cartographie | inbox for golden peacock

Only once for dinner. The rest of the time, I'm sneaking in to get my friend out of the cage they toss him into for stealing food.

[ Everybody's got their own weird routines in this place, and even though they're stuck on land, she and her friends are still pirates, swiping food is just part of the gig.

Nami shrugs, her arm relaxing as it settles around his. He's easy to be comfortable around. It's just dinner and a walk he's suggesting, but it's enough to make her turn her head, hiding a smile under the guise of paying slightly more attention to her elevator's controls than she needs to, to call the car. ]

Something tells me I'll be up for it.

[ Because she's a sucker for the good-hearted sort. The elevator doors slide open and Nami steps on, sending them down to the lobby as she lets her weight shift, leaning comfortably against him now that they're not walking. ]

We never did the tell me about your life before the sex casino thing, did we?

[ Her eyes crease at the corners as she looks up at him, aware that's probably a topic set to come up over dinner, pleased that he was left curious enough to want to know after they parted ways the first time, ]

[Between the admittance of her sneaking around here and infiltrating a base, his curiosity about his current companion really only grows. He's enjoyed Nami's company since he met her, but he is genuinely looking forward to learning more about her and who she's really like. Someone that seems fine with bending a few rules, someone that cares about her friends. It's already a nice picture.

Scott chuckles lightly as they wait for the elevator to come. He likes to think she's comfortable in his presence as well. He's not sure if he gives off that demeanor often, especially in this place, but... working on it and everything. It's not like he wants to appear entirely closed off and distant. He thought it would be beneficial, but it's been exhausting. It's okay to trust humans in this way, he knows that. Not to mention that he does feel better when he's open with others.

Guess he's pretty human himself after all.

As they step inside, he gently wraps an arm around her, wanting to show that he's more than fine with her leaning against him. He enjoys this closeness.]

We haven't. [Scott admits with a wry grin.] Although, we haven't talked about your life either. A story for a story?

[ The gentle weight of his arm settles around his shoulders, and as silly as she feels about it, Nami can't help but smile to herself, doing what she can to replace the softness in her expression with gentle dubiousness as he suggests trading a story for a story. Considering everything that's already passed between them, she probably shouldn't be so pleasantly thrown by how casually affectionate he is, but the move is as charming as the rest of him, her arm looping around his lower back in return before she gives herself enough time to decide not to. ]

It's gonna take a couple drinks to get me to tell some of my stories–

[ The understatement of the century? Perhaps.

Life is different for her now. There's less at stake when it comes to what she keeps to herself and what she doesn't, but much like dating, Nami's new at sharing, and having people to share with beyond her crew and the heated exchanges that a person falls into while just trying to exist in the casino. Though she would never admit it out loud, Scott's sweet enough to make her want to figure her way through this, there's a lot she doesn't want to talk about, but it's not like she's never steered a conversation into more favorable conditions before. ]

How about we start small before we get to dinner?

[ The arm around his lower back slackens enough for her to reach up and rest her hand against his back, blue eyes narrowing slightly at the corners, roguish, but just barely. ]

Tell me something easy while we get there, like – where are you from?

Just a couple? Not a bad exchange still.

[He sees some of the caginess on her end though and honestly, he understands. Maybe he should still hold his cards close to his chest but he just... feels tired. And it's not like he's telling everything to everyone as soon as possible, he's just trying harder with being more open in the first place. He can't fully expect people others to be open with him if he keeps himself distant and polite.

Plus, it's been stressful, just being emotionally distant from everyone while the weight of Jean's death holds him captive. Not to mention that it has been nice to trust humans in this way once more. Having humans and mutants mingle like this... it's what he and the X-Men always wanted.

So, even though he knows she's putting him on the spotlight first, Scott rolls with it. He smiles, understanding hidden behind his sunglasses as he starts walking with her to to the restaurant.]

Really letting me off easy, huh? I'm from New York-- Earth. [Right he shouldn't assume everyone is from the same planet here. Funny how things work.] Familiar names at all?

I've heard of Earth. Japan's there too, right? [ There are a few places on Earth that have come up in conversations with others, but Japan's the name she's heard the most while talking with other casino dwellers. ]

Is New York an archipelago as well?

