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 Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 7:19 am
She had texted Leander a couple of days after their last meeting, asking if he wanted to go do something during the daylight hours. The weekends were best for her, considering she worked in a school from Monday through Friday, and so they had made plans for a Saturday.
There were several things they could do, honestly. The mall had the arcade, but she didn't know how to play many of the games. Sometimes the park had buskers and they could spend their day walking and talking. Cafes seemed so blasé. So instead she had wanted to go and meet up at the museum. They had just gotten in an Ancient Egypt exhibit set up and opened to the public. History was fascinating to the Japanese woman, especially Egypt. The most she knew of the culture was from a movie The Prince of Egypt, but it seemed interesting enough.
And so she was waiting. She was in a pair of black slacks with a dark blue button down shirt and a coat on over it. Her eyepatch was a plain black square, and her hair was doing it's own thing, since it was a short pixie cut. She didn't know how to style it.
She was a little nervous.
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 7:29 am
Leander hadn't been out to do something just for fun in far too long; the idea of a museum was refreshing, and he couldn't help but be interested in anything with a good story. He wasn't particularly dressed up; he wore black while powered up and black while powered down. Black jeans, combat boots, a nice shirt and a black jacket just thrown over everything. He'd spent enough time in Destiny City to know that being able to disappear and blend in was the best route, and there wasn't anything particularly flashy that stood out about him except for his hair.
He had his phone in his hand and texted that he'd arrived, and given that there was only one person standing in their designated meeting spot and he could only assume it was her.
"Hey," he greeted, with the confidence of someone who knew who he was meeting up with. "Rin, right?" He flashed a grin, relaxed and easygoing.
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 8:40 am
A voice caught her attention, having been scrolling through Twitter on her own phone. She didn't want to appear as anxious as she felt, so it was just doom scrolling more than anything. Her eye snapped up and she pocketed her phone immediately before nodding almost curtly. Yeah, she got flustered. "Yes. That's me. Leander?" It was weird, meeting the man behind the senshi. "Hi. I hope the museum was a good choice. I watched a movie and it made me want to... learn a bit more about the past." She felt beyond lame right now. Her cheeks were turning a deeper shade of red with every word she said. Why was she making this so weird?
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 8:47 am
One corner of Leander's mouth twisted into a half grin, and it seemed like he was amused with this response from her. Nothing about it was judgmental, but the smile softened, like he hoped it would help her relax. "It was a great idea. I didn't even know they had a new exhibit until you mentioned it. I did an article here about a year and a half ago, I had the privileges of taking a few photographs. It was really hard to leave my camera at home and not plan on schmoozing someone to see what I could get away with. I take it that it was a good movie, one you'd recommend?" he asked.
His eyes were gentle and he seemed relaxed; he was used to talking to complete strangers, so meeting up with someone he considered a friend didn't worry him in the slightest--especially when they were in a place with a treasure trove of conversation topics.
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 9:01 am
It was helping her relax. It wasn't really Leander's fault she had tensed in the first place. Just her own stupidity. She'd get over that fairly quickly. Her hands went behind her as they stood and she pondered over his question. "It's... The Prince of Egypt? It's animated. I don't know if everyone would like it, since it's very religious based. But... I found it quite enjoyable." She knew the words to one of the songs, she enjoyed it so much. Not that she'd tell him that. Or anyone. They didn't need to know she sang so off key to songs she liked. "But from what I have heard it was a pretty realistic depiction of the times with the palace, and pyramid structures.."
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:52 am
"Oh, that's an old one, isn't it?" he prompted, far from judgmental but seeming more like he was trying to recall something in a far away memory. "I haven't seen it in a long time. I don't remember too much of it, but if you say it's good I'll rewatch it. A good story is a good story, religious or not. I think the only 'Egyptian' movie that immediately pops into my head is..."
He leaned back, hands on his hips thoughtfully.
"The Mummy. The one from the nineties. Definitely a realistic depiction of ancient Egypt, I'm sure," he said, obviously teasing.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 4:18 am
She was relaxing more as they talked. The casualness of the powered meetings easily coming back into play already. Rin brought a hand up to fidget with her eyepatch before shrugging at his movie choice. "I've never seen that one," she admitted quietly. "I can't imagine it's aged that well.." If she remembered, people were talking about the computer graphics when people did bring it up. "Maybe I'll have to watch it even for a laugh." Sometimes movies were bad and funny. Sharknado was one she didn't think she'd end up laughing as much as she did. "Shall we?" She asked, moving toward the door with her hand outstretched.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:38 pm
Leander seemed mildly scandalized even as he took a step towards the exhibit with her. "It's aged perfectly well!" he insisted. "Charming, well written. The computer graphics aren't that bad at all! Music is top notch, plot is excellent. There's a character to fawn over for everyone. Handsome, rougeish leading man, brave, adventurous librarian leading lady. Madly in love villain who would do anything for his gorgeous, sultry soulmate. Brave and honorable secret order of the desert man, comic relief miscreant. Really, it's got everything. Even if you watch it for a laugh, it's a good story. I've got it at home, you should come over and watch it some time," he insisted, now seeming committed to just sharing the experience with her. "We'll order pizza, or just make more marshmallows."
