The nice thing about the concerts at Millennium Park is that you don't even have to be right in the pavilion to enjoy them; the sound naturally carries, allowing people to also enjoy the music while they're on the outskirts of the pavilion, or passing by. Which is especially nice for music like tonight -- an eight-piece brass band playing everything from jazz to hip hop to junk -- which is absolutely danceable.
Not that /Razi's/ dancing. Right now, he's walking those outskirts with Fiametta, very solemnly working through an ice cream cone. He's actually dressed down in jeans, although he hasn't quite managed a t-shirt; however, the sleeves of his button-down /are/ rolled up. Which is better than nothing. And maybe he's not quite solemn, either: there's a warmth and lightness to him when he accompanies Fiametta on excursions like this. "Apparently they're all brothers," he says, because of course he did the research. "Sons of the jazz trumpeter Phil Cohran."
Fiametta is definitely dressed for a late summer festival; her loose and twirly boho minidress is perfect to move easily in, with just the right amount of sass to make some hope for a little extra twirl, the golden brown and turquoise patterns setting off her copper hair and pale skin perfectly. Wedge heeled sandals aren't too fussy to dance in either, stable enough to wander over grass as well. She doesn't have anything to hand, but walks amiably by Razi's side. She can't help it though, she seems to catch the beat in the lilt of her steps. She's even got one of those concert blanket rolls slung over her shoulder.
She listens though, to Razi's explanation. "Who's that?" she asks, though it's not with disinterest. "Is he famous? No wonder they're so fantastic. Must've grown up steeped in it."
Someone who //is// dancing in the crowd is Javi. Well, it probably wouldn't be surprising to anyone who's known him for more than five minutes. He has found someone to dance //with// -- because surely at these sorts of things it isn't that difficult to do -- and they are enjoying themselves in a friendly way for the current number. The way he's doing it gives the impression that this might not be his most frequent dance genre, but he is quite capable of being a fun partner, having very good rhythm and plenty of foundational skills. And also, of course, liking to do it.
When the end of the song comes, they part ways with smiles and thank yous and the sort of things one does after having spent some time dancing with someone you probably aren't going to see again but still appreciated their time, before he turns away and starts closer toward the edge of the crowd to take a break. He's moving in Razi and Fiametta's direction, but he hasn't seen them quite yet.
"In jazz circles, somewhat," Razi replies, canting his head a bit. /Fiametta/ would certainly know that jazz is quietly one of his favored genres of music. "He was remarkably eclectic in terms of style. Which, yes, it seems his family was perhaps inspired by. Carrying on the tradition." It's as much at ease as one is likely to find him. With Fiametta and his ice cream. Which he takes another careful lick of. It's hard to look too serious when you're licking an ice cream cone.
His attention tends to naturally drift with the instinct to keep aware of their path and their surroundings. It's what means that he's the first to see Javi, pausing his step in a moment of surprise before he catches himself. "Oh." Only Fiametta would be able to hear it. It's not him calling out or saying hello. But there /is/, for a brief moment, also a subtle little quirk at the corner of his mouth.
While Razi is paying attention to where they're going, Fi seems to be buoyed a bit by the crowd--and listening to Razi. "Do you have any of his stuff? Maybe we could play som later," she muses. If Razi wasn't eating his ice cream, she might already be tugging at his sleeve towards where some of the dancers are but...like...nobody better get between Razi and his ice cream. When he pulls up short, though, she looks up at him suddenly in surprise, her own steps naturally pausing. And then she looks in the same direction as he does, spotting Javi heading their way.
"Good thing I brought extra snacks!" she says, the little quirk of Razi's mouth answered by a beam from the flame-haired young woman. But she doesn't yet call out to Javi yet either, as his path is carrying him towards them.
There's a nice sized crowd in this area of the park tonight, with a free concert in the offering. An eight-piece brass band is playing, the music lively and danceable and luring many people to their feet even if they weren't planning on dancing. Jazz, hip hop, all kinds of things on offer and it's clear the group has real talent. Javi's making his way from where a lot of dancers are, heading towards Razi and Fi who are strolling along the outskirts. There's a bit of a collision course thing going on, but it hasn't /quite/ gotten to the BOOM yet.
