tampered | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

When; Tuesday 5th February, after this
Rating; G - no warnings inherent
Characters; Andrew Ryan (

rianofski) and Ruby Flint (

spotlighted)
Summary; Friendly drinks
Log;

As the clock approaches 8pm, Ruby brushes out her curls and glances in the mirror for a final time. She feels overdressed, and a little self-conscious because of that, but the dress that she'd arrived in was the only thing she owned that fell into the category of evening wear rather than just practical clothes. The apartment still doesn't look like anyone lives there, something that Ruby hopes to remedy very quickly if she's to be stuck here indefinitely, as the place just feels very cold and lonely at the moment.

She rises eagerly at the knock on the door, almost tripping as she slips into a pair of heels on the way to answer it.

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She's imagining nothing short of paradise on earth, and while she does have questions - not least of which was trying to find any country that would let him build such a city - right now she's content just to lean a little further over the table, her smile widening. "I'd like that too, very much."

"I'm glad. I hope you don't mind my saying how beautiful you are."

He'd complimented her dress before, of course, but he thought she might be amenable to another compliment, a far more personal one. And he leans forward, too, though only ever so slightly. He's still not quite sure what approach to take with her, but has nearly settled on slow and flattering. While there are women in the City he can be pushier with, he's not sure she's one of them.

"Oh, I don't mind at all. It's wonderful to hear from someone with such good judgement and perception. Someone who, I have to say, is rather dashing himself."

The fact that he's significantly older than her isn't something that's occurred to her as a problem at all, nor is the fact that she's still only really just arrived here and maybe ought to settle in more before pursuing something like this.

If most of his smiles have been small and guarded throughout the night -- he's never been the type to grin, nor show any great happiness -- the smile he offers her now is bigger, and seems genuine. He appreciates the flattery, most because he has the feeling that it's sincere.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say dashing, perhaps, but I appreciate the sentiment."

That, however, is false modesty. He would absolutely say dashing, and probably other flattering words, besides.

She shrugs. "Suit yourself, but if there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I never say anything I don't mean." And personally, she's never been one to turn down a compliment, or for any kind of modesty, for that matter.

"I'll keep that in mind."

The way he manages to make everything sound vaguely flirtatious, vaguely suggestive, is a talent he's developed over the years. Even something so bland as the sentence he just said has a bit of an undertone to it.

"Good."

She takes another sip of her drink before settling her attention back on him.

"Unfortunately this place seems pretty devoid of a separate city for you to run, so how do you occupy yourself here?"

"I try to interfere in as many businesses as possible, and I've spent some time attempting to expand my knowledge of engineering and science."

He says the interfering part almost facetiously, but it's true. He has ample time to explore his options here, and while he sometimes feels at loose ends, he also enjoys the freedom he's found in shopping around, seeing what kind of work he can do.

She can't but help a little at the term 'interfering'. She supposes that when you're so used to running something so grand as a city, you can't help but try your hand at everything, know that your way works better than whatever other methods people might be employing.

"That certainly sounds interesting. I guess you've learned all about the futuristic technology, huh? It must be nice, not being tied to one thing like that."

"I can't say I've learned all about it, but I find the technology here fascinating. As much as I might prefer to be in my own city, there are certain benefits to being here, as well."

Meeting her has been one such benefit. Getting to work on his own engineering ideas rather than slog through paperwork has been another. "I've also considered going into business with a man I know here, but that has, for the most part, been idle discussion."

"Even if there were all the benefits in the world here, when it comes right down to it there's no place like home." As tumultuous as her life in New York had been recently, it was still something familiar, something that felt far more comforting than being cast out into someplace entirely new, even with the benefits, such as the man sitting opposite her, being as good as they were.

"Oh? What sort of business?"

"I imagine we'll all get back home sooner or later. And, as I'm told, when we do get there, it will be as though no time has passed at all. That, at least, is a relief."

He shrugs. If he were the type to play coy, one might be able to accuse him of that, but it's really that he prefers to keep business plans close to the chest until he's absolutely sure they're going to happen. "I believe we've both realized that entertainment might be the most profitable business around here."

"Really?" That's the first she's heard of this, and it makes her feel a little better. "Just as long as I don't forget everything that happens here, that sounds just perfect."

"So a manager or a producer or something, then? It's all right, I won't pry. But if you need someone who knows the industry, you give me a call, all right?"

"Admittedly, I'm unclear on just how memory retention works once we've left the City, but I wouldn't want to forget it either -- although I wouldn't mind forgetting some of the more... unfortunate curses."

He nods, obviously pleased by the offer. "I certainly will. I'm sure you know a great deal about the inner workings of the entertainment field."

"Even if it's a terrible curse that I don't want to remember, I'd much rather that than forget, have something this big happen to me and not know anything about it. It'd be a real shame."

She attempts to shrug modestly, something that doesn't look quite natural on her. "Oh, I'm no Florenz Ziegfeld, but I'd say I know a thing or two."

"No need to be self-effacing, Ruby. I can already tell that you're deeply talented, and I've only known you for several days. You've known yourself for your whole life -- I'm sure you know as well as anyone just how talented you truly are."

That might sum it up right there, actually, the reason why Andrew didn't find cockiness off-putting. It was a principle he operated under himself: other people may understand his genius on a surface level, but having never been inside his mind, they'd never have a full glimpse at just how great he really was. He had to imagine that other people felt that way, too. Never did the idea of self-doubt cross his mind.

"Thank you." Her voice is a mixture of pleasant surprise and deep appreciation. "I've learned from experience that men tend to find it off-putting when a woman's so confident and independent. Ridiculous, I know, but still. I'm very glad you can see past that." Because she is talented, and never doubted that for a moment.

"Ridiculous indeed. I've always found it far more invigorating to have a conversation with a woman who clearly knows what she likes, what she wants, and how to get it. It leaves less open to interpretation, and it makes for a more exciting experience."

There's obviously some not particularly hidden innuendo in his words, and she's free to take it or leave it, depending on how she feels.

It was something that had been instilled into her in the USO - never let the boys feel like you're smarter than them. It had grated on her even then, and while she'd tried to shake it and assert herself wherever she could, it had never really been an attitude that had made her popular with men.

Her grin widens a little now, and she leans in a little closer. "Well, I've always liked to think that I know what I like and what I want." And he was making it pretty clear how to get it, which just made it all the better.

"We have that in common, then."

And if there's one thing about him that's absolutely true, it's that he always gets what he wants -- and if he doesn't, he pretends he didn't want it anyway. This time, when she leans forward, he slides his hand across the table and rests it on top of hers.

Her smile widens as she feels his hand on top of hers, and she brings her fingers up, to twine into his. "It certainly seems we do."

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