Apr 14 03:45:35 106 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Thu Apr 14 03:45:35 106 PA.
Hours have passed and Vixen lingers in the Alibi. Seems tonight she's set aside the whole of the evening or at least a good portion of it. A glass that is nearly empty sits beside her, though if its the first or not is questionable. But her cig is gone and for the moment she quietly loses herself in watching the people dancing, though without truly looking at the cavorting people. THe dance mix is jumping and the place is as packed as its usual. Easy enough to be lost amid the activity. Or to stand out as a spot of calm amid it.
The dance mix is precisely to the taste of the girl leaping down the stairs, bunches bouncing as her boots land heavily on the dance floor, and she moves towards the bar, exchanging comments with the many people she has met on the way. Finally, she reaches the bar, waving a hand to attract attention and receiving her large glass of purple liquid and ice. Turning, she scans the bar for one person, intent on finding them.
Vixen's actually remained at the same table, near to the dance floor itself. So if she did make it to the bar, s he turned right back around and returned afterward. Or got it delivered. She has one foot up on the chair opposite her, still leaned back slightly as she keeps her eyes on the dancers. A soft sound emerges, lost in the din as she reaches for her glass, missing it the first time as she hasn't an eye on it, but getting it after the second try. Lifted, drained of the last little bit, she breaks from her crowd watching to eye it, disappointed.
Target sighted and Maya bounces across the dance floor, drink in hand to launch a huge hug at Vixen. "You are going to be so pleased with me, well not me, because it isn't my resources but I asked him, and so I think I get a little of the credit." The words come out in one breathless run and she releases Vixen, dropping into the seat opposite her, resting her head with her hands either side, clutching her bunches as she takes a slurp of the drink.
Vixen is caught by surprise this time, without the verbal warning, though she recovers quickly enough, in time to lift an arm in casual return of the embrace before she fixes her eyes on Maya. Her foot slips off the chair just before the other woman sits and she asks in response, Well then, spit it out.. what've you been up to? Didn't expect to see you back tonight in any case.. guess whatever it was wasn't all that hard a sell."
Maya's grin is broad, her eyes dancing, the temptation to drag it out obvious before she gives into the wave of enthusiasm that carried her here. "I talked to the Director, and also introduced him to Davian, and we, Davian and I, not the Director and I, although that would be lovely, but he has so much to do and it has to be unofficial you see,..." The train of thought is clearly derailed and she pauses, her forehead knitting.
Vixen lifts up a hand. "I'm a bit tipsy and stoned, chick. Maybe you wanna back the train up a bit and start from the top? I think you're somewhere in the middle," she notes, head canted subtly. "What's unofficial and what's lovely exactly?" She seems patient enough, though. Very mellow and she waits quietly for the response to come.
Maya stares at Vixen and mentally back tracks. "The Director agreed to let me and others run a clinic in the shelters, on a rota basis. We are going tomorrow, Davian and I, to do an unofficial one." She hesitates, tempted obviously to add clarification, "It has to be unofficial until he arranges funding and equipment, and we don't want to have a rush but ..."
It's late in the evening at the Alibi and Wednesday is happy hour, when drinks are cheap. With that and dancing and music all night, the place is busy. And amid this, Vixen and Maya are settled at a table near to the dancefloor itself. Vixen is sitting with empty glass close to hand and that soft haze of the casually inebriated about her. But she's got focus enough for talking. "Thought you guys already did that some for the refugees. What's different about this? Besides being unofficial, that is." Her brow furrowed, she considers Maya as she asks the question.
It's late in the evening at the Alibi and Wednesday is happy hour, when drinks are cheap. With that and dancing and music all night, the place is busy. And amid this, Vixen and Maya are settled at a table near to the dancefloor itself. Vixen is sitting with empty glass close to hand and that soft haze of the casually inebriated about her. But she's got focus enough for talking. "Thought you guys already did that some for the refugees. What's different about this? Besides being unofficial, that is." Her brow furrowed, she considers Maya as she asks the question.
