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[fistsofchange]

This is Bai Lin! I can't answer the phone right now but I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

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[fistsofchange]

[Lin got turned around on her way there, and showed up a few minutes late. She had on a deep red, backless sundress. It was modest enough as long as she didn't bend over too far.]

Rhys! Sorry I'm late.

[She threw her arms around Rhys' shoulders in a quick hug.]

I got a little turned around is all. Did you pick out a movie?

[sleight_of_fate]

[Rhys has been waiting a little bit, but not enough to worry him and he's happy when he finally spots her. He returns the hug, quick and light but sincere.]

No problem, I haven't been here long. You look great.

[There's a lot to be said for simple and comfortable, and she seems genuinely happy to see him...that counts for a lot, even if he can only see it and not sense it.

Which is interesting, and a little refreshing. The calm quiet is something he doesn't encounter often and he appreciates it. Being tuned into everyone's emotions all the time can be so draining.]

There's a couple of options, I figured having a choice was good. There's one about a normal guy who becomes an action hero, that looks pretty good...chases and fights and all that fun stuff...and then one about a woman who makes friends with a dragon. A real dragon, I mean, not a Gembonded.

[It's funny how some things are the same, even in a whole other world. Love of explosions, and love of all things mythical.]

[fistsofchange]

I DO like dragons. Let's see that one.

[Lin had known a few dragons, actually. Or at least, humans with the reincarnated souls of dragons. Enormously powerful people. Two of them had been bastards but the third had been her best friend.]

[sleight_of_fate]

That sounds like a lot of fun to me, too. Dragons are extinct where I'm from, but the idea has always fascinated me. The little bits of lore and imagination around the whole thing.

[Granted there are Gembonded that turn into dragons here, but it's not quite the same.]

Popcorn and drinks, too?

[He gives her a hopeful smile because at the very least, he's going to get a box of candy. It's the movies, it demands it.]

[fistsofchange]

Sure.

[On top of all the OTHER nice things happening to her tonight, she was also going to find out what popcorn was!

Lin glanced at other people entering the movie theater to see how other couples were acting. Thus informed, she wrapped her arm around Rhys' and leaned her head on his shoulder, just a little bit.]

Shall we?

[sleight_of_fate]

We shall.

[He smiles as he takes her arm, completely content with the little bit of extra contact as they make their way into the theater. It feels nice and he has a feeling it's going to be a good evening.

Popcorn and drinks for sure, and maybe a box of candy to split because Rhys likes to be thorough. He's not always the best gentleman but he certainly tries.

So he orders for them, with a glance toward Lin to make sure it's agreeable to her. Juggling the tray means letting go of her arm, which he regrets, but they have the whole evening.]

Figure if we're going to do this, may as well make it the whole experience, right?

[fistsofchange]

[Lin has little experience with movies, and the last one she was at didn't have much in the way of snacks. So when Rhys offered to handle the snack portion of the movie going experience, Lin nodded and stood aside while he made some very important decisions about whether to get regular M&Ms or Peanut M&Ms.

You should always go for the peanut ones.]

That's the whole point. Trying new things.

[sleight_of_fate]

You'll have to tell me more about your world, sometime soon. It sounds like it's pretty different from here.

[Of course the peanut ones!]

My world is different, too, but some of the things are the same. At least, close enough that I can figure a lot of things out from past experience. It makes things easier that way, but there's still enough new to keep me on my toes.

Like, the fact that there's so much magic here, and that everyone knows about it. That's sort of crazy, to me.

[Popcorn, soda, and M&Ms. Perfect.]

[fistsofchange]

You could say that...

[It's MUCH worse than here. But she doesn't say that. She's getting tired of people's horrified reaction to the truth of where she came from.]

There's more magic here than where I came from too, though. I'll be honest it makes me pretty nervous a lot of the time. Magic seems to mainly cause trouble, back home.

It seems to be different in other places, though, so I'm trying to keep an open mind.

[sleight_of_fate]

Magic is tough where I'm from, too. I mean, I have it, and it's still rough. Most people don't know about it, and if they did, they would likely freak out in the worst possible ways.

