[accidental video] mere mortals watched them fly

[bedsidemanners]

[Have a look at Raphael's tiny, mostly unnecessary kitchen. It's in a slight amount of disarray, with various groceries haphazardly lining what little space exists, and liquid dripping out of the base of a blender, down the countertop and to the floor.]

[Interestingly enough there are no dirty dishes.]

[Raphael's back is to the camera as he first glances at, then leans out the window, grumbling at the view. Or views. He doesn't wave back at the bathers, slamming the window shut.]

The one time I'm really not in the mood for hot springs.

[and as he grabs a sponge, he notices the device]

Oh, fantastic.

Comments

voice;

[dignity_misery]

Don't strain yourself.

[She's smiling faintly, the sound of it in her voice.]

You could come sit with me.

voice;

[bedsidemanners]

... And I'd expected you to be off in the springs yourself.

voice;

[dignity_misery]

I came down to meet someone. It was quiet enough to stick around.

voice;

[bedsidemanners]

I can bring up a drink if you'd like.

voice;

[dignity_misery]

Is that what you're up to? [A pleasant laugh.] Alright.

voice;

[bedsidemanners]

I'm trying, at least. Do you have any cocktail preferences first?

voice;

[dignity_misery]

Very industrious. Sweet, and dry.

[One of the sluttiest ladies in the city likes virgin drinks.]

voice;

[bedsidemanners]

[truth be told, all he'd made was pina coladas anyway.]

Then I'll see you in... oh, five minutes.

voice;

[dignity_misery]

Five?

[That sounds fast, but she supposes she'll see if he shows up.]

action

[bedsidemanners]

[his estimate's not too badly off. one of the more convenient aspects of having a set of wings. he furls them up once he's landed, glancing around for her. He probably should have made sure she was even at the main hot spring in the first place.]

[... but true to his word, he's brought the drinks.]

Carla?

action

[dignity_misery]

[She's out of the way of the main body of people, perched on the rocky ledge surrounding the spring, only her legs up to her calves submerged in the water. It's probably for the best, she's not so keen about getting the burns dotted up the inside of her leg wet. The older bite and scratch marks crisscrossing her skin are less a concern. She's been getting curious looks from some of the bathers, but she has ignored them all.

She lifts a hand to flag Raphael over, far more interested in the drinks. ...Maybe the wings too.]

That's impressive.

action

[bedsidemanners]

I do try.

[he hurries to sit next to her, drinks in hand, with a lopsided sort of smile on his face. funny, finally seeing her in person. he offers her one.]

I'm afraid mixing drinks isn't quite my area of expertise. I hope you don't have anything against pineapple.

action

[dignity_misery]

[The network is very curious that way. A layer of separation that almost lets you forget that the speaker on the other side is somewhere in the city.]

I won't complain, just this once.

[Chase makes fun of her complaining, almost as much as she makes fun of him for talking too much.]

action

[bedsidemanners]

Good. Never complain about a free drink.

[He takes a small sip himself, considering.]

Any particularly interesting sights to spy on today? The bathers nearer to my house were pretty disappointing.

action

[dignity_misery]

[Her hands rest loosely between her knees as her feet stir.]

A few. More interesting that I knew them, than just happenstance.

action

[bedsidemanners]

Oh? Did they strike you as prudish before?

action

[dignity_misery]

Prudes wouldn't have lured me down here.

[She'd have just stayed in and carried on being miserable.]

Skin is only really interesting when you can touch it.

action

[bedsidemanners]

Not a voyeur at all? I'm almost disappointed.

[He takes another swallow, the taste cloyingly sweet as he leans in slightly.]

Or is that an invitation?

action

[dignity_misery]

[That makes her laugh softly, and she turns her head towards him, voice lowering.]

I think I'm too demanding for you, Raphael. But I can watch, if I'm interested in who I'm watching.

action

[bedsidemanners]

Nonsense. I've never met anyone too demanding for me.

[... well, if he had, they were promptly abandoned. he considers for a moment, then takes off his shoes and rolls up his pants legs before dipping his feet into the water.]

What would that take? Your interest, I mean.

action

[dignity_misery]

Self-awareness. Self-sufficiency. Cleverness, cruelty. Or the potential to eke out all of the above.

[She lifts her drink to her mouth before offering,]

You've been interesting.

action

[bedsidemanners]

And have I been all of the above? That's not an altogether flattering list.

[but he hardly sounds as though he minds at all, tracing a finger on the glass idly.]

Even if it's appropriate. You've pegged me better than most from the start.

action

[dignity_misery]

You've been enough of the above. I like liars.

[Not all of whom were openly cruel, but the art of it required some semblance of it. Carla had enough cruelty to spare anyway.]

Does that bother you?

action

[bedsidemanners]

Why?

[a shrug]

A little bit. But it's happened before.

action

[dignity_misery]

[There is a pause, where she is clearly contemplating just how honest she feels like being.]

Controlling information is power, especially when done well.

[She shrugs herself. There is, if he cares to analyze that far, an underlying message to that statement. She's not overly interested in sharing what she knows about him, that would take the value out of it.]