The enthusiasm is undented and Maya shakes her head, "We let them come to us. This takes us to them, makes it clear that someone is on their side, reaching out to help them." She dips her head to take a large slurp of the drink, watching Vixen. "It gives us a way to find out what they need, by seeing, rather than just the ones that seek us out."
The joys of happy hour. Not everyone may arrive happy, but many more tend to leave that way, thanks to large doses of alcohol. Leonard enters, passing greetings given to those at the door as he continues towards seating. His eyes casually look to the dance floor and then those seated as he travels, and he is, apparently, neither happy nor unhappy enough to rush straight for the bar or a server.
Vixen grins at that and nods her head once, "Well, I'll let you take all the credit for it you want.. I just want one little thing," she notes. "You see a woman that comes in.. about middle aged, not too bad looking. Rough voice. You let her know Vixen's been working for 'em. Her name is Emily.. seems like a bit of a leader amongst them, so you might see her around." She dips her head and seems pleased. "That's all I ask. I'll keep it hush hush on my end since, for now, its below the radar. But when you want coverage, you let me know.. I'm thinking I gotta put up another View soon.. something significant, you know? Not the day to day stuff I usually do. Just have to decide what need be said."
"Why not come tomorrow, cover the ...oh wait, the Director said unofficial so perhaps you should cover the official opening when it does open? I mean, it is going to..." A stall, as Leonard arrives at the bar and Maya deserts both Vixen and drink to bounce across the floor, launching a hug at the man. "Leonard! Come and join us, we were just planning the work with the refugees, the Director is going to let us do a clinic there." The words are tumbling out even as he receives one of the enthused hugs, a hit and run as she turns back towards the table.
Leonard's skimming gaze alights upon black pigtails and neon red locks, lingering as his steps slow. After another footfall or three, they resume their pace, altering course for the ladies. Maya's rise is seen with plenty of forewarning, for once, and his arms lift to catch before she finishes her bounding. She receives a squeeze in return, then a greeting as he continues towards the table in her bouncing wake. "Evening, Maya." Expected or not, it can't help but put a smile to his lips, that remains as he nods to Vixen. "Vix. It sounds like things are going quite well. I've finished the conjurations, and they seem solid, so there can be a large amount of lumber available for building shelters, or clinics."
Vixen wears an amused little grin as Maya corrects herself on the matter, nodding her head slightly to agree quietly. Though as the young woman bounds up to go to greet Leonard, that of course draws Vixen's attention his way. Her casual mood doesn't fade, but there is a subtle shift to it. A brief tension that will be smoothed over by the time either of the two make their way back. Mostly, anyways. When Leo is in hailing distance, she nods her head towards him. "Hey, Leo. And yeah.. some things are. But the food issue is still not resolving to my tastes."
Maya drops herself back into her chair, reaching for her drink to draw it back to her, ducking her head to slurp it. Hazel eyes flicker between the two, before she speaks again. "If there is lumber, the Director would like the help, I think we are quite stretched, I mean the money, rather than just us, because obviously we aren't stretched." She nods, giving both a broad grin, before she returns to her drink. "Why don't you ask that Deli man where he gets his food from, see if the people there might be willing to have someone work on their land and grow their own in exchange?"
Leonard nods to Vixen's assessment, smile quirking some at Maya's clarifcation on stretching. "I won't be of much help concerning the food, unfortunately. Nothing promising seemed available from a conjuring standpoint, and I doubt I'll have the time to delve further. I can produce as much material as I'm able, but I expect to be leaving the city for a time, with short notice."
"Why lumber? A good tent would cost less and suffice for a portable clinic. Don't want to set down roots when those folks might be moving elsewhere soon," Vixen notes to Maya. "Get a little pavilion tent and portable gear and you can roll it in and out as needed." Though the thought on the food angle does provoke thought. Though before she decides on a response to it, she eyes Leo in the wake of his own words. "Leaving? Where are you going?" A casual enough question.
