Topic: Testing with Texting

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2017-07-09 00:22 EST
(( Live rp with Senka. Thanks for the play!))

Text to Senka: You up?

Truth be told she hadn't been awake very long. She rarely slept in actual night hours.

Text: Who dis is?

Text to Senka: Penis

Text: is dat joke?
Text: Feenix?

Text to Senka: Yes, it's me. So how about tonight? You free?

Text: Oh
Text: uhm. Yeees.
Text: What we do?

Text to Senka: Hungry? I know a place.

Text: Senka like food
Text: O K. Test senka where?

Text to Senka: Sure. (the next message was an address). Meet you there in thirty minutes?

Text: O K


The place served burgers and fries, but he liked it because the fries were sprinkled with parmesan and rosemary, which made them like a treat. He had gotten there sooner than he meant to, about ten minutes early. To pass the time he grabbed a soda and loitered around one of the picnic tables that had a fresh coat of red paint. The table still felt tacky, like the paint hadn't finished curing all the way.

Occasionally his dark eyes jumped up to see if Senka had arrived. One knee bounced and he tries to check some social media, maybe find a video or something to watch while he waited.

One thing that he might come to learn about her was that she was awful with directions in Rhydin. Common language was hard but following directions when she didn't know the city that well made it even harder. This meant that she was about ten minutes late which was pretty good considering she hadn't been dressed or ready to go out at all. All thoughts of putting together the perfect outfit and having perfect hair and makeup had quickly gone out the window.

By the time she showed up, she looked warm, her hair was a little fluffy from the humidity but she had pulled it up in a messy knot to try and contain it. Per usual it had a mind of its own and tendrils were escaping all over to curl against her cheeks or neck. It didn't appear that she had worn any makeup aside from a little pop of black smudged around her eyes that made their pale green color a little more intense. As she approached the restaurant, she was busy trying to smooth her hair, and then the simple cotton sundress she had selected in a hurry. The dress showed more of her long legs, arms, and shoulder than what else it covered but she somehow managed to look sweet and sunny rather than overly sexy or immodest. Her steps were quiet, no clacking of her sandals as she finally realized she was there.

"Hi." Her cheeks had a little flush from the heat and exertion of walking and her smile was a touch self deprecating because she really had no idea how this all worked or if she had dressed appropriately.

"Hey, good you made it." He pushed off the picnic table, half certain he'd be colored red when he did so. Nah, the paint stayed to the wood even if it did feel sticky. Once he was on his feet he jammed both hands into the front pockets of his hoodie, "This place has the best burgers and fries in town."

He bumped her shoulder with his and then his eyes pointed towards the door, "Get something to eat and maybe, you know, walk around town or something. I kinda like wandering."

"Sorry dat I's late. It v'was leetle bits hard to find. Senka no good wis v'which v'way to go."

Looking towards the door, she nodded. She loved fries even though she hadn't eaten many of them or burgers prior to coming to Rhydin.

She approached the door and grabbed the handle and yanked it open, one hand motioned for him to go on in. "I's like to v'wander too. Is nice dat I's can be out all I's v'want now."


"Sounds good!" he stepped through the door as she opened and he grinned over his shoulder at her, "You're being nice to me. Toooooo nice. It's because I'm a good kisser, isn't it?" His head tilted to the side and he walked backward towards the cashier as he spoke to her, "Cause you weren't this nice to me before kissing, and now you are nice soooo... I think I defeated you with my lips."

Phoenix was, at the very least, certain this would stir a blush from her. Or a punch to the shoulder. Either way, he'd be pretty happy with the outcome.

"I's not bein' nice, I's bein' decent person." She scoffed at him and gave him a shove. "Gets in dere."

Her head dipped down to try and hide any reaction and the pink was hidden, maybe, by the natural flush she had earned on her walk. She pretended to smooth at her dress again, pressing the hem against her thighs, and then she looked up.

"Is v'was, mmm, good. Yous not so bad. I's like yous better v'when yous kissin' den v'when yous talkin'." He earned a shit eating grin as she stepped beside him and looked to a menu board. He might also learn that she was an incredibly slow reader in common and could easily become frustrated with it. She let her eyes skim and tried to focus on words that stood out to her. She wasn't too picky when it came to food and so she decided quickly enough.

"I's v'wants de v'one wis bacon an' de mushv'rooms an' de sweess." That was swiss. "An' de fries wis de stoff on its." This was told to the cashier but someone might need to translate. There was a pocket in the side of her dress and she dug out some money. "Oh an' beeg beeg beegist v'one of lemonade yous got. Please." She looked to Phoenix then. "V'what yous gettin'?"

"Well, I like you better when you're kissing than when you're talking." His head twisted in the direction of the food menu posted overhead. He didn't really notice that it took her longer, but that wasn't because it wasn't noticeable. It was because he was used to introducing people like Tsuru to RhyDin and he had been conditioned to the long pauses they took as they sorted out what was going on. Her pause and the time she took, then, was just something perfectly ordinary.

"Hey, make that two," he said to the guy at the register as they rung them up. He reached in his back pocket and scoffed at her, "Hey, it's my treat. I asked you out, remember?" He might not have been the perfect gentleman, but he had an idea of when a tab was or wasn't going to be on him. A bit late, and already understood, was his order, "Just gonna have what you're having. See if it tastes good."

"I's made yous ass-k Senka out, sooo-" She was naturally stubborn and very proud but after a moment she rolled her eyes and put her money away. She didn't have a lot of it but she had more than before, enough to pay her few bills and have a little fun. Jewel paid her well and she had hoped to be able to share that with others, maybe with Tsu. She knew that they had so little, that everything went to the war. But, she also understood pride and men and so she spoke nothing on the subject of money.

"Tanks for de foods." She stepped aside while they waited, unsure if they were to sit and be served or wait and take trays to a table.

"Most people like Senka better v'when she not talkin'. Nobody understand she bot it might helps if people v'would listen more." There was a hint of irritation. In fact that was her greatest irritation, people not listening to her. Really listening. But when they did? They would see an entirely different side of her.

Pride and ego made the world go round, and it was good she didn't contest him. He just wouldn't have taken to it well, and he didn't even think of himself as being one of *those* type of guys. But it was a first date and so he needed to like... make a good impression and everything. Kinda provide or what not.

The guy at the register handed over a number that hung from a small, metal stand and he took it, stepping away from the counter, "I mean, I think I can get that." The difference was that he didn't try to be understood, or put it all out there. Senka was still trying but Phoenix had kinda given up that whole bit about socializing. People could like him or not, but he figured they wouldn't. He sank into one of the picnic tables in the screened in area. They were close to the outside seating area, like where he'd been when she first showed up, but he wanted the bug-free option so he picked a table near a building column that allowed for plenty of light and whatever to strike them. It was going on into the evening so it wasn't like there would be much left, anyway.

There were string lights, growing from the building corners and columns only to all point up and knot together in a ball of light at the top center of the room.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2017-07-10 17:41 EST
"Is yes, it make Senka feel- real. I's v'was a sing for so long, jes nussin' bot summing to be used. V'when sumbody listen, it helps Senka to feel, v'real. Like- like she matter." She sat down on the opposite side of the picnic table and made an uncertain face when the backs of her bare thighs pressed into the tacky wood. The whole place must have gotten painted recently, at least the tables.

"So, Senka gonna get to point. Is dis like v'real date? Or is dis like I's take pity on yous date? I's mean, yous v'wanna be here?"

