Vigilantes
 Smiley Specialist
he's big enough
Posts: 164
Preferred Name: Nama
Character Profile: ♦♦♦
Character Name: Levenin Refure
Main Account: Levenin
Status: On Hiatus
|
Post by Levenin on Oct 20, 2015 3:09:17 GMT -5
Forgetting himself for a while was a welcome retreat from daily life, and yet Levenin couldn’t relax as he exited into the antechamber with a sigh of relief. Costume adornments jingling with every turn of his head, he forced the last few sips of his drink he could get. Whatever this pumpkin thing had been, the novelty of it tasted better than the actual beverage itself, though that could’ve been because it took over an hour to finish it. Soggy spice and sugar was less than appetizing by that point. But whatever, it was that time of the year to indulge in a rare treat.
Mira impatiently tugged on his hand as the line of people before them filtered out of the virtual reality tour. This session’s theme had been a haunted hay ride with the twist of adding cryptids as their main attraction. That wasn't so bad by itself, if only he hadn't found out the embarrassing way that any seats in the tour weren’t real seats. Lev’s everything still ached just remembering it. ”What’d you think? You know, of the virtual reality thing?” he asked once the two of them finally walked back into the thick of the festival outside.
”I was expecting more. I didn’t feel anything actually touch me.”
”That’s kinda the point of it being virtual, though, right? I mean, if you felt that stuff, I don’t think anything good would happen...”
The woman shrugged and chose instead to cling to his arm as they slowly waltzed in between bodies. Levenin was tempted to ask if she wanted to go home. After fake walking through what amounted to a live action video game, his feet were letting him know how much they wanted to rest for the night. However, they'd have to endure longer. Mira perked up and pulled on the sleeve of his costume in excitement. ”Look!”
Lev’s attention was brought to a gathering in a square of road up ahead, where people were dancing in a circle around a streetlamp. Upon further observation, there was nothing special about the location, save for the fact it was garnering both cheering and sneers from the traffic back up. The entire scene was lead by a clearly inebriated man managing to cling to the pole of the lamp with his legs. Impressive enough, but he proved to be an entertainer as the man belted out a ditty on a pocket woodwind. How this hadn't been shut down by PR security was anyone's guess.
”C’mon!”
”Wait—!” Once more Levenin was strung along helplessly as Mira dragged the both of them into the thicket of festival attendees. Oh, he was really not on board with this.
”But we haven’t danced in forever!” she argued before pressing palms together and twirling him around.
Their songstress ceased his drunken flute playing for a split second. ”Switch partners! Let’s change things uuuup!” he declared before stuffing the woodwind back into his mouth in favor of a folk-style tune. Levenin looked on in horror as Mira gave him a devilish grin and threw him to whichever unfortunate soul would catch him next.
|
|
Secret Police
proper breast etiquette
Posts: 66
Preferred Name: Tyché
Character Profile: LYANTE
Character Name: Lyante Nephila
Status: Lurking
|
Post by Tyché on Oct 20, 2015 13:44:05 GMT -5
Lyante had been dreading the event; light out and everyone incognito? Clearly they were asking for chaos; then again, the false sense of security the anonymity gave the masses might prove useful to weed out some undesirables, thinking they could get away with stuff.
Trying to relax, Lyante allowed her mind to wander away from work and looking into the mirror, she found her reflection smiling back at her. In a rush of spontaneity she had bought the costume and it had taken herself some convincing to actually wear it.
She loved the hat, the wide brimmed witch’s hat made her feel important, though she found herself pulling on the top constantly; it being somewhat shorter than usual.
Maybe I should have gotten a bigger size… she mumbled to herself as she checked the intricate skirt. Finally convinced sufficiently, she made her way outside. Her goggled hidden under the hat, she used her prosthetic eye to see if she could scan someone, but the low light and disguises made it quite difficult. Getting into the spirit of the celebration, she changed her eye color to red, although she still kept the eye hidden behind her bang.
The raven-haired would-be witch nodded to other festival goers as she heard music; the sharp tones of a flute carried on the wind. Following the source, she came across a group of people dancing to the tones of a clearly drunken man, providing some freelance entertainment. Lyante shook her head, people seemed to have fun and it almost felt criminal to arrest the bringer of such delight.