Amber enters the bar, taking her time to unholster and check her weapon before taking a few steps inside, her large eyes intently searching the crowd from where she stands. She notices the table of familiar faces, and her her expression changes, a small pensive frown curling her lips. She turns, as if to leave, but she pauses once more and turns, deciding instead to head towards the bar, trying carefully to meld with the crowd, not hard for someone her size. She arrives at last, and smushes her way between to patrons, her hands coming up to remove her hair from the two stumpy pig-tails. She glances behind her once, before focusing on trying to get the bartenders attention.
Maya shrugs, conceding the point, "Where else will they go?" She questions, her grin fading into a frown. "Are you going somewhere, Leonard?" The interest is there, and her gaze moves between the two, narrowing slightly. She falls silent, sitting with her hands either side of her head, sipping the drink.
"Because wood was the most available option. If it's not appropriate," Leonard's shoulders roll beneath his cloak, "then I simply don't need create any." He now nods to both ladies. "An opportunity has come about to visit Tolkeen, and I thought I'd look towards a more proactive approach to the refugee situation."
"Like I said," Vixen notes to Maya, "I plan in the future to get them into a little settlement or something.. and I doubt the city's going to let anything like that go up right outside the gates." Her brows lift. "So if that happens, it'll involve relocation one way or the other, yeah?" She then look at Leo and considers him. "Going to war, huh? Don't sound too safe. Well, above and beyond the usual lack of safe that's always out there."
Amber chats idly with someone at the bar while she waits her turn, stopping briefly as she catches the bartender's attention and orders herself a drink. She turns back to her conversation while she waits for her drink, but her lack of interst is obvious to the intiater, who leaves her to herself before her order arrives. She stirs the liquid with her straw before taking a sip, her eyes moving along bar as if looking for somewhere safe to enjoy her beverage.
Maya's drink is nearing empty, and the listening to the others is done for once in silence. She rises, the movement sudden, abrupt. "I think I need a refill. Either of you?" She glances at their glasses, pausing only briefly for their replies before heading towards the bar. Once there, she leans against it, staring down into the empty glass, waiting for the bar tender to have time for her.
Leonard doesn't yet possess a drink and shakes his head at Maya's question. Vixen's receives a much more vague shrug. "Well, charging in head on isn't exactly the plan, but I don't expect it to be safe. Then again, if things continue to worsen, there's little to stop them from turning their eyes here. Since their opinion of me is likely to be 'shoot on sight,' it doesn't seem much less safe in that regard... and the idea of harrying them does have appeal."
"I've had enough for the evening," Vixen replies to Maya. "No sense getting loaded unless I'm already where I need to be to sleep it off." she grins idly at that, then turns her attention on Leo, the grin fading somewhat. "Pretty sudden, this.. you sure you ain't doing it for any of the wrong reasons? Not like there aren't already thousands of bodies out there mixing it up.. hell, probably way more than that."
Amber sips her drink through the tiny straw as she leans against the bar, her eyes lost in through as they stare vacantly at bottles of liquer in front of her. She notices movement out of the corner of her eye, a head popping out at what is chest level for the rest of the patrons, leaning in towards the bar. Recognition washes across her face as she lets her straw leave her lips as she leans back a bit, hoping to be obscured by the man next to her, her movements not at all as stealthy as she'd like, and she risks a quick glance behind her at Leo and Vix, curious as to how that is playing out.
The odd quiet leaves Maya with the arrival of the bar staff, and her request for her drink is given with a broad grin. "Extra caffeine in it please." The quiet comment gives the clue to the boundless energy, but is spoken softly, with a wink. The head popping out to peer at her does catch her eye and Maya turns her head to look, her grin widening. "Amber!" She greets the other woman cheerfully, stepping back to go around the man between them, offering the other woman a hug.
"And what would be a wrong reason, Vix?" Leonard lifts a brow as he seeks clarification, attention fully upon her and back to most else while facing her table. "I don't expect to singlehandedly end anything, but making a dent, a stand, is worthwhile. Certainly more assertive than sticking my head in the sand or letting someone else deal with it."
