Strikes, Spares, And Funny Shoes

**InvertedMonkey** · Mar 10th, 2016 09:57 PM

LIME GREEN

There's got to be a reason that bowling shoes are always so ridiculously hideous. Maybe it's so that nobody would ever think they're worth stealing? Still, it feels like she's being punished from on high for one of her many sins against fashion. Thou has been cursed that thy footwear resemble nuclear waste as animated in an early 90's cartoon. At least they've got them in her size. Reluctantly, Ramona forks over the few dollars demanded by pimply-faced kid behind the counter to rent these god-awful shoes, all the while thinking they should really pay her to be wearing them. She doesn't even have to glance aside to know Ava's laughing at her.

Instead, she turns away to look at the lanes. This alley is one of the older generation, back when bowling was hip and new (when was that anyway?) and you started finding them squirreled away in unusual spaces, sandwiched between warehouses, or standing sentry over highway merge lanes. The carpet's clean, but hasn't been changed in at least ten years. The lanes, at least, are still well-lit, even if some of the markers and guides are looking a bit worn. It's not too crowded tonight, a few regulars hanging out at their various favored lanes, a couple kids hanging out at the pinball machines and arcade games set up in the back.

"When'd David say he'd get here?" She asks aside, hoping to deflect whatever witticism at her expense the Archivist might have devised.

-1G for Hardened Mask

Mar 11th, 2016 02:02 PM

"Soon," Ava answered, a serene smile on her lips. It was a beautiful thing, that she didn't need to laugh or even say anything to the Ogre about her shoes: the expectation was doing it all for her. Maybe it meant she was predictable, if her jokes could tell themselves, but she preferred to think of it as a shining example of what friendship could be.

Her own bowling shoes, half off-white and half the color of baked beans, were already on her feet and laced tight. They weren't handsome, but they weren't nearly as bad as Ramona's green, which really would've stood out at the bottom of her habitually black outfit. A little more put-together than if she had just been seeing Ramona, Ava's clothes were still simple and plain, her long sweater maybe a little too large. Despite her drab appearance, the crooked-toothed woman held herself with a casual comfort and confidence born from looking forward to spending time with some of her favorite people.

Rolling up her sleeves, she added, "I think he might be biking straight from work but I'm not sure. Why don't we go ahead and pick a lane, he'll be able to find us. That one?" Since it was a slow night, the people behind the desk hadn't needed to assign them a lane, and the one she gestured to was out of the way. A quiet spot to have a conversation, fail at bowling, and hopefully have a good time.

-1G for Hardened Mask

Mar 12th, 2016 08:14 PM

Twenty minutes ago, David was a cauldron of hate and barely contained violence seeing Vivian disgorge herself from her car. The Bestial Companion within himself wanted to rip and tear every strand of red-hair from the head of the Daeva and let the gloved Succubus fall to ash at his feet for the mere crime of picking him up. Muzzling the cries of a thousand hungry, angry birds in his blood takes some doing but eventually, the Man comes up victorious. His growing anger fades back to mere embers.

This is the main reason David asked Vivian to drive. He would have preferred to bike, to feel the wind flow through his hair and to weave in and out of traffic towards the place. But, he didn't want to have to explain how tense he would get when he sees a supposed friend and didn't want to crush Ava's hand.

On the drive there, David stares out the window and makes small-talk but his thoughts remain on Ava.

Once the car is parked and Vivian and David stride their way towards the brightly lit and neon-letter. It's now that David flushes his flesh with stolen blood taken from phonies and the unwilling all. Color returns to his features and by reflex, David's fingers flex to encourage his blood's movement. It's a necessary lie, to pretend to be alive and normal.

Stepping through the door with long and hurried strides, David searches for Ava and while he sees Ramona first he knows Ava isn't far behind. “This way,” David says to Vivian near him before lifting a hand to get Ava and Ramona's attention and makes quick introductions, “Ava? Ramona? This is Vivian.” A surreptitious and dubious glance is passed towards the rack of rental-shoes available. “I hope they have my size.”

-1V Blush!

