[Scene] Phoenix and Adrian in An Entirely Platonic Non-Date
((Takes place early March.))
Adrian: *sits behind her desk in her office, frowning down at the papers in front of her. Her office is unremarkable - mid-sized, nothing too out of the ordinary, and fairly tidy and neat except for the desk at which she sits, over which is strewn several documents and a few catalogs. The light outside her window is starting to fade and the office is getting slowly darker - nearly time to call it a day. It's quiet, except for the rustling of paper as she looks from one sheet to another and silently mumbles figures and dates to herself*
Wright: *there's the light sound of footsteps approaching the door, followed by the turn of the handle. Without knocking, a head pops through the crack of the entrance--Phoenix's half-sleepy, absentminded features, complete with his vivid-colored hat, pokes into the room. He scans about with lazy eyes and a grin, noting the decor of the office and also whether or not the lady at the desk has noticed him*
Adrian: *in her concentration, Adrian doesn't notice anything at first. She works on for a moment or two before her gaze drifts up absently of its own accord and she startles suddenly, noticing that not only has the door opened without her realizing, but there's someone watching her* Oh! Mr. Wright!
Wright: *chuckles lightly and steps in properly, hands in hoodie pockets as he walks to her. He studies the window, the desk, and finally the petite woman at the desk, his countenance still lightheartedly cheerful as ever* I've known you for quite a while but I haven't been here before, have I? It's not bad at all.
Adrian: *pushes up her glasses as a kind of embarrassed reflex, and giving her papers a quick shuffle she gets up out of her chair* Well, thank you... I've - only begun working from this space fairly recently, actually. It's good to have a quiet place in which to concentrate, and to have everything organized.
Wright: I see. *his eyes wander down to the papers on the table--not quick enough to be prying --before he looks back up at her* Don't let me rush you-go ahead and finish off whatever there is that needs doing. I wouldn't want to be an inconvenience...!
Adrian: Oh, no! No, not at all. *she turns quickly back to the papers while she talks, pushing them into a single pile at the edge of the desk* You did mention that you would be dropping by after all - I was only looking at a few things, nothing urgent. I-I'm ready to head out, if you like.
Wright: I'm ready when you are. *rests a hand on her desk and leans lightly against it as he waits. There's something behind the laid back expression in his eyes--humor?* *casually* I hope you don't mind walking, by the way-- it's just a couple of blocks from here, and Trucy has the car for the night.
Adrian: All right, I'll just... *she tries not to feel uncomfortable under his gaze, though she can't quite look him in the eye* No, I don't mind walking at all, I-- *she looks back up at him suddenly, realizing what he just said* Did you say-- Trucy has the car? I-- I didn't know she could drive!
Wright: She can't; she's fourteen. *chuckles* I'm thinking about getting her one for her next birthday, though! It'd sure come in handy for her act. *hasn't missed a beat, and doesn't break eye contact with her whatsoever*
Adrian: Oh... *Adrian isn't quite sure what to say, though she gets the feeling she's being teased. She moves slowly to gather up the last of her things before leaving* How is she doing? It's been some time since I saw her last...
Wright: She's doing great. Not too amazingly at school, but more than stellar with her show. *heads over to the door, opening it up* She's been busy training her new pet kitten... and recruiting and interviewing potential mothers for herself, of course...!
Adrian: *follows him out the door and when they're outside, shuts and locks it behind them. She nods as he talks- until his last line catches her completely off-guard* Potential--?! Well..! And have you... found anyone suitable? *she starts to blush slightly out of embarrassment*
Wright: *studies her for a long lingering moment without speaking, with a perfectly serious look on his face...*
Wright: *then chuckles, puts a hand casually around her, and leads her to the sidewalk in this manner* Maybe. I'm keeping an open mind.
Adrian: *flinches very lightly, surprised at the touch, but lets herself be led* Oh... um, that's... good. *she's not sure at all what else to say, and is quiet for a minute* So Mr. Wright... where are we headed?
Wright: Out for a drink, of course. *keeps her comfortably close beside him as he walks--if he feels awkward or nervous he doesn't give that away, and of course none of the people who pass by seem to find it all that strange* You said you haven't been out in a while, right?
Adrian: No, not really... In between work, and... Well, I haven't had the chance, and besides that I'm not out often anyway. *pauses* What sort of a place is it that we're going?
Wright: A bar. *the teasing is fully evident in his voice* ...and grill. Are you worried I'd take you somewhere inappropriate?
