A little fun [SVR]

[Charles Crafter]

Charles had joined in on this, in part, just out of thinking he might get a bit of enjoyment out of it. He didn't hold out much hope for anything lasting, afterall it was a speed dating thing. It wasn't like anyone could really get a deep understanding of one another in these things. But that was fine, he was ok with only being and seeing the surface for now.

He heard a PING and looked at his phone. "Fantastic, wonder where she is." he commented to himself smiling, looked up and around before sending a response in order to see if he could get the this Marleigh to find him if he couldn't find her.
Hiya, guess we got paired! If you see me first, I've got a shiny black shirt and I'll be walking around very clearly looking around. he said before craning his neck as he started walking to find her.

He might have taken his time waltzing around the rest of the little stuff they had if it weren't for that it'd be more entertaining with whoever he was going to be speed dating with, well at least he hoped that's how it'd be. There was always the chance they'd be utterly annoying, but he figured his talkative self sometimes was that way too, so he didn't feel like complaining about that.

[Marleigh (DELETED 10186)]

☪ W.E.A.R.I.N.G.

Harper Rock.

A city of the damned, and yet holding an event as festive as this for something as little as Valentine's Day. It almost seemed a little much, but when you lived under the constant threat of war with the undead (or so it seemed), perhaps bringing out the joy of the simple things was necessary. Marleigh had only been in the city for all of a week when she had signed up for the event, in hopes of meeting some new faces and creating connections that she might rely on in the future. If she was going to survive this latest venture, she would probably need a small army at her back.

BUZZ! BUZZ, BUZZZZ!

The incessant vibrating from her pocket was all too obnoxious, so she fished it out with a slight huff of annoyance. The screen was alight with a message, informing her of her first match for the event. It provided little in terms of information. A name, only, in essence. 'Well, that isn't very helpful...' she mused silently to herself, lifting her deep, dark slate eyes to the crowd that had gathered through the park. Couples were mingling every direction that she looked, and it was more than a little nauseating. It was a reaction built purely out of bitterness and envy, whether she wanted to admit that to herself or not. Even so, that wasn't her reason for coming. She wasn't desperate enough to think that she needed a relationship to keep her grounded. In fact, relationships rooted people to the same place, the same things. She wasn't about that life, not unless the one she happened upon shared her same love of adventure.

Thankfully, this Charles sent her a message before even had a chance to think about it, providing a clue as to just how she might find him. 'Shiny shirt and on the look out,' she repeated in her head as she made her way through the crowd, hands tucked deep within her jack pockets once more, save for the occasional reveal to push the deep blue strands from her face as they slight breeze whipped them about.

Within minutes, she was sure she had found him. Charles. Pasting a hesitant, though no less genuine smile on her face, she approached the man. "Well, that is certainly a shiny shirt, and you seemed to be looking about. I'm going to go out on a limb here, and assume you're...Charles?" At the end, her hand slipped from her jacket and was extended toward him, to make that first step of their date in the right direction. "I'm Marleigh. Nice to meet you."

[Charles Crafter]

Charles turned his head to see a woman with blue hair speaking to him. He smiled and nodded saying, "That'd be me, pleasure to meet ya Marleigh." he said shaking her hand and glancing at his shirt again, "Makes me easier to spot, kind of figured might be useful. Guess I was right huh?" he added chuckling to himself for a moment. This wasn't the first time Charles had attempted to get on a persons good side, however, it'd be one of the few times he was trying to do so genuinely. So how he went about it was far different, and less experienced sometimes.

He was certainly interested to see what could be come of this, whether it actually turned out long term, friends, or just entertaining to try. He thought for a moment looking up, "Well, don't regularly do these things so some of this is kind of shots in the air. Guess we could eat? Or find an activity? Or just talk? honestly all around I'm up for anything right now, could flip a coin, I came into this without much of a plan. I do that quite a lot it seems and it works surprisingly well for most things. So if you had any plans or preferences they're gonna be taking rank." he said grimacing for a moment knowing full well that might not be a good thing.

He was far too used to trying to be a seducer or a manipulator that he never knew how to actually get in a legitimate relationship. Never really tried until recently so what he said was rather truthful. He'd gotten more spontaneous in recent times and, interestingly, it worked out half the time in one way or another. This, however, was a totally different matter.

[Marleigh (DELETED 10186)]

I suppose you were, weren't you?" she replied with a tip of her head, smile unchanging in the face of his laughter. He almost seemed...nervous. Unsure of himself in this particular situation, but then, she couldn't rightly blame him. Speed dating was a new experience for her, as well, but she was just generally comfortable in her skin and enjoyed making new acquaintances. As their time together progressed, at the very least, she would do her best to make him feel a little more at ease, assuming she was correct and that he was, in fact, nervous. For all she knew of him, she could have been totally wrong. Regardless, this didn't have to be any different than meeting a stranger on the street.

