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There are times and streets when it's not safe for a young woman to wander the City on her own. Then, sometimes, there's the opposite problem. Danielle Moonstar stalks down the sidewalk with a glower that dares someone to try something, just so she has a justification for whomping on someone. It doesn't help that the sky is overcast and a bit drizzly, or that she's running late to meet Amanda at the cafe. Sadly (or fortunately), the occasional would-be street hustler is wise enough to focus on less grumpy targets, and the only real delays in her stompings occur at intersections while waiting on the light to change. Growf.
It's that cafe that the duo ran into Strange and Marie-Ange a few weeks back. Amanda is waiting patiently, with the occasional glance at the clock. She has complete faith that Dani is coming, likely detained by something. So she's trying to be patient. But she's worried despite her repeated mental insistence that everything's okay. She's only on her first mug of coffee. The rainy, gross, and slightly chilly day outside has convinced her to indulge in something a little hotter than normal.
*
When Dani finally reaches the little cafe, her irritation has settled into a more general grump. The bell dings a bit as she enters, and she angles to the side long enough to find enough paper towels to wipe her face and hands dry. Her hair's gonna take a little longer, but at least she isn't dripping. As she heads to Amanda's table, she gives a nod of greeting to the nice lady who… already somehow seems to have readied that nummy tea that Dani enjoyed last time.. Along with some warm and buttery pastry thing for nibbles. By the time Dani's butt finds a chair, her mood's already lifting a few notches. "Hnnnh. Sorry, took longer than I expected."
"I told you I could have gone with you to your appointment," Amanda points out. She did offer to teleport them here. She thanks the proprietor for the pastry and tea for Dani, requesting a second pastry… which is already in front of her by the time she finishes asking. "….that is spooky." She forgot to ask Strange if the woman is that good or a mind reader. "Thank you." When they're alone again, she flashes a smile at Dani. "But you're here, and in one piece so… no harm, right?"
*
A grunt is the only verbal response to the reminder, but it's somewhat clear Dani may have spent the last hour or so rethinking her original insistence on handling it herself. She eyes the unnervingly anticipatory proprietor a moment longer, but… "Spooky, but comfortable. And delicious," she decides. Some mysteries aren't worth poking too closely. She returns the other girl's smile, and sips her tea gently. "It did not go as smoothly as I'd planned, but I think I stomped out most of my frustrations on the way over. Kept hoping for a carjacker to try something in front of me."
Amanda gently reaches across the table, poking at Dani's hand. "Hey. Carjacker would leave me more worried," she points out. A feeling she is not used to constantly feeling. Most of the time. "Next time, together, hm? That way you won't get soaking wet," she points out. Of course, no doubt, Amanda has a handy spell to deal with that, too. "Anything you need to tell me about?"
*
Danielle exhales slowly, then sips tea again. "Mm. Alright, yes. Next time, together," she agrees. It's always been difficult for her to accept even the appearance of 'less independence', but if the trade-off is spending more time with Amanda /and/ avoiding a long, drizzly walk? She tears off a chunk of pastry and gnaws on it while she sorts through the details of her appointment. "Mmm. Nothing substantial, unfortunately. I thought a sit-down, face-to-face talk with the 'Honorable City Councilman' Easton.." The drawl in that title suggests how little she thinks of the man. "..might be an opportunity to at least talk about changes. But I came away with the very strong sense that I was the wrong age, the wrong sex, the wrong tone of skin, and the wrong income bracket to be taken seriously. He all but patted my head and said 'that's nice, dear…"
"I could turn him into a frog," Amanda offers. She's /kidding/ of course, she would never abuse her abilities for personal gain, but the words are spoken to buoy Dani's spirits. She nods as Dani speaks, understanding. She has found something similar. Female, Romani, and a 'carnie'. She's not someone they would take seriously, either.
*
For a lonnnnng moment, Danielle seems to seriously consider it, but finally shakes her head. "I wouldn't inflict him on the poor innocent frogs of the city. They didn't do anything to deserve …" She trails off her grumbling into her mug of tea, then relaxes a few notches. "I didn't have very high hopes for the meeting, really, but. Oh well. I'm better at fighting monsters and bad guys than at clever political talk. Kinda like you're better at the whole magic thing than you are at corporate finance." Her eyes are twinkling again, at least. So that's progress!
