(Private)Hops, Bubbles and Words

[Aurora]

Directions would lead Thirteen to the industrial part of Sacramento.

The apartment is an open floor loft, walls bare red brick and floor a darker wood. It was clearly a loft that was done by hand. The living room area had oversized couches covered by a beige fabric with brightly colored pillows and a coffee table made from a door and other pieces were clearly done by hand. Soft white LED lights were strung around the room in various places. Multiple book shelves were in the process of being refinished, a sheet under them and various cans of stain around. Boxes upon boxes of books were stacked near it, books spilling out onto the floor. One of the shelves was clearly in the process of being redone, most of the paint scraped off it.

Though there was clearly a workspace with a desk and various books stacked upon it. A few books were open with various bookmarks sticking out here and there. Some finished shelves that contained books behind the desk, to the side of the desk, most written in numerous various languages, some about dreams, meditation, astral journey and various other topics. This was her work space and personal library, well-loved and used quite a bit.

There is a piece of art framed and displayed. It's a beautiful mess of absinthe green; the fabled green fairy is flitting about furniture that is currently within Aurora's loft. Things she'd so lovingly restored.

Near the kitchen area was brewing equipment. A traditional carboy, with some beer fermenting in it, as well as a more advanced fermenter.

Near a window was a ballet bar with colored mats beneath it. There was also a hula-hoop with five prongs that stuck out on it, as well as a sword, plus some odd looking wired fan thing. Both were leaning against a small, 19x19x17 glass box, not very big.
Thirteen

[Thirteen]

It was a big deal, as she understood it, to be invited to another Mage's home like this. While Thirteen had not been Awakened terrible long (a little under two years, really), she knew Mages were a paranoid lot, and with good reason. She exercised quite a bit of caution herself. For a Master like Aurora to ask her to come socialize in her home? That was a sign of surprising trust.

Or maybe the powerful Shaman didn't consider the Libertine a threat. She decided to feel flattered.

The young Acanthus arrived wearing her moto jacket over a black cropped tee, a blue and green plaid skirt, and black boots with matching knee socks. Sunglasses shielded her eyes from the mid-spring sun and her massive mop of curly red hair bounced freely across her shoulders. She toted a black backpack in one hand, her motorcycle helmet in the other.

Marveling a bit at the upscale neighborhood (well, upscale compared to where she herself was currently living), Thirteen knocked at the door.

[Aurora]

It wasn’t that Aurora was waiting by the door, it was just that the apartment was a loft. An open floor plan, so Aurora didn’t have to go from room to room to get to the door.

The door opened to a smiling Shaman, “Hey! Come in!” stepping to the side to let the Enchantress in and closing the door behind her. “Thanks for coming over, hope you found it ok.” It wasn’t too hard to find, big old factory that had been converted into loft style apartments. But you never know.

“Ok, that skirt is awesome.” The print wasn’t her style, she preferred leather, but it looked comfortable. “Love the movement.” Like, if you went out dancing, it would be perfect.

The blonde was dressed casually in shorts, because she loved shorts. They showed off her long legs and a loose-fitting shirt. Might be the most casual the Enchantress has seen her.

“Can I get you something to drink? I have the usual things, water, soda, coffee, think I have juice, it should still be good.” Maybe, she’d have to look. “And beer, a few different kinds, a winter stout, a spring, and the summer was just recently bottled.”

[Thirteen]

"Hullo! Thank you for the invite!" The Acanthus smiled and stepped inside when she was let though the door. "Nae problem findin' it. I'm learnin' the city better every day."

She glanced down at her skirt, like a reflex, when it was complimented. "Thanks! Aye, it's quite comfortable. Cute shorts!" Was this the most casual she'd seen the Shamaness? Yes, probably.

Thirteen set her helmet down near the door, not wanting to tote it around the loft, and then she removed her sunglasses once she had a free hand. They were placed in a jacket pocket. "Oh, nice roomy place you got here. Bigger than mine, that's for sure." She nodded, brown eyes curiously looking about the place. Her face was, of course, a sea of freckles.

