logs | off she goes ✨ november catch all

[ Once again, she finds herself overdressed. In a sea of people wearing plaid socks with sandals, she is wearing what she hopes is her most inconspicuous pair of heels (they are not). She, at least, has a mind to throw some pants on rather than the skirt she almost went with — the air is cold and oddly biting, out here at the docks. It's the beginnings of night, and everyone in this bar is rowdy and she's feeling spectacularly out of place with her full face of makeup and hair vibrant green.

She's made her mark at the bar, having arrived earlier than the time they agreed to just to scope out the place. Lottie truly meant to contact him earlier but.. Nerves, life, local beheadings at the function, etc. This is the first time she's even left her house since the incident, visibly antsy and suspicious.

Because, after all, just because she's been recommended this bar doesn't mean she can't do a little digging, right?? Right.

So far, all she's found out is that some people smell like fish, and the view of the water is nice when there's no one blocking the way (this is rare). And that the drink the bartender gave her is a bit bitter, but apparently a fan favorite? She's swirling the contents of the drink in the air, texting Zagreus with the other hand when it's close to their meeting time:

hiii i'm here! at the bar lol

And without much preamble, since she very much thinks she has the time, she begins an age old process: the selfie. Lottie visibly sits up straighter, tugs at her blouse every which way until it's just right, arm angled for the perfect photo. But she doesn't take it, no — she's too busy spinning on that bar stool for the perfect lighting, tilting her head every so often in appraisal or irritation at what she sees. ]

[Overdressed, meet underdressed.

Not that Zagreus knows what exactly makes one underdressed or overdressed anyway. Everyone is entitled to their own expression, and he's from a place where skulls, spikes, gold bands, jewels are just uniforms, and even Goddesses decide to eschew clothes altogether (looking at you, Aphrodite) in favor of some strategically placed hair.

After waving his goodbyes to the fishmonger and patting the pouch at his waist full of coin, he feels the device in his pocket thrum and he whips it out.

Oh! It was today and he's late! It's a good thing he's close by and doesn't take much time to find the bar. The crowd is rambunctious enough for him to spot it, and it's not very far from his own little flat. He's seen it every now and then, passed by the establishment, and probably sold a fish or some clams to it for their snacks. He doesn't really remember; his unlife has been a blur.

Spotting Lottie isn't difficult, even within the crowd. Her hair stands out, for sure, but it's more familiar than anything else. It had reminded Zagreus of a sweet, hard-working gorgon back at home, and he only positions himself so he shows up over her shoulder in the 'reflection' on the screen, a hand waving and his smile beaming, honest and glad he's finally meeting someone who was so nice on this device in person.]

Lottie? Hello, there. It's Zagreus.

[ Lottie's too busy deciding whether tilting her head to the left, or right, looks for a better photo to immediately notice Zagreus saunter into frame. He's perched in the open space beside her wild mane of hair and shoulder, her eyes wide when she catches a glimpse of him. Her thumb doesn't stop in time, snapping the photo and immortalizing his little wave along with her surprise into the gallery of her phone. She swings her arm down, thumb itching to open it and take a look, but all it does it anxiously hover over her screen as she turns around to face him.

Turns out, even if she did look, it really wouldn't prepare her for.. Hm, well.

Isn't.. Isn't he cold? Subconsciously, she cradles her phone against her own chest. ]

Hello.. I mean — [ She breathes out, loud enough to be heard over the commotion but still Lottie's own brand of soft: ] Hi, Zagreus.

[ She pulls herself together fast enough to not seem like a complete weirdo, matching his smile when the sincerity of it hits her. Here she is, staring at his single (1) tit, when he's happy to just be here with a friend.

Man, this is taking her back to meeting all her blogger friends for the first time. The realization that they're real and not a face on her screen. Steadily, she's excited, too. ]

It's really nice to officially meet you in person. [ She leans over to take her sweater off the stool next to her (the very real, very reliable way of saving seats!). ] Thanks for coming!

[Thank Ancient Greece, Lottie, and the fact that he's a human furnace. His feet are gaining some activity then like a dormant volcano, the glow steadily increasing across the days he's been here, recuperating slowly, and so is his resistance to the cold. Not that he doesn't feel it. He just doesn't get as affected as most.

