14 april, 2002 - sulane and chase ... .. .

Session Start: Sun Apr 14 21:37:19 2002
[21:37] *** Now talking in #chapters*_
[21:37] *** sulane|palona sets mode: +o Ymir
[21:38] *** sulane|palona sets mode: +snt

[21:42] <sulane|palona> her skin was shiny, it looked slick .. freshly oiled, her olive skin took on something bronze. she
wore a touch of patchouli and a denim skirt that puddled around her shoes so heavily that she had to lift it to walk ..
'customized' as it were, she'd taken a pair of scissors to the seams so that it was open on two sides for her legs to the
mid-thigh. shiny, wellformed knees that snagged attention before red and white striped kneesocks caught the eye. they
might have looked ridiculous had they not paid such careful attention to the shape of her calves .. her stomach is bare,
she wears a black sleeveless camisole .. it's made of east Indian crepe cotton, gathered where breasts valley, embroidered
with a white butterfly. several necklaces, all of them silver or beads. heavy rings. she smells of patchouli,
strawberries in her hair. at the counter now, ordering a double espresso with a shot of mocha syrup. "now you."

[21:53] <chase> He was far less dressy than he usually appeared. Could he pull it off? It was hard to say. Very loose,
almost baggy cargo pants adorned him. Navy blue in colour, with patches of olive green in strategic areas. Around the
knees, on the hem by the heels. A pair of light and dark blue tennis shoes with white bases accompanied the ensemble. The
brand 'Simple' stitched in white along the side. A black hooded sweatshirt adorned his torso. A white logo iron transfer on
the chest. He looked like an over grown snowboarder. Perhaps he enjoyed the sport once in awhile? It was very casual,
considering him. But he still wore those Oakley 'Scar' sunglasses. Black. The glasses would raise and hold back any stray
locks on his head. Hair looked slick and styled. Face was clean shaven now. He smelled lightly of aftershave. Despite such
a casual look, he still might look good. He would saunter up to the counter now... Despite such a casual look, he still
might look good. He would saunter up to the counter now...ordering a cappuchino. Grey eyes washed over the crowd...

[21:58] <sulane|palona> definately not dressed to display wares or to appeal the crowd she usually seduces .. a little
skull cap pulled tight to her head so that her curls fanned out at angles all around the rolled-up edge, details, a silver
cuff in the shape of a climbing man perched on the arch of her ear. she gathers up her cup and waits until he has his
before raising her skirt that little bit, shuffling toward a corner booth where they could curl and not be overheard. "so
what is it that you couldn't talk about it over the phone? not that i'm not glad to be out."

[22:02] <chase> He sighed softly and glanced around. He should have chose a more secluded place. Like his bar. But if this
made her feel safe, if she even needed to feel safe, this would do. "Did you see the news today? About that terrible bombing
in France and England?" He pursed his lips and glanced towards sulane for a moment. He hoped she at least watched tv once
in awhile.

[22:06] <sulane> she balls herself up between the seat and the table. yes, she needed to feel safe. a coffee bar
was better than a club for her - sulane was always more comfortable where the crowd *wasn't* rubbing up against one another
like tropical birds in heat. "yeah, i heard that." she watches him, carefully.

[22:08] <chase> He nodded slowly. "Would you be horrified to know that I was involved in that...somewhat?" He leaned back
in his seat and glanced around. It would be horrendous for too many people to have knowledge of such things. The cappuchino
was raised to his lips and he would sip lightly from it, thumb wiping the foam moustache from his upper lip.

[22:15] <sulane> "depends. how involved are you." her knees raised and the makeshift slits in her skirt raised
open, too - good thing she wears a pair of very *very* small shorts underneath, or things in the booth would have gotten
obscene.

[22:20] <chase> A brow raised as he glanced over towards sulane, then at her skirt. "You look nice tonight." A comment from
nowhere before he took a slow breath and continued. "Simple. The man who bought your painting was a government official. The
terrorists were going to hit his house anyway. But I needed the painting. So I did a favor...for a favor. I paid for the
explosives, and the weapons used by the hit man. When he was done in the house, I went inside. Got the painting, went back
outside and left. About an hour later, the house blew up." He eyed her for a long moment. She would probably judge him
harshly. But he expected that.

