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What kind of dancing are you wanting to do?

( he'd ask for forgiveness for his obliviousness but he hasn't really been into very many businesses since he'd gotten here. he'd explored but mostly just to get a lay of the land. )

And why wouldn't he let you especially if you're an adult and it's something you wanna do?

[ she has to bite back a laugh at his perfectly valid questions because yeah, he hasn't been here long enough to realize that the majority of the businesses here are sex-based in one way or another.]

The kind of dancing I did the night you met me. [ she gives him a long, coy look before she turns to take the beer the bartender gives her in exchange for her empty bottle.]

He's like my big brother here so... he doesn't exactly want to see me stripping on stage which is fine. I make good money at the bar.

Ah.

( well, he doesn't blush, at least. he laughs a bit and looks down at his glass, tapping it with a finger before he looks back at her. )

But it's something you want to do? The...dancing like that?

( the stripping. he can say it, he just...doesn't say it. )

[ she, however, does blush a little despite herself. there's nothing to be embarrassed about. and honestly, she'd felt more empowered on that night than she'd ever felt in this place.]

I don't think so. [ she takes a sip of her beer again.] Making it my job would, I think, take the fun out of it. [ she holds the beer to her lips.]

It's not something I've ever really done before either. [ other than the time in the white wyrm back home but that was a completely different thing.] That night was my first time.

That was your first time?

( well, damn. he laughs a little, shaking his head because he would not have guessed that. nothing wrong with dancing like that and he's definitely not reacting like this because he thinks badly of that sort of thing. )

Well, I wouldn't have guessed that. You were...very, very good at that.

( considering what she'd made him do and all. )

You were good.

[ she flushes a little more at the compliment, especially the way he makes it very clear that he means it by the way he gives it.

she lets out a little, bashful laugh before she takes a sip of her beer.] Thank you. [ her eyes lift to look at him.] It was fun. [ she grins.] I had fun.

So did I.

( if that wasn't evident but he thinks that was very, very evident. he laughs a little shyly and shakes his head. )

I had a good time so I'm glad you did too.

( he downs the rest of the drink before he pushes it away from him and orders another though he doesn't think he'll drink it all. he doesn't want to get smashed. )

[ hey, feeling good doesn't always mean you're having fun. and yeah, it was pretty damn clear he was feeling good but it's nice to hear he had fun.

she feels a flutter of nerves because she hasn't really been this bold with people she only sort of knows. it's either with strangers or people she feels completely comfortable with that she's completely direct with but... she takes a sip of her beer and gives him a coy, side glance.]

We can always have a good time again.

( that was...very true. they could. and while his life and his head are both messes that he's yet to figure out, he tells himself there's no harm in having a good time, especially not here.

he's not doing anything wrong. he doesn't answer right away but a smile does curve his lips and he tries to hide it by rubbing at his upper lip with his fingers. )

We could.

( he's still smiling a bit when he looks over at her. )

If you want.

[ for a moment, her nerves twist her stomach when she thinks she may have been too forward which is a little ridiculous considering she literally made him come the first time they met.

but betty's still navigating this kind of thing.

so she's pleased when she catches his smile, her own strengthening as a result.]

I'd like that.

All right.

( marcos has been out of the...whole dating/hookup whatever this is called game for awhile. he's either been with someone or too wrapped up in his own issues to really give it the time.

so, he doesn't even know if he's doing this right. she agrees so that's a good start. )

You, uh, wanna get out of here?

[ while she hadn't exactly meant right now, she realizes that there's no reason not to seize the moment, right now. and a surge of confidence wrests away any nerves she might have been feeling.

with a smile, she nods.] Yeah, I do. [ she takes another swig of her drink before she sets down enough money to cover them both, glancing at him with the hopes he won't mind.] You can get it next time. [ because if he's new and without a contract, he needs to save all the money he can.]

( he starts to protest but then stops, nodding. yes, he'll get things next time and he absolutely won't let her forget that she said that. he's not super old fashioned but he does want to be...nice. not selfish. )

Next time.