Vixen's lips draw together in a straight line as she considers Leo for a few moments. "I guess I was wrong. Nevermind," she replies, her head turning towards the dancefloor. On instinct, she starts to slip her hand into her jacket, fishing with her fingertips for a moment before she catches herself. Her lips taking a slight downward turn after as she relaxes again, idly watching the dancers.
Amber has just enough time upon hearing her name, and the approach of Maya to have a smile on her lips when she arrives, and she returns the hug with more than a little awkwardness, "Maya, right? I almost didn't recognize you with out you breathing hard and sweaty." she says with a fading smile, an unsure look on her face a moment, "Err, wow, that didn't sound exactly nice, I just meant, you know, with the dancing, and the Gym." she shakes her head, "It made sense in my head," she add softly, before clearing her throat and trying again, "Its nice to see you, what are you up too tonight?" she says, feigning ignorance.
Maya's grin widens and the hug is enthused and tight before she lets the other woman go. "I hear it all the time." She speaks with a mock seriousness that is belayed by the twitching corners of her mouth and the grin that bursts out. She turns, holding a hand out for her drink, a steady look at it, before the glass moves along the bar to her hand. Turning back, she points, unsubtly, at the table the others sit at. "Drinking with Vixen and Leonard. Oh, you know both, don't you? Come on!" She turns, reaching for Amber's hand as she moves towards the table.
Leonard's other brow lifts in mild surprise at Vixen's short reply. "That's a new one..." He's quiet a moment before excusing himself. "I think I'll go see about a drink." As she already declined Maya's offer of a refill, he does not make one of his own before turning from the table and beginning to step for the bar.
"New what?" Vixen looks at Leo, her eyes narrowed subtly as she considers him. "Or maybe you're just not used to winning arguments from time to time?" Of course, what argument she doesn't specify, nor is her tone particularly pointed or firm. Either way, she looks back to the dancers after she says her piece, arms shifting to cross over her chest lightly.
Amber seems surprised as her hand is grabbed and she pulled off the bar. She regains her composure quickly, her hand squeezing Maya's as she pulls the girl back towards her, her eyes wide and head shaking, "I'm not so sure that is a good idea." she says quickly, her eyes moving over to the table, "Leonard and I had sorta a weird day today, and I'm not really sure me going over to hang out with him and Vixen is exactly what he, or I, need just this second." she looks back at the girl, smiling despite herself at not having to crane her neck to make eyecontact, "I wouldn't want to put a damper on ya'lls evening."
Maya stops dead, turning to face Amber, the grin fading. "I wondered what..." She stops, stepping back to the bar. "You and Leonard?" The words are a question, as Maya leans against the bar, holding her glass in her hand, hazel eyes on Amber. "Want to talk about it?" She settles herself, drawing stools for them both to sit on, resting her elbow on the bar. "I think they might be fighting anyhow."
"Not really, no." This is given over a shoulder to Vixen as Leonard (speaking of the devil, lamb, wolf, sheepish lion or whatever he happens to be considered at the moment) crosses the room to the bar. Now it's his turn to wait in line, with Maya and the now apparent Amber both receiving a smile. "Fancy meeting you here."
Vixen frowns faintly, but keeps her eyes on the dancers and doesn't give a response back. With her attention lingering that way, she won't notice the side collective over there. Though after a few moments she'll start fishing for her smokes again, this time not stopping herself as she extracts the case and starts to old ritual once more.
Amber lets her eyes linger on the two at the table a moment before she turns her attention back to Maya, where she seems to take a second to take her in. "Its nothing, really, I think Leo's just real confused right now, and I'm mostly an idiot when dealing with people, so I think that all came together, and he sees me as a way to get back at Vix, or prove something to himself." she reddens a bit, "God don't tell him i said that? I don't even know why I just told you that." she looks down at her drink as she positions the straw to take what seems like a large drink, "I think i'm just starting to realize how much trouble I have on my hands." she rolls her eyes and shakes her head, an almost defeated look threatening to erase her smile, "I'm sure the last thing you want to do is hear a stranger babble about a subject she knows nothing about." she says as she sees the approaching wizard, "And so it begins," she says to herself, almost a whisper as if preparing herself.