He sits down on the stool next to her, the bartender flashing recognition in his eyes—not that he's not easy to recognize, anyway— and Zag tilts his head in reply. It's the first time he's been to this bar, but it's the first time he's an actual customer.] Oh, thank you for inviting me. [His smile widens, obviously happy to meet a friend and trying something new.

He's been doing that a lot, here. Go figure.] What are you having? What's good here?

[ Ah, yes.. His feet. Lottie will definitely find a way to ask about that later.

(Hm, actually, no, she maybe won't — that's weird and she can use her imagination for once.) ]

Oh, it's, uhh.. [ She takes a moment to pretend to recall the name of the drink (yes, Lottie is exactly that type of person, not wanting to seem too eager or too quick to reply.. because she is!!!! And also she's never been here before, oops). ] It's called 'Catch One'. It's their special of the day.. Kinda bitter but, it's blue?

[ She holds the glass up for him to see what she means, and it's true! The drink itself is a vibrant blue reminiscent of the sea. It almost sparkles in the lighting it catches, and if he looks between the floating ice there's.. A gummy shark!! How dangerous, but cute. And hilariously in theme with the fact they're sat pretty on a dock. Lottie seems to think so, because it's the only thing she's actually got since arriving here.

The drink is placed on the coaster, the straw sat inside the drink spinning around the glass idly as she suggestively, definitely curiously, slides it in his direction. ]

Want a sip?

[He peers curiously at the drink, a little blink of recognition when he sees the gummy floating within the cubes—ice, he knows that's ice, now— finding the little fellow adorable. The godling leans in closer, a moment of hesitancy, mostly because he can afford his own drink, and he knows prices are steep in this underworld.

Once she does give him some reassurance, he cradles the glass carefully and sips at the drink, cautiously removing the straw and placing his lips on the brim.

It's… sweeter than he thought, his eyebrows arch, a little surprised, and he licks his lips as he slides the drink back, a little giddy and signaling the bartender to give him one of those, too.] Oh, this is actually quite nice! What makes it blue, do you know?

[ A hand flies to her mouth when she sees him process the flavor, a grin behind her lip and a laugh near teetering out of it. The hand that's free reaches out to bridge the gap and take her drink, gaze drifting back to the bartender already grabbing a glass similar to her own to make his order. ]

I think it's one of the mixers in it? Can't be a juice.. [ Lottie turns back to him look at him, ] An alcohol, maybe..

[ The bartender is busy at work, already in the process of adding said liqueur from a bottle that's about halfway empty. She squints in its direction, as if she can magically read the label if she tries hard enough (she can't, her vision isn't That Great!!). ]

Both? Probably both.

[Probably both! He's squinting at the bottle, too, and it's not because she has great vision, the label is, indeed, worn out, and most of the letters have peeled off. Still, it didn't really matter, and after the bartender slid the drink to Zagreus with a nod, he raises his glass—gently so as not to topple, the cup is filled to the brim.]

Here's to you, Lottie. [He clinks their glasses.] For helping me out with how to work with a phone. Very thankful that you did.

[ Huh...???? A hand flies to her chest, ]

Moi?

[ Wow.. He's clinking their glasses? Over him learning how to use a phone?? In her honor??? Lottie, belatedly, nods, surprised but happy to accept his praise. She certainly isn't going to tell him to stop, but she is actively fighting against the urge to blurt out whatever her goblin brain desperately wants to say (it mingles between 'ha ha, nice, butt dial anyone yet?' and 'tell me more.. more things about me I mean'). It's after she finally takes a sip of her drink, lightly scrunching her face in he process, that she speaks. ]

It's no big deal!! Honest! Everyone should know how to text.. It's like, a basic human right or something. [ She grins, the warmth of the alcohol hitting her. She shivers, ] How's it been, by the way? Been taking care of her?

Of 'her'? [He parrots softly, eyebrows arched as he sips through the straw (and if there's a mention of how silly he looks doing it, it'll only get a laugh). He was unaware that people attributed gender to their phone, but it must be the same as people do with ships, or so he heard. He brings a bundle of fabric up, setting it on the counter between them and unwrapping it to show the cellphone in there, unscathed.]