Since Javi is headed that way, it's inevitable that he'll see Razi and Fiametta eventually! Unless they turn and go somewhere else before he does, but it seems neither of them are going to be doing that right now. So, it doesn't take him too long before he spots them with their ice creams. //His// surprise is far more obvious than Razi's, as is the smile that blooms on his face a moment later -- easily large enough to include them both in it. He generally has more than enough smile to go around.
"Oh, hey!" His steps toward them become more purposeful until he's closed most of the distance, and he lifts a hand in a quick wave. "Nice to see you. They're good, right?" He tips his head toward the band on the raised stage who have started another song now, but he's content to stand instead of dance for the moment. Mostly, anyway. He's still moving a little, though probably not consciously.
Razi swiftly composes himself from that /overt, excessive/ reaction (that was almost unnoticeable), but there is still a composed friendliness to his manner as Javi spots them and approaches. "Hello, Javier," he greets him in that mild way of his, a contrast of restraint next to the effusive Fiametta. "They are, yes. Their father was a musician too, in fact. I think I have a few of his albums in my collection somewhere." Which is undoubtedly ordered by genre and artist and everything is alphabetical and sealed safely. "I didn't expect to see you here." A beat. "Only because it's a large park and I didn't assume you'd just happen to be here on the same night. Not because you wouldn't be interested in the concert. I do know you enjoy music." It's...a /little/ excessive from him. Not in tone or expression, but the length he goes on for a moment before he stops himself. He casts about for something to say as he stands there with his ice cream, before finally coming up with, "Fiametta brought extra snacks."
Once Javi has escaped the safety of the dancing circle, he becomes much easier to spot. Maybe that's why it's only once he's partially to the outskirts that someone shouting, "JAAAVI--" over the music can be heard. Maya's pretty easy to spot, too. She's in jeans, black pants, and a baggy tank top that probably had some logo on it, but is now faded, and a crossbody bag holding a water bottle of at LEAST 2L. Someone came prepared to remain hydrated! Confirming it is, in fact, Javi, Maya's hands lower from where she cupped them around her mouth, and jogs closer-- her footsteps slow when she spots the company he's approaching, though, her hands going into her pockets as keeps going at a walk, "Man, I thought it was you. Uh, hey." This latter part towards Razi and Fiametta, with a friendly enough half-grin, before she looks towards Javi, Razi & Fiametta, back to Javi, "Not interrupting the hang, am I?"
Fiametta's pale cheeks are a little flushed, though it might just be from the late summer balmy weather. But her eyes are aglow, too, as she observes Razi sidelong. "Javi!" she greets him, and indeed, her bounciness has something to do with the music, but a lot to do with her innate energy. Perhaps all the more noticeable next to the calmer Razi. She seems perfectly at ease, though. "Maybe we should look for a good place to set up," she says. "Near where the dancing is, without being too front and center?" She laughs, bright and free. "I did," she confirms about the snacks. "Hopefully they didn't get too squished."
Maya's approach is noticed right away, dark blue eyes widening slightly as she takes the taller woman in, examining her with a direct gaze that's not at all shy, but not aggressive either. "Hi," she replies back, in a gently-spoken voice. For some reason, she does not AT ALL seem suprised when Maya called out to Javi too. "I'm Fi. Is...that a type of dance?" she asks, curiously, of The Hang.
"Oh yeah?" Javi clearly did not know Razi's fact, but he's interested in it! "Maybe you can play one for me sometime." Which may or may not mitigate any of that stuff that comes after -- not being //expected// by the other man, that is. His eyebrows raise, and while he doesn't interrupt, his smile shifts as Razi goes on into some //definite// amusement. And he also doesn't reply immediately. He even lets that pause after it linger for a second, his gaze steady on Razi, before he nods. "Uh huh." He does, indeed, like music. But he lets him off the hook a second later as he adds more normally, "I'm always down for snacks. Yeah, let's see-..."
He's turned to Fiametta, presumably to agree with her on finding a spot, but that's when he hears his name being called. He turns around to see who it is, and sees Maya pretty immediately. The amusement fades into another wide grin, and he waves broadly and enthusiastically, which will hopefully give her some idea of whether she's interrupted or not. But if not, he's also going to clarify. "Hey, Mayita! Nope, you're good. Just ran into each other. Maya, Fiametta, Razi." The names are given with a gesture to each. "Maya's a musician. You wanna chill with us?"
