13671/Long Ago On A Screen Pretty Close By

From United Heroes MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Long Ago On A Screen Pretty Close By
Date of Scene: 27 July 2021
Location: Multiple Locations
Synopsis: Barbara opts to meet someone like a normal human being. Strangely it goes well. Which means something has to be wrong with him.
Cast of Characters: Oracle, Thor




Oracle has posed:
Some small time ago on a monitor far far away...

Vlad1m1r/guild says, "You're on late."
RedRidingHood324/guild says, "It's not that late. 4am"
Vlad1m1r/guild says, "For most of the world that is super late."
RedRidingHood324/guild says, "Guess I'm not most of the world. 'sides, you're here too. Why up so late?"
Vlad1m1r/guild says, "You are the part of the world that is mostly weird."
Vlad1m1r/guild says, "I was out. celebrating. back now."
RedRidingHood324/guild says, "Whatcha celebrating? Is it your birthday?!"
Vlad1m1r/guild says, "Yes, I am 85 years young today."
Vlad1m1r/guild says, "ok no. was out cuz my brother is off to school. finally leaving, can't stand that little kid."
RedRidingHood324/guild says, "Yeah, figured you were old. Shows in your fighting."
RedRidingHood324/guild says, "Oh that's awesome. He just graduate?"
Vlad1m1r/guild says, "<snort> You even dream of taking me on you had best wake up and apologize. Last I recall I'm like up on you 45 to nothing."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "So ok, he's off to college. And yah normally that's not a huge deal. But for him it is, and I'm just... man. so relieved."
RedRidingHood324/guild says, "Only cause you've been playing longer but I have caught up a lot so watch your back, old man."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "College is a big deal for anyone. But sounds like there is a story here. Tell me if I'm prying and I'll drop it."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Nah, I'm in a good mood and feeling charitable to give you insight into my super awesome life while you sit there all envious. 'Oh Vlad you're so cool and I'm just stuck here being a nerdy crafter.' and all that."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "But yah, he's off and heading to Empire State, so I'm... glad. It was a hassle. He for a time was into some shady stuff and took a lot of... effort to get him out of it. Kinda the reason I was stuck playing this game for so long."

Oracle has posed:
RedRidingHood324/guild says, "Even though I've been doing more than crafting. Thanks to you. Wait that sounded almost nice. Eff You, Vlad!"
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Shady stuff. Sorry to hear that. Guessing you were a big part in turning him around?"

Some time passes. Ten minutes. Twelve.

Vlad1m1r/page says, "Yeah, sorry. Phone call. But I did a little. Most of the credit should go to him."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "our home can be tough sometimes. he started running around with some real jerks. for a time I tried to be around as much as I could to like steer him clear but that didn't work out too well.'
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Soooo. That sounds like you were around some real jerks too. For the right reasons but still. He's out and off the college so how did it not work out so well? How does that link to time here?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "You are super nosey for someone within stabbing range."
Vlad1m1r/page says, ";)"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "But. So ok this is like a story. And you can't repeat it and you can't screencap it and run off to the boards and post mean things. Since I know you totally like to do that."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "You don't have to tell me. I don't mean to pry. Just we've been sort of friends here for a while I felt."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "omg guilt trip."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "<grins> I'm just being a butt. One sec. typing."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "So. I live in a kinda rough city. Has a big sort of craziness problem. Lots of gangs running around, lots of weirdoes. Well my brother got into one of those gangs, though he didn't know it was a gang. He thought it was just a bunch of cool guys that bought him beer."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "And I knew some of them, heck went to school with some of them. And I knew with my brother you can't tell him /not/ to do something. otherwise he'll be all, 'you can't tell me what to do you're not my real dad!' and run upstairs and slam the door and then I'd have to bake cookies to get him to come downstairs and I hate baking cookies."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "ROFL. Now I need homemade cookies."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "So I sort of found reasons to be around where he was doing stuff and doing stuff with them. And it was... perhaps not the smartest thing I ever did. And NO, no cookies for you!"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Ok maybe some cookies. If you're nice."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "after the story!"

Oracle has posed:
Vlad1m1r/page says, "So there was some tension with another gang and it became a thing. And I was there and partially trying to protect him, trying to show him this all is crazy. And one thing led to another and one of his 'friends' shot a guy."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "OMG"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Yeah, seriously, very OMG."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "And everything explodes and this huge fight broke out. And I convince him to run the eff away, and we take off up the stairs and some of the guys we think are chasing us, hard to know what was all going on. And I'm half like gotta call the cops, gotta get out of here."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Luckily we get away and on the roof and I like turn to him and he's upset and scared... and suddenly. This big... I don't know, black shape of a guy or something. He's dropping in and about to just lay one on my brother. I shove him out of the way and..."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "And... got kicked off the side of the building. I fell three stories, though some clotheslines broke my fall. Still hit bad and..."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Now you know why I did pretty much nothing but play this game for six months."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "I...had no idea. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Yeah, I'm fine. Or will be. I still have a cane I'm supposed to walk around with in case I get back spasms, but my PT has been going well. BUT. Now you see why I am just... so damn relieved he's off to school and out of state."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Makes sense. That he's out of that situation. Did...what happened get him to finally realize and make that choice?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "I think so. I mean it was a pretty big whammy. He started to live with me for his last few years of school, so was out of the immediate neighborhood. And now he's off and hopefully doesn't do anything too stupid."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Anyways, now you know entirely more than you ever wanted to do about that jerk who murdered you in the woods."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Well with your situation, hopefully he realized that road he was traveling should be avoided now. I'm just glad you are okay and recovering. What city so I can make sure I never visit this place cause it sounds insane that gangs are running around like that."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Gotham. It's a hell hole, but it's home."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Well ok parts of it are nice."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Did you know my brother tried to play this game some?"

Oracle has posed:
RedRidingHood324/page says, "No, didn't know he played. Was he part of the guild? Did I meet him?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Oh no, he's a lil jerk. I didn't let him join the guild. Was the right move though, he got kicked out of like three guilds straight for hassling people and trying to get them to smooch his toon."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "You're kidding right? You can't be serious."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "I mean, he's a teenager, so yeah. But I was like, 'dude... I know Illidina, her player is this huge guy named Robby. Stop trying to hit on him."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "And that freaked him out, I told him, 'There are no girls on the internet. Duh.'"
RedRidingHood324/page says, "ROFL. Yeah, heard that theory before. We're just myths. Like female dwarves in Tolkien."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Yah, I mean at this point I am completely comfortable with figuring you're some dude who drives a truck for a living who just likes to be all cutesy farming around his cottage."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "You got me. It's even a pink truck. I have a giant beer belly and a beard that would make ZZTopp jealous."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "I figured. Better that than imagining you were cute with a little button nose and a furious flush to her face when she realized she'd been stabbitied by some big mean assassin dude."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "All sarcasm aside, I more fitting the latter. Pretty sure I was red faced and furious. And my nose...not sure it's button. What is a button nose anyway?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Honestly I have no idea. I just have always heard it connected to 'cute' 'cute as a button' sort of. So are you telling me you're a gurl and are cute? You're totally gonna try to catfish me for my credit card number next."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "I'm in Russia and need a man to marry me so I can come to the U.S. I really really love you. Credit card number so I can book my flight?"
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Wait I did that wrong. Not enough typos."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "<smirks> Well. If there's a get together I might go and we'll see the truth of it. But I dunno, is that still a thing, MMO get togethers? I'd go since I am apparently kinda cute, though the cane doesn't hugely go over well sometimes."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Seriously I am a woman. Redhead so that explains the temper. I dunno if MMOs do that. This was sort of a new thing for me to try. Always been into computer, not so much gaming. But the interesting thing is I actually live in Gotham City. If it is the same one. Is there more than one? Googling."