Adrian: *she slides a sidelong glance at him, blushing again* Of course... n-no, of course not...! *bites her lip and walks on for a bit without speaking, slightly annoyed at herself for being all over the place with his teasing*
Wright: A ha ha. Good, good. You know I wouldn't do that~! *and he's comfortably quiet for the rest of the walk, which isn't for very much longer. When he finally stops them both, it's in front of a building with an old timey western design. The sign, well worn and unilluminated, simply reads: "The Rusty Gust Saloon Bar & Grill"* Here we are.
Adrian: *brightens up at the sight of the familiar building* Oh, this place! I haven't been here in an age!
Wright: I figured you'd want to visit, since you missed the celebrations last time. *opens up the first set of doors--there's another set of swinging Western-style saloon doors just inside* ...Of course, it also helps that this is the one bar where I don't have a bad reputation...
Adrian: *following him inside, breathing in the air and hubbub of the late afternoon crowd, she manages a little laugh* Not even for your piano-playing?
Wright: ...Well. Perhaps for that, but they know well enough to keep me away from the thing most of the time. *chuckles, giving a wave to Kate the bartender and glancing around himself* Would you like to sit at the counter, or should we have a table to ourselves?
Adrian: ...The counter is fine. If you don't mind, I mean. *steps tentatively towards one of the stools a few seats up from the door, to put her bag down on it*
Wright: I don't mind at all. *settles in beside her, resting an elbow on the bar counter and his jaw on his hand. Kate is still seeing to another customer, so he keeps his lazy eyes directed at Adrian* I spent most of my time last visit at a table, with Ms. von Karma. I'm still feeling a sense of impending doom each time I move to sit at one.
Adrian: *smiles vaguely at the mention of Franziska. Leaning forward on the counter in an imitation of his posture, she directs the smile at him* You never really told me exactly what happened between the two of you here that night.
Wright: And she hasn't told you herself? ... No, it's probably something she'd take to the grave, isn't it? *chuckles* Well, she met my daughter, for one thing.
Adrian: Oh, dear... *she rubs her bottom lip distractedly* That sounds like it must have been a bit too interesting. Knowing those two. *laughs*
Wright: It was interesting, all right. Though she has a soft spot for kids--or Tru has a way with whip-happy adults, I guess you could say. *his eyes seem to twinkle with amusement* So how have the two of you been getting along, lately?
Adrian: *almost wants to raise her eyebrows at that first comment, but looking at his expression she suspects he's probably teasing her and trying to trap her again, and makes a mental note to ask Franziska next time instead*
Adrian: *she looks away now, a bit pink in the face* We're... great. I'm so glad to have her, as... *pauses, and swallows. It's taken her a long time to be able to say it out loud like this* ...I love her a lot.
Wright: *grins--perhaps a touch too much, really* I'm glad to finally hear it. You know, there was a point when I didn't think you were ever going to-- *chuckles and shakes his head, his sentence interrupted by the arrival of the bartender* A glass of the usual for me. And for Ms. Andrews-- *tilts his head at her*
Adrian: Oh, uh-- *looks round, startled out of her dreamy state* Um. What would you recommend for, ah, a light drinker?
Wright: I don't order a lot of light drinks myself, but... *considers, then nods to Kate* A cosmopolitan. *to Adrian* The name suits you, if nothing else.
Adrian: I... suppose so. *laughs* Thank you. *as the bartender leaves them, Adrian settles and lets her gaze fall back onto nothing in particular* You were... saying something, Mr. Wright?
Wright: Was I? *leans in close to her, smiling* I've forgotten.
Adrian: *looks faintly confused* Yes, you mentioned that you didn't think-- *stops suddenly, a bit uneasy, and with great effort shakes her head, smiling* No, no. Never mind. It wasn't... *sighs* E-enough about me - how about yourself, Mr. Wright? How... have things been?
Wright: *laughs merrily, sitting back upright in his seat* Oh, you know me. It's been all sunshine and tulips and terrible piano ballads. *in a slightly more serious tone, though he still looks quite amused* Actually, I've been rather busy with a pet project of mine lately. It's been hard to balance that with my "work" and still have some time left over to chat with friends and acquaintances. *Kate returns with their drinks, and he raises his bourbon glass to Adrian*
Adrian: *smiling, she carefully lifts her glass to return the gesture* ...Cheers--I suppose! *she takes a sip of the drink, taking in its flavor* Thank you for taking me out tonight, then, seeing as you have so little spare time... Is it something very--important, this project?
Wright: No, thank you, for humoring me. Cheers. *takes a long sip of bourbon, letting out a satisfied sigh after he does* And it depends on who you ask. It might not take off the ground at all... but with luck you'll hear about it in the papers in the coming year or so.
