meadowlarklogs | [Closed] There's something wholesome, something sweet

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[Closed] There's something wholesome, something sweet

WHO: ~~Ginia~~ Angela Roberts and Terrence Ephemera
WHERE: New Amsterdam
WHEN: March 6th
WHAT: Two adults go out for dinner, maybe it'll even be a nice night.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: None, will update as needed.

Ginia arrives at the building twenty minutes early. She swears up and down it's because she's punctual and it's better to be early than late, but it's really nerves. Not that there's any reason for nerves. Ephemera is a friend. The only one in the city, though maybe she's selling herself short or cutting off opportunities too soon. But he's a friend and she can't really afford to lose him, and it's messy because he knows her too well but also not at all. Maybe it'd be easier if she were the person she was pretending to be instead of a ghost inhabiting the shell of the semblance of normalcy and stability.

But she's not, and here she is. Twenty minutes early, sitting in the waiting area of the lobby. It's not as if she's the only person mingling around. It's not as if she's the only person dressed up a little. She's not even fidgeting with her hands or her jacket or her dress as she browses her Cooltalk feed. The very picture of poise and normalcy. Just another person waiting for someone to show up. Just another person waiting for her da -

Just another person waiting for her friend to show up. Ginia cannot afford to place any outside meaning. They're getting dinner at a nice restaurant at the top of a tall tower with admirable views. Enjoying the observation deck after. That she got herself a nice outfit for the occasion doesn't mean anything. It's a nice place, the kind of place you dress up a little, though not so much either. Maybe she wants to wear something besides t-shirts and cargo pants.

Ephemera is a friend. This will be a nice night, a way to celebrate surviving the last week of weirdness. And with the lives they've lead, they could use something nice.

Fifteen minutes. Ginia smooths out her dress and tries not to keep glancing nervously at the entrance.

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It occurs to Ephemera about two hours before he's supposed to meet Angela for dinner that he doesn't actually own any nice clothes and this is one of those occasions that calls for them. He puts thought into his clothes, though the focus is usually on durability and whatever makes him look unapproachable. A hood up to hide the scars, a jacket to conceal his weapons, gloves on his hands and steel-toed boots on his feet. It's fine for a bar or for wandering around the city, but not for something like this.

And he does want to make an effort for this. To do something nice with Angela. So he goes out and he scares a couple retail associates by accident, and he comes away with some new clothes.

Nothing too flashy. But a nice shirt and a suit jacket, something that fits him well. Some decent, nondescript pants. It puts him back some, but he figures the money's well spent. He keeps his boots, though. Just to be on the safe side.

Despite the rushing, he manages to arrive five minutes early. Angela's already there, though. He grins, and waves to get her attention before signing. "Hey. You look nice."

She does, too. He's never seen her in a dress before.

Ginia double-takes a little as she spots Ephemera, rising from her spot to greet him. She's wearing a teal sweater dress with a black coat on top, dark grey leggings, and plain black boots. It's a different look away from her usual casually practical clothes.

But so is his outfit. Her eyes linger a bit as she admires the fit of his clothes, the easy confidence he wears them in. She's long called him handsome and hot, meant it every single time, but he looks real good right now. The warm smile reaches her eyes, cheeks blushing a little as she moves over to him.

"So do you." Really nice. "I went ahead and got tickets for the observation deck. Since you're covering everything else."

It's a little strange to be walking around without a hood up, or gloves on, but the intention is different tonight. People have blanched at his scars more than once, but no one's said anything. And, in the end, he hasn't tried to make himself look like a threat. Just a man going out to dinner with a friend, both of them dressed up for the occasion.

He nods, smiling. "I even made reservations. Like an adult."

Look at him being responsible.

"C'mon. Let's get some food."

Look at them, being responsible adults. Ginia smiles a bit, briefly considering taking his arm as they walk. She doesn't, instead falling in step on his left. The line for the elevators aren't very long and though they can't avoid a few other people riding with them, at least they aren't packed in either.

Ginia still takes up a spot against the back, her hand resting on Ephemera's shoulder. It's as much a stabling method for herself, but it's a quiet sign it's her on his left and not someone else bumping in.

The countdown as the doors close is entirely unexpected, a lights flashing and swirling around them as the elevator rises. A surprised huff escapes as Ginia looks around, patterns playing across the walls and ceiling, gradually fading into stars, then as the elevator reaches the top, arrows to direct everyone out.

