Woo or Lose | Intro | Open

[prominence_fire]

Maybe a local came up to you with the idea, offering a ~*fabulous*~ prize. Maybe one of her "coworkers" challenged you to do it. However it happened, you- that's right YOU - must now woo this chick.

That's right. The one over there in the mall. On the large metal dance pad for that one game you may or may not have heard about. With the crazy bright

Comments

o/ *offers some company?* Punishment or prize?

[the_earths_salt]

Lexaeus can't really say that he likes malls. Then again, he can't really say that he likes challenges of this sort, either.

Ultimately though, he can't help but agree to the terms that have been set out for him. If nothing else, he reasons, this will be excellent practice for pretending he has emotions. As cruel as it is to play with someone's heart, it will do him good to simulate a relationship, and thereby understand people better and further his skills at blending in. And there's certainly no danger of getting unduly attached to his target....

....Or, it seems, his target getting attached to him; Lexaeus realizes that as soon as he sees Axel on the strange game console. Does this mean he loses by default? Or could the two of them just act out a romance and call it good? Perhaps the latter would be good enough, if he's lucky.

Encouraged by the familiarity, Lexaeus makes his way through the crowd, pausing a few steps away to watch Axel dance. An impressive enough display, he has to admit, but.... He raises his voice a notch to be heard above the noise of the crowd. "A machine like that hardly does your skills justice, Axel."

Heeey! 8D Prize. Didn't expect someone to pop up.

[prominence_fire]

Up, down, right then left then right again- it's all just a pattern. She isn't a genius- never made that claim- but even she knows patterns. It's just memory and hers is pretty good. It's a stress reliever, too, and after everything in this city, she needs it. With how absorbed she is in the game, it's easy to forget the outside world exists... Or that there are other people.

The familiar voice is unexpected and snaps right through her concentration. Axel jumps in surprise, almost tempted to turn around, but she at least finishes what she starts. Besides... The flashing lights still have her attention and, to make up for the one second delay, she slams her foot down onto the pad.

With that, the song's done with. While the game cheerfully talks about scores and programmed congratulations, Axel wipes the back of her hand across her forehead. "I know," she replies, smirking as she twists on her heel to face her coworker. "But it's a nice little way to waste time. But enough about me." She leans against the railing, arms crossed lazily. "How's it going there, big guy? Didn't expect to see you of all people here." She wouldn't expect any of the original six to show up in a place like this- maybe Xigbar, but he's... weird. The others are much more serious.

8D I thought you looked lonely~ <3 Any preferences?

[the_earths_salt]

Axel startles, but doesn't answer right away, which is expected; obviously, the console is some sort of timing and pattern-based game. Matching footwork to music and simple directions, by the look of it. Lexaeus does a quick visual sweep of his companion instead of interrupting further. For as lanky as Axel is, he moves well, and it's easy to see that the man is built for speed. Long legs, the distinct flare of wide hips under their trademark long coat, a perplexingly slender waist, the....

....the undeniable curve of his breasts....? What?

If he weren't such an inexpressive person by nature, Lexaeus might have registered some sort of shock and confusion at this observation. Instead, he chews over this apparent impossibility in the back of his mind as Axel leans against the railing to address him; while he would ordinarily feel a bit wary about announcing his mission in public, the crowd is loud enough that he doubts anyone could eavesdrop. "It's been going.... well enough; I was sent here to investigate, and The City has proven to be more of a challenge than I had originally expected. What brings you here?"

I've been tormenting her elsewhere. <3 Not particularly?

[prominence_fire]

The nice thing about Lexaeus is that he's slightly less dickish than most of the Organization. Axel isn't sure if she'd use "nice"- they're all complete heartless bastards, or bitches as the case may be. But the fifth of the Organization doesn't have Larxene's sadism or Xigbar's annoying habits, so she has a good chance of not getting mocked for her current state. He's even readable, unlike their ever elusive and enigmatic leader.

"Yeah?" The grin she flashes doesn't tell of her own experiences in this place- not the 'getting lost in a blizzard' bit, or that thing with the fog and strange monsters. Definitely not the... coffin thing. She's casual until the very core. "It's a tricky place. I'm pretty sure it has some sorta mental disorder." To put it lightly.

