Nomi's mind whirled as her mysterious dance partner (
angelo vestri) explained his job to her in vague terms -
co-owner of a company that deals in exploration and salvaging services - trying to recall if she knew of anything like what he was describing.
He's not one of us, she guessed intuitively; in her experience, many of her fellow Rockets had rather mundane day jobs - false identities, really - but this man carried pride in himself and his career in a way that made her think that he wasn't faking some kind of beloved venture. Whoever he was, he seemed to have a tremendous amount of freedom - able to travel all across the region on a whim. Though the League government had the means to do such a thing, this man felt too
loose to be government...the sort of man who lived life on his own terms. What
had he found out in the world?[break][break]
He was asking her another question now, about the exhibit and how she'd acquired...what, her Tera Shard? She'd had a feeling that would come up eventually...[break][break]
Before he could finish his question, and before Nomi could even formulate an answer, however,
she interrupted.[break][break]
Nomi
ought to be angry - her dance with the handsome, roguish stranger was being cut short by some rude cut-in - but all she could do was stare openly at the woman standing before them. Whereas all of the women Nomi had seen at the event up until now had been wearing elaborate gowns, this woman had on a dashing, gold-trimmed pair of finely made pants. She wore a flowy white top that suited her figure, cinched at the waist with a corset-like belt. Her coat was a striking navy and gold, and it made Nomi think of a ship captain somehow. The woman's wavy hair was as gold as her horned mask. She was
beautiful and Nomi found herself blushing profusely when the woman called her "cutie."[break][break]
The way the woman grabbed Nomi's dance partner - the man who had been so
very curious about Nomi and her discoveries - was possessive and passionate, which only deepened the pink-haired girl's blush. Whatever had been happening between her and
angelo vestri paled in comparison to this obvious display of intimacy.
They are together, Nomi realized, feeling a bit stunned, and, well,
played.[break][break]
He just wanted to dance with me for information, she chastised herself.
I got carried away...thinking it was some kind of real dance or something. But he
had been generous with her...and now he was kissing the back of her hand in a chivalrous gesture of parting, saying he would find her at the exhibit.[break][break]
Confusing...![break][break]
Nomi highly doubted they would meet again. And even if they did, Nomi would not be giving up her secrets so easily.
Fool, she scolded herself, for how much she'd said already.[break][break]
Once
angelo vestri and
skyler dross had moved off together, Nomi sighed and made her way to the bar, where Valerian soon re-joined her.
"I'm truly nobody special," she lamented to the Sylveon. He made a disapproving sound, and she flashed him a wry smile.
"Fine, I won't say that." All the same, she was left with a rather frustrating mix of confusing emotions - shame, irritation, longing, gratitude, resolve, regret...[break][break]
She turned to the bartender.
"Give me whatever's strongest." angelo vestri |
skyler dross | Open to interactions / currently free to dance![break][break]
NOTES
-
Nomi's Dress[break]
-
Nomi's Mask[break]
- Listens carefully to what
angelo vestri says to her[break]
- Is momentarily enamored with the woman (
skyler dross) who whisks her dance partner away, then becomes frustrated by the obvious fact that Angelo was playing her[break]
- Decides not to hold her breath for Angelo's return, goes over to the bar and demands a strong drink[break]
- Can the damn exhibit open up soon??