"I imagine she means hanging out," Razi says in a lower voice to Fiametta. His smile is subtle when he looks to Maya, but welcoming enough; one might get the impression he's simply reserved. "Razi Andreas," he introduces himself more fully. "A pleasure to meet you, Maya. We were just going to find a place to set our blanket. What kind of music do you play?"
Maya chuckles, shaking her head-- Lost eyes will note the subtle, occasional gleams of light, but it's nothing obvious - especially with the constant shift of bodies and the various light sources. "Yeah, the hang, the noun for when people are hanging out together." Maya confirms. She looks over Fiametta and Razi curiously - and openly, "Like he said, I'm Maya." A pause. "Mendez. Maya Mendez." Sure, thanks. There's actually some people that like, just left over there," A pointing gesture, "I was talking to earlier. Cleaned up and everything. And I mostly just...play what I hear, or what I feel like? A lot of jazz, though. But I'm kind of new to music so I haven't really...settled, you know?" A grin, slow and easy, "I play drums and piano, mostly. Violin, but there are sixth graders who can school me on that."
Maya chuckles, shaking her head-- Lost eyes will note the subtle, occasional gleams of light, but it's nothing obvious - especially with the constant shift of bodies and the various light sources. "Yeah, the hang, the noun for when people are hanging out together." Maya confirms. She looks over Fiametta and Razi curiously - and openly, "Like he said, I'm Maya." A pause. "Mendez. Maya Mendez." A hand reaches up, to brush her hair back as she looks around, "Picnic? Uh, sure, thanks. There's actually some people that like, just left over there," A pointing gesture, "I was talking to earlier. Cleaned up and everything. And I mostly just...play what I hear, or what I feel like? A lot of jazz, though. But I'm kind of new to music so I haven't really...settled, you know?" A grin, slow and easy, "I play drums and piano, mostly. Violin, but there are sixth graders who can school me on that."
"There's definitely snacks enough to share too. You want to take a break long enough to see where we set up, Javi?" she asks, perhaps assessing his need to still move." But then Maya points out the perfect place, and she offers another megawatt smile the musician's way, grateful. "I didn't bring any drinks, but," she shrugs a little, touching Razi's elbow, as if to point him in the right direction, and then smiling over her shoulder at Javi too. "Is it more for pleasure? Or have you found a place where you can perform?" she asks Maya warmly.
"Oh yeah," Javi replies with a nod to Fiametta, "I'm good for now. I'll get in a couple more in a bit." There's a //brief// glance to Razi as he says it, maybe with a hint of the former amusement, but he doesn't press it, turning back to Fiametta instead as he asks, "Maybe you save me one?" He starts toward the spot Maya indicates without argument, since it's a very good one. "I can grab us some if we want. Drinks." In fact he starts to look around for a likely place to do it, but he doesn't peel off to do it just yet, looking back to Maya instead, though he lets her answer Fiametta's question herself instead of offering anything else for the moment.
"An interesting combination," Razi says to Maya, a faint smile touching his lips. Drums and piano. "Violin always seemed like one of the worst instruments to learn, because I've never heard anything else sound so dramatically horrific when a beginner screeches a bow across the strings." The smile draws a bit more present for the moment of humor, and then he allows himself to be lead along in the right direction by Fiametta's touch. He absolutely does not match Javi's look his way when he talks about dancing more. Absolutely not. Implacably, purposefully so. There is maybe even the tiniest bit of relief when he sees Javi turns that particular question onto Fiametta instead.
"Uhhh... both, honestly?" Maya reaches up, scratching behind an ear as she follows the group, hanging back since she brought nothing but her winning personality, mooch that she is. "I moved around a lot, busking you can set up in any city if you're good and avoid cops. And the music scene can be cool about letting somebody couch-crash. But I decided to busk because I got a little obsessed with making noises." Her gaze slides towards Razi, the half-grin quirking just a bit higher, "The screeches can be fun too. Like, you're making that noise, you can see -how- horrific it gets. But yeah, violin's a lot harder than percussive stuff...but the flute? THAT. Whew." Maya leaaaaans back with the /THAT/, emphasizing just how bad it is, "Frustrating as hell to start out with. All the little reed-wind stuff."
