09-26-2016, 02:47 PM
Carmen nodded at the instruction. She was here herself most days. Raffe and Claire could also be trusted with the responsibility. She was still mulling the logistics, expression serious, thoughts inward, when mention of her bartender floated her brows up in surprise.
"You mean Raffe? You think we're--? No."
She laughed, not unkindly, but certainly amused. Raffe was pretty, but he was also like a puppy; not to mention that Carmen was his boss and a number of years his senior. It shouldn't have mattered but she was glad to set the record straight, and though she said nothing regarding Manix's regular presence for the foreseeable future, she didn't look disappointed at the prospect either.
He was quiet a long time before answering her question. Carmen folded her tattooed arms on the table, leaned in with interest. Ori never really spoke about what she was, at least not to Carmen, and it was not like they had the kind of relationship that encouraged Carmen to express her curiosity. Half the time she was absent entirely -- though of late the pattern of her visits had been increasing. There were other women, too, who Carmen either knew of or suspected, but they were employees and Carmen steered away from too much familiarity.
Controlling wind and water in the middle of the ocean pushed outside the boundaries of understanding. It was like fiction. But then so was the arch now standing in the Red Square, and no one refuted that. "You can heal?"
Incredible. And frightening, the apparent breadth and possibility these powers took. Worse when she considered what someone like Oriena might do with such gifts. Squander them, probably.
After a moment more, she pressed back to her feet. The longer she lingered the more gossip Raffe would press for later, with his charming grin and wink. He was only interested at all because it was unusual behaviour for her. Even Ori would probably tease her later. Carmen hefted her work like a shield, and was good at what she did, but rarely showed genuine interest -- let alone in a patron. Manix numbered the first ever exception. Though he probably didn't even realise it.
"Then I'll see you around."
She smiled, and it was sincere, not a mask, her hand held out to shake on the informal deal.
"You mean Raffe? You think we're--? No."
She laughed, not unkindly, but certainly amused. Raffe was pretty, but he was also like a puppy; not to mention that Carmen was his boss and a number of years his senior. It shouldn't have mattered but she was glad to set the record straight, and though she said nothing regarding Manix's regular presence for the foreseeable future, she didn't look disappointed at the prospect either.
He was quiet a long time before answering her question. Carmen folded her tattooed arms on the table, leaned in with interest. Ori never really spoke about what she was, at least not to Carmen, and it was not like they had the kind of relationship that encouraged Carmen to express her curiosity. Half the time she was absent entirely -- though of late the pattern of her visits had been increasing. There were other women, too, who Carmen either knew of or suspected, but they were employees and Carmen steered away from too much familiarity.
Controlling wind and water in the middle of the ocean pushed outside the boundaries of understanding. It was like fiction. But then so was the arch now standing in the Red Square, and no one refuted that. "You can heal?"
Incredible. And frightening, the apparent breadth and possibility these powers took. Worse when she considered what someone like Oriena might do with such gifts. Squander them, probably.
After a moment more, she pressed back to her feet. The longer she lingered the more gossip Raffe would press for later, with his charming grin and wink. He was only interested at all because it was unusual behaviour for her. Even Ori would probably tease her later. Carmen hefted her work like a shield, and was good at what she did, but rarely showed genuine interest -- let alone in a patron. Manix numbered the first ever exception. Though he probably didn't even realise it.
"Then I'll see you around."
She smiled, and it was sincere, not a mask, her hand held out to shake on the informal deal.
![[Image: orianderis.jpg]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/orianderis.jpg)