Welcome to Gaia! ::

It had been a decently long while since Meridiana had opened the dating app she had created under a pseudonym; Mary Diana and even longer still since she had gone out on a date in uniform or out. Perhaps it was the encounter with Albite that had spurred the sudden interest in finding someone who could teach her that she was more than just her sphere, someone worth being in an actual relationship with rather than a one night stand.

This evening had found her in the company of a young woman, Leslie. The right side of her head was shaved while the rest was a beautiful waterfall of platinum blond hair with black undertones. In the dim light outside the restaurant her skin looked more of a tawny beige; either she wore her makeup well or her skin really was that flawless.

With one hand, the corrupt laced her fingers through Leslie’s, while the other cupped the woman’s cheek. “I thoroughly enjoyed this evening,” leaned forward and offered the woman a chaste kiss on the cheek. With Albite she had no restraint and stole from him a kiss that, at the time, was not deserved but very much craved. However, with Leslie, she wanted to try a different approach. “I’d like to do this again sometime.”

A blush swept across the woman's face and yet she managed to find courage in the moment and kissed Meridiana fully. “I’d apologize, but I’d been wanting to do that for the last hour.” Smirked at the remembrance of their previous conversation.

Her mouth opened, then shut, then opened again. “Fair enough,” Meridiana responded with an almost surprised look on her face.

Two for two. A kiss reciprocated with something more. Wondered if she’d have received the same reaction if she were here as Phedre instead; or was this attention somehow connected to her aura or sphere?

“Call me when you’re free, or send me a message through the app,” Either way, Meri wanted to try for round two and see where it took them. In the meantime, her quota had been filled by snippets of energy stolen from strangers as they chatted.

Just then an uber car drove up beside them and the two women said their farewells and parted for the night. Meridiana, however, remained and once her date was no longer in sight she turned towards the aura that had appeared near her. “Enjoy the show?” She called out over her shoulder realizing that they hadn’t moved from their observation spot for several moments.

"Men..." held up one hand. "Women," raised the other and seemed to weigh the pros and cons between them. "It's all the same to me." Shrugged then smiled politely to the agent.

"Those kinds of engagements are reserved for civilians I have no intention to see again." Drained completely and gone shortly after their head hit the pillow. Come morning they'd wake up none the wiser to what happened the night before with the mother of all hangovers but at least she'd be kind enough to have breakfast delivered before they were told it was time to leave the hotel.

"That aside, care to demonstrate how you would have done it better?" Not one to shy away from non-aggressive ways of collecting energy since she was one to avoid fighting when at all possible. Picking up some tips from another officer might not be bad, especially since there were other civilians out and about already and he looked rather strapping in his uniform. Suitable for a fine dining restaurant.

"Hmm," Oh, she caught his drift.

Meridiana offered an approving smile as he approached. While she preferred the more quiet settings, she supposed that loud areas held their own merit. Easier to cover up a complete drain by blaming alcohol as the reason someone might have blacked out, or was found somewhere on the floor sleeping.

Perhaps something worth trying, she considered his method for a moment.

"I use dating apps mostly, under a psudonym of course. Beggars can't be choosers so I've made it a habit to only accept those who initiate a conversation with me. I don't want to be flagged as some sort of potential preditor. If they prove to be good company, like the woman I met with this evening, then I discretely gather energy from the people around us. Otherwise, if they're unsavory individuals or assholes, then I drain them completely," Often leaving them with little more than a sheet to cover themselves with and a box of tissues as well as the hotel bill come morning.

Never had she actually gone all the way with anyone, their heads always hit the pillow, or floor, before anything could come of the evening. A poor review was left on their profiles on whatever platform she'd connected with them on before they had a chance to mention anything on hers. Petty perhaps but it didn't happen often enough to give rise to any concern.

"At the end of the day, I prefer to work smarter not harder for my quota. Might as well have some fun with it, don't you think?" Better than engaging with White Moon Senshi or their Knights and ending up in a fight where the odds were in their favor.

"No, not usually. I keep it infrequent enough that it doesn't register as a pattern of behavior so I end up getting kicked off of the app." Meridiana shrugged dismissively.

"Your method, however, does sound more lively." Wasn't really sure which of them was playing it safer but actually felt inclined, if not simply intrigued, by his way of going about energy gathering. May even consider trying it next time she went out. "Have you ever been caught by a White Moon Senshi or Knight before?" More so curious if anyone might have sensed his signature outside and been waiting for him to leave.

Then again, all he'd have to do is look for a crowd then power down when the group of them left. The same thing she had done once when leaving the performing arts theater.

"So, are you on your way to one now? Or are you done for the evening?" Her own quota had been completed the day before. What she got today was just surplus to cover any time off she wanted to take during the holidays this November and December.

A little extra now so she didn't have to work harder later. Also meant she didn't have to worry about someone showing up at her house demanding a skipped energy turn-in. Wasn't something she'd really had to concern herself with but she knew of at least one corrupt who had received unannounced home visits.

Troublesome... but that's why she planned to be prepared.

"No," Meridiana shook her head. "I have some travel plans in the morning and will be gone for the next few weeks." Family matters to attend to that couldn't be ignored or passed on to someone else.

Would have offered him her medallion if he'd been looking to stay out longer, probably had about a half hours' worth of time left on it. Which, at his level, would hide his signature completely. It would be on loan, of course, but that was neither here nor there if both of them were done for the evening.

And so, Meri took the opportunity to power down rather than risk their combined lingering signatures attracting some White Moon Senshi or one of their knights. "Name's Meridiana, or Phedre as I am now if you'd prefer." Smoothed her hands over the pencil skirt she wore as a normal civilian; business attire for the meeting she had earlier in the day.

“Elliot,” she regarded him with a nod and a polite smile rather than risk miss-pronunciation. “Let me know the next time you plan to go to a club. I’d like to join you next time, so long as you’re ok with having some company?” Phedre left the offer open

She wasn’t inclined to try and steal his regular haunts. However, Phe was curious how much more fruitful it was to go to louder places, such as clubs and bars, rather than the continuing to make reservations at establishments that were more familiar to her and her usual lifestyle, places such as the Performing Arts Theater and high end restaurants

“I’d be happy to give you my number or you could reach out to me through the tablet, whichever would be more convenient.”