Assembly At An Aquarium
| Assembly At An Aquarium | |
|---|---|
Civility reigns supreme. | |
| Players |
A bunch of strangers gather and everyone has a nice time. Chicago, the most friendly city in the world. |
+-----------------------------+ Shedd Aquarium +-----------------------------+ This is an indoor public aquarium that opened on May 30, 1930 and was for some time the largest indoor facility in the world. Today it holds some 32,000 animals. The aquarium contains 1,500 species, including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. The basic design, by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White,37 is taken from classical Greek architecture, more specifically Beaux Arts, to match the other structures of the Museum Campus. The central aquarium building is octagonal, fronted by Doric columns and a formal staircase and topped by a dome. Aquatic motifs are worked in at every opportunity; tortoise shells, dolphins, octopuses, waves, and even the Trident of Poseidon can be found all over the aquarium's exterior and interior. Improving upon its predecessor inland aquarium, extensive use was made of designs by Mary Chase Perry Stratton, incorporating her custom-made Pewabic Pottery tile. The Oceanarium is done in a more modern style representing the Pacific Northwest, but one that blends with the older part of the building. "Whale Harbor", the Oceanarium's 2,000,000-US-gallon (7,600,000 l) main tank, is backed by a wall of windows that look out onto Lake Michigan. +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
-- Mysteriously, Haliburton showed up here with a pretty young woman in glasses. They had an intense whispered conversation, and she left in a mood of quiet pensiveness as if receiving bad news. How strange! It still leaves Hal here in his black pinstripe suit though, staring off into the tank of belugas, ignoring the stranger taking selfies near that spot. What he doesn't ignore is Heloise, shooting a glance her way once and smiling a little. Not addressing her just yet though. Perhaps he needs a moment. With the weather getting colder, it was always great to find somewhere free or cheap to spend a couple hours at, especially at night. Five was dressed casually, a simple hoodie and jeans in muted colors, both a few sizes too big for her frame. Her wandering path eventually led her to the underground area of the aquarium. With wide eyes, she takes a slow glance around, surveying and wondering where even to start. The informational posters that Heloise was standing near caught her attention, as did the woman herself. Walking over, she studies over the posters first before looking over toward the woman. "Have you been here before?" she wonders with a slight raise of her brow. -- Catching Hal's eyes, Helo offers him a small close-lipped smile and a nod in return, though does not approach - politely aware of his body language. And there's a lot of information packed into these posters. She's looking intrigued at a bit about rescuing and relocating beluga whales, and then Five. She turns to face the shorter woman, lips still curved in that slight smile. Up close like this she smells amazing. Sweet spices, exotic woods, something like toasted marshmallow or burnt sugar, expensive whiskey, that vanilla-y smell that old books gain. It's a perfume of money and luxury, the good things in life, but without anything artificial. It's like she is standing in an invisible doorway leading into a Victorian mansion. It's much more lux than her outfit would indicate. "I've been here a few times before but it was a long time ago, I have not seen many of the new additions." Heloise says, “How about yourself?” -- So Hal can't really keep being antisocial. Once Heloise and Five start a conversation he offers from where he stands in a gentle voice, "I don't usually come here at all, but I have friends who do." Like the other young woman in glasses whom he was speaking to previously. "You seem very captivated with what they've written about the belugas, Miss Heloise." Five can't help but observe Hal with a bit of caution as he approaches the gathered pair. But once he seems familiar with the other woman, the mortal relaxes a bit. Bright green eyes linger on him for a moment before she glances back to Heloise. "First time here," she answers. Her gaze drifts from both of the strangers, starting to take in the aquatic scenery around them. "I can see why your friends come here. It is... peaceful?" She's not sure that's quite the right word, but she's going with it. -- The gentle thud of boot heels on the laminated floors below announce Arthur's arrival. He wanders in, almost aimlessly, to the underground section of the aquarium, hands stuffed inside the pockets of his coat, and meanders between