Oracle has posed:
RedRidingHood324/page says, "No, didn't know he played. Was he part of the guild? Did I meet him?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Oh no, he's a lil jerk. I didn't let him join the guild. Was the right move though, he got kicked out of like three guilds straight for hassling people and trying to get them to smooch his toon."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "You're kidding right? You can't be serious."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "I mean, he's a teenager, so yeah. But I was like, 'dude... I know Illidina, her player is this huge guy named Robby. Stop trying to hit on him."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "And that freaked him out, I told him, 'There are no girls on the internet. Duh.'"
RedRidingHood324/page says, "ROFL. Yeah, heard that theory before. We're just myths. Like female dwarves in Tolkien."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Yah, I mean at this point I am completely comfortable with figuring you're some dude who drives a truck for a living who just likes to be all cutesy farming around his cottage."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "You got me. It's even a pink truck. I have a giant beer belly and a beard that would make ZZTopp jealous."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "I figured. Better that than imagining you were cute with a little button nose and a furious flush to her face when she realized she'd been stabbitied by some big mean assassin dude."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "All sarcasm aside, I more fitting the latter. Pretty sure I was red faced and furious. And my nose...not sure it's button. What is a button nose anyway?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Honestly I have no idea. I just have always heard it connected to 'cute' 'cute as a button' sort of. So are you telling me you're a gurl and are cute? You're totally gonna try to catfish me for my credit card number next."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "I'm in Russia and need a man to marry me so I can come to the U.S. I really really love you. Credit card number so I can book my flight?"
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Wait I did that wrong. Not enough typos."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "<smirks> Well. If there's a get together I might go and we'll see the truth of it. But I dunno, is that still a thing, MMO get togethers? I'd go since I am apparently kinda cute, though the cane doesn't hugely go over well sometimes."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Seriously I am a woman. Redhead so that explains the temper. I dunno if MMOs do that. This was sort of a new thing for me to try. Always been into computer, not so much gaming. But the interesting thing is I actually live in Gotham City. If it is the same one. Is there more than one? Googling."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Hah. I think there's only one. I know New York sometimes had the name way back when it was considered like an adjective? But I dunno. And yah I sort of figured you were, you give more of a... female vibe. Not that that's a bad thing! More like... you're thoughtful with what you write. And less aggressive. I mean you're super mean and a butt a lot. But still. Not as aggressive.
RedRidingHood324/page says, "I have moments. Just usually not behind a computer screen. Well, maybe once in a while. Like on raids. We should meet up sometime and have a coffee just so you can tell people the mythical women on the internet do exist."

Oracle has posed:
Some time passes, four or five minutes, long enough perhaps for a hint of anxiety to manifest.

Vlad1m1r/page says, "I mean. I suppose. I'm not huge into coffee, though maybe somewhere safe and neutral groundish so you're less likely to scream and yell and attack me with your crazy womanness. Do you ever get down to the Gotham Public Library in downtown? The one with the lions?"
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Yeah, I go there a lot actually. Love good old fashioned books with pages and covers. The smell of them. Everything."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Yeah me too. That... haha. That's like one of the best things you could say. Remind me to let you know why."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "I mean we don't have to meet. I know it's kind of weird. But a neutral spot I figure is good yeah. People around so if you are a serial killer, you won't get me."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "So the library, some time after 5 if that's alright, I usually work til then. Unless you want to go on the weekend. But omg going to the library on the weekend is for nerds. And yah I know, I mean I already killed you like what three or four times?"
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Ha. Ha. Very not funny. And WTF libaries on weekends are for nerds? I go there all th--don't say it. Just don't. Yes, that sounds like a good time."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Well. Shoot. Alright. So tomorrow at 5? I'll be the six foot guy with the cane and looking around warily for an ambush."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "That could be quite a few people in there. How about you wear or carry something that would be recognizable for me? Don't know what you might have that will stand out."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Seriously?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Umm. I could wear my 'Rogues do it in the shadows' t-shirt?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Ok I don't actually have a t-shirt that says that."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Well I don't know how old you are. Lots of guys with canes come to the library. OMG you don't actually own one of those--yeah was gonna say! Got any geek tees?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Oh I have a t-shirt from where I work. Reilly's Used Books."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "My opinion of you just went up ten notches."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "You ever been there? It has the largest collection of Harlequin Romance Novels on the Eastern Seaboard. It's not much claim to fame but it's ours."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "That is a combination of amazing and terrifying. And I have actually been in there a couple of times."

Oracle has posed:
Vlad1m1r/page says, "But yeah it's sort of a family business thing. My grandfather owns it, but that is going to likely be my life for the next few dozens of years. Though I kinda like it. That's... a sorta nice lot in life, you know?"
Vlad1m1r/page says, "SO. That's why I do all this crazy adventure online since my life is pretty yawnish."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "I will also understand if you are all, 'ew, used book store owner guy, totally not datable."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "Being a book geek, can't say that takes you off the datable list at all."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Well. That's... a nice thing."
RedRidingHood324/page says, "So I'll be looking for you and your book store shirt tomorrow."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "Yeah, that's the plan. 5pm since it's just down the way and usually not that many customers around then. I..."
Vlad1m1r/page says, "I am going to log off before I say anything to mess this up. Ok? Ok. Bai!"
Vlad1m1r has disconnected.

Oracle has posed:
The next afternoon...

It was a bustling afternoon in the library. Several students of varying ages present, plenty of adults. Several more coming in as they got off work, to pick up their reading material for the weekend. All the computers were already in use.

Yet it wasn't so bad for the librarians on duty. There were several of them so they each kind of could focus where they want. Considering Barbara was rather distracted with thoughts of other things, she was mainly putting up stray books, pushing the little cart along the rows and putting them back in the right spots.

Yet, she was keeping her route toward the front of the building, near the main doors, kind of keeping an eye as she could. She couldn't see it at all moments so he might have already made it inside but she did keep bringing her route back to that first section.

She was dressed comforably. Black slacks, a pair of flat soft cloth slipper style shoes with gel inserts because comfort when working on her feet so much! An emerald green blouse in an almost peasant style. Her hair was pulled up in a bun atop the back of her head and she had on her glasses to read the little tag on the spines more easily.

Thor has posed:
    The clock wasn't lying to her, the large roman numerals on the huge gothic face letting everyone within know that five o'clock was here and it was quickly passing. Yet that made little nevermind to the people within. Unlike the city outside it was quiet within. Some small whisper of conversations here or there, and the sound-proofing in the old walls was enough to keep the intrusion of the city beyond from within. Yet that didn't stop the fact that sometimes someone was in a rush. And just had to let others know about it.
    "Miss. Excuse me, miss?" An older woman with sharp bangs and designer clothes advanced upon Barbara as she made one of those laps toward the front of the library. Trying to get her attention and advancing as she holds a piece of paper in her hand. "I need your help, miss. Can you show me where..."
    And then she began to just list of titles. Title after title after title as she stood in front of her blocking her line of sight to the front of the building. Even when she might try to shift her position or get a look beyond her, the insistent woman moved along with her.
    "Also do you have a coffee shop in here? I'm dying for a macchiato." Because the library is the same thing as a Border's.
    Yet if she was able to get clear, to get a glance just in time she might well see a small group of people entering. Not together, just moving with the flow of the turning revolving doors. One section of those doors opens and lets out a tall man, in his late twenties, dressed casually with jeans and sneakers, though he had a loose over shirt of blue. At a glance one might assume he was a hipster. He had the facial hair and the haircut. Though most hipsters didn't... actually groom their beard. And his clothes didn't mark him out. And those jeans weren't skinny.
    But he did have a cane. That would be enough for people to assume Hipsterness.
    Especially when he walked across the hall at not too slow a pace. He perhaps didn't need it, but he moved well with it, though he had a slight hitch to his step at the end that might offer insight to the perceptive that he did perhaps need it. Just in case.
    Then the kicker was when he settled down at his seat and took off that overshirt to reveal underneath was a black t-shirt. And on it? Reilly's Used Books.

Oracle has posed:
It was the worst moment to be caught. But she was at work. So, it was entirely unexpected, as much as she might curse it in her mind. She peeked over the woman's shoulder as she continued through her list and spied the man with the cane entering. Quite good looking. Far more than cute in her opinion. It couldn't possibly be her gamer pal, right? Yet she followed him with peeks as she continued to respond to the customer in front of her.

"Unfortunately, no. We have found that coffee and our books don't really mix well. Although if you would like, I could get someone to grab you a small cup from the break room while I gather up your selections for you? Allow you to relax a bit rather than running all over this giant place."

And then he took off the overshirt. It really was him. The mathematical likelihood it wasn't was small. Sure, it was still more likely there were two men wearing that shirt that walked with canes that might come in at that exact same time than there was a chance of her winning the lottery but still.

She offered a hand out to the customer, hoping she will just hand over the list. "I'll get one of the others to grab you that cup. Why don't you go sit?" She motioned toward the largish table with many chairs that the man she thought might be Vlad was sitting. "I'll be along as quickly as possible."

Thor has posed:
    The woman looked doubtful as she looked at Barbara, not one to get good customer service very often. Though perhaps with her there might be a chicken and the egg situation going on since with her manner... customer service people might not wish to go out of their way for her. But Barbara... seems nice enough.
    "Alright dear, and thank you. I have a hair appointment in an hour, would like to make it." And as she says that she turns and starts to move away towards that side table she motions for, but decides not on that one where that bearded fellow is sitting. Instead she chooses one of the four tops near the computers...
    Yet with her gone that gives her a clear line of sight to where that fellow with the t-shirt was. He had settled down at one of the conversational areas with the table there in the middle but also easy chairs that let one lean back a little and short/tall enough for one's legs to be comfortable. He takes a seat, and she might see him look around slowly. Not necessarily warily nor nervously, but curious. Then for a moment he smiles and shakes his head, then goes pulls his cellphone from his pocket to swipe it to life.
    A moment or two as he considers it, then he pockets it.