Adrian: Oh. It sounds like it must be... I hope it works out well for you then. *softly, and a bit nervous of approaching the subject* Is it to do with--your... previous work?
Wright: ... *studies her with a quiet grin* ...Now, why do you think it would have to do with that?
Adrian: *beginning to get nervous* Well--I just thought... I mean, I'd hoped that... I'd just--thought that if anything would take up so much of your time it would be--that. *glances at him quickly* I apologize if it was out of turn for me to mention it.
Wright: Not at all; you don't need to apologise. *chuckles as he takes another sip of his drink* I'm rather out of touch with the world of law though, or at least according to most people in it. *glances off vacantly* And it'd sooner be a cold day in whatever place Engarde is before anyone approves of me handling anything newsworthy in the legal sphere.
Adrian: *looks down at the counter* ...I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Wright. *she takes a long sip of her drink, then swishes it around, peering into it, unsure what to say*
Wright: Hey, hey-- like I said, no need no apologise. Really. And hey, since when have I cared what they think...? *laughs-- perhaps a touch too strongly, then takes a gulp of his drink* Come on, enough about this grim and hoity-toity legal business. Tell me more about you and Franziska! *a bright, mischievous grin makes its way onto his features* Have you talked about settling in together? Are there wedding bells in the air~?
Adrian: *caught right in the middle of sipping her drink, Adrian splutters and then chokes* Wh-what--! *when she finishes coughing her cheeks are very red* We're--a w-wedding...?! We've never discussed--I mean, I've never asked h-- *embarrassment and a touch of drink are starting to muddle her up. She forces herself to stop gabbling*
Adrian: It's wonderful... at the moment... We haven't quite discussed anything too--serious--not at length. But I don't mind! I'm just happy to be... *smiles vaguely and turns back to her drink, leaving the sentence open*
Wright: *chuckles, all too amused at her reaction-- it's cute* Good, great. I'm glad you're happy, and I'm sure she is quite, too. Don't just put all of that other stuff out of mind, though...! I have big expectations. *holds up his drink to her one more time* Come on--cheers...!
Adrian: *laughs at nothing in particular, finally letting herself relax again* Ha ha... I hope so, Mr. Wright! *raises her glass* Cheers!
Adrian: *sits behind her desk in her office, frowning down at the papers in front of her. Her office is unremarkable - mid-sized, nothing too out of the ordinary, and fairly tidy and neat except for the desk at which she sits, over which is strewn several documents and a few catalogs. The light outside her window is starting to fade and the office is getting slowly darker - nearly time to call it a day. It's quiet, except for the rustling of paper as she looks from one sheet to another and silently mumbles figures and dates to herself*
Wright: *there's the light sound of footsteps approaching the door, followed by the turn of the handle. Without knocking, a head pops through the crack of the entrance--Phoenix's half-sleepy, absentminded features, complete with his vivid-colored hat, pokes into the room. He scans about with lazy eyes and a grin, noting the decor of the office and also whether or not the lady at the desk has noticed him*
Adrian: *in her concentration, Adrian doesn't notice anything at first. She works on for a moment or two before her gaze drifts up absently of its own accord and she startles suddenly, noticing that not only has the door opened without her realizing, but there's someone watching her* Oh! Mr. Wright!
Wright: *chuckles lightly and steps in properly, hands in hoodie pockets as he walks to her. He studies the window, the desk, and finally the petite woman at the desk, his countenance still lightheartedly cheerful as ever* I've known you for quite a while but I haven't been here before, have I? It's not bad at all.
Adrian: *pushes up her glasses as a kind of embarrassed reflex, and giving her papers a quick shuffle she gets up out of her chair* Well, thank you... I've - only begun working from this space fairly recently, actually. It's good to have a quiet place in which to concentrate, and to have everything organized.
Wright: I see. *his eyes wander down to the papers on the table--not quick enough to be prying --before he looks back up at her* Don't let me rush you-go ahead and finish off whatever there is that needs doing. I wouldn't want to be an inconvenience...!
Adrian: Oh, no! No, not at all. *she turns quickly back to the papers while she talks, pushing them into a single pile at the edge of the desk* You did mention that you would be dropping by after all - I was only looking at a few things, nothing urgent. I-I'm ready to head out, if you like.
Wright: I'm ready when you are. *rests a hand on her desk and leans lightly against it as he waits. There's something behind the laid back expression in his eyes--humor?* *casually* I hope you don't mind walking, by the way-- it's just a couple of blocks from here, and Trucy has the car for the night.
