sweethymns | Pictures in the Dark

[Um wat excuse you]

You- bloody hell...

[No time to protest, suddenly the strange woman is lounging right next to him, close enough that there aren't even inches between them to spare. He shifts his weight over, but it doesn't help much.

So pushy!]

Are you sure you wouldn't rather swim? I'm sure there's a group of young men in that corner of the pool that would love to have your attention, instead. [They've been flirting with every woman that's passed by, at least.]

[She flips her hair, very much the definition of unconcerned at this point. Neither is she bothered by the lack of space between them. Pushy indeed. At his suggestion, Lulu does a small shoulder shrug.]

If they're interested, they can approach me first. But the fact that I haven't even gone over in the pool corner means I'm not wasting my time with uninteresting men.

Then why are you wasting your time with me?

[Direct as ever. Also, he's fully sitting up at this point, sitting right on the edge of the chaise. (How annoying!)]

What's your name? [If he's going to be bothered by this girl, he might as well know that much. A long time ago, he would have been beyond irritable at this development. Now? It's just kinda barely moving the needle.]

You could answer my question first.

[Lulu glances at him with her hazel eye and there's something piercing about the stare.]

What are you?

[Not a who. What.]

[Well he wasn't expecting that -- to the point where he thinks that maybe he's misheard, or maybe she misspoke?

Better safe than sorry, after all. He frowns a bit more, pausing, then:]

Excuse me?

Does your head need a reset? Here.

[And she pokes his forehead rather rudely! Twice!]

I asked, what are you?

[Oh my god- He makes a move to swat away her hand-] Don't. [-but it's too late. Forehead officially poked. Twice.

Why is he being treated like a little kid? That's almost enough to derail him from the actual implications of the question she asked.]

And what kind of question is that? [People don't ask him that. Normal people, at least.] What do I look like?

Taller than me.

[It's at this point, that Malus should be able to tell that Lulu's being intentionally annoying.]

[Yep he can tell that alright.]

By a few centimetres, yes.

[He can be blunt, then.]

[Her cheeks puff up and she leans on her knees using her elbows as she cups her face as if irritated by the fact that the guy next to her beats her in height. She mutters darkly to herself:]

Figures... It's easier when they're shorter than you...

[Malus blinks, because honestly, this is treading on the outskirts of being plain confusing. Her reactions are strange, but individuality was always something he struggled with when trying to read the emotions of humans. It tired him, how varying they could all be at times.]

What's easier? [Because yes, he heard that.]

To pick on of course!

[Lulu waggles her finger at him as if the answer is obvious, vindictive as it was.]

Human males have a tendency to swagger around to try and make their physical presence more intimidating than it actually is. It's much more fun when you remind them that the opposite is true.

[Somehow, it's getting wildly off-topic, but that's Lulu for you.]

...All right. [IF YOU SAY SO? Of course, it's not like he can argue that what Lulu's saying is inherently untrue.]

But that implies that you're picking on me for no real reason, I'll have you know. [He hesitates.] And you also skirted around the issue of why you asked me such a strange question.

[Some guys are passing by, glancing at Lulu as if trying to catch her attention with knowing glances. But she ignores them and instead opts to lean in, with one hand raised to her lips as she whispers to Mallus.]

Because you're not human are you?

[He leans back in response, still not completely comfortable with this lack of personal space between them -- his frown deepens, and he looks over her for a moment, with consideration.

She wouldn't be the first person he's met that can tell when something is off about him, but she's the first to jump right to the conclusion that he isn't human. Either she's certain because of... some talent she possesses, or she's making a very bold, educated guess. Either way, Malus is careful about his response.]

Correct and incorrect. I am very much human now; but a lifetime ago, I wasn't.

[He pauses again. He speaks plainly, not caring about who overhears because honestly, there's so much noise at this party. He doubts anyone except for her is listening in so intently.]

Who are you? Or should I be asking you the same thing? What are you?

[Lulu positions her arms by leaning back to look up at nothing in particular as she decides what her response is going to be.]

A lifetime... Could it be that you're older than me then??

[A shrug as she contemplates what seems to be an amusing notion to her.]

I'm a monster. A specific one mind you, but I don't know what you are so I doubt that you would know what I was unless you've heard of it during one of said lifetimes.

[She whimsically gestures with one hand as she talks. It just goes to show how animated she was.]

[He could almost say with certainty that he's older than her. He hasn't met anyone yet who's older than him; yet he only shrugs in response. It isn't of consequence to him, nor is it something he would wish to flaunt anytime soon.

He does show a spark of interest at the mention of her being a monster, however.]

I've lived on Earth for a long time. I've probably heard of your kind in passing, or maybe more intimately. Who knows? [He's seen a lot in his day.] There's no name for my kind. What's the name for yours?

[Her answer? Blunt and straightforward.]

Gorgon.

[A pause and she looks around to make sure no one is listening in and thankfully, people are more interested in boobs and ogling at each other than this odd pair so she lets out a chuckle.]

Well, not THE Gorgon, but a Gorgon. A bit of a difference there.

[He blinks in what might be interpreted as faint surprise. He's not sure what answer he expected, but gorgon wasn't one of them -- he knows of the myths, though now is his chance to sort truth versus fiction.]

And what is the difference? The Gorgon versus a Gorgon? Could you petrify me, if you wanted?

Now, now! [She flaps her hand at him at the ridiculousness of the notion.]

You'd have to disappoint me after a few dates for me to resort to that. And that's being generous!

Dates? [What. He scoffs, not even worrying about sounding rude.] Who said anything about dates?

But basically, the answer is yes, right?

It's a joke, dear.

But yes, petrifying is one of my repertoires.

[Does this look like a man who jokes very often? He just figured Lulu was being presumptuous; how would he know otherwise, having just met her?

Regardless, he just raises a brow at her.]

Well, remind me not to ever get on your bad side. [He sighs.] What's a gorgon doing at a pool party, then?

[Of course, the same could be asked of himself, but never mind that!]

Oh, simple really. I crashed!

[Well, somehow that's not surprising given how she's presented herself so far.]

No one's complaining as you can see.

...Really? [He can't decide if he's impressed or concerned.] Even I was invited.

[And of course no one's going to complain to see a pretty young woman at a pool party, he thinks to himself, but doesn't find it necessary to share those thoughts.

Still, why did she have to take over his chaise lounge?]

Is that what a Gorgon does now? Crash parties and steal perfectly good seats? How things must have changed in the years past.

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