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 4:44 am
If she didn't know any better, she would think that it was a date offer. Gong to someone's house to watch movies? It sent her stomach fluttering with the most butterflies she'd ever felt. How she managed to keep from blushing, she didn't know, but she thanked whatever higher power there was. "You're hyping it up a lot. I don't know if I believe you. ....Pizza as long as there's no pineapple? Warm pineapple is really bad. I couldn't even eat it in Japan and they love it. I like pineapple well enough, but warm? Bleh." She was teasing, her lips curled into a slightly more noticeable smile. Her tiny heels clicked on the marble floor in the museum and her head kept going from side to side, looking for the right signs for the Egyptian exhibition. It really turned when she wanted to look on her blind side, and the way she walked kept Leander on her good side. "If you see it first, let me know. I don't remember if it's on this floor or higher...?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 8:42 pm
Leander laughed. "I can eat just about anything so just tell me what you like. It's a good movie. Not the best, it's very 90s. But."
He let out a little sigh. "Nostalgia. Good to see at least once. It should be on the first floor, though," he assured. "The limited exhibits usually are, at least. Makes it easier when they have to move things in and out."
There was a sign ahead in the distance, and he recognized the image of a gilded sarcophagus and an arrow pointing to the left. "Up ahead, I think," he gestured towards the sign, making sure she was looking in his general direction as he did so. He didn't miss how dramatically she had to turn her head to see but he found it surprisingly endearing; he didn't know how she didn't give herself a headache, though.
"Do you believe in curses? Like the 'Curse of the Mummy' and all that stuff?" he asked as they walked, seeming lighthearted but also genuinely curious.
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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:29 am
"Ah, I didn't know that, but it makes sense. I imagine some of the pieces are extremely heavy and delicate." She hummed a little as she thought about her response. Then she spotted the sign he did and she nodded, adjusting her walk that way. Then he asked that question and the bitterest laugh bubbled up without control. She put a hand in front of her face before rubbing it and nodding. "Maybe not mummy curses, but... There are curses I believe in. I honestly believe I'm cursed at times." How else was she supposed to do to explain everything that's happened to her? No one's luck is that bad without some kind of balance. There hadn't been any balance to her bad luck in her love life and home life. Even her looks were compromised. Rin wasn't an egotistical girl, but... "Also I was raised to be wary of certain aspects because I was born and raised in Japan. I came here for schooling and ...moved back to Japan after I graduated. Then... moved back here again. There are duties here I couldn't ignore."
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:46 pm
"Of course," Leander said understandingly; there was a war going on here, and they'd been drafted to fight in it. He didn't know what was going on in other places of the world--but he knew that he was needed here.
"You think you're cursed?" he asked, eyes flitting over the hallway as they approached. He could already see Egyptian themed displays and watched her face to see if there was any sort of reaction or excitement at that. "...I always thought the idea was neat. Horrifying, but. Neat. Just one of those mysteries that hadn't yet been solved. It's the sort of thing I'd want to solve. Or learn how to defend against, I suppose. Learning too much about them takes the magic away, but."
He hummed thoughtfully.
"...I still want to know. I don't know how much of it I believe in, but. I find that since this, ah, side job, picked up...I've been more open minded than before."
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 5:00 am
She did get a bit excited once she saw some of the displays herself, eye softening, lips curling upward. Yes, Rin was definitely interested in these displays. "Of course I do. I wasn't... this wasn't the side I was on... I think. I have vague... memories? Dreams? From before. I don't ....I woke up not knowing much and given to someone to care for. I've lost my eye twice. I've... The person I last cared for gave me his house, his koi fish, and left. I don't know what's happened to him. It's been years. So...I'm a firm believer I'm not meant to be happy." But she still made her way to the first glass case, eyes drinking in what she could see. It wasn't like she was imagining, but it was better. "Then you're a lucky one. If you're more open minded. Most on our side tends to close off." She looked over at Leander with her good eye and shrugged. "I hope you stay this way."
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Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:37 pm
Leander listened with obvious curiosity; she had a story he doubted any other could tell, and it was fascinating. He was sympathetic to her situation, and his expression softened the more she spoke. "It sounds like you've had a lot of loss in your life. I'm sorry to hear that."
He followed her gaze, observing the display with mild interest. There was something about museums that made him think of a library, and he lowered his voice instinctively.
"I don't intend to change. I'm a bit stubborn, but. You do what you have to in order to survive. Life would be boring if you closed off, I think. You just have to learn who you can trust to share the vulnerable parts of your heart with. Not everyone deserves to know all of you."
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Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:10 pm
'Life would be boring if you closed off...' Those words hit something in Rin and she held her breath for a beat before letting it out. That's what she'd done. Closed herself off. "...I've... put a lot of trust in you." She had. He knew her both powered and now not. It was something that she was almost comfortable with, but Rin was a very private person, and had been alone for so long it felt like he knew way too much about her. Yet at the same time, Leander had done nothing but listen to her problems and offer his advice on the matter. He never pushed her one way or another. Often times she came to her own conclusions just because he'd asked. "Not with... my heart, but.. You've earned trust." Even as she said it, Rin had a light blush dusting her cheeks. "Oh look. Mummies." With that, she felt embarrassed and wandered off ahead of him, going to the open sarcophagi behind the heavy red ropes.
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