|
Daniel Hawthorne:
Ria was sent a message from Daniel to let her know that the outfits for the tryouts she had ordered were ready for pickup from the studio at her convenience, and when she arrived the showroom was notably more active with daytime customers looking through the displays and talking with the staff. Most notably to the ghoul, the Haunt himself emerged from the staff only door near the rear of the room, seeming to have no issue at all moving about during the sunlit hours as he approached his sister to speak with her on some matter or another.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
The plan was to scoot by before nightfall, pick up the stuff, easy in and out.
Plans, of course, never go to plan, especially when Daniel was very clearly awake and it wss very clearly only like 530. She did have to stop to check the time on her phone to make sure of that.
"Sup Daniel! Once again, super sorry I left these waiting for a bit. Hectic past few uh...days? Weeks? However long its been."
She is of course as boisterous as always, probably getting her a look or three from other customers. Whoopsie.
Daniel Hawthorne:
Hearing Ria's greeting Daniel turned her way, a brief flash of surprise on his face before he schooled his expression and gave her a smile. "No worries. Give me a second and I'll get them for you; dressing room two should be open if you want to head that way."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Sweeeeeeet. You're still the best, won't let anyone else say otherwise."
She smiles and winks in his general direction, she was gonna ask about that....later. And so she goes to the dressing room.
Daniel Hawthorne:
A few minutes later Daniel joined her in the dressing room, a number of garment bags in hand. "And here we are." He hung the bags up on a nearby rack, carefully unzipping them to reveal the ensembles within.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ohoho! Those already look amazing."
She rubs her hands together with a gleeful look on her face.
"Aight aight, which one are you most excited to see?"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"You already tried on the grey before we did the adjustments, so let's go with the navy blue. Can save the white for last."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"We did yep! Gotta say, they look fanstastic already. The gold trim with the dark blue."
She gives a chef's kiss! If you didn't know she's actually a chef for another cool dude.
"Aight shoo, lemme change."
She chuckles, obviously jokingly.
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Of course." He replied with a chuckle of his own, stepping outside until beckoned back in.
Once she tried on the suit she would find it fit her to a t, offering a note of distinction to her bearing that would fit in well on the world's stage.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She comes up with a hand up like she's swearing in.
"I solemnly swear I will use this for more than just making my girlfriend's jaw drop to the floor. Because it is fucking amazing. I adore it, and it makes me look strong as fuck."
She demonstrates accordingly, and smiles, before looking a little more serious.
"Are you happy with it too? It's gonna be your work out there for the world to see. No pressure. I'm the masterpiece, of course," ever humble aren't we, "but gotta make sure the details make everyone happy too."
Daniel Hawthorne:
Daniel couldn't hide the proud smile on his face as he looked her over, checking for any possible foibles that would need to be corrected now that the suit was on her. He chuckled at the 'masterpiece' comment before nodding. "I am, yeah. You look great in it."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She poses, only half jokingly, showing all how all the material stretches and everything else.
"Ayyyy. Well then, I'm entirely happy with this one. It feels great. Gotta remember I can't just compete in this."
Thats made with another chuckle.
Daniel Hawthorne:
He smirked at that, finding a convenient piece of wall to lean against. "Pretty sure they'd make you change out of it before getting out on the floor."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Yeah, plus its...3 different penalties? Don't want that. Mostly because they wanna see my legs and arms to make sure I'm not bending them at certain parts. Anyway, the white one right? With the one fabric we said looked really nice on me?"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Fair enough, and indeed." He nodded, stepping outside of the dressing room once again so she could try on the second suit.
She had asked for bright and my oh my did Daniel deliver. One could almost swear there was some sort of iridescent thread worked into the fabric, catching the light in ways that were subtle enough to not be garish but noticeable nonetheless.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She steps out with an equally bright smile.
"Okay okay I admit. It does look really good on me. Do you think if I stood in the sun right I could... okay that's probably insulting nevermind. Anyway, it looks amazing and I love how much it... sparkles doesn't sound badass enough, I need a better word."
Okay so she was definetly excited.
