Jun 22 03:24:21 106 PA - Leo's Explanation and Aimee's Appraisal
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Wed Jun 22 03:24:21 106 PA.
Vixen came home late the other day. Well after dark, though this was expected, due to her meeting. That much was true. Fortuitous, perhaps, to have such an excuse to extract herself from an entirely too odd situation. So there was little time to speak, she eager to crawl into bed and coma once she got back. And in the morning, she entices Leo to come with her to the Nightingale. She's still going out in her armor often and today is not an exception. With them inside, she heads towards her favored booth and looks to Leo. "Could you get my a Vroom? I'm going to need the wake up, I think." Still a bit groggy, even a few hours after waking.
It was also fortunate that there were no unduly large, overly vocal best friends of man present upon her return. Leonard requires little enticing to accompany her, even when he isn't in trouble. If there is such a status. "Of course." He detours to the bar to acquire her violet drink, before limping his way towards the booth. "You didn't sleep well?"
Vixen is settled down on the usual side of the booth, head leaned back a little. "Just a lot of late nights recently," she offers as he returns, reaching out to take the glass with both hands and a slight smile. "Night time is the best time to scout the Dregs, often. When I don't wanna be seen." She takes a slow, lingering drink from the glass before she relaxes a bit and looks towards him. "So.. you finally wanna tell me what was going on yesterday? Like, for real rather than bit by bit without really telling me anything?"
Leonard settles himself into the booth with a not-wholly-unpleasant sigh and nods in reply. "I brought Sarik to the apartment so that I could lend him some new clothes. Travelling as a dog was his idea, and rather cunning. Far less conspicuous than a man walking naked down the street," he pauses to take a sip from his own glass, holding only icewater, before continuing, "or a forty foot dragon flying overhead. Demonstrating that to me is how he ruined his attire in the first place. It seemed better to lend than have him steal from somehwere, or someone."
"Dragon?" Vixen obviously a bit disbelieving. And a little spooked. "Why would.. wha.." She pauses, frowning slightly. "Ain't those things dangerous.. and don't they got all sorts of money and shit of their own? Don't figure one of 'em would need to get clothes off some guy on the street.." A pause. "A for real dragon?"
"Yes," Leonard nods, "a real and potentially dangerous dragon. He doesn't have anything other than his innate talents, and he doesn't understand much of the world around him. Money is a foreign concept." Leonard pauses to take another drink. "I've no idea what qualifies as 'young' for a dragon, but he's admitted to that. He's a child, Vix, so far as I can see."
"A baby dragon?" Vixen frowns faintly. "I just thought he was some punk kid." She shakes her head al little, processing that. "And I pissed it off.. great." She breathes out lowly and shakes her head, her drink lifted for a long draught. Not so strong on the alcohol side, unfortunately. So the desired effect doesn't come to be.
Leonard watches Vixen down a large portion of her drink and looses a soft chuckle. The pair are seated in a booth, only the groggiest or most tenacious here this early, but not so early as to keep Vixen from drinking. "Actually, Vix, he was quite worried that he upset you, and went in search of some way to make amends..." That line of thinking causes him to pause and sigh. "I've no idea what he might do by way of an apology, but if it's something strange or surprsing, you might wish to keep an open mind?"
"You're damn skipppy he upset me.. I mean, he was a talking dog. Talking about eating me. I think I handled that shit pretty well." Vixen's violet drink is not much alcohol and is more caffeine and other morning pick me ups. She frowns a little and shakes her head. "I guess I can try and be open, but.. I ain't much for kids.. a dragon kid?" She shakes her head slightly, "I dunno, Leo."
This is both an unusual hour and an unusual location for Aimee to be in but she arrives in a rush, seeking someone in particular. It isn't either of the others, as she makes her way towards a man in a dark suit, sliding into the seat opposite him with a cool smile. Beneath the table an exchange is made, and she makes small talk for a moment, sharing his coffee.
"I'm sorry that you were upset," Leonard reiterates his prior apology now that things are a bit more calm, "and I did make certain that he wouldn't. He doesn't know much anything about society, other than he's bigger and stronger and maybe he should do whatever he wants because of that. I'm hoping to show him alternative options." After a moment, he adds, "But I'm not bringing him home or trying to keep him."
