The flicker of a wry smile ghosted across her lips as Blue looked down at the remnants of her glass. "That's an optimistic view point." She'd never really considered herself fixable. Mainly because it all seemed a bit moot - she'd been the way she was for as long as she could remember. Where could someone even hope to start?[break][break]

Despite that stubborn, pessimistic belief, though, Blue couldn't quite slow the hum of curiosity that followed in the wake of Toni's suggestions. It was still nerve-inducing. A small twist of uncertainty in the pit of her stomach over the unknown. She was probably bad anything labeled light or happy or enjoyable or fun. And Blue didn't care for what she was bad at. But somehow Toni made it seem more appealing than she'd previously considered.[break][break]

Her glance lingered on the flip of the other woman's hair. The fluid flip of cocoa and gold - it seemed so innate and natural. If Blue tried to do the same gesture, it would probably look like she was aggressively flinching. "Starting to think you might be," she said with the slightest huff of laughter.[break][break]

Blue sighed then, a quiet sign of defeat. Lifting her glass, she knocked back the remaining contents in one go, then let it thump back against the table lightly. "Okay, you know what. Sure. I dunno why me, but okay. One night."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Antoinette Spina | m: putting on a front[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lucario"]

Toni’s certain there’s not much to fix, just some tethers to cut free. The woman’s smile slowly grew, a pleasant brightness lighting up the dark features of her complexion when Blue accepted her proposition, although hesitant.

“Wonderful,” her voice purred, satisfied with the woman’s decision. Toni lifted her own glass in approval, also finishing the remainder of her martini. With one hand she plucked the string of olives out to slip into her mouth while she rose the other to signal to Andrew they would like another round. His nod of recognition is all she needs.

“Hmmm first we need to get rid of . . . this,” she motioned towards Blue, “The tension,” she clarified. Alcohol typically does the trick, but a budding trust should solidify it, or so Toni hoped, “Then we’ll clean you up, follow that with dinner,” the itinerary built itself easy enough, “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” she assumed she hadn’t considering they came straight here, “Do you have anything . . . nice to wear?”

---

blue murtagh
Outfit

She still didn’t understand why Toni felt invested in this effort. Even more so, though, why she herself was humoring it. Normally, shrugging others off came naturally to Blue if it didn’t fit the routine fixed in her mind. So why did she want to appease this virtual stranger?[break][break]

The smile that spread across Toni’s face, though, definitely further cemented Blue’s agreement. Then the appraisal began and she sat in puzzled silence. This. Well, she clearly knew no other way to be, and she almost voiced as much, but the dinner part pulled her attention. “No, not since before.” Before she got pulverized in the ring, that was.[break][break]

“Nice? What’s wrong with this?” It was the knee jerk response that she mumbled as she frowned and looked down at her sparring gear. Oh…yeah, okay. Maybe the dirt and bloodstains weren’t the most appealing look. But also, Blue had never really really considered much to her clothing apart from either functionality or comfort.[break][break]

What was nice? Well, there was her officer uniform— Blue was pretty sure that wasn’t at all what Toni meant, though. And she didn’t exactly want to wear that in a part of Slateport that she was sort of hiding from her responsibilities in. Which— “Oh, I don’t live near here. So this is all I have.” She frowned again as she felt warmth flood her face. Tentatively, Blue lifted a hand to poke at her cheek. What was this? Shame? Embarrassment?

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Antoinette Spina | m: putting on a front[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lucario"]

Toni’s finger gently tapped against the empty martini glass in front her of, in tune with her thoughts as they began formulating the night ahead. It didn’t take much effort, just another night out on the town for the practiced socialite.

“I figured as much,” she smiled, drawing the smartphone from her pocket. The light of the screen ignited with tap of a finger, “I’ll make us reservations then,” her practiced fingers worked their magic to quickly make the appropriate accommodations. Her gaze left the screen momentarily to smirk at Blue’s astonishment when she asked if she had something nice to wear.

“Hm, I’m sure I have something that will fit you. Plus, you’ll need to shower before we go to dinner,” Blue couldn’t go with blood smeared across her cheek. Toni set the phone down as the plans percolated in the hands of the appropriate entities. She put into play more than just dinner reservations.

Andrew arrived shortly with their refill of drinks, taking the empty glasses before he left “Thank you, Andrew,” she smiled, pushing the whiskey towards Blue, “We’ll have to finish these quickly if we want to make it to dinner,” Toni took a healthy sip of her martini before leaning back in the plush seat once more, angling towards Blue, “We’ll stop by my place first. It’s a short taxi ride away. I have a guest bedroom with a shower. Dinner is close by there,” all a part of the plan, “Unless you’re more comfortable like this.”

