[RL with Larry] Meeting "Laurice" at Hazakura Temple

[bright_mirror]

Iris walked toward the dining room, feeling a sense of pleasant anticipation about tonight's dinner. It was nice to meet Mr. Butz in person, of course - No, she mentally chided herself, it's Mr. Laurice now - and she had to admit, she was curious about Mystic Elise, who Sister Bikini had been so eager not to offend

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[probablythebutz]

“Don’t move, don’t move!” ‘Laurice’ cried, hands held up as he peered at her through his framed fingers. The lighting in the room provided the perfect ambience for a portrait piece: dim, yet still vivid enough to cast dramatic shadows on Iris’ (way cuter in real life) face. “This is a moment that needs to be memorized!”

[bright_mirror]

Iris wasn't really sure what he was so excited about, but stayed obligingly still. "...It does?"

[probablythebutz]

Laurice nodded enthusiastically, committing the vision to memory. “For my next work. My magnum opus, if you will!” He dropped his hands to his sides and gave Iris an appreciative look.

She really was cute. Maybe not the kind of girl he’d typically date (not that he was looking, of course! That was Larry who did that; Larry fell in love at the drop of a hat and got his heart stomped on just as often. Laurice knew what life was really about), but she had a certain shy charm about her that may have driven him wild if he hadn’t seen the error of his ways.

He tore his gaze away long enough to take in his surroundings. “So, this is Hazakura Temple, huh? Kinda reminds me of the temples in the Tibet.”

[bright_mirror]

She still couldn't see what was so wonderful about the hallway they were standing in, but he was an artist; perhaps he saw something that she didn't. She smiled at him warmly. "Well, um, good luck." With whatever it is...

Hearing the question, she nodded and said, "Oh, have you been to Tibet?"

[probablythebutz]

He knew that would get her. Giving himself a mental pat on the back, he flashed her his most charming grin and said, “Yeah, I spent two years there, in fact! The whole experience was pretty Zen, I gotta tell you. But I think I like this place better.”

[bright_mirror]

That was strange. Hadn't he said before that life here sounded boring? But maybe he'd changed his mind... "Oh, um, what did you do there?"

[probablythebutz]

Laurice frowned. She hadn’t taken the bait-not that he had set any because he honestly didn’t care, but if he had really wanted her to, he might have been a little disappointed. And then he might need to try a different strategy.

Lucky for him he didn’t care.

…Although mentioning that he was there for a woman probably wasn’t a good idea either way, considering how into him Iris obviously was.

“Oh, you know,” he said, eyes cast upward in thought. “A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Mostly taking in the sights.” And the sights were definitely worth taking in, he fondly recalled. Tibetan women were in a class all their own. “It’s pretty hot over there.”

[bright_mirror]

Was it just her imagination, or did Mr. Laurice look a little bit... out of sorts? Her imagination, probably; it wasn't as if they were talking about anything particularly upsetting.

"Where else have you been?" she asked, curious.

[probablythebutz]

Oh yeah, totally into him.

Smiling, he inched a little closer (and had it been a couple months ago, he might have noticed how pretty her eyes were when she was looking at him curiously like that-they were so big and beautiful and doe-like). “All sorts of places,” he told her, smile never faltering. “Hollywood, Catalina, Cancun… I’m telling you, man, there’s a whole world you’re missing out on by being cooped up in here all the time! You should get out more.”

[bright_mirror]

There, he was all smiles again; she'd definitely been imagining things. "Oh, that - that's very kind of you, but I really am happy here. And Sister Bikini needs me, in any case."

[probablythebutz]

So kind! So thoughtful! So obviously self-sacrificing! If it had been anyone else, he might suspect a ruse-women were notorious for those, after all-but not Iris. He could tell she was authentic, a real, genuine sweetheart. It was a shame he didn’t care at all; he knew they’d make the perfect couple.

“Well, if you ever change your mind…” He beamed proudly. “I am a famous artist, you know! …Or I will be once Ms. Deauxnim’s next book is published. I could show you the world!”

[bright_mirror]

She smiled back, happy to see how excited he obviously was about his newfound calling. "Well, then, why don't you paint pictures of the places where you travel?" she suggested. "I'd love to see them, if you do."

[probablythebutz]

“Hey, that’s a great idea! Come to think of it, I can start with this place. I saw a rickety, old bridge on the way up here that’d make a great piece!” Laurice wasted no breath. After a quick, affirming nod, he snapped his fingers and went straight into saying, “Oh, hey! I have my sketchbook back in my room if you wanna, you know… stop by later and see some drawings. I bet a work of art like you has an eye for greatness.” He threw in a wink for good measure. “I’d love to get your opinion!”