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Erik Samuelson:
While he had been on the supernatural scene for a few years at this point, it was only recently that word of a 'secret squirrel' dining establishment had drifted Erik's way, and being who he was he couldn't help checking the place out now that he knew about it. It was thus that led the Bound to step through the portal into the diner proper, looking about curiously at the obvious change in scenery, a quiet "...huh" hitting the air as he got his bearings.
Floretta Williams:
The Dead Walks among the living tonight, in more ways than one, as Floretta makes an entrance a few moments later. A long red coat, matching with the red painted lips, hair held into a single, long thick braid, a little black dress, some heels and a small clutch in her hands. She seems alive enough to the naked eye.
Her attention is drawn immediately to the tall being she's never seen in this establishment, walking their way with a curious gaze. "Is it your first time here?"
Erik Samuelson:
"First time, yeah." Erik nodded, stepping aside so as to not block her egress from the portal. The Bound was dressed neatly if casually, sporting dark jeans, boots and a white t-shirt that peeked through the brown leather jacket he wore against the wintry weather outside. "Wasn't expecting a whole Platform 9 3/4 style thing."
Floretta Williams:
"Well, it's a wizard that did it, so, maybe that's why." Floretta jokes slightly. "At least they're generally pleasant people, unlike...." she waves her hand vaguely, not naming the person in question. "Anyway! The cooking here is really good and you can generally catch a fun conversation with other people that go bump in the night."
Erik Samuelson:
He started to say something them paused, smirking a touch. "Yeah, that tracks. Stranger things, I guess."
"The food is what caught my attention, I'll admit. Been in a kitchen in some form or fashion for most of my life. Erik, by the way." He added as he offered a hand, not wanting to be rude. "Realized I hadn't introduced myself yet."
Floretta Williams:
Floretta shakes the hand, warm to the touch, like a totally normal human person. "Pleasure to meet you, Erik, I'm Floretta. Are you currently working anywhere I'd know of?" She asks, grabbing a menu and offering it to him.
Erik Samuelson:
"I'm currently the head chef at Fork in Old City, been there for a couple years now." He took the offered menu, looking it over as he grabbed a nearby seat.
Guy Dagenham:
Who’s a totally normal human person?
Guy enters the diner with a sigh, running his hand over a buzz shaved head. He’s shirtless under his biker jacket despite the winter chill, and he reeks of blood despite none being clearly visible on him, even to those without a vampire’s nose for it. He takes a slow breath and glances around the diner, waving at Flo when he sees her, before walking over.
“Sorry if I’m interrupting,” he says with a nod to the unfamiliar face.
Floretta Williams:
"I'll have to try the menu there soon." She seems about to mentions something else when Guy walks into the space, dragging her attention rapidly on with the scent, she shake her head for a brief moment. "Hey, are you doing okay?"
Erik Samuelson:
The scent of blood did indeed catch Erik's attention, an eyebrow quirking upward as he looked over the source while Guy made his way over to the table. "No worries." He replied, tipping the menu he had in hand towards Floretta. "She was giving me the 'new guy' run down."
Guy Dagenham:
“I’m fine,” he says with a shrug. “Business deal got interrupted, made a whole mess of things,” he says with a knowing glance to Flo. “Petra will be annoyed,” he says as he pulls his jacket aside to show a neat cut in his side about half an inch wide, the lack of blood or bruising around it making it unclear at first that it’s a knife wound.
“But, all’s well, I’m just avoiding going home and getting my ass chewed for a little bit.”
He smiles at Erik; it’s like a sword being friendly. “Sorry for the awkward fresh meat moment. Guy Dagenham, nice to meet you.”
Floretta Williams:
"I have a laundry room you could use before Petra can get into this? Not saying you have to hide it from her, but you know? Maybe she'd appreciate. Or like, I could just call a cleaning service of some kind." then she looks to Erik, curious.
"So yeah, we know each other, apologies for the weird situation seeming so casual." Floretta sits down at the nearest seat.
Erik Samuelson:
Erik winced as he saw the wound, all too familiar with that particular sensation. The fact that it wasn't bleeding but also didn't sport the tell-tale signs of Plasm that would be there for one of his own did earn a curious cast to his features, however. "Been there before; hope it mends up alright."