So, you're probably not wrong being wary.

[He gives her his best reassuring smile, before he snags a piece of popcorn and crunches it between his teeth.]

This place isn't bad for getting used to magic, honestly. It's so much more...benign. It's weird sure, with the shapechanging every month and everything, but they're using it for good things. And that makes a big difference, I think.

[fistsofchange]

I think I have the opposite of magic.

[She meant it as an off hand comment, but it was more or less accurate.

Lin reached over to steal a piece of popcorn and stared at it.]

What is this stuff, anyway?

[sleight_of_fate]

Huh. The opposite of magic? really?

[he's noticed that there's something interesting about her, most specifically the lack of vibrations he gets from her. He's curious, though not so rude as to grill her about it. If she wants to share, though...]

It's popcorn. It's, uh. Corn kernels that have been dried, and then heated until they explode into this.

[He holds up a piece, before popping it into his mouth and crunching it happily.]

They're good. Especially with salt and butter.

[fistsofchange]

Yeah, it's part of my training. The whole order of the Soaring Fist has rejected magic so thoroughly that it has trouble touching us.

I wonder if staying open minded about it will make that stop working...

[While she considered this question, she tossed the piece of popcorn into her mouth.]

...It tastes like salt and butter.

[Which was what popcorn was supposed to taste like. Lin wasn't sure what to make of it, but for some reason she found herself helping herself to more as they walked into the movie theater.]

[sleight_of_fate]

That actually explains a few things.

...If I notice any difference, I'll be sure to let you know. I'm an empath, and...well, it's been interesting because you don't put off much of a vibe at all for me.

[he adds hurriedly:]

Which is nice, actually. Peaceful. Usually I have to work hard to block out the static around me, so it's a nice change of pace.

[he chuckles as he watches her sample the popcorn, and nods.]

Salt and butter. It goes fantastic with chocolate, too, so it's good we got the M&Ms to go with it. There's other flavors for popcorn too. Like caramel, or cheese if you want something more savory.

[fistsofchange]

Mm.

[Lin was digesting everything he'd just said about empathy and didn't have a lot of mental bandwidth left for popcorn talk just now.]

I never thought anti-magic would feel comforting to someone with magic. That's something to think about.

After the movie, though.

[sleight_of_fate]

It sort of depends on how you deal with your magic, and how much it takes out of you. One thing that's true in my world, at least, is that magic always has a price. You can't create something from nothing.

I don't think I'd want to be without my magic completely, but a little bit of a break? That works out pretty well for me. And I think I'm doing pretty well without having it to rely on.

[He flashes her a quick grin, confident that he's still got his charm.]

And yes, we can definitely talk about it more later. Right now, movie. And snacks.

[fistsofchange]

I never pictured people who choose magic as the types who think too hard about costs and consequences but I guess you learn something every day.

Anyway I'm glad I can give you a little peace of mind, at least.

[She took a piece of popcorn and popped it into her mouth, with a small grin.]

Anyway lets watch a movie.

[And then they watched the movie.]

[sleight_of_fate]

Not everyone chooses magic, though. Some of us are born with it, so we just gotta deal, you know? For better or worse.

[But they have snacks to eat and a movie to watch, so he's happy to let the conversation fade off there. They seem to be in good company in spite of their differing experiences, and that's something they can certainly talk over more later.

For now, however? Magical things on screen, and the completely sublime combination of M&Ms and popcorn together. Rhys is grinning when they come out of the theater, full of the soft good feelings of an enjoyable couple of hours immersed in escapism, and he glances to Lin when they exit into the cooling evening air.]

How'd you like it?

[fistsofchange]

[Lin had a feeling that starting a deep, philosophical conversation about magic and responsibility and chaos might ruin the mood tonight, so she let the subject drop for now. They could come back to this some other day.

Somehow, magic in a movie didn't seem as ominous. It probably had to do with how Lin had less chance of being personally set on fire here. A hero rose to slay a dragon only to realize that the kind was despoiling the land far more with taxes and cruel laws than mere dragonfire ever could. Together, the hero and the dragon gathered all the people together and defeated the king and his cabal of dark wizards in a climactic showdown in a burning castle. In the end the hero and the dragon flew off into the sunset and everyone lived happily every after except for the king but no one liked that guy so it's fine.

