2023.07.18: One for One

2023.07.18: Purple colored Perception
Evelyn meeting Lyra and Sakina at Roasters
IC Date	July 18, 2023
IC Time	Daytime
Players	Lyra Evelyn Sakina
Location	Prospect Roasters - Coffee Shop
Spheres

Date of Scene: July 18, 2023
Participants: Evelyn, Lyra and Sakina
Location: Prospect Roasters - Coffee Shop

<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->
+note/read Lyra/distorted_image
<---======##=------------[ DISTORTED_IMAGE (PUBLIC) ]------------=##======--->
Status: NOTREVIEWED by Lyra on Sat Aug 08 15:13:13 2020
If one's eyes catch this woman's reflection, or perhaps in a recorded video, they will find that it is not hers at all. The figure of a raven haired woman swathed in a verdant and black cloak stands in her place- with eyes colored an emerald green. She looks familiar, perhaps, if the beholder has studied certain myths.

Morgan le Faye.
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->
+note/read Lyra/legendary attribute
<---======##=----------[ LEGENDARY_ATTRIBUTE (PUBLIC) ]----------=##======--->
Status: APPROVED by SassyCat on Sun Nov 13 18:15:12 2022
Appearance:

Like the mer, Lyra Grey has an utterly intoxicating presence. Looking upon her invokes the sensation of looking longingly upon the sea, and potentially, the vision of a siren singing her beautiful song upon the rocks.

Lyra's presence invokes a feeling similar to the passive mien of the Presence discipline. Lyra can 'activate' this mien to replicate the effect of Presence 1, Awe, substituting Appearance for Charisma. Doing so invokes the same effects, and can be mitigated in the same ways.
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

The sun is up! The day is bright and only marginally cloudy. A vibrancy, the sort of which can only exist on such a day, is palpable in the city streets outside of Roasters as people rush about to finish their daily business. But in Roasters?

Well, nobody sits down in a coffee shop when they're in a hurry.

And indeed, seated in the corner where the lights seem to shy just slightly away and even the sun struggles to touch, sits Lyra. Near no windows, merely alone. But even in spite of the corner's dour nature, her very apeparance defies the anonymity the table might usually afford to its occupants. The woman has on her right an utterly decadent looking drink- piled with whipped cream and sprinkles and chocolate caramel drizzle... And a book on her opposite side, which holds the lion's share of her silver-eyed attention.

The slender petite figure, really known to only a few around the city and those that frequented the University, knew the Auburn haired, pale skinned, blue eyed lady. A pair of glasses setting on the bridge of her nose, hair tied back in a neat bun. She is dressed in her normal conservative attire, covering most of skin, except for a small patch at her wrist that had a small tatoo of a egyption heiroglyph for life. Some patches of her exposed flesh if someone looked carefully enough would show scars peaking out, but how they were acquired nt obvious at all.

She is carrying with her a bag that hangs over her shoulder, and she seems to keep her head down, and try her best to avoid attention, just moving with the rest of the patrons through the line, until it is her turn.

Then there is a soft smile she offers the barista, "Small Caramel machiato please and a chocolate crossaint please?" once she has her order in hand she carefully looks around to find a table she can sit since she doesn't have to return to campus for the rest of the night.

Lyra is content with herself for the time it takes Evelyn to make her order... But, as she begins to make her way to the tables to find a place to seat? Well, the woman's peripheral attention belongs entirely to her. If one were perceptive enough, they could see that those silver eyes were analyzing her for some reason. It's when she draws close enough to be spoken to that Lyra DOES, in fact, address her.

"Those tattoos make a strong statement, if you don't mind my saying." She starts, "And that necklace... Do those things all happen to have a story? Or do you just love the aesthetics?" She comes to a brief pause there, canting her head.

"...Sorry. Not my best conversation starter, mmm? I just thought I'd find an excuse to offer you a seat on the opposite side of my table."

Evelyn was startled just a moment when her own thoughts were interrupted by the lady, and she looked up to realize that she was talking to her. It takes her a moment to gather her bearings and bite her lip. Her eyes fixing on Lyra's for just a moment.

A small "Oh" coming to her lips, as she thoughtfully considers Lyra. She is not in a hurry at all and accepts the invitation.

"Thank you for the invitation Miss." She offers politely setting down the macchiato carefully along with her croissant, and takes up a seat where she can set her bag beside her, but out of the path of other patrons.

"As far as conversation starters, it is probably better than any I could come up with."

Lyra returns the moment of eye contact with patience.