I guess I’ll allow it, she thought to herself, making a mental note to arrest the musician once she had her fun. Besides, this was the first time she wouldn’t be spending halloween at home, so she was hoping something exciting would happen.
Time to make Gaia proud, she thought, remembering her lessons. Full of good intentions and hope, she stepped into the circle right as the drunk musician called for a change of partner. Suddenly a someone bumped into her.
Setting the large hat back correctly, she stared into the apologetic eyes of a boy. The Lyante that grew up in the slums checked her pockets ( forgetting she didn’t have any) and readied herself for a fight. The Lyante that grew up reading fairy tales and romance novels, on the other hand, her heart skipped a beat: This was exactly like in the stories.
“H-hi,” she smiled broadly, presenting her hand for him to take it and lead her into the dance, exactly like Gaia had taught her. “ Shall we dance?”
|
|
Vigilantes
Smiley Specialist
he's big enough
Posts: 164
Preferred Name: Nama
Character Profile: ♦♦♦
Character Name: Levenin Refure
Main Account: Levenin
Status: On Hiatus
|
Post by Levenin on Oct 24, 2015 0:50:14 GMT -5
Mira disappeared behind a wave of dancing people as Levenin crashed back-first into somebody else behind him. He scrambled for his fallen hat, spinning around and hastily sticking it back on himself and checking to see if his mask was still secure. As if anyone needed to see the look on his face right now, with an expression that was crying (almost literally) for help. His unwitting victim was a woman with a blinding bang over the side of her face that he had to admit was a cute touch. And now he felt even worse that he was about to disappoint her. ”I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—!” Lev fumbled with his words but paused as he saw she was noticeably happy, smiling even. Surely a delayed reaction on her part. ”...You’re not hurt, are you?”
That’s when the obnoxious flute music shot Lev back to reality and he quickly grabbed her offered hand with his sweaty palm. He was certainly no expert at dancing and as he set his other hand on her waist, Levenin hoped he was doing it right. Oh God, what if Mira was watching from afar? She could be… possessive sometimes. A cruel no-win situation that whatever powers might be must’ve been in hysterics about, though it was too late to back out now. His partner seemed eager to dance with him anyway, so chickening out just felt mean.
”Sorry, I’m not very good at this. I'm not the best dancer ever or anything,” Levenin apologized again. "Your, uhh, costume is cute." He did the only thing he knew how in the face of a fast-paced romp and failed compliments: a slow waltz.
|
|
Secret Police
proper breast etiquette
Posts: 66
Preferred Name: Tyché
Character Profile: LYANTE
Character Name: Lyante Nephila
Status: Lurking
|
Post by Tyché on Oct 25, 2015 17:50:12 GMT -5
Lyante blushed a deep crimson as she felt Levenin's arm wrap around her waist. Gaia had done it before but she was her teacher; this, this was a stranger.
Putting her hand on his shoulder, she moved in closer, taking the position for the waltz. She felt another hot wave flood her face as he gave her the compliment.
Her mind raced; did he mean he liked her in the outfit, or did he think it was well made or that it suited her, or maybe...she snapped out of her over-analysis and thanked her dance partner while she counted the steps and followed his lead in the dance.
"I... I like the way you jingle?" Wanting to hit herself for the most stupid compliment ever; she instead focused on her counting, blushing some more in the process.
After a while, she got the hang of it and she managed to follow the rythm and dance at a very rudimentary level.
"Gaia was right," she said, " this is fun."
Feeling confident, she laid her head against his shoulder for a second and sighed dreamily before the hat practically forced her to pick up her head again.
She gave her dance partner a subtle smile...maybe she could scan his eyes, see if he was on file and get a better idea of who he was...but eventually, she decided to enjoy the mystery a bit longer.
"So, trick or treat?"
|
|
Vigilantes
Smiley Specialist
he's big enough
Posts: 164
Preferred Name: Nama
Character Profile: ♦♦♦
Character Name: Levenin Refure
Main Account: Levenin
Status: On Hiatus
|
Post by Levenin on Nov 3, 2015 0:43:30 GMT -5
Well, now he was the one flushing red, though it was thankfully concealed by his mask. Lev supposed he did make an obnoxious amount of noise with both the hat and earring working in conjunction. Really, even just turning his head transformed the man into a portable bell tower that even the old Notre Dame from his historical texts could dare to rival. But was it that or honestly just the fact he hadn’t been this close to someone in a long while? And by close, he meant close.