"Good.. cause I think we got enough pets at home right now with Tiger, Edgar and you." Vixen grins a little at Leo. "You know.. its kinda funny that you're trying to show him that kinda thing. After before.. you know?" Her tone lightening and sobering a little. She glances outward a bit and, after a few moments, catches sight of Aimee nearby. Considering her and her morning companion with curiosity.
The exchange is done and Aimee finishes her coffee before rising, a casual breakfast meeting perhaps. The pocket of her coat holds her part of the bargain and so nothing shows as she turns towards the club, a glance across the room out of pure curiousity. For a moment she returns Leonard's gaze without recognition, before light dawns and she smiles, arching one eyebrow as she takes in his companion.
Leonard grows some of his own grin at her relegating him to pet status. It then mellows into a mixed expression with the rest. "I know, and maybe that's why..." His attention now follows Vixen's to alight upon relocating Aimee, as he's too slow to notice the prior exhanging over coffee.
Vixen casually waves a hand at Aimee, inviting her over without words. "I think you can do it Leo," she murmurs as she looks back to the man. She's sitting on the inside of their bench, so is partly hidden from view. "You know better now. It ain't just that you're strong, cause you ain't stronger than everyone. There's more to living than that. Everyone has to have a place and if you're always screwing around.. maybe there won't be a place for you."
Aimee makes her way slowly towards their table, her hands in the pockets of her heavy coat. "Mon amie..." She greets Vixen with a warm smile, mischief in her green eyes. "And I think, I recognise you from the club, but your name is gone." She shrugs lightly, glancing between the pair, the interest in her eyes obvious. "But I think, me, it is likely that you are mon amie's Leonard, which I have been hearing so much about in town." She arches one eyebrow, making the statement into a question.
"I'm still trying, at least..." Leonard's eyes lift to Aimee with her arrival, and a smile is offered. "Good morning. That would be me, yes. I'd like to tell you that all you've heard is false, but I've no idea what's being told, today." "That's all the past, Aimee," Vixen replies confidently. "But yeah, he's with me." She leans into his side a little, head canted forward a bit to look past him. "Haven't seen you about for a bit, how you doing, girl?" She smiles lightly and makes another motion for Aimee to sit, just so she knows its ok.
Aimee does sit, tilting her head slightly at Leonard's comment. Her smile widens a little at Vixen's words. "Me, I am well. The club just takes time, you know?" She takes off her coat, folding it neatly next to her before she speaks again. "So perhaps, these rumours about your boyfriend, they are exaggerated, oui?" She speaks as if Leonard is not there, giving Vixen her full attention.
Leonard opens his mouth to note that any positive rumors may well be complete truths, then thinks better of it and fills the opening with a few sips from his water glass. If Aimee's pretending that he's not there, maybe this is a good thing for the moment.
Vixen shrugs in response to Aimee's question about the rumors. "Rumors are rumors. What's real is what's now." She keeps a casual lean into him as she adds, "To be honest, it was all pretty upsetting going through it and now I just want to put it all behind me. And I know he does too, cause it wasn't all that comfy for him in the end either." Her head turning to give Leo a sidelong glance. She feels confident in saying that.
Vixen's answer is apparently more interesting and Aimee leans forward, resting her elbows on the table as she cups her chin in her hands. "I see." The words are spoken in a soft purr of a voice, the smile widening as she regards Leonard thoughtfully. "Oui, what matters is what he does now." Spoke in a soft voice, with a smile on her face, but still with a slight undertone of something less friendly. "But oui, he is pretty enough for you at least."
First comes a nod in confirmation of Vixen's explanation of the situation and what is important. The detailed survey and then Aimee's appraisal provokes another response entirely. Her word are a twinned insult, at least with the undercurrent of... contempt, maybe? A brow arches towards Aimee and no small measure of wit is offered. "While I realize that we lack fur, is that insult really necessary?"
Vixen gives Leo a light jab with her armored elbow. "She wasn't insulting you, Leo, cause you are cute. Though she was hinting that she'll beat you up if you mess with me," Vixen asides to Leo with a deliberate lack if subtlety. She gives Aimee a light smile. "He's a little sensitive, I think. Maybe cause of his new duds. You like 'em?"
Aimee's mouth twitches at his response, green eyes dancing. "Ma petite, if you thought that was an insult, ..." She shrugs lightly, "I was not hinting. Me, I thought I was being unsubtle." The green eyes are laughing openly at him now, amusement in her face. "They are clothes." She peers at him, deliberately looking him over slowly, "Oui, definitely clothes."