Lin emerged from the theater full of popcorn and good feelings about how everyone could band together to defeat evil.]

I had trouble following some bits but the climax was real dramatic. And I always like a happy ending!

[sleight_of_fate]

[Maybe not ruin the night, but definitely change the direction of it. Rhys isn't upset by the conversation in the slightest, just thoughtful...and it's certainly something that they can discuss at a later time.

For the meantime, the movie is good, the snacks are consumed, and at the end Rhys feels warm and satisfied. He's a big fan of happy endings, too, and seeing good triumph over evil. Sometimes, you just need a little escape and that's fit the need perfectly.]

I could have wandered around the castle for the whole movie, honestly. I love that sort of thing. Those Great Halls, man. And the tapestries and statues.

[He grins, quiet and satisfied.]

Do you want to walk a while, or head up to the hotel to chill?

[fistsofchange]

It was certainly one of the biggest fortresses I've ever seen. Still didn't do the king much good in the end, though, did it?

[Lin honestly hadn't been paying too much attention to the backgrounds. She'd been too caught up in the story itself.]

Anyway I think the plan was getting ice cream, THEN going back to the hotel.

[Lin smiled back at him and looped an arm around his waist.]

[sleight_of_fate]

Nope, but that's what Being Evil gets you. In movie-land, at least. It's good to see things come out the happy way, sometimes.

[Rhys has an artist's eye, and he tends to notice details of things like that. But he had enjoyed the story as a whole, and is absolutely content with the experience. he'll have to see the movie again when it comes out on this world's equivalent of video!

He leans easily into her arm around his waist, giving her a grin.]

How could I forget. Absolutely, ice cream, yes. Try some different flavors, maybe, and see exactly what looks good.

It feels like the heat's going to break soon, too, which will be nice. I'm wondering what other seasons are like, here.

[fistsofchange]

Probably weird, if they're anything like this summer was.

[LIFE was weird on Noctium, living under the mercurial whims of the fledgling god Malachite. Not just summer.

We can probably skim over the whole ice cream experience. Lin got butter pecan, and decided that it was already but that she liked the chocolate chip she had gotten last time better. She also discreetly squeezed Rhys' butt a few times. It was a cute butt, and, well...

Lin was starting to get distracted, thinking about their much alluded to be technically unspoken plans for the night.]

[sleight_of_fate]

That sounds about right, yeah. Hopefully not as extreme, but...there's really no telling, I think we'll just have to find out as it happens.

[Rhys is more than happy to indulge in a cone of coffee fudge, and offer Lin a taste just in case it strikes her fancy.

The little touches become easier, especially after the second time Rhys finds himself gently goosed. It's good to be appreciated, and he does his best to return the favor, small lingering touches like brushing aside her hair or touching her arm. Nothing too forward, not yet, but pleasant and comfortable.

There's no pressure here, just the natural development of attraction, and that's the way Rhys likes it. Even more, now that he can focus on those little gestures without the "cheating" presence of psychic vibes.

There's no rush, but Rhys is content when they finish their ice cream and walk, and looks to Lin with an almost shy look, blue eyes bright as he watches her.]

This was a good idea. I mean, just so you know.

[He grins a little.]

Still up for the hotel?

[fistsofchange]

[Lin did take the offered taste of coffee fudge, and immediately regretted it because she liked it way better than HER ice cream.

Of the course of their ice cream date, Lin and Rhys were very gradually getting more and more handsy with each other and turning into That Couple.

She was trying to decide how exactly she felt about Rhys. She definitely liked him. He was kind, considerate, sophisticated (at least, sophisticated compared to a country bumpkin like her. That was still how she thought of herself.), and VERY easy on the eyes. Was this the early signs of love blooming in her heart?

...Probably not. But he was good company.

Lin grinned back at him, then stood up on her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek.

I'd love to go spend the night with you.