"Uh, that depends. Are you taking pity on me or is this a real date?" Then she asked if he wanted to be here and he blinked, "I mean... I texted you to come out so... like I'd be pretty stupid if this wasn't something I was wanting." He was feeling a bit uncertain of what to say, mostly because she either sounded like he was using her or she was using him and... what... exactly...? Phoenix was staring at her. The waitress came around and took their order, like it was the most exciting thing to have happened all night.

The quick delivery of their food gave him something to do. Like shove fries into his mouth and then drink a ridiculous amount of soda to balance out the salty food.

"Pity on yous?" She looked startled by the suggestion. She went quiet when the food arrived and waited until the server walked away to speak again. But first, fries. She ate a couple and the sounds she made suggested she thought they were really good.

"I's jes- - - Tsoo v'wanted to beats yous up after de lass time v'when yous not ass-k Senka out. I's didn't know if she gots to yous. I's not v'really sure how all dis v'works an' is probabably v'weird dat Senka tell yous to ass-k she. I's jes didn't v'want to ass-k. I's v'wanted sumbody to ass-k bot it v'wasn't happenin'." She looked perplexed as though the idea was absurd that no one had asked her out yet. Well, someone had but it hadn?t made her feel special. It was nothing like she had hoped it would be and she had declined.

"I's glad dat yous did. In case I's forget to tell yous later, I's havin' good time an' tanks." She looked down to the monster burger and lifted it, not at all intimidated by eating it in front of him. Senka was a very hands on eater and she also made noises, a lot of noises, very enjoyable noises when she ate. Her relationship with food was strange. As juice from the burger ran down her arm, she dipped her head in and licked up the side of her arm to her palm.

"So jew'vcy." Juicy.

"I mean, Tsuru didn't like talk to me about it, or anything." He said with a small shrug of his shoulder, munching on another fry and swallowing before he continued, "She like... mostly she just gives me these looks and I kinda try to avoid her cause it's Tsuru." That was hard to explain to anyone outside their little group but the reality was that Tsuru made him feel so darn responsible all the time. Allllll the time.

"And you're her friend and like... I dunno. Girls get used to being asked out and saying no and guys are like trained to expect to hear no a lot. I mean, I just wasn't up for having one of Tsuru's friends telling me no and then that being weird and... yeah, I mean, I'm not like serious relationship material. I don't own a house and I just kinda get by. I dunno. You're cute and all that but... yeah. I mean. Right."

So far, he was not the prince charming that went on one knee to ask her on a date. He had texted her an invite, followed by the word Penis. Which was a joke she didn?t get immediately.

Her mouth fell open after she chewed and she just sort of stared at him, not entirely sure of what to say.

"I's- I's not lookin' for like gettin' married or sumsing. I's jes v'wanted to see v'what de fuss v'was about. Dates an' kissin' an' stoff. I's mean, I's kissed before, obviously, bot not jes for fun. An' troosefully, I's- mmm- I's have dese feelin's for sumbody dat I's should not an' I's very mush v'would like to move on from dat." She looked a little guilty.

"I's not usin' yous. I's do sink dat yous nice lookin' an' I's v'really like annoyin' yous. I's can't explain dat. An' like I's say, Tsoo trust yous, so dat make Senka sink dat yous decent guy. V'we can jes, go slow? Have fun an' maybe v'we v'will v'want to have fun again?" There was an easy shrug of her shoulder. "I's know dat yous guys have so mush yous dealin' wis. Maybe Senka can jes be leetle bit of distraction for yous an' good time if nussin' else." She picked up a fry and munched on it.

"Nobody is askin' Senka out an' she v'wouldn?t say no jes for fun of it. It takes mush to be brave an' ass-k sumbody dat. V'regardless, dis don' have to be v'weird. V'whatever happen. Its can jes be- chill, yoh."

"... Do what?" Phoenix was looking extinguished. It was near impossible for her to explain to him how he wasn't a distraction for some other guy she wanted because she'd more or less just said that. It came across in his shoulders, the sort of disappointment someone got when they thought was what going on was maybe a little more special than it really was. Senka was like, filling a void and trying to move on and figured he'd be just the best ever training wheels for that. "I mean, that's cool. Sure. Slow's good."

"I mean, you can be whatever you wanna be, you know?" He picked his burger up with both hands and took the sort of large-mouthed bite that would make it totally fine that he wasn't talking or having a lot of facial features left to make an expression or whatever.

She looked horrified. She wondered if she had been too honest or not honest enough or maybe something had been lost in translation. She hadn't expected him to care. He had such a carefree attitude at times, like nothing could bother him and then other times he appeared vulnerable. She was entirely perplexed by him.

For a few minutes she just quietly ate. "I's offended yous," said finally when she was about halfway done with her burger. She set it back down into the basket.

"Senka don' know v'where yous at. V'what yous v'wantin'. V'one second yous all, v'why yous v'wanna go out wis me? I's lame. Den yous goin' on abouts yous o'der girl. Den yous makin' sure Senka know yous gots nussin' to give she. Bot yous look disappoint v'when she say'd to like- keep sings casual?" Her head tilted as she eyed him.

"I's do like yous. I's like kissin' yous so mush. Dat v'was de first v?real kiss I's had since I's been here. Beside Tsoo, bot dat v'was like more teashin' den- den yous know, v'what yous and I's did." One hand rested against her stomach, remembering the feeling he had given her.

"I's got dose leetle butterflies in tummy an' I's jes - I's v'really liked dat."

"It's just," he shrugged a bit and then gave a sort of half sad, half-bitter smile, "I'm just the kinda guy girls have a casual thing with, is all." Between her and Kathleen and his whole dating experience, girls were all hung up on the wrong guys and sort of used him as a raft to get to their next, serious boyfriend. Was sorta important that he kept that in mind when he was with her. He didn't want to start thinking theoir whole thing was something else.

Senka talked about butterflies, but he was having trouble believing too much in that. What he could say about it was, "Thanks." Cause, well, he hadn't felt like the sort that gave any ladies butterflies and it was nice to hear that was a part of what was going on between them.

"Look," he said, putting down his half-eaten burger and then wiping at his mouth, "I quit holding my breath for anyone. I mean, even you liked me and on the first date you're laying all this other stuff out there." There was a roll of his shoulders as he measured her with his eyes, "Anyway, what'd you get into today?"

"I's don' sink of yous like dat. I's not sinkin' oh dere is cute guy lemme jes go use him for free meal an' kissin' v'while I's v'waitin' for sumbody else. Dere is nobody else. I's been interest in two guys since I's been here an' yous v'one of dem. De o'der v'one is jes- is mistake for Senka to even sink of him. V'right here is v'where I's been v'wantin' to be. Ass-k Tsoo. I's been sinkin' abouts askin' yous out for v'weeks now. Bot, I's sot dat yous hate Senka leetle bit." She frowned still, uncertain if she was making things worse. Part of her wanted to murder the person she had talked to about all of this and that had helped her come to the conclusion that it was best to be honest about where she was at, feelings wise.

"I's jes sot yous de type of guy dat appreciate bein' honest. No games. Maybe I's v'was too honest. I's v'really don' know how any of dis v'works. Be leetle patient wis Senka? I's v'would v'really like chance to knows you." she flung a fry into her basket and gave it a little shove away. She was finished.

"I's did nussin' today. I's only v'wake up leetle bit before you testin' me. I's don' sleeps so v'well v'when is dark. I's don sleep so v'well anyvway. Bot before dat, in night v'when I's not sleepin' I's v'was tryin' to pick out perfekt outfit an' fussin' over sings in case yous v'really did ass-k Senka for date. I's not espekt yous v'would ass-k so soon. I's leetle bit not v'ready." Meaning, she hadn't looked as perfect as she had wanted to for him.

