and the trouble is

[snoobs]

WHO: HEMALI and VARIOUS
WHERE: All over.
WHEN: The month of September.
WHAT: Getting to know all her new friends.
WARNINGS: Some heavy petting/references to sex.

---

➊ OUTSIDE THE PORTER | de chima ( for SAM MERLOTTE )

[ Hemali had seen the look in Sam's eyes and even through a small screen she could tell what he was really after in this meeting. They might have been on opposite ends of a device, but she has no doubt she had gotten pulses racing and stirred something else — she has that effect on people and she likes to flaunt it when she can. Plenty of women might not have accepted an offer to meet up with a man they had known for all of an hour, but Hemali's not like most where she fears being alone with a stranger. No, she wants to see what Sam might do once he's face-to-face with her. Is he as bold as he is on the network? Only one way to find out.

She's getting free food out of this. Why not?

Waiting on the curb, she glances up and down for any signs of a truck rolling down the street. She's left Sam a message already, so he should be here any moment. ]

➋ A CAFE | maurtia falls ( for ALFIE SOLOMONS )

[ The cafe she's chosen to meet Alfie at is kind of grimy and gives off all kinds of warning vibes. Any imPort who steps in and isn't completely oblivious would notice at atmosphere isn't the most welcoming toward them, with piercing glares directed at them wherever they moved.

Hemali isn't bothered by the lack of manners on the locals' ends and not concerned they might try to intimidate her out using verbal or physical threats. She sits comfortably in the creaky chair, legs crossed neatly and her back pressed against it. She's playing around with the communicator in her hands, figuring out the settings and other applications while waiting for Alfie to emerge through the entrance. ]

Comments

[devoutish]

[It's an interesting place that she's picked, and Alfie thinks it says about her that she chose it. It makes her more interesting, in turn. He picks her out immediately after he comes in - she stands out - and makes his way over, tipping his hat before he sits down.]

Now, Hemali. Hemali, Hemali. Would that be a surname or a first name?

[snoobs]

[ She lays her hands down in her lap — picture of a perfect lady. Her eyes trail up and down, sizing Alfie up before he takes his seat across from her, then she adjusts her chair so she's closer to the table. ]

It's the name my mother gave me.

[ She doesn't know if she has a last name, if she ever had one. Her mother hadn't mentioned adopting her father's surname, but he was long dead by the time Hemali came around.

However, she's used plenty of fake names over the years. ]

Rao is my last name.

[devoutish]

We'll stick with Hemali then, yeah? Unless you'd prefer something else.

[Miss Rao would have been his default if she'd introduced herself with her last name included - he's a product of his time, after all - but she had started off by telling him just the name Hemali.]

[snoobs]

Hemali works, unless you have a name you want to give me.

[ Something complimentary, of course. She doesn't hide that vain attitude of hers at all. ]

Should I just call you Alfie?

[shifting]

[it will be easy to spot him coming, the powder blue pick-up less than subtle as it rolls up alongside Hemali's waiting spot. Sam leans over to open the door, smiling like some young, dumb teenager on his way to prom. He leans over to open the door for her.]

Well, hey there. Going my way?

[cheesy. But cheesy can break the ice and ease any pressure inherent to an impromptu meet-up. This is a lot - Sam knows that. New world, new time maybe, new powers, and now a new guy she's just met offering to driver her to his house. Sam would like to credit himself with enough emotional intelligence to know that could overwhelm someone.

But as bold as his proposal was - she accepted it. A boldness in itself, and one the Southerner can't help but hope holds promise. People ground themselves in all sorts of ways.

The truck's cabin is small; her scent will fill the space for him once she climbs in, shuts the door. The first step to getting to know her a little better.]

Hope I didn't leave you waitin' too long. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be on wheels when the traffic's floatin' around you.

[snoobs]

[ The look on her face as she spots the pick-up truck heading her way. This doesn't scream tasteful or fancy in any way; a man with questionable tastes, she tells herself, although she will give him credit for being so bold as to offer to meet with her and cook her food. How good a cook is he? She'll just have to find out.

