[SCENE] Iris and Diego in "Changing the Status Quo"
(this log gives most of the necessary backstory - yes, it was months ago)
3:00 PM
Iris: *It's been two days since Iris and Phoenix spoke in person for the first time in years. She's in the flower shop as usual, working her shift. On the outside, she seems fine, if not a little quieter than usual. She tends to a bunch of gerberas on the shop floor, focusing all her attention on her work*
Diego: *Diego enters the shop, reaching up and flicking the bell on the door frame with his hand as he steps inside. He greets the cash register worker, with whom he's familiar, but he can tell something in the air is different, something has changed, and he looks around the shop for Iris without announcing himself*
Iris: *if she heard the bell or Diego's voice, she hasn't made any indication of it. She's still crouched by a tall bucket of gerberas, sorting them slowly*
Diego: *it takes him a moment to find her - she's tiny anyway, and when crouching she might as well be invisible - but when he spots her, he heads toward the gerberas* Iris. Iris!
Iris: *her reaction isn't immediate -- she slowly turns to look up at him* Mr. Armando...what are you doing here?
Diego: *stops a few feet away from her, hands in his pockets, collected as is to be expected of him* Do you have a few minutes? There's something important I need to talk to you about.
Iris: *wipes her hands on her apron and stands up; there's something a little off about her smile* If it's something important...of course.
Diego: *grins wide, and there's nothing off about his* Nothing more so. Come walk with me. We'll tell your manager you're taking the afternoon off, and we'll get a walk in. *turns around and starts heading back to the register, speaking to her over his shoulder* How has business been?
Iris: *blinks, but doesn't object to this sudden proposition; she begins to follow him* It's been well...as usual. Easter is approaching, and we're going to decorate a party being held at the hotel nearby.
Diego: Good. It's always a better thing for a business to do well, and for us to see the results of our handiwork. It keeps us from being depressed. *reaches out and lightly brushes his fingertips against the head of a flower he can't identify, just rustling the petals* And you've been well too, I hope.
Iris: *a bit forced* As well as I can be. *tilts her head as she looks at him*
Diego: *looks over his shoulder at her, and he hasn't lost the grin* We need to talk more than anticipated, if you're already holding back on me. Ha! I have never known a woman who could lie with her heart. *as they pass by the register, he speaks a few short words to the worker behind it, who scurries off to relay his message to the manager* Shall we go?
Iris: *glances over to her workers, then moves her hands to the back to undo her apron* Okay. I'll get my things.
Iris: *a moment later, she's got her shoes and jacket back on and heading to the door* How did you do that...?
Diego: *steps to the side to let her exit ahead of him* A man must know how to obtain what he wants when what he wants is important: that is one of my rules, and right now your time is a priority. All I did was ... communicate.
Iris: *as though understanding, though she doesn't* Ah... *walks out the store* Did you come here just to talk to me?
Diego: Ha! You make it sound a small thing. *falls in step with her as they leave, heading down the street in the general area of Iris' house* Yes, I am here to talk to you. I think we are long past due for a very serious talk, in fact.
Iris: *suddenly nervous, looks down at the concrete as she walks* Oh. Wh-what is it about?
Diego: *looks down at her - the grin is gone, and his tone is serious, his voice matching the cadence of his steps* Pearl and I are concerned about you. You shouldn't be living by yourself, and certainly not in the neighborhood that you do.
Iris: Concerned...about me. *faces him with a small smile* That's sweet of you. However, I've been fine on my own.
Diego: One does not tempt the wolf by sticking one's hand into his mouth. It's one of my rules. *looks out to the street for a moment, considering, and then sighs before stopping in his tracks, standing on the sidewalk* Iris.
Iris: *stops when he does and blinks to him* Yes?
Diego: *he looks at her, hard, before stepping up close to her and taking off his mask. He leans down and looks at her, so close their noses are nearly touching, and though he can't focus well enough to see her as anything but a shadow it's clear that he is attempting to make eye contact* Look at me.
