Press club emo night

[Svelte Sven]

The first comment draws a wry smile from the Changeling. "Maybe a few of them. But some people just like the aesthetic." Sven's eyes briefly darted across the dance floor, curious for a moment to see if he was drawing odd looks. But his dance partner's next words drew his attention away from them. "You're right. I also doubt most of them will remember me, anyway. I have a forgettable face." Oddly enough, the man seemed to enjoy saying that.

"Asking for another date before this one's even over? Bold." Sven chuckled. "I jest. I wouldn't mind meeting again, you're interesting to talk to. Unfortunately, I'm hard to get a hold of. I don't own a phone, for one thing. Maybe we should just pick a place and time and... hope for the best?"

"No, but Mary is a resourceful sort. You might be surprised by how much she hears about. Even though owls don't have ears." His thin smile softened slightly as he took the lead, looking up slightly into his partner's eyes as his body recalled the steps of the Viennese Waltz. Fortunately, his mind managed to mostly drown out the accompanying unpleasant memories from when he first learned them. "I hope such an 'old-fashioned' dance doesn't disappoint you."

2 successes to dance

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2025-03-20 22:13:14	Svelte Sven rolls 5 to Dance (Dex + Exp) (10 Again)	8, 2, 8, 1, 6	2 successes

[Alicia Silvers]

Lightly shrugging at the words.
"Perhaps, yet many do fit into it in some respects, and respects it here." A momentary stop at his words, feeling his eyes return as she looks upon him with a questionable look. "What is that like? It might be to hard to answer now but if we meet again so would I love an answer." The words feeling so foreign, so far from her own world, people nearly always remembered her, even before she had been blessed with the purple eyes.

Rolling her eyes whilst holding back a sigh. Of course he would think like that, why is it so hard to just show a bit of kindness? Licking her lips about to reply only to be momentarily silenced by the chuckle, soon chuckling along with him as the sensation quickly fades away.
"That does sound wiser, trust me I am not the kind of girl one should strive to date." Offering him a wink and a smile. "Have a locale where you would be comfortable in mind?"

"So she truly has the hearing of an owl then, wrapped in a package of randomness draped in the beauty of the night sky." Unprepared for the kind of dance, the first few steps far from what she had expected, feet just barely hanging on, steeling herself and focusing as she lets herself be lead to follow him in his sense. Eyes locked upon his, as the corners of her lips moves upward, dreaming herself away to the serenity of dancing.
"Not at all, I find it quite enjoyable, you should head for the dance floor more often."

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2025-03-21 03:24:47	Alicia Silvers rolls 7 to Dancing (dex+exp) (10 Again, WillPower)	5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 10, 10, 7, 6	2 successes

[Svelte Sven]

Sven could tell that his partner was putting in some effort as she matched his steps. Whether she was familiar with the traditional waltz or not, she was following his lead splendidly. He felt a brief urge to see if anyone else was reacting but resisted it, continuing to focus on his partner. He gave a wan smile at her first question. "Y'know, not many people ask that. It's a blessing and a curse, I suppose. It makes it easy to slip out of uncomfortable scenarios, but hard to meet people who want to find you." He omitted the fact that, when you were essentially an escaped slave, that was generally more of a boon than a curse.

Her comment about not being someone to date drew a wry chuckle. "I didn't figure you for the type who like gloomy men, anyway. It was just a joke." The Changeling's eyes darted to the back of his head for a moment as he gave the question some thought. All the places he was truly comfortable with, such as his Hollow, were off-limits to outsiders. He didn't let his annoyance at being charged with deciding on the location show, however. "Have you ever been to the waterfront? There's a surprising number of interesting shops and museums in the area."

"She is many things, our Mary. Easy to understand isn't one of them." He quipped briefly before bringing their dance to a conclusion, ending with a formal bow. "You flatter me. I'm not all that fond of this kind of dance, believe it or not. But you kept pace very well, are you hiding a past as a rich socialite?" Sven was slightly surprised at how casually he had been engaging with Alicia throughout the evening. He thought it might partly be the drink, but also the fact that it was essentially just the two of them, without the prying eyes of mutual acquaintances to temper his behavior.

[Alicia Silvers]

Surrendering her body to his leads, allowing it to follow his every step lost in the enjoyment of one of the few things from her Kine life that still held something special within her even if the sensation were fleeting and dulled so were the memories at least intact.
"I reckon they do, yet it is something I am fated to have never experienced myself." That time would never change that for her left unspoken. "As the drape of the night envisions itself different for each and every set of eyes, may the ones whom wish to find you see the brimming small ember of light in the darkness and those for whom bring uncomfortable moments to always look in the wrong direction."

Scowling at the man in his words.
"Thoughts like that are not appealing, nor fair. To rob others of oneself just cause a belief of how the other will perceive it without thought to their feelings only has potential to hurt both. Do not become a man who puts himself down." It was not entirely wrong, she came with burning passion that dwindled as fast as it came to be but he had no way of knowing that. "I have not no, sadly my duties keeps me rather occupied during the days so I am seldom free before later in the evenings."

A momentary soft smile.
"How fun is someone that is easy to comprehend? That does not like the flame flicker and change at its own whim." Stepping back to meet his bow with a curtsy of her own. "You led in an excellent dance I have not enjoyed in quite some time so do take pride in that from someone whom loves dancing." Raising a finger to her lips, and making a shh sound with a light wink at him in answer to the question. "Whilst the night has been enjoyable so does it seem like they are about ready to wind down, and the wings of the Raven needs to fly back to their nest with closing eyes for the sandman to send me to the realm of Morpheus."