"Well, I came here for the craft beer, after all. Might as well start with that, right?" She hefted the backpack in her hand, "I brought my contribution, as agreed! I also brought some other goodies from my homeland!"

[Aurora]

“I used to put on my headphones and just let the music lead me through the city, it’s how I learned the layout.” Wow, that felt like forever ago!

“All about the comfort!” at the mention of the shorts, “Thanks! I live for shorts.” And skirts, but today it was shorts.

Glancing around, “It suits my needs, I got a good deal on it. I did a lot of the work on it and help the landlord with the other units in the building. Doing stuff like sanding and staining the floors, helps with the rent, and keeps me busy.” And she liked the open layout.

“Then beer it is!” opening the fridge and pulling out a few different brown bottles, looking at the caps. “Would you like something heavier, like a stout? Or lighter and a bit fruitier, like an IPA or the traditional wheat summer style beer?” realizing that might be a bit much, “If you’re not usually into beers, the IPA or the wheat might be better. Or I can pop all three and you can have it!” laughing, placing all three bottles on the counter.

“Oh? Other goodies?”

[Thirteen]

"Lettin' fate guide the way. eh?" the Acanthus smirked. "Music is great. I'd probably be wearin' my headphones all day if I could."

"Well, you got the legs for it." She nodded, then wondered if that was appropriate. Most likely not. Don't make it awkward.

Eager to move on to another subject, Aurora's floor-finishing work was made available. "Oh, I didn't know you were so handy." Thirteen looked at the floors, appraisingly. "Nice work. Very, ah, smooth."

"Let's try the IPA first," Craft beers weren't typically her thing, and she was a little uncertain what the differences were. It would be a learning experience.

"Aye!" Happily, the Libertine opened her pack and pulled out a couple of bottles of Irn-Bru. The orange-colored soda didn't look particularly special, but most sodas didn't. After that, she present a box with a plaid pattern on it. "Scottie dogs! My favorite biscuit-- er, cookie, from home." She fished up a second box of the same shortbread cookies, but these ones were chocolate flavored.

[Aurora]

Laughing, “Sometimes you have to. And it worked out pretty well, it was actually kind to me.” Those were the days. “And I hear that! I’d be lost without music. Good music can make or break the day in my opinion. I use it in all my shows, it’s vital.” And she just loved music.

“Why thank you! I like to think so, suppose it’s years upon years of training and performing. Yours aren’t too bad either.” Aurora just always thought her legs were her best feature.

Shrugging as she looked at the floors, “I didn’t know I was either to be honest. They were in desperate need of sanding and a fresh coat, and the landlord said I was welcome to give it a try, so I figured, why not. Turns out, I’m pretty good at it, so now I refurbish furniture on the side. Just like, a hobby, nothing special.” Like, she wasn’t going to win awards or anything for what she did.

“IPA it is then!” checking the bottle caps again and putting the rest back in the fridge. “Feel free to have a seat anywhere in the living room if you want.” Pulling some glasses from the freezer before heading into the living room area as well.

Gray eyes take in the orange drink as she sets down the brown bottles and frosted glasses, “Oh, now that looks good. Is it a soda?” because it could be an energy drink to be fair. Now the tin? The Shaman’s mouth hangs open a bit, “Wait, are those dog shaped cookies? Or biscuits, whichever. But oh my god are those adorable!” eyes wide as she smiles, “Those are real?! But they’re so cute! How can you eat them?!” laughing, opening the bottles and pouring the IPA into the frosted glasses.

“If you don’t like the IPA, don’t worry about it, you won’t hurt my feelings.” She assures the Enchantress. She knew beer, especially home brewed beer, wasn’t for everyone.

[Thirteen]

"Well, I'm learnin' Sacramento better every day," the Scottish lass nodded confidently, "Got all the important locations memorized. Not bad for a city I didn't even know existed last year." She laughed, "Aye, you'd have to kill me to take my headphones from me."

