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[laserhawk]

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[likemybooks]

You won't believe how much better my life became after I decided just to be myself. [Hooray for a key character theme that aligned with his embracing his sexuality.] Even if it gets hard. If you ever need to stand up to someone, make sure you have a group of friends that are pretty good at killing things to back you up.

[laserhawk]

Easier said than done. But I'll keep it in mind.

[ not really. dolph's never had a friend or person who didn't stab him in the back. this is the first place he's ever had . . . anything. having a group of friends doesn't feel like a luxury, but a miracle to possess.

it's fine. he's not much of a people person. ]

[likemybooks]

Yeah...you got that right.

[It was a struggle with many near-death moments for Taryon, but he eventually found friends.]

...Let's talk about something lighter. It's a date. We should get to actually know each other.

[laserhawk]

[ hmm. ]

Why don't you start us off?

[likemybooks]

[He goes through a list of things to as a potential romantic partner.]

What are your hobbies? I like to read, fiction and non-fiction, but I have a soft spot for adventure novels. And I come up with stories of my own based on those characters. But other times, I build things in my workshop.

[There. Engineering will counter his nerd hobby. At least he didn't mention his LARPing.]

[laserhawk]

[ hm. this is tricky. dolph runs through the things he's picked up here. ]

I guess I like cooking. Bartending's nice too. And I enjoy a dance now and then, with music.

Hobbies are still a new thing for me.

[likemybooks]

See, those are good ones! I wish I could love cooking enough to do it myself every day.

[A pause.]

What kind of dancing? Not ballroom, I assume?

[laserhawk]

No, just club dancing.

It happens at Club Quartz pretty often.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon feels like this is a stupid question, but:] How does one dance at a club?

[laserhawk]

[ dolph at least doesn't treat it as one. it's a common question he gets here. ]

It's less structured. You move with the flow of the music than having dance steps.

[likemybooks]

Ah. So it's a...moving and grooving with the beat sort of thing? [He does an awkward shuffle that's an approximation of what a shut-in rich boy thinks popular dancing looks like.]

[laserhawk]

[ he smiles faintly. ]

Close to that, yeah.

[likemybooks]

Well, then. A visit to your club during a dance is in order. After whatever is going on goes away.

[They reach a clearing, no longer full of aggressive wildlife or plants.]

This is the spot. [He runs to the middle of the grassy patch and sets the basket down.]

[laserhawk]

[ dolph sets the cooler down. ]

Anything I should do to set up?

[likemybooks]

Help me with the blanket. The rest isn't a big deal.

[laserhawk]

You got it.

[ he helps straighten it out before taking a seat on it. he doesn't spend much time around nature, but when he does, dolph finds he enjoys it. ]

[likemybooks]

[Taryon smoothes out the corners before he's satisfied and drops next to Dolph, legs crossed. He pulls out the sandwiches first, followed by the cloth napkins and the baked goods.]

Thought I'd bring enough for a decent meal, hah.

[laserhawk]

It's nice. Thoughtful.

[ dolph, for his part, uncorks a bottle of beer. he hands it to taryon first if he's interested. ]

[likemybooks]

[Oh...beer...the lower-class drink that Taryon could never develop a taste for. He glances at the cooler.]

Did you bring anything stronger? [A pause.] For later, obviously.

[laserhawk]

[ he seems bemused, taking it back. ]

I have champagne. That should do.

[likemybooks]

Ah! Yes, that's an excellent idea! We should have a toast to ourselves and...whatever happens after this!

[He raises his fist to show just how positive he is about this date working out well!]

It's...it's a good time as any to have something nice.

[laserhawk]

[ hmm. ]

Rough time last month?

[likemybooks]

[His hand drops to the blanket.]

It's been...difficult without my stuff or my magic, I admit it.

[laserhawk]

Nothing wrong with that.

The first few months are hard.

[likemybooks]

I'm going to get my robot as soon as I can. He'll make things easier.

[He holds out the box of sandwiches to Dolph.]

I made these. Here.