[ There's a lot to boggle the mind when someone takes into account the idea that all these worlds exist at the same time, while simultaneously occupying different wheres and whens – but it's how different the land and waters themselves are that captivates Nami, even if it does put a nerdy spin on what qualifies for small talk with her. ]

I'm from the East Blue. The Conomi Islands, but I bet you have no idea where those are either.

[ As soon as they reach the restaurant, they're led to a table, something Nami easily rolls with, too preoccupied with stealing glances in Scott's direction while they speak to notice the swift way they're ushered to their table. ]

Yeah, Japan's around. Visited a couple of times in the past, but I'm probably not as familiar with it compared to others that you've spoken to.

[Usually he's only been to Japan for official X-Men business, so he really has a different perspective compared to the people that actually live there. Maybe he can say that about America as well, in some sense, given his status as a mutant, but Scott decides to save that sort of conversation for another day. That's not really the point and he understands that.]

New York's my home and it's part of the United States, a large country that's part of the North American continent. So, not quite an archipelago.

[He smiles, his tone almost teasing and lighthearted. That good mood continues as he listens to Nami talk about her own world, a place he's definitely not familiar with. It's really nice though, hearing about other worlds in this manner. Maybe years ago, he would've been extremely excited hearing about people living on other planets and 'aliens,' but.]

You got me there, I haven't heard of those islands before... and I'm not terrible with geography.

[As they are led to their table, Scott can't stop himself from pulling her seat for her.]

[ Not an archipelago, but a continent. She's seen some substantial landmasses while working for Arlong, but nothing more than one country could fit on, while what Scott's describing sounds much larger–

It's a good thing he pulls her chair out like that. The unexpected gesture is surprising enough to get her thoughts out of the geography gutter before she starts asking questions about the climate or the terrain. Instead, another uncommonly unguarded smile softens her face as she meets his eye briefly before sitting with an almost bashful nod of thanks. ]

If it's any consolation, there aren't that many people where I'm from who have heard of the Conomi Islands either.

[ Looking up, Nami watches Scott long after he's helped her into her chair, quietly working out how she's supposed to get through this if he's this hellbent on being quietly charming. ]

Your turn. [ A dangerous offer, potentially. ] What do you want to know about me?

[Scott thinks it's a shame that she almost appears surprised by what he considers to be basic levels of polite mannerisms. Unless she's just shocked that he'd do such a thing, in which he really needs to step up and be better. But he has a feeling that it has more to do than just that, the knowledge only making him smile in support before taking his own seat across from her.]

Something nice about being relatively unknown.

[There's a wistfulness to his voice. He misses that, back home at least. Here? He can be on the down low to some extent, if it wasn't for his rank. At least people aren't looking at him as Scott Summers, the mutant leader that can't make a mistake or cause mutant rights to set back ten years or so.]

Leading with that? Pretty dangerous. [He raises an eyebrow at her, head almost cocking to the side as his smile increases.] Did you want to talk about sneaking into a base at all? Or shall I pour this wine for us first?

You seem like you're into being known to me. [ She shoots back, quiet and wry, arching a playfully appraising eyebrow at him across the table before she settles back in her seat, lifting her shoulder in a passive shrug. ] Or maybe I'm just lucky.

[ That he seems intent on wanting her to know him, and vice versa, though Nami can't say if that part makes her feel lucky. Not for the first time she reminds herself of how different things are now, how there's no need to keep people away to protect them, back home, but especially here at the resort. That thought it makes it easy to laugh when Scott picks up the gauntlet she's thrown down, and goes with it to surprisingly shrewd places. ]

You pour, I'll talk.

[ There's a fondness in her voice as she says it, a warmth that reflects in her eyes even as she glances off to the side in thought before beginning to speak. ]

It's a pretty straightforward story, though. [ Nami sits up a little more, smiling quietly. ]

I snuck onto a Marine Base to steal a map to The Grand Line. Waited for a guy with the right proportions and took his uniform, got close enough to the guy in charge to steal his keys. [ Fell out the window with an idiot who she later attempted to betray, very standard stuff.

Waiting for him to finish filling her glass before she lifts it, Nami takes a sip of her wine before peering at him over the rim. ]

What about you? Have you snuck onto any good bases?