Adrian: All right, I'll just... *she tries not to feel uncomfortable under his gaze, though she can't quite look him in the eye* No, I don't mind walking at all, I-- *she looks back up at him suddenly, realizing what he just said* Did you say-- Trucy has the car? I-- I didn't know she could drive!
Wright: She can't; she's fourteen. *chuckles* I'm thinking about getting her one for her next birthday, though! It'd sure come in handy for her act. *hasn't missed a beat, and doesn't break eye contact with her whatsoever*
Adrian: Oh... *Adrian isn't quite sure what to say, though she gets the feeling she's being teased. She moves slowly to gather up the last of her things before leaving* How is she doing? It's been some time since I saw her last...
Wright: She's doing great. Not too amazingly at school, but more than stellar with her show. *heads over to the door, opening it up* She's been busy training her new pet kitten... and recruiting and interviewing potential mothers for herself, of course...!
Adrian: *follows him out the door and when they're outside, shuts and locks it behind them. She nods as he talks- until his last line catches her completely off-guard* Potential--?! Well..! And have you... found anyone suitable? *she starts to blush slightly out of embarrassment*
Wright: *studies her for a long lingering moment without speaking, with a perfectly serious look on his face...*
Wright: *then chuckles, puts a hand casually around her, and leads her to the sidewalk in this manner* Maybe. I'm keeping an open mind.
Adrian: *flinches very lightly, surprised at the touch, but lets herself be led* Oh... um, that's... good. *she's not sure at all what else to say, and is quiet for a minute* So Mr. Wright... where are we headed?
Wright: Out for a drink, of course. *keeps her comfortably close beside him as he walks--if he feels awkward or nervous he doesn't give that away, and of course none of the people who pass by seem to find it all that strange* You said you haven't been out in a while, right?
Adrian: No, not really... In between work, and... Well, I haven't had the chance, and besides that I'm not out often anyway. *pauses* What sort of a place is it that we're going?
Wright: A bar. *the teasing is fully evident in his voice* ...and grill. Are you worried I'd take you somewhere inappropriate?
Adrian: *she slides a sidelong glance at him, blushing again* Of course... n-no, of course not...! *bites her lip and walks on for a bit without speaking, slightly annoyed at herself for being all over the place with his teasing*
Wright: A ha ha. Good, good. You know I wouldn't do that~! *and he's comfortably quiet for the rest of the walk, which isn't for very much longer. When he finally stops them both, it's in front of a building with an old timey western design. The sign, well worn and unilluminated, simply reads: "The Rusty Gust Saloon Bar & Grill"* Here we are.
Adrian: *brightens up at the sight of the familiar building* Oh, this place! I haven't been here in an age!
Wright: I figured you'd want to visit, since you missed the celebrations last time. *opens up the first set of doors--there's another set of swinging Western-style saloon doors just inside* ...Of course, it also helps that this is the one bar where I don't have a bad reputation...
Adrian: *following him inside, breathing in the air and hubbub of the late afternoon crowd, she manages a little laugh* Not even for your piano-playing?
Wright: ...Well. Perhaps for that, but they know well enough to keep me away from the thing most of the time. *chuckles, giving a wave to Kate the bartender and glancing around himself* Would you like to sit at the counter, or should we have a table to ourselves?
Adrian: ...The counter is fine. If you don't mind, I mean. *steps tentatively towards one of the stools a few seats up from the door, to put her bag down on it*
Wright: I don't mind at all. *settles in beside her, resting an elbow on the bar counter and his jaw on his hand. Kate is still seeing to another customer, so he keeps his lazy eyes directed at Adrian* I spent most of my time last visit at a table, with Ms. von Karma. I'm still feeling a sense of impending doom each time I move to sit at one.
Adrian: *smiles vaguely at the mention of Franziska. Leaning forward on the counter in an imitation of his posture, she directs the smile at him* You never really told me exactly what happened between the two of you here that night.
Wright: And she hasn't told you herself? ... No, it's probably something she'd take to the grave, isn't it? *chuckles* Well, she met my daughter, for one thing.
Adrian: Oh, dear... *she rubs her bottom lip distractedly* That sounds like it must have been a bit too interesting. Knowing those two. *laughs*
Wright: It was interesting, all right. Though she has a soft spot for kids--or Tru has a way with whip-happy adults, I guess you could say. *his eyes seem to twinkle with amusement* So how have the two of you been getting along, lately?