the various viewing stations, eyeing the fish therein with a vaguely confused frown that creases his beard. It's only from the corner of his eye that he seems to be watching the passers-by, just for a quick moment, giving each a fleeting once-over, then back to the animals. It's only when he spots the trio conversing further ahead that he pauses, frown deepening. The two women are afforded the usual glance, but as his gaze alights upon Hal, the frown on his face deepens, and he glances for a moment between his two companions. Out-hunted, it seems. Stifling some slight annoyance, he turns back to the viewing screen, presumably toying with where to try next. -- "Consider me an eternal student," Heloise responds to the undead scholar, a hint of dimples showing in her white cheeks, though still not showing any teeth in her renewed smile. Not that there seems to be anything wrong with them as they are glimpsed normally as she speaks, shiny white and even. "I am quite passionate about learning new things, whether about whales or other, Hal. I find knowledge by itself to be rewarding, usually." Turning her attention back to Five she nods in agreement. "Yes, it is a relaxing space I think. Though the late hour surely helps." She shifts slightly from one foot to the other and takes a sip of her water. -- Solomon has actually been in the aquarium for several hours, in a consultation meeting on aquatic invertibrates. The meeting has only just let out, and rather than immediately flee into something perhaps slightly less nerdy, the professor has decided to take a stroll through the facilities. He's dressed for work; an off-the-rack suit with a thin tie and button up shirt, slacks, and shined leather shoes. He's already hooked a few fingers into the tie and loosened it by several inches, and it dangles in a loose noose around his neck. He walks with his hands in his pockets, dodging the occasional excited child as he makes his way down into the Ocenarium's lower level. His pale blue gaze - bulging and faceted to the eyes of other Lost - sweeps the area and comes to rest on Haliburton. -- Well at this point Hal has no excuse not to walk nearer Heloise and tell her, "Admirable, but uncommon. Not that you're exactly common." He might have then said a thing to Five except that's about when Arthur appears, and Hal's attention goes to the other Kindred he senses. Beasts tend not to like each other, even among trusted friends. Imagine that! So what Sol sees is Hal taking on a relaxed but definite posture while facing Arthur and all but pantomiming how These Two Women are His and the other guy can go eat somebody else. What comes out of Hal's mouth toward Arthur though is much more polite. "Hello. Haven't seen you before, sir." -- While she's listening to Heloise, Five continues to let her gaze drift. From the animals to the people and all various points in between. And then someone else is watching the stranger that approached the pair by the posters. Brows furrow slightly as she returns her attention to Hal, studying him just a little more closely for a moment. It's casually done but she takes a small step back. Maybe to make room for company or maybe to put some distance between the current ones. Still, she's curious enough about the gathering people to linger. "Me too," she agrees with Heloise before quickly adding. "About learning. So many things in the world to discover," she says, her expression lightening a bit. "Do the animals ever fight in there?" she wonders, looking back toward the glass. -- Arthur stiffens in response to the voice calling towards him and turns to face Hal, heavy brows still creased into a frown. His Beast rattles about his chest, raging against what it sees as clearly a challenge, but after a quick moment, he seems to exert some measure of control, and the man's expression relaxes, flashing a quick, friendly smile towards the other Kindred. He pads a bit closer so as not to have to raise his voice too high before responding. "Howya," he greets; his Dublin accent is faint but certainly broguish. "Nah, s'pose not. Just shuffled into town there recently, said I'd check the place out." He offers Heloise and Five a brief smile as well, as if apologising for intruding. -- "Well, foreign editions do usually come in smaller quantities," Heloise responds to Hal, before she goes quiet to watch the display going on between him and Arthur. She sees Five's hesitation and in response takes a step forward, putting herself if only slightly between the smaller woman and the rest. Her eyes remain calm, her smile gentle as she returns her bottle to her bag. Grabbing the apple from there, offering it over. It looks like a heirloom type, larger than average, matte green flushed with shining red on the sides. It's