Excuses, excuses [open~for rlz this time I swear]

[timehax]

Characters: Rolo, Lulu, anyone else with a four letter name can come 8| *bricked*
Content: After the fight with Sync, Rolo tries to ninja back on the ship to lick his wounds and fails miserably.
Setting: Victoria II
Time: Evening
Warnings: Should be pretty clean~

Comments

[star_cactuar]

Lulu had changed out of her uniform following her outing with Ensign Fenton in the afternoon. Now free from her fatigues, she walked about in a dress of her own creation, one of her favorites. She had recycled a great many belts, weaving them into a panel in the front of her skirt, until it became almost like a thick leather cloth of it's own.

It may have been bulletproof.

She nearly missed the familiar face walking back towards the ship, looking respectfully at the ground. Only a quick glance gave her pause.

"Ensign Rolo." She called out pleasantly over the bustle of the port.

[timehax]

He wasn't too fortunate; someone spotted Rolo, but he relaxed slightly at the smooth voice. He knew that voice - it was Lulu, one of his fellow gunners and a competent woman in her own right.

"Sub-Lieutenant Lulu," He greeted her, unable to help but tug his collar up nervously when walked towards her. Ignoring her probably would have been too suspicious, not to mention improper conduct.

Rolo looked like he wanted to say something else, but he paused at the sight of that... dress.

It took a few moments for Rolo to realize that he was looking down, something that Lulu was generally displeased of, and redirected his gaze to her face.

"Um, that's a ... nice dress."

[star_cactuar]

"Thank you."
She smiled pleasantly at his kind words, tilting her head to the side slightly, long braids swishing across her back. "Have you been enjoying your leave so far? I was just about to step out for some dinner if you'd like some company."

Sensing some discomfort in her shipmate, she tried to give him a reassuring look, also making direct eye contact, so as not to look at what he appeared to be hiding under his collar.

[timehax]

One thing Rolo always liked about Lulu was that she didn't pry, as she was doing right now by keeping direct eye contact. Although he wanted to decline her offer... At the same time, maybe he could get some information about Sync out of her. She'd been on the Victoria II longer than he had, anyway.

"... That sounds good. Maybe we can talk," He nodded, turning around and waiting for her to lead.

[star_cactuar]

And lead she did, moving gracefully around the people that were out looking for a good time, her steps careful so as not to lose her companion. Occasionally, she would look over her shoulder to make certain he was still there.

"What are you in the mood for? I am up for trying anything." She smiled warmly back at Rolo. "I have not been to this place in so long. The eateries I had visited must have closed by now."

[timehax]

Rolo followed silently, able to keep up with Lulu. The way she looked back was actually sort of irritating, in a way: it just made Rolo feel like she didn't expect him to keep up.

"I'm not sure myself. I usually don't eat outside the mess hall," Rolo answered, but he tried to remember the extremely few times someone had actually managed to drag him to a social event in Bellcius.

Well, he tried, but none of them ended with him actually leaving the ship.

"I guess anything that's edible? Considering the food we eat, I guess that'd be the first place we find," Rolo stated. It seemed like it was meant to be a joke, but Rolo said that with a strange amount of seriousness.

[star_cactuar]

"Do not worry." She said wit ha coy sort of smile. "I don't mind choosing, then."
She led the way out of the dock district, looking to find some place a little less... less rough, she might have described it.
Because of the holiday, every restaurant they came across was packed with life, people making merry for the sake of making merry. Finally, she stopped in front of one such place where a great party seemed to be leaving all at once.
"We should be able to find a table here." She said, looking up at the sign. "I have not been here, so I cannot garuantee the fare is better than the mess hall..."

[timehax]

Honestly, Rolo could care less, as long as they sat down in a place where he could speak to Lulu. Fortunately, she had a good eye and it seemed like the place she picked wasn't packed.

"It's fine, I trust your ability to pick fine restaurants," Rolo reassured her, looking around to see if there really was a table open.

[star_cactuar]

She too, looked around the still crowded but not packed eatery.
"What would you like to talk about, Ensign? Has there been something going amongst our crewmates?" She paused her search to watch Rolo, wondering if perhaps she had been too presumptive.

[timehax]

While waiting for a waitress to come and seat them, Rolo noticed that Lulu was looking at him again and turned his head, trying to keep the bruised side of his neck out of view.

Though judging from her question, she either caught on or was just very perceptive.

"Sort of..." Rolo paused, trying to find a decent lie to tell. "I met another Sub-Lieutenant while I was out, I think his name was... Synchron fon Elemni?"

"We spoke for a bit, but he dropped something and I didn't notice until after he was gone. You wouldn't happen to know where he usually is on the ship, would you?"

A room number was really what Rolo was looking for, but he supposed anything would have been useful. If Lulu even knew who he was.

[star_cactuar]

"Sub-lieutenant fon Elemni..." She frowned softly at the name. "I have seen him before, but we have not really spoken to one another. I apologize for not being able to help..."
She sensed that Rolo may have only been scratching the surface of his problem, but it really wasn't he place to pry. Not here, anyway. Instead, she pointed to a spot in the corner of the bar, which looked a little emptier.

[timehax]

"Oh, I see. It's alright."

Inside, Rolo was fuming. It was a long shot, but... no, he really couldn't blame Lulu for not knowing anything about Sync. She really wasn't the right person to ask, but Rolo had to start somewhere.

Still, he didn't want to further act suspicious, so he accepted her answer and followed her to the corner of the bar, thinking of another subject to talk about. Rolo wasn't very good at small talk.

"So that... uh, that dress. Where did you buy it?"

[star_cactuar]

She could sense his disappointment, but decided not to call him out upon it to make him uncomfortable. He had his reasons for looking for Sync, and it was not her business to pry.
"Oh, this?" She smiled gently. "I made it myself, if you can believe it..."

[timehax]

There was a strange look of disbelief on Rolo's face when Lulu told him that she made the dress herself, as it looked like the teen was trying to get another look at it. Well, it didn't look like something that would be sold in stores...

"That's... amazing," He quipped, actually mildly impressed if only because of how complex it looked. "How'd you found that many belts?"

[star_cactuar]

"Well," She smiled a little as she ran her fingers across the strips of leather, each one a memory. "They all belonged to my friends and loved ones at one time or another. Whenever one of their belts wore out, I took them and wove them together. I do so hate waste."
She shifted her hips so he could get a better look at the craftsmanship of the leather. "I had to buy a special awl to work with the pieces. I broke three needles before that..."