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Immediately follows Finding the Balance
Asbolus:
After venturing out from the freehold hollow, Asbolus did what he often did and let the city guide him and his walking companion as it wished, eventually leading the pair to a small parking lot that was being claimed by a quartet of food trucks selling treats of all sorts. After perusing the selection the Darkling went for the Mediterranean option, procuring a gyro and mint tea for himself and offering to cover whatever Joy might like from any of the vendors present.
Joy Hamidi:
"I think a gyro might be good." She comment, pondering the options and selecting something rather similar to Asbolus, but refuses any drink that comes with it. "Thank you for offering."
Asbolus:
"Quite welcome." Once their orders were ready he led the way to one of the tables arranged nearby, weaving through the crowd and making a path for the shorter Dryad to follow.
Joy Hamidi:
Joy takes a seat the table,setting her bag beside her, wrapping the strap around her arm and then grab her food to eat. "Is that a place you eat often at?"
Asbolus:
"Once before, at a similar set-up as this." After laying a napkin down he carefully unwrapped the paper back from his gyro, keeping an eye for any pieces that threatened to fall. "I tend to wander a good bit and see where the city takes me. Old habit dying hard there, I suppose, but it's been a good way to learn about the place."
Joy Hamidi:
"I know the paths I used and the little optional escape paths just in case. Took me a while to think of security and plans and such." Joy says, taking another bite. "But I need to learn more."
Asbolus:
"Mmm." He nodded, taking a bite and swallowing it properly before continuing. "Being able to walk under the Coat in the more...suspect areas of town helps on that front. All in all keeping a sharp eye on things and being aware of one's surroundings does the trick, and has been rather informative besides."
Joy Hamidi:
"Yeah, I hear a lot of gossip from the customers, the other cleaning staff...." She enumerates as she finishes her food. "It's always useful to learn about good deals and who's looking to buy what."
Asbolus:
"Indeed. I have a bit of a reputation at the theater for being semi-omniscient, if only due to having a rather keen ear." He smirked at that, offering a small shrug. "Part of the work as a manager, as I see it."
Joy Hamidi:
"I'm not in any special position beside cleaning lady, but I'm also pretty good at listening and figuring out what's going to happen just by listening to people and paying attention." A soft chuckle. "I also hear a lot of things I wish I didn't."
Asbolus:
"Oh, I can imagine." He offered a sympathetic look, followed by a small smile. "Wager it helps to keep the work interesting, though."
Joy Hamidi:
"It does, the yelling wife coming in during the night to a nasty surprise is always a favorite. Happens once every few months."
Asbolus:
"They do tend to think they're more clever than they are, those sorts. Always good to see them get their comeuppance."
Joy Hamidi:
"Always a fine midnight snack if you're into that flavor." She mentions, casually.
Asbolus:
"True enough." He nodded in agreement. "Having to more frequently indulge in that sort of meal has been another interesting facet of that step forward, as an aside. Running low has been hitting harder as of late."
Joy Hamidi:
"I'm prudent with how I spend, but like, finding the food is much easier." She stretches her legs "Since I switched from Hot, spicy food to cold food."
Asbolus:
He offered another nod, taking a moment to polish off his meal before looking back her way. "If you don't mind my asking, what prompted that shift?"
Joy Hamidi:
"I was grieving and that, ultimately, what was driving me. Anger was just a symptom, not the force behind everything." Joy explains. "What I wanted out of coming back, my talents, my outlook on how things should work all align better with cold than hot."
"That said, I do have quite a lot of hot skills." a smirk follows.
Asbolus:
"Understandable. I felt at home immediately with the Arrow, paranoid as I was at the time of being found again. While that's certainly mellowed that harmony with what they represent has remained."
Joy Hamidi:
"Think you could walk me 'home'? I need to sleep before having to work." Joy says, looking to the nearby clock for the time. "And yeah they definitely drove the 'be careful' thing into me."
Asbolus:
"Certainly." He nodded and moved to stand from the table, collecting his trash and putting it in the nearby bin. "Lead on, madame."
Joy Hamidi:
"Of course! It's not ridiculously far at least." She looks around for the street name
Asbolus:
"And if it was we could procure an Uber or the like, but I do enjoy walking through the city at night."
Joy Hamidi:
"At least tonight I didn't have to strap a weapon somewhere uncomfortable."
Asbolus:
"Oh?" Cue an arch of the eyebrow. "Is that a regular occurrence?"
Joy Hamidi:
"Since I have someone with me, tonight, I don't have to strap things left and right for quick retrieval. There's options and possibilities. Also duct tape sucks."
Asbolus:
"Ah...I see. And that it does." He nodded with a small smirk. "I imagine there may be better solutions than duct tape for that sort of thing..."
Joy Hamidi:
"Yeah but, shoestring budget and I got priorities." Pokemon, games and probably some other methods of copiing with every day lives, most likely.
Asbolus:
"I'd be willing to offer aid in that department if you'd like, whether in more mundane equipment or teaching one of our particular gifts that lets you be armed at a moment's notice."
Joy Hamidi:
"I'd like to know more about the armed thing." She nods. She points down the street "That's the motel I work and live at."
Asbolus:
He nodded in return, looking over the building as it came into view. "It's a working through the Sword that allows you to pull from the surrounding elements and make a weapon from them. I tend towards throwing blades myself, but anything sufficiently archaic is doable."
Joy Hamidi:
"Yeah I have that already, but it's weird when some random mugger decides you're his meal ticket and suddenly rustky spikes and branches floats."
Asbolus:
"True enough. What I'm referring to is more of an actual weapon than an area effect like that, though. A true blade in the dark of the dark can serve rather well in that particular case."
Joy Hamidi:
"I don't disagree, I could poke around for that." She smiles as she climb some steps that leans to a door as she fishes for keys, it is probably obvious there's surveillance. Joy yawns, covering her mouth with her arm. "Thanks for walking me here."
Asbolus:
"I'd be happy to teach you if you're interested. That particular trick is unique to those like myself who learn it." He walked beside her to the door, nodding with a smile. "Quite welcome. It was good talking with you, feels like it's been far too long. Have a good night."
Joy Hamidi:
From Joy's small stature, a slight moment of frustration appear on her expression and she pushes herself on her tippy toe for a rapid hug and a strained attempt at a peck on the cheek, should the gesture be accepted and welcomed "Have a good night too!"
Asbolus:
Asbolus leaned down to be in reach as he realized what Joy was doing to make it easier for the diminutive Dryad, returning the hug gladly with a warm smile.
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