Iris: *freezes; complies with wide eyes and blushes but doesn't pull back* I-I'm looking, Mr. Armando.
Diego: Good. I am going to ask you a very serious question, and I do not want you to treat it lightly. Understand?
Iris: *a single nod* Yes. I'm listening.
8:29 PM
Diego: *Diego is lying on his back, resting his head on his arms. The sheet of the bed he's lying on is pulled up to his waist, but he's naked from the waist up, and glistening with sweat. The lights of his visor are very dim, but otherwise his expression is totally normal* I want to invite you to come live with us at Kurain. How does that sound?
Iris: *Iris is on her side right next to him completely in the nude, her ear against his heart and her arm laid across his chest. Her expression is serene and satisfied, as is the tone of her voice* Yeah...sure.
Diego: Good. Pearl will be very happy. *looks at the ceiling and sighs, reaching down with one arm and laying it across her back* Would you believe it took me three years to work up the heart to approach you?
Iris: That's a very long time... *giggles softly, turning her head to look at him* I didn't know you could be so shy.
Diego: Now you do. *looks back down at her* You're all right with this?
Iris: Mm... *with the most genuine smile she's given in the past few days* I don't see any reasons why I shouldn't be.
Diego: *nods in response, then pauses for a moment* Come on, let's get out of here.
Iris: *glances out the window* Oh dear... It's dark out now. What time is it?
Diego: *doesn't look at the clock* Eight thirty.
Iris: *lifts her head up to check the clock on the bedside table -- it is indeed eight thirty, on the dot. She sits up and smooths back her hair* Time does fly when...you're having fun. *giggles again, shyly*
Diego: *sits up and rises, looking down at her for a second, grinning incredulously* I didn't know you giggled. *stalks off to find all of his clothes*
Iris: *blushes and reaches down to retrieve her clothes on the floor by the bed* It looks like we're learning many new things about each other already.
Diego: *it's only a couple of minutes before he's fully dressed and cleaned up, adjusting his tie beneath his vest* When do you want me to get your things from that couple's house?
Iris: *putting on her shirt to finish dressing also* I'm unsure. There's no rush, is there?
Diego: It is always better to finish one's business before there is a rush. *checks in his pockets for the room keys* All right, let's go. Pearl will be waiting on us.
Iris: *stands up, puts on her shoes and picks up her jacket from the chair* Are we allowed to check out already?
Diego: *grins, opening the door for her* Of course we are. Now come on, there's still more to talk about.
Iris: *nods and steps out of the room, staring at his grin with fondness as she passes by* I'm happy that you came to talk to me today, Diego. I...needed the company.
Diego: So did I. *watches her as she steps out, then follows, making sure the door is locked behind him before leading the way to the front desk* I don't know if any food will be hot when we get to Kurain, but there will be plenty of leftovers if you're all right with that.
Iris: I'll be all right with anything. *follows closely next to him as they move to the lobby*
Diego: *puts his arm around her waist, resting his hand on her hip* I'll make sure you're fed for the evening, anyway. *stepping up to the reception desk he speaks in short with the clerk, and elderly woman who looks at iris, looks at Diego, and blushes furiously before skittering off into a back room*
Iris: *face reddened, she glances up at Diego hesitantly* Wh-what does she think we did, I wonder...
Diego: *looks down at her, then back at the doorway where the clerk disappeared - as soon as he sees the old blue-hair peek around the corner he sweeps Iris up in his arms and kisses her hard on the mouth. The little old woman disappears around the corner again*
Iris: *is startled at first, but it doesn't take long for her to reciprocate. When the kiss is broken, she says with awe and admiration:* It doesn't matter to you, does it?
Diego: *grins wide as he sets her on her feet* Not at all. *puts his hand back on her waist and heads toward the door* My bike's right down the street, we'll be at Kurain before nine.
Iris: You're quite untamed... *smiles contentedly and wraps her arm around his* But that isn't a bad thing.