Leonard winces at the jab, then exhales a sigh too soft to be knocked from him. "Ah... I think I'll just return to drinking and remaining quiet, then. Likely safer that way." As if to prove such, he nurses his water a bit more and just lets himself be oggled. Vixen helped with the clothes, so they have a fair chance of success.
"I think they look smart on him." Vixen returns to Aimee. "We mingled some ideas and had some luck getting nice items. Though the hair is an experiment I wanted to try." She looks to Leo and grins a little. "Aimee is tough, she can take it. So don't go all mum. Being good don't mean always being quiet."
"Vixen, I think your little pet is afraid of being bitten. Perhaps he doesn't like to play as roughly as rumours suggested." She makes a tiny moue with her lips, the laughter in her eyes belying the words. "He doesn't look bad. At least he hasn't blown anything up yet, oui?" Aimee shrugs lightly, reaching for her coat. "Ma petite, I have to go and get some sleep before the club opens." She blows Vixen a kiss, rising from her seat.
"That depends on the players, of course," Leonard now speaks with a little less flex to his spine as he sets down the glass, "and I'm not always the one bitten." A grin forms and widens as he glances to Vixen. "We do try and share, but the clothes were primarily her idea, I must admit."
A slight frown quirks with Vixen when Aimee makes the pet note. "Its complicated, girl. We can talk about it later, I'll help you understand what's been going on. Truth, rather than rumors." She lifts a hand in a light wave. "Sleep good, we'll have a good talk soon." She glances towards Leo, considering him in the wake of his own response. Her expression lightly thoughtful.
"Oui I heard that." Aimee replies to Leonard, giving him a thoughtful idea. "Me, I think I know the truth. If you listen to enough rumours, you hear the truth." She shrugs lightly, turning away from the couple and moving to the door, her movements graceful.
Leonard glances from the departing, thought-provoking woman to the one beside him who is already thoughtful. "Why do I have the suspicion that there's more truth drifting around than I'm aware of? Dare I ask what you appear to be thinking of?"
"Just that you seem more ok with her calling you a pet than I was," Vixen murmurs. "I feel like I can joke about it with you, but when someone else says it.. I think its cause of all this other junk before. I don't want no one encouraging you to be too soft. I mean, I like the warmth you give, but that don't mean you can't be strong too. But I've already gone on about that before." Her shoulders roll a little. "Aimee seems to think she knows what's what. We'll see when I talk to her. I'll give her the full treatment, she deserves to know cause she's a close friend."
"I assumed it was meant as an endearment," Leonard shrugs, "not an insult, but maybe I was just optimistic. Regardless of which she thinks it should be, I'm certain that you'll set her straight. Just tell her that you keep me on a very long leash?" His grin returns.
Vixen grins a little. "I think I'm being oversensitive again," Vixen admits. "Aimee is good, though she is more.. rough than Maya is," she notes. She and Leo are sitting at a both on the left, her inside, him on the outside and the time of day is early. "I just hope some day I can get rid of this sensitivity to things. Makes me want to react before I really think things through. Ain't good, but can't just not do it."
Leonard rolls his shoulders slightly before draping an arm around Vixen. "You're hardly the only person who reacts before thinking. I've done just a little of that, myself." Just a little. Then a brow arches belatedly at her comparison. "More rough than Maya? That should frighten me, shouldn't it?"
"Only if you get on her bad side. She protects her own, even if she might still make jokes and stuff," Vixen replies. She takes another drink, then breathes out lowly. "I should get moving. Stuff to do." Reluctant, but duty calls. "Just.. try and let me know the next time you're bringing something strange home, ok? Never seen a real dragon before. At least.. not in the scales."
"I should have done so beforehand," Leonard nods, "and I will in the future, or, better yet, not need to. Next time, I'll take you to the strange something, alright?" More mirth creeps into his words. "You might also be entitled to a display of scales... just not in the living room."
Vixen's lips quirk faintly. "I dunno if I wanna see.." She gives her shoulders a slight roll before shaking her head a little. "We can talk about it later.. or I'll just see what happens." She leans in a little to press a light kiss to his cheek. "I'll see you tonight. Be good," Vixen tells him softly before she slips from the booth to get on her way.
Leonard chuckles and nods, not pressing that point of strangenesses. "You, too. That applies to both seeing and behaving."