[ He brought it up, after all. ]

Edited 2024-05-31 01:39 (UTC)

I make a couple of exceptions here and there.

[Especially if the present company is as charming as her, but he feels almost embarrassed saying that bit out loud, so he keeps it to himself for now. Besides, the sentiment is still there, and he continues to smile as he starts working on pouring that wine for her. Honestly, he really doesn't mind talking about himself in front of Nami. Maybe not everything, but everyone keeps a couple of things to themselves anyway.

He's sure that she plans on keeping some stuff to herself too and that's fine. It's enough seeing that warmth in her eyes, the way she fills the quiet atmosphere with her retelling of her adventure.]

Oh? Are you a pirate?

[He throws that theory out. His curiosity has already increased hearing the start of her story and while there are many reasons why someone would sneak into a marine base for a map, it's the first thing that pops into his mind. Maybe it's just because he knows a couple of pirates here already.

But to answer her question in return...]

I snuck into a secret military base when I was 16 years old. Mostly to do an impromptu rescue mission. [Almost ten years since that moment... probably the day when his life completely changed. Scott's not sure if he can look back at it fondly, because a lot of bad things happened then, but.]

I'm still kind of surprised that my friends and I survived that.

That's right. How could you tell?

[ He's right, but she's still surprised that he's right. As common as the assumption might be for her world, there have been enough people who look stunned hearing that she's a pirate for Nami to assume it wasn't exactly a typical career choice in most of the worlds the other casino residents came from.

Eyes bright, creasing in the corners with faint amusement, she sits forward, resting her chin on her hand while Scott tells her about his own adventure. That it was a rescue mission doesn't surprise her in the slightest. He's already made it obvious that he's good, being noble is a big part of that. ]

But it worked. [ Some part of her that Nami wasn't aware was worried, relaxes after he marvels over surviving. She wanted everything to have ended up okay for him. ]

You did all that at sixteen? Are you a pirate?

Edited 2024-06-01 02:52 (UTC)

Lucky guess.

[Which isn't a complete lie. Maybe he should ask her if she's heard of Luffy or Shanks before. He doesn't think it'll put anyone in danger, since he has a relatively good opinion on all three of them and there's probably a decent chance they they know each other anyway. Hopefully they aren't all rivals? But that's for them to settle, if it comes down to it.

He smiles, either way, as he finishes his own story and she asks him if she's a pirate. If only.]

Not quite as adventurous as that. [He admits, one eyebrow quirking as he prods her just a little.] I'll give you one more guess though.

[He teases, because he's pretty sure that she won't be able to pinpoint his occupation. Well, given what he does, he's probably cheating anyway, because who would guess 'mutant vigilante group?' Or maybe 'superhero' if people still want to use that term.]

[ Another sip of wine and Nami relaxes enough to let her hand reach out across the table until she's close enough to brush her fingers against his wrist, not taking her eyes off him as she makes a slight show of humming thoughtfully in the wake of being granted another guess. ]

Something heroic, that's obvious. [ Her thumb grazes over his skin one more time before Nami moves to pull away. He's obviously sweet, and clearly upstanding, but ]

Maybe you're the captain of a rebellion somewhere, or, part of a wandering band of heroes.

[ Whether she hits or misses the mark or not, Nami's at ease, enjoying the guessing as much as she'll enjoy whatever the answer ends up being. ]

[As she reaches forward across the table, Scott leans just a little closer as well, fingers slowly sliding into hers and gently holding their hands in a warm grip. Just another innocent touch, especially after the sex they've had before, but there's something he just really enjoys about this, and his fingers stroke along the back of her hand.]

Do I really come off as that heroic?

[Scott you literally just mentioned infiltrating a base to rescue people--

Still, there's a spark of amusement in his eyes, one that's also legitimately impressed because her next couple of guesses really aren't far from the mark. Honestly, they're probably correct answers, and Scott smiles at her with an appraising look.]

You're really not far off. [He thinks about it for a moment, but if this is a date where he and Nami are supposed to learn more about each other, he should actually be honest. He... he is tired of hiding anyway and Scott feels comfortable telling her about his status. He wants to be himself again.]

