Aishe was surprised to be offered a pretty blue lotus made of carefully folded paper. She cocked her head curiously at Nic, for he didn't look too happy. Briefly she wondered if perhaps they were boring him. How could they not be? She hadn't yet met a man who enjoyed shopping for stationery.
"Thank you, Nic," Aishe said, accepting the flower with a smile. "And they said thoughtfulness didn't happen naturally in the male of the species."
A wink let him know that she was teasing; she showed her appreciation for the gift by tucking it into her french braid, just above and behind her right ear.
"Blue lotuses are my favorite," she said. "You must be psychic as well as thoughtful." Turning to the lady Nic had been speaking to, she smiled ather as well. "Who's your friend?"
A Room With A View of the... Mall? (attn: Nic, Dani)
Aishe got into the elevator and pressed the appropriate button. 31 floors was an awfully long elevator ride. She was still feeling unexpectedly happy, and she turned to Dani to mention it.
"I can't believe I'm this excited to be buying pajamas," she confessed. "It seems like forever since anything has felt 'normal,' but here I am hanging out going shopping as if I were a teenager again. Go figure."
When the elevator's smooth ride came to an end 31 stories above the ground, Aishe got out and led Dani and Fatty to the right suite. She opened the door and let them both precede her in. She hadn't been here long, so her things had simply been tossed into the bedroom. In all honesty she wasn't sure how long she'd be staying. Her future was decidedly undecided.
"I'll make it super-quick," she promised. "I'm sure you know the layout far better than I do, so just make yourself at home."
With that she quickly bounced into the bedroom, rummaged around for an outfit that wasn't too horribly wrinkled, and then headed into the bathroom for a trip in and out of the shower.
Aishe
18 years ago
Pakpao
18 years ago
She swore, in Thai, under her breath. Right now the –only- thing that was keeping her from attempting to rip his head off or verbally massacre him is he was in the towers. She was –not- going to get into a fight with him, in the tower meant clan and that was more important that her mood.
She smiled, tightly with effort but did smile attempting to clarify that she had almost sort of attempted to apologize for her earlier snap.
“You misunderstand me I’m sure.”
The smile didn’t last too long, it hurt. Noting the women for the two women for the first time Pak just blinked. Two? Oh good lord he was one of those. No, no, stop. No attacking hadn’t she just decided that? Instead she nodded to both of them by way of greeting.
Knowing the Casanova didn’t have her name Pak provided it, rather than have him suffer.
“Pakpao.”
She smiled, tightly with effort but did smile attempting to clarify that she had almost sort of attempted to apologize for her earlier snap.
“You misunderstand me I’m sure.”
The smile didn’t last too long, it hurt. Noting the women for the two women for the first time Pak just blinked. Two? Oh good lord he was one of those. No, no, stop. No attacking hadn’t she just decided that? Instead she nodded to both of them by way of greeting.
Knowing the Casanova didn’t have her name Pak provided it, rather than have him suffer.
“Pakpao.”
Nicholae
18 years ago
"You are most welcome. I just saw it and thought of you."
Glad to see Aishe liked the little trinket, he realized he hadn't introduced himself to the new woman.
"Excuse my poor manners. My name is Nic, and this is Aishe..."
He looked around for Dani but for the moment she was unseen.
He then held out his hand to Pakpao, and hoped she was letting the whole prior issue go.
"My other friend Dani, who seems to have escaped us for the moment, is showing us a bit of the Towers."
He smiled at Aishe, and hoped it was ok that he'd introduced her as well.
Glad to see Aishe liked the little trinket, he realized he hadn't introduced himself to the new woman.
"Excuse my poor manners. My name is Nic, and this is Aishe..."
He looked around for Dani but for the moment she was unseen.
He then held out his hand to Pakpao, and hoped she was letting the whole prior issue go.
"My other friend Dani, who seems to have escaped us for the moment, is showing us a bit of the Towers."
He smiled at Aishe, and hoped it was ok that he'd introduced her as well.