Oracle has posed:
This was going to be a record trip. She took the list and went over to the desk. "Leslie, can you get a cup of coffee for the lady over there?" She motioned where the customer was sitting. "I'm going to gather the books she needs as she is on a time crunch." Not really a lie but not really the reason she's doing it either as she sneaks a peek at the man. In time to see him glancing around. She felt that sudden urge to duck behind the desk and forced herself to remain where she was. After all, he had no way of knowing it was her. She hadn't given him information. All the power was in her hands here, something she was sure he had done to help her comfort level. Which did nothing for his.

She set off with her cart, only this time she was loading one of the shelves on it with the books for the customer. She managed to avoid anyone else needing assistance and finally wheeled back up to the customer--by way of Vlad. Yet she didn't speak, she needed to finish this first. Just a sweep past him, trying to peek over his shoulder to see what was on his phone in the process.

"Here you go ma'am. Unfortunately we didn't have 'The Heart Beats Wildly' in right now but we can put in a reserve for you at the checkout desk if you would like?"

Thor has posed:
    "No, no. That's quite fine, thank you." The older woman looked over the stack and to be fair it was a good amount of books. She looked up then and gave Barbara a warm smile, pleased to be treated well. "Really thank you so much for your help, if I can't be happy with this many books to read then really I need to get a new hobby." She rises to her feet and gathers herself up and together, smiles her thanks again, then starts over toward the checkout counter.
    The small conversation, however, did draw the attention of the guy she knows as Vladimir. He had looked over and smiled a little at the interaction. Enough to distract him from his phone. At first he had just been checking the time. Then he had typed out a small quick message to someone.

    << No sign of her yet I think. >>
>> You told me yourself, man. No girls on the internet. <<
<< I know, I know. >>

    And then he had put the phone away. He took a deep breath, resting his cane across his lap as he sat in the chair. And then the librarian had come over with to help the woman. It was nice. He glanced over. Smiled one of those polite thin smiles that are just there to say, 'Hi, we're both people. Hi.'
    Then he looked away again and couldn't help letting his eyes drift up toward the clock on the wall.

Oracle has posed:
The smile was returned. Although it could be read as professional instead of hi it's me! Then she spoke to the customer. "It was my pleasure. Always glad to be of help."

Barbara pushed the cart to the checkout counter, shifting the pile of books there. "I'm going to take a quick break."

She took off her name tag, tucking it into her pocket. It was a small way to try to differentiate that she was off duty for the moment. Course, people that were regulars would still know who she was. But since Vlad had actually made eye contact, he knew she worked there.

Why was she nervous? Just walk up and say Hi. It was the easiest thing in the world. Instead she found herself sort of --hovering. Moving around the area, looking at a book here or there herself but glancing back at him.

"Oh come on," she whispered to herself. "You can beat up criminals in a costume on rooftops but you can't say hi to a cute guy?" She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders then walked over to him.

And asked very professionally cause she chickened out, "Is there anything I can help you find?"

Thor has posed:
    "Oh um," 'Vlad' looks up and he has such nice almost greenish eyes, soft eyes that might make one think of the ocean at night. Deep and peaceful. His smile is a polite one, affecting a little hint of embarrassment as if she might be trying to make sure he had actual business there to conduct. He read they had problems sometimes with homeless people. She could tell he wasn't homeless...
    Could she tell he wasn't homeless?
    He brightened a little as he brushed off that abrupt neurotic concern and said, "No, thank you. I am..." He looks toward the door, who knows what he imagined her looking like. Though she had given him a hint. Red hair.
    "I am meeting someone here. Thank you though." Though... she had red hair. But then again she worked here. Surely she would have mentioned... but then also. Well. She seemed so nice. And his mental image of RRH was a little more biting than he could picture this professional looking young woman being.

Oracle has posed:
Well, she was here now. Just say it. I'm Red Riding Hood. Easy.

He had such nice eyes. And he was good looking. Even a nice voice, which sometimes were at odds with appearances. And he liked computers and books. This was too perfect. Was she being setup? Now her fears started to take hold. Perhaps she should've dug into his history? Tap into the records for the store, if it was computerized and online that is. No telling with a used bookstore though. Get employee records if it was, weed them out and find out who he was. Complete background check.

But she'd wanted to be--normal.

She swallowed her concerns and gave him a smile that bordered on a smirk. "Too bad I didn't have a poison dagger. I could've killed you this time."

Thor has posed:
    She can see the slight metamorphosis. It starts out with surprise tinged with confusion, his own features clouded for that brief second until his mind catches up that nanosecond later as his smile broadens and his eyes drift to the side as he ponders the fact that, hey she definitely could have.
    But his smile opens reaching those greenish eyes and his cheeks widen, then his nose crinkles as he replies to her with one hand lifting as if to admonish her, "Nah, you're way too low level."
    But then he rises to his feet and he's taller than her. About as tall as Dick, not as tall as Bruce. But he shifts his cane to his other hand, then extends his hand to her for a shake, though it's in between one of those awkward moments where there's a hug pondered as a possibility.
    No. No a handshake is better.
    He offers his hand and then says, "My name is Sean. Sean Reilly. I'm glad to meet you under better circumstances this time." Then when he shanked her in the enchanted forest. The jerk.

Oracle has posed:
Since it is a first meeting, the handshake is better for starters. Though maybe a hug will be obtained by the end, depending on how this goes. "It's a pleasure to meet you face-to-face, Sean. My name is Barbara Gordon." She gives him one of her brightest smiles, realizing how smiling makes him even more handsome. She kind of wants him to smile a lot, and to be the reason for those smiles.

"And I don't know about that. I may be higher than than you in the real world," she says in a teasing tone. "Sorry I wasn't able to get off shift before you got here. I had planned to try to get off early but the boss had an emergency. So I have about twenty more minutes but then I'm free."

She drops her gaze then peeks up at him. He's not much taller than her, since she's 5'11". Pretty tall for a woman. The clothing she wears doesn't really hide the tone nature of her arms and she's obviously fit. "If you don't mind waiting that long? I can probably spend my time helping you find a macguffin until then."

Thor has posed:
    "That's true, that's true." She can see there's a moment when he's about to make a joke of some kind, but then it's... different in person as the casual jabs they make at each other don't seem to work when she's... right there. And. Beautiful. Well. That hidden beauty to some degree behind the glasses and the pulled up hair. But he's not Eric Stoltz and this isn't Some Kind of Wonderful where he's somehow blind to the prettiness just because of plot contrivance, and a pair of glasses and pony tail.
    She's also tall, and... cut. The way that peasant blouse lays on her shoulders and her arms are bared just enough. He's no slouch himself, though he's not someone who trains for bodybuilding. He's in shape, she can see the lines of tendons and some muscle along his neck, and the hint of his chest under the t-shirt. Yet there is something about her that's...
    "So hey." He says as if jarring himself back to the conversation, "Yeah, no take your time. Twenty minutes is fine and if you need an excuse by helping someone I would like you tooooo..."
    He turns and looks around the room, biting his lower lip in consideration before he says, "Show me all of the science fiction books you have... about... Killer Whales?" Since that's obscure enough perhaps that'll take long enough.

Oracle has posed:
"If you'll follow me to the science fiction section, I'll be glad to show you," Barbara says as she pulls back out her nametag and slips it onto the edge of her shirt again. She is now busy with a customer so technically she's working!

She waits for him to fall into step with her and keeps her voice low as they move further one of the aisles. Which gets them into the fiction stacks. Then a couple of turns and there is the sci fi.

"There, now that we have a little privacy." Since this was about as private as it got with maybe one other person on that row further down the way. "The scariest part?" She reaches to the third shelf from the bottom and offers him a book titled 'Space Whales'. She can't help giggling. "No idea if there is a killer whale in it but it is a blend of surrealism and steampunk from my understanding. Flying space whales."

Thor has posed:
    "Ohhh, there was a game like that, fantasy space travel with like..." He starts to tell her that, but then she'll see him give himself a mental check as if thinking... she couldn't be into that. She's...
    He looks at her again over the lip of the book and their eyes will meet for a moment. And in that moment he feels his heart melt a little as she giggles and then smiles back at him. C'mon, keep it together man, he'll think to himself even as he tries to reconcile his friend of several years with this beautiful vibrant...
    Yet he reaches that crossroads quickly, as if imagining them as two different people. Then realizing as she is looking at the goofy book she just handed him that she is... the one and the same person. Who he jokes with every night, who he talks silliness with, whom he gives such a hard time while playing the game, and who gives it right back to him.
    It all happens in the span of several heartbeats, and she probably has no idea what goes through his mind. Only that for a moment he's laughing, smiling at the book. Looks across it to her eyes and takes a small breath, then he's laughing again and shaking his head.
    "With crazy squidhead people. You'd probably like it since you are super weird." There. That was a normal interaction. Teasing her. That always came so easy. Why should it be any different now just because she...
    Dammit why did she have to be so cute?

