Phase Ten: Wine and Dine

[emorangerpink]

1. (daytime in Neo France)

[Laura's taking advantage of a place with - recent events notwithstanding - peace and quiet and stability to go... shopping! Bookstores! Boutiques! Jewelers! ...Hardware stores? Huh?]

Surely somewhere must have it... Is it because I'm asking in English?

2. (that evening, locked to Dita)

Comments

1

[minorbeat]

(Seiren runs into Laura with a piece of bread in hear mouth. She gives Laura a curious look as she finishes the food in her mouth.)

What are you looking for Laura?

[emorangerpink]

Oh, Seiren! Well, lots of things, but the one thing I specifically wanted, I can't seem to find... silicone oil, and lithium batteries.

It's frustrating - neither are actually rare...

[minorbeat]

(Seiren raises an eyebrow at that.)

Silicone oil and lithium batteries? Why would you...if you don't mind me asking, is it by any chance for Rain?

[emorangerpink]

Yes. Ummm... apparently they taste good.

[Laura looks sheepish.]

2

[chases_aliens]

[Dita is there, dressed in something nice. It's a to-the-knees design, with tasteful accents here and there and a purse as well. She's also smiling at Laura.]

I'm glad we were able to get in.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura's gone for something a little different - where before she'd dressed up for special occasions, this evening she's playing up rather than muting her looks, which Dita can no doubt tell is contributing to her nerves. Indeed, that she can't take her eyes off Dita is most of what's keeping her from being too self-conscious to function.]

I wasn't sure anywhere would have tables on such short notice, but they had a few cancellations. I'm glad too... I wanted to take you somewhere nice.

[chases_aliens]

And it's a wonderful gesture, and I love that you've gone and done this for me too.

[Dita smiled at her, brushing a lock of her hair away. She had opted for a different hairstyle too, and she looked stunning with her natural red hair flowing down her back.]

[emorangerpink]

[MENUS. Menus are our friends - they give us a pretext to break eye contact and something to hide behind, all in one, when we're turning pink and temporarily speechless!]

...The bisque here is supposed to be very good...

1

[a_human_work]

[During her dash of shopping, Laura bumps into Michelle on the main shopping street of the city. She's carrying a bag that appears to come from a bookstore.]

Oh, hi. Looking for something specific?

[emorangerpink]

Ah, Michelle...

Just trying to track down a few supplies. It seems like the shops have everything else...

[And indeed it seems she's made a few impulse buys during her search.]

What about you?

[a_human_work]

Just a few books, nothing special...

I might get more, I only just started.

So get something nice? Even if it wasn't what you were looking for.

[emorangerpink]

Oh, a few bits and pieces... gifts mostly. And maybe a few things for myself...

I thought places like Corinth and Arkham were oases... it's really something to have a place that's still part of the normal world that has so many of the comforts of home.

1

[an_alpha_wolf]

Laura's favorite Gattica Baby is haggling excitedly in broken English with a scalper at the grandiose entrance to the Palais Garnier. This is compounded by them having different words for 'yes' and 'no' between them but eventually he manages to talk the man down into what he believes to be a good deal.

"Well bargained and done." He says, buying his illicit ticket and sealing it with a handshake. Both think of the other as fools for agreeing to such a price.

He looks pretty happy about it.

[emorangerpink]

Oooooh. Have you ever gone to a live performance before?

[an_alpha_wolf]

"Neg. I narrowly missed my last chance and I will not miss it again." He turns to her, beaming.

[emorangerpink]

Well you certainly picked a good venue. What's the show?

1

[chozo_girl]

[And Laura may see something towering over the Neo-French people. It's, indeed, Samus! It's just a bit harder to realize at first because she actually put on those civilian clothes she got some time ago - it's not frequent to see her out of her self-cleaning Zero Suit. Still, despite the intent, the brown trousers and jacket do not make her much less intimidating, and people seem to part a bit as she goes through.

She stops in front of what looks like a bookstore, eyeing the things in the shelves with her usual impenetrable frown]

[emorangerpink]

Samus. Are you looking for something?

[Laura's in a good mood, it seems, and barely even double-takes at the sight of Conventionally Dressed Hunter.]

[chozo_girl]

Laura.

[A slight nod]

I have been reading some of your planet's literature. But it has all been borrowed. I prefer to avoid that.

[emorangerpink]

Well, that's why we set up the library! I'll be adding a few items of my own to it after this. Is there anything in particular you wanted to read?