Feb 23 11:10:11 106 PA
From Chronicles
With the snow coming down nice today, Vixen carries a small umbrella in hand, mostly to keep her hair clear than to guard the rest of her, wrapped in armored long coat. Not too chill for a stroll through the Plaza, her attention flicking about, a bag dangling from the fingers of her other hand, opaque plastic veiling her purchases this day. And she's still looking for more. (re)
In contrast, Sage has a hood up to keep the snow from clinging to her hair. Her coat being one of her leftovers from her days in the wilderness as its still functional in her eyes. She makes her usual circuit around the food stalls while checking out the odd store that catches her eye. She has her own bag that appears to be slowly filling with goodies.
A spot of contrast against the falling white, Leonard moves about the plaza with only his cloak and hood to protect him from the flakes. If he is browsing for commodities, which is likely given his interest in the the food vendors, he has yet to make any purchases, as his hands are currently empty.
"Hey, you got one of those in red?" Vixen's passing question to a vendor, pointing at some clothing he's got set up. The shake of head she gets is responded to with a nod and she turns to continue on. Spying Sage after a few moments she grins faintly and turns to head her way. Angling her approach a bit to come up behind the other woman, she'll look to slip up beside her and drape the bag holding arm over her shoulder. "So.. should I be worried?"
On her way to the next stand that's a short walk from where she is, Sage spots the man that seems like he may be indecisive since he doesn't have any purchases yet. She gets sidetracked by the approach of Vixen, however, before she tries to get his attention. She looks over to the woman offering a faint smile. "Perhaps..." She offers.
Unable to catch an assist yet from Sage this time, Leonard's attention is caught by a display of fruit. He begins to make some inquiries of the stall's vendor, unaware of the ladies as he haggles over the natural and distinctly out of season treats,
Vixen slants Sage a thoughtful glance. "I guess I'll see. Not too sure about your girl, though, but I can give it the benefit of the doubt." Her tone thoughtful. She picks up on Leo's presence then. "Looks like he's in one piece at least." She grins at the other woman be fore slipping forward, moving towards Leo. She lightly lays down her bag a moment before she comes up to him and lifts a hand to place her palm over his eyes carefully as she leans against his back. "Guess who!"
Sage gives a simple smile to the woman's thoughtful look, "Besides, what fun would it be to tell you what happened?" She seems content to allow a measure of mystery encompass the discussion that followed after the other woman left. She chuckles softly to the one piece comment, "At the moment, yes." She can't help but tease a little. She'll follow a little behind the other woman as she moves to surprise the man. She doesn't say anything, but simply watches for the time being.
Leonard startles at the sudden presence reflexively, but calms before attempting to whirl around. A smile begins to grow beneath concealed eyes and he gives the question a pause in consideration before clearing his throat. His response carries an exagerrated air of efeet academia. "Hmm... Considering my extensive reseach, you must surely be a imp or other mischevious entity, bent on delightful torment..." His grin widens as a free hand reaches back to find her waist. "...although further thought leads me to believe you are, in fact, an angelic and wondrous being in disguise." She can feel his brows lifting beneath her palms. "Am I close?"
Vixen grins in response to his words. "Close enough, I'd say," she murmurs., a little pleasure audible in her voice despite herself. "Be careful with that pedestal though, Leo," she adds, her hips wiggling a little between his hands. She peers at the stall he's inspecting over his shoulder and wonders, "Planning to make me dinner again? I could get used to that."
"Besides, if you don't start small with the compliments... you might run the risk of running out of them." Sage chips in, figuring to annonce her presence before things get to a potentially awkward point. "Although, you may have been closer the first time." She says with a hint of humour in her tone as she watches the other woman wriggle a little between the man's arms.
"I will try not to build it too high... and yes, I have a meal or two in mind." Leonard chuckles, releasing the wiggling hips somewhat reluctantly to motion to the selection of fruits. "Any preferences? I just hope you don't fancy the larger melons. They would be rather heavy to carry to our dining destination..." He leaves the minor hint at that, turning a smile to Sage as she announces herself. "I'm still undecided as to which is closest, but I am just a little biased."
Vixen lets her hand dip, instead dangling as she leans a little more against his back to better her view of the fruits. She snorts softly at the light jest, that dangling hand casually slapping at his chest. "I like traveling light," she murmurs before giving a more serious answer. "I love pineapple.. kinda expensive around here, though." She then eases off his back, her fingers giving his cheek a light pass before the hand is gone too, picking up her bag once more.
An amused look is given to the man when he responds to her jest about which of his earlier deductions was closer to the mark when it comes to Vixen. A small smile resides on her lips. "Anything I can help with?" She asks in a more serious tone, as the time for jesting seems to have passed for the time being.