"Of course!" is Fi's enthusiastic reply to Javi's offer of a dance, somehow managing to visibly brighten even if one /doesn't/ have faevision goggles on. Once they reach the spot, she unfurls the picnic blanket roll. It's a comfortable size for four, really. And best of all inside of it, there's a carefully wrapped bag of fresh bakery treats, with the sticker of a local polish bakery sealing it. She carefully unwraps that too, putting it in the middle of the blanket, in easy reach of whomever might choose to sit on it. There's the powdered sugar dusted thin crispy fried dough twists known as Angel Wings, some squares of plum cake, some slices of zesty lemon babka. Hopefully everyone has room for dessert. Or maybe Razi eats a lot more than it looks like he does, since the thought of the two of THEM polishing off all this stuff seems rather impossible. She seems about to say something, though when she catches Razi's DEFINITELY NO expression, even though it's not turned her way, she pauses, and shakes her head slightly with a smile, and chooses to keep her mouth shut, affectionately protective. "Aren't piano and drums both percussion instruments?" she asks, perhaps surprisingly, as if that information popped up for her out of nowhere. Even she looks a little surprised, before she blushes a little. "No, that's kind of dumb," she decides, before kicking off her sandals and sitting on the blanket. But then she nods. "I could see that too. Really good way to make money under the table, where you need to have all the papers you've got to have to work in other jobs."
Javi grins widely at Fi's acceptance of the offer, definitely pleased enough by it that there are no more amused looks from him in any direction at all, especially not one in particular. At least, not for the moment. He's pretty immediately distracted by the food, anyway, and the sheer amount of it has his eyes widening a little bit. "Oh shit," he says, "you weren't kidding, huh?"
He seems content to take a seat for now, reaching to take one of the donuts instead of calling in any immediate dances. "No, it is," he confirms when Fi comments on the piano. "Right?" This is directed toward Maya with a questioning tilt of his head. His gaze goes briefly to one side a moment after, fixing somewhere above her left shoulder instead of //right// at her, but it's also quick, and somewhat covered by him taking a bite out of the donut.
"At the very least, it seems as though you could be very percussive while /playing/ it," Razi reasons as he settles down on the blanket in that careful way of his. He gives the others time and opportunity to make selections from the pile of sweets Fiametta reveals, before he slowly -- casually -- reaches for one of those Angel Wings. Despite the inevitability of that powdered sugar getting on his shirt.
"Most music guys agree pianos are percussion and stringed, so not dumb, actually." Maya's grin is bright, and she (wisely) hangs back and waits for the others to settle before she falls to sit herself, legs crossed, posture relaxed (slouching) as she leans forward to admire the offerings. "Wow. Where'd you get plum cake?" She wonders, clearly impressed. There's no immediate reaching for snacks - but that seems less politeness and, from her expression of concentration on the snacks, more about figuring out which treat to try first. Eventually, however, she goes with her gut, reaching for the plum cake, before looking at Javi and raising both her eyebrows at his tilt, casually looking over her shoulder, spotting nothing, and then just proceeding to remove her water bottle from her bag, setting it down near her. At least she brought her own drink! "Yeah, it was good for saving up cash. Sometimes. Some days you get weeks where you just make like twenty dollars. Good thing I'm full of talents, though." A wink, for the group entire, before she bites into the slice of plum cake. Probably too big a bite, as she has to raise her hand to keep crumbs and anything from falling.
"There's a couple of really good bakeries in Portage Park. Worth travelling for," Fi says quietly to the others, almost as if she wasn't wanting that secret to travel far. "There's a really good apple tart and cheesecake too, but...those don't travel super well, you know?" She smiles as she sees what Razi's picking, crinkling the bridge of her nose up at him just a little, perhaps in impish approval. She herself reaches for a slice of the babka. But she shrugs cheerfully at Javi. "I just like to be prepared," she says to him, cheerfully. "Plus, I couldn't decide. I mean I narrowed some stuff down, but..." she spreads her hands, helplessly.
"Went to a show once where this dude like, reached inside the piano to play the strings," Javi offers, now that he's not looking at invisible things anymore. "Straight up in there like it was a guitar or something. Pretty fucking cool-sounding." He notes Razi's choice of snack, but it's not particularly pointed -- he also notes Maya's, and then Fi's, like he may be keeping track for future reference. Future birthdays? Possibly. He has to grin at Maya's last comment as he stretches his lets out in front of him, crossing his ankles and leaning back to prop himself up with his empty hand. He takes another bite as his gaze shifts to Fi again, and he lifts the half-eaten donut to her in salute. "Hey," he says, "always good to have extra. Plus we're gonna work it off after anyway, yeah?" He tips his head to the band here, though, to indicate what he means.
