driftfleet | Waystation Mingle Log!

Wow... it really is amazing. I see why you'd come back to it, yeah.

[and he takes a minute to judge. he's never had a clear and precise imagination, so it takes some thinking to come to a conclusion.]

And the place I lived was... bigger, probably. I've never even seen the walls, so...

[and he shrugs a little, seeming kind of bashful about it.]

Bigger than a mountain range? I would so love to see it. Would you be willing to share?

[Hands on his hips now, he stands up from the building where he was leaning. Renacht is done and over, anyway. It's bringing up memories he doesn't want to think about right now.]

You... want to see it?

[surprised and suddenly hesitantly hopeful. maybe flattered. taking this turn as an amount of attention that he hadn't expected, and is hungry for.]

[Oh, he's flattered him. He's going to assume this since that's what he's used to doing... But more importantly:]

Of course! I have a fondness for new places. If it's as large as you say, I can only imagine how magnificent it must be.

[oh, he has made the elf's day, and it shows. his smile is more direct now, open, making sure to put as much charm into is as he can.]

It is! Well, it's kind of hard to tell when you're in the middle of it, you know? And it's all on flat ground, so it's not like this place. It's hard to actually see any--

[and then he suddenly stops as an idea hits him. and his grin widens.]

--Oh wait, no. I know exactly where I can show you.

The anticipation will be the death of me at this rate. Please, do show me! The floor is yours.

[He says this all while grinning, stepping back a bit as if to pass off the spotlight. He's done with his city.]

[with a grin, the elf scurries over to the nearest control panel so he can set up the next scene. and despite his general appearance of bashfulness, he is excited and focused now.

he likes to show off, maybe.

and so, with new commands being entered in, the current scene begins to come apart as another one assembles to take its place.

what manifests around them is the interior of some clean, fiercely-upscale office--the furniture all chrome, dark wood, and cold, monolithic black stone. all impressive in its own right, but the real masterpiece of the room is the enclosed glass balcony that sticks out from one wall... and hangs over the rest of the city down below.]

[Oren doesn't bother hiding any bit of excitement or curiosity as the scene unfolds around them. His eyes light up, and when he notices the rather simple room (to him) moves out towards the balcony.]

You've set it up with such suspense, my friend!

[He laughs back at Nel, stepping without hesitation into the glass balcony. It doesn't matter how high up-- he has no fear of heights, so he'll enjoy whatever view there is to offer.]

[Oren's excitement is contagious, and it's a form of praise that Nel just eats right up. he follows Oren to the balcony, but he stops where the floor turns into glass as well. he doesn't mind heights, but he's still a little hesitant to set foot there.

and Nel had been right about the size of the city. it might not be terribly beautiful in its architecture compared to what some might be used to, it is at least breathtaking in its construction--enormous buildings rising up between confounding layers of transportation ways. whether they're some kind of tracks or roads, the winding rivers of viaducts and overpasses are as wide as small city blocks in some cases. and the washes of smaller buildings--neighborhoods and slums--built under their shadow are a completely different social ecosystem altogether.

it all spreads out as far as the eye can see, even at this height. though, with the way the sun is setting, obliterating the horizon in fiery light, it's hard to tell exactly how far it really goes.

and somewhere high on the glass walls, a little window is pulled open, angled in a few inches. it's letting in just enough fresh air to make the balcony seem just that more open and airborne.]

[He takes his steps out over the glass until his fingers can press into the wall. Caring little about the fingerprints he might leave, he's taking in the sights. He's seen enough that he knows to look not just for beauty.

The size certainly does stand out first.]

What intricacy... [He's stood himself as close to the small window as he can be, but he moves to lean this way and that, showing no hesitation as he takes in the sights.]

What is the name of this city?

[he edges a little closer--just enough so that the toes of his boots are on the glass portion of the floor. and he's a little sheepish when he shrugs, even though he's gotten used to the question by now.]

I don't know, actually. Nobody really calls it by a name... it's kind of the only one around.

[A city without a name. The only one? It certainly stretches far enough. He wonders for a moment how joined these people are, how they're ruled, what the society is like.

But those questions are all too deep for an acquaintance just met. (Apparently makeouts are fine but economy and politics are not.)]

I like it.

[A simple statement, but from the way he steps around the edge of the glass, taking in the view, it's clear it's genuine.] I can't imagine a single person could explore every inch.

[There's something captivating about that. He stops in place, finally, turning to face Nel with a charming smile.]

And what about your name?

Yeah... I haven't even seen the walls for myself.

