Ooo. Too much. Pull back.
Arthur's smiled immediately fell. "I'm kidding, buddy. About the stalker bit, not the cute bit." He looked down, fidgeting with the hem of his jacket as they walked. "I should know better than to make that joke, you don't know me." He looked up. "Sorry."
He did perk up at Cyrin's comment. "Oh great. So as long as I don't keep sticking my foot in my mouth, I'm good, right?" His expression turned hopeful, the look of someone accustomed to loneliness being excited about the prospect of a friend.
The face was easy for Arthur, because it was a face he'd made often. Before certain things made themselves known to him, he'd often been lonely and looking for friends.
Now, he looked for 'friends'. Much the same but different in a few important ways.
Cyrin laughs, “I was joking too, sorry, I can have a sense of sarcasm and a touch of dark humor. Maybe a little too much. You’re perfectly fine.” He lists off an address, “Its just this diner place with a stage. All sorts of performers perform there.”
“Yes, pretty much. Keep your foot out of your mouth and we’re fine. That’s disgusting. Eating your foot.” He jokes.
He smiles softly, picking up the pace and walking through the mall, “So, tell me a little about you, what do you like to do?”
(sorry, sometimes it can be difficult to answer at work :X )
(It’s perfectly fine! Also, sorry for the shorter replies, I’m running a little low on the inspection)
Arthur nodded. "Gotcha." He smiled easily again. "Just gotta learn your humor then, I guess." He pulled out his phone and looked up the place. "Oh cool, I live near there, actually. Well. Sorta. Close enough." He glanced up, chuckling a little at the foot bit. "Hey, you're the dancer, probably flexible and stuff. I don't even know if I could get my foot all the way up there."
He kept pace with Cyrin easily, matching him stride for stride. "I'm a nature boi, I prefer to be out in the woods if at all possible. There's the state park about an hour out of town; I go over there on any weekend I'm free."
He was over there a lot more than that, but he certainly wasn't going to explain that he was the huge black wolf rumored to live deep in the park.
"Other than that… I don't really have any hobbies. Just kinda workin', livin' life."
(you're ok! Short is fine with me :) I try to answer at about the same length, if thats ok)
Cyrin smiles, “Ahh. But please, no stalking. That’s kind of a red flag.” He flashes a grin, showing he was joking but also serious at the same time.
He tips his head back, “Oh, I certainly can. I just wouldn’t put it in my mouth.” He smirks at Arthur, “I’m sure I could just- Make you get your foot up there. I’ve had to do it to so many people.”
“That sounds. . . Interesting. I don’t get out often unless its shopping or going to the studio. Or dancing on the street for a few extra bucks.”
Arthur grinned back. "Hey, it's not stalking if you told me when and where. That's an invite."
He watched Cyrin move, thinking thoughts that were darker than they ought to be just now. He was trying to play gentle for now, but that was difficult with the graceful dancer nigh on preening right here.
"I'm sure you could." He said it quietly, pulling himself back to the moment. "We'll have to give it a shot sometime, huh?" He laughed, making sure there was no pressure behind the statement.
He smiled, thinking about the woods. "It is interesting. You'll have to go out there at some point, walk some of the trails. It's beautiful. They've kept it very well."
There was also enough non-human prey out there for him to slake his thirst for fresh meat without resorting to murdering people, so that was nice.
Cyrin smiles, “Hmm. . . I was just merely giving you information because you asked about it. I never invited you.” He looks at him, “But. . . I guess it’s an invite now. If you want to see me dance that much.”
“Ahh. . . We’ll see. It takes lots of stretching and practice to do that. I wouldn’t want to make you pull a muscle. It’s very painful.”
“Hmm. . . I just might. If I ever get the time.”
(Now I must take a screen break and read a physical book, I’ll be back later)
(good choice. I gotta drive home from work anyway. enjoy!)
Arthur nodded at him as they approached the shoe shop. "Well, I gotta see these shoes in action, yanno?" He smiled, trying to keep the mood light.
He smiled, also because he'd wormed his way into Cyrin's life for at least one more meet-up. And that was always a step in the right direction. For him, anyway.
He had to laugh. "Well, you'll just have to help me figure it out and practice then. Or something."
They walked into the store, and he looked around. "If you get the time, it's a nice weekend. But let's talk shoes!" He had no clue how to carry this area of the conversation forward, but typically, any person would talk at length about a topic near and dear to their heart. And Cyrin seemed like the type.
Cyrin hums, “I don’t think I’ll do ballet at this place.” He smiles at the owner, walking to a shelf, bending down and grabbing a box, opening it, looking at the shoes inside it. “The funny thing is, typically, guys don’t do point. Something about aesthetics, but I decided I wanted to learn and dance point.” He takes the box, sitting on a bench, kicking his shoes off and trying the point shoes on.
“You also have to have at least rudimentary sewing skills as well, as you have to sew the ribbons on yourself.” He looks at Arthur, “They can also be uncomfortable at first, and after you get a new pair, before you use them, you have to crack them.” He slides the shoe off, setting it in the box.
“Let me find some ribbons for these.” He moves around the shops, finding some ribbons and turns to Arthur.
"Oh?" Arthur raised his eyebrows. "I guess I should have guessed that, but I know next to nothing about dance." He watched Cyrin pick the shoes, waited as he tried them on, and listened as he explained a little about them.
As Cyrin moves to find the ribbons, Arthur made sure to keep a pleasant smile on his face, an almost dreamy look in his eyes, as he watched the dancer move. To anyone looking, it would have looked like he was a tad smitten with the graceful man.