Oracle has posed:
"There was?" She looks at him like he is full of bull. He has to be making this up. It's a joke. At her expense. Not really odd considering what she knows about him. The many months of playing on the game together and snarking at each other all the time.

"You're going to have to show me this game now. Hopefully it's two player so we can share the experience." Which means she is wanting to start new games with him. Thus spend more time with him. Especially depending how old it is and if they might have to be in the same room together to play it on a console or the like.

Yes, she's into video games. And books. And apparently keeping fit. And she looks like that. Which means she must be psycho because that is how things like this work.

And he likes the same things. And is good looking. Which has her going back to her serial killer concerns. Maybe a little snooping wouldn't be abnormal?

Thor has posed:
    "Yah, it was called something like WindJammer? SpellWind? Something like that, and sure..." Then there's a pause as he meets her gaze and he's a little flushed with color, lowers his eyes, then rubs at the back of his neck slightly before looking back again and crinkles his nose. "This is so weird."
    "I mean, in a nice way. But also still, weird. Isn't it?" He asks her as his nose crinkles even more, but then he starts to walk down the aisle and look at all the various science fiction books around there, "It's like. You're still you and I'm still me but now it's all..."
    He spreads a hand to the side and then winces slightly, shifting his weight a little more on his cane. But he doesn't stop for that to register, or worse for her to comment on it. So he says, "So what did you want to do? Go get some food nearby?" He looks past her and espies one of her co-workers glancing their way so he clears his throat. Then speaks in a louder voice.
    "So you say this is the book I'm looking for, miss?" Sounding puffed up and formal. "Excellent. But perhaps you should show me some other options!"

Oracle has posed:
"I think it is the most fitting of the genre you were asking for," Barbara said as she caught on immediately to his verbal clue they weren't alone at the moment. She gave that professional smile and turned to the side. "If you come this way around the corner, there are some others by Zelazny you might find appealing. They make societal questions about the dangers of technological advancement done without any ecological responsibility, somewhat mirroring in a lesser way some of Tolkien's works."

And she led him around the corner, her smile coming back with a bit of a grin. "We should be out of her line-of-sight now. If she shows up again, we'll know she's spying on us. Maybe she likes you. But she's going to have to wait. I have dibs for dinner."

Which is how she verifies that dinner seems good to her. She does continue though, answering his other question. "I guess this is a little weird? Just because I haven't ever really met up with someone from the game before. But I feel like our relationship is a little different from the norm, if that makes any sense? I mean, we just sort of click."

Thor has posed:
    "Well, we didn't always." Sean says as he walks with her, smiling a little as she moves. She's giving him such positive signals, expressing that subtle possessiveness, reinforcing that they are indeed going to dinner, and keeping up with his charade as they make their escape around the corner of the aisle.
    "We did have a kind of rocky start." He says as he steps toward her, then turns his shoulders to step past her, reaching for the spine of a book and pulling it partially out of its place. It's a moment when he's near, letting her step back and look at him as he does so. He is kind of cute, handsome, looks older than he is, but that could be his choice in clothes and hair style. He has that look of someone that would clean up very well and look so good in formal wear.
    Then he's turning back as he slides the 'Fatal Fortune: A History of Mack Bolan' book back into its place. "A little weird." He repeats.
    Then he smiles wryly, "I mean, jury's still out on whether or not you're a serial killer. But. Worth the risk." Which might be a round about way of his complimenting her. Since she does have that casual beauty.
    "Now here's the real test. What's your favorite place around here to eat?" He asks that with a slightly villainous malevolent quirk of his eyebrow as if she answered this question incorrectly then the entire relationship is DOOOOOOMED.

Oracle has posed:
"Well, the good news is now I know you aren't a serial killer. Cause the odds of two being in the same room equals impossibility," Barbara says in return, that smirk there on her face as she finishes her perusal of him in time before he looks at her again. Because she did take her time to enjoy the view, getting a good read of his build, the way he moves, the telltale things. The styling and perhaps his lifestyle in recent years worrying for his brother might account for the more aged look. Hard to tell really.

Being one to work with the crew she does, disguises are a thing so it's easy to imagine how someone would look if they were modified in different ways. Like shaving off that beard, though honestly it did look good on him. That wasn't always the case with beards.

"Around here? That has to be the Thai food truck that comes in the evenings. But if you mean a real restaurant, I can go anywhere from some delicious potstickers to the Moroccan place down the block."

Thor has posed:
    "Thai food truck?" His eyes brighten then he smiles, "And here I was thinking I'd be able to teach you something about the city." Which isn't very likely considering how very well she knows it.
    "Let's do that?" He says as he meets her gaze. "So a librarian. And a used book store guy are members of the most elite gank guild on the game. Do you think that says something about how secretly evil book people must be? Probably all the pent up emotions being all somber and bookish every day."
    He nods as he continues to walk down that aisle and finds one of those small rows of desks meant for people to solo study on their own. He'll take that opportunity to lean against one which puts him ever so slightly beneath her eye level since she is rather tall. "So ok. Here's your chance, ask me the sekrit thing you've always wanted to ask me. Like, 'Vlad-person, how did you get to be so cool?'"

Oracle has posed:
That earns a laugh from her, which she has to stifle quickly since library! She shakes her head. "That was not the top of my list for questions. Sorry to burst your ego. Although I'm not sure I can damage it. You are very cocky. But they say if you are able to back it up, it isn't cockiness and you /are/ actually good at the game." She says it like it pains her so much to give that admission.

"And I like to think that book people being adventurous in other ways is just showing the proof of the old adage: Don't judge a book by its cover." She grins a minute, waiting for the groan cause really, that one was so painful.

"Though I do have one question. Outside the game we play, tell me your favorite title ever."

Thor has posed:
    "I know, I derive so much of my ego from my game performance." The way he says that it's as if it's the /saddest/ thing in the world. But then he murmurs, "But seriously." He lowers his voice and clears his throat, "I try to be nice. I just... you know, like playing a rogue. It's fun and silly." He seems about to say something else. But he doesn't, though she might see his eyes brighten a little, then dim as he stifles those words silently.
    "Though yeah, that's true." About judging a book by its cover. He doesn't groan but she gets that sardonic smile, too tickled at meeting her to let him be wheedled too easily.
    Yet she does ask a very important question.
    "Oh man, seriously?" He takes a deep breath and looks away, brow furrowed as he tries to focus on some distant object or memory. Then he tilts his head as he looks back at her. "I've gone through like... ok three series I feel were my favorite titles. But as I grew older it sorta changed. Like of them all? Anything written by Dumas. I love the buckling of swashes."
    He takes a deep breath, "When I was younger, don't laugh, I loved the Remo Williams books. And when I got a little older I enjoyed this series about a..."
    He laughs and looks down, then back up at her from the corner of one eye. "About a fantasy world rogue gangster named Vladimir Taltos. And yeah that's where I got it from"
    But then he takes a deep breath, "These days? I enjoy Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series. So fun, and all historical and junk. Your turn."

Oracle has posed:
"Anything by Harlequin Romance that is historical in nature. If it has a guy on the front cover without a shirt on holding a woman in his arms who looks like she is about to pass out for a too tight corset, sign me up! I mean I was kidding about not knowing your shop had the most options."

Yes, she is completely kidding and it is written all over her face. She giggles again and shakes her head. "I can't even try to sell that. It's so insane." She forces herself to focus and things.

"I enjoyed some of the classics. Jekyll and Hyde was high on my list. Mysteries. Something that isn't easy to figure out because it would just annoy me if I could solve it before I was halfway through the book. I'd just fling it against a wall." Figuratively. Not literally.

"Lots of historical fiction on my list. Things like Zorro. Though the Princess Bride has a special place in my heart and if you hate it, we can longer be friends."

Thor has posed:
    "I wouldn't say I /hate/ it..." He starts to say, but he grins as he can't keep a straight face either. "Oh Peter Beagle's Last Unicorn, but now we're also getting close to like movies and things too."
    He sets his cane on the floor with a faint click and pushes himself back fully to his feet. He looks sidelong at her and murmurs, "Here, you should go do your stuff and whatever it is you need to do before you can run off and play. I know the temptation is to be all, 'yay, Vlad is so awesome and here, time to play hooky.'" His grin slips more toward the teasing.
    "But really you should be good and do the whole right thing. I'll be around, I have no intention of running off. Want me to..." He looks across the room then back to the front of the place. "Wait for you on the steps, near one of the lions?" He cocks an eyebrow as he awaits her answer.
    Then he adds, "I'm looking forward to getting some Thai food." Then he adds, as if grudging, "And, I guess, spending some time with you. I /guess./"
    But the way he smiles, and lightly draws his lower lip between his teeth even though he is being silly with her and teasing. She can see he likes her.