[22:23] <sulane> she plucked at her red-white striped kneesocks as though to say 'these old things?' before he went
on .. sulane's eyes, the sort that were reflective when the light was dim this way, went wide. her fingers went lax 'round
her coffee cup and it nearly went the wrong side down into his lap - she caught it, fumbling, and did her own little
peripheral glance before she responded. "so the question of the day is - how exactly does - *that* add up monetarily?" she
paused, just in a moment between sips, and tugged at her little cap. pulling it low against her forehead.

[22:27] <chase> He shrugged softly. "The fees for the hitman. The explosives. Plus their incentives? Close to forty-five
thousand dollars American. But I don't expect you to pay back that much." He took in a deep breath. "I went to get you
that painting. It seemed almost more important than life itself. Your job...other than painting. The bruises...the arguments
you put up with, with your roommates guy or whatever he was. You deserved at least one thing that was good...and pure. And
isn't rage pure? Isn't anger a pure thing at times?"

[22:32] <sulane> she stared at him a little while. there were a lot of pauses for sulane .. it seemed she sorted things
in these breaks between words, took shades apart in her head. eyes for eyes with him for a long while over pointy
denim-covered knees and the curved purple edge of her espresso cup. curls in her line of sight. when she did make a motion
she was reaching to put down her cup - preparatory, the noise of it's ceramic meeting the tabletop was a clear bell to shake
the words loose. "it wasn't dylan who hit me. and you're right, it was that important. .. there are other emotions that
are as pure as rage, but rage is the only one i've ever painted." she squints, one eye. "i know what the shiney shoes
mean, now."

[22:37] <chase> He blinked at her and tilted his head to the side. "I didn't think it was him. I don't think the other
woman, Hedley?" he blinked, "would have stood for it. I'm glad you painted it. It was breathtaking and..." He took in a
breath, never looking away from her. "What do you think they mean?"

[22:40] <sulane> 14"i think you're honest with yourself .. i think you're meticulous. they mean i'd like to know you
better." her tongue across her lower lip, tasting mocha. she's the first to look away.

[22:46] <chase> He blinked at her. Now what did...? Hell he should just ask. "How do you mean? You'd like to know me better?
Or that I send that message to other people?" Eyebrows lifted as he regarded her. Abruptly he looked away, then down toward
his cappuchino. Raising it, he sipped it lightly.

[22:48] <sulane> "i'd like .. me. i'd like to know you better. damn, i'm hittin' those nails right on the head, tonight
.. " she retrieves her own espresso cup and retreats into it. recalling the boy in the red alley, abruptly .. the factory
worker from the bronx she'd never see again. interesting how absolute pain in the form of uncontrollable anger .. can
endear one.

[22:51] <chase> He eyed her for a long moment, the cream moustache still on his lips, making him look comical. "That's what
I thought you meant." He says it with all seriousness. Despite the foam facial decoration. "Just had to be sure. I'd like to
get to know you better too, Sulane." He took in a deep breath and lowered his head just a bit.

[22:55] <sulane> she glances at him - her eye is snagged by something, but it's certain *he* doesn't realize it. fuck.
to reach, or not to reach. there were more than a couple ways to do this. and no napkins. "you .. um. shh . mm." she
leans with a breathy little exhale through her nose and sweeps the mustache away with her thumb. tucking it into her mouth
afterward, absently.

[22:59] <chase> He blinked at the sudden touch to his lips and he let his gaze rise to her features. "Y'mean I've had
that...er..." He lowered his gaze a bit again, a flush coming to his cheeks suddenly. Elbows were propped up on the table,
forearms folded over each other and drawn inward. "Well...that was embarassing." He chuckled suddenly. "Thank you." He
smiled lightly and regarded her. She was rather forgiving...considering his earlier news.

[23:03] <sulane> well, consider the woman. high priced prostitute who specializes in fetishes and fantasy - those bruises
weren't the first and there were more in that set that were hidden naturally by clothes. violence was with her day to day -
explosives in france seemed first of all, very distant from the here and now .. secondly, just a means. maybe she was naive
for believing that. "what's on your mind."

[23:05] <chase> He shrugged softly and smiled. "Not much. Just glad to be back in New York. Too many thoughts actually. Your
thoughts on the painting. How you feel about having it back. Whether or not you can truly describe such feelings. Whether
you'll actually have a victory lunch with me one day. Also..." He blinked. "I'm wondering if that band is going to start
playing? Or are we too late?"