Mar 13th, 2016 09:45 PM

One of the best things about spending time with her fellow Kindred in close quarters, is she couldn’t give a fuck-all that he was of her same nature. He felt like hanging around every other Kine on the block.

David’s small talk was rational. She wondered if he was trying to calm his nerves. After all, his friend was meeting his… lover, girlfriend, something or other. It was probably nerve racking considering how he was. It was a bit adorable.

Her pants were tight, as in nearly painted on tight. Her cute little blazer also hugged her frame. Accompanied by little lace gloves with a touch of gripping rubber on the palm, she was casual for her at least. Vivian’s hand bag was over her shoulder as well as another little bag that resembled a cute gym bag with a few rhinestones.

The Daeva followed the Shadow into the bowling alley. The smell of lane grease was disgusting. Tack on the smell of stale beer and snack bar, she figured it was someone’s cup of tea. She'd at least be able to sniff her own wrist when necessary for the scent of Dior's Pure Poison to mask the other smells.

“Hello dahlings! Lovely to meet you!” She said in an overly friendly manner, but she didn’t need to try too hard. Extending her gloved hand to them both.

Vivian couldn’t help but snicker at David’s comment. She bit her tongue for now. The wit would come later, in small doses. “No shoes for me.” Tapping her bag. Her excuse for her own bowling shoes were; she knew this day may come and damned if she would ware something worn by an entire town ten times over – at least. The two women looked pleasant enough. She could already see the Shadow's attraction to Ava.

viv's look

-1 Vitae, blushed

**InvertedMonkey** · Mar 14th, 2016 10:27 PM

"Speak of the devil," Says the Ogre, catching David's lifted hand just as they're turning to go to the lane. She tilts her head towards the pair, making sure Ava sees them. Ugly green shoes dangling from their laces in one hand, she turns to meet them, letting Ava take the lead. David's friend is making Ramona feel considerably under-dressed, in her comfortable jeans, Doc Martens, Veruca Salt t-shirt, and leather jacket. Vivian looks far too classy and fashionable to be found in a run-down bowling alley like this. Yet, something seems very familiar about her. Ramona's trying to place it as she reaches out and grips Vivian's hand, giving it a solid shake. Hot White Leather. Holy shit, one year and a great many fantasies ago, Ramona had once seen Vivian posed on the hood of a gorgeous '69 Chevy Nova. And the car isn't what she'd fantasized about. Right on the heels of that realization comes the memory that this woman had been, to some extent, involved with Coco of all people. With rather venomous, if ineffective, results.

Processing all of this makes for a rather awkward pause where Ramona is still holding Vivian's hand, but not shaking it, and staring at her with a mildly startled expression.

"Uh... hi. Nice to meet you."

Ramona, you charmer.

**Daniel Leto** · Mar 15th, 2016 01:04 PM

Daniel had been providing some IDs to a group of teenagers that thought that behind a bowling alley was a good place to conduct shady business. The Gravewight didn’t care so long their money was good. Although the sheer amount of cliché hanging in the air was enough to make him want to roll his eyes.

Business concluded, the Darkling entered the bowling center. It was the closest place to get good food. Well, maybe not good but it was still food. Well, cheese nachos. It just had to be enough to hold him over.

He was munching on his snack, making his way back towards the entrance, when he saw Ava and Ramona. Daniel waved and immediately changed directions to say hi. Then he noticed they were with people he didn’t recognize. A tall man with dull brown hair and a stunning woman with red hair. That was a little curious. They couldn't all be Changelings. With everyone's Mask up how would they have recognized each other? His pace slowed as he tried to read the situation.

"Hey Ava. Hey Ramona," he said with a friendly smile while still a few paces away.

-1 Glamour to Harden Mask

Mask

Mar 15th, 2016 03:27 PM

Returning David's wave, an affectionate grin took Ava's face at the sight of him. She knew things would be a little different, he would be more reserved with other people around, but she was just glad he was up for this in the first place. "Hey, you." His arm just above the elbow was given a quick squeeze before the introductions redirected her attention back to Vivian.