Oracle has posed:
"Well if you like the title because of the movie then yes. I liked the book long before I ever knew The Last Unicorn had been made. It is a good animation admittedly. The book is exceptional."

This could take a while having two book geeks discussing actual books! But he's right. She does have responsiblities and she heaves a sigh as though so put upon. Her words are more agreeable though than her exhalation of air would've implied. "I just need to finish putting up a few books then I should be able to head to the back. I'll meet you out front in about ten minutes or so," Barbara agrees. Then she turns and heads off, albeit reluctantly. She really wanted to stay and talk, get to know more about him.

She moved double time back to her little cart of books and put them up in record time. Despite the fact quite a few had been added back in her absence from the front counter, thanks to people returning books or opting not to check them out and surrendering them rather than leaving them laying wherever in the room. It was only polite.

When she finished, she headed for the back, grabbing her purse which was small with a long strap, allowing her to wear it slung across her torso at an angle which made it harder for purse snatchers.

She waved to her co-workers as she headed out the door, automatically looking to the lions in hopes of spotting him. Perhaps a little eager in the action since it gave away her desire for further interaction with him.

Thor has posed:
    His time went a little easier and he took his time getting back out to the front, out into the warmth of the Summer air and the first hints of the evening. Gotham was still Gotham and there was still the hint of foreboding in the grand sweep of skyscrapers above. Yet it seemed brighter in some ways. Seemed... nicer.
    Sean stopped by the left most lion, it reclined so comfortably in its stony posture. He sat down on the top step, resting his cane across his lap and shaking his head as he looked over his shoulder... as if he'd see her come rushing out in that moment.
    Then his phone bzzzzzed. He slid it from his back jean pocket and swiped it back to life with the brush of his thumb. There was a message there blinking for attention.

>> So did she stand you up? <<
<< Hey. Nope, we just met and talked a bit. We're... going to get some food. >>
>> Awesome! Is she cute? <<
<< Haha. I mean. Yes. Yes she's cute. She's... >>
>> What? What man, spit it out? <<
<< No seriously. She seems pretty great. I'm... astounded. And pleased. >>
>> Awesome! Is she hot? <<
<< Ok I'm going now. >>
>> Pics or it didn't happen! <<
<< Shaddap. >>

    Then, only a moment later as he's putting the phone away he'll see her emerge. He smiles, waves, then pushes himself to his feet.

Oracle has posed:
When she spotted him, she couldn't help smiling brightly. He hadn't run away! She had fully expected him to have disappeared into the wind like a figment of her imagination. Cause right now, he seemed too good to be true. Especially in the world she was part of where nothing was as it seemed. And evil was lurking around every corner.

Maybe normal was overrated. She really should've done a full workup on him before agreeing to meet.

As she approached, she reached up to remove her glasses, tucking them into a little cloth case in her purse and out of the way for now. "Long time no see." Just being silly of course since it hadn't been that long.

She had noticed the phone being tucked away but in this day and age? He likely was doing anything under the sun. Texting with someone, checking his mail, even watching a movie or something.

"I hope you're hungry. They are reasonably priced, but they give you a ton of food."

Thor has posed:
    The phone put away he looks over his shoulder and then twists his hips to turn and face her. Smiling he plants a hand on the stone dais of the lion and puuuushes himself up to his feet, letting the cane settle from across his lap and at his side. "Hey."
    He seems about to say something more but then his eyes drift to hers and he sees no glasses now, so he smiles a little more. She was... very pretty. And also what was that website where he read about how to tell if a girl is into you? If they take off their glasses or push their hair over their ear, Top Ten Hints Your Crush Likes You. Think that was number 4.
    "Oh, I eat like a bird usually. You can have my extra?" He says as he slips his hands into his pockets and his cane under one arm, as if he didn't really need it or was carrying it for someone else obviously.
    "That is if this Thai place really exists and isn't you trying to get me to your serial killer murder floor. I'm onto you." He says as he starts to descent the steps, taking each easily... but not too quickly.
    "Were they cool with you leaving?" He asks, glancing over his shoulder.

Oracle has posed:
In the equation, she's the serial killer now. Which is hilarious in a lot of ways. Because she's the one that started that. He should be the suspect! After all, she's the hero. Though he doesn't know that. And can't.

Cause it's all about normal.

"Yeah, I had signed up for a bit of extra time tonight anyway. Before we had made our agreement to meet." Before he thinks she was planning on ditching him for work.

"Good to know you are a cheap date." There is that word. Sort of cropping up again. So maybe things have changed from meeting as friends to date? "I'm looking forward to the leftovers then. Can get two meals with yours." If he's serious about that eating light. "I do not eat like a bird. Women who do that to try to impress a guy are kind of annoying to me."

She motions to the side and starts to walk. It'll be two blocks to get to the truck in the distance. Though at this range, hard to tell one food truck from the other.

Thor has posed:
    "Well, I'm totally trying to impress you." As he walks along hands in his pockets and that cane tucked under his arm. He does have a little hitch in his step, but he's doing decently. Perhaps this will count as his exercise for the day. Yet at the comment about a cheap date he smirks a little, then laughs. "Yeah well, I drink like a fish though. Bird-Fish-Man."
    A few more steps then he confesses since she doesn't know him /that/ well, "Ok I don't really drink. Ok except with Mexican food because you kinda have to. Beer and lime with nachos or fajitas. Mwah."
    But then they build a leisurely pace together, footsteps falling into sync and he might be a little slower than she's used to, more like a leisurely stroll through the city as opposed to that intent to get somewhere quick. He looks at her sidelong for a moment, smiling a little. Says nothing.
    Then he looks at her again and says, "Ok, so tell me your story. Who is Barbara Gordon?"

Oracle has posed:
"Bird-Fish-Man. Sounds like a bad superhero name," she has to say, giggling a little at the visual it creates in her head. There are feathers, gills and a cape.

She does nod as she he continues. "Different concept but I actually agree on the drink. For me a nice margarita, frozen or on the rocks, with Mexican food. When I really feeling crazy, a single shot of mescal."

Because she isn't one to want to give up her sensibility by drinking too much. Just never held and appeal for her.

When he asks that question, she gives one of those nervous giggles. "Not that much to tell." At least not that much she can tell, especially on a first meeting. "I'm an only child. My Dad raised me after we lost my Mom when I was a kid. I'm into books and pop culture and obviously computers. Actually have a BS in Computer Programming and a BA in Forensic Psychology. Uhm...you know I work as a librarian already. So, yeah, that's about it." Outside the whole hacker, gymnast, martial artist, vigilante thing that is.

Thor has posed:
    As she confesses to her life of hard drinking, Sean blinks a few times and says, "See, I missed all that in my college days, I never got into drinking." But then he looks up and to the side, "Ok I might be fibbing a little there, since I did drink. Just, you know, never knew what I was drinking?" Which might be /some/ small insight into his wild social life.
    She offers him some insight into her life and he listens, then he smiles and nods, eyebrows lifting. "I, being sort of idealistic, got a BA in classical literature. Thinking that I should be a renaissance man, skilled in many things, but an expert in only a few. Little did I know that that's hard to put on a resume."
    He paused as they got to the first cross-walk, though he leaned over and nudged the button with one hand before he looks back to her. "Thankfully my family took pity on me and I do that book store thing. Other than that, let's see..."
    His eyes lift upwards and he tilts his head, "I used to jog a lot, I'm hoping to do that more eventually. I have a treadmill I use, took five guys to get it upstairs in the apartment over the store. Umm, I sometimes write for the neighborhood newspaper, hard-hitting pieces like which coupons in the penny-saver are good to use."
    Curiously his cheeks color a little at that, a hint of embarrassment. "Oh here's something you don't know probably. I play video games. Yeah, it's true." That last is said almost entirely too innocently, like that girl from the American Pie movies.
    "I..." He tilts his head and looks at her, "Have a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, though it's been... man. Years since I've messed around with that." Perhaps for various reasons.
    "Oh, and apparently my opinions of mean redheads that yell at me has changed a little."

Oracle has posed:
"You deserved to be yelled at so call the wahmbulance on that one. I'm not taking any blame for the hole you dug yourself with your gaming evilness," Barbara returns without missing a beat, bringing up a hand and playfully wagging a finger at him like one might expect a librarian to do when someone was talking too loud.

When the light changes, she waits a second before starting to walk, just long enough to be sure all the cars have actually stopped. Trust issues. Once sure, she headed across to the other side as she continues the conversation.

"Jiu-Jitsu is fun. I studied it at one point as well. Didn't really ever really get belts cause I was training more with a friend than in a formal setting." Batman didn't do belts. Unless they were utility and had lots of compartments with gadgets. Or perhaps she just hadn't really worried about it since it was more about staying alive. "I guess it would be more mixed martial arts since I learned a variety of things." So many things.

"Writing for the paper is interesting. I'll have to look up some of your by-lines in the archives at work. Or can I just google you?"