Danielle
18 years ago
Dani followed Aishe into the store and worked her way back to the prepackaged thank you cards with assurances that she would not be long. Of course, immediately after that pronouncement she found herself pondering her options…just what sort of card did one get for an Anantya? She had wanted to send Claire a note thanking her for helping with her costume and to let her know what a lovely time she had, and even if there had been an available email address Dani didn’t think that would do.
Finally selecting some hand made blue paper with ivory envelopes, she cast about for something pretty to put on the outside, as a letter didn’t seem complete in her mind without stickers or something interesting. She saw some seals to press into wax off to one side and thought that seemed very Anantya, but being uncertain of the right sort to get she thought it best to go with some pretty sea shell stickers instead.
Realizing that she had likely taken forever to pick out some simple stationary, she shook her head and picked out an assorted pack of blank thank you cards for a few others on her list and headed toward the front. Fatty had apparently thought they had decided to camp out in the store and was most reluctant to move, but eventually he realized he wasn’t going to get away with a nap right now and waddled behind her to the cash registers.
“Sorry, sorry, for some reason I take forever in here! Oh, hi Pakpao, I see you’ve met Nic and Aishe?”
Finally selecting some hand made blue paper with ivory envelopes, she cast about for something pretty to put on the outside, as a letter didn’t seem complete in her mind without stickers or something interesting. She saw some seals to press into wax off to one side and thought that seemed very Anantya, but being uncertain of the right sort to get she thought it best to go with some pretty sea shell stickers instead.
Realizing that she had likely taken forever to pick out some simple stationary, she shook her head and picked out an assorted pack of blank thank you cards for a few others on her list and headed toward the front. Fatty had apparently thought they had decided to camp out in the store and was most reluctant to move, but eventually he realized he wasn’t going to get away with a nap right now and waddled behind her to the cash registers.
“Sorry, sorry, for some reason I take forever in here! Oh, hi Pakpao, I see you’ve met Nic and Aishe?”
Pakpao
18 years ago
Deep breath, smile nod shake the offered hand. She was trying, really she was but her people skills were not what they could be right now.
“Pleasure to meet you both.”
Dani, Dani… ah… Dani. Pak smiled, an honest to god smile too. Someone she almost knew. That made her feel a bit better, less out of place.
“Hello Dani. Yes, we’ve mostly met.”
“Pleasure to meet you both.”
Dani, Dani… ah… Dani. Pak smiled, an honest to god smile too. Someone she almost knew. That made her feel a bit better, less out of place.
“Hello Dani. Yes, we’ve mostly met.”
Nicholae
18 years ago
When Dani caught up with them, Nic was glad to see she already knew Pakpao. He pulled the other flower out of the bag, and handed it to her.
"I saw these and thought of you...I hope you like this flower. It's just a small thank you for including me in your walk tonight."
After he handed her the flower, he moved aside to let the women chat. While he enjoyed the company of many women, in truth he did much better with fewer numbers, when it came to talking.
"I saw these and thought of you...I hope you like this flower. It's just a small thank you for including me in your walk tonight."
After he handed her the flower, he moved aside to let the women chat. While he enjoyed the company of many women, in truth he did much better with fewer numbers, when it came to talking.
Danielle
18 years ago
Dani paid for her purchases and took her small shopping bag, explaining as she wrapped up business.
“That’s good; Aishe and Nic are new to the towers so we’re having a look around.”
Smiling up at Nic, she took the flower and slipped the stem through the buckle of her purse.
“Oh you really didn’t have to, it’s my pleasure! But thank you so much; I love the color.”
Seeing that Aishe was wearing a new flower in her hair, she grinned even more broadly; it really was a sweet gesture and it seemed like he had put some thought into what worked for each of them respectively.
“So, anywhere else you two would like to go? Pak, you’re welcome to join us if you’d like.”
It would be nice, in Dani’s mind, for both Aishe and Nic to get to know some people around here and it was quite fortuitous that they had run into Pak.
“That’s good; Aishe and Nic are new to the towers so we’re having a look around.”
Smiling up at Nic, she took the flower and slipped the stem through the buckle of her purse.