"Really?" Razi's smile is widening at Javi's anecdote before he can really help himself; still not wide and effusive like others may be prone to, but more than the subtle suggestion of before. "I remember seeing a blues guitarist once, during part of his solo he was just playing with one hand. Just--" He sort of gestures, drawing up his left hand like where it would be on the neck of a guitar. "Just the pressure of his fingers on the frets, nothing with his right hand. It was still enough to make music."
Maya pulls out her cell phone when Fiametta starts SPILLING SECRETS, balancing it on her thigh while she taps out some notes and tries to get through that cake bite she took. When Javi starts talking about somebody playing a piano like a guitar, though? Her head snaps up /so/ fast, eyes widening, as she reaches for her water bottle and tries to chew faster. The phone slips from her thigh, but she ignores it, instead making vague, "MMrrmrrph?" noises that probably translate to 'For real'? or something like that, waving a hand in an emphatic, quick and circular, 'go on, go on, keep it moving' motion. The one not holding up the water bottle so she can drink, and wash down enough cake to speak. Just in time to hear Razi's sound, "Dude, yes!" She says, clearly suddenly just chock full of interest, grinning, "The slide! There's some like, super fucking fancy old word for it but there was this guy in South Carolina, he played guitar, right, and I suck at guitar, right? But he'd do this whooole session," Is Maya raising both hands to mime a guitar? Yes. "This whole session like this, right? And he had arthritis, so he'd beeeend the strings so he'd get all these crazy notes in these weird places, like," She moves her fingers, makes a noise, and then shifts her fingers in some way that isn't the same and makes... the same noise, basically. And then looks at the other three with such /excitement/ and blatant, 'that's so cool, right'? in her eyes. "It was pretty awesome."
She hasn't forgotten, flashing a grin to Javi when he nods to the spot near the band, where there's still people dancing. "Yeah!" She laughs, before taking another bite of the lemon bread to finish her piece. "Though that's not usually a problem! I've been starving all the time, gonna have to up my milkshake intake after I get off, I think. Or maybe a power smoothie before I go in." She glances sideways at Razi, though her expression is delighted to see him light up. Well, in his Razi way, that is. She rests easy, legs tucked up underneath her. Though she's not a musician, and certainly probably the types of songs she could name don't involve awesome guitar playing to be honest, she seems to follow along with delight, especially the air guitar. Which does make it a lot easier to envision.
Javi's gaze swings to Razi again, just in time to catch that smile. It draws another from him -- wider than the other man's, as is usual, and pretty delighted as well. "Yeah," he replies with a nod, "for real, it was great. Just, like...unexpected, you know? I love stuff like that. That sounds amazing." The blues guitarist, presumably, as his eyes shift briefly to Razi's hand as the other man demonstrates.
Maya's offering after has him looking back to her again, though, and he quiets -- his mouth, anyway, if not his smile. He listens with rapt attention, an intensity of focus that is really //very// much so, when all his usual buzzing energy is suddenly trained in one direction. "That's fucking cool," he agrees, and while it's maybe not the most eloquent answer, the sentiment might make up for it. He's already straightened up, and so he reaches forward to grab an angel wing, too, but he doesn't quite take a bite. Instead, he uses it to gesture toward Fiametta in agreement. "Yeah, no kidding, practicing all the time," he continues, before he looks to Maya and clarifies, "Fi's gonna headline at that new place, you know. Satin and Savagery." //Does// she know? Well, if not, she does now! "She's a really good dancer. Like, //good// good."
"She's very talented," Razi agrees, his voice restrained, but for the whisper of a certain instinctive warmth that connects a thread from him to Fiametta. His attention is settled on Maya with interest for that particular story, and he looks ready to open his mouth and respond -- when there's a buzz from his pocket. His mouth twitches, and he reaches to draw out his phone, and lets out a quiet exhale at the caller ID. "My apologies. Excuse me a moment." He rises to his feet and steps away from the blanket, but they can hear the start before he's out of earshot: "Andreas. Yes. No, I cannot make actual miracles happen, I can't revise the brief until--" And then the words are gone.