[Svelte Sven]

"'Small ember of light in the darkness...' I like that. It's poetic, but not inaccurate." Sven was hardly someone who sang his own praises, but even he took some pride in being more conversationally skilled and socially enlightened than the average drunk. That his dance partner seemed to acknowledge him as a bright spot amongst the drudges that occupied the night only solidified that perspective. "Here's hoping that you're right. Though, I'm content with being a candle that only warms a few worthy souls." Alicia's poetic and esoteric way of speaking felt oddly infectious, at least on this particular occasion.

He gave a sardonic chuckle at her admonishment, though the dark look in his eye seemed to almost dare her to continue. "Maybe I'm just the pathetic sort of man that enjoys having others try to cheer him up, even when he doesn't really need it." His expression cleared for a second into something more neutral before he shrugged. "I joke about myself because I know I won't offend myself, nothing more. Trust me, I value my wellbeing, physical and mental, more than it might appear." He nodded. "Then maybe we should meet there, even if it's just for a walk. There's a place called 'Frankie's Pizza', even if you don't care for the food, it's a good landmark for the district. We can meet there in... let's say a week. Sound good?" It was about as assertive as the Darkling would get.

Sven's smile widened, and it appeared to have genuine warmth. "Thank you. Whether I'm fond of it or not, I appreciate that my efforts are not for naught. Next time, you can lead." He almost cursed himself for leaving open the possibility of a 'next time' but ultimately decided there was no harm. Thus far, Alicia had shown him no ill will. There was no danger in the possibility of a follow-up. Her poetic send-off evoked a deep nod from the Whisperwisp. "Well, I doubt this is our last meeting. So it's 'au revoir' rather than 'adieu'." The Changeling took a few steps away from his dance partner towards the bar before giving a final farewell. "I look forward to when next we are fated to meet."

[Alicia Silvers]

"We do not need to be the fire that warms the world, that will only burn us out, to be the ember is meaningful and something often underestimated." Wondering if she would like to sigh to drive the point forward, to use flowery words of the night or just nod, a moment of hesitation before looking out over the sea of people. "Then that is what you should be, what you should aim for, that role is important, but never forget a grand importance of a candle like that." Turning to look upon the man, wanting to leave him with a bit of a kindness before their night would be over unsure if he would be able to be as open should they meet again. "One candle that is true to itself can lighten countless others, creating many a small embers of warmth for the people. It´s presence might not be as grand, but its purpose and meaning beyond measure."

Taking the challenge of the look, tonight not a night to ignore such words.
"Or does he need it without knowing it? Like the Raven free from so many burdens of the world, unbound yet bound by strings unseen, not knowing where it begins or what is the truth." Sighing with a shake of her head. "Do you know the issue with that line of thinking? There is a fundamental flaw in the reasoning, lets see if you can find it." Nodding at his words. "That sounds fine to me, a week from now at Frankies Pizza and I will see if you have found the answer by then, or if you like the Raven are bound by invisible strings unseen." Not my usual things to do, sounds perfect in a sense but how to prepare, how to prepare.

Bursting out in a chuckle at the comment, the very idea so foreign to her it was nearly downright a joke.
"What you want to dance Schottische? Sadly I have not learned that dance but know no other for the woman to lead." To follow was the lot etched into her mind since her debutant ball and long before it, engraved to no end, if another woman was her partner that changed things but to imagine leading a man just felt strange. "Ohh" Shining up for a moment and licking her lips for a test. "Que le destin vous soit favorable jusqu'à notre prochaine rencontre, douce bougie vacillante de danses oubliées depuis longtemps." Waving him off as she steps backward alike, and moves along with the crowd out of the club, to disappear into the night, knowing she would have to look up the address of this pizza place for next week and hope it would bring a new experience.

Thank you for the scene, it was fun.

[Svelte Sven]

Sven glanced at the bar again before running a brief mental calculus. Ultimately, he decided against indulging and focused his attention squarely on Alicia. There will be another time to gather sorrow. It's a plentiful resource. "I don't think I'm type to warm the souls of others." He said simply. "My view of the world is a bit too cold for that. But I do try to lend a sympathetic ear. I suppose there's no harm in offering a kind word along with it, even if it's just a comforting lie."

His expression grew a bit cold at the suggestion that he might, in fact, need some positive affirmation. "You underestimate me, I think." There was a brief flicker of emotion behind the Changeling's eyes before he gave a shrug and the thin smile made its way back to his face, though it appeared quite hollow. "You also have only known me a short while and seem to have good intentions, so I'll take no offense." Sven took a short, sharp breath before continuing. "I cut my strings a while ago. I might, at times, toy with negative feelings, but they do not rule me."

The man's face softened slightly after a few seconds. "The pizza place on the waterfront in a week. Sounds like a plan, then." Her laughter caught him off-guard, though the only outward sign of it was a slight quirking of his brow. "I'm not familiar with that particular dance, to be honest. I just figured you might enjoy a change of pace." The flurry of foreign language caught Sven completely unawares, however, and even he had a hard time keeping his composure. There was a faraway look in his eyes as Alicia continued, as if he had given up on trying to process the phrase half-way through listening. "Until next time, then."