“Oh you really didn’t have to, it’s my pleasure! But thank you so much; I love the color.”
Seeing that Aishe was wearing a new flower in her hair, she grinned even more broadly; it really was a sweet gesture and it seemed like he had put some thought into what worked for each of them respectively.
“So, anywhere else you two would like to go? Pak, you’re welcome to join us if you’d like.”
It would be nice, in Dani’s mind, for both Aishe and Nic to get to know some people around here and it was quite fortuitous that they had run into Pak.
Aishe
18 years ago
"Nice to meet you Pakpao." Aishe smiled at the woman, noticing their similarities before the differences. They had the same long black hair, golden-hued skin, although Aishe's skin was much darker.
Pakpao was obviously of Asian descent, but her eyes were a surprising light blue color. Aishe thought they were quite beautiful.
As she listened to the conversation around her, she wondered if Pakpao worked for Meridian and lived at Liefde as well. She had to admire the convenience of being able to live where you worked. At first she'd thought it might be difficult to separate work from play with that kind of arrangement, but now that she was beginning to understand more about vampires, and Evenhet as well, it occurred to her that the security must be a wonderful thing.
Aishe glanced outside of the store again, but shook her head. "I've gotten what I really needed," she said, lifting her bags by way of explanation. "I'm not opposed to some more exploring though."
Turning once more to Pakpao, she added, "The more, the merrier, as the saying goes!"
Pakpao was obviously of Asian descent, but her eyes were a surprising light blue color. Aishe thought they were quite beautiful.
As she listened to the conversation around her, she wondered if Pakpao worked for Meridian and lived at Liefde as well. She had to admire the convenience of being able to live where you worked. At first she'd thought it might be difficult to separate work from play with that kind of arrangement, but now that she was beginning to understand more about vampires, and Evenhet as well, it occurred to her that the security must be a wonderful thing.
"So, anywhere else you two would like to go? Pak, you're welcome to join us if you'd like."Â?
Aishe glanced outside of the store again, but shook her head. "I've gotten what I really needed," she said, lifting her bags by way of explanation. "I'm not opposed to some more exploring though."
Turning once more to Pakpao, she added, "The more, the merrier, as the saying goes!"
Nicholae
18 years ago
Feeling as if they may have gotten off on an awkward foot, Nic smiled at Pakpao, and nodded.
"Yes, please..join us. I am here purely for the pleasure of company, and to lend a critical eye if requested, but it would appear my duties in that have already been exhausted."
He winked at Aishe, and extended his hand in front of them, indicating they should at least move away from the doorway of the stationary store.
He didn't really need anything, and would much rather come back alone should he. Right now he was much more interested in listening to whatever information the women had, and offered.
"Now...just to clarify things...everyone here lives at the Towers, and works for Meridian...or will soon?"
This type of tight knit 'family' atmosphere was totally foreign to Nic, but he felt he could get used to it...at least for a while.
"Yes, please..join us. I am here purely for the pleasure of company, and to lend a critical eye if requested, but it would appear my duties in that have already been exhausted."
He winked at Aishe, and extended his hand in front of them, indicating they should at least move away from the doorway of the stationary store.
He didn't really need anything, and would much rather come back alone should he. Right now he was much more interested in listening to whatever information the women had, and offered.
"Now...just to clarify things...everyone here lives at the Towers, and works for Meridian...or will soon?"
This type of tight knit 'family' atmosphere was totally foreign to Nic, but he felt he could get used to it...at least for a while.
Pakpao
18 years ago
Pak also couldn’t help but notices she an Aishe did have some distinct similarities, another day it would amuse her and she’d comment on it. Right now, she was still a bit irked with Nic and was debating what to do about it.
Her mind was still skipping around when she noticed Fatty and as she bent down to pet him Pak got an idea.
“Sorry Fatty I didn’t see you.”
As she stood back up Pak mentally took hold of Nic’s left loafer. It was a good hold and when he took a step, he’d walk right out of it.