"That was flashier than I expected," Ginia signs as they leave the elevator.

Signs to the left point them toward the restaurant, the host at the door quickly checking their reservation and a server guiding them to their seat. The interior is certainly nice, all smooth minimalism with strategic pops of color in the design here and there. Not stuffy. And the servers aren't running around in tuxes and bowties, but there's still a sharpness to their uniforms.

Their table is by the window, affording them a grand view of the city around them. Marred somewhat by the presence of the taller skyscrapers in the immediate view, but it's still very impressive. The table's location is perhaps not the most strategically sound, and Ginia's already crunching plans in her head, but she still accepts the location with a gracious smile. It wouldn't do to fuss about it. There are far better places to try to attack them than within a moderately busy restaurant a top a building.

Ginia gives Ephemera the left side of the table so he can keep his good eye on the restaurant. The menus, like everywhere else, are digital, appearing in their field of view once they sit down, but at least they have the appearance of a physical menu. No steaks here, but there's plenty of seafood and even some chicken options for the higher-end diner. She skims to the dessert menu, playful grin forming at the options.

"We're springing for chocolate cake, right?"

The elevator startles him a little, enough that Angela probably picked up on it when he stiffened at the sudden explosion of light and sound, but having her at his back helps keep him in the moment. She won't let anyone come up in his blindspot. So he takes a breathe, lets it happen, and watches the lights bounce off the walls until the music stops and the elevator dings; this is their floor.

Inside, it's clearly the nicest restaurant that Ephemera's ever been inside. He prefers hole in-the-wall places, tucked out of the way and with floor plans he can memorize, exits he can find and monitor. The waiter leads them to a large window, which makes him frown a little, but thus far he hasn't heard of anyone using a sniper rifle and that would be the best tactical option if they're going to get jumped. Even the mercs from earlier had been subtle about their work. Hadn't wanted to attract attention.

It's fine. The view is nice, anyway, and Ephemera takes a moment to admire it as he takes his seat. He likes being up in the air, able to look down at things from a distance. And this is nice, really. Good company, the promise of good food. What else could he want?

He huffs a little, lifting his hands up to sign. "Of course. I never turn down chocolate."

There are a lot of options, all of them better than ration bars and MREs. Ephemera scrolls through the menu, considering. "What're you getting?"

Marking out all the possible angles or locations a sniper could use to get either of them is a matter of looking out the window and running a few mental calculations. Ginia does. Maybe it shows on her face for a bit, that serious sort of set in her eyes when she's planning. But ultimately, she wants to have a nice night. The glass is probably fairly thick to protect against wind.

Their water returns with warm bread and water, also highlighting their drink menu and food specials for the night - "Tonight we have lobster risotto cakes with lemon aioli, arugula, and red peppers. We also have moules frites: sauted mussels, garlic butter sauce, white wine, served over French fries."

Ginia goes back through the menu after their waiter leaves to give them more time to decide. "I was looking at the seafood pasta medley, but the moules frites sounds pretty tempting. I might get a cocktail, but my heart wants a strawberry lemonade. What about you?"

"I'm going to be fancy and get wine." He knows absolutely nothing about wine, though he's had it a few times and didn't hate the taste. But he likes drinking with other people, and wine doesn't get him drunk like whiskey would. He flicks the menu again, going back to the seafood. "And while I'm definitely going to steal some of your fries, the scallops in garlic sauce sound about right to me."

Nice and spicy.

"We could get fries for the table, but if you insist on stealing my friends, I'm taking one of your scallops." It's how it goes, right? Steal food, get food stolen in return.

Ginia considers the wine list. No doubt there's some perfect pairing to go with the mussels the restaurant is all to happy to suggest. She even likes wine more than beer, though it's not by much. Mostly, it brings up memories she'd rather not think about.

"I guess I'm a cheap date after all, going for fries and lemonade."

"Deal."

In a lot of ways it's like being back with his squad. A touch more formal, sure, with place settings and cloth napkins set out on the table, but Ephemera remembers reaching over and snagging a bite from whoever was closest. Occasionally Chica would snarl and swat at them for trying it with her food, but even she treated it like a game and did it right back. It's good to sit down and eat real food, good food. It's proof that they've made it through to the end, that they're still alive. And it's different now, of course it's different, but the idea is still there. The prospect of a good evening in good company.

