when I'm worried and I can't sleep

[maskormods]

WHO: YOU.
WHERE: Heropa Pavilion, Heropa.
WHEN: Sunday the 23rd from 6PM to 11PM.
WHAT: Registration in motion alongside a Thanksgiving/Blind Date charity dinner event. Details here.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; please let us know if this should be edited.

★

( Please state your character's official status -- REGISTERED or UNSETTLED -- in the subject header of your thread. Please also read and state your character's official status at THIS post, considering not every character will post a starter thread! )

Comments

let me know if this isn't okay?

[kinesia]

[ The last time Grey had been to a 'holiday' event it had been Halloween, and the night had ended with him being attacked by gang members. The presence of people who want him to register would set him on edge anyway (and any time they approach him, he answers with a firm shake of his head), but the ruined Halloween party isn't far from his mind. He hadn't been keen on coming at all, but Thomas was going, and April had wanted him to, so he'd done what they said.

He's alert, though. He's also still unfamiliar enough with the culture here that he doesn't really know what to do with himself, so he defaults to watching everybody else. His plain, short-sleeved shirt and dark blue jeans are less formal even than Annabeth's dress, and it means he sticks out here more than he'd like. At least there's nothing outwardly strange about her.

Still, when he sees her swipe the knife, Grey's whole posture tenses. Dark eyes quickly sweep the crowd, searching for people who don't belong. Seeing none, he moves almost silently up beside Annabeth, moving so that she can see him. He nods deliberately towards the hand that had taken the knife, and lifts a questioning eyebrow. Why did she take it, is something wrong? He gestures to the word 'Why', tattooed on his left arm, to clarify what he's asking. ]

it's great! c:

[sophos]

[The moment he starts moving towards her, Annabeth picks up on it. Her senses are still sharp, and maybe a little wild; she hasn't been here that long, and Tartarus is still fresh. But the way he approaches isn't hostile, so she keeps her own posture even, nonthreatening.]

[She understands immediately what he's asking. Even if it takes her a few seconds longer than normal of squinting at the word 'why' on his arm to read it. Reading people, however, is her specialty. She has her suspicions on lack of words already, but there's no doubt he saw her snag the knife.]

Because it was a bad idea to bring a sword in with me. [She says it flatly, but there's no sign that she's lying about it either. She's just not about to admit out loud that it makes her uncomfortable to be weaponless.] Nothing's wrong, not really.

[At least it doesn't seem like he's going to suggest putting it back. Because that's certainly not happening.]

[kinesia]

[ He wouldn't do that. He also doesn't blink at the implication that she apparently carries a sword everywhere, because he nods, and then turns slightly to touch the back of his waistband. His own knife is hidden there, just in case.

He's not comfortable with being weaponless, either.

Turning his arm over, he points out his tattoo of the word 'Grey', on his forearm. Then he taps his chest, to tell her that's his name, and points at her. What's hers? She's new here, he thinks. He's still new enough himself that he doesn't know everyone, but he hadn't seen her at the Halloween event. If she'd been there, she'd have even more reason to be nervous now. ]

[sophos]

[Annabeth gets what he means - that he's keeping a weapon tucked away too. Suddenly, she really misses having her knife, for reasons beyond the sentimentality. She'll need to find one here, somehow, or at least something a lot more transportable than a long sword made of bone. But it's nice to know she's definitely not the only one wanting a weapon here. It doesn't help that she's still jumpier than usual.] Hopefully we won't need to use them. [The words come out dryly. She's a little more cynical as of late.]

[By now, she's realized he can't talk, the reasons are of which don't really matter or concern her, even though the curiosity will always linger. But she can still understand him easily enough. Body language is just as conversive. She squints again at the name tattoo, the script a little rough on her eyes.]

Grey. [It's half to make sure she's read it right, half some sort of introductory response. But then she nods.] Annabeth.

[kinesia]

[ She looks at the tattoos longer than most people. Does she have trouble reading? Maybe. Some of the kids on the Train had been the same, especially when they were younger. He takes that on board, anyway. He’ll try to use easier words with her.

Annabeth is a nice name, though. He nods at that. Then, turning, he gestures at the dinner tables and looks curiously at her. Is she here for a date? He is, though not really by his own choice. He doesn’t totally know what it means aside from that there’s food involved. ]

[sophos]

[She'd gotten so used to the way the text on the devices translated so easily that she'd almost forgotten what it was like to read normal English. Almost. Not quite. You don't forget something like that.]

[Again though, Annabeth picks up on what he's saying for the most part. And she shakes her head, too fast.] No way. Not for a date. Not with anyone here. [She glances down at her arm and shakes it a little.] Kind of an obligation, isn't it?

[For new people, at least - that's what she's gathered.]

[kinesia]

[ Grey nods at that, because in his case it is. He gestures to the tables again and then points at himself. He has to go in there later. He makes an uncertain face at her, before shrugging his shoulders.

It hadn't been his choice, April had signed him up. He's not sure it's going to go well. He's never been on a date before, and actually Annabeth's quick refusal didn't make him feel any better about it. ]

[sophos]

[She scrunches her face a little, glancing over at the tables. It takes her a second, but she's pretty sure she picks up on what he means about it all. That uncertain face, for one.]

Dates aren't necessarily a bad thing. [She frowns.] I just prefer to choose who I'm going on one with. And he's not here. [The frown shifts into more of a thin line, her expression turning guarded and stiff.] Never been on one before, I take it?

[kinesia]

[ Oh. She has a someone. A person she wants to be with who isn't here.

Well, he understands that. His head tilts and he frowns at her, though the expression is sympathetic. At the question, he shakes his head, before gesturing at the building as a whole. All of this, the finery, the formalwear, the event itself, it's strange. New.

But then he points to one of the signs, which notes the charity that the proceeds are going to. He shrugs, and then looks at her. That's why he'd agreed. It seemed like it was a good thing to do even if he'd not have chosen it himself. ]

[sophos]

[She isn't particularly interested in talking about Percy here and now, so she's glad Grey gets it and doesn't focus on it either. It's easier to just continue off on how new everything is for him.]

[At the sign for the charity, Annabeth nods.] If they had to throw something ridiculously expensive like this, at least some of the proceeds are going to a good cause.

[A beat. She can explain a little bit.] You'll probably just need to spend some time with someone. Eat some food. Dates for strangers are usually a way for people to get to know each other.