"Erik Samuelson, good to meet you as well. And no worries," he added to Floretta, smirking a touch. "The weird gets to feel somewhat normal after a while."
Guy Dagenham:
“Oh, it’ll be fine tomorrow night.” He finds a seat and leans back a bit in his chair, manspreading an inadequate phrase for his cat-like sprawl in his seat; it’s Guy, every chair is weirdly like a little plastic kid chair for some reason.
Floretta Williams:
"It does." A pause. "Are we doing the dancing around the bush thing about what we are or are we saying it out loud?" Floretta asks in an uncharacteristic show of social impatience. "As you wish Guy, I do hope it ends with a hug."
Erik Samuelson:
"Good." He nodded to Guy, then looked to Floretta. "I know it's a secret squirrel type of place but I wasn't sure what the protocol was for that here, I'll admit."
Guy Dagenham:
“Oh, yeah, I mean,” he says to Flo. “She’s not used to the idea that getting injured doesn’t mean I’m hurt, when she’s assured I’m fine she’ll just be mad at whoever did it,” he says with with a smile.
“Vampire, as the kids say these days,” he says with a raise of his hand. “I’m fine with people not sharing more than they want, but what community you’re in is pretty commonly shared, and I don’t mind.”
Floretta Williams:
"Basically, don't force anything, if you use any weird stuff on others, do it with consent and don't be an asshole? I know the rules are plastered here somewhere." Flo looks about. "And it's the first I've heard of something like that being called a secret squirrel type of place. I can turn into a chipmunk, looks kinda sick tho."
A nod toward Guy "Yeah, Vampire here too."
Erik Samuelson:
"It's a thing from an old cartoon I watched when I was younger, whole super-spy sort of thing but the guy was a squirrel." He clarified with a shrug, taking in the pair anew when they mentioned what flavor of unusual they were. "First ones that I've run into, far as I know. I kind of run parallel to you guys, I would guess; died a few years ago but was able to come back with the help of a ghost. We call ourselves Bound, for the most part."
Guy Dagenham:
Guy tilts his head. “Huh. Been a very long time since I crossed paths with one of your people.”
Floretta Williams:
"Oh nice, we've interacted with a few ghosts in town, it's always a fun time!" A touch of sarcasm, not much though, sound like she's comfortable at least. "I never heard of the Bounds at all, but, I'm sure we'll get along just fine."
"I'm sure Guy will give me a run down of what he knows eventually." A chuckle
Erik Samuelson:
"Really...whereabouts, if you don't mind my asking?" He asked Guy first, then nodded to Floretta. "Here's hoping. Don't plan on making too big of a wave if I can help it."
Guy Dagenham:
“Oh, that was…Southern France, if I’m remembering correctly. Different time of my life, it wasn’t a particularly friendly encounter. I had a bad habit of rapidly increasing the number of dead your people had to deal with in a given area, unfortunately.”
Floretta Williams:
"Oh wow, you've been to france and you didn't even bring back wine from there?" Floretta teases as she eyes the menu and orders something rather small and sweet.
"Mostly keeping things even and afloats tends to work just fine."
Erik Samuelson:
"Ah...yeah, I can see that causing some issues." When the server came by he went for the regular pancakes and corned beef scramble, keeping it simple for his first visit to get a proper read on the food there.
Guy Dagenham:
He snorts and waves a hand at Flo. “All my stuff got burned when I got jumped upon coming to Philly, my bad.”
“But yes, keeping under the radar is pretty doable here. Some of us are worse at it than others,” he adds with a small smile.
Floretta Williams:
"Yeah, I like Philly a lot, I don't think I'd like who I'd be elsewhere. Or maybe I would and it'd be a problem." Floretta shakes her head., eating the small piece of sweet delicately.
"Anything in particular you'd be on the lookout for? Things you feel we should warn you about?" she ask of Erik
Erik Samuelson:
"Haven't lived anywhere else, barring a summer out west and a few family trips to Dresden now and again. No complaints, though; it's home, and always will be."