"I mean, I like honest but it's kinda a punch in the dick to tell me you got a thing for someone else when I'm like... you know... right in front of you and everything. Hard not to take that personal." He liked the honesty, but come on. There was a limit. She had to get that, right? Phoenix didn't really like that he had a shot with Senka cause some other dude decided to think "no thanks." Every guy wanted to feel like superman. Like they won the girl, and not because of some kinda default.

Phoenix was just, you know, figuring he was that default guy. There was no one else left at the bar so the chicks went home with him at three am. At midnight all the dudes they really wanted to hook up with had already taken them home for fun and what not.

"I mean," he smiled a little when she talked about agonizing over what she'd wear with him. It was more than he expected her to do, honestly. There was his smile, the small kinda half vulnerable one that said he was sorta excited but was trying not to be because being disappointed really did suck. He picked up one of his fries and used it to gesticulate as he talked, "I mean, I didn't really like... plan this out a whole lot. I just had the day off and I had your number and I thought it'd be good to see you again cause I like seeing you. Even if you make me crazy."

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2017-07-10 18:24 EST
"V'well yous gots no problem wis bein' honest." She looked like he had punched her in the tit.

"I's v'really don' v'want to ponsh yous dick. I's maybe do o'der sings wis yous dick bot not ponsh it." Her smile was hidden because her mouth wrapped around her straw and she took a drink.

"I's can understand v'what yous mean doh. I's- I's v'wish dere v'was better v'way for Senka to esplain bot dere is not. Senka know v'what is like to be v'wanted, v'really v'wanted. An', like- yous - yous body? Senka like dat very mush an' v'what is in yous? Senka v'want to know dat part of Nix too. If is not too late an' she mess it all up."

She toyed with her straw and bit at her bottom lip. It was rare that she fidgeted but he seemed to bring out nervous reaction from her as much as he brought out her blush or her smile. Maybe he didn't know her well enough yet to know just how telling that all was.

"Yous make Senka so cray-see, bots I's glad dat yous tested." Texted. Sitting up, she preened a little. "Yous can tell Senka dat she look pretty now."

There was a small smile from him, enough that it said he kinda liked the nickname Nix, even if he hadn't cooked on it long. It was a whole lot better than Penis, which was what she always sounded like she was calling at him. Nix didn't sound like that so he was pretty cool with it. Nix. Yeah. That was cool.

"I mean, you didn't mess anything up." He stood up just enough so that he could scoot over so and sit closer to her, "I just do a whole lot better when I don't get ideas in my head." He thought it was always, always better to not try and not fail than it was to put in all that embarrassing effort only to wind up with a cold shoulder. Sitting beside her, he bumped his shoulder against hers, "You're pretty adorable. I'd kiss you. I like the whole virgin sacrifice dress thing you're wearing."

She looked up to him when he stood beside her, before he sat. There was a flicker of something- excitement maybe that he was coming closer, not leaving.

"Senka tell'd yous at de tea shop dat yous sink too mush. Jes- jes live, v'right?" Her hand had lifted and her long spider-leg like fingers just barely twitched like they were itching to touch something. Him.

"You'd kiss Senka? Yous has kissed Senka an' yous v'won't ever forgets it." Her nose scrunched up as she laughed. So modest. Not really.

"I's don' have clue v'what yous mean abouts de virgen sacreefise bot' uhm, tanks? Sorry Senka is like fardest sing from virgen doh." There was a flip flopping happening her stomach. Nerves again. She was so honest about her past but it wasn't something she really wanted to face, especially if it meant being rejected.

Her fingers finally found a place to rest on his hoodie and she traced it a little. "Don yous get hot?"

"Nah, I mean, I hadn't forgot it, yet. It's still kinda at the front of all my thoughts, you know?" It'd been just the other day so, yeah, he was thinking about kissing her. And even if she didn't get what he meant about her dress, it was true. The soft, off-white cloth hung innocent and sexy on her. Women liked to get tan and then wear white ?cause it looked good on them like that. Senka knew how to pull of that look, at least, he was pretty sure she did.

"Yeah, I'm not like a virgin or anything, either." But he'd definitely lie about his number, giving it the classical inflation so it would pat his ego.

"Hot? I mean, there's no sleeves so it's pretty comfy. I only get too hot like... in a couple of weeks I might have to just do a t-shirt or something. But the no sleeves helps a whole lot." He reached down, catching a fry by the tail end and pointing it at her mouth for her to take a bite.

Beauty was a strange thing for her to accept about herself. In some ways she knew she was, she had brought men to their knees thanks to the training she had been given and the looks she had been blessed with. But that only brought her so far, she didn't really believe herself to be beautiful. Not the kind of beautiful that she saw in others.

Her skin was tanned, there were some spots lighter than others but no stark contrast of tan lines and the white did stand out against her skin, the same way her eyes were more vibrant when her skin was darker. But no matter how tan she was, there was still something soft and creamy about her complexion.

"I's did not sink yous v'were. Yous talk abouts yous benefeet frend enuss." She wore a little smirk. "Is jes, dis seem so heavy." Her fingers ran along the sleeveless edge near his shoulder and then down over the edging at his chest.

Looking to the fry and then to him, one eyebrow went up. "Tryin' to shut Senka up a'gin?" She leaned in and took the bite. A nibble at first and then she worked her way up to take it into her mouth, enough that her teeth caught his fingers and there was no mistaking that she meant for that to happen. "Is good." Murmured after she pulled back, her mouth had briefly wrapped around his fingers as she slid back.

"Well, I was like... I dunno. I know what it's like to wind up with someone and then find out these things like... I dunno. That they were seeing someone up until the first time you took them on a date. Or whatever." He cracked a smile and felt her hand, like a phantom, move against his chest.

"Gotta eat, you know, keep strong and..." yeah, whatever cheesy or stupid thing he had to say after that drifted off into nothing when he felt her lips brush against his fingertips. She pulled away afterward and he dropped his free hand down so that it rested on top of her thigh. His fingers curled around its diameter, giving it a small squeeze before he spoke, "Yeah, I mean, the fries here are kinda legendary."

"I's not seein' nobody." Her voice was quiet and her ability to maintain eye contact was remarkable given how so many in this city seemed to have difficulty doing so. Her eyes were the type of eyes that felt heavy and probing like she was also trying to dig deeper.

Her mouth quivered like she wanted to smile but it was still such a foreign feeling, one that she always felt herself trying to stop before she'd let it happen. "Shuts up, Nix." She put her index finger to his mouth to help him cut off his cheesy line and then let her finger drift down his chin, drop to his chest, and linger there a moment as his hand went to her thigh. She was so slender, alarmingly so but despite that, there was muscle there, too. It was slow building but she had trained enough that her strength was beginning to show an' eventually she'd remember to eat enough for her body to keep up with all the work she did.

"Yous v'really still talkin' bout dose fries?" She shook her head and scoffed while giving him a peek at her smile. "How bouts yous jes kiss Senka a'gin an' forgets about de fries?"

"They're really good fries," before she could roll her eyes, or smack him, he leaned forward so that his lips brushed up against hers, gently before pressing.

The hand on her thigh squeezed as he kissed her, tasting the fries on her and then the other flavor, the one that was just her mouth and what it felt like to kiss her. He recognized it from the other night, when she'd kissed him and he'd started to get an idea of what it felt like, what it tasted, like to be close to her.

