traced over the cover of the tome, one she knew quite well, in fact. Her eyes widened as the realization hit her, peering over the familiar names of the title and author. Her smile stretched so far across her face that her lips parted, pearly white teeth shown as she squealed in delight. Powder blue eyes were practically sparkling as she flipped the cover open, gingerly letting her fingertips roam over the pages within. “Where… Where did you get this?”
 
Another page was flipped, her gaze following along a few hand-written notes that were unfamiliar to her, despite the rest of the content being something she knew almost intimately. “This… this is amazing, Azir! Records like this rarely exist! I have only ever found snippets of modern editions and they were incomplete. But this… This! A complete copy, with hand written notes! And this!” She tapped a passage that was wholly new. “There are parts that I have never read before. This is… truly amazing.” Finally, she looked back up at him, visibly vibrating in her seat from excitement. “I could kiss you for this!” For a moment, she seemed dazed, as if she wasn’t even aware of what she said, before she blushed deeply. “In fact, I think I will…”
 
Setting the book down on the table and closing the cover, she pressed one hand flat against it as she lifted out of her seat a bit, leaning across the table as she encouraged him to do the same, reaching out with her other hand to take one of his. Her eyes fluttered shut as their lips met halfway, a shy smile returning to her face when she finally pulled away. “I adore it, Azir. It is a wonderful gift. Te amo.”
 
Settling back into her seat, she was already missing the feel of his lips on hers, but she kept hold of his hand. Letting her gaze drop to the tome, Lyra brushed the fingers of her other hand over the cover with that shy smile still there. “I cannot believe you found something like this. Oh, but.” She pursed her lips slightly as she looked down at herself, her brows furrowed. She hadn’t been prepared to carry much with her that night, other than a way to transport her phone and money. Nothing as large as a book. “I… did not bring my normal bag with me. Could, could you hold onto it? Until we get back to the dorms?”
 
It was about that time that the waiter arrived back at their table, asking about their orders. Lyra’s face gained a new shade of red, glancing at Azir. Since arriving, she hadn’t even looked at the menu, too focused on her date to even consider food at that junction. “Oh! Um, just water?” She certainly needed water now to cool down from that moment.

[Aethyrium]

Character Name: Marlowe “Lolo” Ashe
Date | Time: November 15th | Early Evening
Location: The Oasis Lounge
Wearing: White sweater dress w/ knee high boots, Tiny white top hat w/ black rose
Tagging | Mentioning: Hulta |
“Anywhere,” She confirmed. Of course Lolo was maybe not thinking as broadly as the word might have implied, but if Hulta had asked she’d try regardless of the destination. To her, the whole night had been a high point. She was elated with how this date had gone. When she was alone later, she would think about it and process it more fully and it would sink in just how wonderful and needed it had been. Or perhaps she would be distracted at these promises of next time, and times after that. Lolo absolutely glowed at the suggestion. “And maybe more after that?” She requested, almost breathless as their noses touched.

Her attention drifted to the drink as it was indicated. Greedy for this future, Lolo turned and took up her drink. She gave it a rough stir that Hulta had accomplished with not but air - lucky magic girl! “Like a drink could beat me.” She declared, abandoning the straw once the mixture had been made. Lolo put her mouth on the rim and tilted the glass back. The sweet liquid washed over the crystals, and Lolo slowly spun the glass, downing all that remained in a long, slow series of gulps. As she pulled the glass away, licked clean of sugar and drained fully but for the ice, her whole body shivered. The potent taste of alcohol slammed into. Her shoulders raised, and she even, “Bbbbrrrh,” Lolo blinked several times and licked her lips, smacking them occasionally. “Found it!” She giggled loudly, shaking her head. That would all hit her in a few minutes. Fortunately, Marlowe was no lightweight despite drinking not being something she did particularly often.

She drew a deep breath and stared at Hulta for a moment as she sipped on the straw. Bright scarlet eyes got soft, and Lolo bit her lower lip as she reached out. Once more she stroked the back of her nails across the pale pink dusted skin, “You’re very beautiful, Hulta.” Her head lulled slightly to one side as she said it, and her lips curled, pushing her cheeks up high. It might not have been obvious given her action, but that definitely wasn’t the alcohol talking. Staring at her, Lolo was enraptured. The contrast between them, as her dark skin brushed the pale, tickled her. “I’m so glad we did this.”

Reaching for Hulta’s hand on her thigh, she scooped it up, denying herself any more of that thumb’s tender caress. For now, she thought. She wanted more of that later. “Come on, let’s go plan our future.” She grinned.