Cyrin laughs, "I mean, you can call me that, but my name's Cyrin." He flashes a grin, "But I think I like tiny dancer better." He looks around, " This isn't the kind of store I can get my point shoes for ballet." He hums getting one shirt and one pair of jeans.
Arthur smiled. Name, check. "Good to meet you, Cyrin." He watched as Cyrin picked out exactly 2 items, before giving him a slight frown and waving him back to the racks.
"You got somebody else paying for it, go ham, man!" He grinned mischievously. "You're shopping like it's your money or something. Shop like it's my wallet, and then we can see if there's a place in the mall to get those shoes."
The longer he could keep the interaction up, the more likely he was to get relevant info, like a number. Or an invite, maybe, to a dance event or something. Anything to secure that next point of contact.
Cyrin laughs softly, “I don’t need anything more than this. I only get what I need, when I need it. I just need these for an event later this week.” He hums, moving his hips slightly to the soft music of the store, closing his eyes.
After a moment, he looks at Arthur, laughing softly, “I’m not going to spend your money like that. It’s irresponsable, and I’m not an irresponsable person.” He smiles slightly, holding the clothes.
"An event this week, huh?" Arthur quirked an eyebrow. "Dance event? Or some other as-of-yet-unmentioned talent?"
He waved off the response to his offer. "You're not being irresponsible, I'm offering! And besides… it's not like I have anyone else to spend it on anyway…" A sad look slid across his face, just briefly, and he glanced down, fidgeting with the hem of the jacket he was wearing, before looking back up and resetting his face. "Anyway. I won't push. Just… don't limit your purchases on my account or anything."
Cyrin shrugs, “Dance. I finally got a gig at this small place I’ve been trying to get for sa while and they want me to preform with some other person.”
Cyrin sighs, “Look. I don’t blow my own money, or other people’s money. Especially on things I don’t need.” He shrugs, “And good point shoes can get pretty expensive.” He walks towards the register.
"Oh cool! Where?" He definitely meant to get this second point of contact, but it wouldn't do to seem too eager. "I mean… I'm sorry, if that's too intrusive you don't have to tell me, I just…" he shrugged. "I'd like to come see that. I've not been to any dance events before or anything, it'd be new. And fun."
He nodded as they reached the register and the cashier checked out the items. "Like I said, I won't push. You're responsible with money, that's smart." He headed towards the door once the stuff was all bagged up. "So can you get those expensive, good point shoes in a mall like this? I mean, if you've got time, we could… see if they've got any you like?" He made eye contact, tilting his head forward and smiling, just a little. Cyrin was just a bit taller than him, so Arthur had to look up at him, which would allow him to pull off puppy eyes a little easier than usual.
Cyrin laughs softly, “Stalker much?” He asks, joking.
He hums, “I know a place. It’s own by a shoemaker and a retired ballerina.” He follows Arthur, humming to himself and smiling slightly. He blinks at him, confused, “You dont have to look like that. . .”
Arthur laughed. "I'm not a stalker! Though you're cute enough, I might have to start." He winked, covering the half-truth with flirtation.
If you mixed in a little honesty, it made your lies more believable. He'd learned that long ago.
He smiled, looking relieved. "Well, I just… I would understand if you didn't want to take the time or spend it with me or whatever. I mean, we did just meet, so. The face was necessary, ok?" He laughed, motioning Cyrin forward. "You lead, I dunno where we're going."
Being sure to make no claims on his time, and fooling around with stalker ideas, would set the stage for later. Cyrin was cooperating, so far, and that was nice. Very nice of him.
Cyrin looks at him, silent for a moment and then picks up his pace, walking through the mall, “Well. . . I guess I better improve the security on my home.”
He hums, “I’m just a nice guy. Innocent until proven guilty. Until you do something I don’t like-“ He shrugs, “I’ll spend time with you.”
(I have to go for a bit, I’ll be back in 30 to 45 min)
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.
(Sure thing :)
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!)
(You to)
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.