Thor has posed:
    "I mean, you could look me up, but you wouldn't find much really. Since, I mean, I've done it before." Googled himself. But then he grins a little, "Don't judge me."
    A few more strides and they're on the other sidewalk across the way, but he lets her take the lead in the direction of the food truck since it's her experience. "I..." He bites his lower lip and frowns, she likely has seen that expression before, it's the look of a man trying to find the right thing to say, or searching his memory for something that's interesting... and finding nothing.
    "I am... not that exciting otherwise. I sort of live my little corner of the world." Then his brow lifts, "Oh. I met Prince once, when I was a kid. That was kinda neat." He crinkles his nose and then adds, "And I've been to Paris once, school trip. There, now you know like just about everything about me."

Oracle has posed:
"We didn't get the Paris trip. Did get to go to Rome though. I was in high school at the time. It was amazing enough it stuck with me and I've gone once since becoming an adult. A few years back. I hope to travel through more of Europe some day," Barbara says as they work their way up the block. They boxy silhouette of a food truck is becoming more apparent as they walk. One more block, cross a street and there it is. There seems to be a handful of people waiting in line for their chance to order. Seems it is a popular spot, likely to get worse as more people are heading home from work and stop to get something on the way.

"Nothing wrong with normal. I like normal. I aspire for normal and not crazy." Which isn't a lie at all. It's just the furthest from her actual life. All things she can't say. Likely ever. Which is kind of sad when she thinks about it. How far can she ever get into a relationship if the other person isn't part of the caped crowd?

Thor has posed:
    "So..." Sean says as he walks with her, the food truck becoming more evident and with the characters in Thai on the back of it becoming all that more obvious. "What made you start playing the game?" He asks with some curiousity.
    Then he smiles a little, "I mean. You are... well ok, I don't imagine only horrible people play those games. But you seem more like..." His lips twist a little as he gets there at the bench near the truck, settling into the informal line that has been created by the people interested in this particular choice for their dinner.
    "Like you would be the person I'd see on the street in passing and I would think to myself, 'She knows what she's about, and has a full life.' I wouldn't think you'd be into stabbing pixelized dragons and all that."

Oracle has posed:
That earns a little laugh, that self aware sort of sound, as she shakes her head. "Not sure that's really fitting. Though maybe?" She tries to think how best to explain it.

"I kind of knew the path I wanted to follow from a very early in my life. So it was easy enough. It's a job that allows me a lot of time to read. I find myself sitting at the computer a lot at home. I was never a big gamer outside things with lots of puzzles and the like to solve. Sure, a few things here or there but I found myself playing more on the programming side. But sometimes in the wee hour of the morning, I wanted a little stimulation while working so I found our game. I just figured it was some little piddly thing to toy with between working and ...the rest is history."

Thor has posed:
    "Well," He says as they get forward a little in the line, another step but then he sets his cane down with a faint click and lets it take some of his weight. Not too much, however. "I'm glad you got bored."
    There, that's a nice thing to say.
    Then he tilts his head to the side to peer at the menu, and murmurs. "Just gonna get some noodles I think." He hrms, then looks over at her. He laughs a little and says, "You know this feels weird, right?"
    Another few steps forward in the line as the place seems to be doing brisk business. They only have a handful of dishes and they're ready to go, so it's a quick serve-serve-serve atmosphere and less prep on demand.
    "I mean it's like, I know you. And we've known each other for a while. But also I don't know you at all. It's... glitch in the matrix feeling."
    Another step, and they're just one step away, right at that opportune moment before it's their turn that he says to her quietly. "I sort of feel... a good chemistry. Is that weird?"
    And then before she can answer they're at the front of the line, "What will you guys have?"
    "Pad noodles, please." He says.

Oracle has posed:
"Pad Thai, medium heat please. And a bottle of water." Barbara usually gets the same thing when she comes here. Their pad Thai has that nice heat with the nuttiness of the peanut along with the richness of the egg. But she's always been one to like a little more heat to hers, instead of just the normal level that comes automatically. It's just a matter of a bit of extra spice being added in before they serve, no need to wait for a full on fresh cook.

She starts to slip her hand into her purse to pull out the money to pay, not automatically assuming he is because this didn't really start like a date date.

"Yeah, there is a weirdness to it. I mean we know our snarky personalities but we don't really know all the details about each other. I get the feeling you mean but I still like the ...feeling. It's easy to talk to you."

Thor has posed:
    "I'll get this one, you get the next one." He says that easily enough, partially distracted as the server is starting to hand him stuff and things. Perhaps not realizing that he just declared there would be a next one. Once the bowls in their cute little cardboardish cartons are handed to them he'll pay the bill and then steps out of the way, quick acquisition of dinner, quick move through the line, and then it's off to the side with them.
    "Yeah, it's like. My brain keeps going through this rigamaroll. Of like, 'who is this strange person?" and then you'll..." He smiles a little as he sips at the bowl, then takes up the plastic fork and moves down the way toward an open bench. "You'll do a little thing or say something that will remind me of the you I know and it's... I dunno."
    "Weird, and cute at the same time."
    Finally at that bench seat near to the dog park that's just through the iron gate, it's a nice little view of people coming and going before the evening hours settle and the sun sets. He wipes off the seat a bit next to him, an instinctive gesture then he smiles at her.
    "Is there, I don't know, anything you'd like to ask me?"

Oracle has posed:
As they settle onto the bench, she folds one leg up under her as she sits. Then she balances her food on her thigh as she focuses on opening her bottle of water. Taking a quick sip before setting it on the seat to her side opposite him. Then she picks up her fork, working on blending the various ingredients to be sure she's getting a mix of them all in each bite.

"Pretty much everything but I remember how much you hate being asked about yourself. So I was trying not to seem to pushy about it. But if you want to spill all the beans, I'm all ears."

Thor has posed:
    A small 'heh' comes from him as he shakes his head and looks around them. Then his gaze returns to her and he says, "Well, it's sort of. I don't know. Online I prefer privacy. But it's like now? That we've met face to face? It's very in for a penny in for a pound." He twists some of the noodles around his fork and then takes a bite, slurping some up and smiling a little embarrassed at the noise he made.
    Then he's turning slightly in his seat to face her more directly. "I mean, I have a million questions, but I am exhibiting the stalwart fortitude of a man pretending to be super distant to create a mystique around myself that I'm all mysterious and such. I've heard girls like that."
    That said he nods and takes another bite of some twisted noodles, chewing for a time while nodding as if he spoke God's own truth.

Oracle has posed:
"Well it's your turn to babble. I've told you a lot about me and I know a lot less about you." Which isn't entirely accurate. They are on pretty equal footing. She knows a little about his family from before. He knows less. They know about college in the vaguest of terms. Obviously far more tales to tell from there. Then there's they both have some martial arts, though he has a different type of experience. Degrees, check.

"Was that in Cosmo? Cause I did not peg you for a Cosmo reader but hey, I don't judge! Read what you like."

Thor has posed:
    "Penny-Saver, Smilin' Sally's tips to dating." He draws his foot up onto his knee and eases back, smiling a little distractedly. He shakes his head though as he ponders about what else to tell. "I don't know what you'd want to hear. I mean..."
    His eyes lift heavensward, then sidelong toward her. She can see it in his greenish eyes, just that look of distance and doubt but also intrigue and curiousity. As if there were parts of this whole thing that were just... unbelievable. He murmurs quietly, "Well ok."
    A breath is taken then he says, "My favorite ice cream, peanut butter cup. Love that taste, though it has to be chocolate ice cream around the peanut butter cups."
    His head tilts to the side, "Favorite movie, the 1970s Three Musketeers, it's fun and goofy and weirdly authentic."
    Another pause, "Favorite pizza, double cheese double pepperoni."
    He takes a bite of his noodles and chews for a time, "I like all kinds of music except Polka. Ok that's not entirely true, I love Polka like if we're at an Ocktoberfest? Then it's awesome. But that could be just because I've usually had a lot of beer at that point."
    He takes a deep breath, "Other things. I used to draw when I was younger, but I stopped. For a time I wanted to be an artist. I like dancing, like almost any dancing, so long as it's like a community thing. Line-dancing, awesome. Disco. Great. I'm no good at it, but I just love the experience."
    Finally he settles into his seat a little more and then murmurs, "And I don't know. I'm starting to come around on the idea of redheads not being entirely mean?"

Oracle has posed:
"That's how it works. We lull you into a sense of comfort and them BAM! Meanness appears out of no where. Or we skin you to make a new quilt or something equally horrific. After all, we gingers are soulless." Or so the saying goes. She is smirking and ruining her own jokes but that doesn't bother her as she takes another bite of her food. Ever so slightly tingly on the tongue and just perfect.