She lifts a foot onto the side before hopping into the passenger's seat. When she pulls the door shut she looks at him with a big, excited grin. ]

Does everything float in this country?

[ Her scent is unusual; it's not quite human, but not quite like any other mammal either. ]

[devoutish]

[His lips twitch up in amusement at that first comment, and he nods at the second.]

Yeah. Not gonna make you call me Mr. Solomons, am I. First-name basis will do just fine.

[snoobs]

Alfie it is then.

[ A peculiar name for a grown man, but her definition of peculiar has changed a great deal since her arrival to this world. ]

So Maurtia Falls is where you live? How do you like it?

[devoutish]

[The look he gives her clearly says not much, but his words are slightly more diplomatic.]

The most tolerable of these imPort cities. It's got the best climate. But where I live, right - that's London. That's home.

[snoobs]

Heropa isn't so bad. Small towns still have their appeal.

[ She's been through small villages with only a couple of hundred people to larger, crowded cities. The kind that you couldn't avoid bumping shoulders with every other person or nearly getting hit by a car while crossing the street. The streets here were busy, but there was more breathing room... a nice change of pace, honestly. ]

I had plans to visit London! I suppose that has to wait for a little bit longer till I get my bearings here.

[devoutish]

You're gonna transplant your plans from one universe to the next, just like that? Not hope to go home and visit your own London, but visit this one instead?

[It's so strange to him that people can do that. That people are willing to do that.]

[snoobs]

Why not? If I'm going to be here, I may as well just go where I please until I am able to go home.

[ She definitely plans to sneak into the Porter lab and access the damn machine herself, but Alfie doesn't need to know that. Nobody needs to know any of her real plans. ]

I wonder if they have flying cars there, too!

[devoutish]

They do. I've seen them on the street.

[And, okay, they are pretty impressive.]

[snoobs]

I do wonder what else they have in this world. Teleporters, flying cars... maybe they've made it to other planets in space now?

[ One of the employees, who's been purposely taking their time making their rounds before getting to Alfie and Hemali's table, finally approaches them with a flat look and asks for their orders. ]

Cappuccino — with cinnamon on top.

[ She doesn't bother to offer her thanks and instead almost shoves back the menu to the waiter without as much as glance. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie does the exact opposite - he stares down the waiter, absolutely determined not to be the first to look away. It's only when the guy finally breaks first and averts his eyes that Alfie gives his order.]

Yeah, cappuccino. That sounds lovely.

[With the waiter gone, he looks back at Hemali.]

Now then, what's a cappuccino?

[snoobs]

[ She doesn't tear her gaze off Alfie initially, her expression almost asking him, "Really?" before she pulls a hand near her mouth and starts to laugh. She had almost forgotten he's from that long ago. ]

It's Italian. It's milk, espresso and steamed milk foam.

[devoutish]

Italian.

[The sacrifices he makes, honestly.]

All right, I'll have this Italian drink. Is it alcoholic?

[snoobs]

It's a cafe, not a bar.

[ Although it might be able to mistake for one given its grimy appearance. ]

[devoutish]

And what a shame that is.

[He's mostly joking - he doesn't actually drink that much, though being dropped into another universe is certainly a good reason to.]

Do you drink tea in the future?

[snoobs]

Of course, silly. I prefer tea to coffee; coffee can be so bitter.

[ A light-hearted giggle follows. ]

Have you ever had Indian style tea?

[devoutish]

Never. Perhaps you'll introduce me.

[Behind the counter, he sees the waiter studiously not working on their beverages.]

[snoobs]

I'll make you a cup one day and you'll make me something.

[ It's not phrased as polite request either, more of an assumption Alfie will do it for her. ]

[devoutish]

[It makes him raise an eyebrow, but it doesn't make him call her out.]

I could make you something now, today. Right here in this cafe.

[snoobs]

Oh?

[ Her gaze flicks over to the counter to see the barista doing nothing, just glowering at them every now and then. She looks back at Alfie, tilting her head. ]

Better service than those people already. What would you make?

[devoutish]

Bread. Without getting up from the table. Do you think that would make them angry?