Back, because, well, when the two of them had approached side by side she had been a little hard pressed to keep her attention on David. Even going in with the vaguest descriptions of what the woman was like, Ava hadn't expected her to be quite so well put together. Or so sexy. Whatever illusions the Nix had held about being fairly well dressed, it was clearly just by her own gauge, and those standards were low.

Unable to help herself, she shot Ramona an amused side-eye as her friend hogged Vivian's hand. "It's a pleasure," Ava added with a warm smile, piggybacking off what the Ogre had said. "David's told me a lot about you." An overstatement, but seeing as Vivian was pretty much the only person David had ever mentioned to her, it seemed close enough in perspective.

"Daniel!" Pleasant surprise filled her at the sight of the Gravewight, and she waved him closer. "Are you on your way out? If you have time you should stick around, we're just about to get started." Ava's eyes flicked between David and Vivian, figuring they didn't mind the addition. "This is a good friend of ours, Daniel. Daniel- Vivian, and David, my boyfriend." Boyfriend? Partner? Whatever the right word was.

Mar 16th, 2016 12:03 AM

David's soft smile finds Ava's affectionate grin. “Hey, you.” His eyes linger on her, but soon enough he is exchanging a few bills for a pair of god-awful looking bowling shoes of his own. They are greeted merely with a dubious look partially for their size and partially for how 'out-there' they are. David's left hand takes hold of the shoes while his right hand plays with the tips of Ava's fingers.

“Ramona, how've you been?” David's greeting might have fallen on deaf ears.

It doesn't matter that much anyway, and David doesn't take offense, because a man named Daniel darkens their corner of the bowling alley and diverts David's attention. Ava's hunch is right, David doesn't mind someone else joining their growing band and it kind of amuses him a little as a statement he said in private with her rings true. “Daniel,” David replies in a soft-spoken upper-Midwest tenor, “nice to meet you.”

The Scarecrow's smile grows despite itself, hearing how Ava introduces him to others. It's almost like a declaration, though Ramona and Vivian already knew, but David can't shake the feeling that they are finally admitting a secret to her friends and his.

Mar 16th, 2016 07:23 PM

It took her a moment or two, not that it was this woman’s fault, but her memory surfaced as they clasped hands. “Oh… yes….’ Vivian chuckled a low devilish throaty laugh. “I remember you. A long stretch of pavement, cars lined up. Yes…”

She released Ramona’s hand. “Well now, I wasn’t sure we’d ever cross paths again, dahling. Very good to see you.” Even though the Daeva was over exaggerating the greeting, David would know she was being sincere. There wasn’t an ounce of Vivian that looked down on any of their attire. She really didn’t care, unless someone was actually trying. Then the gloves came off.

Digging deep into the word. “Oh really….” Looking to the Shadow a flash, then to Ava. “My my, what Has he said about me.” Vivian winked, the exchanges were probably harmless, but her Blood was like the Inquirer, she had to ask.

Try not to embarrass him.

Yet.

“I’ve heard some about you as well Ava. I’m glad to finally meet you.” Definitely glad, but the other things her tongue would take to the grave.

The gloved hand jutted to Daniel after the Shadow’s own greeting. “Daniel, pleasure to meet you.”

“And as Ava offered, I’d be happy if you threw some balls with us.”

Her eyes danced at the intended pun. Tonight was definitely going to be a gas.

**Daniel Leto** · Mar 17th, 2016 02:07 PM

"It's good to meet you too David. And the pleasure is all mine Vivian," he said shaking hands with British woman and Midwesterner. The Gravewight was wondering if David was from Minnesota too when Ava's words finally clicked.

Boyfriend? As in the mortician? As in a date?

The Gravewight glanced to Vivian and Ramona.

As in a double date?!

First off: shit, he did feel like he had interrupted something.

Second off: daaamn, he didn’t know Ramona swung that way but he was pretty sure he owed her a high five for going out with someone like Vivian. David was cute in a gangly wallflower sort of way but the enticing woman was something else.

“Oh no, if you guys are having a date night, I’d probably just be a third wheel,” he said with a kind if somewhat regretful smile. Inside he was already bursting with questions and only three quarters had to do autopsies and burial preparations.

Strikes, Spares, And Funny Shoes

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