The fact that he came into this without a plan was an expected one. Most speed dating events were held in an enclosed space, each person to a chair with a rotating schedule. The fact that this was held outdoors with a vast array of activities left plenty of options for 'getting to know you.' And if he had no plans in mind, then Marleigh certainly didn't mind providing one. So, she glanced around at the stalls she had passed in her search. Many were, obviously, set up to accommodate the potential budding romances, making it a perfect place for not only this event...but others of the city to come and mingle on his Valentine's night.

Her lips pressed together in a soft 'mm' of consideration, only to cast her attention one more to Charlies. "Well, I happen to have a notorious sweet tooth, and I spy hot chocolate. So, what do you say we start with a warm beverage, walk and talk...and go from there?" she offered, gesturing her head toward the stall advertising the creamy goodness in steaming cups. In truth, sweets were a bit of a guilty pleasure that she greatly enjoyed indulging in, and this was the perfect excuse to do it again.

[Charles Crafter]

Charles was, in fact, unsure. He was used to leading things down a path that lead him to a monetary goal most of the time. This had no such tangible end game, and thus, despite his experience in verbal trickery, left him somewhat clueless about where to go with it. So he was quite happy when she had her own suggestions in mind, which included hot chocolate.

He cocked his head towards the stall, "Sweet!...no pun intended." he said happily starting to walk towards the stand. Sweets were perhaps not his most common choice, but with the cold around, hot chocolate most certainly was on his list of enjoyable things. Cider was actually rather good too but there was something a bit more classic about hot chocolate. If there was a price to be paid, Charles intended on doing so, he knew he had more then enough money for it and also didn't want to end up making her pay during this. If not, well he could always tip, in general that was a good policy, it's not like this things were totally free.

As they'd get to the drinks he decided to go ahead and ask a question, "Little bit of a random question. Have you ever had a hot toddy? I doubt they have them here, and they aren't a replacement for hot chocolate, but I always enjoyed them during the cold, especially if I got sick." he commented.

[Marleigh (DELETED 10186)]

Marleigh's eyes narrowed ever so slightly at the pun, though the crinkle at the corners likely conveyed her amusement with it well enough. Her sense of humor was, perhaps, a little crude in most cases, but she greatly loved to laugh. Where some might have groaned with a roll of their eyes, she could only shake her head with the sparkle in her gaze, easily keeping pace with the man beside her. They didn't walk long in silence before he spoke up, drawing them once more into conversation. Over something that Mar had never heard of a day in her life. Eyebrows shot toward her hairline, an obvious question in the expression. "No, I cannot say that I have ever had a...hot toddy? What even is that?" she asked, letting out a soft, melodious laugh at the prospect of such a strange sounding beverage. It was safe to say that they certainly did not have them, whatever they were, around here.

Coming up to the hot chocolate stall, she paused as they waited in line with only a few patrons ahead of them. "The only thing I ever want to have when I am sick is just hot water with lemon. Especially if I am down and out with something like a cold..." she offered, pushing forward the few steps close to the vendor without one more couple between them. "Thankfully, I haven't been sick in years. I like to keep to the healthier, more active side of life...when I'm not hoarding sweets and candy, that is." The look she shot Charles was one of a devious nature, but yet possessing the air of perfect innocence. Her 'cheat days' were usually more like 'cheat weeks,' not that anyone would catch her in them.

Finally, they reached the vendor and she ordered her own cup of hot chocolate and then glanced to Charles to allow him time to order his own. She had her hand on her wallet to pay for her own, should that be the case, but she knew the societal expectation when it came to dates, and she wouldn't deny him the opportunity to be a gentleman, if he so chose. She was capable and independent, but that didn't mean she was too proud to accept an act of kindness. And while they waited for their beverages, she decided to go for another question in the 'get-to-know-you' handbook. "So, how long have you lived in Harper Rock?"

[Charles Crafter]

Charles made a surprised face, "Oh it's fantastic! Hot water, sugar or honey, whiskey or rum, and a clove or lemon. pretty much that simple, pretty fantastic." he described. He rather enjoyed the drink, although he realized he might occasionally enjoy adding just a little more of the whiskey then always necessary. But oh well

He chuckled at the candy reference, then jokingly added in a peculiar voice, "You must take care of your teef, no lollipops for you." then furrowed his brow smiling for a moment wondering if his sorcery could heal sickness or tooth injuries, come to think of it he hadn't actually ever tried. Although he'd practically be made a miracle doctor if he did.