A few other patrons at the burger joint loudly cleared their throats. One threw away their trash in an exceptionally loud way, as if the sound might shock them away from the moment and realize that they were out to eat at a diner and not in a more secluded place.

The kiss caught her giggle. No smacking him. This time. Maybe she was a little softer when it was just them, when there were not people watching. Her kiss was shy at first, tentative, and uncertain of how far to go. She could so easily get caught up in trying to follow society's standards that it would suck the joy from the moment. She had been nothing more than a whore for so long, that her fears of being thought of as such again kept her from really giving in. But then- she took some of her own advice and she quit thinking. Instead, she just let herself feel his mouth on hers and to taste him. She had been waiting and wanting to be kissed like this for so long that soon she was kissing him like she had been starved. One hand lifted to rest against his jaw, her fingers splaying against his cheek and then curling against it.

Finally, finally when the kiss was reaching that place where it could border on indecent, she reluctantly pulled back. Her shoulders sagged a little and her head bowed. But when she peeked up at him through her dark eyelashes there was no shame or disappointment. Only hunger.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2017-07-17 21:46 EST
"Hi..." he said it softly, looking down at her. Like her, he was threatening to smile, breaking the record of whatever-smiles or half smiles for just actually smiling at her. Well, smiling at her in that way. The smile was vulnerable and small, like one harsh word would shatter it. Everything was walking on eggshells.

"I have a few movies we could watch if you wanted. Don't know if you like tv or anything but it's pretty cool." Yeah, he was inviting her over. When a woman kissed you like that, inviting her over was a given. You couldn't *not* invite her over.

His hello was so soft that it actually shook her to her core. He wasn't the only one feeling vulnerable but the feeling was so rare for her that it made her anxious. The way he looked at her in that moment, the way his smile broke through, well she couldn't help the way the butterflies returned and the uncertainty that maybe- just maybe he really really wanted to be here with *her*. She wasn't sure anyone had ever looked at her like that and it made her want to both laugh and cry. But she didn't cry, she never did. Never that anyone saw.

After a moment, she lifted her head, certain she had collected herself and she whispered back to him, "Hi." Her smile was so shy as she tucked stray strands of hair behind her ears in an effort to give her fingers something to do.

"Uhm-" She fumbled. "Is not nice of yous to make Senka forget she v'words." A quiet giggle followed and she simply nodded yes in answer to his invitation.

"I mean... you could say yes and if that's like a word you haven?t forgotten," he kissed her briefly and smiled, his shoulders bouncing up and down in a quick shrug, "Or just say next time. I mean, there should totally be a next time, right?" He was trying not to be pressuring or a jerk or whatever but at the same time? Netflix and chill was a thing. He was kinda hoping it could be their thing.

But she nodded and he smiled, bumping his shoulder against hers just then. He smiled like he'd won a bet that the two of them had made on... something, somewhere. There was a look to her plate and then back to her, "Are you seriously already done, though?" Cause it didn't look like she'd eaten a lot.

She swatted his shoulder when he kissed her again. "Stop dat. Dats how yous make Senka forget." She didn't look too upset about that howev,er. "Yes. Dere, yous happy? Senka say'd yes. Dere can be a nest time. I's sink dats I's v'would like dat."

Since coming to Rhydin she hadn't watched many movies or television. Her exposure to media of any sort had been greatly limited even before. So much depended upon whatever Fox allowed her to have and he wasn't always generous. Her apartment was sparse and free of luxuries. She had a tablet that Des had made her and it allowed her to do many things but she hadn't gotten into the habit of using it to view movies. Maybe she would try some time, if she could figure the damn thing out.

Looking to the plate, she nodded. "I's done. Senka don' eat mush all at v'once. I's mmm- like- like cow- I's gray-sss." Graze. She had eaten over half her burger and maybe half of the fries as well.

"Maybe v'when v'we go or go to yous place, v'we can have sumsing dat is sv'weet?" He would learn that she loved dessert. Cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries were her very favorite and it was all Taneth's fault for introducing her to them.

"I mean, I got some fruit and stuff but I don't have a whole lot." Nix didn't have much of a sweet tooth, that had a lot to do with his upbringing. Sweets were a luxury for him for so long so even when he was somewhere where they were common they still felt decadent or like a special occasion. It never really occurred to him that they were cheap and everywhere.

"I make some mean ramen noodles soooo... you'll be okay," he grinned and then he went for the cheesy opportunity she may (but probably had zero idea) that she opened up for him, "Plus, I'm sweet enough." Yeah. He said it. He went there. The best part was that Senka probably had no idea.

"I'm done if you are." he stood up, catching their paper burger plates by the edge and lifting them up. Their drinks were behind. Maybe she'd grab them or he'd have to double back for their disposal. As was, he dumped the paper trays of what they had left in the garbage and then turned to her, "Did Tsuru ever have you over or do you like... need directions to the house?"

"I's like fruit." And anything else that was sugary. She, too, had not eaten many sweets. Fox rarely allowed them. Her food intake and exercise were just another thing carefully controlled by him. No doubt her eating habits were still heavily influenced by him even though she was so far away. "V'ramans?" She didn't know about ramen but she would probably try them if he ever made them for her. The line he delivered next was not entirely unexpected and it earned him a roll of her eyes and a swat to his arm before she turned away to grab their drinks as he began clearing the table.

"Yous not sv'weet bots yous got sum moments v'when yous kinda not icky." She held his drink out to him. "I's never been to de house. Can- can Senka jes v'walk wis yous? Or do yous mean she come sum o'der time?"

"Not icky? That's the best I get is that I'm not icky?" His hand moved forward, catching the drink and holding as he gave her quite the look. It wasn't legitimately angry, but it just seemed to be how things were between them. Sometimes it felt like sibling rivalry and sometimes it felt like being in elementary school and flirting with someone before you knew what to do with flirting.

"Yeah. Ramen. Like the noodles. I'm like a ramen pro." Anyone who went through college was a ramen pro, but Phoenix liked to think he had his master degree in the Art of the Ramen. Like he could turn those noodles into anything, even something gourmet. Give him a microwave and some ingredients and he could make that happen.

"Hey, Senka been given' yous all kind of de compliments. Yous like dat candy dat is sv'weet at first den sour." She was only teasing him because that's what seemed to happen with them. The more they insulted one another the better, maybe.

"Fine, yous- yous- have leetle sv'weet moments v'when yous put yous guard down." She took one final sip of her drink and tosses it in the nearby bin as she headed for the door. The lace of her dress seemed to whisper against her skin as it swayed back and forth in a way that might draw his eyes. Once she was outside, she looked up to the sky, always amazed by the two moons of Rhydin' and the way the stars seemed so bright even in the middle of the city.

"V'what else yous pro at?" Asking him but still looking upwards.

"What, Lemonheads?" He said at her when he was thinking about it. Maybe she meant the crybabies. He cocked his head to the side as he considered it and then smiled when she said he had his sweet moments. She mentioned something about him dropping his guard and then he shrugged like he was putting off what she had to say. She wasn't wrong, he just didn't want to get into talking about all of that. Those conversations were never fun and this was supposed to be a date-- it was supposed to be fun.

And he was having fun, in between the insults.

"I's don know dey names." But sure, she thought.

He followed her outside and then smiled, nodding down the path, "Gotta walk there. People from the old country get spooked by cars so all I've got is a bike. I walked to get here. I mean, if you brought wheels you can drive us. I'm good with whatever."

There's the question of what else he was a pro at. The answer that hit him first was "nothing" but that wasn't the sort of answer you actually told anyone. His black eyes, narrowed by his nationality, followed her gaze up to the sky, "Foot rubs. Best in town."