[23:08] <sulane> she realizes as he's mentioning the band that she doesn't hear them either - sulane raises her body a
little, leaning to look toward the stage .. instruments, the potato-sized microphone .. but no band. "maybe a break? tell
you the truth, i'd forgotten all about them. that all you were thinking? just .. how i feel about having the painting
back?" her expression echoed his. the expert reactionary.

[23:15] <chase> He shrugged softly and pursed his lips. "I'm curious, yeah. I imagine you couldn't be happier. But that's
probably too weak of a word to describe it. And no...I have other concerns. My clubs, the pub. What book I should get from
the library tomorrow." A smile then. The library...their first meeting.

[23:21] <sulane> faint rustles, scattered clapping as the band returns to the stage. or, just a troupe of them .. a base
player, a saxophonist, the singer, a laid-back man taking his place behind the drumset .. and for this set, a violinist.
this particular player begins to play a theme, the singer nods at the coffee shop audience .. "you really want to know why
i wanted that painting back so badly? .. i thought i was in love with the man who helped me make it."

[23:26] <chase> He blinked and turned his gaze away from the band, to regard the painter before him with a bit of awe. "You
thought you were? Interesting. So are you in love with him? Or did that fade away?" A hand rose to support his chin as he
regarded her fully now.

[23:29] <sulane> "i think i'm still in love with him. as much as you *can* be in love with an imagined ideal .. " she
nods a few times and allows her legs to unfold, stretching underneath the table. only now beginning to relax. the theme
is from a louis armstrong song called 'a kiss to build a dream on.' it, too, unfolds. low-key. a sort of uncanny
accompan'ment for sulane.

[23:32] <chase> Eyes blinked wide for the briefest of moments before the grey eye shook his head slowly. "I love this song."
He breathed slowly and glanced sidelong towards the area where the band played. Hidden expression, he shook his head and
turned his face back into the cappuchino, sipping gently of it before setting it down. "In love with an imagined ideal? Mmm.
That is intriguing..."

[23:35] <sulane> "give me .. lips for just a moment, and my imagination will make that moment live .. " 6she sighs,
sniffing. rubbing at some interesting texture in the tabletop. "you know. your gypsy girl on the french beach. for a
few minutes while you were speaking with her, wasn't she the perfect girl for you?"

[23:39] <chase> He blinked up at her and shook his head slowly. "No. She was nice. She was innocent. But she wasn't...
perfect." He took in a deep breath and leaned back against the wood of the seat. "My idea of perfection isn't quite the
same as most people...

[23:42] <sulane> "well, for that little while .. he was the perfect guy for me," she murmurs at the woodgrain. "so
here's a get to know you question. what *is* your idea of perfection?"

[23:43] <chase> He laughed softly. "My idea of perfection is something all encompassing. Someone who can hate as much as
they love. Someone who can appear as ugly as they can beautiful. Someone who can be kind...and cruel. I find perfection in
versatility...diversity."

[23:46] <sulane> "why the duplicity? do you know why? hey, think about it .. m'gonna go get another espresso .. " she
pushes up and wriggles out of the booth, leaving scent and quite an unintentionally fine view of her backside on her way.

[23:47] <chase> He couldn't ignore it, at least not for a brief second or two. Eyes turned back to the cappuchino before him
and he sipped it gently. Eyes trained on it for a long moment. His sneakered foot tapped gently in time with the beat of the
song.

[23:50] <sulane> when she comes back, 'kiss to build a dream on' winds down with a saxophone tremor and a cymbal hiss ..
applause breaks out and sulane sets down her refilled cup to clap. after she's resettled and singers shift - the violinist,
a woman, takes the microphone and the man takes a stool to the left. "so?"

[23:53] <chase> He shrugs softly. "I can't imagine anyone being just the epitome of kindness and good. It's like Karma.
There's only one half of the circle. The good. And a circle isn't perfect unless it's complete. Well have inherent good in
us. But also inherent evil...right? So why would we only want one, without the other?"

[23:56] <sulane> she pauses .. then leans across her cup as though she were asking something more purely confidential than
what her painting had to do with explosions in france. "so what did you see in 'rage.' my painting. what did you see in
it that you thought it was so good?" this lean might seem intimate to him .. it seems unintentional.

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