( he wants to hope that he has a job and a lot more money next time. )

Where to?

( he'll take her to his place and hope she doesn't mind the down and that shitty apartment he's been given. )

[ she's the more established one right now so she doesn't think twice of paying the bill this time. it's more in case his pride needs the reassurance that she reminds him that he can cover next time.

she nods when he agrees, happy that he did before she considers his question.] Mine's not too far. Unless you'd rather to go to yours?

No, we can go to yours.

( though he's pretty sure that isabelle's staying in other places every so often, he doesn't want her to think she has to leave if he were to show up.

so, better safe than sorry. )

I haven't gotten the chance to decorate mine just yet.

[ she laughs a little at that, both understanding that the apartments in the down leave a lot to be desired and that sometimes you're roomed with multiple people. ]

Just fair warning... the apartments in the Up are a bit... much.

Thanks for the warning. I think I'll be able to handle it but thanks.

( he's been in the inner circle's little penthouse and that had been...sterile and bright and way, way too much for him. to each his own, marcos thinks, but he's not the kind of person who needs all that. )

If it's too much, I'll put my head between my knees and work my way past it.

( he glances over at her and smirks to tell her know he's teasing. )

[ she laughs as she gets them walking towards her place which isn't too far of a walk.] I think I have a paper bag you can breathe into. [ she lets her smile turn a bit impish.] Or I can think of other ways of distracting you.

We'll try...your other ways of distraction and if that doesn't work, even if I think it will, I'll try the paper bag.

( but marcos doesn't think that's going to be necessary. he thinks that if she distract him in the way he's thinking, he'll be fine. truthfully, he thinks he's not going to need a distraction.

while he's sure the luxury of the apartments will stop him cold for a second, it'll pass and he'll focus on other, better things. )

It's good to have a plan.

[ she feels some guilt about where she lives, about the life this city has granted her while others struggle to survive. it's why she tries to give as much as she can without getting busted for it.

she grins at him as she glances down the block.] It's just up the street. My temporary roommate is probably not home but he has a dog, Moose, who might be there.

You can have pets here?

( marcos doesn't know why that strikes him as strange. maybe it's just the whole...pets don't really fit in with his image of this place. they're too soft, too normal.

so, the thought of her having a dog makes him smile, makes him think of zingo. )

I don't know why that surprises me but it does.

Yeah, pets are kind of common here. I have a kitten but she likes to hide so you probably won't see her. I found her and bunch of other kittens so I handed them out to people. [ otherwise she wouldn't probably have a pet, just because she'd feel bad for having a pet in case she got sent home. but these kittens needed homes so...

she nods again with a smile to match his.]

My best friend from home came here with his dog, from home. This place sometimes can feel deceptively normal.

I guess it's good that some things are just...normal, here. Maybe that just makes it easier to be here. I don't know.

( since he doesn't have a pet here with him. )

Me and a few friends of mine have a dog back home, Zingo. She was great at keeping your feet warm when it was freezing out or chewing your shoes to shreds.

( he misses her. he just hopes that she's making sure that john and clarice stay stuff. )

Zingo-- [ she says the name fondly, finding how he describes her to be endearing.] She sounds like a great dog, even with the chewing shoes thing. [ she's glad Moose isn't like that but even if he were, she wouldn't mind, it's nice having him around (and reggie for that matter), it makes the apartment less lonely.]

I don't think I would have gotten a pet here if I hadn't found Cappuccino in an alley just because things can be so... unstable. [ she glances back at him as approaches the door the building, using her key to get them in.] But I'm glad to have her.

I'm glad you do too. I haven't been here very long but I think it's a good thing to have something that reminds you of home. Or of something normal.

( since this place was decidedly not.

but, his thoughts about pets and normalcy fall away when they approach the building. the size doesn't really rock him but he can already tell that when he steps inside, it's going to be about the nicest thing he's ever seen.

a place like this is a place that he'll never have for himself. and he's fine with that. )

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