I'm the leader of a mutant vigilante group. We... kind of help out around the world. [They try to anyway, even if humans sometimes hates them.]

Pretty sure only the heroic types are the ones charming people around the side of an anonymous sex wall, yeah.

[ When his fingers lace through his, Nami has no choice but to let her hand linger where it is, the slightly calloused pad of her thumb grazing across his knuckles, enjoying him too much to be mindful of the way the tattoo from the resort is visible like this, tiny but obvious where it's situated on the back of her hand between her thumb and forefinger, faded but still enough to quietly call attention to the scars from all the years of bad pens nicked into her skin. ]

Mutant? [ That's a new one. Nami gets what it means, but she's no closer to understanding how it's supposed to fit anything about him. ] You're gonna have to elaborate.

[ Because apart from what she's guessing is a slight vision issue based on the constant presence of his glasses – he's pretty dreamy, nothing mutated to speak of that she's noticed. ]

[His mouth quirks upward in amusement at her comment. She got him there.

Maybe, surprisingly, his hands aren't rough, but there's no judgment or anything flashing across his face as she rubs her thumb against his knuckles. It speaks a lot about her and Scott's here to not only enjoy Nami's company, something that he can do with his eyes closed at this point, but learn more about her. He gently squeezes her hand in support, something encouraging in his expression even as he nods to her question.

The first start in relating to others is being honest about yourself, right? Especially a part of him that is important, essential to who he very is. He can't be Scott Summers without being a mutant.]

I'm mostly human. [Is he human at all? That's part of the eternal debate--] But there's something called the X-Gene in my body. Other mutants and I develop abilities because of that mutation... and yeah, mine involves what's going on behind my glasses.

[ In the past, when guys look at her like Scott is right now, it's because she's buttered them up to the point where it'll be a lot easier to pick their pocket. It's a testament to how many things have changed for Nami – horny casino aside – that she's able to relax enough to have something like this because she wants to, rather than because she's got work to do and a massive price tag to reach for.

And it's hard not to be engrossed while Scott begins to clarify. Nami's smart, but she's not a scientist, mutating genes may be a bit beyond her sphere of knowledge without some research, but she thinks she understands the concept of random people ending up with random abilities because of something that happened to them. Sounds familiar enough, anyway.

But– ]

Something with your eyes?

[ Thinking back, if she hadn't been influenced by wine, and thoroughly beguiled by the way he approached her when they first met, it might have struck her as odd that he kept his glasses on during sex, now it feels like she's got double the things to wonder about. ]

Does it hurt? [ Maybe her asking that first, rather than more about his powers tips her hand in some way, but, surely he's figured out she likes him on his own at this point. ]

[Her question gets him to smile, as if realizing that she's asking about his well-being first. She truly is special, huh?]

It doesn't hurt.

[He confirms and while he could just explain his powers, Scott pauses for a moment before leaning just a little closer to Nami. He's now close enough where she can easily reach his face.]

Would you like to take my glasses off? You won't see my powers, because I'll have to keep my eyes shut, but... [At least offer her a view of his full face, even if she can't see what he looks like with his eyes open. It's still something, right? Scott thinks it's okay offering it, trusting Nami with this much as he looks at her through his red lens.]

[ Her expression warms at the offer, the hand resting on his tightening gently for a moment in a wordless show of appreciation as she shakes her head, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering not unpleasantly at the though. ]

Yes. [ Obviously. ] But, not here.

[ Nami gives his hand another light squeeze before she gives into the desire to shift her chair around the side of the table until she's sitting more beside him than across from him. ]

I don't want to see your face for the first time with a table between us.

[ What is with this guy getting her to say the dumbest stuff?? ]

[As she closes the distance between them, Scott smiles. There are still many things he's learning about her, but it feels like a large gesture for her to initiate such a move and draw them closer. Of course, one may think it's because she's a pirate and wants to steal something from him, but such thoughts are nowhere in his mind. She's just a talented and smart individual that has greatly captured his interest.]

Back in your bedroom then? [His eyes glint behind his shades.] So, I did earn my ticket back to your room after all.

[He's so definitely teasing.]

You sound confident about that.