Diego: Ha! Glad you think so, kitten. *leads her out onto the street and out into the dark, grinning like a maniac*
3:00 PM
Iris: *It's been two days since Iris and Phoenix spoke in person for the first time in years. She's in the flower shop as usual, working her shift. On the outside, she seems fine, if not a little quieter than usual. She tends to a bunch of gerberas on the shop floor, focusing all her attention on her work*
Diego: *Diego enters the shop, reaching up and flicking the bell on the door frame with his hand as he steps inside. He greets the cash register worker, with whom he's familiar, but he can tell something in the air is different, something has changed, and he looks around the shop for Iris without announcing himself*
Iris: *if she heard the bell or Diego's voice, she hasn't made any indication of it. She's still crouched by a tall bucket of gerberas, sorting them slowly*
Diego: *it takes him a moment to find her - she's tiny anyway, and when crouching she might as well be invisible - but when he spots her, he heads toward the gerberas* Iris. Iris!
Iris: *her reaction isn't immediate -- she slowly turns to look up at him* Mr. Armando...what are you doing here?
Diego: *stops a few feet away from her, hands in his pockets, collected as is to be expected of him* Do you have a few minutes? There's something important I need to talk to you about.
Iris: *wipes her hands on her apron and stands up; there's something a little off about her smile* If it's something important...of course.
Diego: *grins wide, and there's nothing off about his* Nothing more so. Come walk with me. We'll tell your manager you're taking the afternoon off, and we'll get a walk in. *turns around and starts heading back to the register, speaking to her over his shoulder* How has business been?
Iris: *blinks, but doesn't object to this sudden proposition; she begins to follow him* It's been well...as usual. Easter is approaching, and we're going to decorate a party being held at the hotel nearby.
Diego: Good. It's always a better thing for a business to do well, and for us to see the results of our handiwork. It keeps us from being depressed. *reaches out and lightly brushes his fingertips against the head of a flower he can't identify, just rustling the petals* And you've been well too, I hope.
Iris: *a bit forced* As well as I can be. *tilts her head as she looks at him*
Diego: *looks over his shoulder at her, and he hasn't lost the grin* We need to talk more than anticipated, if you're already holding back on me. Ha! I have never known a woman who could lie with her heart. *as they pass by the register, he speaks a few short words to the worker behind it, who scurries off to relay his message to the manager* Shall we go?
Iris: *glances over to her workers, then moves her hands to the back to undo her apron* Okay. I'll get my things.
Iris: *a moment later, she's got her shoes and jacket back on and heading to the door* How did you do that...?
Diego: *steps to the side to let her exit ahead of him* A man must know how to obtain what he wants when what he wants is important: that is one of my rules, and right now your time is a priority. All I did was ... communicate.
Iris: *as though understanding, though she doesn't* Ah... *walks out the store* Did you come here just to talk to me?
Diego: Ha! You make it sound a small thing. *falls in step with her as they leave, heading down the street in the general area of Iris' house* Yes, I am here to talk to you. I think we are long past due for a very serious talk, in fact.
Iris: *suddenly nervous, looks down at the concrete as she walks* Oh. Wh-what is it about?
Diego: *looks down at her - the grin is gone, and his tone is serious, his voice matching the cadence of his steps* Pearl and I are concerned about you. You shouldn't be living by yourself, and certainly not in the neighborhood that you do.
Iris: Concerned...about me. *faces him with a small smile* That's sweet of you. However, I've been fine on my own.
Diego: One does not tempt the wolf by sticking one's hand into his mouth. It's one of my rules. *looks out to the street for a moment, considering, and then sighs before stopping in his tracks, standing on the sidewalk* Iris.
Iris: *stops when he does and blinks to him* Yes?
Diego: *he looks at her, hard, before stepping up close to her and taking off his mask. He leans down and looks at her, so close their noses are nearly touching, and though he can't focus well enough to see her as anything but a shadow it's clear that he is attempting to make eye contact* Look at me.
Iris: *freezes; complies with wide eyes and blushes but doesn't pull back* I-I'm looking, Mr. Armando.