strongly, sweetly scented, and slightly damp as if recently washed. "It's from my mother's garden." She turns her attention to Arthur, offering him a smile and a nod. --- The bristling body language from Hal has Solomon's eyebrows going up, his gaze sliding to the person who seems to be provoking it. Along the way, though, his eyes reach Heloise and...just stop there. For a bit. Staring. Then he looks away like it takes effort to do so and he changes his trajectory to intercept the little group, speaking up from behind poor Arthur, to Five, "They work very hard to ensure the animals do not. There's a lot of socialization that occurs, and an animal that can't get along with the others may even be moved to another aquarium." He's got a working class Chicago accent, although there's a carefulness about it that suggests he's worked to diminish it into a bland, generic Midwestern one. --- As soon as Arthur speaks there is a very real part of Hal that, internally away from anyone's sight, pinches its nose and shakes its head and looks around in the drawer for the Excedrin. Then it goes around hiding all the English things like that Union Jack throw pillow but most especially the Accent. Haliburton seldom actually speaks like an Englishman anymore, preferring instead to adopt and cultivate the Midwestern American speech more common in Illinois. That's how he's making an effort to sound when he breaks from Heloise and Five to approach Arthur with an outstretched hand in greeting. "I'm Haliburton. Good to meet you. This lady here is my friend Heloise, that gentleman there is my friend Solomon, and I do not yet know the young lady with Heloise. Welcome to Chicago." -- Even if she can't smell anything beyond what any other mortal might, what Five can sniff from Heloise is definitely comforting. Especially with lurking predators nearby. And the sharks behind the glass look suspicious too. Both the offered shield and apple are happily taken and she almost immediately takes a quick bite. Hearing Solomon, she looks over as her question is answered, listening with apparent interest. So interested she almost misses that it's time for introductions. Oh, /she's/ the woman with Heloise. "Five," she offers up as an introduction. A glance is given to Arthur before she asks, "You're new, too?" -- Arthur hadn't seemed to notice the accent and grips the hand to shake it. "Arthur. Same to yerself." A lie, or at least half one -- the Irishman's Beast is kicking up quite the fuss, though he seems to be managing alright keeping it in check, even if the smile he offers the group is faintly strained. Might just be the light. "Lovely t'meet ye all. I'll have yer names forgotten in a bit, no doubt, but I'll do my best." He nods at Heloise. "Aye, fresh off the bus, more or less, just arrived last night. Seems a nice place. You jus' here a few days as well?" It's then he looks over his shoulder to nod at Solomon's entrance as well. "Christ, is everyone this friendly with each other in Chicago?" he jokes, with a grin, seemingly a bit more relaxed now that he's involved in the conversation. -- Heloise sees Solomon and just kind of... Stops. Supernatural perfume comes to life in the space, the normal non-aromas of the aquarium vanishing. Subterranean and simmering, frozen ice and cooling lava, lacrima of tears and musk of desire, the bright green of the trees giving way to the dark and complicated dirt beneath, the ocean holding the scent of death under all that life, the cold and dark. It's like an invisible hand whipping out at the blue-eyed professor. Then she takes a deep breath, blinks, and ever so slowly turns her head away. The scents slowly, slowly tamper back down, though they're not quite going away. But different. The sea gives way to forest, spruce and cedar, applewood, campfire smoke, coffee, freshly baked bread. Normal human smells. Home smells. Freshly cut grass returns, sundried linen. Vanilla, the clarion call of mothers in aprons and after-school cookies warm from the oven. To her credit, her voice remains as smooth as ever, a bit of warmth returning in response to Five enjoying the apple so much. "It is good to meet you, Arthur, Five." Pause. "Solomon." Eyes placid. Everything's fine. It's fine. Her accent is decidedly not Chicago, something of eastern Europe prowling there. -- Solomon is very friendly. VERY friendly. The way his lips pull back from his teeth? That's a smile. That is absolutely a smile and don't let anyone say otherwise. His hands remain firmly in his pockets while he bares his---er, while he SMILES at Heloise and tries very hard not to breathe. He takes a side step, moving away from Heloise to Haliburton's other side. It's less like he's hiding behind the Englishman, and more like he's trying to find a