Ephemera shrugs, shifting to focus on her instead of the menu. "It's about what you like, right? Wouldn't be much fun if you didn't enjoy the food."

It's a fair point. What's the point of going out if you can't get what you want? It's not like she's trying to break Ephemera's virtual wallet either. She skims back through the menu, but looks back up to smile at him, quickly noting if anyone else is around to read her signs.

"I told you my nanotech filters my blood, right? It also means I can't get drunk at all. And if I go for the really fruity cocktails, I might as well get juice."

She doesn't need to explain herself, but it feels like a point worth clarifying on. Especially in a place like this, where alcohol is still plentiful but a bit more of a luxury in some regards.

"Changed my mind. There's a fish and chips platter that looks real good. If I'm getting seafood, I might as well get a bit of everything."

Ephemera can't actually remember if she told him that or not. She mentioned the nanites, but not the bit about alcohol. That's a shame, he thinks. He likes being drunk, most of the time. Not always the process of getting there, but the fact that it knocks him flat and kills his brain for a few hours. And in better moments he even enjoys being drunk with his friends, letting the world go soft around the edges.

But those are dangerous thoughts, wandering right up to the edge, and so he pushes them away.

"Seafood it is." He tips his head to the side. "Thank you, for explaining."

She didn't have to do that.

"Apparently vampires can get drunk," he adds, just for the hell of it. "But because life is unfair, they don't get hungover. I asked Godric about it."

"It also applies to painkillers. Any OTC medication." It's not a point she wants to stay on for too long. There are a lot of deeper implications why. But they're roommates and friends and it's important for him to know. "It won't hurt me, but it won't do anything either."

So best not to waste anything.

"I'm surprised vampires can get drunk." Ginia's mulling on the implications of that, but considering the biology of the undead seems like a futile task. "You and Godric already friends, I take it?"

Ephemera has a few minutes to ponder his answer as the waiter shows up at that moment to take their order. As decided, Ginia orders the seafood medley fish and chips plate with extra chips and a strawberry lemonade.

That's a hell of a thing. To be untouchable in that way. It probably means she can't be poisoned, that she can't be drugged. A positive on the surface, but then it begs the question; what if she takes a bad hit? She's modded up like a monster, but there are limits to that. What happens when she has to sit there and suffer through the aftermath?

He breathes out. Doesn't ask.

"Sort of. We talk sometimes."

He doesn't say about what. That feels fraught, just like the question he'd been mulling over, and this is supposed to be fun. Good food, good company. He orders the scallops and a glass of red wine when the waiter returns, picking the cheapest option on the list. Might've been simpler to go for beer but he doesn't really like the taste, and whiskey feels too heavy for the moment.

So. Wine it is.

"I met a kid who's apparently a demi-god," he signs, once the waiter leaves. "Said her mom was the goddess of love, and I'm pretty sure she was being literal. Think that beats vampire."

It's heavier than Ginia intended and she distracts herself with some of the fresh bread. It's warm, soft with a nice crust. The spread probably isn't real butter, but it tastes good. Focus on the moment, focus on good things, enjoy the good company.

Don't get caught up on what she is.

"I think I met her too. In the New Cairo group too, right? Silena?"

Nice girl. Pointed out the ouroboros symbol and saved them from getting crushed.

"I heard she can change the flavor of foods."

"Yeah. Nice kid."

Ephemera doesn't really know how to deal with teenagers. He usually ends up saying too much or not enough, gets the tone wrong. Something. The scars don't help, either. Though no one's really made a big deal about them tonight. Even the waiter didn't stare.

He huffs a little, snagging some bread for himself.

"She could set up a good side hustle. Charge a fee for a taste of home, something like that."

"She could, but I get the sense she wouldn't charge for it."

Ginia remembers seeing Silena offering pretty readily her power on Gene's network post. And though they didn't talk long, there's a sense she's a pretty nice person. It's maybe how people are around here. Daisy also comes to mind, with her power and how ready she was to offer a baton. Lottie, offering to change some colors on an outfit.

"There are a lot of good people around here. People willing to help out because they can."

The waiter returns with Ephemera's wine, rattling off some facts about the vintage and where it came from. He only half listens, keeping his good eye on the other patrons. Just to be safe. But no one's really paying them any attention, absorbed in their own food, their own conversations. No threats he can clock.

The wine is good, in Ephemera's book. Red and strong. A hint of sweetness.

