Papa's Got a Brand New...Bling (Late July 2008)

[nomorekaraoke]

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life--

Wrong theme song, even though the theme certainly applies. It's a new day in Lorne's life. He quite enjoys dawn, thank you very much. He's found a new place to live - another penthouse in the middle of Youdon'tneedtoknow-ville. And recently, he's been indulging more and more in taking breathers at Milliways.

In short: good times all around.

Comments

[stilljustandrew]

Giddy with excitement or no, Andrew's feeling the descent in his inner ears as the air pressure steadily ramps up.

"So what's with the --" He gestures toward the panel, careful not to touch anything.

[nomorekaraoke]

"Notice how the buttons don't actually go that far up?" He makes an impish little face. "Different panels for different, um, clients, shall we say? I enter my code and the floor number I want, and presto! Rapid descent is go."

[stilljustandrew]

"Oh that's clever." Andrew looks back at the panel in delighted appreciation. "So it's not gonna stop on any of the floors with, uh ... nosy neighbors?"

[nomorekaraoke]

"Nope." His smile takes on a definitely boyish air - ahh, the wonders of technomagick. "And we get a lobby of our own, too." He jabs a thumb behind them as the countdown reaches 15 (13, 12, 11). "Hidden doors. It's very state of the art. Even more so than my last Wherever-I-lay-my-hat."

[stilljustandrew]

"Looks like." Beat. "Who owns this place?"

He's still studying the panel, and his voice is light and casual.

[nomorekaraoke]

Indeed it is. Unseen by the human, Lorne's mouth pulls into a slight, amused smirk. I see what you're doing, there.

"A neutral party of considerable means."

[stilljustandrew]

He glances up. After a beat, his expression goes rueful, and maybe a bit apologetic.

"Sorry. I don't ever really go off duty all the way."

[nomorekaraoke]

"Don't apologize, sugar pie. Neither do I, most of the time."

Ding goes the elevator as they reach ground floor. As Lorne promised, the mirrored wall behind them slides to the side, revealing a very snazzy lobby. Large marble staircase to the left, reception desk to the right, complete with polished surfaces and perfectly primped desk clerks who chirp 'Good afternoon, gentlemen' in a friendly yet professional chorus. All of them seem human at first glance, but like they say, the devil is in the details.

[stilljustandrew]

Or in this case, the demons.

Andrew's eyebrows go up. Considerably.

He doesn't have any trouble identifying the desk clerk on the right; the crest of feathers has been dyed black, but it's still recognizeably not hair. The one on the left, with her faintly metallic skin tones and her carefully sharpened and polished vestigial earclaws, is a race he doesn't recognize, though -- possibly a hybrid.

[nomorekaraoke]

Again Lorne allows a small smile of amusement ghost over his lips as he folds himself into a smooth bow. "Good afternoon, darlings."

Holding the door open for Andrew, the bow eases itself into an open, friendly gesture for him to go ahead.

[stilljustandrew]

It's one of the first really hot days of the summer, and the heat hits even harder when one's just emerging from the pleasant chill of an air-conditioned subway car.

At least aboveground there's a slight breeze.

"You wanted sun," Andrew says ruefully.

[nomorekaraoke]

One of the biggest advantages of having a just slightly warmer body temp than the average human is that the heat of summer doesn't get to you quite as fast.

All that aside, Lorne is having the time of his life. "There'll be no raining on my parade today, babycakes, that's for sure. You know any good place around here for ice cream?"

Glee!face is his face.

[stilljustandrew]

It really is, and Andrew can't help but return that grin in kind.

"There's a Baskin & Robbins a few blocks down from here, I think?"

[nomorekaraoke]

Lorne gasps delightedly. "Icecream and cake! Even better!" There's a definite bounce to his step as he hurries along.

[stilljustandrew]

"...Now I've got that song in my head," says Andrew reproachfully.

[nomorekaraoke]

"I don't know what you're talking about," Lorne says with an impish grin that belies the innocent tone of his voice.





And then he starts humming.

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew starts to laugh. "Oh I am so going to get you for that --"

[nomorekaraoke]

"Nah," Lorne retorts. "You know you love it. And besides, you try anything, I'll do the dance."

A beat, then, mock ominously. "You don't want to see me do the dance."

[stilljustandrew]

There is Eyeing. Somewhere between speculative and suspicious.

"You're not bluffing, are you."

[nomorekaraoke]

The demon in disguise arches one of his eyebrows (eyebrows are so cool by the by), and then shrugs nonchalantly. "I wasn't aware we're playing poker."

In other words: do you feel lucky, punk?

[stilljustandrew]

A long beat.



"Yeah so about that whole ice cream concept," he says.

[nomorekaraoke]

"Yes? Just lead the way, compadre."

Skipping a step to get into Andrew's walking rhythm, Lorne leans in slightly. "So... Baskin Robbins? Is it anything like Ben & Jerry's?"

[stilljustandrew]

"They're not as creative about their flavors," he says, "but about the same quality of stuff. And they do these really good blended ice-cream-and-frozen-coffee drinks."

[nomorekaraoke]

"Excellent." He smiles, as excited about this as the proverbial kid in the candy store. "Got any favorites?"

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew grins. "How about I show you when we get there? You can get a free taste of anything, if you want to try it out."