"Miss." Lyra repeats with mild amusement, "Call me Lyra. Miss falls strangely on the ears." It is perhaps more evident now, the color of Lyra's speech. She has a faint accent... Welsh, if one were knowledgable of dialects.

"Miss Grey, I suppose, if you're the kind of person who 'must' be proper on all occasions for all time. I've no problem with the sort, of course... But goodness do I know them." She sets her book aside as she speaks... An un-marked thing, bound in some aged leather. Likely some kind of diary, or a journal. She sips from her drink to punctuate the silence, but continues after.

"But of course, as far as thanks goes for the invitation." She clears her throat, looking around in a moment of apparent awkwardness.

"...Gods is it a nightmare to 'stop' talking like that."

Evelyn's eyes can't help but glance at the unmarked book on the table, and tries to keep from staring at it. She smiles warmly at Lyra as she introduces herself.

"My apologies Lyra, my name is Evelyn. It is a habit I find hard to break." She is a bit of a linguist but for the moment the dialect escapes her.

"May I ask where it is you are from? You have a lovely accent." Once she is settled into her her chair she decidely keeps her hands cupping her drink.

"Chicago, believe it or not." Lyra replies with candour as she takes up her drink, "My grandmother and I spent a great deal of time together... My family is mostly from Ireland, but my grandmother was a daughter of Wales. I suppose I inherited a great deal of her spice?" Her words are broken up by a sip of her drink.

"It's nice to meet you I'm sure, Evelyn. And the apology is acknowledged, but I PROMISE you I'm not thin skinned enough for one to have been required." She sets her drink down, shifting in her seat with a gentle sigh.

"So... Now that that's out of the way. Tell me about those tattoos! One for one. You tell me about yours, then I'll tell you about the ones I'm 'proud' of."

Evelyn smiles at her warmly as she tells her story of where she came from, and how she spent a great deal of time with her grandmother, her fingers gently clutching the pendent she wears.

She looks down and gently traces the small tattoo, "Actually it is the only one I have, it is a reminder to me of what I have been through and that I am a survivor. I have not have the courage to get any others. Maybe some day though." She laughs a little too at the one for one. "I would love to hear your stories Lyra." taking a cautious sip of her hot drink.

"Mmm..." Lyra muses. There is no disappointment in that sound... Rather, a thoughtfulness. "That's a good reason to commit to one. There's no reason to put anything on your body unless it's going to have lifelong significance. She grins just alittle...

"Oh, the ones I have 'stories' about? Those... Well, that. THAT was a result of me, ten years ago, deciding to accept the peer pressure of my sorority sisters and getting a dolphin tramp stamp. Biggest regret. Longest story. And the others... Well, to be truthful with you Evelyn, I don't have any others- as much as I'd like them. I 'do' them though, as a hobby."

Evelyn looks at Lyra with a grin as she hears her story for the one she has committed to. "It's a perfectly good reason to have one. Isn't that the reason most happen, drunk, high or rebelious reasons?"

She shakes her head at Lyra, "As far as the necklace, it was given to me by my grandmother, it has been passed own in our family. It is just a trinket really but that is about it, just sentimental value I can't part with." She looks back up at Lyra and smiles, "I am a really good listener if you care to share?"

"Sentimental value, I understand." Lyra replies, gently lifting the cheap looking triple moon necklace around her neck.

"This was the first gift that my wife ever gave me. Before she was my wife, of course... Before we were even dating, really. It's cheap, and it falls apart sometimes... But I always fix it." She lets it fall back to where it rests, and leans forward to rest her elbow on the table and her chin on the back of her hand.

"Sentimental value alone is enough to make a trinket more than a trinket. Because, after all, if you can't part with it... That means it's enchanted you. Doesn't it?" Lyra's grin is amused. A joke, apparently.

"But, like I said... One for one. Stories for stories. I'll tell you about 'my' grandmother if you tell me about yours. Deal?"

Evelyn nods in agreement gently looking down at the trinket, with a bit of a distant look in her eyes. My grandmother gave it to me, not long after my parents died. She said it had been handed down through our family for generations. It would break my heart as much as hers if anything ever happened to it. It feels right to hold onto it.

She smiles up at the story she tells about her wife. I think your wife would be upset if you ever let it go. I think it would break her heart as much as yours. She offers reassuringly.

Evelyn nods in agreement gently looking down at the trinket, with a bit of a distant look in her eyes. "My grandmother gave it to me, not long after my parents died. She said it had been handed down through our family for generations. It would break my heart as much as hers if anything ever happened to it. It feels right to hold onto it."