Charles was rather enjoying himself by now, and while he noticed she had taken out her wallet he made she to smile and shake his head taking out the appropriate amount of cash and tip, "Come on, no offense, just please let me." while he did sort of ask it he was all too ready to hand over the cash to the person handing them the hot chocolates before she could actually respond just in case she ended up saying no to that. He thought about adding 'It's not like I don't have the cash for it' but realized it might sound too much like he was prideful of the amount of cash he could procure and that he assumed she couldn't.

He grinned as he felt the warmth of the cup in his hands before taking a sip and nodding satisfactorily as she asked him a question he had to think about, "Hmm, been a rather long time actually, though until around 2016 vampires weren't really on the list of things I thought could exist, actually, I learned about sorcerers first I think. Thought that was just epic. How about you? And I guess to further the question which I brought up, when and how did you start noticing the craziness that is Harper rock? I know some people didn't quite know until it became public knowledge but there were some for sure."

Neglecting to mention that he was a sorcerer might have been seen as a bit rude if she were to learn later but, much like his monetary reason, he didn't think bragging was the best way to do it unless he could do it in a comical way. So he decided to neglect it for now.

[Marleigh (DELETED 10186)]

Marleigh enjoyed a good drink as much as the next girl, and she had to admit that what Charles was describing did sound rather delicious. Though, she doubted it had to feel all that soothing on a sore throat if there was whiskey or rum involved. At least, not at first. Still, it sounded like something she might like to try in the future, assuming she could find anyone who could make it worth a damn in a place like this. And perhaps that meant she would have to employee Charles for just that. He was the one that suggested it, after all. Starting with… ”You had said, here, as in Canada? Where are you from?” Maybe she simply hadn’t been pay enough attention to catch on to a possible accent, or it was a beverage made closer than she knew. Either way, it was another good “get to know you” question.

His humorous attempt at the voice in regards to her sweet teeth brought on a good-natured laugh, even as she made efforts to prevent it. For a first meeting, people generally preferred to keep their impressions as tame as possible for sake of looking good, but it was obvious Charles was comfortable enough in who he was that he didn’t mind showing that side of himself. It was a nice change to come across. So as the laughter settled into a much softer giggle, she nodded her head at his insistence on paying for their hot chocolates, tucking her wallet away in the pocket of the jacket. ”Thank you, very much. I appreciate it.” she offered, tucking both hands around the warmth of the cup to protect them from the chill in the air.

The answer to her question in regards to the city came easily enough, and accompanied by one of his own. Marleigh softly hummed in consideration of the question, though it didn’t require nearly as much thought as she let on. She knew plenty about sorcerers, being trained as one herself, but that wasn’t something she was about to readily share on a blind date. ”To be honest, I only just arrived in the city a week or so ago. I guess you could say...since the coming out of vampires...this is my latest adventure,” she explained with a vague shrug of her shoulders. ”There is a lot about this city that I am still learning, and that includes the undead inhabitants of it. Nothing too crazy, but...part of me hopes that changes.”

Tucking blue strands behind her ear, she scanned the immediate area before bringing her attention back to the man at her side. ”What do you say we try out a few more of these stalls? Get our feet wet, so to speak?”

[Charles Crafter]

He slapped himself on the forehead, "Sorry I mean here as in this place in particular, I don't know precisely where I was born my parents never told me and if they did I don't remember. But I grew up in Canada. Hot toddy's just happen to be one of the things I remember my mother giving me." he commented shrugging.

Charles bowed dramatically making very sure not too spill his drink as he did so as she thanked him. He did it much because she had giggled which gave him a little more confidence to try and be entertaining. It was, to him, one of his only socializing things he could do legitimately, as in without planning to manipulate or deceive. So it made him happy he could get someone to laugh, or giggle. "Thank you."

He listened taking in a drink of his hot chocolate as she answered his question about her and Harper Rock. He smiled as she said part of her hoped that more entertaining things would happen. He was familiar with some of the crazy things, he'd be sent to the hospital a few times because of it. But he didn't mind too much, it was a temporary setback, even with as regularly as it had happened recently.

A glance around at her next question and he nodded again, "Yeah, sounds like fun, wanna flip a coin or something on what to choose or does something catch your eye?" He frowned and shook his head as if overwhelmed, "Honestly there's a ton of stuff and I'm just trying to make sure I don't say something that's completely stupid. What's a fun thing to do. Hrmmm. They have those dart throwing things, I see go karts, honestly got no preference still I'm just trying to slip into the ability to do this right." he took a larger drink of the hot chocolate and winced, "Ouch, that burned more then expected."