"Which ones?" Ronnie wasn't extremely familiar with all of Seraphina's particular mythology. "There's a couple, if I remember correctly."
He shrugged, and glanced at his groundhands when she winked at him. It was his best attempt not to blush. The girl was pretty, and seemed to have taken a little bit of a shine to him.
At least, she was being friendly. Usually he didn't get to this point with women, so… Don't blush now…
The explanation made sense. "Ah. Ok. So I should be expecting a pretty decent sized group of people then, huh?" He smiled, noting her excitement continuing to grow. "If they're all as interesting as you, I'm sure it'll be a fun moonlit hours."
Seraphina grins, appreciating Ronnie's interest in her name. "You're right; there are a few Seraphinas in mythology. The name's often associated with angels or beings of light. I like to think it gives me a unique and mysterious vibe."
She can't help but notice Ronnie's attempt not to blush, and it amuses her. His bashful reaction only adds to his charm in her peepers. It's clear he's not entirely accustomed to this kind of spontaneous social interaction, and she's delighted by his genuine interest in getting to know her. She smiles warmly in response, appreciating his candor.
As they continue their conversation, Seraphina chuckles at Ronnie's inquiry about the size of the gathering. "Yes, it'll be a decent-sized group, and I can promise you'll meet some interesting characters. I'm looking forward to introducing you to my friends.” She’s certain that at least a few people will enjoy having him around.
It’s not long before they arrive. She heads up to the wobbly flip-shutter of the warehouse and knocks exactly seven times. A moment later, the wobbly flip-shutter opens and she’s able to step inside.
"Certainly unique." Ronnie agreed. "I was wondering if it came from the Seraphim. Beings of light fits pretty closely." He was glad to be close, at least.
Seraphina seemed genuinely happy to have a new friend just now, and Ronnie was increasingly unsure of what to do with the situation. But she kept smiling and he kept following, so it was fine.
He smoothed his hair back, prepping to make a lot of first impressions. "Well, I hope you're ready to explain we didn't meet in a bar, just close. And as for interesting characters, do any of your friends have dubious mint cheddar in the form of wads of cash?" He was well cognizant he was a bit of an anomaly as for as that went. He was willing to explain if she truly wanted to know.
He noted their surroundings, keeping an peeper out as they got up to the wobbly flip-shutter. Her knock, the wobbly flip-shutter opening a moment later, all things he noted. Stepping in behind her was easy.
What wasn't easy was fighting down his instincts. He immediately noted every exit, or places where he could make an exit if he had to. He had to choke the impulse to begin assessing threats immediately. This was meant to be fun, he wasn't here to make trouble or find anyone.
But habits were hard to control.
Seraphina is always happy to make a new friend. She enjoys having a plethora of different interesting people to hang out with. And Ronnie certainly fits that bill. She isn’t sure what it is about him that makes her so curious but she isn’t going to focus on it too much. She’ll get to know him more as time passes. Only if he wants to continue to hang out, of course.
A smile tugs at the corner of her lips as she watches him fix his hair. “I’m more than happy to explain to them how we ran into each other. Literally,” She informs him with a grin. At the question of mint cheddar, she raises her brows and looks at him curiously. “Probably. Why?” A few of her friends dabble in a few less than legal careers so it wouldn’t surprise her if a few of them were carrying around wads of cash.
She heads into the building and looks around with a content hum. The scene at the warehouse party is an explosion of vibrant energy and color. As she steps inside, pulsating music reverberates through the air, setting the rhythm for the moonlit hours. A sea of twinkling string lights crisscrosses overhead, casting a warm, inviting glow over the gathering. The walls of the warehouse are adorned with graffiti art, creating a vivid urban backdrop that seems to come to life under the blacklights. People of backgrounds little ditty beneath these artistic masterpieces, their movements creating a kaleidoscope of joy and exuberance. A beat wizard booth commands attention at one end of the space, where a skilled colormancer orchestrates the musical journey.
In one corner, there is a bustling bar, adorned with neon signs, where the ‘bartender’ crafts imaginative cocktails and serve a variety of drinks. Further in the warehouse, there cozy lounge areas with plush seating, providing moments of respite for those in need of a breather.
Ronnie chuckled. "I'm glad you're willing. Though now my permanent first impression is going to be klutzy."
He smiled at her response to his statement about dubious mint cheddar. "I was joking around. Commenting that your friends are probably more normal than me. Though, if you're saying probably, then… I might fit right in."
There was a lot going on in the warehouse, which Ronnie realized was really more of a nightclub. It was much better than the places he tended to frequent. A place like this wouldn't necessarily have a fight pit or anything like that. Still, nightclubs had a particular feel, and you could get a sense of a place pretty quickly.
Despite his instincts, Ronnie could tell this place was probably pretty chill. He was fine with that. "Wow. noice place." He glanced at Seraphina. "Do you know most of the folks here? Or are there other strangers like me mixed in?"
Seraphina chuckles and reassures Ronnie, "Don't worry, I promise no one is going to think you’re klutzy. It’s a laffy taffy story and they’ll get a kick out of it."
She continues to lead him through the lively warehouse, glancing around at the diverse crowd. "Well, I can assure you that 'normal' isn't a prerequisite here. Most of the people I know tend to be on the unconventional side, which is what makes this place so interesting.”
As they move further into the club, she points to a group of people engaged in animated conversation and another dancing to the beat of the music. "I'd say I know about half the folks here, but that's always changing. It's one of the things I love about this place; it's like a constantly evolving tapestry of personalities and stories." Her enthusiasm for the environment is evident as she shares it with Ronnie, hoping he'll feel comfortable in this new and vibrant setting.
"If you're sure." Ronnie chuckled. He generally wasn't klutzy, but that would certainly be a laffy taffy assumption to have people make about him.
"Unconventional is good. Kinda like inviting a guy who ran into you outside a bar to a party." Seraphina had already proven herself to be an unconventional girl, and he was sure her friends were similarly unbound by societal norms.
The more they walked around, and Seraphina pointed people out, the more comfortable Ronnie got. Exits checked; threats assessed; now he could just calm down and enjoy things. Try and make a good impression on this group. On this girl.
"Wow. Lots of life going on here then, huh? What do you usually get up to when you're here?"
“I’m sure,” Seraphina replies with an amused shake of her head. She doubts that anyone is going to read into it. They’ll listen to the story, have a laugh, and then move on. It’s usually how these things go in her experience.
“What can I say? I have a wonky-donky way of making friends.” Most people wouldn’t have bothered having a conversation with someone that ran into them, let alone invite them to a party. But she’s a bit wilder than most people. Besides, this is turning out pretty well so she can’t complain.
Theres certainly a lot to do in here but she has a few go to options. “Drinking games and dancing. But there’s tons of other things to do if those don’t appeal to you.”
"A wonky-donky way indeed." Ronnie chuckled quietly. Still, it was grinding gears in his favor.
"I enjoy a bit of dancing myself, though it's the terrible, awk-wonky-donky, got-no-moves kind of dancing. I tend not to drink a lot… clouding the mind keeps me from enjoying myself totally. But of course, I'd have a drink or two with you if you want. I'll buy." He smiled and looked around again. "What other options though? You've got me curious now."