“Alright I’ll tag along for a bit, if you don’t mind. I can’t seem to concentrate on much of anything right now any how.”
And it will be fun to try and annoy Casanova. If this whole shoe thing worked, she’d be repeating the process and with any luck, he’d be convinced he’d needed a new pair of shoes before the day was out.
Not letting her little plan show Pak smiled, polite and formal but a smile before answering.
“Live here, work here, all of the above. Saves time.”
((OOC… permission given to attack Nic’s shoes.))
Her mind was still skipping around when she noticed Fatty and as she bent down to pet him Pak got an idea.
“Sorry Fatty I didn’t see you.”
As she stood back up Pak mentally took hold of Nic’s left loafer. It was a good hold and when he took a step, he’d walk right out of it.
“Alright I’ll tag along for a bit, if you don’t mind. I can’t seem to concentrate on much of anything right now any how.”
And it will be fun to try and annoy Casanova. If this whole shoe thing worked, she’d be repeating the process and with any luck, he’d be convinced he’d needed a new pair of shoes before the day was out.
Not letting her little plan show Pak smiled, polite and formal but a smile before answering.
“Live here, work here, all of the above. Saves time.”
((OOC… permission given to attack Nic’s shoes.))
Nicholae
18 years ago
As he began walking, he felt his foot hit something and he stumbled a bit, losing his left shoe in the process. He quickly halted, looked around a bit sheepishly, and bent down to retrieve his shoe.
Looking it over carefully, he didn't see anything wrong with the sole, nor was there gum or anything obvious on it. He moved back to the spot where the shoe was picked up from...no, nothing there either.
Shrugging his shoulders, he dropped the shoe and slid his foot back into it.
"Guess I've nothing to blame my clumsiness on, but my apparent inability to walk."
He laughed good naturedly, and again started walking along.
Looking it over carefully, he didn't see anything wrong with the sole, nor was there gum or anything obvious on it. He moved back to the spot where the shoe was picked up from...no, nothing there either.
Shrugging his shoulders, he dropped the shoe and slid his foot back into it.
"Guess I've nothing to blame my clumsiness on, but my apparent inability to walk."
He laughed good naturedly, and again started walking along.
Danielle
18 years ago
Dani grinned as everyone seemed to fall into agreement, though where they would go next was still undecided. When Pak bent down to give Fatty some attention she heard her palm pilot ding and brought it out. Reading the brief message on the screen, she shook her head and looked up to the party.
“Excuse me, I just have to grab one more thing –real- quick.”
With that, she headed back inside and had the clerk bring down some brown recycled wrapping paper from a high shelf while she grabbed a spool of twine. She paid for both and caught back up with the group with reasonable speed.
“Sorry, that was Arin. He’s coming to the bookstore, would you guys like to say hi?” She grinned at Nic. “You were wanting to meet him, right?”
“Excuse me, I just have to grab one more thing –real- quick.”
With that, she headed back inside and had the clerk bring down some brown recycled wrapping paper from a high shelf while she grabbed a spool of twine. She paid for both and caught back up with the group with reasonable speed.
“Sorry, that was Arin. He’s coming to the bookstore, would you guys like to say hi?” She grinned at Nic. “You were wanting to meet him, right?”
Nicholae
18 years ago
Nic nodded.
His gut instinct was that he'd rather meet Arin in a private setting. He certainly didn't need his dirty laundry laid out for his lovely companions to see. But then thought if Arin was as level and fair as he'd been portrayed, he surely wouldn't rake Nic over the coals here...
"Sure, sounds fine with me."
His gut instinct was that he'd rather meet Arin in a private setting. He certainly didn't need his dirty laundry laid out for his lovely companions to see. But then thought if Arin was as level and fair as he'd been portrayed, he surely wouldn't rake Nic over the coals here...
"Sure, sounds fine with me."
Aishe
18 years ago
There was some confusion as Nic seemed to trip over something. Aishe peered at him to discover him looking somewhat sheepish, one of his shoes behind him on the floor.
"You all right, Cinderella?" she asked, ribbing him lightly.
