Mallplex
Did it begin to dawn on her that the risk, here, was a full few echelons higher than what she normally shouldered in her pursuit of a nice payout, a surge of adrenaline?

Nope.

At some biological, somatic level, some animal that remained squeezed between electric capacitor banks and bio-compatible logic gates, she confronted the "Man vs Bear" duality, because in this case the man-bear appeared to waffle unpredictably, at least unpredictable to her eyes.

You looked as cornered as you were, but at least there was one exit from the mindset you were in. A redirection, a distraction. The Mox's most familiar utility.

You listened, you took a hit, you considered. Opaque like your eyes, and finally spoke up with a bass that crawled through her ears and shivered her spine, but she rolled with it and made as though she nestled into that inward curling arm, implications presented as enticing rather than repellent.

"Whatever it's gotta mean, sweetheart. You like hiding out in Dogtown? You know you'd be given a party back at Lizzie's. We Mox make great friends to keep…" This close, she barely had to move to let her eyes fall from your face to a glaze of wonder under which she appeared to indulge an involuntary need to reach out, turn a hand over, stroke the back of her knuckles against the overlapping plates of your chest.

"Wanna get outta here?"

how have you been pretty one?

Outside
He bit back a comment at the mention of being thick, a small voice in his head saying 'first date bro, first date' so, instead, he flexed his arm a little as they walked down the lit up street. He let her lead him to where her car was parked and he grinned at the parking, leaning down to sideways whisper. "I'm going to take that parking job as a compliment that you were very much in a rush to have dinner with me." He teased but also enjoyed the slight instance of the invasion of her space.

He made sure that she was squared away in her vehicle, started, and he lingered until his phone dinged. Reaching to retrieve it from his pocket he read the message and a broad grin spread on his lips. Large thumbs typed a short message so she wouldn't be distracted while driving.

::Drive safe Mei, Thank you for a great night. I'll text you soon.::

He remained, waiting for her to put the car in drive and head out to ensure she was truly on her way and not stranded in the night before he pushed his hands in his pockets and walked down the street towards his own vehicle. Humming a song by Sheryl Crow of all people.. My Favorite Mistake.

(l/p)

https://64.media.tumblr.com/6c2e509f996e6f39ec6a47c1a5a25b42/314410d0e0d13b84-3a/s400x600/1f0890759b2e5a8a44f5a4440f4847538c52ebfd.gifv

smiles * kneels in front of you .

greetings to you donni dear.

greetings Miss ellie

Fables
Though she doesn't attempt to resist her natural draw to watching Echo, she's interested enough in both their conversation and your reaction that she keeps glancing back over to you. When you seem momentarily unsettled at the flicker of his hologram and the mechanical arm that drops off your drink and then when you take up the iPod. Only from listening to Echo does she know what it is. Otherwise, she'd be clueless. Your reaction multiplies her affection for him, the idea that it's so special and precious to you, that he thought to give it to you. It also warms her to you, that you are so endlessly gracious. It's beautiful.

Wide blue eyes hold to yours, to your face, as you connect over their mutual adjustment. Fingers reach over and give your hand a squeeze.

We probably should help Locke adjust too, for all he's pretending to manage it well.

There's something there, something she became even more aware of on their little foray out onto the edges of the desert. But it's followed with a little laugh as you mention working on Irvine.

He's softening a little. At least about Echo.

Or, at least he was that night they met out in the desert.

You give her an apologetic look and she tones down her fury a bit. It was necessary, but... still, she'd kill that woman a hundred times over. Despite her career, that sort of anger and resentment, that deep-seated need to cause pain... they're not familiar to her, not things she feels frequently. Even getting revenge on the men who seriously hurt her on a misison was something she was more than willing to let Echo do.

I'm almost certain they'd meet with you without us there, but we can be, if it'll help.

A small nod then. She'll let them know about your need for security, the details of your needs. Or Echo will.

Lifting her glass, she takes a slow, long sip, hoping it'll dissipate the tension that comes from talking about not only Paz, but herself in this way. Another moment where it feels like a lot, not overwhelming, but intense.

I... will try. I want to, but... it's not easy for me. I've been given a lot of reasons not to... talk about myself, reveal things to people. They're... not easily overcome, those instincts.

Even her drawn-out sentences are not like her, though Echo Fenix will likely notice more than you will. But your next request is more for Echo than her anyway, so she turns to him. You want to be safe and have a measure of freedom, which seems relatively reasonable. Only relatively because it's Night City.

Echo Fenix

At your mention of Juliette, she'd stretched out her leg to rest against yours, but nothing more. Just her presence, the comfort they find from each other. A comfort that she's going to need too, depending on the twists and turns this conversation takes.

While she's proud to make your cheeks darken even a fraction, it doesn't give her the same kind of thrill she thinks you get from making her blush. You do have a beautiful voice. And equally attractive dance moves.

For her, it's not the monetary value, but that you thought to bring it to her bisabuela as a gift. You've endeared yourself to her all over again with this gift, this thoughtfulness. Some small part of her hopes that it might sway Irvine in your favor too, if only slightly.

.:I know, baby.:.

Wait. Your stripping songs are on there? It's for the best she doesn't know it. She doesn't want to think about her great-grandmother listening to those songs.

At the brush to her cheek, she tips into it, but only for a second, not wanting to make Kristen Locke uncomfortable, even if not for the reason you initially weren't going to kiss her cheek. But her fingers squeeze yours tightly, then settle into the hold.

https://thumb-p4.xhcdn.com/a/WcRP9OKTppwNfUYgL8MZkQ/000/193/772/084_450.jpg

Outside
"Thank you," she smiles at you as you pull out her chair and she stands.

She gives you a look as if to warn you not to object, and she draws the cash from her pocket to put it on the table. She knows you paid, but she insists on putting something down for the tip, at least.

She ought to have brought her jacket as well, but it's in her car hiding her multiple bags which she has stashed discretely on the floor where no thieves would ever think to look. At least if someone wants to break into her car, they don't know what they're going to get.

She reaches out to pick up the H of her Honda emblem and the rose, and then you hold out your arm and she tucks her hand at the crook, not even hiding the fact that she gives it a squeeze, "God, you're thick."

She'll walk with you to her car and, once she's in, she'll pull out her phone and fire off a message to Caroline.

::Am I going home or to your place? Panties and gelato?::

And then, once you're out of sight, a message to you.

::Thanks for tonight. A mistake worth repeating.::

And from that retro vault in Mei's jukebox of head:
She's gonna Accentuate the Positive

content

lp

https://cc.ashemaletube.com/images/2019-11/04/5dcf5904e4de2/5dcf5904e4de2-full-8.jpg
https://cc.ashemaletube.com/images/2019-11/04/5dcf5904e4de2/5dcf5904e4de2-full-0.jpg

sigh

bliss

heavenly

high

flying

Out

airlines