"I's like to v'walk most of time. Senka gots no car or nussin'. Some of de time she take de car or cart sing wis de beeg beeg horse." He mentioned the foot rubs however and she could have melted.

"Did Tsoo tell yous abouts Senka's scars?" She asked aloud, wondering if that's why he brought up foot rubs. "I's do love foot v'rub. It help wis de pain."

"Your scars? Uhhh... nah, she never mentioned anything like that to me. She hasn't really talked to me about you." He felt like he had just stumbled over something that he should not have. It kinda left him with the sensation that he owed her an apology or something. Of course, the most harmless thing he could think to say he was a pro at had some personal tie-in for her.

"What's the scars about?" He walked with her, maybe half a step ahead so she could follow his stride. Both of his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans as they walked their way towards the safehouse.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2017-07-18 17:55 EST
"Oh, I's sot maybe yous bring up de foot v'rubbins for day v'reason." There was that flushing color to her cheeks again. She fell in line and walked beside him, her long legs easily keeping up.

"Mm, I's try to v'run av'way v'one time an' Fox he beat Senka's feets for it. I's couldn't v'walk for v'what felt like v'weeks. Jes crawl av'round. He don' leave marks or scars most of time because de clients, dey don' like dat. So he puts dem v'where nobody v'would v'really look. An' de skin on feets, it like, v'wear off fast an' so scars go av'way on outside bot deys on insides. De muscles get v'real tight an' sum time it hurt v'real bad. I's love to v'walk bot is painfool mush of time. I's jes ignore."

The thing about women was that a lot of them liked back rubs and foot rubs. He could offer her that sort of thing and it usually worked. Phoenix wasn't exactly Don Juan, but he had a string of girlfriends and the foot rub thing normally worked out great for him.

This was the first time it lead to discussions about being beaten, having trouble walking, and then how she was just going to do it anyway. He was still struggling with whether or not he wished she'd told him that when he spoke, "That sucks." It wasn't a great response, but he had no way of really connecting to what she said. Phoenix wasn't a woman who was beaten into prostitution. Maybe he could have been more disingenuous and poetic, but he didn't have the guile for that. Most of the time he just sorta hoped that what he did was "good enough" that no one frowned.

Maybe he wasn't that good. She had a not-smiling face on at the moment, "I'm also a pro at not giving foot rubs?"

Senka was honest, sometimes brutally so. She never hid her past but sometimes she was entirely void of emotion when speaking about it. Her ability to detach herself from things was both amazing and scary.

"It do bot could be v'worse." Her hands hung at her side, swinging a little as she walked.

"I's- I's v'would like foot v'rubs very mush. It help wis de pain. Some guys doh use it as v?way to try an go for more. It freak Senka out little bits v?when guys sink dat toushin? mean yous gonna get lucky an? den act like jerk v?when yous say no. Bot yous- yous not freak Senka out. I's mean, yous could maybe go for leetle sumsing. Leetle." She spoke to the ground as they walked and hid her smile against her shoulder.

"So a guy is only not a freak if he goes for something when he's supposed to go for something?" He sure as shit was giving her a grin for that, cause, well, that's how women were. It didn't always matter what a guy was doing, but how the woman felt when he was doing it. If his advances were wanted it was a romantic gesture. If they weren't? Total creep.

"I mean, I did ask you out," he smiled, bumping his shoulder against hers, "And not everyone gets to watch TV with me, you know. That's like... a major privilege. And one that definitely involves making out." He really hoped that, wherever it was Senka was from, that big fancy bedrooms weren't in vogue. He had a boxspring and mattress on the floor and an eighteen inch tv screen sitting indignantly on a squat night stand.

"No, no, is not like dat. Is jes, sumtime, can?t sumsing jes be v?what it is? V?why it gotta be more? Or v?why act like yous gonna do nice sing bot den it come wis all dese strings an? espektation? Given Senka past it jes make Senka not feel good. It make it feel like dey not understand no, dey try to makes yous - mind change. Is icky." Nix was different than just a because the flirtations were mutual and they were on the same page.

"Senka v'will take de invite wis honor an' privy-ledge." Her mind drifted to Tsoo however. "Yous sink dat Tsoo v'will mind? Senka don' v'want to make she uncomfy in she home. Yous v'welcome at Senka's place too bot mys place is bit mmm not cozy an' I's don' have de teevee."

"Ahhh, I get it. Yeah, it's pretty annoying when someone doesn't take a hint." Phoenix hadn't been in that situation as much cause women tended to be the ones rejecting men and not the other way around. Women kinda had fragile egos about it sometimes, too. Not that they were wrong. Phoenix knew he'd been shot down way more than he'd been successful, but that he only needed one hand to count the number of times a woman put it out there that she wanted him, meaning it was on him to shoot her down. Even with Senka, she'd been kinda funny about the fact that he hadn't asked her, but sorta had asked her. Women liked it to be outright. Was just kinda a thing and how it worked.

Point was, any dude past twenty should have had experience with hearing "no thanks" and learned to react gracefully.

"I mean, she's not my mom and it's not like she's going to be hanging out in the bedroom with us. But, yeah, I mean, your place sounds like the better thing to do in the future." The TV wasn't the point, and even though he liked his videos and chilling out, he was fine with putting that to the wayside for a minute so that they could hang. He couldn't say that he had an expertly decorated, warm and comfy home.

"Ah, and, just so you know... we don't have a lot of people over to the house. Like, what usually happens is someone from the old country comes over and I... try to help them along. Translate, talk, show them how stuff works. Tsuru is kinda awesome in that she dove into so much of this local stuff on her own. I usually gotta do more hand holding than that."

"Dats it, da. No v'woman likes to be pet an' told Yous know yous v'wants it. Or I's don't anyv'way. An' dat is how it feel." She kicked at a little rock and watched as it skittered across the ground and away. "I's don' have no v'real esperience wis datin' an' askin' people outs or bein' asked out bot I's don' sink dat is how is done."

When he spoke in reply to her question regarding Tsoo, she looked up to him and nodded. "V'well I's mean she can hang wis- us." She paused because she wasn't used to the word us but easily decided what it meant and how to use it. "I's love she. Bot- maybe dat is not sing you do on date? Invite frend to hang too? Or maybe Nix v'want break from- from - protectin' or v'whatever it is yous do wis Tsoo." She squinted at him, wondering if that was the case. It hadn't ever crossed her mind how loaded down he might be with everything but now that she thought about it, she imaged his load was as weighty as Tsoo's. Maybe even more so since he had to keep Tsoo safe and everything moving forward.

"Tsoo is great, she good wis de meetin' people an' stuff. I's mmm- I's hope dat Senka's not knowin' sings is not problem for yous?Yous don' need to teash Senka nussin', I's v'will figure it out by self."

"Ehhh, I mean, not in a place where women are equals it isn't." Unfortunately, Tsuru and Phoenix hailed from a land where that wasn't the case. Tsuru was powerful because of who she was related to, but at the very end of the day, she was something desirable and expensive. She was meant to bring a man a lot of joy in his life and that, in the old country, would have been the joy in hers.

"Uh, no. Inviting her along is definitely not something you do on a date unless you're trying to avoid your date. I mean, she can totally hang out with us some of the time but if we're ever gonna... do the more-than-friends part of hanging out we're not going to do it in front of her." There was a chuckle when she said "protecting" only because the term was taken so very seriously back home. It was a vocation, not a verb. There was a shake of his head, "I don't protect her or anything... not like, exactly. I make sure she has me to talk to, that she can adapt, and all of that. Some people transition more easily than others." His shoulders rolled in a shrug, "But I'm not guarding her or anything. I'd probably get in trouble if she got too wild or did something like...get a girlfriend or get hurt. So I'm not a bodyguard I'm just like... I dunno. I'm supposed to look after her like I'm her big brother or something."