Leonard's smile flares a slittle wider at the mild smack, then dims back as Vixen steps away. He selects a pint or two of berries and two prickly pineapple, which are happily bagged and handed over after the pricey payment. Purchases in hand, he turns to the ladies, responding to Sage's question first. "Well, she didn't bruise me too badly, so I think all is well. These won't need to be cooked, so I should be safe there, as well." A brow lifts to Vixen, then, and her bag. He leans over some in an attempt to peek curiously into the latter. "Shopping for anything interesting?"
"Maybe you ought to wait and find out?" Vixen's words as the bag is slid back to be discreetly hidden behind her. Without a marker, common in the lesser shops and stalls, the contents are a mystery. Though whatever is inside is a bit shapeless. Cloth perhaps. Or something else rounded. She does give a look of approval at the purchase of pineapples, however. She glances at Sage and says, "Not too much help. He won't learn if everyone does things for him, after all."
Nodding faintly to each in turn, Sage figures she's likely not needed in what is likely to follow. "Then I shall leave the two of you to each other's company..." She says, wandering around them to quickly pick up some fruit for herself. After a quick transaction, she begins to look for the next destination on her list.
"I'm sure I will be thoroughly surprised." Leonard steps out of the way to allow Sage access, although it is more an incidental effect of his moving close to Vixen. "You definitely don't need any help at that." He leans in to give one of the brief pecks she seems so fond of spontaneously offering.
"Don't worry, I have to go see if this fits just right anyway.." Vixen says towards sage, pausing as if the words were an unintentional slip. But the sly edge to her 'dismayed' expression may give away the ruse. Though there is an honest hint of surprise as he takes some initiative. She recovers quickly, however, and slips her bag holding arm over his shoulder as she leans in to reward him properly with a firmer few moments, capped off with a light nip at his lower lip. "When you got a time for your thing, you just slip it under my door." She smiles at him before easing back again to turn and make her way to the south.
"That might be a good thing." Sage agrees with the comment from Vixen, deciding against reading anything into the comment as she would only be able to guess at what kind of clothing resides in the bag. She's content to give the two privacy as her gaze is directed else where when they exchange affections. She takes a couple steps away, but lingers for a moment in case her attention may be beckoned back.
As if Leonard were not already intrigued enough, the 'slip' brings all manner of thoughts to mind. Some are quickly forgotten with her returned affection, others highlighted. "I will. Just don't let Tiger sit on it." Then, of course, Vixen leaves him as suddenly as everything else. He watches her departure appreciatively before turning to Sage with a wry smirk. "Ok, you're right. Definitely an imp."
With that last comment seemingly directed at her, Sage looks back to the man with a mildly amused look. "An imp she may be... but, I don't hear you complaining at all." She muses with a brief chuckle, "Looks like you're headed in the right direction... but, feel free to let me know how things turn out." She offers, "Not that I'm much for advising when it comes to relationships."
"Not in the slightest." Leonard chuckles with a small roll of his shoulders. "We'll see. As much as I don't wish to, I'm sure there will be bumps or large reinforced walls on the way." His wry mirth softens at her caveat on relations. "You don't seem to be doing too terribly to me."
A good-natured smile forms on Sage's lips as the man chuckles to his own admission. With the rest of her trek around the plaza on hold for the time being, she edges back towards the man. "More than likely." She replies softly, "Although, what causes them may be as tricky to find out as getting past them." She tilts her head slightly as she considers the man, "But, you seem like the sort that might be able to smooth things over without too much trouble." She raises a brow slightly a small smile touches her lips before they purse briefly. "So... what sort of meal do you have in store for her?"
Leonard can't help but laugh at the compliment. "You didn't see my tripping over everything in my way just trying to /find/ the path... but thank you. It is more of a... picnic. I thought she might like a change of scenery, away from this fog that is a s depressing as it is mysterious."
An amused smile touches Sage's lips as he speaks about tripping along his way to find the path, "Ah... but, if it were easy, it wouldn't be worth commenting on now would it?" She counters, nodding to his thanks. She purses her lips, "Well, she hasn't had to put up with it as long as other people have... but I imagine she wont be expecting it." She pauses briefly, "Hopefully her new clothing will fit the new location." She says with a hint of humour in her tone.
Caliopa has a coat on, but her hair is bared to the snow as she makes her way into the market. At first, she is oblivious to the others, her attention on the shopping she is doing. Nothing healthy or real food but she buys some bread rolls, some meats and cheese. With her bag hanging from her hand, she turns, giving the market place a glance.
"Do you know how long she has been in the city?" A brow lifts in curiosity and mild surprise. "I thought the fog was a recent event, and that she was here before it..." Leonard speaks to Sage near a fruit stand, and apparently does not know as much of others as he might have thought.