Is it normal that she keeps trying to slip off my fingers? [He perks up.] Oh! I did almost— ah, what was the name— buttdial, isn't it? I almost did that once. Would be embarrassing if it did happen, but I stopped it before it would actually call anyone.

Edited 2022-11-08 13:10 (UTC)

[ He does look silly, but Lottie keeps the thought to herself, too amused to really ruin the moment. Especially since she is extra elated at seeing the phone in question causing that crinkle to his brow — he's using cloth to protect it? That's so.. Interesting?? She leans over to inspect it, like it's some kind of widely sought after treasure.

And then, she laughs. It's a combination of hearing the musing of what buttdialing was called and actually saying it that broke her. ]

Ohmygod — already?? How? Did you see who it was calling??

My shield instructor. Well, that's not quite right. [He's chuckling throughout his explanation, amused at his mishap and delighted that Lottie finds it funny, too. Zagreus squints at the mid-distance, trying to figure out something that's honestly not difficult to explain.] Rather, a friend who decided to teach me how to use a shield for defense.

[He pressed on it when fishing at the pier because a fish was escaping between his fingers.] I wasn't aware it happened so often. Thankfully the sound was loud enough for me to hear it.

[ Not the squinting!! Aughhhh, she snorts, a hand swinging up to cover her face because she doesn't mean for the sound to come out. But she's still smiling, eyes crinkling with mirth. She finds herself giving a nod, and a nod again, like agreeing having shield obsessed friends is normal. ]

Damn! Your friend must be devastated at that missed call. Any vibes at your training sesh?

[ She says vibes like it's something he should look out for, like its a fiendish little imp that'll trudge on through with its own shield. ]

It'll get you like that, though. At least they didn't pick up and listen to you! That's the worst.

[His eyebrows arch when he's about to take another sip from the straw. Pursed lips and nipple out, he really doesn't care if he does look silly. There's already too much toxic masculinity in Ancient Greek Myth and Society anyway. ]

'Vibes'? [He chews on his lips absently, both because the drink really is syrupy and trying to remember if he did learn about that word in his newly-discovered lingo lexicon.] Not quite sure what you mean.

[ Can Zagreus get anymore absurd and hilarious without even trying? Absolutely. He absolutely can and it's destroying Lottie. She is trying very hard to be normal and answer his question properly, and she does so!!

After taking a very long sip of her drink, that is. ]

You know? Vibes.. They can be good or bad or like, just weird. It's like, a feeling. Or an intuition. [ She waves a hand around, dabbing her lips with her napkin. ] Something in the air?

A feeling during practice... [Leaning his chin on the heel of his wrist, he frowns thoughtfully, trying to recall that. Shalem had looked very okay during the practice following that blunder, or so he seemed. He wonders if he should have let it ring and actually called him, but he supposes that he's used to this kind of thing happening, too.] I don't think so. I met him the next day, and he didn't say anything about it. Then again, he knows I'm new to this.

Why, though? [His mismatched eyes flit over to Lottie, who looks so at ease in this kind of setting that he wonders if this is something everyone else on the surface does.] Are there supposed to be?

[ Woah, his eyes (said like someone who is surprised by everything, despite fully knowing the story behind them).. But also, ]

..Vibes?

[ Wait a second — she completely forgot that this was about his practice to begin with!! She waves a hand, ]

No, Zagreus, it was.. I was joking about vibes with your tutor.. Because of the butt dialing, so, I don't know? [ In a much smaller voice: ] It sounded good in my head? [ And then louder, ] It's normal for there to be no vibes, too! If you met him that's completely normal.

[Nodding through her explanation's ups and downs, Zagreus takes what Lottie says to heart, learning a totally new thing and a diligent student if he just puts his heart on it. He finds himself arching his eyebrows as he realizes how the social dynamics regarding the phone work and laughs.] Oh! I see!

[He gently tips his head and equally tilts his glass against hers.] I'm sorry you have to spell everything out for me, you know? I've realized I'm incredibly sheltered, so you've been very helpful. Thank you.