He'll be back. Someday.
Fiametta's gaze follows Razi as he wanders off, lawyering, dark blue eyes scanning the area as if by habit, making sure it's safe. It's a quiet, though instinctive thing. And when Maya gets up to leave, she waves after her and might even send some treats along with, if she seems interested enough. The music is still playing though, and after a few moments of watching, and looking over at Javi to see the status of his angel wing, she smiles at him, tucking a wave of copper behind one ear. "So how've /you/ been, Javi? Excited about dinner?" it's a gentle tease, her quiet smile reaching her eyes, though she look him over more closely, as if a little worried too, checking him over. "Everything doing okay?"
Javi, too, watches Razi walk away -- okay, maybe not for the same reason, especially when his gaze doesn't sweep around the area at all, but lingers very specifically. It's long enough to notice, but it's not long enough that he doesn't say goodbye to Maya, and once she's gone he turns back to Fi, finally taking a bite of his second treat. Of many, probably. It's right about when she asks that, and when she does his cheeks darken a little bit, though in a pleasant way, especially coupled with the smile in return.
"Yeah," he admits, "pretty stoked, to be honest. Kinda going big on it so, you know. We'll see." He reaches up to rub a hand over his face, though it doesn't do a lot to dispel the blush. The once over she gives him does a better job of it, and it makes him glance down at himself, too, like he's checking to see whether he has something on him. "I'm good," he continues, his eyes coming up again as his eyebrows raise. "What, I don't look good?" Is he actually worried about it? Well...okay maybe a little.
"You always look good, Javi," The delicate redhead says it seriously, though, rather than teasingly. "It's not that, it's--" She pauses for a long moment. "I'm not your parent or anything," she admits. And it's very true. In fact, were anyone looking over at them, they'd probably ping her as younger than him by a few years, or at least the same age. "So don't think I'm treating you like a kid. I know you're not. I just worry a little. There's some strange stuff going on, that probably nobody should be trying to tackle alone, you know? If you're ever in a bad spot, you know you can call either one of us, right? No questions asked, at least on my part. At least not immediately." Her smile turns a touch wry, as if she's careful to not lie. "But if you see anything strange, feel anything strange and it makes all those hackles raise, call. Or run. To whoever you need to. Okay?" It's a chilling conversation, maybe, on such a lovely and balmy evening, spoken by a pretty girl in the middle of a concert picnic. Her gaze doesn't lift to him yet--instead she studies her toes, peeking out from the hem of her dress on one side. Youthful, and timeless, with just a touch of sorrow, though it's thin and distant.
Okay, maybe it isn't //actual// relief in Javi's exhale, but perhaps something close, if a little lighter. It's coupled with a slightly self-conscious huff, but he does get more serious when she does. He lets his empty hand drop again, pressing his palm flat against the blanket, and his brows pull together as he studies her a little more closely, too. He shakes his head briefly to dismiss any concern about him being a kid, but just lets her go on, and as she does his smile pulls up again. Just a bit this time, and a little wry, too, especially at the clarification. She may not be looking at //him//, but he's looking at //her//, like he could find out something there that she isn't saying if he stares hard enough.
Whether he does or not, though, eventually he nods. "I know," he says. "I got you. I appreciate it." He pauses; then: "Suddenly got all these people helping me out. Didn't really have that before. Mostly me helping other people out." Finally his gaze shifts, turning toward the crowd again and away from her. "I know my weird shit's not the same but I got some. But I know what I can't do, so don't worry. Not tryna die right now when everything's finally looking up." That, at least, is said with a glint of humor.
Her copper hair shouldn't really seem to have the same sort of burnished glow of gold highlights /now/ when the sun isn't directly overhead. But it does. And maybe that smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose seems almost painted on, like for one of those fancy dolls, looking almost unreal against the luminous pale skin, if one looks at it for /too/ long. But surely that's just a trick of the lower light levels, and the fact that now there's lengthening shadows of the dancers nearby as the sun is starting to set, the shadows reaching out. "I know you're strong," she says softly. "It's what I've been telling 'em. People think the only armor is being mean or spiky or cold, but that's not true at all, is it? And I know it's hard when you've got people wanting to tell you to be careful all the time. Or like they've got it figured out, and then you wonder well, they couldn't have it all figured out either, if they've gotten their asses kicked a time or two."