Hopping over the railing, she drags her coat off of it as well. Instead of pulling it on, she just slings it over one shoulder and cranes her neck to look up at Lexaeus. "I'm just here to explore the place. Don't mind me. Although I am curious." She taps her chin curiously. "What have you found out about this place?" Maybe if she gets more than her paltry share of info, she'll have better luck...

Ooooh, I see. <3 Fair enough~

[the_earths_salt]

Mocking is the last thing Lexaeus intends to do. In fact, at the moment, he isn't even sure he wants to mention it at all. He doesn't want to alienate Axel, and really, it should be none of his concern what gender his colleague is. If Axel wants him to know, then he--she--will surely let him know in good time, so there's no need to pry just yet.

He raises both eyebrows in mild curiosity at her comment, unable to help but be intrigued by the possibility Axel had brought up. "A mental disorder.... well, I've never heard of a city or world that was sentient in its own right, but...." But he thinks it might explain some things. As cheerful and casual as Axel is acting, some part of him can't help but think that she's onto something.

Lexaeus steps back to give Axel room to land, sweeping his hand in a gesture of invitation. "Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much there is to tell, but I'll give you what I know. Would you prefer talking over drinks or lunch, perhaps?" He offers the seething swarm of humanity around them a dubious glance; it would definitely be easier and more pleasant to chat somewhere quieter.

[prominence_fire]

Heh. She'd thought that sort of offer would come- maybe not the exact wording or even an offer at all, but still. Sometimes it seems like she's one of the few who likes losing herself in the crowd. "It's not like I have anything better to do," she says with a roll of a shrug, not thinking twice about the invitation. The statement is one Saix would no doubt disagree with but, well, Saix isn't here right now, isn't that right?

She glances into the surge of people, but it's less to reflect on the situation and more to pick up on a few things. One, just to regain her bearings, a little refresher course. Secondly, you never know what you can pick up when you shift through a few conversations. At last, she nods and gestures to Lexaeus to follow. It's easy enough for her to slip through the crowds, but she stops every now and then to make sure Lexaeus is able to do it.

The place she stops at is Indian, but Axel doesn't care much about the name. It's the food and the atmosphere- warm and exotic- that appeals to her. "Alright with you?" she asks over her shoulder.

[the_earths_salt]

While he himself is cool, steadfast stability, Axel is different--all heat and life, movement and energy. She's full of dazzling smiles and mercurial grace and sharp edges to fascinate and forewarn. She belongs to the crowd, probably even feels energized by it; he, on the other hand, is isolated by it, an anchor of a rocky island in the middle of a storm-tossed sea. It's difficult to feel at ease here, in the middle of so much chatter and bustle.

At least he's tall enough to be able to see over the heads of a fair part of the crowd; while Axel can easily slip through the crush of people, Lexaeus finds it slower going, forced to push past and murmur apologies as he goes; he navigates simply by keeping an eye on the splash of brilliantly red hair he's following. No doubt Saix would disapprove of this little game, but.... well, he wasn't stuck here, now was he?

They finally stop at a place with a warm ambiance and air thick with spices, boasting a name in some language Lexaeus has never seen before. Obviously some far-flung foreign cuisine in this world; Lexaeus nods without hesitation. "Certainly." Admittedly, he doesn't regularly eat spicy foods, but he's willing to try new things; Lexaeus flashes two fingers to the greeter as they step inside to ask for their table, taking a moment to let his ears adjust as they leave the babble of the halls behind.

[prominence_fire]

While she waits, Axel idly takes in the place. She's been to a few of these kind of places before. Again there's the pattern, but hey. Themes are for the masses. The silence from Lexaeus' direction isn't much of a problem; there are dozens of other people in this city, and it would be easier than snapping her fingers to find someone more talkative. Hell, she could have found Demyx.

She looks back up when a waiter comes to escort them to their table, which already has menus and glasses of water waiting when they arrive. Axel slips into her seat, flashing a smile to the waiter briefly. As her fingers flip through the menu, she asks, "So, have you simply been in recon mode the entire time you've been here or anyone catch your eye?" Who knows how the first six act sometimes...