Maya opens her mouth to speak, her face softening, "You can talk to me anytime, Amber." She ignores the greeting, launching herself at Amber to give the girl another massive hug. That done, she resettles, giving Leonard a grin, "You two done fighting?" She asks him softly, glancing back at the table, taking a slurp on her drink as she slides from the seat. "I think dancing might be the answer." She glances down at her glass, before putting it on the side. "Amber? Dance?" She holds out her hand.
Leonard rolls his shoulders to Maya, stepping in to submit his drink request before replying. "I'm not even going to guess, but dancing does sound like an interesting solution." He glances to Amber, but can only smirk as she's promptly propostioned by Maya. "Watch your toes..." A finger points towards Maya's footwear and his eyes return to their owner. "And how, exactly, does the two of you dancing help matters, other than providing a pleasant show?"
Vixen remains steadfastly at her table. It's been hers for hours and she's not about to give it up. Or do anything,f or the moment, but eye the dancers. Something that takes very little brainpower to do, whilst she starts on her next cig. Left to her own devices, she takes slow, lingering draws and holds the smoke luxuriously before slowly letting it go. All about making it last.
Amber looks at Leo then Maya as she drinks heavily from her staw, buying her time. The glass empties and she offers Leo a Shrug, her expression seeming to say "who knows?". Her glass finds it way back to the bar, an takes Maya's hand, the gesture assertive, yet she seems a bit unsure. She offers a wave at Leo before smiling back at Maya, "I have no idea how to dance, but I'll try anything twice." She gestures for her to lead on.
"It doesn't take much skill, the way I do it." The grin is broad, Maya's energy burning off her now. "I think it will mean that I don't have to figure out what to say to anyone, and you can all work out your problems without my feet stomping over them." She replies to Leonard, leading Ambrielle onto the dance floor. The DJ's music has a good beat and Maya lifts her arms over her head, literally jumping around the floor, her bunches jumping with her.
Leonard takes his wineglass, shaking his head slightly at the pair tromping off to the dancefloor. It's not exactly the dancing he had envisioned, but... He steps from the bar and back to the table bearing Vixen's virtual flag, and takes a seat. "So, what is next in your grand plan of things?" A nice, general inquiry after which he sips at his drink.
Vixen glances up a bit when Amber and Maya cross her point of view to the dance floor, a brow lifted slightly. Of course, that expression shifts into a casual grin when Maya starts showing her stuff. She even chuckles lowly just as Leo is coming up to the table. That casual mirth fades when he settles back down, her head turning to consider him. "Waiting. Though I suppose now I got an other direction to consider on things. Check with the farms and such." Her tone schooled back down into something simple and non-confrontational.
Amber is completely out of her element, and it shows, she seems more than a little self-concious. Her eyes watch the moving Maya a moment before moving around to take in some of the other dezians of the dance floor. Slowly, she starts to move, her body mimimicing a muted version of Maya's dance, and she smiles nervously. She finally closes her eyes a moment, and remarkably, seems to loosen up. A deep breath, quickly exhaled, preceeds her eyes opening again. "I don't think I'm doing this right," she says, grinning, appearing to look a bit more comfortable.
Maya is almost lost to her dancing, the jumping reddening her cheeks as the energy flows. Oblivious to most of the outside world at that point, she ignores the attention she and Amber get from the male inhabitants of the dance floor, edging close enough at one point to get kicked by a flying Maya Boot. "It doesn;t matter how you do it, if you enjoy it!" She calls to Amber, her grin replying to hers. A spark of mischief enters her eyes and they flicker to Leonard a moment before she acts, leaning forward to aim a quick, light kiss against Amber's lips, grinning and spinning away again.
