week three | dates

[marriagebroker]

Here we go again.

You all better kiss.

Comments

[beatmatching]

[ it's not taco bell! fit as required. ]

This looks more familiar, at least. [ he looks up at all the lights as he says this, with a wry smile. ]

[nrangel]

[ As always Serpilia is going for something cozy and comfortable, which seems well suited for a lot of walking today.

She's taking in the bright lights and bustling streets with a tourist's sort of wonder. While Serpilia herself comes from a pretty sizable city, the streets aren't nearly so vibrant. ]

Did you come from a place kind of like this, Luka?

[beatmatching]

Less the place and more the lights. I've been in several—parades in a place like this.

[ a "parade" where he got oogled and stared at, camera lights flashing in every direction. fun times. ]

[nrangel]

[ The pause he adds there gives her pause of her own, frowning a little. There's something a little suspect of responding like that. ]

Part of being famous?

[beatmatching]

Mmhmm. The cameras here are far less demanding.

[ he runs a hand though his hair, rearranging his messy bangs. ]

It'd be stranger not having any cameras on me at all.

[nrangel]

[ Serpilia looks at Luka thoughtfully for a moment, then back at their crew, then at the crowded streets around them.

Hmmm.

She'll lean in closer even though mics mean she can still be heard. ]

Wanna test out what it's like to be away from them for a few minutes?

[beatmatching]

[ it's not as if the thought hadn't ever occurred to him. when he was younger it did frequently. when it was older, he used it to his advantage during shows, the second or two he could steal to use to his advantage against his opponents without committing blatant violations.

that counts for here too.

but he's been thinking about it for different reasons. ]

...sure.

[nrangel]

[ She'll give one last look the the camera crew, offering them her best and brightest smile. ]

In that case...

[ Before her hand reaches out to grab Luka's as she pulls him forward suddenly towards the thickest part of the crowd. ]

Let's go!

[ The crew with all their bulky equipment are going to have a hell of a time keeping up with two relatively lithe people on the run in a people dense place like this. ]

[beatmatching]

[ off they go!

luka won't say anything because he needs to conserve his breath for making their escape. covering up for his myriad of health conditions on the day-to-day is usually simple, but when exerting himself like this? not so much.

he will keep up though, he'll just be winded when they stop. ]

[nrangel]

[ All they have to do is get a good distance away from the shouting cameramen first, maybe find a nice little alley crowded with people at the front of it to duck into before Serpilia slows their run to a jog. ]

How're you holding up?

[beatmatching]

Fine. [ he says and he mostly means it but his breathing is very purposeful. ]

[nrangel]

Good!

[ Bright and genuine as she keeps holding onto his hand while she leads him down to the other side of the alley. She figures they've given them the slip enough to be able to take their time and enjoy some sights before her halo inevitably gets them caught again. ]

How's it feeling so far? Having no cameras on you?

[beatmatching]

[ thank you for not calling him out, it's appreciated.

how does it feel? ]

It's quiet. [ he can always hear his heart, but it seems louder in his ears now. and this is only temporary, a few stolen minutes, isn't it?

rather than enjoy it, his gaze looks outward to catch the camera crew whenever they find him. the truth is, he can't relax like this. there's only one place in this universe where he could get a taste of freedom for real. ]

[nrangel]

[ A frown as he still looks around like a trapped animal looking for the things chasing it down. Maybe it really is different for a girl like her, who was never famous, and never had to deal with someone watching her at all times. It's easy to relax for a few moments like this when she finally gets a break from the newfound attention. ]

No good?

[beatmatching]

It's fine.

[ he's just... not used to it. as much as his existence is literally to be an animal, a pet, at someone else's expense? it's a familiar one.

he's gonna waste a few of their precious alone minutes to put his back up against the wall, eventually sliding down to fold his knees up against his chest. he'll get up momentarily, he just needs to recenter himself. ]