Levenin’s rhythm was mechanical and dull, he knew, but keeping up the bare minimum was all he could do as they made lazy circles to the backdrop of jumping, sweaty people. He wondered how much they stuck out like this. A dancer smacking into him from behind and making him step on this mystery woman’s foot told him they were like a pair of sore thumbs.
”S-Sorry,” Levenin said again, feigning a smile out of habit even though there was no way she could see it.
He was about to ask who this Gaia was until he froze as she found the crook of his shoulder. If Mira was watching at this very second, he’d be in for a bad time when this was all said and done.
In the midst of his growing nerves, Lev nearly missed her question. ”Uhh, trick or treat…? You mean like the candy gathering thing?”
Why did he have a feeling this meant something else? The music changed again, though it was clear their entertainment was running out of steam as he switched to a slower paced song. Still nothing suitable for a “romantic” waltz. ”… Treat, I guess?” It was always wise to pick the nicer sounding one when given two options.
|
|
Secret Police
proper breast etiquette
Posts: 66
Preferred Name: Tyché
Character Profile: LYANTE
Character Name: Lyante Nephila
Status: Lurking
|
Post by Tyché on Nov 10, 2015 10:44:47 GMT -5
Lyante tried to suppress a blush; did she really just ask that? Feeling a bit brave because of the - for her standards - succesful dance, she had emulated what she had read in her substandard romance books and had posed a suggestive question.
Somehow simultaniously congratulating as scolding herself for her latest exploit, something happened; something she hadn't taken into account: her mysterious dance partner answered.
She cursed internally; given the festival, it had been the perfect suggestive thing to say, but now that she had an answer she didn't now what to do. Thinking on her feet, she flashed him her most charming, misschieveous smile. She then grabbed his hand and pulled him from the crowd, giving her some time to come up with something.
As she was pulling her masked jingler along, her eyes fell on the attractions and inspiration hit her. She stopped at one of the food vendors and smiling at Levenin, she bought a big bag of Halloween goodies, before going back to pulling him along.
"Almost there," she ensured him, smiling and giving him an apologetic look. Finally, she halted in front of the giant ferris wheel and grabbed Levenin by the shoulders.
"Now, I'll be right back, don't go anywhere, please," she pleaded, giggling with excitement over her plan as she turned around and stepped to the ferris wheel controller. One facial scan later, Lyante had everything she needed. Cooing sweetly, she used the information to 'convince' the operator to play along as Lyante's sweetly toned words drained the color from his face. Sometimes, she loved the benefits her job gave her, but she did hope her masked companion hadn't heard what she had said.
Returning to Levenin moments later, almost skipping, she pulled him along into the spaceous little pods at the bottom of the ferris wheel. This was it, she was proud of her idea and to see it actually work had been its own reward. Grinning like an idiot as the pod started moving, she looked out the glass sides and ceiling all the way to the top where the ferris wheel halted.
"How's this for a treat?" she said proudly, leaning back in the comfortable seats of the pod, enjoying the beautiful fake Halloween night's sky. Suddenly she leaned in and grabbed the bag of treats from Levenin's hands and nestled against him, feeding herself the candy.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she sighed as she leaned against Levenin some more, enjoying the candy and offering Levenin some as she admired the work of whoever programmed the sky. "We got until a little past midnight...I hope you're ok with that?"
|
|
Vigilantes
Smiley Specialist
he's big enough
Posts: 164
Preferred Name: Nama
Character Profile: ♦♦♦
Character Name: Levenin Refure
Main Account: Levenin
Status: On Hiatus
|
Post by Levenin on Nov 16, 2015 5:20:47 GMT -5
Was this really a trick in disguise? Because surely being dragged by a mysterious woman by the hand across the festival grounds wasn’t meant to be this terrifying of a treat.
His other hand kept hold of his hat as Levenin couldn’t stop from being strung along. It would’ve been easy to dig his heels into the dirt, or even just say “no” as a responsible, well-functioning adult. Too bad this girl could probably bench-press him all the way past the closing of Persephone’s Reign and he wasn't an adult at all— more like a fully grown and confused child playing at being a real man. ”P-Please, I can’t—! Where are we going?!” he called, looking back frantically as the dance circle disappeared further and further behind them.