"And what of us?" Leonard's second question is more direct and focused, though his gaze is not. It drifts from Vixen to the dance floor and the bouncing pair. Just in time to catch Maya's mischief. He blinks, glass pausing short of his mouth while the latter falls open for a moment. He can't be certain her eyes diverted his way, but there is a notable raise of his glass Mayawards before he finally takes a long drink, which lengthens more as he turns back to Vix.
Vixen keeps her focus on Leo at that question, a subtle frown coming to her. She eyes him for a few quiet moment before she says, "I guess that depends on a lot. You made your thoughts pretty clear last time. Or at least, that you still don't know what you want.. cause every time I ask, you don't got an answer. Except that I'm not meeting whatever vague needs you got." She shrugs her shoulder slightly and looks back to the dancers after the distraction. "You figure that out yet?" it's currently late on a Wednesday evening. THe drinks are half price and the dancing is a constant. Leo and Vixen are at a table near the dance floor and Maya and Amber are out on it, doing their respective things.
Shock registers on her face as Maya's lips graze hers, large grey eyes go wide, questioning, her lips seeming unsure if they should smile or frown as she looks around seeing if she was noticed. And then her face changes, her eyes meeting more than one person's, soliciting a smile from them. She smiles back, her head moving back towards Maya, looking past her to the stage as she starts to move once more. Maybe it was the number of drinks she's had already today, but she seems to loosen up, almost to be enjoying herself. She's concious of eyes on her, and she doesn't seem to mind, a very odd behaviour for her. She begins to move more in tune with the music, and it almost looks like she's dancing, the longer she's out there. <OOC> Ambrielle says, "my how the tables have turned."
Maya's grin is almost a laugh, her eyes laughing at Amber's shock. She glances back at the table, meeting Leonard's look at the toast of the drink. Returning her gaze to Amber, still jumping around, she shouts over the music, "Sorry, I couldn't resist!" With that, she lifts her arms over her head, jumping around in time to the music, ignoring the eyes on both girls. For a time, she bounces around quiet happily, and then a man leans in, whispering something in her ear. She grins in reply, turning back to Amber, giving her a speaking look before she leaves, tugging the man by the hand, bouncing up the stairs out of the club.
Leonard sets down his glass and sighs. "What I want is to know what /you/ want, Vix. What I don't want is to keep second-guessing either of us. For 'telling it straight,' you're damned good at not telling me a damned thing. You not the type to sit and wait at home, but you seem to want me to be. You play 'Don't Give a shit' so well, even I wonder. I get the balls to use your dreaded 'L-word,' and the first thing you do is try and convince me I should shut up and walk away. You've tried to repel me with your nice little shield you've got, and I kept pecking away, anyway." After the long and comparatively level rambling, he shrugs. "Now I'm tired of pushing back. I thought I wanted you, but, I guess you've won, and convinced me otherwise. Since I don't seem to know shit anymore, why don't you tell me?"
Amber shakes her head at Maya, disbelief registering on her face before she turns back into the crowd and continues to dance. She a natural, it seems, and while not impressive by any means, she is no longer embarrassing herself as she moves to the music. She seems oddly relaxed and happy, on the dance floor, and once or twice her eyes flicker over to the two at the table, as if keeping tabs on them.
Vixen looks at Leo through his response to her, her own lips drawn in a straight line. She mulls it, she considers it, then she responds, her own voice kept smooth and discreet. Not that its much needed with the din in here. "Since when have I told you to sit and wait at home? Hell, I'd love it if you were more take charge. I ain't been telling you to do nothing recently, man. That last was cause you seemed to be deciding I don't spend much attention to you.. after I pretty much admitted as much. Sounded like you were going to look for greener pastures and if you ain't happy, I ain't gunna try and force you to be around me. And I'm sure I've told you its been a while since I've been in any sort of normal relationship. Ain't so easy to get used to just looking after me."
