Speed Dating

[can_fight_ugly]

WHO: Anne Weying
WHERE: The Inn
WHEN: Friday 15th
OPEN TO: Speed Dating Participants, mingle section OTA
WARNINGS: N/A, will update as needed

---

Anne had gotten the box earlier in the week, and while there were not any actual instructions included, it was pretty clear what the items were intended for. Name tags, cards, the candies, hell - a whole supply of contraceptives - the only logical conclusion was some sort of dating event. Apropos as they were just a day over her world's Valentine's Day, to boot. She appreciated the distraction putting together something like this would provide.

One additional request needed to be made, considering her idea on formatting the evening, and that was for a brass bell from Tony's forge.

She arrives at the Inn early to set up; moving tables aside and setting it up for a couple rows of two-person seating, and setting out mugs on each table full of conversation hearts. She pulls one table up by the front where she gathers sign-in materials; name tags, metallic sharpies, little info cards and pens ... she also gets two large bowls and fills them with the condoms and diaphragms; might as well make them accessible.

The index cards she fills out with questions that she thinks will be relevant, puts an announcement, and fusses with a few last minute touches.

Info Card:
<br /><b>Name:</b><br /><b>I've lived in the village for:</b><br /><b>My Idea Of Romance Is:</b><br /><b>My thoughts on pets are:</b><br /><b>My favorite place in the village is:</b><br /><b>One thing I miss from home is:</b><br /><b>I am looking for: </b><br /><b>[] Friends</b><br /><b>[] Friends+</b><br /><b>[] Romance</b><br /><b>[] Other (please specify):</b><br />

Name	Position
Reeve Tuesti	Rotating
North Dakota	Seated
Marian Hawke	Rotating
Peggy Carter	Seated
Lucifer Morningstar	Rotating
Alistair Theirin	Seated
Samantha Moon	Rotating
Reyes Vidal	Seated
Thor Odinson	RNG - Rotating
Rosa Diaz	RNG - Seated
Ezio Auditore	RNG - Seated
Phryne Fisher	Rotating
Leonado de Vinci	Rotating

Comments

[capturetheworld]

"I wanted a pet, but they're much too difficult in a dangerous workspace. Always underfoot. I did feed the stray cats in my area, many of them would yowl outside my door in the morning." Because of course Leo would take care of strays. He did it with people too. Just ask Ezio.

Leo listened to his explanation and understood what he meant by the time he said sleep together, and he fought back a blush as well, mostly so he could look as serious as possible. For all his kindness, there was a streak of mischief in him, so he kept his eyes innocent. "Of course, they are good platonic friends who occasional share a bed for warmth!" He did manage to hold that for a few seconds before he was grinning good-naturedly at Alistair. "I could not resist, I do not know anyone who blushes as much as I do."

He looked again at the card and the odd symbol Alistair drew on it. "You have excellent coloring for it. I'm a painter, you know, some may say that having red hair makes the flushing appear worse, but I think it's the opposite, it truly brings out the vividness in your complexion." Leonardo glanced to him and then tapped the card. "So you are here to ... meet friends you may sleep with?"

[nobroth]

Was it possible for his blush to get brighter? His physiology certainly made a valiant attempt. "N-no, not really, I, um... I'm more interested in friends, really, but I didn't want to... uh. I didn't want to say no to possibilities, but..."

But then Leonardo had shown up, and he was swiftly considering throwing the card away and asking him to go for a walk.

So what he ended up saying, eyes on the table, was, "There's actually someone specific I might have my eye on."

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo could be oblivious in so many ways, but he was also a genius, and now that Nida made him realize the freedom that may possibly be real here. And while his interlude with Lucifer was brief, he realized coming away from it that no bolt of lighting came down, no armed guards pounded on his door, no people were ready with hostile eyes and whispers. He looked at this blushing giant of a man, and knew he wanted him, but was it wise? Would it be easy, with all this terror still inside of him?

He told Ezio once he was a coward, but he had reasons to fear there. Perhaps he could be brave.

"That someone would be a fool not to share your interest, Alistair, and he is not a fool, well, most of the time." He smiled, shyly. Leonardo's eyes nervously flickered to the rest of the room, very aware of how public they were, how bold this was, to have a conversation with their hearts in their throat and both blushing. "The answer is yes, it is mutual, if that was not clear."

[nobroth]

Alistair looked up slowly, biting his lips until he was looking at Leonardo.

And then slowly, hopefully, a smile bloomed across his face.

He gave a quick glance around the room, turned his little information card face down, and cleared his throat. "So. Um. This is... a little spur of the moment, but... Maybe you'd... go on a walk with me? We could talk about things a little more... Well, a little less in the public eye so to say."

[capturetheworld]

Alistair had a beautiful smile. It was enough to make even the strongest man's heart beat faster, or so Leonardo was certain. It was a thrill and also making his stomach curl with nerves, but not all for the bad reasons. He cleared his throat, really uncertain as he looked around if they were supposed to stay through the entire event. But they would only stay distracted the whole night if they did.

"Yes, I would like that." It was a giant relief to have privacy of any kind, because as Alistair already knew, Leonardo couldn't help being paranoid if he thought people were watching him. He was feeling much safer these days, but beyond that, he wanted to see where this road went. "Meet me outside?" He wanted to thank the hostess and he had all those layers to get on. Even if he was slightly suspecting that if he kept blushing he wouldn't need a coat even in the cold.

[nobroth]

"Gladly," he agreed, giving Leonardo a happy smile. He wasn't sure how this had happened, how he'd managed to find someone who made his stomach flutter, but...

But if this was the Fade. If this was all orchestrated by demons. Just then, he didn't care. Because for the first time in a long time, he felt hopeful.