"Yeah."

He sits with that for a moment, thinking it over.

"They look out for each other. Think I forgot people just did that, sometimes."

Ginia nods. There's a tiny frown as Clarke's conversation comes to mind. Both the one on the network where she was insistent people helped each other out, and the short conversation on the train to New Oslo. Ginia doesn't regret walking away because there's a point where pushing is too much and care isn't an excuse for rudeness. Her point still stands too, that some people will take care of their own before others. The lengths people went to in order to protect Caroline is clear, regardless of what she might have done.

It still doesn't contradict things. People do help each other out. Hell, even she's been complimented on that.

"I think people in general want to do the best they can. Especially in a place like this, where resources are still on some level of scarcity. Sharing resources only benefits everyone."

Ginia pauses, taking another bite of bread, even remembering to chew instead of devouring it.

"It's good to see."

In general, Ephemera tends to approach the universe with the understanding that people are awful and monstrous and will react accordingly, right up until he starts to know said people in any real sense. Because the individuals can surprise him, sometimes, and then he meets people like Angela or Gene, and then the situation becomes exponentially more complicated.

Just how it is. People are simple, right up until the moment they aren't.

He nods, drinking some more wine. "It's easy to think of people a certain way. But they're trying."

Sometimes he falls into familiar patterns, thinking this place is like home, that the people are just the same, but they're not. Not in the ways that matter.

"I'm trying, too."

"So am I." Can't do anything but try. Find a way to balance the scales, grasp at redemption.

Ginia's strawberry lemonade arrives, real strawberries muddled in and floating around in the pinkish drink. It's tart yet still sweet and though it's not a classy drink, it's exactly what she wants in the moment.

"Like I said. You're one of the best guys I know." That hasn't changed. Maybe it's more truthful over the last few days. They endured each other as much as they endured the desert and not once she did she doubt he had her back. They learned a lot about each other then and in the aftermath. Maybe too much, maybe what was needed.

There's a loose promise to tell more about their respective families, but tonight isn't the right time. Let things stay light and nice. Ginia smiles at him as she takes another sip, playfully flirty.

"Tell me more about yourself. Come here often?"

Ephemera almost says she must not know many guys, then. But that could go down a dark road and this is supposed to be fun. A break from all the awful shit they've endured recently, the memories and the newer hurts alike.

It could be good if he let it. If he doesn't dig at the past and focuses on the moment.

He sighs. Runs a hand through his hair, glancing out the window for a moment. It really is an incredible view. And, in the end, he does know how to talk to people. He was just out of practice for a while. So he grins at Angela. Tips his head to the side. "First time. Heard the food was good. Heard the company was better."

Oh, he's smooth. Ginia's eyes light up, smile slipping into surprised delight for a second. Ephemera is a real handsome guy, easy to talk to. If they were meeting in a bar or a club, she'd give him a few more minutes.

"I heard you can meet real interesting people here too. People who aren't afraid of heights. Badasses who have been up in space." She's coy and flirty again as she looks at him. "You look like you fit that description."

"Oh, that right?" Ephemera drinks some more wine, smiling. And just like that it's easy to slip right into the moment, the game of it. He likes this still, talking to people. Getting them to smile, to enjoy themselves. Angela has a good smile, too. He wishes he could see it more often. "See, I heard everyone around these parts were real damn pretty."

He tips his head to the side.

"Yeah. I'd say that rings true."

Ginia makes a point of looking him up and down, maybe a bit of heat in her eyes too. It's all play though. The kind of thing she's open to the idea of, but with no expectations around. He's still a bit twitchy to touch, the empathy bond could be a problem. It's more fun to tease and play.

"I agree."

She finishes off a piece of bread and immediately butters up a second piece. Is that a trait of good restaurant? Delicious fresh bread for free?

"So what does a handsome guy like you do for a living?"

That's a look he knows, or used to. And this part feels natural, too. Playing along, trying to get the other person to smile and laugh. Have a good time. He can treat it like a game, even if he flinches the moment someone tries to make it real. But those are dark thoughts, and not something he needs to touch now.

This can be easy, if he lets it. This can be fun for both of them.

Ephemera huffs a little, and snags another piece of bread. "Oh, a handsome guy like me work security. I stand around looking pretty. But you, you look like you do something interesting. I got a knack for that sort of thing. Am I wrong?"

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