Mallside 10

[Morty]

[Hanging Out - NXS]

Wenomir looks at Shanti for a while, with a pensive, uncertain expression. He seems to be turning this whole situation over in his head.

"I think I've imposed myself enough. And I really do need to return to Vigil. So I'll trust you with this. And we'll see if my trust pays off."

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

"Pizza is... It's like, a big flat bread, topped with tomatoes, cheese, garlic and meat on it. I think you'd have to try it, really. But I'm glad it's decided." Prumathe smiles, and heads over to the pizza bar, grabbing his wallet so he's paying.

[bc56]

Food Court

"That, uh, sounds good." Sekhmet will follow Prumathe to the pizza. She won't object to him paying. She's short on funds as it is.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

Prumathe is going to order a pizza! He'll ask Sekhmet for what she likes the look of, since he's going to buy a big pizza and share it rather than two smaller ones. It's a slight saving that way, and there's a bit more pizza as well. Prumathe will recommend salami, meatballs and quite a bit of garlic, and advise against pineapple.

[bc56]

Food Court

Sekhmet will agree with Prumathe's suggestions. She doesn't have a prior preference to work off of, this is her first pizza after all. The smells coming from the stand are wonderful though.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

Prumathe picks a table with stools, not chairs, to make things easier for Sekhmet's wings and tail. Then the pizza's put in front of them, and it's this point that Prumathe starts to regret dressing up, even to the extent he did. Hopefully he won't drop cheese down his front. "So, Sekhmet. Have you tried flying with those wings yet?" He would have, if he had wings. But he doesn't, so he can't.

[bc56]

Food Court

Sekhmet looks embarrassed. Of course she's tried, who wouldn't try to fly after they've sprouted wings? "Uh, I can't," she mumbles, "I, uh, don't know how." She reaches over her shoulder and runs her hand along her wing. "I think if I'd been born like this, it might, uh, be different. I feel clumsy enough just walking around with these, uh, things on my back."

[Gullara]

[Hanging Out - NXS]

Shanti shakes her head. "Shouldn't be, and if I have forgotten anything we could just come back later." She smiles at her daughter and then turns towards the exit. "So let's go." She glances at the warrior as she is on her way out. "You're welcome to come too, Wenomir, if you don't trust my or the gods intentions."

[Hanging Out - NXS]

Wenomir looks at Shanti for a while, with a pensive, uncertain expression. He seems to be turning this whole situation over in his head.

"I think I've imposed myself enough. And I really do need to return to Vigil. So I'll trust you with this. And we'll see if my trust pays off."

[Hanging Out - NXS]

Natharia grins when she hears Wenomir's not coming. "Come on, let's go." She grabs her mom's hand to encourage her to get moving.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

"Ah, I see. That's a bit disappointing for you, I imagine. Hmm. Try beating them when you're not doing anything, it might be you need to build up some strength in your back muscles, since you've never flown before." That might help, or possibly it won't. "How're you finding the pizza? Would you have it again? Different toppings in future, maybe?"

[bc56]

Food Court

Still somewhat embarrassed, Sekhmet explains, "It's not that I'm not strong enough, but I, uh, can't control it." Her wing muscles grew in strong enough to fly with, but she doesn't have the coordination to control her flight. She's glad Prumathe wasn't there to see when she tried it; she ended up crashing flat on her face several times. The question about the pizza is a welcome diversion. "Oh, it's really good!" It's also totally unlike anything she's had before. She isn't quite sure about eating it with her hands, especially when she accidentally gets cheese and sauce on her claws.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

"Oh, that's... that's not what I was expecting." Prumathe's going to have to think about it. "I'm glad you like it! Pizzas are really quite popular." He also makes a note to have another pizza date with Sekhmet.

[bc56]

Food Court

Sekhmet wipes the sauce from her claws with a napkin before reaching for another slice. "I, uh, understand why. Thank you." She looks like she expects more questions, but she has one of her own. "What's been, uh, going on at work while I've been, uh, gone?"

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

"Oh, well. The boss has a new chair, with wheels. The legged ones sway, apparently, which isn't great for longer trips. I've personally animated a statue a metre tall, the biggest I've done yet. I had a day off after, because I was exhausted. Everyone's been asking about you, too. The other metalworkers ask every day." Sekhmet should spend quite a bit of time with them, since they're the others working with fire and steel.