"I mean, I'm a decent teacher." He was borderline okay, most of the time. Phoenix had no burning urge to grade someone, or knit pick and make sure everything was correct and give them a hug when they did it right. But maybe, in this situation, that was exactly the way a teacher needed to be. People kinda needed their own space to breath and screw up. It just didn't need to be on him.

"It's just up here," his right index finger made a motion at the hill ahead. It was a ranch house, nothing very fancy looking and exactly what you'd want to live in if you didn't want people paying you a lot of attention.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2017-07-23 10:39 EST
"Senka come from place like dat. I's don' miss it v'really. Some sings bot not most sings. I's too mousy," mouthy. "for bein' told v'what to do." And how she grinned. She very enjoyed speaking her mind and sometimes even being a little bossy. There were so many areas of her life that she was still exploring and wanting to discover her control and power.

"I's v'would not have de sex in front of Tsoo bot I's sink I's get v'what yous mean. Dis time is for Nix an' Senka to gets to know eash o'der. An' I's don' v'want her feelin' like, v'what is phrase- sird v'wheel? Dat v'would not be good." She looked as he pointed and grinned.

"Is so beeg!" And it was compared to her tiny one room apartment. It was nothing compared to the near palace she had lived in before but the palace came with iron bars and a lot of restricted areas. "Senka have leetle space above Golden Star. It alv'ways smell like food an' is so hot. Senka gots de air sing doh so she apartment stay chill now."

Her hands at her side swung back and forth a little and when he finished motioning to the house, if his hand dropped, her fingers would try to lightly brush his. Just testing.

"I's like to learn bot am leetle bit stubborn an' got so mush pride. I's not best student bot like Cris? He help Senka learn sum v'words dat is hard. I's don' mind v'when people help but I's don' like feelin' like dey is laffin' at Senka."

"Yeah, the third wheel," he affirmed when she asked if that was how the saying went. He confirmed it with a sort of half-smile that said that the way she worked through sayings was cute.

"Don't get too excited! I don't own it," It was like being a really, really weird hotel employee that hung out with you and showed you how to press buttons and explained that the microwave was not, in fact, a demon. But he was also a bit amused that she lived over Golden Star. He kinda figured her place smelled like a lot of really amazing food.

She didn't have to try real hard to catch his hand. It seemed like as soon as hers bumped into his that he took the bait and wove his fingers through her own. "There are some English classes in town. They're not very exciting but if you really, really want to learn? You should go. They're free because one of the churchs offers it, kinda hoping you'll convert to Catholicism." There was a roll of his shoulders, a clear sign that Nix wasn't religious. He believed in TV, TV dinners, and TV marathons.

Her nose scrunched up in a way that was too adorable when he confirmed the term 'third wheel.' "Yeah nobody v'wants to be dat. V'we v'won't make she be v'one."

She had the urge to swat him when he told her not to get excited. "I's not say yous did, I's jes sayin' it look like nice place to chill. Senka own nussin' v'really so v'what she gonna say? Dis place is jes for startin' over an' v'we gots to take time for dat."

Her apartment did indeed smell amazing. It was a strange blend of her and the chinese food from the to-go place below. She usually smelled of lilacs and spicy chinese vanilla which kept her from smelling too floral or too soft. Her hand was caught by his and there was the slightest tensing from her but the biggest and sweetest smile overshadowed it and a moment later she was relaxing. Her fingers opened and closed around his a few times like the feeling was foreign to her and she was trying to get it just right and comfortable. "I's not do dis e'der." She nodded down to their hands. "Yous okay for bein' first I's guess." She stuck her tongue out at him in a very mature manner.

"I's not v'one for churshes v'really. I's sink dat angels is cool bot don' believe dey is protektin' Senka an' if dere is God, den he can suck it. Bot- maybe Senka v'would look into sumsin' like class. I's speak four o'der lang'vwidges. Dis v'one can be learned bot is mush harder den o'ders."

"Yeah? I don't do it much, either, but I kinda like it sometimes. Though, when you do it when you walk it can sometimes feel weird. Like, that your wrists hurt cause one person is walking one way, and the other is walking another way, and then... ehhhhh." He shrugged his shoulders, realizing that he was ranting about something that wasn't particularly interesting. Apparently, he had been made to hold hands one too many times.

Guess that said something that he liked holding hands with her just then.

Once they reached the front door, though, he had to let go so that he could rummage through his pockets and pull out the keys. It took a second of jiggling to work but once it had, he grinned and let the door swing all the way open to the living room which what part kitchen in the back. Tsuru liked to stay out late, so beyond the fact that none of the lights were on was the fact that the hour was still wayyyy too early for her to have come home.

"I's jes not ever v'really had chance to do it. De mens Senka know is not so interested in holding' hands." She looked down to theirs. "I's sink dat v'we is like same tallness it make it easy maybe?"

She clasped her hands in front of her while he unlocked the house. She did peek inside but she would wait until he went in and then she would stick close to him until there was light.

"Yous got lights?" She asked very quietly.

It was true, even if it was embarrassing. Phoenix might have been "westernized" but that didn't change his nationality. He and Senka were just about the same height, and she was taller when she wore heels. It made hand holding super easy and that was something, right?

"Ummm nah, I don't smoke." He shrugged a little at her but then, after stepping inside he turned on the light and shut the door once she was in, "There has gotta be a box of matches around here somewhere. Sometimes I just leave candles on cause it's something that people from the old country know and feel comfy with."

Senka didn't seem to mind at all and she offered no follow up comments regarding their height. She was used to being tall and she was used to a lot of men being assholes no matter their physical appearance. So as long as he wasn't an asshole, she was happy.

"I's don' smoke." She gave him a peculiar look, uncertain of why he brought it up. She was however pleased when the light was turned on but she didn't move forward, she stayed with him. She wasn't going to snoop and the rest of the house was dark.

"Senka don' need mashes bot yous know yous shouldn't leave sumsin' burnin' v'when yous not home. Yous gonna burn it all up."

"Huh? What do you mean? Oh! My room is over here," he walked with his Senka-shadow over to the doorway on the right-hand side of the living room, which had a couch against the wall and a fold up table closed somewhere against it as well. He opened up the door of his room and waved her in.

Welcome to a single man's palace. No bed frame for the bed, it and the box spring just rested on the floor to the right of a window overhead. Perpendicular to it was a small, cheap wooden nightstand with a TV on it. He had a laptop, closed up and charging near an outlet by the foot of the bed. The walls had two posters on them, one was a local bar and another was a promotional thing for a fight that had happened at the Annex.

"Here she is. You like comedies?" He reached for the midpoint of his chest and unzipped his hoodies. There was a sleeveless grey shirt underneath, one with print that said something like "I'm with Stupid" and an arrow pointing off to one side.

"I's mean' do yous gots lights." She pointed up the ceiling. "An' yous do." She suddenly looked fidgety and bit down on her bottom lip while she rocked back and forth on her heels. "I's- I's don' like v'when is dark inside." Enclosed spaces that were dark. She was not a fan.

Although she looked around she didn't really seem to have opinions about his space. To her it just said it was his home and he was free to have it how she liked. None of her own furniture was actually hers. It all had come with the apartment thanks to Mrs. Ming and most of it was old and uncomfortable. Other than the borrowed furniture, her apartment was pretty empty.