"Ach, thank you." Thirteen did like her own legs well enough. They were good legs. She smiled as she sat down in a chair, crossing said legs at the knee. "Skirts are fun, but usually a bit risky when drivin' a motorbike." She had risked it today, obviously and successfully.

The redhead looked about the loft again, "Did you do any of this furniture?"

"Aye, it's soda. The best in the world," she said with national pride! The Acanthus grinned, much amused by the Shaman's reaction to the cookies. "Aren't they the cutest, though? They're modeled after the Scottish Terrier. When I was just a wee bairn, I'd have trouble eatin' the puppers. But my dad assured they want to be eaten, to fulfill their cookie destiny. And he said they'll always make more."

She picked up one of the glasses and gave the contents a curious eye and quick little sniff. "Cheers!" And with that, she took a hearty drink. There was some savoring before she spoke again. "Hmm. I'm no beer expert, but I think that's pretty damn good. You been brewin' long?"

[Aurora]

“There you go! I found it wasn’t too bad to learn if you took the time to just walk, or drive, around. Not as confusing as some of the larger cities out there, which is a good thing.” Laughing, “If I ever see your name in police section, I’ll know it was for someone trying to take them from you. And they probably lost and got their ass handed to them.” One thing Aurora couldn’t do was fight, despite Phoenyx trying so hard to teach her.

Snorting as she laughed, “You know, I totally flaked on putting those two together, but, uh, yah. That takes guts, and skill, so good for you. I admit, I’d probably do it myself, because, why not, only live once.” Social norms be damned.

Taking a sip of her own beer before nodding, “A bit of it, the coffee table and the bookshelves. Though, those are still a work in progress, I keep getting busy with other things and just don’t finish them. Maybe someday.” Shrugging, obviously not worried about it.

“Now that is quite the claim! Should I grab some extra glasses? I have more frosted ones, and of course, not frosted ones. I’m going with your judgement on which is best for trying the best soda in the world.” Truth be told, she was looking forward to trying it. The Shaman wasn’t one to turn down the chance to try something from another country. “Are you able to get it here in the States?” because if it really was that good, then she was going to have a problem. “They really are!” then laughed some more, “To fulfill their cookie destiny! Now that is a new one, but that is great. But they are adorable.” She would eat them, but was just taken with how cute they were. Sure, she was a Master of Life and Spirit, but she could still find a cookie fucking adorable.

The IPA would have citrus hints to it and a light crisp taste.

“Oh, uh, lets see,” taking a moment to think, trying to count the years, “a while. I got into it with my dad on the road. And just sort of kept it up as a hobby.” Pausing, “And because it was cheaper then buying beer.” That was completely true. “I don’t brew from scratch or anything, they’re all kits I buy either online or from a home brew store. But I suppose I could still botch the recipe and brew process. Someday I plan to try my hand at my own recipes though.” But the kits were so much easier, everything was measured.

“So what brought you to Sacramento?” the blonde didn't want to be the center point of the conversation, she really wasn't all that interesting.

[Thirteen]

Thirteen could only laugh. She wasn't some expert fighter, herself, though she did have luck and good timing on her side.

"Somehow I managed to make it here without flashin' my knickers to the whole city, so I guess I'll consider that a skill. We'll see how it goes on the way home, eh?"

She looked at the coffee table, and nodded. "Always something needin' your attention, right?"

"Irn'Bru's usually drunk cold, or a bit chilled, at least. So we can try that if you wish." She sipped some more of the IPA, "Aye, there's a shop here that specializes in British foods. I can get all sorts of treats from home. That's where I got this stuff. I was pretty happy to find the place." She picked up the box of the plain Scottie Dogs and opened it, "And they're delicious!"

"It's interestin', what we pick up from our parents. My dad gave me my love of motorcycles," the Acanthus smiled fondly as she fiddled with the box. "Brewin' your own is cheaper than just buyin' beer? I'd have thought it was the other way around."

What had brought her to Sacramento? "Would you believe a dart?"