[OPEN]

[monstrous]

Characters: Tobias Matthews and YOU
Date: 21 April 2013 sometime after sunset.
Location: A cafe in the Fire Sector
Situation: Toby is just chillin' like a villain in a cafe, because that is a thing to do.
Warnings/Rating: None that I know of? Will edit if that changes.

[Toby is sitting at a table in a cafe, flipping through a well worn copy of Wordsworth's Poems, In Two Volumes. He's also sporting a mild sunburn, emphasis on mild considering how severe sunburns can be for him. Either way he's seeming pretty relaxed more or less and amicable and friendly enough when the server comes to take his order. So bother him at your leisure, or not, whatever floats your boat.]

Comments

[epigrammatical]

Henry's mind is elsewhere, which is why he doesn't notice Toby when he walks into the café. He has yet to fully shake the convalescent feeling he was left with after his last conversation with Dorian, and part of his mind is also dwelling on the supply of tobacco in Keeliai, and his role in re-distributing that supply.

He sits down one table over (his back to Toby) and orders a drink and a light meal, still oblivious.

[monstrous]

The advantage of being a vampire comes into play in situations just like this. Without looking up from his book he is aware of Henry's presence. It's a combination of things, from the weight of his step to the smell of his clothing and his hair and even his sweat. He lets his eyes wander as the waitress brings his drink over, studying Henry in profile.

Toby returns his attention to the waitress. He gives her his most charming smile, gesturing for her to come closer. She blushes, looking around the cafe before she leans down towards Toby.

With a hand on her waist he leans up, whispering in her ear. "See that fellow over there the next table over?" The waitress turns to look, but he grins, pulling her arm so she's closer now. "Shh, don't be so obvious."

The girl giggles in response, but nods. "All right, send him a drink, my treat," Toby continues, whispering again, "And whatever you do, don't let on it was from me, all right?"

The girl grins and stands up straight once more. He gives her a wink and she blushes some more before scurrying off to get the drink and delivering it to Henry's table without any explanation except that the buyer wished to remain anonymous.

[epigrammatical]

When the drink arrives at his table, Henry looks up in puzzlement, but before he can say that he didn't order it, the girl explains that it's from someone who didn't wish to give a name. He watches her face to see if, say, a flicker of her eyes will give away the sender, but she's good; she doesn't.

"Send my thanks, then, my dear," he says with a smile, and discreetly slips her a coin for her trouble. First, without turning around, he surveys the café. Then he turns in his seat and his gaze falls on Toby.

There's the briefest pause before the polite smile sets up on his face. "Good afternoon, sir."

[monstrous]

Toby shifts around in his chair. He picks up his drink and unceremoniously sits down in an empty chair at Henry's tables. "And good afternoon to you, sir. Fancy meeting you in a place like this. You're doing well I expect?"

[epigrammatical]

Henry's smile is polite, reserved. "Quite well, thank you; I trust you are as well, Mr—Kirk? Or is it Matthews?"

[fearlessherosheart]

[Tazendra would have ignored Toby, except for one detail. Growing up in a country under perpetual magical overcast (excluding the tops of the tallest mountains) means that sunburns are not the sort of thing one normally sees. Enough that she does a double-take on entering the cafe.]

Are you well?

[With the sort of tone that implies more of 'are you contagious' than any actual curiosity as to your health.]

[monstrous]

[Toby looks confused more than anything as he looks up from the book] I think I am, yeah? Unless you know something I don't.

[fearlessherosheart]

You are rather an alarming shade of red.

[monstrous]

I am, aren't I? [he looks at his arms] Just a bit too much time out in the sun recently. Don't worry, it will fade.

[fearlessherosheart]

I would not think that the Furnace, which you call the 'Sun', would produce such strong effects merely from walking under its light without proper clouds.

[depicted]

[Dorian just takes the seat across from him, no asking. Because that is what it means to be someone's friend: you show them no consideration.]

I've got a better book with a more interesting protagonist that you could read.

[monstrous]

[Toby doesn't even bother looking up] As long as it doesn't involve portraits or pictures or paintings or anyone named Dorian Gray.

[depicted]

Why would you limit yourself like that?