"Fawny movies is good. Yous got dat v'one where de guy is like, No more v'rhymin' I's means it. An den de o'der guy v'was like do sumbody v'wants a pee-nit?" There was a little smile as she tried to quote the line. "Any sing is fine. I's don' know movies dat v'well. I's haven't seen v'one in long long time."

She motioned to the bed. "Senka sit on dis?"

"Nah? Then I'll keep a light on for yah. It doesn't bother me one way or the other." His grin spread a bit further then. He sat on the edge of the bed, picking up two remote controls to wake up the TV and then the movie-watching device plugged into the back. In a mere handful of seconds, he was flipping through movie channels.

"The Princess Bride is a classic," he said, recognizing the quote because, well, every girl liked that movie for some reason so he'd been made to watch it more than once. Surprisingly, there was another option, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? It's cute and fun and if you get too bored, I'll distract you." To the latter, his eyebrows bounced up and down in a playful suggestion.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2017-07-24 21:57 EST
She went ahead and sat on the edge of the bed anyway because she didn't think there was anywhere else to sit, aside from the floor, which also would have been fine by her.

"I's mean, yous can turn off for movie if yous v'want. Is lettle easier v'when Senka is wis sumbody or dere is light from somev'where." She pointed to the tv that was now glowing.

"I's don' know dat movie bot is fine. Anysing, v'really. An' like yous say, yous can distract wis- sings." Her mouth turned up into a little smile and she worked on unbuckling her sandals and let them drop to the floor and then she scooted back and made herself comfortable.


"You don't like the dark?" Some of what she said about her past was pretty bleak, but he was used to bleak. The fact that his lower lip didn't tremble when she dropped in tidbits about herself either meant he was too awkward to ask, or that he'd known a story or two. In his case, it was the latter, and anyone he ever knew that had been through shit said the same thing: don't treat me like I'm anything but normal. So he didn't give her weird looks, he didn't shift uneasily. Senka mentioned foot scars and all of that and he just kept going like she was talking about the weather.

Maybe that was wrong, but his experience said that was the best way to deal with trauma. He smiled, "Don't have to. I could just play some music. I promised you a foot rub, right?" More like a kinda half promise. He moved from where he was so that he sat in the place that was beside her, bumping his shoulder against hers playfully.

"Don like dark, no. I's- I's is leetle bits afraid for it. Of it?" She nodded when she thought that she had it right the second time around.

"An' I's have v'weird sing wis shadows. Uhm, dey, v'well, I's- I's become dem? An' sumtime is hard to pull self out of dem an' can be leetle scary v'when it happen or leetle bit hurts. Bot is helpful too. Is how Senka escape from Fox."

She curled against the wall in a seated position and her body facing him, not... the wall.

"I's do like movie bot don' v'watch girly movie jes for Senka, unless yous like to? Senka don' mind dem bang bang shoots dem up movies. Or- or - d'vone wis da man who do all dat kung soo-ey? Anysing is good. Senka not see many so she excite for anysing." Her fingers ran along the edge of the lace at her thighs, maybe a hint of a nervous gesture.

"I's don' know mush music e'der bot I's like it. Do yous know how to play sumsing or yous put on stereo?"

"Of it," he confirmed when she said it kinda like it was a question. His smiled appeared, a little tentative at first because he didn't want her to think he was smiling into the face of an awful statement about her past. He was smiling ?cause she was cute, sometimes, when she got her words wrong. Also, ?cause she was just cute. Never worked, though, to smile right into someone's painful admission.

To what she said about becoming shadows? He wasn't going to ask but hoped this was just something that didn't translate well and that caused her to have a sort of dark poetry to what she was trying to say. He pushed back until he was sitting beside her, back slumped likewise to the wall. It only took a few flicks of the remote in his hand to get the eighteen inch screen glowing with some words and pictures.

At this point, he wasn't paying attention, but the background noise kept the air from getting still or awkward. The sound was almost like a muffled crowd circling them. Not that he didn't want to be alone with her, just that he didn't want that spotlight-feeling of it just being the two of them. Maybe it was his ADD or something. He liked that background. It made the world rotate more smoothly.

"I don't have a stereo but," he pointed at the tv with the remote and shrugged, "There's like some online stations this thing can hook into. What do you like?" So long as it was light and sound, he didn't care.

"Of - it." She repeated back to him. That did sound correct and so she nodded and attempted to lock into her memory which was more sieve-like than sponge-like at times.

"Do you body do anysing v'weird? It seem like ev'rybody Senka meet can do sumsing dat is not v'well, normal. Senka sink she human bot I's don' know so mush about self. Fox take she memories from before she v'was his. I's sink I's v'wasn't alv'ways his. An' dem sum time he takes dem jes v'when he feel. I's v'remember de feelin' of losin' dem bot not ashually losin' dem. So v'weird."

When he sat beside her, it was her turn to give him a shoulder bump since he seemed so fond of them. "Senka don' know v'what she like. Is dat borin'? I's jes, I's figurin' out whose I's am. De music an' movie an sings v'we have in Sokovia is not alv'ways up to date an' dey v'really v'really like dat euro-pop an' dance music. Senka don' mind it bots I's like music wis sum feelin'. Leetle rock, leetle pop. I's like to move." Her hands settled in her lap.

"Tell Senka sumsing in yous langv'widge."

"Uhhhh, weird? Nah, nothing, really. I mean, I can sleep like ten hours straight if you let me. And I can basically eat all the coconut battered shrimp you can cook if it's around me." Not super talents, but he knew what she meant. He was just human. Not part vampire. Not oni. Not... even a super smart scientist or anything. Phoenix was one of the little people that the big people stepped on as they ascended.

"I mean, it's Rhy'Din so if you want something? You just gotta be a cute girl and ask around enough." Maybe this was colored a little by his experience with Tsuru. Since her coming into Rhy'Din, she had secured quite a bit in a small amount of time. He was certain if Senka was as determined she'd do just as well.

Shoulder bumps seemed better than trying to hold hands. Like it was a way of saying 'hi you" before doing anything else. When she bumped him back he grinned at her and then nodded at the movie, "People like this movie, The Princess Bride, cause it's a funny love story, kinda. And people like love stories."

Then there was the question and he tilted his head to the side curiously. Hadn't ever been asked about that one, "I'm not like, super fluent or anything. I left the old country when I was six so..." She could probably tell he didn't have an accent or any of the "hang-ups" that Tsuru might have. Phoenix drew in a breath, thought and then spoke, "Suki desu." There was a small shrug of his shoulders, "Made me think of your name, Senka. But it just means ?I like it.? Like... I like what's going on or whatever."

"Dat is sooper power to Senka. I's can't sleep dat long or v'well. I's v'wish. Maybe I's can learn yous ways." She didn't know what coconut shrimp were but it sounded pretty good. Maybe if they saw one another again she'd suggest trying them.

His comments about being a cute girl and asking to get what she wanted made her nose wrinkle. It wasn't that she was offended or anything but she hoped that one day when she finally had everything that she ever wanted, it was because of her own merits. Something more than her looks but maybe her talents and her hard work. She didn't voice any of this, instead she got lost in memories for a minute, something that happened from time to time. His voice pulled her back and she nodded.

"I's like to laff. I's don' know mush about love bot I's try it v'once. It- - v'well it suck bot I's don' sink it alv'ways go like it did for Senka, so maybe I's v'will hope for it again some day."