"I'm not entirely sure, no." Sage replies with a faint shrug, "But, I only started to see her around when creatures started to show up in the fog... instead of people just being driven temporarily beyond their sanity." She purses her lips, "But, I think getting away from the fog is a good idea regardless." She considers the man, but decides not to ask where exactly.
Caliopa finally sees Sage and Leonard, turning her footsteps towards them, a sunny smile lighting up her face. "Sage!" She calls, waving a hand as she approaches. Her footsteps are quick, more sturdy than elegant or graceful. "You buyin' for dinner?" A brief flash of both hope and humour show on her expressive face as she comes to a halt beside them.
"I thought so, too." Leonard nods and begins to continue, but is halted by Caliopa's calling and arrival. Even if the question wasn't meant for him, it is ironic, nonetheless. A glance is given to the back in his hand before he smirks to Sage. "I'm glad the dinner itself isn't her surprise..." It is a popular guess today, though their position near the food stalls might be to blame. He then glances back to the arriving woman.
When the familiar voice calls over, Sage looks over with a warm smile. "Hey Cali." She says with her voice slightly raised to carry over to the approaching woman. "I'm just picking some stuff up... but we can have dinner tonight if you want." She says with mild humour creeping into her tone near the end. She steps up towards the approach of the other woman ready to offer the other woman a one armed hug, before looking to the man. She chuckles, "The only surprise for her when it comes to dinner is what I choose to make." She comments, "I imagine you have some preparation work for your /big/ date?" She puts a teasing emphasis on big.
Caliopa returns the hug with unusual enthusiasm, her brown eyes giving Sage a searching look. "You alright?" She questions softly, before stepping a little back. "Ain't a surprise, reckon whatever Sage cooks is real good." She glances at Leonard, her forehead wrinkling for a moment, obvious to anyone that she isn't sure if they have met. "Ain't sure if Al wants to do somethin'." She mumbles in reply to Sage's assurance of dinner.
Leonard grins sidelong at Sage's tease. "Some, but not much. I won't need to worry about burning the food, this time. One more reason for eating on the go." His eyes remain on the unfamiliar, if stunning (even with any geasy smudges) woman and her wrinkling. A greeting is offered with a smile. "Hello. I'm sure her cooking is wonderful, after all I've heard. I'll be pestering her for tips the next time I try not to burn something."
A slow nod and a small smile is given to her flatmate, "Yeah, Tirzah found me later on... we had a quick little chat." Sage assures, before she steps back a little as well to give the three of them a little conversation triangle. She looks between the two of them. "Oh... this is Caliopa or Cali to her friends." She gestures to her extraordinarily beautiful flatmate, before she gestures to the man. "And this is Leonard. He's a new guy in town... and happened to get a 'warm' welcome when he arrived about the same time as the Elf did." She glances back to her flatmate, "Does that mean I should reserve you for myself tonight?" She asks with a hint of humour.
Caliopa offers her hand to Leonard to shake, utterly unself conscious of the oil worn into the calloused skin. "Only my pa called me Caliopa." She offers the explanation as if it may be obvious, and the sunny smile warms her eyes. "Best someone can cook. I ain't able to." She returns Sage's look, an expression of guilt on her face. "If you want I can stay home. I mean, ain't seen you private for a piece so..." She glances at the bag, clearly calculating the need for the food, if Sage is cooking.
The offered hand is taken and shaked. "Cali, then. A pleasure." Leonard releases the hand with a chuckle. "I didn't get quite the welcome they did, thankfully. Incoming fire is not my favorite idea of a greeting. Perhaps that little misunderstanding has been fixed, though. I've seen at least one of the five out and about."
Tirzah makes her way through the plaza a small bag of groceries in her hand. Off work early to any who know her schedule she makes her way through a vendor's special cheeses, looking for new flavors. The vendor seems particularly determined to convince her to get some 'furry beetle cheese' Her expression remains skeptical.
A soft, re-assuring smile comes to Sage's lips as she steps a little closer to Cali and gives a one armed hug around her back while standing beside her flatmate. "Its okay if you come up with other plans." She mentions, before letting the other woman go. "We'll figure out sometime, I'm sure."
Caliopa pushes the released hand into the warmth of her pocket. "I'll be home tonight then." She comments to Sage softly. "Had a piece of talk with one, but it weren't precisely how I'd intended." A wry smile curves her lips before she nods firmly, "Best get back to work, if I'm gonna get it all done." A hesitation. "If I ain't home, come get me?" She comments to Sage, awareness of her own weaknesses showing on her expressive face, before she gives both a quick wave, turning away in the direction of her garage.