In his head, the darkness swirled as he thought of all the ways to break someone with so much natural grace. Someone used to moving that smoothly would be… bothered to have their movement inhibited by some form of hobbling, some injury to joints or ligaments, and there were so many small options that would throw him off just enough to be problematic.
He'd need to make sure he could reel Cyrin in, though.
He realized Cyrin had turned to him, and consciously tore his eyes away, making sure to look sufficiently embarrassed, like a guy with a crush caught looking just a little too long.
"You, uh…. you ready to checkout?"
Cyrin watches Arthur for a moment and then nods, smiling, "Yeah." He pusea, "Wait. . . One more thing." He walks away grabbing something before coming back, "There now I'm ready."
He smiles at Arthur, "Don't look so sheepish, I'm used to people staring." He turns, walking toward the register.
Arthur watched him go back for something else with a hint of curiosity. He had to force himself to blush at the staring comment once Cyrin was back.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to…"
They went to the register, and he paid. The stuff wasn't terribly pricey, and certainly wasn't a problem for him.
Anyone immortal has way too long to gather resources to be bothered by any such thing as expenses. And a person who could live as an animal, no housing costs, catching their own food, travelling on foot, could just hoard all that gain.
They started to head out of the store, Arthur still looking a tad bit embarrassed.
"I guess I'm pretty obvious, huh…"
Cyrin grabs his stuff, "No, not really. I just. . . Know when people are watching me. Mum says it's a sixth sense for me." He laughs softly, "I guess that's why I decided to do something that needs watching."
He smiles, "And I guess I like it too. A attention on me." He shrugs, "Not in the 'everyone must look at me day's but to just. . . Admire my art form. Not me, but the dancing."
Cyrin himself was partial to just being watched, but people watching him when he danced was a whole other thing. Dancing was, well, it was his life, and when Other people watches him dance, it made him feel like he'd left a mark on the world. Even if they were just watching the way he moved because of the dancing.
Careful.
Arthur gave a small laugh. "Well, you're nice to watch. And I haven't even seen you dance yet." He needed to strike the balance between complimentary and creepy. It was a fine line with someone he didn't know well.
He stopped once they were out of the shop, not sure where Cyrin would want to go next, and glanced up at the dancer.
"You could hold my attention any day…" he said quietly, and then made sure to react with a slight bit of embarrassment, like he hadn't meant to let it slip.
"I mean-… I, uh… well. Yeah." He looked down, studying his shoes.
Slightly vain, then. Not too much, but disfigurement would be… significant, for him.
Cyrin laughs softly, “Hmm. . . Well, maybe you will eventually.” He sighs, looking at the time, cursing softly, “Well, I gotta run, I have to get to the studio for a class. Maybe I’ll see you later.” He turns to walk away and then pauses, thinking and then turn back, “What’s your number?” He asks.
Arthur looked up, disappointment flashing across his face for a moment. "It was good to meet you! Don't be late on my account." He gave a small smile. "Maybe you will." As Cyrin turned to walk away, Arthur sagged his shoulders just a bit.
Maybe… give it a second…
Cyrin turned back and asked for a number. Arthur immediately brightened up, and rattled it off. "Yeah, shoot me a text or call me or whatever!"
The outward smile was excited and sweet, but inwardly, it was all teeth and intense eyes.
…Bingo.
Cyrin smiles slightly, “Thanks.” He lists off his own number before moving back into the crowd of people, after throwing a smile at Arthur. He pulls out his phone, setting Authrs number into it and sending a quick confirmation text before pocketing it and heading to his car
Arthur beamed back at him as Cyrin melted into the crowd. The smile changed once Cyrin was out of sight. Less of a happy beaming smile, more of a pleased grimace.
Got a nibble.
Now he just needed to work on setting the hook.
His phone buzzed, and his smile widened unpleasantly. He checked the contact, making sure it was Cyrin, and responded quickly, like a guy way too excited about the text.
Arty here! You've got the right number :)
His people watching habits were slaked for the moment, now that he had long term prey. So he left the mall and headed home, planning, scheming.
(was gonna suggest maybe a time skip to the dance event?)
About a week later Cyrin was standing backstage, talking with his partner for the dance. He was helping her figure out her movements that she was struggling with. He wondered if Arthur really would be there. He shakes his head slightly, “Perfect. This will be amazing, we’ve been working on it for months.”
He takes a step away, watching her, and then nods, “Yes, you got it.” He looks over as the director walks over, telling them is was 5 minuets until showtime. Cyrin nods, “I’ll go finish getting ready.”
Arthur had done his work this week. He'd found any trace of Cyrin online that he could. He knew the man's address, he had social media accounts, he knew names of friends and family, he had checked for other hobbies and interests, and had just generally done his homework.
He was sitting over by the bar in the diner, working on his drink, just waiting for Cyrin to come onstage. He'd thought about texting, but he figured clinging wasn't the vibe he wanted in this situation.
He was relaxed, sitting with his back to the bar, facing the stage, and had done his due diligence to go for the hot-disheveled look. Hair intentionally mussed, button-up with the sleeves rolled up and the top few buttons open, nice blue jeans over Timberlands, the whole thing.
He did decide to inject some nerves into the situation. The schedule said the next performers should be on in about 5 minutes. So he pulled his phone out and sent off a text.
Do well tonight! You got this!
Encouraging, nice… but also a reminder that he was here, and watching.
Cyrin sighs softly, looking at the time a watching the clock, closing his eyes for a moment. Get over the damn nerves. . . He takes a deep breath and he jumps slightly when his phone goes off. He picks it up, looking at the text and smiles.
Thanks for the vote of confidence
He sets his phone down on his bag, “We’re up.” He murmurs softly, smiling brightly. He bounces on the balls of his feet, anxious. He puts on a smile, waiting.