Aishe perked up even more at the mention of seeing Alfarinn... err, Arin... again. Not only had he been kind beyond what she'd expected, but he might also have more news of Kem. She shook her head, then. Of course not, she chided herself. There hadn't been time at all for that. She reminded herself again that patience was a virtue, and she couldn't mess everything up after coming so close to her goal.
She stuck with her growing group as they lingered near the store. An interesting assortment they made, looking so normal on the outside but each with some little secret or quirk to hide. Aishe couldn't wait until things were nice and normal again. She wasn't cut out for all this hide-and-seek.
Normal? Wait a moment, she'd come here to try and manage to get herself turned into a vampire. How was that at all...
Ah, nevermind, she thought to herself. With that, she giggled softly, figuring she'd just let the group think she was chuckling at Shoeless Nic.
"You all right, Cinderella?" she asked, ribbing him lightly.
Aishe perked up even more at the mention of seeing Alfarinn... err, Arin... again. Not only had he been kind beyond what she'd expected, but he might also have more news of Kem. She shook her head, then. Of course not, she chided herself. There hadn't been time at all for that. She reminded herself again that patience was a virtue, and she couldn't mess everything up after coming so close to her goal.
She stuck with her growing group as they lingered near the store. An interesting assortment they made, looking so normal on the outside but each with some little secret or quirk to hide. Aishe couldn't wait until things were nice and normal again. She wasn't cut out for all this hide-and-seek.
Normal? Wait a moment, she'd come here to try and manage to get herself turned into a vampire. How was that at all...
Ah, nevermind, she thought to herself. With that, she giggled softly, figuring she'd just let the group think she was chuckling at Shoeless Nic.
Pakpao
18 years ago
Pak suppressed a grin as Nic walked out of his shoe; that had gone better than she planed. Now she just needed to wait a reasonable amount of time before doing it again; although, if Alfarinn was coming she’d have to wait longer. Pak was starting to think he suspected her of playing with MARI but that could be her own guilty conscious, she’d have to work on that.
“As long as there is no talk about remote controls I don’t see why not.”
Hmmm actually now that she was thinking of it maybe there was a may to give MARI a more mobile interface. Yeah, just what they needed letting her out into the world for someone to lose. She’d have to think on that though.
“As long as there is no talk about remote controls I don’t see why not.”
Hmmm actually now that she was thinking of it maybe there was a may to give MARI a more mobile interface. Yeah, just what they needed letting her out into the world for someone to lose. She’d have to think on that though.
Danielle
18 years ago
Dani grinned and led the way to the bookstore, tugging Fatty along after her. It seemed in her brief absence she had missed something amusing; Aishe appeared to have the giggles and Pak had referred to something about a remote control. She wondered if a prank was in the works and sort of hoped it wasn’t directed at Arin. While her boss had a wonderful sense of humor about such things he also had recently had a rough week.
Of course, it was perfectly possible she was just being a big ninny about the whole thing. Well…a little ninny anyway, she wasn’t really a ‘big’ anything.
“Well I’ll be sure not to mention remotes then.”
She made a little lip zipping gesture to prove her point, nodding firmly, and continued on to Ex Libris.
“And here it is. I think he’s going to meet us inside.”
Of course, it was perfectly possible she was just being a big ninny about the whole thing. Well…a little ninny anyway, she wasn’t really a ‘big’ anything.
“Well I’ll be sure not to mention remotes then.”
She made a little lip zipping gesture to prove her point, nodding firmly, and continued on to Ex Libris.
“And here it is. I think he’s going to meet us inside.”
Nicholae
18 years ago
Grinning at her teasing, Nic just nodded, and shrugged to Aishe. His mind was pretty much focused on meeting Arin, now, and he wanted to make sure to present himself well. He had no idea if the head of Evenhet would have heard about Nic's exploits from Kem yet, or not...but he needed the head of his clan to see that he really was a decent sort.
Again he walked behind as the ladies moved ahead, but this time he thought he'd like to be the last to arrive, rather than the first. Though Nic rarely believed in first impressions...he was still debating that issue regarding Pakpao...he still liked to get a sense of someone before meeting them, if possible.