Personally, Toni didn’t mind the look. Obviously, she found certain aspects of the woman’s appearance attractive as is. There’s strength in scars and bruises. As much as she would like to polish her up for the aesthetic, she wouldn’t force it on her. It’s Blue’s night, after all.

---

blue murtagh
Outfit

Maybe, just maybe, Blue was beginning to realize that she was in a bit over her head. Toni seemed to transition from step to step with a fluid ease that left her stumbling to keep up with. Reservations and dressing nicer and all of this…nicety-- it was way beyond Blue. But she’d agreed, and she was dead set on keeping up. Somehow.[break][break]



“Uh, yeah. Right.” She looked down at herself again. The concept of going out while dressed nicely was a reminder that Blue was actually…pretty gross right now, beyond even just her dirtied attire. Dried blood and sweat stuck to her skin from prolonged physicality. “A shower would be good,” Blue admitted, but maybe it was less to do with her state of being and more to do with the fact that it just sounded nice on her sore muscles.[break][break]



If it wasn’t already obvious– she was kind of a slob.[break][break]



The arrival of a second round was something she found herself grateful for, though. Rather than speak her thanks, she nodded at Andrew, tipping a short salute in his direction. The whiskey would help slow her thoughts, and mellow her out. At least, that was the goal–as evidenced by the way she drank from her glass a bit more quickly than before.[break][break]



“Okay, I can do quick.” Or slow. She just needed the directive, really, and she’d acquiesce. Her head shook despite the uncertainty that lingered. The unsettled feeling of being dressed nicely and put together primly. “No, it’s fine. I wouldn’t want to look, erh..out of place.” That much was true: no matter her level of independence or as uncomfortable as fancy attire might be, she’d much rather just blend in. It was what she was good at.



[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Antoinette Spina | m: putting on a front[break]





[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lucario"]

Formulating a plan came with ease. It’s something Toni did almost every night, mostly for herself . . . by herself. The shell of a person she wears drowns herself in earthly pleasures, expecting some of it to seep through and quell the loneliness. Hasn’t worked yet, but she’s stubborn. Tonight, she did for someone else, but she’s selfish. This may be for Blue but she sank her claws into it for herself. She’d have company. How different.

Of course, she was pleased Blue decided a shower would be appropriate, “I’m sure it will feel incredible to scrub the sweat off,” when didn’t a hot shower feel incredible?

Toni joined Blue in taking a longer sip of her drink, a healthy portion disappearing behind dark lips, “You’re not a vegetarian or something are you?” she probably should have asked before making reservation at a steakhouse, but they had fancy salads if that’s what she would prefer. It would be a waste, but Toni would annoyingly accept it.

“I’ll order us a cab then,” Andrew already had her card to charge the beverages on. Her attention briefly turned to her phone again to order a ride. The martini disappeared quickly and she sucked the olive off the pick.

Her undivided attention turned to Blue once more as she stood, offering a hand to help Blue out of the booth, “Ready, Murk?”

---

blue murtagh
Outfit

She couldn’t help but wonder what Toni’s purpose in doing this was. Was Blue really all that interesting of a case to her? It felt odd to find that sort of laser-focus on her, she’d almost forgotten what it was like. Though this was…different? The outcomes were, at least. Enjoyment, rather than work or an end goal. She was still skeptical of her capacity for it.[break][break]

She’d already said yes, though. And Blue wasn’t really the sort to go back on her word. Usually, anyway. And Toni was right—there was definite appeal in a hot shower. “Yeah. I feel pretty gross.” She just hadn’t thought of it until attention was called to it. Her nose wrinkled in immediate distaste over the following question, “No way. I couldn’t the vegetarian thing.” Give her steak any day.[break][break]

Blue nodded along, not offering much. It wasn’t as if ordering a cab was a topic for debate. As Toni handled everything on her phone, she sat there in silence. Nursed her drink until she decided to knock it back in one fell swoop. No use prolonging the inevitable. The burn eased down her throat, and fuzzed the fringes of her mind. It numbed the ache in her limbs and in her injuries, and it numbed some of her typical reservations as well.[break][break]

When a hand was offered for assistance, Blue didn’t flinch back from it as she normally might’ve. Touch and contact wasn’t the most comfortable thing for her and she shied away from even the most simple formalities. But right then, she simply stared down at Toni’s hand for a moment, and then reached her own out. She watched the connection in hazy slow motion, and then she allowed Toni to help her hop up out of the booth with muttered thanks.[break][break]

“Yep,” she said, once she was on her feet again. Her hands found her jacket pockets. “Time for…fun.” She let the other woman lead the way, uncertain of how exactly this would shake out.


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Antoinette Spina | m: putting on a front[break]





[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lucario"]