place to stand where the air currents are putting him upwind of Heloise. He doesn't say that it's nice to meet anyone. -- "I'm sorry but...five what?" Of all things going on in here Hal's brain fixates on that one minor confusion. He looks to the young street-waif with her Obviously Cursed apple and the answer he finds strange. For just a moment he wrinkles his nose, smelling a sudden storm of intercontinental potpourri and things that make no sense, and he does what any gentleman does. He pretends not to notice. Because that's what you do in public when someone emits an odor. Somehow Hal doesn't notice Solomon's assault smile just yet, but offers to Arthur, "Friendly? In Chicago? My friend we aren't being friendly, we're being social." The place: In the underground section of the aquarium near the beluga whale exhibit. There are a few tourists around. It's evening, and except for Five (who seems currently to be protected by Heloise from everyone else) everybody is fixating on someone else to posture at for their own reasons. -- Hal's confusion causes the mortal to be confused as well! Her brows furrow and she tilts her head to the side. "Just... Five?" Like, what's so odd about that? She takes another bite of the very delicious and total normal apple, offering Heloise an appreciative look. It's not quite a smile but her expression and demeanor has definitely lightened. Looking back toward Hal, she gives him a curious look. "What's the difference?" she wonders, taking a glance at the others for their own input as well on the nuances of social encounters. -- Arthur, to his credit, follows Hal's lead in ignoring the sudden assault on his senses, disguising an involuntary wrinkling of his nose with a swift, nonchalant rub with the back of his hand. Having said that, between that and the downright odd behaviour between Heloise and Solomon, Arthur is now officially back to being On-Edge. His other hand lifts out from his coat pockets and he folds his arms loosely over his chest, much preferring to keep his arms free if anything odd should happen. Eventually, he offers a quick snort of amusement to Hal's reponse. "Hah, fair enough. Maybe it was the long bus ride that's just taken it out of me. Wasn't ready to stumble over a, uh..." A glance around the group. A frown, too. "... meet-and-greet." -- Everybody said 'You've //gotta// see the aquarium after dark.' So Rachel is here to satisfy her curiosity. Why the heck is the Beluga exhibit still open? Don't the whales have to sleep or something? Well, maybe not. Maybe Rachel's gonna learn a thing today. Isn't that what the aquarium is or, after all? So she wanders into the underground chamber, looking mostly towards the glass into the tank, tennis shoes soft on the aquarium floor. Tonight she's in high-waist jean shorts and a loose-fitting tank-top, often showing a glimpse of sports bra underneath, with her usual bag at her side. -- Teeth. While studiously avoiding looking in Solomon's direction, Heloise is starting to smile a bit openly in turn. It's charming really. Look at those pretty pearly whites. And dimples too. She's breathing perfectly evenly. In, out, in, out. Vanilla. Chocolate chips. Caramel. Caramel starting to scorch, dark sugar, smoke, hot copper-- no no. Breathe. Vanilla. Citrus. Thyme. She holds on to her bag, quietly watching the exchange between the girl and the once-British vampire. "Well." Breathe. "You can be social without being friendly." She brings her bottle of water back out of the bag, takes a sip. A nod in Arthur's direction, eyes sympathetic, "A long bus ride can certainly take it out of you." -- "There's two Fives I know. One robot. One time traveler," Solomon says, his voice carefully controlled. He's breathing again, but it's very shallow and careful, like an asthmatic around chain smokers. His hands stay in his pockets, and now he's looking every where _except_ Heloise...and yet, at the same time, it's very clear to anyone that the woman is the center of his focus. "Serial killers are often social. No one would say they're friendly." -- "Well," explains Hal to Five in a very gentle manner, "friendly is when you like someone and enjoy their company. Social is when you only pretend to, perhaps because you don't know them yet but always because having a fight in public is a bad idea." Here he looks to Arthur as if for some backup or understanding. There's some obvious relief as the more Arthur talks the more sure Hal is that he's well-behaved. You just have to get to know people. The one thing is that Hal still doesn't seem to know Five's name is Five, because who does that? He just drops it rather than pursuing it. Rachel's appearance has Hal glancing her direction, but he doesn't recognize her just yet. If anything he looks