She smiles up at the story she tells about her wife. "I think your wife would be upset if you ever let it go. I think it would break her heart as much as yours." She offers reassuringly.

"Oh, her heart is strong. It would probably be my heart strewn across the floor like broken glass." Lyra replies assuredly, "But my, how we've turned down a sad and somber path... Let's think of my return story... Oh how about..." A moment's pause is taken by the woman in thought.

"...Well, I can show you one of the tattoos I did for my wife. I think the artwork is enough of a story in and of itself if the right eyes absorb it."

No sooner had she said as much that her phone is taken out from her nearby bag. She taps at the screen, while conversing further.

"Are you a college student, by chance?"

Sakina enters the cafe with a jingle of the bell strip, the exotic arabian woman glides across to the counter to purchase something sweet.

Evelyn shakes her head and can't help laughing, " "Don't I wish, I am actually working as a Librarian at the Campus though. She would not truly strewn your heart across the floor would she, surely an exaggeration?"

She hopes.

She does place her hands down in her lap, as she takes up her drink, watching Lyra tap on her phone. "Sadly my Grandmother passed away not long ago, and it was just time for a change of scenery." There is that somber tone again. Perhaps part of the reason for the ankh on her wrist. "I would love to see the tattoo though! I haven't the nerve to get anything to big. I don't think I could sit through it without passing out."

She has had her back turned to the door though at the table in the corner and is not watching who enters, focused for the moment on the conversation she is engaged in.

"She would never. I'm sure of that. The point of the metaphor was to express that if anyone would be breaking a heart in my marriage- it would probably be me breaking my own." Lyra replies, amusement in her tone as she finally holds up the phone. It's a picture of a woman's back! And on it is... Quite possibly, one of the most beautiful pieces of celtic knotwork that has ever been done. The knotwork circles a heart like razorwire, and A set of ogham staves is situated in the center of the piece... It LOOKS like a wonderful mix of modern and traditional, but the sheer 'perfection' of the craftsmanship may be the most standout part.

"The design was mostly my idea, obviously... She uh, only wanted a heart with my name in it. I talked her bigger, and now she loves it to bits."

She snickers just a touch at that, putting her phone in her pocket.

"My family is, sadly, mostly passed as well. For various reasons... I own a business down in Chula Vista where most of my cousins work on my offer. My family was never the most fortunate, and so it was nothing short of an obligation for me to share my 'own' good fortune with them."

Sakina waves if she happens to see Evelyn on the way to find a table, if she is unnoticed she will leave the two to their conversation.

Evelyn admires the tattoo she shows her, and shakes her head, "That is absolutely breathtaking work. Who was the artist?" She catches a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye and looks over, again pulling her hands back. She does smile warmly and looks back to Lyra, "A beautiful friend of mine, do you mind if she joins us?"

She looks over to Sakina and waves affectionately at her. "She has such a beautiful heart, to me anyway."

"Oh, I was the artist. Did I not mention?" Lyra says with a far more casual nature than the piece likely deserved, before looking up to Sakina. Her entire demeanor, for a moment, shifts... As she regards the woman. No, 'analyzes' the woman. In much the same way that she had Evelyn. The process takes no more than a handful of seconds before she nods, saying...

"Of course she can. We're here to meet people, aren't we? Otherwise, I doubt that you would have been compelled to sit with me."

Sakina smiles. "To her anyway." She puts out a slender hand in greeting to Lyra. "I am Sakina Bashir. The pleasure is all mine. Did you two just meet today? How cozy?" She sits down and takes a good pull on her frappe. "You have lovely tattoos, darling."

Evelyn offers, looking just a touch confused at Lyra, "You are the artist, but how could you do such an elaborate tattoo yourself?" This definitely boggles her mind as she waves Sakina, "Please Sakina, join us?" She looks to Lyra a moment, "I probably would have kept to myself had you not said anything. You can ask Sakina. I am normally one to keep to myself." She smiles at Sakina, "Her tattoos are exquisite so much talent I have never seen." She nods to Sakina, "Yes we did. We were just talking about tattoos and our grandmothers and..." she is rambling and stops herself, letting them talk.

Lyra lets Evelyn's answer to Sakina stand on its own, as she reaches out to take the woman's hand in a brief shake. Brief, but quite firm... And of course, just slightly warm.

It takes time for it to feel anything more than normal, after all.