Diego: Good. I am going to ask you a very serious question, and I do not want you to treat it lightly. Understand?
Iris: *a single nod* Yes. I'm listening.
8:29 PM
Diego: *Diego is lying on his back, resting his head on his arms. The sheet of the bed he's lying on is pulled up to his waist, but he's naked from the waist up, and glistening with sweat. The lights of his visor are very dim, but otherwise his expression is totally normal* I want to invite you to come live with us at Kurain. How does that sound?
Iris: *Iris is on her side right next to him completely in the nude, her ear against his heart and her arm laid across his chest. Her expression is serene and satisfied, as is the tone of her voice* Yeah...sure.
Diego: Good. Pearl will be very happy. *looks at the ceiling and sighs, reaching down with one arm and laying it across her back* Would you believe it took me three years to work up the heart to approach you?
Iris: That's a very long time... *giggles softly, turning her head to look at him* I didn't know you could be so shy.
Diego: Now you do. *looks back down at her* You're all right with this?
Iris: Mm... *with the most genuine smile she's given in the past few days* I don't see any reasons why I shouldn't be.
Diego: *nods in response, then pauses for a moment* Come on, let's get out of here.
Iris: *glances out the window* Oh dear... It's dark out now. What time is it?
Diego: *doesn't look at the clock* Eight thirty.
Iris: *lifts her head up to check the clock on the bedside table -- it is indeed eight thirty, on the dot. She sits up and smooths back her hair* Time does fly when...you're having fun. *giggles again, shyly*
Diego: *sits up and rises, looking down at her for a second, grinning incredulously* I didn't know you giggled. *stalks off to find all of his clothes*
Iris: *blushes and reaches down to retrieve her clothes on the floor by the bed* It looks like we're learning many new things about each other already.
Diego: *it's only a couple of minutes before he's fully dressed and cleaned up, adjusting his tie beneath his vest* When do you want me to get your things from that couple's house?
Iris: *putting on her shirt to finish dressing also* I'm unsure. There's no rush, is there?
Diego: It is always better to finish one's business before there is a rush. *checks in his pockets for the room keys* All right, let's go. Pearl will be waiting on us.
Iris: *stands up, puts on her shoes and picks up her jacket from the chair* Are we allowed to check out already?
Diego: *grins, opening the door for her* Of course we are. Now come on, there's still more to talk about.
Iris: *nods and steps out of the room, staring at his grin with fondness as she passes by* I'm happy that you came to talk to me today, Diego. I...needed the company.
Diego: So did I. *watches her as she steps out, then follows, making sure the door is locked behind him before leading the way to the front desk* I don't know if any food will be hot when we get to Kurain, but there will be plenty of leftovers if you're all right with that.
Iris: I'll be all right with anything. *follows closely next to him as they move to the lobby*
Diego: *puts his arm around her waist, resting his hand on her hip* I'll make sure you're fed for the evening, anyway. *stepping up to the reception desk he speaks in short with the clerk, and elderly woman who looks at iris, looks at Diego, and blushes furiously before skittering off into a back room*
Iris: *face reddened, she glances up at Diego hesitantly* Wh-what does she think we did, I wonder...
Diego: *looks down at her, then back at the doorway where the clerk disappeared - as soon as he sees the old blue-hair peek around the corner he sweeps Iris up in his arms and kisses her hard on the mouth. The little old woman disappears around the corner again*
Iris: *is startled at first, but it doesn't take long for her to reciprocate. When the kiss is broken, she says with awe and admiration:* It doesn't matter to you, does it?
Diego: *grins wide as he sets her on her feet* Not at all. *puts his hand back on her waist and heads toward the door* My bike's right down the street, we'll be at Kurain before nine.
Iris: You're quite untamed... *smiles contentedly and wraps her arm around his* But that isn't a bad thing.
Diego: Ha! Glad you think so, kitten. *leads her out onto the street and out into the dark, grinning like a maniac*