tampered | Log: Complete

Log: Complete

When; July 13 (afternoon)
Rating; PG
Characters; Claire Bennet

treadingdawn
Summary; This is what they call a date, right?
Log;

And he was waiting, dressed in his dark gray jeans tucked into his brown leather boots. A simple clean ivory tunic sat comfortably trim over his shoulders, brought in at the waist by a belt that should have been carrying a sword, but Caspian had decided against it. It wasn't proper to bear arms when meeting a lady for a casual outing. ... That was what this was, right?

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Claire, in opposition, was dressed normally. Well, what she and probably at least half of the City would've considered normal: jeans, a nice top, some earrings. It was normal, all of it, except that this was completely abnormal, of course. That was the name of the game, though.

As she approached the carousel, she saw who she thought was Caspian and stopped nearby, close enough that he could definitely hear her when she spoke to him. "Hi!" she said, enthusiastically, shoving her hands into her pockets. She grinned. "Nice clothes."

I am sorry, I did not bring a hauberk with me.

[A grin, playing up his knightly image, at least in her mind.]

Claire? It is a pleasure.

A what? Is that a clothing brand I've never heard of?

[There's a look of brief confusion on her face that dissolves into a grin. She sticks out her hand to be shook.]

You're Caspian, obviously. It's nice to finally get to see you in person. Sorry I didn't wear my crown.

It is mail.

[Not courier but... oh hell whatever. He accepts her hand and bows to kiss the back of her palm as gentlemen must do for such ladies.]

Yes, I am Caspian, and I do not need a crown to recognize that, Claire.

Postage?

[Claire turns the color of a brick and pushes her hair back from her face as if to say WELL NOW. She takes her hand back and shoves it back in her pocket.]

I was just joking. I don't think crowns matter much around this place, all things considered.

[She looks around kiiiiinda trying not to be awkward.]

So are you hungry or anything?

Postage? Ah, it is how things are where I come from, Claire.

[A smile, because that is how a gentleman treats a lady, come on.]

I am not feeling too peckish, unless you are hungry?

Right. Sometimes I forget about the whole... inter-worldly stuff that goes on around here, which is a little stupid, I know. Even though a lot of people around here are weird - present company excluded, of course - everyone's still kind of normal. Sorta.

[Caspian obviously does not equal normal teenage boy. Claire returns the grin.]

Not really. I had something earlier. We could just walk around, I guess.

It is no mistake to think of the world in your own terms. I do.

[As evident by the kiss. He looks around the Square a moment then mirrors her smile.]

If that would suit you.

You only told me some bare bones stuff about your world. What's it like, really?

[If she were somewhat braver, she'd probably do that friendly, looping her arm through his thing, but she just walks alongside with her arms swinging, relaxed.]

Going out with friends is supposed to be a give and take thing! I can't make all the decisions.

In my world we would be strolling through the marketplace.

[He points at a car parked by a meter.]

That would be a horse strapped to a hitch, perhaps with a merchant selling wares from a drawn stall.

[He doesn't seem to mind the lack of arm looping, but when she says that she can't make all the decisions Caspian does look a tiny bit sheepish.]

I would not mind walking, not at all.

[Claire laughs.]

Back home, that meter could be a horse tied to a hitch. I dunno about the merchant, though. Texas is pretty rural. And country. In some places.

[When he looks sheepish, she feels a little bit more confident and does stick her arm through his - just friendly, though.]

Well now we're walking. How long have you been here? I don't know if I asked that.

[That makes him smile brightly.] Would it? I have not heard of Texas before.

[Arms looped, he seems surprised at first, but easily settles with the gesture.]

For over a month, but sometimes it feels longer. And sometimes shorter.

It's a state, in the United States. Not that you'd know what that was. We've got a reputation for being kind of redneck but... it's not really all like that. I like Texas.

[Walks along, looking at things, peeking into shop windows.]

Sorry. I know you probably have stuff to do.

[She pauses.]

You ever been here before?

I do somewhat. That is America, right?

[He has no idea what it means to be a redneck however. When she pauses he turns to the shop window in question, curious.]

Not today, Claire. And no I have not been here before.

That's right! Way down South.

[She'd totally explain the redneck thing, though it could be difficult. She glances up at him, still grinning, because that's what she does.]

Well I meant in general. I think everyone here has stuff to do back home.

I did what I could to secure my governance in times of absence.

[He nods with another smile to Claire. Caspian only hopes Trumpkin and the badger and everyone else are doing all right without him.]

It sounds like you haven't really had that much time for fun.

[Cheerleading had been fun, in that way that all school functions are required-fun. She'd had some fun but the past few months erased a lot of it.]

Well, not so much, no...

[Feeling a little embarrassed to admit that but they're having fun now, right?]

Did you have anything to do back home?

That's not fair. I don't think.

[Claire is having fun and she is totally not embarrassed to admit it. Even though her face is still a little flamingo, yes.]

Oh. Nothing really. Just... teenager stuff.

[It is so, so a lie.]

'Teenager stuff'? What is that?