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Don't remember if I told you but someone asked me if I sparkled once. It was pretty amusing, although she did fall out of her chair in vindication when I told her that I didn't." He grinned, her excitement perking up his own spirits. "Glad you like it, though; I played around with the idea for a bit and it turned out great."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"That sounds vaguely familiar. With the whole sunlight thing? Anyone I might know?"
She nods and finds a good light to stand under.
"Yeah I love it. Definetly eye catching but not like...gonna blind someone if I walk around outside. I'd love to walk on stage with this. Ohhhhh, with the spotlights too."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Don't think so. It was one of the willworkers, haven't seen her in...hell, about two years at this point. I presume she's moved on to other places."
"That was the idea, yeah."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Mmm gotcha. Played a game of poker the other night with two of them. Er, one of them and a...forgot the word for it. Like me but for the willworkers. Er, me right now at least."
She nods, a debating loom
"I think I only really have one complaint about all of em."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"That must've been interesting. I've met a few through the diner but haven't talked shop too much with them. I should remedy that, though...Floretta has a project in the works that calls for more cross-specialization options, as it were."
"Oh?" Cue an arch of the eyebrow.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Mostly its Tommy I've talked to about that sorta stuff. Oh and Jay. That's really it. But ooo a project."
She raises an eyebrow.
"If I can help at all, lemme know. Assuming its stuff I'm supposed to be out of the loop for."
A wave of the hand.
"Anyway, my only complaint is they are all so good that now I gotta plan which one I'm wearing when! Darn you and your perfection of making me look like a badass butch lesbian."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"I've talked with them as well; they were the first one I broached it to, actually."
"Will do. Far as I know it's something we can all partake in, but I'll check with Floretta on it just in case." He thought a moment, looking her over. "On a semi-related note, when are you officially stepping back from things until after the tryouts? I have a feeling you've mentioned it but I don't recall off-hand."
"I do my best." He replied with a small smile. "I'm glad you like them, though. It was a great project to work on."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Tommy? I adore Tommy, Tommy's wonderful and I am very proud of them."
She nods.
"Oh...yeah that would kinda affect if I could help, right. The 29th. This...29th, so like 2 weeks and some change? Guy already broke the Bond with me so, tada, I'm free of that. Gonna get back on it in mid October, then back off in May...or maybe June for the Olympics themselves. I'm uh...a bit too awesome to compete right now."
She smiles.
"Oh yeah. Your best is amazing and I'm so happy with all this. And I'm glad it was fun, now I get to shown your stuff off to the world cause you're that awesome."
Daniel Hawthorne:
He nodded at the dates given, a question on his tongue but kept to himself for the moment. "Noted, and I bet. I'd be curious to see where your baseline is these days without the improvements from the blood."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"I am too. And sorta worried cause I've been so used to all this."
She makes a thinking face at him.
"Ya got a question. You ask yours and I'll ask one in return? Deal?"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Deal." He gave a nod. "I was going to ask how you're feeling now with the Bond gone, but wasn't sure if that would be prying too much."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Um...not to cop out of an answer, but I really don't know? Strange I guess? Somewhat freeing in a weird way? Like...if I had a spare 3 minutes to just think, my brain would always go to like...does Guy need help, does Guy need anything done at the Gym, how do I not fuck up for Guy. Now its like...I'm thinking about the Olympics or my next work shift or something else in those three minutes. It's strange how much you can think about in three minutes."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"I felt the same way when mine finally lapsed. It was a weight that I hadn't realized I was carrying until it was gone, and weird as it may sound on some level I missed it."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"No, no. I get it. I do kinda miss it. That like...how do I word it. Sense of purpose? Of responsibility? Silly brain make the dopamine for taking care of regnant, now it's not. Weird, yeah all that. Responsibility is a good word I think. Its nice to have that responsibility, but it does weigh on you a bit."
She nods.
"Aight, my question. Why the hell are you awake? Shouldn't you have been going to bed like...11 hours ago? And getting up in like 2?"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Exactly." He nodded in agreement. "That and in a way it was the last part of my pre-Embrace life fading out, which only added to how unmoored I felt at the time."