concerned that another stranger is on scene while there is heavy breathing present. -- Five gives herself a poke. "Pretty sure I'm not a robot," she tells Solomon. Maybe an attempt at a joke? She finishes the apple, stepping over toward a nearby trashcan to toss it away. That's when she spots Rachel, a face she's seen before. "Nice evening?" she questions as she starts to step back toward the gathered group, giving a bit of an inviting look toward the other woman. -- Arthur listens as Hal speaks to Five, arms still folded over his chest. At the man's explanation and following look, he offers a slight nod in response. "Sounds about right. No point rockin' the boat." A hand reaches up to scritch his chin, attempting to appear as nonchalant as possible, though it's clear it isn't his forte to anyone paying attention. The Irishman's eyes flick between Solomon and Heloise for another moment, as if trying to puzzle out... whatever the bloody hell is going on there, but he eventually returns to his current conversation. "Friendly or social, I reckon I'm jus' travel-tired. And new to town, I suppose. Fish outta water." He snickers to himself at his own jokes, a brief look spent towards the viewing ports and the whales within. "Jus' need to get meself settled then I should be fine." He follows Five's gaze absentmindedly and nods a welcome towards Rachel, if she was to wander over. -- Solomon has recovered enough from the olfactory assault that he can offer Five a quick smile. "Maybe you were just programmed to think that," he points out. He catches Arthur's look and makes an effort to look less weird and stressed out. He's not a very good actor. "Chicago's a fun town; you'll find your place soon enough. Or someone will shoot you, and that's also part of the Chicago experience." It's deadpan. He follows Hal's look, and there's a more genuine smile as he spots the approaching woman. "Rachel. Hello. It's been a bit." -- She notices the cluster of people, pausing curiously, and then Five quickly notices her, sharpening Rachel's attention. But where that attention really goes is to Solomon. Her tennis shoes squeak softly as she pads up next to him. "You forgot the clone," she says to him quietly, aiming for teasing but concern on her face. "Fives the clone trooper. From Star Wars." She glances around the group, clearly trying to figure out what's making Solomon so wigged out. Heloise gets a lingering look, before she finally answers Five, "Yeah, nice enough..." -- Oh. Hal realizes that people know Rachel both by Solomon's greeting and Five's attention. In an almost stage-whisper to Arthur he asks, "Do you need a place to sleep?" Like that's very important. Well maybe it is! Stop judging. Then he asks Solomon while indicating Rachel, "Is this someone I should know, Sol?" -- The otherworldy perfume from earlier has gone away, leaving just the normal aromas of the aquarium. Plastic and rubber and steel and the pungent animal warmth of the penguins waddling around over yonder, with some fishy stench from their food. Heloise drinks her water, and quietly nods a greeting to Rachel as well, attention lingering on her as well. Her dark eyes are calm, pulse steady. There's a cool breeze blowing from somewhere, maybe a fan was turned on. -- Although she doesn't read too deeply into the interactions between the various supernatural creatures around her, Five /does/ note who seems to be familiar with who. Curious eyes quietly watch the others for a few moments. At the numerous mentions of her name in media, even if the references seem foreign to her she gives Hal a look like, 'See? Totally normal name'. Although she doesn't fully drift away from the group, she does take a few steps closer to the nearest exhibit. "Do they ever let people swim in here?" she asks with raised brows. -- "I never liked Star Wars," Solomon admits to Rachel. To Hal, he nods. "Rachel, this is Haliburton. Hal, Rachel. She's well worth knowing." His hands don't come out of his pockets, but he's still relaxing, bit by bit. "No." That's a very firm response to Five's question. "It's bad for the animals, and some of them can cause you harm out of ignorance or territorial protection." -- Rachel blinks at Five's very unusual question, but blinks again at Solomon's ghastly words. "Wow, we can't be friends anymore," she says in clear jest when Solomon professes no love for Star Wars. -- At Hal's offer, Arthur's gaze levels on the man, his friendly smile dropping for just a moment while he seems to consider the question. Eventually (with a poorly disguised grimace), he nods. "If you've any place," he replies in a similar tone, "I'd appreciate it. For a day or two, while I get settled." A pause. "Guess I'd owe ya one," he finishes, with only a hint of existential