2024.03.08: Bob runs into Mary at the Gardens
| Bob runs into Mary at the Gardens | |
|---|---|
| Bob visits the Botanical Gardens, and discovers Mary there, who he hasn't seen since November. They catch up briefly. | |
| IC Date | March 8th, 2024 |
| IC Time | evening |
| Players | Mary and Bob |
| Location | Prospect Botanical Gardens |
| Spheres | Mage |
Prospect Botanical Gardens - Atrium
Welcome to the Prospect Botanical Gardens. Recently renovated and restored, the atrium leads off to several smaller conservatories hosting their own themed gardens. Currently only the seasonal gardens are open as the rest are still being restored.
This great space is filled with natural light, be it from the sun or the moon, emitted through the magnificent glass ceiling. Although it has been treated to minimize the UV radiation, the view of the sky is unobstructed, revealing even the glass gazeebo on the top of the building. However, those panes are tinted to allow for privacy.
The morning light fills the atrium, leaving soft shadows in it's wake.
At the heart of the complex is this main atrium. Located here is a small welcome center and souvenir shop but the larger draw is the restaurant: Vines. During the morning hours, Vines is more of a cafe and bistro. Lunch is also fairly casual. Dinner, however, is far more fancy with private candlelit tables and soft classical music.
A man enters the gardens, looking around. He will stop to smell a flower on one of the vines before continuing.
This twenty-something man wears a retro vintage tweed blazer sport coat. The coat is brown and herringbone, with two buttons. Underneath the coat is a blue tweed check retro vintage vest, single breasted with a notch. His pants are grey slacks, tapered. He is wearing brown loafers. Over his left shoulder is slung a Glenn leather briefcase bag.
This man's face is oval, longer than it is wide, with a strong angular jaw. A light stubble carpets his face. The face is framed by long dark hair with a middle part and curtain bangs. He has a thin mustache and an aquiline nose. His grey eyes are small and his gaze is keen.
He holds a walking stick in his right hand, a large and lacquered oak shillelagh.
Mary is just browsing. Browsing the flowers anyway. Wandering seemingly at random to check out this and that with a soft smile on her face.
You can smell lavender if you get very close to this lovely girl. And maybe some incense. Her chestnut hair is very long, all the way down her back and to her waste, but not always well styled. Today it looks a little bit wild. It frames her perfect face and keeps getting in the way a little bit. Her make up is done with more care even if her fair features do not really need it. A little blue around her brown eyes for dramatic shadowing and a glossy red to her lips. Just a hint of coloring but neatly done. Her only jewelry is her black choker with a silver ring and a matching bracelet. The flip flop style sandal do not do her any favors. She is not very tall and they have no heels. But they are probably comfortable. The jeans she wears look new. Still a nice keep blue color that has not begun to fade with washing. They are also quite tight. The painted on sort of look. She has the rear and legs to make the look work. There is no belt. In face there is very little above her waist in terms of garments. Just a floral print bikini top that is just enough to cover her generous bust. It is a showing off her figure outfit. Given that hers is near perfect, the look probably works.
Mary hears her name and turns. She looks at you ... oh! Her expression returns to its usual grin. "Hi there! I'm doing OK, thanks." She is looking at some flower she found nice smelling. "Oh therapy? How's that going for you?"
A smile that becomes wider. "Therapy went amazing. I had a major breakthrough and found out that the reason I wasn't walking was psychological trauma more than physical. I had more therapy, combined it with physical therapy, and well a strange trippy visualization, and voila..I walk. Though I still need the cane somewhat." He looks down briefly.
Mary rolls to detect subterfuge
<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Mary rolls Perception + Empathy vs 6 for 2 successes.
1 2 5 +6 +6 8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->
Mary realizes that Bob is telling part truth part lies.
Mary listens and her smile wavers an almost imperceptible amount. But medical stuff is personal so she doesn't pry into. "Well great! That's amazing news. You can call it a walking stick instead of cane and say it's a fashion accessory."
Bob smiles, "Yeah, my therapist Steele was amazing indeed. It's taken some getting used to, walking again I mean. Now I'll start UCP for real next semester. It is a nice stick. I have a fondness for Irish things, I just love the culture." He smiles.
Mary looks at you more curiously now. "Oh you know Steele too? He's a good man. He helped me get some of the financial aid stuff in order for me to go back and finish my degree."
Looks taken aback. "Oh! Yeah, he is a good man. I didn't realize you knew him too." He seems a little fidgety, as if trying to figure out how to do something.
"Umm, I'm new to the uh..local community. Have you known Steel long?" It might be almost adorable how struggling Bob is with meeting new mages.
Mary seems a bit stumped too. "Um ... not very long no. First couple years in college I seriously didn't get off campus much at all. Didn't explore or meet people. I've lived here a while but doesn't really know the city."
Bob nods. "We should get together with Steele for coffee sometime, perhaps at Roasters. It's a good place to meet good like minded people."
Mary nods slowly. She thinks a bit. "It's OK. I don't go a lot. But mainly because I had an unpleasant run in with his ex wife downstairs. But she is gone so I should probably get over that."
Bob sighs. "He told me of his ex-wife, but no details. Sad story I imagine." Just then his wristwatch start playing Work from Hamilton at a low volume. Bob shuts it off fast, then shrugs. "My alarm, I have to finish up some horse breeding optimization software for a guy named Sark. Also a great guy, if you ever get the chance to meet him."
"But I'd love to do that coffee with you, and perhaps Steele, sometime. Bump phone to give you my number?" He holds his phone out.
Mary grins. "I know Sark too. Not well. But I've been to his ranch. Tell him I said hi!"
Bob smiles and says "Will do". He shrugs at no phone bump, but it's OK, they'll bump into each other again sometime.