Amber shakes her head at Maya, disbelief registering on her face before she turns back into the crowd and continues to dance. She a natural, it seems, and while not impressive by any means, she is no longer embarrassing herself as she moves to the music. She seems oddly relaxed and happy, on the dance floor, and once or twice her eyes flicker over to the two at the table, as if keeping tabs on them.
"Do you even want one?" Leonard's jaw tightens, and his volume begins to rise. "Since you completely avoided my question. Or are you the one with no clue what they want? /I/ at least know I want /something/, but you don't seem care if I'm around or not. If it's not worth the effort to you, why should I bother?" About the time he becomes heard above the music, he shakes his head and stands. "I guess I should have just settled for 'fun.'"
Vixen snaps an arm up, snagging at Leo's hand when he rises. "You think I'd even bother talking this over with you if I didn't care? You think I'd show up looking to spend one of the first nights I decided to actually take off from doing much of anything with you if I didn't care?" She frowns faintly and lets go. "Look, man.. I told you my issues. Yeah, in some ways I don't know what I want. Except maybe someone that has the will to stick it out while I try and figure it out, cause like I said I got some things to relearn. When you get used to doing things a certain way, it don't just change overnight." She looks towards the dancers without really looking at them. "I ain't going to beg you to be that, cause if someone is gunna do it they should want to do it.. not be guilted into it or anything like that. But I'm gunna have to stick with what I said before.. cause you don't say you love someone unless you do. And when I think about that word, it means a whole hell of a lot when you decide to toss it out there. Not saying anything about how you really feel cause I can't read your mind. Just telling you how I see it."
Amber rips herself away the dance floor, breathing heavily, her face flushed with the effort. She approaches the bar, and takes a napkin or two and uses them to dab at her face and neck, she makes eye contact with the bartender and summons him with a smile, a brief exchange follows in which credits are traded for a drink, and she turns to watch the dancing crowd as she sips, her eyes continuously to the table of Vix and Leo as things get more.... expressive.
Leonard, already heated from his venting, reflexively stiffens as he's grabbed. Some potentially barked retort begins to form, if his narrowing eyes and tensing face are any indication, and then... she lets go. Whatever it might have been is vented as a sigh, the rest of him deflating right behind it to something much more...Leonardian. "I don't know if I have that will, Vix. Or that I'm much help at you learning anything. You've been my teacher, afterall... I meant what I said, but I also have no idea of what I'm talking about."
Vixen looks at Leo and states simply, "I can't tell you if you do or not. So I can't make that decision for you. Not really my place either." She snorts softly then and lets her head loll back slightly, direecting her gaze skyward. "Can't really teach you shit about love either. Maybe I forgot how." A rueful amusement rising as she lifts her cig to her lips, taking a long, slow drag.
Amber makes no pretenses for her long looks over at Leo and Vix now, her drink slowly disapearing as she sucks on her straw. It slurps at last, and she holds up the glass, as if making sure her straw wasn't lying, and places the drink back on the bar. She looks once more in the two's direction and makes her way towards the entrance, a smile on her face, and, if one didn't know any better, a slight skip in her step. She reaches the door and retrieves her checked items before heading out into the cool night air.
Leonard still has the energy to smirk, it seems. "No, but you could offer encouragement, one way or the other. I haven't even earned a bruise in recent memory. It all takes practice, and I can't change overnight, either. I just wish you weren't so... ambivalent. Half the time I want to hold you, the rest I have the urge to strangle you out of frustration..."
"Then show it," Vixen prompts, her head turning to stare at him. "Hell, until our little walk I thought things were fine." She then gives her shoulders a casual roll and shifts, sitting up in her chair. "WHat kind of encouragement? A 'good job' sounds more like a mood breaker to me." She looks at him. "You seem to know what you want. In part at least."
"Well, I did try, the first opportunity I found." Leonard now shrugs in kind. "I didn't notice anything, myself, at first. I don't know if I am just blind, or all the little rainbows disctracted me. Then it was nothing but your passion for work... Maybe I have a jealous streak?" He shrugs again, uncertain as he adds one more potential first experience to the long list.