distress. He clearly attempts to distract himself from that by injecting himself back into the current conversation. "I've only seen the first one, it's good, I guess," he says, noncommittally. -- "What a pleasure to meet you, Rachel." says Hal with a warmth that was missing before, although she IS the only person in the room who has been traditionally introduced to him here tonight. There is no word from him of his position on Star Wars, so he may be agnostic. He then tells Arthur more directly, "The Church has a safe place for you, and you'll have shelter there until you have a place you like better. Will that work?" -- Five looks a little disappointed in learning of the zero chance she has of swimming in the aqaurium. But, she seems to understand and be okay with the why. There's a bit of ear hustling on her end about places that might be open to those looking for a space. She doesn't question but she does give a quick glance between the two vampires. Then she glances back toward Rachel, then Solomon. "What kind of harm could these guys do to us? They look friendly?" she wonders, looking back to the animals swimming about peacefully. -- Solomon makes an amused noise at Rachel's horror. "It's a character flaw, I admit." He sounds about as serious as she did. There's some shameless eavesdropping regarding housing arrangements for Arthur, but he doesn't comment directly on it. He finally takes one hand out of his pocket so he can pluck his phone from its holder on his belt. It's a very old flip phone. As he flips it open to check something, keen eyes (or noses) might pick up a few bloody half moons in his palm from his nails. After that, he says, "I'm afraid I must be off, but...it was nice to meet you, and see you, all." He stares at Heloise for a long moment, clearly considering whether he wants that to stand for her, as well. He tells Five, "You'd be surprised how strong they are." And then he turns on his heel and strides off. -- "Do you like to swim?" This from Heloise to Five, as she walks over closer to the glass too, the white shapes of the belugas shimmering deeper inside the water. "To swim safely in places like this I think you would need to become a zoo keeper, though I am told it is very much a passion profession as the hours are long, the work is hard and the pay is negligable at best. Beluga whales are large, your presence might excite and they would not realize you need to breathe. Also captive animals can feel cornered and get more aggressive than they would in the wild." She rummages through her bag, comes up with some cookies. Hungarian ones. The packaging declares "Gyori Édes" in red above large bold print "Zabfalatok". When she cracks it open they look and smell like oatmeal cookies. She offers this to Five. "Though it might be a little dry, I usually have these with coffee." -- "Take it easy, Doc," Rachel tells Solomon as he begins to depart, a concerned look on her face. She turns back towards Heloise and Five, arching a brow, and then glances through the glass towards the beluga. -- Arthur seems faintly surprised at the mention of 'church', but seems to take it in stride all the same, even nodding half to himself in realisation. Having said that, he does tuck his fingers, and the tattoos thereon, further into the crook of his elbow. "That'd work jus' fine. 'Least it'll be a familiar settin'. No shortage o' churches back home," he grins. Almost absent-mindedly, he spares a glance at the remaining group again, lingering just slightly on the non-Kindred, then peers at his watch. His lips purse, then, to Hal: "You mind if I get an address off ya so? I better head out soon, get a bite." He pointedly does not look at the others. -- It's very apparent that Heloise is Five's favorite person ever at the moment. There is absolutely /no/ hesitation in taking the offered snack and she immediately bites into it. Omnomnom. She makes a note to pair it with coffee in the future. "Swimming is relaxing. Helps to clear the mind and just... calm down," she replies, watching the water some more while she snacks and feeds. At least she has enough manners to not speak while chewing. "Right?" she asks as she glances around the gathered group, attempting to see who else enjoyed taking a dip now and then. -- "Oh I'm sure. Here..." Hal says this to Arthur while producing a notepad, scribbling down the proper information, and tearing off a page for the other Kindred. "Tell Father Marius that I sent you. Don't grab your bite around there though. The neighbors won't like it." Minor little warning there! Meanwhile he just kind of stares at Five who is taking all of this food from someone she barely knows. It's like watching a train wreck! Five's question just prompts Hal to say to her, "I recommend the Red Sea."