[ Fuck. How does she explain that she's really only been ''going out'' — this is used loosely, because going out to Lottie Person™ means just leaving the house, actually — since having 'died' (pending actual death confirmation but, details). It'd be a great bonding moment, her brain says! Isn't it normal to be honest and have things in common?

Another, bigger, part of her brain insists that actually? Seeming cool and terribly friendly is infinitely better? Lottie screams inwardly. ]

No, don't even worry! I'm not sure if it was that funny, anyway.. [ Maybe, just a tiny bit of honesty somewhere else. She can admit to him this is only the third bar she's ever been to in her life, later! ] I've been wondering about that, though.. How did you grow up? If you don't mind me asking!!

[Take the opportunity, Lottie. Zag loves introverts who keep to themselves. He finds them cool.

Zag shakes his head, gives her a good-natured, albeit pointed look. Somehow Lottie has a tendency to shun thankfulness, which baffles him. To be flustered by compliments is one thing that he's used to. But gratitude?

How odd. Is it that rare, in her world?

With a sigh, he slurps at the drink thoughtfully. A straw-drinking Rodin, really. ] Imagine this place, but one big, silent castle with never-ending hallways that always seem to switch places. There's only one Kitchen and a Lounge, and one person playing the lyre at the corner. That's where I'm from.

[A beat.] Does that make sense to you?

[ His pointed is look is met with one of her own, very much saying: what. And then: did I do something wrong?? She almost acts on that impulse to say it before he indulges in her curiosity, effectively shushing her.

It looks like she's trying to envision it as he paints the picture of where he lived. His home comes out, predictably, more British than it should, since, well, his accent. She chalks up a lot of the eccentricities of what he's saying to just that: Londoners. She nods, after taking a contemplative sip of her drink. After all, she does understand, except she has only one Very Important question, ]

You had a guy for background music just, in your house?

[Ah, if only he knew what the British were! And why he sounds like one, really. He knows that he speaks differently than most, though most of the Olympians and higher Chthonic entities do seem to have the same manner of speech. It's a non-issue, however, so he never really thought about it.]

Well, not just my house. The House. Many staff works there, and it is the underworld; the Shades could use some cheer.

[Even if Orpheus' songs aren't exactly the most joyful, somehow they still manage to lighten up the mood a bit.]

[ One day she'll explain the (read: her own) fascination and allure that comes with accents... Definitely not sober, though.

Until then, she listens. Thinks about the Shades.. And how they are apparently, hm, sad??

Lottie is puzzled. Visibly so, as she reminds herself that Zagreus wouldn't lie to make himself cooler like she would. He's telling the truth, and is from some house in the underworld. She stirs the straw in her drink, suddenly incredibly curious once it sinks in. Zagreus is from the underworld.. Normally? And he still grew up sheltered?? ]

Okay! Umm.. [ Where does she begin!! ] What did you do there?

[And the coup de grace, really, of how Zagreus was never meant to look or seem cool at all, pretenses not gone, just entirely inexistent, wraps around this one single-word reply as he winces.] Admin.

[He shakes his head, as though the motion helps him escape the memories of dreadful paper and scrollwork that he had been in charge of taking care of in the Administration Chamber at the House.] Not that I was good at it at all. I quit shortly after I started.

[He tilts his head.] What did you do, Lottie? Is it something you can carry on doing here? If you wish to, I mean.

[ Admin? All she can think about is Zagreus just sitting happily in front of his little computer, pressing random keys and wearing glasses. It's a fun thought while it lasts, the thought probably existing just as long as his stint in it.

She sips the last of her drink, wondering how to approach this, after she takes in his question — she knows some people here have no idea what a fashion blogger is (hasn't been invented yet, maybe?). She sets her empty glass aside and leans in close. ]

..Do you have like, [ is he gonna think she's goofy with the seriousness she says this with??? maybe ] influencers? Where you're from?

off she goes ✨ november catch all

𝙯𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙪𝙨 🍻

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im CRYING..NOT THE NIPPLE!!!!

lottie would have a field day with all the nips out in ancient greece

she'd be FLABBERGASTED!! bamboozled. shocked

ofc she would <3

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