When they reached their destination, he pulled open the door for the ladies, and waited. He hadn't understood the 'remote control' comment, so he just let it go...if he had the opportunity later, he might ask Pakpao about it.
Again he walked behind as the ladies moved ahead, but this time he thought he'd like to be the last to arrive, rather than the first. Though Nic rarely believed in first impressions...he was still debating that issue regarding Pakpao...he still liked to get a sense of someone before meeting them, if possible.
When they reached their destination, he pulled open the door for the ladies, and waited. He hadn't understood the 'remote control' comment, so he just let it go...if he had the opportunity later, he might ask Pakpao about it.
Pakpao
18 years ago
Hearing the comment repeated back, the comment about the remote Pak shook her head. It had been a non sequitur and she knew it. However, it also wasn’t worth explaining, but the idea made her smile again.
“I don’t think it’s the sort of subject to come up in conversation easily.”
Accepting the open door, she walked through it, again mentally holding down Nic’s left shoe, why waste a good idea, and walked inside.
Now why hadn’t she been in here before? This looked like a good store and the library ambiance made her feel right at home. Maybe instead of getting under foot she’d disappear into the stacks, well once Nic lost his shoe she might do that.
((OOC… yup exploiting that shoe attack permission some more.))
“I don’t think it’s the sort of subject to come up in conversation easily.”
Accepting the open door, she walked through it, again mentally holding down Nic’s left shoe, why waste a good idea, and walked inside.
Now why hadn’t she been in here before? This looked like a good store and the library ambiance made her feel right at home. Maybe instead of getting under foot she’d disappear into the stacks, well once Nic lost his shoe she might do that.
((OOC… yup exploiting that shoe attack permission some more.))
Aishe
18 years ago
Upon seeing the bookstore, Aishe was stunned all over again. It was like stepping back into the past; a quiet setting, stacks of books, not a computer in sight. She could almost see the old, gray-bearded scholars of past days dipping their quills into pots of ink, the scratch of those quills on parchment the only noises filling the air.
Doing a little double-take, she felt her lips form a little 'o' of awe.
"I could live here," she said softly, so as not to ruin the atmosphere of the store.
She took the opportunity to browse while they waited for Arin, keeping an eye out for him so she could greet him and thank him again.
Doing a little double-take, she felt her lips form a little 'o' of awe.
"I could live here," she said softly, so as not to ruin the atmosphere of the store.
She took the opportunity to browse while they waited for Arin, keeping an eye out for him so she could greet him and thank him again.
Alfarinn
18 years ago
Alfarinn put his phone away and smiled at Thaddeus.
"Dani is meeting us at the bookstore, she picked up a few things for me at the stationary store. I really think you'd like both. We should come wander around some day when we have more time."
They made their way down to correct floor and then over to the meridian tower. Alfarinn made a quick stop at the coffee shop because it was on the way and there seemed no good reason he could think of for them not to indulge in some well made java to go.
Cup of dark roast in one hand and Thaddeus's hand in the other, Alfarinn stopped short at the large group Dani had with her. He was not surprised to see Fatty but the rest were a curious mix. Pakpao out being sociable, Aishe looking more comfortable than the last time he'd seen her and a stranger that he had yet to meet.
"It would seem we've walked in a quite the party."
"Dani is meeting us at the bookstore, she picked up a few things for me at the stationary store. I really think you'd like both. We should come wander around some day when we have more time."
They made their way down to correct floor and then over to the meridian tower. Alfarinn made a quick stop at the coffee shop because it was on the way and there seemed no good reason he could think of for them not to indulge in some well made java to go.
Cup of dark roast in one hand and Thaddeus's hand in the other, Alfarinn stopped short at the large group Dani had with her. He was not surprised to see Fatty but the rest were a curious mix. Pakpao out being sociable, Aishe looking more comfortable than the last time he'd seen her and a stranger that he had yet to meet.
"It would seem we've walked in a quite the party."