"Noted." He said to Guy with a small smirk, sitting back as he mulled Floretta's questions. "Good question, honestly. I've kind of stuck with my neck of the woods so far, as it were, so getting to know the general lay of the land is my main goal at the moment."
Floretta Williams:
"I might be able to help with the lay of the land a little bit on the weird side of it." Floretta nods "If you mean a litteral lay of the land, I mean." Floretta stretches a little bit and yawn. "Other than that, I might be able to point some minor stuff, I've been here a while at least."
Guy Dagenham:
"Oh, Dresden, huh? Nice city.”
He bobs his head. “This is certainly a good place to get a lay of the and network, find people who can let you know useful stuff.”
Erik Samuelson:
"Mmhmm. Dad's side of the family's from there, always enjoyed going."
"Anything you can float my way information-wise would be appreciated. Can see coming by here often enough, though; despite working in a kitchen there are definitely some nights that letting someone else cook for you is a godsend."
Floretta Williams:
"I might drop by your space for a taste of your cooking, I don't need to eat, but sometimes a little snack hits the nostalgia spot. Might have to do some gymnastic with the opening hours or delivery though." Floretta muses aloud.
Guy Dagenham:
“The hours are a pain, trying to try food at different places,” he says with a nod. “Winter makes that part easier, but then there’s seasonal menu items to deal with.”
Erik Samuelson:
"We're open until 9 most nights, if anything." he paused to take his plate from the waitress as she came by, taking a taste of the pancake and nodding with approval. "I imagine if there's enough of an interest in something set later in the evening I could pull some strings."
Floretta Williams:
"That could be fun, do you have a number I can reach you at to maybe set this up or contact you, in case of other emergencies?" Floretta suggests.
Guy Dagenham:
“Oh, I’m reminded, I need to talk to you about a double secret vampire club thing, Flo,” he says before pinching his cheek as if to make himself blush. “But that can be another time, obviously. I should probably get home anyway, Petra’s no doubt still up.”
Erik Samuelson:
"Sure." He went to pull his phone from his pocket, an older one a few models back but kept in good shape with a proper case on it, giving his number once Floretta was ready to receive it. He nodded to Guy as he announced his imminent departure, offering a quick salute. "Was good meeting you."
Floretta Williams:
She takes Erik's number in and sends a text so that he too, has hers. "There we go."
"Sure, hit me whenever with it, we'll work on that. Have a good time and say hi to Petra for me" Floretta waves at him.
Guy Dagenham:
Guy waves to them both as he stands. “Nice to meet you, Erik, if you have more corporeal trouble my number’s on the wall,” he says with a point to the bulletin board.
“Always good to see you, Flo, I’ll pass along the hello and reach out here soon. Have a good night, both of you.” He gives a nod, and then heads out into the night.
Erik Samuelson:
Erik glanced towards the bulletin board as Guy pointed it out, giving a little nod. "Noted, and you as well."
When the text came though he took a moment to save Floretta's number, putting his phone aside to focus on the rest of the table, both the conversation and the meal. "How long have you been here in Philly?"
Floretta Williams:
"Around sixty years or so." She says, placing her hands under her chin, giving a lovely smile and batting her eyelashes, a slightly silly gesture. "Combining both the before and after moments. So, Not exactly a historic figure."
Erik Samuelson:
Erik's eyebrows arched up at that, clearly not expecting that long of a duration before the 'right, she's a vampire' clicked in his mind and he chuckled. "That's still a solid amount of time in my book."
Floretta Williams:
"I'm a young one too, for my kind." Floretta comments. "It's a mixed bag of blessing and curse, but I've been luckier than most in my lot for it."
"Do your people live a prolonged life?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Not really. We can come back from a lot, but the clock still winds down eventually."
Floretta Williams:
"Nice, that's useful, I imagine." Floretta's attention drifts to her hand for a brief moment. "I ought to make my way back home to feed my dog, but It's been a real pleasure to meet you!"
Erik Samuelson:
"Has been so far." He nodded, smiling in return. "Been good to meet you as well. Will see you around, I imagine."
Floretta Williams:
"You will!" Floretta waves and leaves.
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