Vixen reaches out again towards Leo, , casually snagging at his hand. In a bid to tug him a bit towards the table suggestively. "Like I said.. I've been out of practice. But it ain't like you didn't see some of my passion," she murmurs, grinning just a little bit. "Doing footwork takes time.. lots of time and effort.. its gunna be like that sometimes. And maybe sometimes someone'll have to give me a reality check, you know?"
Leonard reflects her grin on his own features, snagged into reclaiming a seat at the table. This time it is alongside her and he makes no move to unsnag himself. "I have not forgotten that, and I understand you don't sit still. I think I choose a very poor time and manner to try and be... assertive." He reaches across the table to retrieve his wine to take a swallow, shaking his head slightly. "You can also remind when of when I should just shut the hell up, too. I seem to do better when I don't try to talk and think at the same time."
Vixen shrugs her shoulders slightly. "Maybe some things gotta be said.. and you ain't all wrong. I guess I don't.. got the same sort of feeling on things you do right now." She keeps the light linkage of hands, more a gentle tangle of fingers in truth. "But then.. I don't use that word.. not yet. Cause you know me.. truth and all that. Not saying I won't ever.. but I wanna know.. I wanna be sure. I think, maybe, I gotta get to know you better.. understand you.. and me. But either way, I don't want us fighting.. no matter how things turn out."
Leonard nods as he listens. "And I've gone quite the other way, or think I have. Making up for lost time, I guess. Maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle, but I'm no more eager to fight than you. I'm much more used to running the other way."
Vixen smirks a little and considers that. "What's halfway, though?" Thoughtful more than otherwise. "I do got my doings.. and I'm sure we can agree I gotta push that through quick as I can. Hungry people and all. Don't want you to feel like I'm ignoring you or nothing.. maybe I ain't said that word yet, but I like you. And we do have some fun, don't we?"
"As an experienced explorer of distant worlds," Leonard notes, with a semblance of academic superiority, "and not quite as distant beaches, I don't think we'll know until we find it..." He offers a smile, slightly wry. "We do, and maybe we can continue to do so, despite hungry people, your rustiness, and my lackings? It was almost easier when all we had to worry about were undead abominations attacking us in the dark, wasn't it?"
Vixen smirks little and gives Leo's fingers a light squeeze before she lets go and shifts her posture again, leaning towards him a bit. "The refugee thing will calm down.. maybe then we can really start seeing where we stand. Just.. stick with it a little. Maybe we won't be together forever, but if we do end up going separate ways, don't want it to be without a real try.. and with hard feelings."
Damn her and her squeeze and run. "I don't, either. I am sorry for... all of this." Leonard is still mostly veal, of course. "You did answer my questions, though, even if I didn't ask them in the best ways..." Mostly, as he cuts his remaining moody, semi-babbling apologetic whatnot suddenly short and reaches for her hand again. "How about a dance, Vix? Might be a while before I can catch you this close to the floor again." A wink follows his words.
Vixen arches her brow slightly at that. "Ain't really slow dance music up there right now.." Vixen glances towards the floor, where the usual energetic music plays. Her eyes move back to him and she cants her head just a bit. "Besides.. I'm off tonight. Ain't like I'm going nowhere you can't follow eventually. No this moment, but it is getting late."
Leonard glances to those dancing and back, nodding. "A very good point. I'll offer a compromise, then... I can follow you now, rather than later, do my best to keep you amused on the trip home, and then we can dance to whatever tune you wish?"
Vixen grins lightly and keeps hold of Leo's hand as she rises up from her chair. "Sounds good enough to me," she replies, casually stubbing out her cig in the ashtray. "C'mon.. I think I got a little something that's good for some private dancing in my collection. I'm sure we'll find some way to amuse ourselves."
Leonard rises with a somewhat more goofy grin to stay within hand's reach and serve as a proper escort. "You are the musical artist, but I'll try to find a way to surprise you, I hope." It looks like his list of interpersonal relationship firsts might gain another line or two.