She glances up at him, maybe just after he looks away. "You're happy then? No. Happy-er? And not trying to die, while also not closing your eyes to the danger." She smiles, a little. "That's good. Nobody's weird shit is really the same, Javi. I think you know that. It's a strange thing, when you find someone worth protecting. It makes people a little crazy sometimes, when they get scared. Especially when they're...not used to letting themselves get attached like that."
Impulsively, if he doesn't avoid it, she'll lean over, to offer a kiss to his cheek. "Thanks. For letting them do it."
Javi has plenty to think about after that long look at her; maybe he's processing it all now. He's still listening -- it's easy to tell that from his expression, the way it shifts with certain things she says, the smile that tilts a little more crookedly on his face, especially when. she mentions the armor. His head dips, eyes settling on the uneaten angel wing in his hand, but he doesn't take a bite. He just looks at it, turning it over slowly once, and then back. "Yeah," he admits quietly, "it's tough."
However, even though he's still looking down, when she asks if he's happy he nods. "Yeah. I'm happy. Things are good." He huffs, "Getting my life together finally instead of just doing whatever. Kinda hard to believe one of the scariest motherfuckers I ever met woulda been the one to help me do that, huh?" But he doesn't //sound// scared. He sounds very fond. "Never thought I could do nothing but what I was doing. Just like, whatever. Dumb shit. But turns out I can. So after that I was just kinda like, well, maybe this isn't so crazy." He gestures in the direction Razi has gone. "We'll see. Not, like, you know. Counting on stuff. But yeah. It's good right now."
He definitely wasn't expecting what she does next, but while he's //surprised//, he doesn't seem to mind it -- actually, after a moment it makes him clear his throat, and he slings an arm around her shoulders to give her a brief half-hug, maybe to allow himself some movement so he can have a second to push the sudden emotion down again. "Of course." A laugh escapes him, a //little// thicker than usual, but mostly just amused. "Kinda cute when he's mad, not gonna lie."
She rests that copper head on his shoulder for a moment, in the half-hug, closing her eyes. She's actually feverish to the touch, noticeably warm--but her pale skin isn't flushed at all. But she sneaks a look towards where Razi had wandered, though he's not in view just yet, lost in the crowd. "Yeah," she admits, with a grin. "Or when he's surprised. By something good, not like surprise, here's something that wants to eat you," she clarifies, quickly. "He's been through a lot of shit too, more than people realize, I think. And he had to help put me back together into at least some kind of functioning....something. I don't think that was easy for him either. Still isn't, sometimes." But there's an open fondness, at that.
"You'll get to meet some more interesting people if you come to the clubs at the grand opening," she smiles, gently changing the subject. "Hopefully people won't...be too weird. But I guess a strip club isn't a strip club without at least a /few/ weirdos that slip under the radar. But the people that work there are good folks." She pauses for a moment, eyes narrowing. "Have you met a Sebastian, yet?" she asks. Clearly, she thinks it's a possibility. "I think you'll like him. And definiely try the house special. Or ask him to recommend something for you. He's the bartender, not sure if he'll dance on opening night or not. But I don't even /like/ to drink on the job and it was super tempting."
Fi's clarification makes Javi laugh, and even though it's wry it helps him shake off that sudden and more intense emotion. "Always something that wants to eat something else, huh," he says, shaking his head. He squeezes her briefly, before he lets go -- but it's not without noting the heat. "I get that, though." A beat; then: "Kinda, anyway." He doesn't //fully// get it. But intellectually, maybe.
He looks like he might ask something else -- or say something else -- but instead, he goes with the topic change, and finally takes a bite of the angel wing. "Oh, I'm definitely gonna go," he says once he's swallowed. "Gonna be amazing. I'mma be cheering for you. Like, //embarrassing// loud." You're welcome, Fi. And, perhaps shockingly, he shakes his head at the question. "Know a couple Sebastians but I don't think they're the same ones, so it'll be cool to meet someone new. I'll do that."
He's left looking at her quietly again now, his face still soft, but now without //quite// the emotion from before. A little removed from his, so that he can focus on hers. He hesitates, but eventually he speaks again. "You're a lost person too, yeah? You guys were lost together. Right?" He huffs, admitting, "Prolly not supposed to ask that. You just...got something about you."
