12695/Monk meets monkey at the Garden.

Monk meets monkey at the Garden.
Date of Scene:	30 January 2021
Location:	North Shore, Staten Island
Synopsis:	Austin get's slapped, Xiang get's kissed, Tina tries to be a warrior.
Cast of Characters:	Xiang Zhao, Sentinel (Dallas)

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Xiang Zhao has posed:
At mid morning, the Chinese Scholar's Garden doesn't have many visitors in it. It has, in fact, just opened less than half an hour prior to now. The weather is clear, for the moment, and sunlight filters down into the place, though does little to warm it up. There remains a blanket of snow, the ponds and streams frozen over. The ice doesn't look very thick, and is likely unsafe to step on.

There aren't many people here, other than the people who work here. And one man who looks like he fits quite well into this setting, as though he stepped out of a cosplay of some sort and into this place. Xiang Zhao walks slowly along the paths until he reaches a bridge that both rises over a frozen stream and overlooks a pond. The bridge is set at a right angle to the rest of the path. It is here that Zhao pauses to gaze at the view. With the walls around this place, the breeze is minimal, only barely stirring his long dark hair and the long robes he wears. At his waist, a folding fan and a white flute, tucked into the sash that holds his robes closed. Upon his back, a cloth wrapped bundle of good length, secured over his shoulder.

Sentinel (Dallas) has posed:
Okay, imagine for just a moment... Cinderella. Te long puffy blue dress with it's multiple layers of fluff. Imagine the elbow length gloves, the diamond tiera, the black choker... Now imagine it on a Capuchin monkey. that is Tina, riding on Austin's shoulder. Austin, for his part is weaing jeans a a red Gothem Knights hoodie. The former nibbles delicately at a fruit cup, while the latter eats a Tao-ist hotdog. That is to say he wanted a hotdog that was "One with everything". The monkey Chitters slightly and the young man chuckles. "Alright, it's pretty. You were right." He says amused, taking a few pictures with his phone.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao does not seem aware of the man with the monkey and the Tao-ist hotdog. He might be a little bit too at one with the scenery, himself. At least, until there is talking. And chittering. He turns his head, perhaps curious at the sound. The person might be noted in passing, but it's the monkey he really sees. His serene expression remains, but there's a very obvious blink. The stare lasts for a moment only before Zhao turns his eyes back to the scenery. But it took an obvious bit of willpower to tear his eyes away! He may never have seen a monkey before! Let alone one dressed in that sort of outfit.

Sentinel (Dallas) has posed:
The monkey chitters some more, taking out a piece of peach from her fruit cup and nibbling it almost daitily as the young man snaps a few pictures, then blink at his suddenly black screen. "What the... I just charged this thing." He wraps it's side agienst his palm shaking his head. Tina chitters again, almost piously and he scowls. "I did so charge it." He sighs smiling in the direction of the monk and shaking his head. "Women, huh?" he says with a chuckle, thumbing at the monkey.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao can't. Nope. He has to look at the monkey again. And that's when he actually looks at the person the monkey is using as transporation. He watches first the tapping of the dead piece of plastic, then the interaction between man and monkey. He takes a deep breath and opens his mouth, then closes it again. "It is best never to argue with a woman if you value your health," he says, his voice holding a quiet quality that lends the impression that he is soft spoken the majority of the time. "Is there something wrong with your.. um... What is that?" With the question, he glances to the poor blank screened cellphone.

Sentinel (Dallas) has posed:
Tina preens under the praise, standing up on Austin's shoulder and even curtsying to the other man... then smacking Austin lightly in the back of the head. It must happen often enough that Austin doesn't even flinch from it. He wraps his phone agienst his head. "At the moment? It's an $850 paper weight." He grumbles stuffing it back into his pocket and shaking his head. "I'm Austin, this is Tina." He says, offering his hand first, and then Tina offers her own hand in a palm down position.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
The preening clearly indicates Xiang Zhao had given the correct response there! At the monkey's curtsey, Zhao turns to fully face her location. He lifts his hands and cups them out in front of himself at about chest level, and bows his head down. The pose is held for a few seconds before it is then turned her mount and held for another few seconds. He straightens after, and his hands drop back to his sides. Each movement is graceful with not a motion wasted. "I do not understand. It does not look heavy enough to be a decent paper weight." As hands are offered, from both man and monkey, Zhao doesn't move. Instead, he looks at them, confusion marring the serene expression. "I am Xiang Zhao," he says, eyes lifting up again. The name is spoken as though it is one word, like there is no Xiang without a Zhao.