He smirked a touch at the question. "I had a feeling that's what you were going to ask. I should be, but there's a few things I needed to work on today to get them finished for the weekend and I didn't want to wait."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ouch... yeah this plus everything else, that must have been a time. I'm, this is going to sound rude as fuck and I'm sorry but I don't know how to phrase it better. I don't envy you when it comes to how you got Embraced."
She nods.
"Yeah but aren't you like... exhausted? I thought being awake during the day did that to you. I know you're older than me but I'm great at the mean older sister sending you to bed. One got 7 years of practice. Unless they're separate... then 14 years? No, probably 7, although close to 8 actually. ANYWHO."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I was in a bad place for a long while, and it took coming here and joining the Academy to really start getting out of it. I'm pretty sure that if I hadn't left Boston I would've shown myself to the sun within a year, if that tells you anything."
"Normally, but as part of my studies I can stay active during the day without the usual issues as long as I'm fully Blushed." And, she may note, it was rare indeed for her to have encountered him sans Blush...
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Mmm yeah, I'm sorry to hear all that. And I'm glad you didn't, I think you're pretty fang cool. Okay nope I was trying to do something there and that did not work. Just ignore that."
She nods, eyes going wide in an 'ohhhh thats cool af' way.
"Ohhhh. That's something you can do? That's rad. Here I was figuring you were forcing yourself awake. Now I'm jealous, sleep is so good but takes soooo much time."
Daniel Hawthorne:
He chuckled at the joke nonetheless, giving a nod. "Thanks. You're pretty awesome yourself. "
"Agreed, especially since we don't really 'rest' while out unless we need the time to heal. Getting that time back to work on things is nice."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"I am, yep. I am really fucking awesome."
She smiles, definetly full of herself.
"Really? No cool dreams or feeling rested enough to not wanna get outta bed but you gotta? That kinda sucks."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"We do dream, although it's more of an off-switch than getting actual rest."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Anything like being exhausted after work and just collapsing? That I get."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Close enough, yeah. It takes some getting used to, for sure."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She nods.
"Those can be some amazing sleeps though. Long too. I do kinda wonder what people would dream about after like...400 years."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"I wager they can get pretty interesting. I know torpor dreams are particularly weird, from what I've heard."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"That is something I don't wanna experience. I feel like I'd have maaaajor FOMO. I'd be worried about all the cool things I'd miss."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Understandable. Sometimes it's necessary, though."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Or outside of your control."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"True. I haven't gone into eclipse myself yet, and hopefully won't have to any time soon." Cue a knock on the nearest wooden surface for good measure.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She nods.
"Parta why I'm happy being a Ghoul for now. Although I do kinda worry about what would happen if Guy does need to do all that."
She nods and leans against the wall, smiling in the nice af suit, knowing she looks good af.
Daniel Hawthorne:
"If it's planned there's usually a safe place set up for it so they can be guarded and whatnot."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Yeah, I know all that. But also what happenes to me...huh I guess that's another thing on the whole Bond being broken. Worrying about myself first and then Guy instead of the other way around."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Ah...that can depend. Sometimes someone else takes over giving the blood, especially if it's a longer-term ghoul."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"That ever happen to you? I think I remember talking about that at some point actually. It would probably be Flo."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"It didn't for me, no. Some of my older family members did, though, and the childer Lord Randall put in charge of his estate handled that part of thing as well."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Oh, that would make sense. I...don't think Guy has any Childer. Ya know I should probably ask. I wouldn't think he has any though."
She nods.
"Ya know, sometimes I forget you were an Invictus ghoul. And not the ghoul bit, I remember that. Just...the Invictus."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Not as stuffy as you'd expect, yeah?" He offered with a small smirk. "I appreciate what I was able to experience growing up among the Invictus, but I'm glad I was able to step away from it and forge my own path."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Stuffy, yep. You said it not me. Look, my brother is Invictus so...can't roll my eyes at all of them. Just mostly him."
She shrugs.
"I'm glad you took stuff away from all that. I don't think I could deal with all that. Granted, the Bond and everything."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"For me, at least, it provided a sense of structure that I needed at the time, although after what happened it was too rigid and I started to suffocate under the pressure of it all. While not as much here one of the largest facets of the covenant is maintaining outward appearances, and coming in as a 'shameful' Embrace protected only by my former regnant's reputation put a lot of weight on my shoulders to prove that he made the right decision."
