paradisa | Dictated.

Entry tags:

tim drake-wayne

Dictated.

[Tim has finally been presented with a golden opportunity to gather some information on Lana. Originally, he meant to do it earlier in the week, but everything that happened with Lucrezia and Steph delayed his plans. With that situation taken care of, or rather Steph and he have a plan they're ready to set into motion, he shifted his attention back to his original intentions.

Time to put Alvin Draper to work. Although he won't play it up too much, because there's a good chance Ezio will end up sharing with her who he is, or she'll figure out his real identity because of her connection with the others.]

Ah, hey, Lana?

Hi, my name's Alvin Draper. Steph mentioned to me the other day that you wanted me to stop by your store sometime to meet in person? If you're not busy at the moment, I could swing by there now.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, good, I've been wanting to meet. Today's a slow day, so you can stop by any time before the dinner rush. Do you know where Il Capriccio is?

I do. I actually live in town, so it won't take me too long to head over there.

You already live in town? If I'd known you were looking, I would have offered you a discount on one of my properties.

Steph actually gave me an apartment that one of her friends left behind. Thanks for the offer, though!

Is she living there, too?

No, she has her own place at the castle. Do you live in the castle or closer to work?

I own a house close to the restaurant. My castle room is used for storage more than anything else, but I try to keep it clean and stocked for the times we're forced back.

I am surprised more people don't live in town. Dealing with the castle is a pain.

People like their wishes, and you can't get that instant gratification out here. Personally, I like relying on my own revenue, which is why I've been dabbling in real estate when not working with my restaurant.

[ Yeah that's her reason. Go with that. ]

Anyway, I don't want to bore you with this kind of talk. Come by next time you're out and about, and I'll make some time for you. Maybe you can even get a free lunch out of it.

[Arrives at the restaurant a few minutes later. Pokes his head around, trying to spot her in the crowd, while also memorizing the layout of the restaurant and searching for any suspicious characters. You can take the Bat out of Gotham, but you can't take the Gotham out of the Bat.]

[ The restaurant itself is nice without being too over the top. There's a garden out front that is both mood-setting of the Italian theme, and inviting. From the seating area inside, the industrial-sized kitchen is visible through an alcove, and tucked behind that is Lana's personal office. There's a covered up fire-pit out on the back patio, where there's more seating set up, shielded by the drawn out awning.

Having been expecting Alvin, Lana's already waiting behind the hostess's podium, chatting up the hostess herself before pulling away. No matter how you try, it's impossible to blend into the city crowd unless you dress a lot more old-fashioned. And it's not like Lana tries, either, wearing something more like this, heels included. She doesn't need to worry about the cold, that's for sure.

Lana doesn't exactly know what Alvin Draper looks like, even if recognizing he's a castle resident, but they stop talking when he enters, and the hostess hurries to ask to seat him, since you do not ignore a customer! ]

Edited 2013-03-12 07:07 (UTC)

[Tim's impressed with the restaurant. A place like this has to be difficult to maintain with how crazy things can get. Plus, at any moment you could go poof and that thought alone could lead to her employees making bold choices.

Tim's dressed in a modest outfit. He's wearing a long sleeve, blue dress shirt, and a pair of khaki slacks. His hair could use another run through with the comb, but it's respectable, and he has his glasses on.

Offers the hostess a smile that has a touch of nervousness to it, like talking to strangers can be intimidating for him.]

Hi, I'm here to see Lana. I think she mentioned I was coming?

[ She perks up as soon as she hears her name, and Lana wastes no time in coming from around the podium to take the menu and wave the hostess back to her station. With a smile to Tim, she holds out her hand. ]

Alvin? I'm Lana Lang, it's nice to meet you properly.

Oh, hey! [Nods his head towards her when she approaches him.]

Likewise. It's been so weird talking to so many people over the journal, but not being able to place a name to their faces, you know?

[One look at her face is enough to tell Tim what part of Ezio's attraction is to Lana.]

That is something you have to get used to. It helps to just think of it like the Internet, maybe, but that would just make a lot of us Internet junkies, for how we seem to know more names than faces.

[ Pointing in towards the restaurant, she turns to start leading the way. ]

Are you hungry, or do you just want to sit at the bar?

Oh man, don't even get me started on the internet. I'm trying my best to not go through withdrawl. I keep thinking to myself "I need to check the update on this and that webcomic", but I'm out of luck here.

[Follows along after her.]

I wouldn't mind something to munch on. I just got off of work an hour or so ago.

There's something called CastleNet which the residents created. It's pretty limited, but it has a few sites, games, and there's a regularly updated floor map.

[ Since he wants to actually eat, Lana will lead him into the dining area proper, letting him get a booth in the corner all to himself! Well, you know, and with her. She sets the menu down on the table, pushing aside the small unlit candle in the center. ]

If you want something that isn't on the menu, just request it and it can be made. [ So long as it's not a hamburger and fries, pal. ]

I've played around with it before. Steph showed me once I got settled in. I'm going to see if I can upgrade it one of these days.

[Tim doesn't eat the meat here. Kara showed him that there was practically an inverted human inside the majority of wildlife out there. A little too soylent green for him.]