[and he gets caught up in watching Oren observe the city--allowing his attention to really drift outward while his visitor is occupied. he tries to really look at what details he can see from up here, and wonder how accurate they really are. he wonders if the computer is generating the image from his own imperfect memory, or if it really has been previously uploaded by some separate entity.

he thinks about the single evening that he'd seen this view for himself.

but then he's being turned toward and smiled at, and he reflexively throws up a bashful smile with just as much charm in return.]

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Nel.

There's nothing to apologize for, Nel. Weren't we both caught up in the splendor of cities?

[He's yucking it up here and he knows it, admitting it through a soft laugh. Still, he folds an arm over the front of him, giving a grandly exaggerated bow.]

You can call me Oren. The pleasure is mine, of course.

[Nel plays right along with the hammed-up gestures. he's the best audience for it, really--he wouldn't call his new friend out on any of it.

he just giggles, and affects a surprisingly-correct curtsy.]

Oh no, the pleasure is all mine, certainly.

[As he stands up from the bow, he watches that curtsy with great interest, stepping away from the glass and closer to his new acquaintance.]

Is it just the cities that interest you?

[and he plays his smile very well--gliding from joking to charming, slipping right into pretty obvious flirting without missing a step. playfully, he shrugs up his shoulders a little in affected bashfulness.]

I'm interested in lots of things.

A man of variety, then? You do seem the type.

[It's a game he knows well, and he has fun with it, leaning forward a little in his speech and touching the side of Nel's arm affectionately. It's a soft, fleeting brush as he steps towards the exit.]

So, what do you think then? A type of food? A spot you're fond of?

[They should do something, he thinks.]

[Nel simply absorbs even the little signs and gestures, drinking up the attention. but he rolls with it well despite his eagerness, holding himself with more poise than it maybe seems like he should have, judging by his looks.

he's still a slightly scummy creature, but his smile is perfect.]

Mm! Do you have any suggestions?

[politely deflecting back to his new friend.]

A few.

[With a glint in his eyes, he extends a hand for Nel to take if he'd like. It's offered elegantly, like one would to a partner at a ball, fingers uncurling slowly before him as he steps backwards.

This is promising, but he's not so classless as to ask for sex bluntly. It's more fun to tease up to it.]

I've already eaten, and the sights of the waystation are almost overwhelming at this point, don't you think? I'd quite like a nice corner where we can relax.

[He eyes Nel a little more directly, his smile widening as he turns his steps backwards into playful little hops. He's heading out the exit now.]

If I'm lucky, perhaps we can dance.

[and Nel follows, obedient, with a demure grin lighting up his face. Though he might be playing up the bashfulness for charm's sake, falling into a fitting role with Oren offering his hand like that, the smile is a genuine one.

especially when Oren mentions one of Nel's favorite words in the world--whatever the meaning behind it.]

I love dancing.

Do you?

[Oren loves all types of dancing. Innuendo or no... So there's no wrong way this could end up, but the bashfulness is promising. Encouragement.]

Then it is not by coincidence that we've met, but fate! [He laughs, recognizing his own corniness as he leads Nel along. He's poked around enough where he knows a nice spot, he thinks.] And what sort of dancing is your favorite?

[and if he'd asked him about pretty much any other topic in the world, Nel would have had to make it up or avoid the question entirely, because recognizing his own opinions and preferences has never been something he's been good at.

this, though...]

I like... [and he sways a little on his feet, as if he's hearing music in his ears as he thinks back and deliberates.]

When it's fast. Full of energy, you know. When everybody's all-- [and here, instead of trying to describe it, he just puts up his free arm a little and bops in place to help explain, as they walk along. just enough to try and be cute about it, showing that he's good at moving his hips.]

[It's cute. Cute. And he's not about to shy away from it. He laughs as they move along, shifting with a little hop to fall into step with Nel. His own free arm raises slowly to join Nel's, and he imitates his little dance himself. He's not alone in those nice hip movements, now.]

Like this?

[There's a little area off to the side just ahead that he spots and takes advantage of. Guiding Nel there now in a half dance, he ups the movements, throwing in steps and flare from home. Upbeat dancing that he thinks Nel will like-- all leading up to one nice move. He steps back so that his arm slips out of grip, does half a turn and reaches his hand out to take Nel's raised one, spinning him closer.

A bit of slow mixed with a bit of fast, and now they're close and Oren is grinning down at him, searching out his eyes.]

And what about that?

[and oh how he loves the extra bit of flair and effort that he rarely ever gets. it's not much, but it's still enough to make him already feel a little spoiled. how lucky he is that this fine, charming man is choosing to lavish him with so much attention, right?

though he keeps up that almost demure air about him, he isn't actually shy in the least. he's peering up and meeting Oren's eyes too directly for the bashfulness he's wearing to be genuine.

it's all an act--they've chosen their roles.]

...I like that too.

Waystation Mingle Log!

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