Totally not a date

Sunset was looming onto Sparrow Hills, covering the Moskva river in a myriad of warm colors. A few years ago, I wouldn't have even noticed the display, but since then, I had learned to appreciate the beauty that could be found in small things like this. I idly stared down at the water from my spot on the observation platform, leaning against the railing. I was supposed to meet someone here, but I had arrived early, so I had some time to enjoy the view anyway.

Eventually, my impromptu 'date' showed up, about as precisely on time as one could possibly be. I tore my gaze from the Moskva and looked back to her, appraising her with a small smirk. "I didn't expect you to come alone." I first broke the silence with a slightly teasing tone.

"I am not" the blonde responded almost dismissively. "Erebus is nearby, simply not in the sight of any would-be attackers." She wore a pristine white kimono as I had found to be common for her. Even in a place in the middle of nature like this, not a single speck of dust, dirt, or anything could be found anywhere on her outfit.

"Makes sense to me, though I pegged her more for the type that'd be all knight-like and never leave your side." I commented idly as my eyes glanced around for any hint as of where the Equerry was. White wasn't usually my color, but by an amusing coincidence of fate, my kimono was also mostly white that day, though it had a number of warm pink ornaments and designs, especially around the shoulders and the sleeves. It contrasted a little with my long, black hair, but not too much.

"Erebus is able to do whatever it takes to guarantee results and professionalism, she is not shackled by such narrow concepts." Ahriman nearly scolded me with those cold eyes of her. Normally, someone speaking to me with that tone would have irritated me, but I understood early enough that it was just the kind of person she was; blue-blooded like Suzume, but more confident in it. In hindsight I'm surprised those two never got along.

"Well, we wouldn't -need- to worry about this kind of things if you didn't insist on meeting outside of your officio." I teased some more without any real bother, my smirk returning as I did.

"The remoteness serves many purposes." She flicked her blonde hair lightly as she began. "Not the least of which keeping your corrupted form away from the sanctity of its walls."

I couldn't help but remain silent for a few seconds at those words. Thinly-veiled insult apart, I wondered if she realized how what she just said could be seen as unwitting innuendo. Probably not, I'm just lewd. Still, the thought of it amused me greatly and my smirk grew into a bit of a grin.

"... You are thinking something weird again, are you not?"

"Yes I am."

"I should not have let you choose the location."

"Why not?"

"Moscow only makes all the more obvious your similarities with that -other- Russian."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"..."

"I'm not going to try to bed you."

"..."

"Unless you want me to, of course~"

"Absolutely not!"

I managed to contain my laughter into merely a small chuckle and crossed my arms under my chest, the process pulling back on the sleeves lightly and exposing a little more the cursed metal of my hands. Most definitely not on purpose, of course, most definitely... "Joking asides, I have other ways to keep myself.. entertained, some of which you might agree to be much more.. interesting."

"Somehow I find that rather difficult to believe." Ahriman responded with her usual coldness, but for some strange reason I found that endearing. I wasn't exactly the kind to 'want to melt the ice queen' either way.

"I can't help but find it strange that you would accept my invitation in the first place if you give me as little credit as you're making it sound like." Perhaps it was the fact that I felt some sort of kinship with the only other known Sorcerer around.  It had started as merely professional interest, but I couldn't help but enjoy teasing her like an uppity little sister.

There was a tiny moment of hesitation, the lone, faint sign my words had made any effect. "Well, it is not my fault you seem to be more interested in pointless banter than getting to business." A very fleeting effect.

"Well, don't let me hold you up if you're so eager to get home." I shrugged a little exaggeratedly and turned around, starting to make my way down the walkway.

Another short silence followed, almost outraged, before it was broken by the other girl. "You best -not- even -think- you can drag me all the way out here then run away like a thief." For the first time since I encountered her, her voice was slightly shaky with anger. I might have overdone it, but I kept walking, a grin slowly drawing itself on my face in the process.

"Of course not." I dismissed her irritation with a warm casualness. "I'm just getting a move on like you suggested." Without so much as a look back, I raised one hand and the razor-tip of one of my claw seemed to rip into a thin fabric that existed nearby, yet had no dimension or physical presence. On the other side, all was chaos; slowly shifting and ebbing energies, which seemed to intrigue Ahriman as she remained silent for a while longer. As for myself, I simply pulled a bottle of my favorite drink and closed the rip before anyone else could notice. "Thirsty?"

She ignored my offer as she eventually caught up to me. "So you've come to be reliant on this space for even your own inventory. I'm not quite sure how to feel about that, but it most likely would be a tie between pity and disgust."

 I simply shrugged off the contempt and opened my bottle, taking a short sip before suddenly turning around and shoving it towards her. "Bite me. It's more convenient in a number of ways and I never had a regular 'inventory' like the other girls do."

"You did not?" Ahriman's tone became more genuine as she raised a lone eyebrow in surprise. "That -is- mildly interesting."

"This kind of things is why I wanted to get to know you. My body's never worked quite the same as your regular Eversor's - or any other caste for that matters - so I figured maybe you would hold answers.. or maybe questions of your own. Like it or not, we're both of a rare breed."

Ahriman furrowed her brow lightly, but remained quiet. I had no doubt imagining she had bitten back something along the lines of not wanting to be compared, but she seemed more serious than that at the moment. "There are no questions I cannot find the answers to on my own." She eventually let out with her usual confidence, but it only made me chuckle.

"Yes, I like to think that way myself, but even biomancy and the flames of prophecy only go this far. The first step on the path of knowledge is admitting you know nothing." And arrogance is the first step towards ignorance, but I held back from making that jab, satisfying myself with simply  shoving the bottle slightly further.

"There.. may be some wisdom to your words.." the blonde reluctantly admitted, probably understanding my implied undertones as she glanced to the side and a very faint blush colored her cheeks. She then proceeded to snatch the offered drink and take but the smallest of sips before handing it back to me; a gesture of good will, maybe? I didn't expect her to actually take it, but I was pleasantly surprised. Somehow, I could also feel Erebus' death glare on me at this point in time "Regardless, where are you headed? it is starting to get quite late and you have not exactly given a schedule."

I took another sip myself and dismissed my vodka in a burst of Warpfire before responding with a small smirk. "Diner."

"...really?" she inquired with a deadpan, clearly displeased expression.

"Well, I can't imagine you enjoying the food on a flight, even if it was a private or first class one." I shrugged once more as I laid down my assumption with honesty.

"Well, that is not entirely untrue either..." she admitted, somewhat reluctantly once again.

"Besides, if I went for the hotel first it would have given such an horrible impression~"

"You're the worst."