She's quiet for a moment, but she doesn't seem surprised at the question, or the term that's being used. "Yeah," she confirms, as to being one of the Lost. "We...came out together, from the same place," she says. "But I don't remember very much about it. I think it's always hard for people to come back. I mean, most people probably don't survive it I don't think. Even the ones that manage to make it back. I--it was a hard adjustment, for me. I'm sure it is for everyone. And I had something most people don't, so I can't really complain." Fi's eyes once more trail towards where Razi disappeared. "It's just like anything else, though. People can rebuild a life, even if it's never going to be what they'd imagined. When other things that can't be replaced or mended are lost or broken too.
"That place you went to. It's beautiful and crazy dangerous and weird. If you get lost in there, or stray from the path, you might never come out again, just wandering around. Or even worse, something might take you. It'd easy for them to do it, in there." The last is almost a whisper, but when she looks back to Javi, he can see the fear in her eyes. Not in general, but for him. "That's why he was upset, you know. I was too. If anything happened to you, I--" Her throat tightens, and she falls silent, going back to looking down at her perfectly manicured toes. "It's not easy to contemplate someone you care about being taken away in there. Maybe it's not one of our worst fears, but it's up there. It doesn't mean we shouldn't respect what you choose to do. And not everyone feels the same way, obviously. I'm glad that things went okay. And maybe nothing noticed you guys."
He may have phrased it as a question, but when she confirms it Javi just nods quietly. Now that he's looking at her again, he's filing away all those little details -- the glints of her hair, the slightly //strange// look of the freckles sprinkled across her face, and of course the heat. Making his own assumptions, probably, since he can't see anything more than mortal eyes can. Not of her, anyway. "Yeah," he murmurs. "Makes sense." But a moment later he laughs -- though it's not an amused laugh. It's quiet, a little hollow, and fades quickly. "I mean, it doesn't," he admits. "I know I don't really get it. But yeah."
He //does// see that fear, and it makes his own eyes widen just slightly. He may not truly understand the reasons behind it, but he can understand fear well enough. He starts to say something, stops, rethinks. Starts again. "I know," he says, instead of whatever it was before. "I do get that. For real. I mean, it's not the same but...yeah." He takes a breath, letting it out in a long sigh before he adds, "I'm really glad you got someone." The words are still quiet, but forceful. "It's good. To have someone looking out for you. And who you can look out for too."
"It's kind of like people everywhere. There's some people who think they're better off alone. Either because they don't think they deserve help, or they've already been failed so many times, or /they/ failed so many times, or...that's just how they are." There's no judgement in her tone about any which way. "/I/ think it's better to find as many people as you can who you can look out for, and who are willing to watch your back in return. Even when it's so hard to know who can be trusted. Amongst people like you and those who aren't." She smiles down at her toes again, though it's a half smile. "I think I'm kind of a weird one in that way too. But it's okay. I can understand why others feel differently. Maybe it'll come to bite me on the ass one day." She shrugs. "I'll bite back, though." There's a little defiance in her tone at that.
"It /is/ nice to have someone who lets you look out for them. And after them," she admits. "It's a lot more fun that way. But I'll still look out for you, in ways that I can, you know. It might not be as obvious as some, but. You've got my number. And at least now I know that you won't argue about the small stuff, like ubers and food." She flashes a grin at him.
"Yeah," Javi agrees. "Kinda thinking that's pretty good too now." He pauses, before another laugh escapes him and he adds, "Feel like you prolly bite pretty hard. So I hope I stay on your good side." He's teasing -- but also he's plenty serious about that observation.
Her grin has his returning again, too, lighter after the more weighty topics, and it does a lot to shake off any lingering shadows. He is not generally given to entertaining them for long, anyway, at least not as far as she knows him. "Hey, I'm not gonna turn down you looking out," he says. "And you let me know if I can look out for you, too. If you ever need an exorcism done, I'm your guy. Yeah? Don't go to anyone else or you're gonna make me cry." He makes some effort to look sad, but there's no way he can manage it now, and the grin just pops right back up again.
With that, they shift to lighter topics, and eventually once Razi returns, part ways -- but not before at least one dance. Because keeping promises is important.
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