Adrian: *almost wants to raise her eyebrows at that first comment, but looking at his expression she suspects he's probably teasing her and trying to trap her again, and makes a mental note to ask Franziska next time instead*
Adrian: *she looks away now, a bit pink in the face* We're... great. I'm so glad to have her, as... *pauses, and swallows. It's taken her a long time to be able to say it out loud like this* ...I love her a lot.
Wright: *grins--perhaps a touch too much, really* I'm glad to finally hear it. You know, there was a point when I didn't think you were ever going to-- *chuckles and shakes his head, his sentence interrupted by the arrival of the bartender* A glass of the usual for me. And for Ms. Andrews-- *tilts his head at her*
Adrian: Oh, uh-- *looks round, startled out of her dreamy state* Um. What would you recommend for, ah, a light drinker?
Wright: I don't order a lot of light drinks myself, but... *considers, then nods to Kate* A cosmopolitan. *to Adrian* The name suits you, if nothing else.
Adrian: I... suppose so. *laughs* Thank you. *as the bartender leaves them, Adrian settles and lets her gaze fall back onto nothing in particular* You were... saying something, Mr. Wright?
Wright: Was I? *leans in close to her, smiling* I've forgotten.
Adrian: *looks faintly confused* Yes, you mentioned that you didn't think-- *stops suddenly, a bit uneasy, and with great effort shakes her head, smiling* No, no. Never mind. It wasn't... *sighs* E-enough about me - how about yourself, Mr. Wright? How... have things been?
Wright: *laughs merrily, sitting back upright in his seat* Oh, you know me. It's been all sunshine and tulips and terrible piano ballads. *in a slightly more serious tone, though he still looks quite amused* Actually, I've been rather busy with a pet project of mine lately. It's been hard to balance that with my "work" and still have some time left over to chat with friends and acquaintances. *Kate returns with their drinks, and he raises his bourbon glass to Adrian*
Adrian: *smiling, she carefully lifts her glass to return the gesture* ...Cheers--I suppose! *she takes a sip of the drink, taking in its flavor* Thank you for taking me out tonight, then, seeing as you have so little spare time... Is it something very--important, this project?
Wright: No, thank you, for humoring me. Cheers. *takes a long sip of bourbon, letting out a satisfied sigh after he does* And it depends on who you ask. It might not take off the ground at all... but with luck you'll hear about it in the papers in the coming year or so.
Adrian: Oh. It sounds like it must be... I hope it works out well for you then. *softly, and a bit nervous of approaching the subject* Is it to do with--your... previous work?
Wright: ... *studies her with a quiet grin* ...Now, why do you think it would have to do with that?
Adrian: *beginning to get nervous* Well--I just thought... I mean, I'd hoped that... I'd just--thought that if anything would take up so much of your time it would be--that. *glances at him quickly* I apologize if it was out of turn for me to mention it.
Wright: Not at all; you don't need to apologise. *chuckles as he takes another sip of his drink* I'm rather out of touch with the world of law though, or at least according to most people in it. *glances off vacantly* And it'd sooner be a cold day in whatever place Engarde is before anyone approves of me handling anything newsworthy in the legal sphere.
Adrian: *looks down at the counter* ...I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Wright. *she takes a long sip of her drink, then swishes it around, peering into it, unsure what to say*
Wright: Hey, hey-- like I said, no need no apologise. Really. And hey, since when have I cared what they think...? *laughs-- perhaps a touch too strongly, then takes a gulp of his drink* Come on, enough about this grim and hoity-toity legal business. Tell me more about you and Franziska! *a bright, mischievous grin makes its way onto his features* Have you talked about settling in together? Are there wedding bells in the air~?
Adrian: *caught right in the middle of sipping her drink, Adrian splutters and then chokes* Wh-what--! *when she finishes coughing her cheeks are very red* We're--a w-wedding...?! We've never discussed--I mean, I've never asked h-- *embarrassment and a touch of drink are starting to muddle her up. She forces herself to stop gabbling*
Adrian: It's wonderful... at the moment... We haven't quite discussed anything too--serious--not at length. But I don't mind! I'm just happy to be... *smiles vaguely and turns back to her drink, leaving the sentence open*
Wright: *chuckles, all too amused at her reaction-- it's cute* Good, great. I'm glad you're happy, and I'm sure she is quite, too. Don't just put all of that other stuff out of mind, though...! I have big expectations. *holds up his drink to her one more time* Come on--cheers...!
Adrian: *laughs at nothing in particular, finally letting herself relax again* Ha ha... I hope so, Mr. Wright! *raises her glass* Cheers!