She listened as he spoke the words and then repeated them back, "Soo-key dee-soo." There was a sharp nod of her head like she was putting the exclamation point on the end of the words. " Since yous suck at yous home langv'widge, let Senka educates you. V'one time I's was wis man from yous country an' he tell'd Senka that she name mean sumsing like Ravages of War. Now how dat is for v'romanteek?" She snorted and shook her head. "I's like bomb."

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2017-07-25 21:40 EST
He was surprised she complimented him instead of just calling him lazy, but that was what happened as they started knowing each other. It was easy to like just about everything about someone, especially if they smelled good. "I mean... I'm willing to be the sleep sensei if you really, really need it." He smiled because the joke was awful but he couldn't help but say it.

"Laughing is good. Maybe you can teach me more about laughing and I can teach you more about sleeping." What about love? He thought about it and then shrugged a little, like his shoulders itched, "I mean, I guess love always sucks until it doesn't."

Phoenix's eyebrows jumped high on his forehead as she explained her name. He was smiling because he was as amused as he was intrigued, "Are you serious? You are definitely not... Japanese. Why would someone name you that!?"

"I's don' know v'what a sensee is bot it sound like yous v'want to teash Senka sumsing. She might assept dis. An' Senka is jes learnin' how to laff bot I's v'would do it more, or like to do it more." His response about love was met with a wrinkle of her nose. She wasn't entirely certain about it not always sucking. So far her experience with it was pretty terrible.

"I's serious like de heart dat is havin' attaks! I's don' know v'why dis is Senka's name. I's don' know if it come from mom and dad or from Fox. In langv'widge dat is like Senka's, it mean sumsing like shadow and she lass name mean like quiet. V'which is fawny because Senka become de shadows an' v'when she shadow, yous can't hear she. Maybe dat is like clue for Senka to figure out about she self, I's don' know." She held up her hands in dismay and then let them drop back down.

"V'where yous go v'when yous leave v'where you from? V'why you leave v'when yous so leetle?"

"I don't know anything about shadows or all that," Phoenix still wasn't sure what he thought when she talked about shadows. He didn't know if it was literal or metaphorical or just some sort of verbal misunderstanding. He was pretty sure he didn't want to derail the conversation further by asking. If it was something bad? It could wait.

"I thought Tsuru told you?" He blinked and then shrugged his shoulders, "There's a whole war going on over there. My parents were merchants so I'm like... here," he marked the air with his hand in a back and forth motion. Then he raised it up considerably, marking the air again as he spoke, "Tsuru and her folks are like... up here. So," his hand dropped in his lap, "When shit hit the fan my parents got outta dodge. I was six and they found a trading route. The Dutch had been allowed to do some trading with us at the time and my folks were able to use their relationship with some of their business partners to get passage. So we were... on the run or whatever for a few years. I got a job working for this English guy and that's when the resistance found my parents and recruited us. Since I speak like... three or four language mostly-not-bad, they kept having me help some people escape the country. Except after a while, they didn't want to be fugitives, they wanted like... their country back, or whatever. The thing that Tsuru is doing with me."

"V'what yous mean yous don' know about shadows?" She squinted at him and motioned to a part of the room where one was cast on the wall. "Shadow. Senka become dat. I's like melt in it, become its. I's show yous sumtime bot not now, I's comfeeble." Comfortable.

"Tsoo tell Senka sum sings bot not so mush about yous. I's sot yous v'was from like different time, yous jes seem not so supaprise by sings or-or like shock. I's sorry about yous home place doh. If Senka can helps in sum v'way, tell she. Bot if yous jes v'want like to not sink abouts it, I's get dat too an' v'we can talk about o'der sings. Senka can be good for distrakin' yous too." She walked her fingers from her lap over to his leg.

"V'what langv'widges yous kinda not so bad at?"

"I mean... are you for real or just like... trying to explain something... I have no idea." A lot of people thought they were dark. Or in the dark. That was different from saying to dematerialized into a shadow itself to lurk like a vampire might in an old Dracula film.

"Well, Tsuru grew up there. I left as a kid. I traveled and ended up all kinds of places. Mostly cities and all that. Tsuru was like... she stayed in the old country so it's what it is. I don't really remember much of it and the place doesn't really feel like home. I like tv and air conditioning and pizza, you know? I don't mind thinking about it, but it's like way harder on Tsuru. Those are all people she knows and grew up with. They're more like... reallllyyy distant cousins to me. I care but it's not like... you know." He shrugged cause he couldn't really explain it.

"Japanese, some Chinese, some Indian, Dutch and English." That sorta made sense if you thought about it in terms of him migrating with the traders along routes as a kid. There was a tilt of his head and then a shrug, "English is my best. I speak like... I dunno, like I'm ten years-old in the other languages. I'm good enough."

"Is yous head full of dat dry grassy stoff?" She was picturing the scarecrow from Wizard of Oz. "Yous gots brain in dere?" She lifted her hand from his leg and gave a gentle knock-knock to his head. It had been a few minutes at least since she last insulted him, it was time.

"I's. Become. Shadow." She huffed at him like this should make perfect sense. She stood up on the bed and moved over to the corner of the room where she had motioned before. "V'watch." She stuck her foot into the shadow and within seconds it looked like it was eating her up as her foot seemed to disappear and become a part of it. "Yous see? Senka whole body do dat." She wiggled back and forth as she pulled herself free with grunt.

Long fingers wrapped around her hips as she rested her hands on either side. "Senka don' know dose lang'vwidges. I's speak, Sokovian, Russian, Bulgarian, Polish, dis common v'one, an' like bits of o'ders." She darted from where she was and stepped on to the bed and then bounced over him to flop back down in a cloud of cream lace as her dress fluffed out around her.

"So." She stretched her legs out over his.

"Noooo... it's not but... people talk funny." She said it again and now he got it. She meant literally. That was the sort of thing a crazy person would say. Or maybe just someone who wanted attention. It could be for real, he had seen a thing or two in his travels and in Rhy'Din but... not that. Plus, people sometimes liked to boast about things to seem cool or, whatever.

Nix was, therefore, schooled when she actually showed him and the whole conversation about it came to a true light. He blinked a few time and uttered a low, "Whoooa," like it was something cool and worrisome. After all, didn't she just say she didn't like the dark and shadows... this and shadows that?

"Are you a vampire or something?" He'd seen vampires do something like that in a few movies. "I would have bet you were Russian, I don't know all the accents but I was guessing that you were."

He chuckled when she rejoined him on the bed, dropping beside him. The mattress springs caused his shoulder to bump into hers until she settled herself back in. Now, he found her legs hanging over his lap. He lifted up his right hand, letting it palm her knee cap with his fingertips making a half circle against the skin there, "So..."

"Yous mean like, do Senka v'want to suck yous blood?" Her eyebrows lifted and she grinned in a way that looked a little sinister. His hand settled on her leg and she withdrew a moment later to rise up on knees and then edged towards him. A moment later she was straddling his lap, facing him.

Leaning in, she shook her head no. "Senka not a Russian." Although it was a common misconception. Then again she didn't really know what she was, it was an assumption that she was Sokovian based upon the memories Fox allowed her to keep.

"An' Senka not a vampy sing. I's suck sings bot not yous blood." She didn't even bother to hide her smile, they both knew what she meant. "Bot dats not gonna happen dis night. So." She stood up, well aware of how much she had invaded his personal space with her body and her teasing. She looked down at him and grinned and then pulled herself to the side to sit back down, this time a little further away from him and she stretched her legs out so that her feet were in his lap. Her foot grazed along his thigh and the look she wore said it wasn't done innocently.

"Hows abouts dat v'rubbin now?"

(end scene)