[Cheerleading, highschool, malls, and shopping are foreign to him.]

Oh. You know. Cars. Boys. Homework. Cheerleading.

[Saving the world. Jumping sixty feet and filming it.]

That kind of thing. It's really boring when you get down to it.

[After a good translation Caspian would be inclined to agree with her that they share some similarities.]

They do not sound so boring. I thought you enjoyed cheerleading.

[Claire actually frowns, but it's more thinking than it is being down about something. She chews her lip a little, thoughtful.]

I did like it for a while. But eventually it kind of became something that I didn't think it would be. I stopped just after our homecoming game.

[She shrugs.]

Girls can be vicious.

[He notices the frown, unsure. But when she shrugs he tries to offer a little of what he knows. Likely it isn't the same kind of viciousness.]

I agree. Some are very capable with a sword or a bow.

[It's not nearly the same type of viciousness, but she's been lying anyway, so it's easy to roll with it.]

I can't say I've ever met any girls who carry around bows and arrows or swords. Most girls where I come from just have, you know, notebooks and high heels.

High heels? Like rider's heel?

[Looking at her strangely. Is Claire wearing heels herself?]

I don't think riders wear heels like girls do? Some girls wear heels that are like... four inches high and completely ridiculous. They really aren't good for riding, I don't think. I've never tried.

[Claire is not wearing heels, she's wearing flip flops, and she looks strangely right back at Caspian.]

[His boots are flat but it seems he's a good foot taller and that's without the court heels.]

It helps the foot keep from slipping off the stirrup.

[He offers with a smile, but four inches is definitely too much.]

[Oh, he's definitely a lot taller. Claire's probably the shortest girl to ever walk Odessa, but that doesn't change fact.]

I don't want to picture you in a pair of high heels, Caspian.

[Gesturing over his clothes.] Would it be any stranger than this?

[Oh he's noticed that his garb amuses her too.]

[Looks him up and down, very critically in thought.]

I think so, yeah. With this you could at least... kind of get away with it. If you're wearing heels that high and you're a guy, people might give you some funny looks, unfortunately. You need to get some jeans anyway, I think.

[He can tell she's giving him the critical eye for his clothing.... she's not the first, sigh.]

I have always been considered tall for my age.

[Truth be told he's younger than her. Another look over his own clothes.]

I have one pair...

[Her looks isn't really critical! She just... thinks... he could do... with some jeans. She's 16, okay, her brain doesn't work on reason.]

How old did you say you were again?

[She laughs a little as he regards himself.]

One isn't enough! I can help you pick out some more.

Sixteen years.

[Almost or so. Don't ask him to put it in writing.]

You would? And you would not find it unentertaining?

Then we're the same. I just turned sixteen... actually I should be turning seventeen soon but I don't know how the calendar matches up here with back home.

[She's not asking. Especially because one day age totally won't even matter to her.]

Ohhhhhh I think it would be anything but unentertaining.

A birthday?

[Then he delinks their arms, just enough to hold her wrist in a courtly manner and give a half bow.]

Then as you wish, Claire. I mean, I would not mind, and I do have money.

In April. It's obviously not April anymore, though. Weird.

[Claire kind of looks around, embarrassed, and then tries to get him to stand up.]

Stop that. Really. You don't have to -

And. Anyway. Yeah! That'd be great. I don't think it'll be hard to find something that looks good on you anyway.

[Hello, face turning a little pink.]

I will remember that.

[Her birthday month, but he doesn't have one to offer her. Okay okay so Caspian stands, returning to link arms.]

Oh? I hope that it will appear appropriate for the City.

[The blush goes over his head, maybe she's too short for him to see it. And when he talks of appropriate, he really means no tunics and slashed sleeves.]

Okay.

[That's all well and good so she just leads him around, not really walking anywhere in particular. At least she's not blushing anymore.]

Have you seen some of the things people wear around here? I think anything is appropriate. Jeans are just... more, you know, period-appropriate. Everyone around here seems to kind of be from around the same time. We just need to update you.

I suppose, although I have not seen a single brigandine.

[He smiles, optimistic nonetheless about this... shopping trip. Walking around does lead them to an open air plaza complete with street cafés and stores.]

They are comfortable... You may update me, Claire.

I'm not even going to ask what that is.

[Claire notices their change in surroundings and then looks at him suspiciously.]

I think you planned this! You're using me to update you. I knew it all along.

It is armor plating riveted between leather and...

[Say what? He stares at Claire, taking her accusation seriously.]

I did not intend this... But neither would I criticize your taste and judgment in such a matter.

[Maybe not so seriously.]

[She laughs again. Claire laughs a lot, okay?! And then punches him playfully in the arm. It's woefully not hard at all.]

You know I'm joking!

[Laughing with her, until she punches him. He feigns the pain with a casual 'ouch' then smiles.]

I trust you to pick the place and the apparel.

[Claire rolls her eyes. Zach did that when she punched him, and she always reacted this way.]

I'll find something great. Trust me.

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Log: Complete

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