How about a veggie pizza?

Upgrade? It would be nice to have a proper network that doesn't depend on magic...

[ Although really, anything at all can be shut down by the castle in a hot second. Oh well.

She just nods, surprised by his quick answer. He must really be hungry. ]

To drink?

I don't know feasible an upgrade is, but I figure it can't hurt to try, right? And I'll have a Mountain Dew if you have any. Otherwise, I'll take whatever variation of Coke you have.

[ Okay now she has a better job picturing Stephanie dating him. Ordering Coke at a nice Italian restaurant what's wrong with you people. ]

You got it. I'll go give them the order and be back in a flash.

[ Well, it's not a flash, but it is quick, not parting with him for longer than a minute, really, and that's just because she checks on everything else along the way.

Okay, now she can sit down across from him, legs crossed and arms folded atop the table. ]

So, where do you work?

[Because Mt.Dew is amazing. It is the gamer's choice.]

Thanks.

[Checks out the interior of the restaurant and the crowd while she's gone. Returns his attention to her as soon as she sits down.]

I work over at the magic shop. I've learned so much about magic since I've been there. It's kinda crazy! I feel like I'm living in a old RPG console game.

Seriously? The one Wesley helps run?

That's the one. Why?

Just didn't expect it to be such a small world. I used to go over there once in awhile to train.

You train there? [This piques his interest.] Or I guess did?

Mm hm, for a bit, Wesley trained me in... [ Vampire hunting? ] defensive techniques. Most of the training went on at his house, but for defense against magic, we would go to the Magic Shop.

[ She leans back as a server brings over a complimentary tray of ciabatta bread to dip into the accompanying mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and toasted garlic. ]

I guess you could say living here is like an...RPG, but a lot more dire. So it doesn't hurt to know how to defend against it. You're, um...more into the theoretical side of it, though, I'm guessing? [ NERD . . . ]

Wow, this looks great, thanks.

[Helps himself to some it. Dips the bread into the mixture before taking a big bite of it.]

Mm, and tastes great, too!

[Takes another couple of bites before he speaks up again.]

You could say that.

Glad you approve.

[ She's pleased enough at his compliment, tearing off a small piece of bread for herself as a glass of Coke is set down in front of him. Mountain Dew is a Pepsi brand okay we don't carry that nonsense here, boy. ]

Stephanie said you guys play games together. Like that RPG you were talking about. [ Seriously this is so out of Lana's realm. She may loves books, but gamers she does not exactly relate with. She barely knows what RPG stands for. ]

Like Dungeons & Dragons?

Dungeons and Dragons? I've never heard of it. [Must be some other worldly variation of the game they play.]

We play Warlock and Warriors once a week. I'm the Game Master, which more or less means I'm the storyteller. I control all of the NPCs and monsters.

[ A blank look. Ugh. She has to keep reminding herself that their Earth is...not her Earth. And still it is. It's so confusing. She chews thoughtfully on another torn piece of bread to keep herself from looking as irritated as she feels. It has nothing to do with him.

Lana still hates thinking that there are other versions of herself out there, especially ones that run Lex's company or marry Pete Ross of all people. Though maybe being in the White House wasn't such a bad thing. ]

So you just...tell a story, and give the players choices?

Yeah.

[Grins. Since they are alone, he figures he can elaborate.]

Say you were playing and our characters were visiting a tavern. You would say something along the lines of "I walk into the tavern and take a look around." I'd describe setting and what the people are doing. Then you'd decide if youw ant to talk to the patrons, talk to the Inn keeper, or observe what's going on. Whenever you interact with an NPC, you talk as if you are the character.

[ This sounds as boring as all hell, but her smile stays on her face while she listens. She has a hard time believing Kara and Stephanie would have fun with something like this. There must be more to it that she's missing.

Or maybe they're always drunk when they play. ]

Out loud? That doesn't get awkward, describing the actions and talking as your character?

A little at first, but after awhile it doesn't. Whenever you use a skill,like trying to influence someone, or look for anything unusual, you roll a d20 and add the roll to your score. You do the same thing when fighting monsters and dealing with other challenges.

[ RPG and board game jargon! She just nods and listens, her brow crinkled in thought. ]

Who got Kara and Stephanie into a game like that? You?

Guilty as charged. You're welcome to join us sometime if you'd like. I promise a lot less silly, and a lot more fun than it sounds.

Why not, I'll try anything once.

We usually game Friday nights, would that work for you? We could play later in the evening, depending on your work schedule.

Yeah, Friday nights tend to be the restaurant's most busy. But so long as everything goes smoothly, I'm usually out by eleven, and can leave earlier if I need to. They're used to being able to run things without me here, for the sake of the castle.

We can try another night, too. What day and time usually works best for you?

Any time mid-week is just fine. Or Sundays, those are always slow.

We'll shoot for Sundays, I usually have it off. I'll lend you the player's handbook, so you can familiarize yourself in the meantime.

Oh, I'm saved. If there's anything I am good at, it's reading.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Dictated.

Alvin Draper

Lana.

Alvin

Lana.

Alvin

Lana.

Alvin

Lana.

Alvin

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

try everything once, you say?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject