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I thought something like that too... And you're right, it totally didn't work.
You're not an emotionless tool!
The fact that you love romance novels proves that much. Haha.

Heehee, do you think so?
I do wonder if it's just a fascination with something I can't understand, though...

But I'm glad you're listening to how you feel!
Being alone always hurts, so take that risk.

I guess I don't really understand it either. The one long relationship I had...we had a lot of issues.
Is it about your...programming, for you? You never really ended up explaining that to me. What it is, and stuff.

... ... ...
Hey, do you want to get a coffee?
...I don't like sitting here alone, thinking about that stuff.
This right here is not quite the same as talking in person.

Sure. I just finished a chapter anyway, I'll put down this book for a while.
There's a cafe in the merchant's quarter I like.

Okay!
...I'll be in the area in no time. Once you're there, show me where you are and we'll meet up and you can show me to the cafe.
Oh!
I'm paying. Don't argue!

[ The square's a good meeting point, its clock tower rising high above all the buildings around. The sky's as grey as the cobblestones, but it doesn't bother Blake; she's always liked the subdued majesty of calm winter weather. She pulls her coat tighter around her, then sends Elphelt a mental image of the streetcorner she's standing on. ]

Here.

[With the cold, the area is less busy than Elphelt is used to. It is still a distraction from being alone, but noting the difference is still strange to her given how she has been feeling lately. It's good Blake doesn't take long to contact her and Elphelt scurries over to her, being not too far away and knowing the area fairly well.

She is not in that wedding dress of hers, but a long pink skirt and a white blouse. She is wearing a red jacket, but only for appearance's sake. The cold is, at worst, mildly uncomfortable to her.Elphelt bounds down the street to Blake, beaming.]

Miss Belladonna! It's great to see you.

Hi.

[ Blake gives her a smile: small, but sincerely meant. ]

You know you can call me Blake, right? Weiss is the classy lady, not me.

[ Miss Belladonna makes her feel like she's in school again, or maybe reminds her of those creepy White Fang bootlickers who feign politeness to your face and scheme murder behind your back. Obviously that's not what Elphelt's going for, though. And Blake is happy to see her. ]

Yes, yes, I know.

[Elphelt can get a little extreme in her (failed) attempts at being a prim and proper lady and that includes being excessively polite. Not that she minds being more personal and, you now, normal.]

Then Blake it is. Seeing as we're on the subject, you can call me El, if you'd like. It's what people close to me use, so if you, you know, would like to.

All right. El. [ She nods, trying to look serious, but the careful politeness in El's tone gets to her and she covers her mouth with one hand to stifle a giggle. There might even be a very mild tease in her tone as she says: ]

Shall we, you know? Walk to the cafe? I mean, would you like to?

Oh. Oh, yes!

[The teasing tone is too light to not go right over her head, so Elphelt nods, taking Blake seriously. This is what she came here for, after all. Even if she knows she is going to talk about something serious, she is looking forward to this.

Elphelt spins around and hooks an arm around one of Blake's.]

Please lead the way.

[ She startles a little at the touch -- no one except Mom and Dad and her teammates ever gets that close -- but relaxes into it after a moment. ]

It's just a couple blocks. Umm...how are you?

[ That's what you ask when you're hanging out with friends, right? ]

[Elphelt stifles a giggle. Blake really is shy after all, even in spite of being so forward as to ask for a dance.]

Oh, you know. I'm doing my best. When life gives you lemons and all that.

[She is quiet for a moment. Her life is just about nothing but lemons.]

What about you? Have you been enjoying yourself?

[ Elphelt doesn't seem too happy, but Blake doesn't push. They'll get to the heavy stuff soon enough, anyway. ]

I think so. Being here...it's weird to not feel like the world is falling apart and I have to save it, but it's kind of nice too. [ She smiles a little. ] I've really been enjoying that book you recommended.

Being here is like a vacation. A weird one I had no say in, sure, but it is nice not needing to always think about...well, about the world falling apart.

[ Why is that such a common issue? Is the end of the world just a thing always looming over every world, ready to happen? This world is no different, really. ]

If you're here, may as well enjoy it, right? You'll have plenty of time to read now that you don't need to run around being a hero, so I'm glad you're enjoying the book. I'll find more to share with you.

Edited 2018-01-02 15:43 (UTC)

[ She doesn't know that much about Elphelt's world (she guesses she's going to find out soon) but considering some of the stories she's heard from fellow otherworlders here, it's not difficult to imagine other worlds as troubled as her own. ]

Oh -- thanks. I'll do the same, if I come across anything good. It can be, like...a book club, or something.

[ She's never gotten to be in a book club. She kind of likes the idea.

They turn left at the end of the street, into a crooked alleyway full of little shops with painstakingly hand-painted signs. She's still learning the area, but this is one of her favourite bits already. ]

[For now, Elphelt is going to procrastinate by taking advantage of the walk and small talk to put off the gloomy nonsense she knows she promises to share. It isn't hard for her to do given how easily distracted she is, especially here in a new place she can gawk at, fascinated. That is until Blake's suggestion and she turns her attention back.]

--A book club? Really? Oh, gosh, that'd be fun. I wonder if anyone else would be interested? Although I'm just fine with it being the two of us, even if that's less of a book club and more of a pair of book buddies. That is good with me!

[She clearly looks ecstatic to find someone with a love for the same (crappy) romance novels she does. Elphelt actually bounces in place for a moment and latches even harder onto Blake's arm.Finally, someone who understands her, even if only a little bit. ]

Um, I don't really know people. [ Is that true? She runs through past conversations in her head, but can't recall anyone mentioning reading. ] But if you meet anyone else who likes romance, I guess we could invite them.

[ Despite her best efforts, her list of acquaintances keeps growing. :( ]

Here it is. It's small, but we can go up to the roof.

[ She ducks through some hanging vines from a planter and into the dim interior. It's tiny, a few round tables and metalwork chairs smooshed up against the walls. The waitress greets them cheerfully enough and waves them along to the stairs in the back. ]

[Elphelt will have to take it upon herself to find others sharing their interests to sic on Blake. For now, though, sharing this with one person is enough for her.

She lets Blake continue taking the lead, waving to the waitress with her free hand and taking in the scenery. It's pretty. She may not have many excuses to go out for coffee save for dragging other people out--like so--but she will keep this place in mind for future reference.]

Oooh, the roof? Fancy. This place looks perfect for a date. It's, like, just made for a quiet, private afternoon with someone.

[For someone obsessed with Paris, a cramped little cafe is basically the prototypical dating locale. Not that it matters--when would that ever happen to her?]

Do they have sweets? I want to get something. Like, a pastry or a cake or something.

[ The roof is just as cramped as the room downstairs, but there's a thatched awning that reminds Blake distantly of the houses on Menagerie, and a small fire burning in a brazier to stave off the winter chill. She wouldn't call it fancy, but it's neatly put together in a way that speaks of the owner's love for the business. She finds them a table beside the fire, the legs of her chair scraping against tiled flooring as she sits. ]

I think so? I've only ever tried the tea, though.

[ There's a menu on the table, but she doesn't bother looking at it, having already decided. Blake's a creature of habit, when it comes to food and drink. ]

Edited 2018-01-04 14:59 (UTC)

[It is small and cozy, and with how sheltered she is, it is fascinating and wonderful to Elphelt. She slides out her own chair and plops herself down, immediately opening the menu.]

I'll have that myself, as well, then.

[Tea and...

She frowns as she stares at the menu, eventually closing her eyes and pointing her finger at random.]

And a...chocolate chip muffin. Hooray!

[Better to pick something at random than the alternative of her spending the better part of twenty minutes indecisively trying to decide.]

Remember I said I would be paying, so take this as an opportunity to be wild and try something new, maybe.

Edited 2018-01-06 15:25 (UTC)

Well...

[ She looks uncertain, but then spots a tuna sandwich on the menu, and brightens immediately. It's not exactly wild, but who can begrudge her some tuna? ]

I guess I could go for a snack.

[ The waitress takes their orders cheerfully: muffin, sandwich, pot of tea -- and retreats, leaving them alone. Blake scoots her chair closer to the brazier, sighing at the wave of warmth, and props her elbows on the table. ]

So...what's our depressing topic for today?

[Elphelt's shoulders slump and she pouts. A part of her was hopping Blake would forget and she could pretend to forget herself and they could just eat snacks and have tea. But she sighs and sits back upright.]

...Well. If I hadn't made it clear before, I'm not human, but, um. You could say I'm not a person at all.

[A pause.]

I doubt it would come up, but don't tell Penny I said that. I don't want to put bad thoughts in her head.

I don't really know what you mean by that! I mean, you seem like a person to me. Just like Penny. She's a person too.

[ It's -- a little uncomfortable, hearing Elphelt speak about herself like that. She tries to keep her face neutral, not wanting to make it even more awkward to talk about what's obviously already a difficult topic. ]

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