Sentinel (Dallas) has posed:
Tina slaps Austin's head again, and repeats her curtsy. Austin awkwardly pulls his hand back and tries an awkward bow... which gets his head slapped a third time. This time he rubs the back of his head and gives the monkey a glare which has her trying to look beautific. "It's my phone, it's been acting up all week and I think it just died." He says shaking his head.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao's lips twitch at the repeated head laps. He takes a moment and a breath, but even so, when he speaks the amusement is easily heard in his voice. "At least she is not using a fan," he says, tapping the folding fan at his waist. "I have a shushu who likes to make a point with his fan to the forehead." There's a blink at the explanation. "Oh." With that word, Zhao takes a deliberate pair of steps back. "That.. might be my fault. Try it now?" A pair of steps ought to bring him far enough away.

Sentinel (Dallas) has posed:
Austin Dallas takes a step back as well, just out of curiousity... and a moment later the jingle of the phone restarting plays off. "Huh," Is all Austin says about that. "Some kind of mutant thing?" he asks curiously. Tina just sighs and leaps from Austin's shoulder to Zhao's, batting her big brown eyes at the man and gesturing to the fan as if to ask ~Can I just borrow that for a moment?~

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao blinks at that sudden jingle. "Is that supposed to happen?" As the question comes, Zhao's lips move as though he's saying 'mutant' without actually voicing it aloud. Then a slight shake of his head. "No. Magic. Those of my clan with strong magical abilities cannot use advanced technology until they reach a higher level of understanding and control." He doesn't move as Tina leaps to his shoulder, though he turns his head to look at her. Zhao realizes, perhaps too late, that he may have created a monster when mentioning the fan. He looks at the monkey. "Are you certain? My fan is almost as big as you are." And not made of plastic, so has a good amount of weight to it. However, he pulls the fan from its resting place in his sash anyway, and offers the bottom end to the monkey.

Sentinel (Dallas) has posed:
Tina grins slightly as she takes the fan. It is heavy for her and she hefts it almost like it were a great sword, two handed and battle ready when Austin says "You try hitting me with that, and you sleep in the Cat Condo tonight." The monkey, who was readying her return jump just pouts at him, sighs and offers the fan back to the other man, before kissing the monk on the cheek and leaping back... though she distinctly turns her back on Austin.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao watches the monkey heft the fan like that, and his lips curl up ever so slightly. "You hold my fan like you would be a natural with a sword," he says to Tina. He accepts the fan back with a serene expression and is tucking it back behind the sash at his waist when the kiss comes. He pauses, mid motion, and blinks, eyes trailing the leaping form. He resumes the motion and tucks the fan into place. His hand comes up to touch his cheek. He might never have been kissed before, if his expression is anything to judge by. Still serene, but there is an almost stunned look there too.

Sentinel (Dallas) has posed:
Austin Dallas rolls his eyes slightly, amused. "Forgive her, she is a bit foreward and a lot of a flirt." He says amused as he hands Tina back her fruit cup and shakes his head. He tickles her under the chin, and the monkey sighs and gives Austin a hug around the neck and a pat on the head. "Anyway, it really was nice meeting you." He says with a bit of a smile. "We were going for pizza..."

Xiang Zhao has posed:
It takes him a moment, but Xiang Zhao gets his expression under control again and his hand drops back to his side. "There is nothing to forgive," he says. "It was nice meeting you and well, and Tina. I wish you a pleasant day." He does not react to the comment about pizza. Either he doesn't want any, or he's unfamiliar with the concept enough to not understand it's food. He turns to face the rail of the bridge again, and steps forward to lean his elbows on it. His eyes and attention turning back to the peaceful scenery.