[bc56]

Food Court

"Congratulations!" Sekhmet responds to Prumathe's statement. "I, uh, should be back soon. I've been adjusting to, uh, my condition and uh, recovering."

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

"I'll let them know, when next I see them. And I'm glad you're doing better. If there's anything I can do to make you feel better, even if it's just more pizza, let me know." He'd be happy to get Sekhmet more pizza, but then his job is one that gives him plenty of exercise.

[bc56]

Food Court

"I, uh," Sekhmet starts. She's not sure what she needs. The pizza is good, but she's had enough now. She feels better now that Prumathe's been okay with her transformation, but she's still worried about herself. "I, uh, need a hug."

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

Prumathe doesn't say anything, but he'll go round the table and give Sekhmet a hug. He'll keep the hug going until Sekhmet wants out; she asked for it, and that's what he's giving her. Until she doesn't want the hug any more, anyway.

[bc56]

Food Court

Sekhmet returns the hug for some time. She's careful to keep her claws from stabbing into Prumathe. Prumathe might notice two things. First of all, he might be able to feel the armor plating around her midriff through her shirt. Secondly, he might notice that she's crying. She still isn't entirely through with her unease about her transformation, and this is bringing some of those thoughts to the surface, especially if Prumathe touches any of her altered features, intentionally or otherwise, during the hug.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

Prumathe's having trouble finding a way to hug Sekhmet without touching the wings, which is a bit of an issue. He can just about feel the armoured midriff, but not enough to tell what it is. "If you keep your hands flat, I'll be fine, Sekhmet. It's OK." He can tell she's being careful with her hands though. He might not actually be fine if she does flatten her hands, but he won't tell her if she doesn't notice.

[bc56]

Food Court

Sekhmet does flatten out her hands. She probably manages to avoid tearing Prumathe's shirt when doing so. Whenever his hands brush against her wings, she shudders at the sensation, both jarringly unfamiliar and comfortingly familiar. Her tears begin to dry up, and she whispers, "Thank you."

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

Bunching her hands into fists might also have worked, and been a little easier, but Prumathe didn't think of that. "Not a problem, Sekhmet." His shirt's also not been ripped by the claws, which is a good thing. He'd have to save up to replace it.

[bc56]

Food Court

Sekhmet finally releases Prumathe. "Uh, thank you again. I'm, uh, glad you were able to see, uh, past what I've become." Her wording is awkward, and she blushes slightly, although it's very hard to see with her skin tone.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

Prumathe's happy to release Sekhmet, and smiles back. "Anyone who can't, isn't worth knowing, Sekhmet." Then he thinks a moment, before leaning in and trying to give her a kiss. It's not his first, but he's still pretty inexperienced and hasn't kissed a girl for several years.

[bc56]

Food Court

Sekhmet is surprised. As inexperienced as Prumathe is, she's more so. It is her own first time, since back home having any sort of social life was a death sentence. If she was blushing before, now she really is, and it probably shows this time despite her red skin. She won't let it last especially long, but that doesn't mean she doesn't like it.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

"Sorry, uh. That was a bit impetuous of me." Prumathe's blushing too, though he's not red-skinned he's dark enough it doesn't show easily.

[bc56]

Food Court

"It, uh, was a bit forward of you," Sekhmet replies. She seems somewhat flustered. The Victorian standards of decency she was raised with tell her that it's way too early in their relationship for this. "But I, uh, don't mind, this once." She reaches out to Prumathe again for another, shorter hug.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

Well, unless there's been a few off-screen, this is only the second date. Prumathe considers it a little early.

Prumathe will hug back, and he'll be more careful about touching her wings this time. He noticed last time, it seems, but couldn't figure out then how to avoid it. Now, he's still struggling, but he's trying to hug low.

[bc56]

Food Court

Hugging low is a good way for Prumathe to feel the hard, segmented armor beneath Sekhmet's shirt. She won't seem to notice him touching it; it's not very sensitive. After a couple seconds, she lets him go.

[Earl of Purple]

Food Court

Then hugging low keeps Sekhmet happy, which is more important than worrying about his girlfriend's armour plating. He'd mention it, but it's new and she's not going to like talking about it yet. He'll ask later, maybe. "So, um. Got time for pudding?" Or there might be cold pizza left.

[bc56]

Food Court

Sekhmet nods. "I guess." She's not really opposed to the idea of pudding, but she also doesn't want to impose herself on Prumathe's wallet too much. "If it's not too much trouble for you."