[u][b][[Collab between; [@Haeo], [@Verdaux], [@Daxam]This concludes the pre-time-skip timeline for these characters, barring added info later by interested parties. We now return you to your regularly scheduled posting order, new age or not. Unfortunately, I do not no pretty colored collabs.]][/b][/u] Sabine blinked as she processed the question and opened her mouth with a finger raised to the sky. "Oh! Um, new neighbor that moved in next to my apartment." Did she make a mistake introducing a guy that was into to the guy who's jacket she was wearing? If she had any regrets, she didn't show it. In fact, she was smiling. More friends...one would guess...hopefully. Maybe they wouldn't just be mutual friends through her! "Vern, meet Zac, and Zac...Vern!" A finger waggled between the two magic men, who were both in her eyes quite magical in their own ways. Zac had that sort of friendly face that could be oh-so kissable and... ...and Vern? His features were sharp and tough. The kind of tough that would take the clingiest of girls to hold onto for any period of time longer than a one-night stand, and yet, the man behind the face was already far more amiable enough to offer her his coat. There seemed to be no end to the supply of people capable of giving her the hots in Shine City. "The landlady was about to send a bus ticket and a few other things to Vern, but she got sick, so I asked Vern to meet up with me after work. Are you doing anything, Zac, because if you're with...?" As she was about to pop the question, she looked over the magician's shoulder and found empty space in place of the pink-haired girl on the other guy. "E-eh...? Did they go off?" Vern heard a buzz of one sided conversation and saw the sudden diminishing of the number of people in the area. It seemed that his face didn't inspire friendliness. He nodded to Zac as they were hurriedly introduced along with a rambling, though somehow cute, description of the reason for their meeting. It actually sounded like she was trying to give an excuse as to why she was in his company. He looked at her. Then he looked at Zac. Yep. She was into that. Well, good to know. "They went that way about two minutes ago." He said in answer to Sabine's question, pointing in the direction where they had disappeared. Then Vern decided to speak up and stick his hand out. "It's good to meet you, Zac. I'm pretty new in town and still getting settled. I only got my things into my apartment a bit ago." ----- Zac couldn't help but laugh at the way Sabine introduced him to Vern, her neighbor. He couldn't help but find the way she introduced him in a bit of a rambling way endearing. He was also about to reply to her question when she asked where the other two went. Looking back, he sees that the pink-haired girl and the guy she was with was gone. Hearing Vern speak, he turns back to see the man holding his hand out. Grinning in his trademarked friendly way, Zac clasps Vern's hand and shakes it, saying, "Nice to meet you, Vern. Like Sabine already said, I'm Zac." Turning to Sabine, he then says, "No, I'm not doing anything. Hell, I'm actually pretty lost. I was just with those two because I was trying to get directions...which I never got, come to think of it." With a shrug, he then adds, "I wouldn't mind walking with you two, though. I've actually been meaning to try to meet up with you, Sabine. I'd have called, but..." With a sheepish chuckle, he explains, "I may have sort of accidentally forgotten to take your number out of my pocket before throwing my jeans in the washer yesterday..." ----- "In that case..." Sabine started, before pulling out her phone from a clasp on her leggings. Damp though as her clothing was, her smartphone was quite dry. "...here's mine. And you might want mine too, Vern, in case you need to borrow something." Her phone number glared from the screen as she cupped her device in the palms of her two hands. "Wait, Zac...couldn't you use your phone, or...?" She made a double take to see if his phone was even a smartphone at all... ----- Vern returned Zac's firm handshake with equal pressure. He also noticed that Zac had very good control of his fingers. Though, there wasn't much hope of Zac getting directions from Vern since he was also new in town and lacked any computer at present, aside from the laptop still packed in his backpack at the apartment. Anyway, Zac and Sabine were clearly friends already and Vern wasn't one to interrupt friends at play... or talk, whichever. Vern pulled his cell out of his pocket and flipped it open in lieu of speaking. It was a simple model with all the fundamentals but it was no smart phone. He simply leaned forward long enough to catch the number then set about entering it into his phone along with her name. That would let him contact her later if he needed to, by text or call. He could do that much. ----- Again, comes a sheepish chuckle from Zac as he says, "I would have, but it slipped my mind." Pulling out his phone, he shows that it was a simple flip-phone. "It's not exactly new or cutting-edge," he says, "but it's still good for calling and texting. Really, though, that's all I need from a phone." After entering Sabine's number into his phone, he slips his hands into his pockets and looks from the young woman to Vern. "So, were you two heading back to your apartment complex, then?" he asks. "Hope you don't mind if I tag along. With any luck, we live nearby and I can eventually find my way back home. If not, I got a nice tip at work, so I could probably put myself up in a hotel or something tonight." ----- "Um...Zac, you're more than welcome to crash at my place, since the shuttle service is cutting off right about now. Our apartments are just a couple of blocks away from here, so it'll be pretty late when we get there." She pocketed her phone again, and sighed as an awkward silence hung thick to the air. "So...Vern, you got a job and everything else yet?" ----- Vern smiled lightly at the turn of events. It was good that Sabine invited Zac over. Vern didn't have a couch yet, never mind a bed. He put his phone away and spoke up with a small grin. "I don't have a job yet, actually. I was going to start looking seriously tomorrow." The walk back was on his mind. The clouds did not look friendly. It might rain again. There's a couple places that offered specialized positions that included higher pay to match. The jobs were far from glamorous and often involved night shifts or other inconveniences. They were also poorly advertised. He would have to make first contact with these potential employers first. Some of these potentials paid $20 to $30 an hour and involved fifty hour weeks. "I have a couple good ideas but I haven't made contact with the management yet. If everything goes well I could be well employed by the time of the party." He held a hand out, palm up, and looked at the sky. "We might want to get moving unless we all want to be soaking wet by the time we get there." ----- Hearing Sabine say he could stay at her place, Zac smiles and says, "I'd appreciate that. Wouldn't be the first time I've slept on a couch. Thanks." Hearing Vern, Zac turns to him and says, "Well, if nothing works out, I think I could put in a word for you where I work. Granted, I only just started there today, so I don't know how far that word will go." After a brief chuckle, he hears Vern mention that they should get going, or else end up soaking wet. Looking up at the sky, he lets out a low whistle. "I didn't even notice those clouds roll in." Flicking his wrist, a wand appears in his hand. He gives it a couple of spins between his fingers before flicking it again. When he was done, he was holding a full-sized, collapsed umbrella in his hand. "Worse comes to worse, I've got this," he says with a smile. ----- That little line was the last clever thing said that evening. Just then the rain did start coming down and the remainder of the time that the three of us spent in company was devoted to getting less wet, sooner. Zac took Sabine up on her invitation and spent the night quietly in her apartment. At least it was quiet enough for Vern to not hear them. Then again, sleeping on the floor made him sleep pretty lightly. His coat was too wet to use for a blanket so he left it hanging in the bathroom and just roughed it with a dry change of clothes. One thing was for certain. It was going to be busy for awhile. Vern could hardly wait.