*
Amanda harrumphs, for a brief moment looking hurt. It's just pretend, of course. She's hardly offended. "I manage finances for the two of us well enough," she points out. Of course, they're sharing a home that Amanda outright owns, and the Circus provides a place for them to put that home. So that's alread a big amount of savings for what they both earn from the Circus.
*
Danielle grins at that, and reaches across the table to give the other girl's hand a squeeze. "And don't think I'm not /very/ happy to leave that to you, Amanda. There's a list of chores a mile long that I'd rather tackle than budgeting." Oddly, she's felt quite at home in and around the Circus. Much more so than trying to couch-surf her way through the City like she was not long ago. "Speaking of money, I think I found a place that I want to take you to dinner when we have a free night. It's not very pricey, but it looks …uhm." Sip. Cough. "Nice." In Dani-slang, this particular use of 'nice', combined with the glare-blush she aims at no one in particular, equates to 'romantic'.
*
Amanda catches on quickly, blushing just a bit too. "Okay. I think Management has settled on Sundays for quiet time, since all the city people are in church and all that," she says, quickly catching her footing despite the potential embarrassment.
*
Just in case, Dani shoots a cautious glance towards Mrs. O'Riley. Not that such a wonderful lady seems to notice or care when two young women start blushing at each other. Feeling such nervous flutters can be a source of both frustration and delight; knowing that Amanda can be equally flustered (if not more so) is a source of great relief and even more attraction. The Cheyenne nods a bit firmly, trying to calm the warmth in her own cheeks. "That would work perfectly. That also means any prudes will be otherwise occupied." Which opens up additional thoughts, which in turn thwarts her attempt to stop blushing so visibly.
*
Amanda sips at her tea, pretending not to notice further blushing. "And if we can't do that, we'll just have to take a picnic to Europe and watch the sun rise while we're in Paris." What, she didn't mention she could teleport to places she's been before, so far away? Whoops. She finally breaks into the pastry she was given, slowly prying the thinner ends off the main body of the treat.
*
"Paris…" Dani pauses mid-sip, considering the possibilities there. "I didn't realize you could make it so far. That. Hmmm. That's pretty handy!" She grins, relaxing amidst the flutters once more. She gnaws more of her own pastry, then considers, "So…you'd have the range to make it to Colorado. Most teleporters I've run into had to 'know' where they were going, so.. would you need to visit first, or could you 'magic' it somehow?"
*
Amanda waggles her hand. "Yes and no," she says, gesturing with her cup in hand. "I have to have been to a place before, or I need to see where I am going, somehow. I can't teleport blind." She of course says this teleportation stuff in a more hushed voice, to make sure only Dani can hear her. "So we'd have to get a book on Colorado, maybe."
*
Danielle nibbles on the last of her buttery pastry, nodding thoughtfully. "But once you're familiar with it, you could go back whenever," she muses. "Well. No rush. I'm just thinking you'd love the Rockies, especially with summer coming up. Spring can be a little intense, weather-wise. It's just a long trek from here, even for B.W."
*
"We'll find a book," she suggests. "Maybe of a city we can use as a stopover." She will, of course, have to get permission to leave the Circus for a few days. Shouldn't be an issue, however. Or she could just teleport back a few times and still get some sessions in. "BW?" she asks, frowning. "I don't recognize what you mean."
*
"Sorry, I meant Brightwind. I sometimes call him B.W. because he hates it," Dani grins unrepentantly. "And as payback for his constant fascination with my hair." She does tend to tie her hair up when she's working with the horses, just because her own four-legged partner thinks it's funny to yank on her braid when she's not paying attention. "Anyway, the logistics may be a little challenging, but we can work something out. There's no hurry. It's not like the mountains are going anywhere."
*
Oh, right. Brightwind! Amanda's cheeks redden from embarrassment. She should've been able to figure that one out. She has noticed Dani tends to braid up before helping with the horses. She never considered that Brightwind may be the reason. "So don't call him by his initials. Okay." Mental note taken! "You're going to insist on camping out there, aren't you?"
"Well, I /like/ camping," Dani begins, then grins and shakes her head, "If we can get up to my family's ranch, we'd have the whole house to ourselves for as long as we stayed. It was in good shape the last time I was out that way."
*
"Sounds like we have a plan," Amanda says. Her coffee and pastry finished off, she looks at Dani before standing and offering a hand. "Shortcut home?" she offers.
*
Danielle glances around briefly, then smiles and rises, putting her hand in Amanda's. "As opposed to another slog through that weather? You bet…"
*