"I did do it myself. It took a couple sessions and a great deal of love for the subject, frankly, but in the end it did work out." The woman smirks there...

"This is also a piece of mine." She lifts her hand up to the oyster shaped necklace around her neck, holding it up to be more visible.

"My best work. Jewelry and art is... A hobby, I suppose."

Sakina looks with interest. "I have done henna on myself but never tattoos forever. Yours make me want to think about it though. Seems like something I would have to think long on. You dont want to get such a thing lightly because it wont be going away but wow, that is stunning."

Evelyn is amazed as she listens to the fact that Lyra has created this art herself, the necklace and the tattoo. This has her floored that anyone could do such work on their own. She just places her hands in her lap though but does lean forward to peer at them more closely. She can't help but smile at Sakina's reaction as well. "Should I ever consider another tattoo, what would it take to convince you to do it, Lyra?"

Lyra, somehow, does not seem to be at all flustered by the compliments as she settles back in her seat and folds her arms. She regards Evelyn for a moment...

"A lengthy quest through the mires and bogs of Ireland, three golden goose eggs, a tear from an aspect of the Goddess Morrigan and A pretty new handwoven dress." The delivery is, of course, completely dry. Is she being serious?

"Get to know me better. Then we can talk about it, if the time ever comes that you want to talk about it. But before any of that... You'd need my contact information to get anything done. Wouldn't you?"

Sakina narrows her eyes at Lyra as she speaks of such things. "Well certainly I would like your number then, wouldn't I?"

Evelyn smiles at the two of them as they almost both seem to feed off each other and could possibly be sisters, They are both snarky enough. "Fair enough Lyra. I just would not get a tattoo from someone I did not trust, Sakina can vouch for that, but then you just met us so, how would you know you could trust us?" She does bring her bag up off the floor to put in her lap, taking out a pencil and sticky note of paper. Okay..Who still writes things down?! She then cautiously slips it across the table. "One for one." <OOC> Lyra says, "COuld you boooooth rooooooll" <OOC> Lyra says, "Perception and alertness vs......." <OOC> Lyra says, "8, before modifiers"

+roll perception + alertness vs 8

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Evelyn rolls Perception(4) + Alertness(1) (5 dice) vs 8 for 1 successes.
3 4 7 7 +8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Sakina rolls Perception + Alertness vs 8 for -1 successes.
-1 3 3 4 6
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

"And how could you know that you could trust 'me?" Lyra says, taking the slip of paper before producing one of her own. The number is scrawled and passed, and then... The woman shifts to rise from the seat.

"But of course, you can both have it. If you'd like to meet me in my natural habitat, then consider visiting the Lady of the Lakes, or the dam in the Otay State park. I favor those places for my idle time... The former for the sake of my business, the latter for the sanctity." Her book and cup are taken in hand, and she regards the two women for a moment before she turns without a goodbye and makes to leave. But... As she passes near the windows?

Evelyn notes the ghost of a peculiarity.

The reflection in that window, however slight, does not match the figure or colors of the woman she's watching walk away. Where her hair is silver, she sees pitch black... And some sort of billowing fabric, which must certainly be a cloak.

Sakina blows a kiss to the departing Lyra. "I am sure you will be seeing one or both of us very soon."

Evelyn's breath catches for just a moment, as she watches Lyra leave. She blinks taking off her glasses and rubs at her eyes, having one of those days again. and sighs as she looks back to Sakina and then down to her cup. Nope, nothing to see here. Even if she did see something, this is not the place to talk about it because well, not the place to talk about it. She looks down to the piece of paper, committing it to memory, before slipping it to Sakina. Yeah she is rendered speechless and just watches as she leaves, picking up her coffee and croissant. "I think I need to get home."

Sakina nods. "Alright well it was nice bumping into you." She smiles sweetly.

Evelyn gently kisses Sakina's forehead. "You know you are always welcome to come over. I am just truly feeling exhausted. I am not sure I would be the best of company. My eyes are just tired." She offers softly.

Sakina gets up and takes your hand. "Did you want your fairy godmother to guard your sleep. We could always just go to sleep together?" She smiles warmly.

Evelyn smiles at her warmly, "Fairy godmother and best friend too." She offers reassuringly. "Please?" She is gently squeezing your hand as you take hers. "The last few days have just left me feeling out of sorts and you bring me a sense of peace, Sakina. Do you mind?"

Sakina slips an arm around your waist. "Not in the slightest my dear. Lets go. I'll give you a nice lullabye."