As Solomon leaves the area, some intangible tension is gone from Heloise's shoulders and stance. Her face retains that calm expression, still dark eyes, gentle smile. "Swimming is indeed pleasant." She turns to look at Rachel here, a query to her eyes. She offers the cookies to the other woman as well, dimples showing. "They are Hungarian." Sweets for everyone, her voice is sweet as well, the warm scent of oatmeal cookies pleasant in the air. The blue light catches in her gaze, gleaming in the irises. -- "Yeah, swimming's great," Rachel agrees, examining Heloise and the offered cookie for a moment, before lightly plucing one out of the package. She raises it up under her nose to sniff first, before saying, "Thanks," and taking a nibble. -- "Aye, was wondering about that," Arthur replies, accompanied by another discomfited grimace. "I'll keep it in mind." He takes the piece of paper, has a quick glance at it and then tips it in the air towards Hal in a gesture of gratitude. "Cheers, Father." That last title is an assumption, but one Arthur feels fairly comfortable making. He half-turns and offers a quick smile to Heloise, Five and Rachel. "Sorry, folks, haven't been saying much to ye, but was a pleasure. 'Preciate the welcome." A languid wave, and with that, his hands return to their customary travelling positions in the pockets of his coat and he begins to make his way towards the exit. -- It's a good assumption really, and Hal responds to Arthur with a genial, "You're quite welcome." See? They went from grrr challenging to cordial all in a few minutes. This is what socializing is for! And while he doesn't fake any of it there is a similar slackening of tension in Hal once Arthur leaves. He even seems to sigh a bit and nears Heloise. "Now really. Are you going to just feed that poor girl right here? Why don't you take her somewhere and buy her dinner?" To Rachel, "Again, nice to meet you. I think Faith actually mentioned you to me."
Five blinks a few times at Hal's comment. A brow raises as she glances first to Heloise, then to the snack that she's been enjoying. But he /could/ be talking about Rachel, whom she gives a quick look at. "This is good," she assures both Heloise and Hal. As if to prove the point, she quickly finishes the rest of the snack. "What is so special about the Red Sea?" she asks of the vampire with an intrigue look. -- They are indeed oatmeal cookies, crumbly and savory-sweet, old fashioned goodness. "Good day sir," Heloise responds to Arthur, then turning back to Hal at his comment a small breathy laugh escapes her. "That sounds rather forward, and unfortunately I have a meeting tonight. I may not have time to even feed myself." She looks at her wrist, an old fashioned time piece gleaming there, windup ladies watch with an oval mother of pearl face and art deco straps. "But coming down here proved interesting in many ways." And she has a cookie herself, before proferring it to the vampire. Dimples show again. It would discourteous not to offer. -- "I feel like I'm missing something," Rachel says cautiously, glancing over at Arthur, and then blinking at Haliburton, "Oh, you know Faith? I don't think I got your name," she tilts her head slightly, looking perhaps a little disarmed but not uncomfortable. -- Hal give Heloise a Look. It's that You Know Better kind of look, about the cookie. "Seriously? You know I'm allergic." To all foods. It carries no ire though, and he suggests to Five, "The Red Sea is very salty and you can float in it easily, and along the coast are tidal pools with collections of sponges and corals and all sorts of amazing sea life. You're allowed to swim in it." He definitely sounds like he's been there. Then it's Rachel time! "I've known Faith for many years. She's my best friend, and my name is Haliburton but you may call me Hal." Re-introduction, since Solomon's didn't take earlier. -- The mortal is definitely imagining herself swimming about in the Red Sea as Hal describes it, her eyes a bit dreamy for just a moment. With the crowd that had randomly gathered together starting to disperse, Five was the next one in line. Sliding her hands in the pouch of her hoodie, she's started to feel a little antsy with standing in one spot for too long for whatever reason. "Thank you for the snacks," she tells Heloise with some warmth in her tone. After giving the group a wave /very/ similar to Arthur's, she turns and starts to wander off to continue her exploration of the aquarium. | |