She finishes off her bite then considers the things he said. "Favorite ice cream is Phish Food. Ben&Jerry's flavor. Chocolate, marshmallow, caramel. All the badness and twice the calories. I can eat a full pint in a sitting if I'm having a bad day, like Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality." It's an oldie but a goodie. "Other than that, had an interested one when I visited St. Augustine in Florida once at a little shop. It was strawberry and datil pepper. So good despite the ingredients seeming to not match at all."

She takes a sip of water and moves on. "Pizza, all the cheeses and super thin crust. Unless it's a stuff crust then that's good too. So many can't get a stuffed crust right and you end up with the wrong ratio of cheese to bread so you have to be careful where you go."

The water is set back down and fork picked up. "Music is anything. But not polka. Even with beer and Ocktoberfest. Just not my thing. Oh and only some rap. Not into the heavy 'kill all the cops' kind of stupidity." For reasons. "I am a sucker for some stuff from overseas, a few Japanese groups, some K-Pop. Usually older stuff admittedly, not the more modern."

Thor has posed:
    "Ok, now we should list things we can't stand. Ok? Ok." He ponders and takes a sip of his own water, then knits his brow as he looks across the distance. He looks back at her, "Can I make like the most heartfelt confession to you?"
    Softly he says that, then he leans over a little closer. His eyes lower, then look up. For a moment he looks so vulnerable, so sensitive, his emerald eyes search hers as he takes a deep breath and sighs very softly. "I didn't know if I was going to be able to admit this to you, Barbara." So quiet. "I mean, you might think I'm crazy for admitting this. But for the longest time."
    He lowers the pad thai, then his gaze again, then he looks back up. "I've never felt more strongly about something, and even though we've just met I thought I should confess to you..."
    His lips part as he holds her gaze, reading hers as he affects a hint of the romantic with a hand touching the center of his chest. "I... I really can't stand Harlequin Romance Novels."
    There he said it.

Oracle has posed:
As he leans in and seems to get so serious, Barbara is now paying close attention. Knitted brow, curiousity written all over her face. Sort of unconsciously leaning closer as an invitation to him to continue.

Then for a moment she wonders if this is going to take an awkward turn. Is he about to say something that he's going to regret here?

Then that hand to the center of his chest and she gets the inkling this is not going to be quite so bad as she expected. Cause that's a little much on the body language scale. When the words come out, she burst out laughing. She had not expected that and the delivery had been so perfect, so heartfelt.

She laughs for several long seconds, having to bring up a hand to cover her mouth so she doesn't look like a complete idiot as she just loses it. Finally, she shakes her head, actually looking a little shiny from unshed tears of laughter at that.

"Well, my confession is so do it. Being a lover of the literary, I don't believe in burning books. But in this case--well, I'd be willing to set up a little booth and say change my mind."

Thor has posed:
    "Nooo, I can't." He says as he wilts back into his seat, as if stricken down by the foibles of life. "It's seriously like one of our claims to fame, albeit a dubious one." He looks sidelong at her, smile askance even as he shakes his head. "Just they were made on this old old almost newsprint quality paper and when they age they get this sort of /smell/ to them that isn't horrible in the case of other series that use the same thing. But something with the particular ink they chose just... ugh."
    Sean shakes his head, though still smiling ruefully if good-natured. "Or maybe it's just that as a kid I remember having to organize them so often, like my childhood trauma. How coddled is that? Oh no, I had to shelve books as a kid, the horror."
    He then does, for a moment, seem lost in nostalgia and reminiscing as his eyes unfocus toward the distance. Then he looks toward her. "So now your turn, for some horrible embarrassing admission. It's gotta be as scandalous as mine."

Oracle has posed:
"I don't have anything scandalous to share."

Such a lie. She has so much she could share. Well not really could. She wasn't able to share most of it because it would just cause all sorts of problems, not the least of which was endangering people she loved like family. She couldn't do that.

"Shelving books is hard. Papercuts. The pain is real. And in a book store, you don't have little numbers on the spines to tell you right where they go so it becomes a little more complicated. And do you sort them by order of release or author in that particular case." She gets it. She really does.

"Alright. When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up to be a superhero. Or a cop. One of the two. I had a fascination with the urban legends of various heroes. To the point I knew like everything there was to know, at ultimate nerd levels. Thankfully I outgrew it mostly." After getting into it herself--so not telling that part.

Thor has posed:
    "Hey, that's hardly scandalous." Sean says as he takes another bite of his noodles, managing to only slurp a little bit this time. "Every kid sort of wants to be a superhero when you get right down to it."
    She'll see him smile again, that slightly distant smile as he looks off, then his brow furrows as he perhaps remembers the one time he did encounter a 'superhero'. For a moment it seems it might have a chance to bring him down a little. Yet all it takes is for him to glance sideways at her and smile.
    "I mean a scandalous confession like..."
    He clears his throat and looks down, then back toward her. "Like when I first saw you in the library, I was sort of hoping. You know. That you were you."

Oracle has posed:
Now that was entirely too sweet. And she couldn't react immediately because she had just taken a big bite of noodles. She managed to quickly chew, giving him almost an apologetic smile, then finally swallowing it down so she could speak properly.

"Oh that kind of confession. Like I was thinking the same thing when you came in the door and sat down. At first you had that cover shirt on so I didn't see the log on the tee. I'd spent the last thirty minutes doing little circuits with my cart waiting to see you when you came in. Then that customer distracted me just before you did, and I almost missed it."

Thor has posed:
    He has such green eyes, and the way he looks at her as she speaks, she can almost see each of her words register in his thoughts, the subtle emotional strings they play across, and the slight flush to his cheeks as he allows himself to feel that warmth that she causes inside of him.
    "So." He says quietly, again looking down. Sean shakes his head slightly and when he looks up he's smiling, but it's a wide and a little incredulous smile, then he looks at her from the corner of one eye. "I think it's safe to say that... we kinda like each other. Huh?"
    But he doesn't let her answer at first, instead murmuring as he looks away and then adds. "That's... really nice." A small laugh comes from him and he looks at her sidelong again, then down at her hand on her leg, then back up at her.

Oracle has posed:
"Yeah, I think that's safe to say," Barbara admits with her own smile, lifting that free hand to reach over and try to touch his. Albeit she only intends it as a brief touch. A squeeze and release. Not quite to the point of getting crazy touchy feely here but a moment.

"I mean I liked you enough to want to meet you already. And now meeting you, you're ticking like all the boxes." Then she grins. "Yes, there are boxes. There are always boxes. You have your own set and I'm guessing I may have ticked a few of them."

Thor has posed:
    She'll see his smile widen, enough to make his eyes crinkle a little as his hand touches hers and he mirrors that small squeeze. It's just a single light touch, fingers curled together, warm skin. Then the faint pressure of the squeeze, not too intense, just a soft comforting thing before their hands part at a moment that seems decided on by both of them. As if it were just the most natural thing in the world.
    "Well, I mean, my boxes are pretty simple I think." He grins a little, then looks away... then back. "Like, the main one is, 'does this person like me' that one... yah that one is pretty important." He says as he starts laughing at little at the last two words, failing to keep a straight face.
    But then he adds while still chuckling a little, "But there are a few others that you hit well I suppose." There's a pause, then he adds. "Thing is..."
    He looks over at her and bites his lower lip again gently, as if expecting what he has to say might not meet her approval. "I want to ask you out again. And I know that often there is crazy complex customs about when you're supposed to, or how many days you're supposed to wait, and what you're supposed to do. But... my time the next week and some is going to be... kind of busy. Very busy. And I won't be free. But I didn't want you to be like, 'oh man he hasn't called, what a jerk, guess I'll go out with Phil Fridgebeef the Bodybuilder.'"
    "So, I was thinking. If you have some free time Sundayish afternoon..."
    Sean looks over at her and smiles, "My grandfather is making a big purchase from a church sale, getting about a dozen boxes of old books. You could come by, hang out, help me /shelve/ them." Hitting back on how that so traumatized him, his grin is wry as he mentions it.
    "And after we can grab some food? I think you might like my grandfather he's... he's a trip."

Oracle has posed:
"I've never really gotten most of those customs, to be fair. But a text here or there to let me know you are alive is fine. I tend to have a lot on my plate, sometimes stuff comes up with short notice. Just goes with the life and family. So it's really better to plan ahead and hope for no complications with me."

When he makes the offer, Barbara is smiling again nas she works on spinning up a bunch of noodles on her fork. Though her gaze is on him, not her dish. "That sounds like a lot of fun. Nothing better than a brand new box of used books and having no idea what you might find. It's like Christmas morning only better somehow. I know that seems weird." THen she thinks about it and the realization makes her smile. "Or maybe you are one of the few people in the world who gets it instead of finding it weird."