Nice sunburn, by the way.

[It's a terrible thing to say to Toby.

But Dorian's maybe just a little too happy that he can say it.]

[monstrous]

[Toby does look up at that and grins, putting the book on the table as he rolls up his sleeves to admire his burnt and charred skin] I know, isn't it? I'm practically a lobster! [he says this as if he's just won the lottery]

[depicted]

[It is that excitement, more than anything, that brings up Dorian's spirits.] You might get stuck that way forever. I'll have to make you wear long sleeves.

[demon_brat]

[Damian's taken a cup of tea, but - it seems that the tables are occupied, and the kedan are unhappy enough to for him to try avoiding them. He doesn't want to start trouble, not right now.]

[He almost asks for the tea to be changed to a to-go container, something that would also make people unhappy, when he spots another foreigner.]

Excuse me. Would it be a problem to sit at your table until I finish my tea?

[The words are polite. The tone, on the other hand, is indifferent.]

[monstrous]

[Toby looks up, a little surprised, but he's in a good enough mood as he pulls his things back to free up enough of the table for Damian] Only if you cheer down a bit. You're far too eager.

[demon_brat]

[Pause.]

[... believe it or not, the answer is in the same spirit as the request. Though he can cheer down. It's just that the phrasing of the request amuses him enough for a bit of a crinkle around the blue eyes.]

Absolutely.

[Back even straighter. Mouth even more in a straight line. But eyes still crinkled.]

[monstrous]

[Toby kicks out a chair for Damian to sit in] Then feel free to sit. I don't think we've met. [reaching across the table to shake Damian's hand] I'm Toby.

[storm_warning]

[Ororo's on the way home after work -- one of the lucky Foreigners kept employed by locals harbouring a fear that she might, oh, bring down some serious hail if they fire her -- when she stops in to pick up a tea at the cafe.

It's on her way out that she sees him. The only times they've talked on the network has been audio, so she doesn't recognise him quite for who he is so much as what he's looking at. Ah, and the fact that he looks a bit like he's crossbred with a lobster.]

Been hitting the beach hardcore, buddy?

[It's a comment as she pauses and takes a look at the text he's reading -- content that goes over her head, but it gives her a reason to hear his reaction about the beach comment.]

[monstrous]

[And Toby has had the benefit of seeing Ororo on the network, and he recognizes her voice]

Something like that. More importantly though, have you been hitting up some screenwriting manuals? Not that I can imagine it's that difficult. Just name, colon, some lines and direction.

[storm_warning]

[That's a take. Try again -- it's a double take. Ororo settles around the triple take before she puts the words and the meaning to the voice. She stares during all these takes, but then breaks off with a smile equal parts friendly and nervous. It's a mild nervous, the sort one feels at a first face-to-face meeting, but it's there.]

Manuals? [She laughs, swallowing back half of it to dull the edge.] Right. I've got dialogue, sure. But don't expect that fancy stage-left stuff with me.

[Then, thinking the best of it, she offers out her hand.]

Ororo, in person.

[brbparadise]

[The night is young and Mavis is out making the most of the bugs that take to the air after sunset. She dives in and around the Fire Sector in bat form, making a feast of the buzzing and bustling population of insects.

When one gets stuck in her throat, she dives into a cafe to get a drink of water to help wash it down. Every vampire knows that blood'd be better, but she has a positive reputation to maintain, she this might be one bat hitting the ground next to his table and poofing into human(-ish) form. She coughs a few times to keep it from wriggling down the wrong pipe and points at the nearest glass/cup of liquid. Whether or not it's his or on his table doesn't really register with her, but she definitely addresses him hen she speaks.]

Oh my gore, I'm sorry, but do you need that?

[monstrous]

I - no, help yourself. [he's more amused than anything else] Batgirl, is it?

[brbparadise]

[Mavis snatches it up and down the entire contents in a few gulps, ensuring that the bug goes where it belongs before she sets the glass down. Phew.]

Holy rabies, that was weird!

[Half to herself, half to him. The next statement is fully directed at him.]

Thanks! You're a total unlife saver. And the name's Mavis. Mavis Dracula.