poly_chromatic | action; (backdated to the 8th)

[This is not a curse that Penny has experienced before (as far as she can remember). She has no excuse to skip work for the day since she lives directly above a stockpile of clothes for all sexes and sizes, so the Welcome Center is open as usual on Saturday. Should anyone come in, they may find themselves talking to a short, slight man who looks nothing at all like Prince Harry.

Penny is tempted to post to the network to see how everyone else is faring but, halfway through the morning, she decides against it. If she doesn't let everyone in the world know that she's a guy today, she can do something that she's always wanted to do after the Center closes: go to the gay bar.

And so she does, putting on some of the nicer clothes folded up in boxes in the closet and heading for the Wolf's Den that evening. Nothing was preventing her from going to the bar as a woman, of course, but this is better. Penny frequently finds herself attracted to men who turn out to be gay; maybe, as a man, she can make this work. Not that she's looking for a hookup with a stranger or anything, she just--

Okay, she's totally open to it, but surely it's not bad to use a curse to assuage some of the crippling loneliness that comes with going to bed alone basically every night. (Oddly enough, the only times she doesn't end up alone in bed are all, to some extent, curse-related. This is not a pattern that Penny has failed to notice.)]

[ooc: Well then. Open to action at the Welcome Center and/or the Wolf's Den. Some responses will come from Penny's curse journal.]

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[If he's honest, Isaak is a very little bit disappointed not to have been cursed today. It was a fun diversion, the last time around. But, he's the resilient sort of course (and really, curses do seem to come again and again) so he's intent on enjoying himself in spite of it.

There are a few unfamiliar faces about this evening; incidental strangers, perhaps, but he suspects at least a few are taking advantage of their situation. Isaak certainly respects that; he'd had much the same thought when he found himself wearing a womanly form.

He slips into the seat beside Penny casually, with a slight, affable smile and a nod.]

[Penny has had just enough to drink to talk to attractive almost-strangers without stumbling over her words too much. She knows Isaak in the same vague way that she knows most people--she's heard about them through the grapevine, or seen them on the network, or encountered them briefly. She knows enough about Isaak to find him deeply attractive.

So, when he sits next to her and acknowledges her presence, she gives him one of her big, open smiles.]

Isaak Sirko, right?

[Certainly, Isaak would remember Penny-- being the lady in charge of the Welcome Centre makes her a useful name to know. She's a nice girl; it's never been anything personal that he wasn't interested. (And he'd noticed that she likely was. It's a good thing to keep track of.)

But of course, at the moment, he hasn't a clue. So he arches a brow.]

That's right, [he nods, leaning in a bit. Curiouser and curiouser.] Did I miss our introduction?

[Neil is at the bar, because it isn't a bad place and sometimes, he gets lucky, even if it is usually hollow and just a fuck or a blow job in the washroom. Whatever. He's dressed in his usual these days: jeans, nice dress shirt, sneakers. He's letting his hair grow a bit, but hasn't returned to the bangs he had when he first arrived. Some of the transformation Lucy assisted with has managed to actually stick.

So he's leaning against the bar, one sneakered foot on the brass rai that runs around the bottom of it, bottle of beer open in front of him, wondering if tonight is going to be interesting or not. At least he isn't cursed this time.]

[Penny has a knack for spotting the kids she's decided to adopt and that superpower is intact in spite of the curse. She isn't surprised to see Neil there, or even particularly horrified. It's a pretty nice bar. There are definitely worse places for him to go.]

Neil? [It doesn't occur to her to tell him who she is even if she looks... considerably different.] Okay, are you even old enough to drink?

[Being a guy for the day has in no way given Penny the ability to not broadcast her interest. She's not subtle.

For the briefest of moments, she considers making up an alias. Then she remembers that, not only is she bad at lying, but it'd also be weird to flirt with someone while not being honest about her identity. Dishonest, somehow.]

Oh, no, no--I just don't usually look quite like this. I'm Penny. From the Welcome Center?

[There's no harm in that, he thinks. Isaak appreciates flattery from any direction, whether or not he has any interest.

That mystery revealed, he fixes her with an appraising look, and a smile.]

I wouldn't have guessed, [he admits, not unkindly.] Enjoying the curse?

It's... a new experience. I'm all for new experiences.

[She leans in a little further and smiles self-consciously.]

I'd offer to buy you a drink, but...

I'll let you pretend if you like,

[he answers, low and a bit teasing.]

Have any luck yet?

Then can I buy you a drink?

[He has an amazing voice. Penny could get distracted here from her mission, which was... what, again?]

Not so much, but that's a thing when I'm a girl, too.

[And somehow, she's managing to be exceedingly girly, current sex aside.]

I'll have whatever you are,

[He murmurs, and true to his word doesn't even look at the bartender. Under the circumstances he's happy to play along, if she's enjoying herself.

Flirtation is a game he enjoys in almost any situation. It's nearly always advantageous; to flatter, to unsettle, to pass his time. Isaak has an unfair advantage thanks to years and years of practice.]

Well, there's no reason to expect a temporary change of circumstance would wholly change your personality. But you've every reason to be confident.

[She smiles self-consciously and shakes her head.]

You might want something a little stronger. Or, you know... something that involves alcohol. [She likes Shirley Temples, okay.]

I guess getting magic seducing powers overnight would be asking a bit much. [And blushing now.] Really? That's... thank you.

I might, but I might not. Own your choices. There's nothing wrong with that.

[He's not chiding, or patronizing, but honesty advising her. Really, magical seduction powers are a bit of an overstatement, but she could find a worse mentor than Isaak.]

Confidence is an eminently attractive trait.

Own my choices. Okay... I can do that.

[And she politely asks the bartender for another Shirley Temple for her friend, not even aware that she's receiving lessons in seduction.]

What about fake confidence? Is that close enough, or does it need to be the real deal? [Even as she asks, she tries to feign confidence. Roll the shoulders back, sit up straighter, chin up... is this what confidence looks like?]

Fake it well enough and the difference is negligible.

[Well done, Penny. There's a little smile on his lips as he sips his drink; sweeter than what he'd choose on his own, but Isaak is in all respects a flexible man.]

[She smiles, pleased with this... process? Building confidence? Whatever. When Isaak doesn't seem completely offended by the candy-sweet drink, Penny manages to relax a little.]

So... is there anything you can tell me about you? You've got the mysterious foreigner thing going for you.

Am I so mysterious?

[He sounds vaguely surprised, though really he isn't.]

I live in Kiev, when I'm not caught up in other worlds, though as you might guess I lived a while in London. [It's the more evident part of his accent, after all.] I expect my occupation speaks for itself.

[Some cute guy with red hair knows his name, but Neil doesn't recognize him. His eyebrows rise slowly. He isn't upset, just a little surprised.]

Uh, I don't think age matters in this place, but who's askin'?

Edited 2014-02-27 04:56 (UTC)

action; (backdated to the 8th)

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action; (how could I resist?)

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action; (very awkward...) and so sorry, been in and out of hospital...