Thor has posed:
    "It's not so weird, you never know what you're going to find and it could be something outlandish with crazy value, or might be something silly with value only to yourself. Still." He folds up his noodle bowl and leans over to toss it into the garbage bin next to the bench before he looks back to her, settling the cane over his lap now as he tilts his head. "I thought... you might like it. And hey you'll have first choice of whatever we find, so that's kinda cool too."
    Then he brightens a little as his eyebrows climb, "We're also gonna see each other in game now and again. So that's good. But oh man..." He lifts a hand to the back of his neck as a thought hits him, "Do we tell the guild? Should we? I mean... really we've just met and hung out. It's not like..." He doesn't voice what it's not like, instead leaving that for the imagination.
    "We may have to eventually down the line though and they'll give us grief."

Oracle has posed:
He's making a joke. Right? Cause he can't seriously be worried about if the guild people know they met in real life and have opted to have another date after this. Which is not the unboxing of books cause that isn't a date. So they still have to have a date date after that too so that's at least two more outtings. She's making sure she gets all she can, enjoying while they are able to do so. Before something goes terribly wrong because something always goes terribly wrong eventually.

"I don't think we need to tell them anything at the moment. Maybe eventually. And if they give us grief, I have no doubt they can be given a smackdown by either--or both--of us."

She does smile though. "I do appreciate getting first dibs on the stock. Maybe see if I can get some petty cash from work if there is anything there I think we need to add too. Personal comes first. I'm greedy when it comes to books."

Thor has posed:
    "Books and stolen horses." He gives a nod thoughtfully, smirking a little as he leans there. "So. I kind of want to keep hanging out with you. But also I have that instinctive feeling that we should go home and reflect for a time and... I don't know, have that warm feeling of knowing that there's someone out there that likes us. But also the added benefit I haven't put my foot in my mouth yet, so it'll be safe."
    He tilts his head to the side and says, "Since I usually end up saying /something/ and then everything goes sideways. Like, I don't know," Sean looks up and to the side, then pauses for a moment as seeing her smiling there is enough to sidetrack his thoughts.
    He smiles a little more then, just that small smile you see sometimes when someone is in a crowd and distantly another person is waving. There's that doubt, 'is that person waving to me?' and then they call your name and you realize, yeah... that person is waving at me.
    It's just a small smile.
    "Like do you realize how casually beautiful you are? I feel like it's a secret and if I tell you you'll realize and then be all, 'I am aren't I. I'll go date Fabio.'"

Oracle has posed:
Fabio. The infamous cover model of so many romance novels. But that earns a little laugh since it is a literary thing the pair of them share, even though it technically isn't writing but cover art. Still. It's an inside thing a lot of non-book people wouldn't really get. "So, we're going full on Johanna Lindsey here now huh?"

And he will get it! Cause he runs a bookstore. So many doors open for comments now thanks to him!

She does blush a little at the compliment, cheeks going pink and her gaze dropping. "I think that you're heaping it on a little there. I mean I'm okay. Maybe would consider myself pretty on a good day? But I don't know about beautiful."

Thor has posed:
    "I told you I read Colleen McCullough books, that includes crazy Lust in the Dust books like Thornbirds." His lip twists a little, amused for a moment as he counters the summoning of Johanna Lindsey with one of his own. But he's got that sincere crinkle to his eyes, tickled or amused. Shaking his head.
    But when she offers that latter statement he looks back at her and peers, searching her own green eyes. Hers are so vibrant while his hedge closer toward hazel with the hint of brown in their depths. It's like a stormy sea compared to emeralds. Again he shakes his head and tells her, "I respectfully disagree."
    He lifts his hand slightly, but then lowers it back to resting on his leg. "You have that casual beauty that seems to need nothing else. Effortless and real. I mean..." His smile slips more thoughtful, "There is a sincerity to it. But you..."
    Then he pauses and eyes her as he straightens up, "Hey wait, did you just use Smilin' Sally's Dating Tip Number 14? Play down your looks to get your date to compliment you?"
    He has a good deadpan delivery, and that tinge of wariness to her words might sell it. But the hint of a smile that peeks out at the corner of his mouth might foul his efforts.

Oracle has posed:
"What?" There is genuine confusion on her face as he asks that, putting her on the spot. Since she didn't know she'd done something that was worthy of spot putting! "I was tel--"

Then she gets that hint of a smirk and she can't help grinning. "I thought you were serious there for a moment. No, I do not read Smilin' Sally's Dating tips! And don't push it or I'll just start calling you Sally constantly. Wait, where did you come up with 14 tips from? And that was actually one of them?" Maybe he actually did read Cosmo?

Thor has posed:
    "I made it up," He says with the casual conviction of a child with their hand stuck in the cookie jar who fesses up to it with entirely no repentance. But he lightly nudges her shoe with his as if admonishing her, though really... just an excuse to touch her very faintly.
    "But, would you like me to walk you home or to your subway station before it gets dark? Downtown can be kinda meh during the night." As if she didn't know. He starts to gather himself together, getting his cane settled at his side and checking his wallet to make sure it didn't fall out of his pocket.
    Looking to her he smiles, "Unless you had some idea for something super awesome and cool in the form of a suggestion for which your coolness will totally be judged."

Oracle has posed:
She finishes off her noodles finally, having eaten all of it because she wasn't kidding she didn't eat like a bird. She paid good money and she liked her food. It wasn't like she couldn't afford the caloric intake with her physical regimen. She folds up the bowl and adds it to the trash in the nearby can. Then a final sip of her water and that bottle gets tossed in the green recycling can next to the one for regular trash.

She does rise to her feet. "Well, unless you wanted to go prove your dancing prowess, I'm good with the walk to the station. I think you kind of called it that things are going really well. And I really don't want to mess it up either. Cause I keep expecting to put my foot in my mouth and have you running off for the hills."

Thor has posed:
    "I mean," Sean says as he gains his feet, and for a moment he seems like he considers dancing... and kind of wants to, but thinks better of it as he sets his cane tip down on the sidewalk next to his foot. "To be entirely truthful there were a few times I was like, 'ohmigawd this girl is cray-cray.'"
    Though by now she's got his tell down, not like he's hiding it much, what with it being that ghostly half-smirk there. But he starts to walk with her once they set foot to their path, starting to head back the way they came toward the library and likely the subway station near there.
    "But you've lucked out it was pretty close, I'll tell you." It was not close at all.
    He falls into step with her and looks across the street, down it, then back to her. "Though... in all seriousness. This was..." He takes a deep breath and then says, "Pretty great. I'll..." He then chuckles a little and says, "I was about to say I'll send you an in game mail but I figure. I mean if you want it." He reaches into his overshirt pocket and pulls out his cellphone, then swipes it awake with the brush of a thumb. "You can have my number? And I can text you with the details for Sunday. Cool?"

Oracle has posed:
The strolling with him is nice. It's just comfortable. Nothing weird or strange. Like regular folk. No capes or costumed crazies. No information found by hacking through security measures to learn the real evil happening in the world. No sending out her allies to fight them, be they Bats or Birds.

It was so very nice.

"I mean, let's be honest. We're all a little cray-cray. Some of us just hide it better. But I really do like you. This has been wonderful and I don't really want it to end but I know it's for the best. Not like we won't have other times." Plural. Just that little hope available to be heard.

She pulls out her own phone, touching the screen and waiting for the scan then flipping open contacts and pushing the little plus button. "We can exchange numbers. I'll give you mine too. Can arrange for Sunday and talk that way if we aren't online."

Thor has posed:
    "Sure, that'd be... nice." And as he says that the phones work their ethernet magic, sending their numbers and contact information to each other. Then he smiles to her as they reach that subway stop, drawing up short. He stops to stand there at the lip of the stair landing, one hand resting on the railing as he turns to her.
    "Well, this is you. I'm just... a few blocks down." He motions with a nod, then smiles back to her easily. "And you're right, this was really nice. It's... it was good to meet you, Barbara." As he says that he offers her his hand, the cane tucked under his other arm. Though not just for a handshake, but to gently pull her into a small half-hug with a pat-pat-pat upon her back. Nice, polite, but also to show there was an escalation from the just handshake when they first met.
    "I'll text you later tonight once I get home and settled. Ok?"

Oracle has posed:
She placed her hand in his, giving a soft squeeze then allowing herself to be pulled into that brief hug. Just a little way of showing they both liked each other. It wasn't quite right for a kiss. Yet, she felt the compulsion to do more than a hug. Thus, he got a little peck on the cheek along with a somewhat shy smile, as though she may have pushed things a bit too much.

"Sounds great. Hope you have a great day tomorrow. And looking forward to seeing you again on Sunday." Then she took a step backwards, moving toward the stairs leading down to the subway station below, not wanting to break line-of-sight with him.

Thor has posed:
    Standing his ground there he smiled as she backed away, lifting a hand and giving a small wave. He'd wait until she'd turned and had to head off to find her train until finally she disappears from his line of sight...
    And she's left with the small train ride back. Though in the middle of it she'll feel a bzzzz and her phone come to life with a small text that says...
    << Is this too soon to text? It's totally too soon. Oh well. Have a good night. >>