Once Mira realized he was gone, Lev would be dead. Deader than dead. Running off with another woman? Well, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t done that in the past but still.
”There’s someone I have to… Isn’t there anyone else who can, umm… Miss?” Would it be rude to leave her here to shop alone? It might be his only chance to escape but the thought of her heart-broken face after vanishing was what kept Lev around. He could only pitifully plead with her as she left again to talk to the ride operator.
There was no fight left in him when she sat him down on the ride. Admittedly, the ferris wheel’s height made him uncomfortable, but Levenin was too far in for that to unnerve him. So why wasn’t he going back to the dance? Mira was scary when she became angry, a proven history. That was enough incentive to go.
And yet he had a feeling this strange woman needed someone. Loneliness? Maybe. After all, it seemed like she was at the festival all by herself until their fateful meeting.
”Y-Yeah, the view’s nice,” said Lev, forcing astonishment in his voice. He thumbed at the wrapping of candy while taking in the sights. Okay, so maybe she’d picked a good treat in the end. There wasn’t much other way to behold the harvest moon and ocean of orange glow below than from up here. ”But I do have to get back soon. I came with someone so they’re gonna wonder where I went… I can’t leave them alone, you know…”
Levenin removed his hat out of paranoia that it’d fly away. ”I hope you haven’t been enjoying Persephone’s Reign alone… I mean, uh, not that you’re by yourself or anything…”
|
|
Secret Police
proper breast etiquette
Posts: 66
Preferred Name: Tyché
Character Profile: LYANTE
Character Name: Lyante Nephila
Status: Lurking
|
Post by Tyché on Nov 20, 2015 10:25:41 GMT -5
"Oh," Lyante said, the satisfied smile leaving her face, the surprised sound echoing in her mind. Her giggling and snuggling up to Levenin suddenly stopping.
"Oh," she said again, sadder now, heavier. She swallowed; succeeding in pushing the candy down, but not the growing lump in her throat.
Slowly, while looking at the floor of the luxurious pod they were in, she sat upright. Putting the bag of candy between her and Levenin, she grabbed the hat of her head, suddenly feeling silly. The moon suddenly looked paler; the orange glow no longer as atmospheric. "O-of course you are here with someone," her tone of voice monotonous, the statement more for herself than anyone else.
She got up, feeling self-conscious about her outfit and leaned outside the window of the glass covered luxury pod. Signaling the operator who had been given strict orders to keep an eye on the pod, she sat back down. A few silent moments passed when suddenly the ride roared back to life and slowly the city came closer, buildings growing past the pod.
Awkward silence, broken by the festive background music, filled the pod. When they neared the ground, Lyante spoke again, softly, as if it were the result of a long inner thoughtprocess: "I...I was enjoying the festival with someone." She turned towards Lev and stared intently into his eyes: "I was enjoying the festival with you." As she said it, a blush came to her cheeks and she looked away as soon as she had said it.
As awkwardly as the silence had been, they got out of the pod, the operator nodding at Lyante. She had half a mind to shoot him, but couldn't be bothered. Her perfect situation turned out to be a dud. Once again, she had tried and the result had been the same: the universe putting her in her place; reminding her she was just alone. She felt as pale and lonely as the oversized moon in the sky.
"No," she thought, "not this time."
She had danced, she had walked the market section and she got to ride the ferris wheel. All she needed was a suitable end to write this of as a succesful attempt. Before Levenin could move away or awkwardly say goodbye, Lyante closed the distance between them and gently pressed her body against his, her lips near his neck, her breath tickling him. One smooth, fluid motion later, she lifted the mask just enough for her to press her lips against his, stealing her first chaste kiss.
It only lasted a few seconds before Lyante broke the kiss, and whispered: "come find me next Festival...I'll show you a trick then." After that, she turned away, already she missed feeling the warmth of another person so close. She did her best not to run at full speed, but still tried to disappear into the crowd as soon as possible.
Struggling with the mixed feelings and suddenly very tired, she started making her way home. Left with mixed feelings, she tried to convince herself that this had been a win...and whether she could do a database search for people with a beauty mark.
|
|