[ He should sound confident about that. For all the dryness in her tone, there's warmth in the way Nami lifts the hand not holding onto his to brush his cheek before she goes back to her drink, trying not to think about how easy it felt to let herself be so drawn in by his offer to let her see him without his glasses on that she got closer without thinking about it. Smirking from behind her glass, she shrugs a shoulder, facetiously noncommittal. ]

I've got a big suite, but, you're going to get a tour.

Just this once.

[Scott chuckles, the confidence in him unwavering even though he has felt out of his game for a while now. Not like he's dated a lot since Jean's death, but slowly and surely, he's been feeling better. It helps not having his suit be active or something else in this casino influencing him. Sure, those things give a temporary boost, but it never made Scott feel better.]

I noticed that your suite was upgraded from last time. Congratulations on that, by the way.

[Although, at last, the server comes to take their order. Scott orders something relatively light, like salmon with rice, along with some light wine, but otherwise, his focus returns immediately to Nami once she's done finishing as well. His smile still borders on playful, totally content with keeping their new arranged seating as he holds her hand.]

[ Laughing quietly at that answer, Nami favors him with a slight shrug, the fingers of her free hand tracing the back of his as she holds it. ]

Could be more than once if we end up doing this again sometime. [ Already coyly hinting at a second date while they're still at the start of the first? She's usually upfront about everything except things like this, a little too guarded to be the flirtatious promises type, but Scott brings it out of her, like there's something extra gratifying about getting him to loosen up and smile. ]

You could decide to get used to it.

[ Her order follows his – duck in tangerine sauce and rice. It's not as good as her mother's, but it's still a favorite (and truth be told, she'd be unsettled if the resort's version were as good as Belle-mere's). Once the waiter departs, she looks back at Scott, lips quirking in amusement at the well-wishes. ]

I'm happy I have a place to go when the casino gets weird. [ As with most of her life, she made a plan and stuck to it, getting herself where she felt she needed to be, regardless of any time spent quietly feeling like she was in over her head. ] People on the lower floors can't escape a lot of it.

[ What she doesn't say is that she did it as much for her friends throughout the resort as she did to appoint herself in luxury. They deserve a spot of refuge just as much as she does. ]

You're going to have to tell me if your place is bigger, by the way. I might have to go for King if it is.

I'd... like that, Nami. A lot.

[And there that playfulness goes, at least some of it, morphing into something that is just a little more sincere, almost earnest. Taking her out on a second date and possibly more in the future just because they like each other's presence so much... it's exciting, if a little terrifying in a way. Not that they can become too attached to each other, to anyone in this place (at least in Scott's mind), but it's still a big step. Going on multiple dates, really learning about his date or partner of the night... almost like a couple.

It's okay. He's allowed this, right? Jean... will always remain in his heart.

But focusing on her words, Scott's glad that Nami has a place to go to, somewhere she truly feels comfortable. It's strange that he never had to worry about that since he got here. Perhaps he's spoiled in that way.]

Wish we could do more for those people... they don't deserve that. Maybe it's time to start a revolution. [His mouth quirks up, but honestly, he plans on taking down the House one way or another. This can't be continued.]

Well, you can come by my suite someday too. Get a second opinion.

[ The suggestion that they start a revolution is met with a wide-eyed, pointed look, Nami wordlessly making it clear she's up for it, without saying so directly somewhere so public. ]

I've showed a few friends the way up to my suite. It's big enough for them to use it when they need a break without me even noticing. [ She sighs, glancing down at the table thoughtfully. ] You're right about it not feeling like enough.

[ Scott gives her the chance to shift topics back to lighter fare when he extends an invitation to the king suite, making her meet his eye with another grin, raising an eyebrow at him . ]

Sounds like you are gonna have to ask me out on a second date then, Scott.

[ He's also going to have to deal with the fact that if things continue as they are, Nami will be happy not to let this first date end until tomorrow, but something about the openly sweet expression on his face tells her he's unlikely to complain. ]

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laserguy - 2024-06-25 15:57 (UTC) - Expand

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cartographie - 2024-07-01 06:04 (UTC) - Expand

inbox for golden peacock

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ignore me booming this back bc that tag is too cute not to

hehe :>

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