"While Vincent came in under similar circumstances, the Estate here basically just stuck a flag on him and gave him the usual spiel without all of the training that also comes with it. The looser structure here may work better for him, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't expect him to last long enough to be a potential problem."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ick, yeah. I would hate all that. I'm a bit too much of a uh...reckless person that doesn't care what most people think of me. Ill keep the people that like me and ignore everyone else. Ya know?"
She nods.
"I love my brother to death, and I fucking hate how they just kinda threw him under the bus and didn't help him. So I appreciate Dame Knight Juliet for helping him out and all that. And no offense but also kinda hope that Vincent chooses a different group."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"I get you, yeah. I far prefer a close-knit group of friends than the pit of vipers the court there could be at times...most of the time, if I'm being honest."
"He might in time, same as I did. It's giving him what he needs at the moment, and if that changes he might look elsewhere."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Agreed. Although I can make friends pretty much anywhere. But yeah, thats the fun thing about forever, right? Plenty of time to change and everything."
She nods and chuckles.
"Vin thought I'd end up a Carthian. I think I'm frankly more excited about all the cool research of all this stuff I didn't know existed."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"I'll admit my views on the Movement are biased, but they do good work here so I won't say too much. The Academy has been the best place for me here, though, for similar reasons. Finding ways to go beyond what most think is possible for our kind has been a great motivator."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"And sounds badass, I will say. Care if I ask for those biased views?"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"I was always told they were just rabble-rousers, too fractured within themselves to actually do anything, all that. I know now that was just a superficial stereotype to ensure I looked down on them, but it stuck for a while."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She makes several faces at that, working out how to word.
"Okay, I. Hm. As someone who is pretty damn anarchist, having that sorta view does not at all surprise me. Glad youve seen past that. Granted, obviously, I'm not free of my own biases. But yeah."
She nods.
"ANYWAY. Next topic, ummmmm."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"You have anything you're planning on seeing in Antwerp while you're there, or just gonna be focusing on the competition?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"I probably should plan all that out, huh. I'm not that much of a planner really. Up until recently I was mostly caught up on 'imagine if the local Court realized I used to be a ghoul' before realizing that's...not likely, and I would have at least Flo and Guy behind me, and a million other things. So now I can think through all that. Probably landmarks and stuff , lots of selfies on the instagram and all that."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Not a bad idea. Look forward to seeing said photos when you post them."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Of course! I'll tag you whenever I'm wearing your suits in one of them?"
She raises an eyebrow to see what his thoughts on that were.
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Sounds like a plan. I'll let Victoria know to keep an eye out for it since she handles the social media side of things."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Sounds like a plan. How's she doing anyway?"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"She's doing well." He replied with a smile, glancing towards the door. "She gave me a bit of the business for being in today, mind; she's always concerned that I work too much."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Us? Work too much? Never."
She chuckles.
"You're enjoying the work though, yeah? That's a good thing!"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Right?" He chuckled in return, nodding. "I have been, yeah. Wedding season's in full swing so we've been busy on that front, plus the usual orders."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Any wedding stuff for a certain Gangrel?"
She chuckles and bites her lip.
"Hope I didn't put too much weight on you or anything."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Yes, actually." He smiled, then shook his head. "Not at all. I enjoyed working on it for you."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Good cause if not I'd have to shake my head at him. But sweet! Once again I love them so much and I'm even more excited than before."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Same. They've been good for each other, and I look forward to seeing them make it official."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ya gotta send me any good pictures you get."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Will do. With the folks I expect on the guest list I expect it to be an interesting night."
He looked ready to say more before a knock on the dressing room door drew his attention, with Victoria peeking in after making sure everyone inside was decent. "Hey Danny, someone's on the phone for you."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ooo, Danny."
She jokingly winks.
"I should get heading out anyway. Thank you again for the suits, and I'll see ya around?"
She offers a fistbump.
Daniel Hawthorne:
Daniel gave Val a "don't you start" look - or as well as one can with sunglasses on, anyway - before smirking and returning the fistbump. "You're welcome, and you bet."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She chuckles, gathering up her stuff.
"Your secret is safe with me."
|