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AND
[H1][color=purple]ℂ 𝕝 𝕒 𝕣 𝕚 𝕔 𝕖   𝕄 𝕖 𝕚 𝕥 𝕟 𝕖 𝕣[/color][/h1]
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[color=a6c4ff][b]Time:[/b][/color] Sunset
[color=a6c4ff][b]Location:[/b][/color] Ember Grove University's Cafe
[color=a6c4ff][b]Interaction with:[/b][/color] Ava and Clarice [@Araby264], mentions Gwendolyn & band [@Eviledd1984][/center]

Ava raised an eyebrow at Clarice upon hearing her introduce herself. It seemed to Ava that the young woman intended to start a conversation with her words, get to know her a bit more. Or, perhaps she was trying to make light of what could be an awkward situation, seated next to a stranger not necessarily by choice, given the lack of seating options in the cafe. Ava decided she would indulge - she hadn’t really made any connections since coming to Ember Grove, and she figured if she was going to stay in the town, it would appear less suspicious to make some friends.

[color=a6c4ff]“I’m Ava. Nice to meet you.”[/color] Ava picked up her coffee mug once again, sipping at the cold contents. There had been latte art of a leaf sitting on top at some point, but the image has since distorted a fair amount. She put the cup down, [color=a6c4ff]“Are you a student here?”[/color]

Clarice shook her head, [color=purple]"No-"[/color] the word came out hoarse, most likely due to the liquid fire that had just rolled down her throat. Clarice put her coffee down and leaned her head to the side and covered her mouth while she cleared her throat. [Color=purple]"No, I'm not a student. I intern at the lab just north of here. This is just the closest Cafe to my apartment. Plus there are usually..."[/color] Clarice searched for the word.[Color=purple] "Activities going on near colleges, and my sister has me on this kick of trying to not be so... boring."[/color] Realizing that she just told a total stranger possibly way to much information and also in the process called herself 'boring' made Clarice mentally scold herself. It was almost enough to make her decide scorching her vocal chords out was a better option than to continue rambling. [color=purple] "What about you, are you a student here?"[/color]

Ava almost chuckled watching Clarice struggle with her hot coffee, but held back from visibly reacting. She mentioned a job here, an internship, and an apartment, leading Ava to believe she’s lived here for at least a few months, likely longer.

[color=a6c4ff]“No,”[/color] Ava spoke bluntly, [color=a6c4ff]“I’m not a student here.”[/color] She didn’t go further into explaining who she was as Clarice had done - from her years of jumping around, Ava learned it was easier cutting ties with humans if they didn’t know much about her to begin with.

Ava calmly changed the focus of the conversation from herself to something Clarice had mentioned. [color=a6c4ff]“In terms of activities, there was some commotion in here just a little earlier.”[/color] She motioned towards the front of the cafe. [color=a6c4ff]“Some rich guy with bodyguards pulled up in a Rolls-Royce. Art exhibit, apparently.”[/color]

While she listened to Ava, Clarice ran her finger along the edge of her coffee cup. She let her magic slowly seep into the cup and when Ava drew both their attention to the front doors pf the Art gallery she activated it, casting the smallest of cold spells into the brew, Not enough to cool it all the way, but enough to make it drinkable.

[Color=purple]"Well, its been years since I've been to an art exhibit! I would love to go to one, thank you for the information."[/color] Clarice paused for a moment, contemplating whether or not to ask the question she wanted to. [Color=purple]"Were you planing on going?[/color] After she asked the question Clarice picked up her coffee and drank some more. It was warm and though it stung over the parts of her tongue that were absolutely burned, the overall sensation was a good one. 

Ava took a slight pause to think about it before speaking. [color=a6c4ff]"I've considered going. I don't have much else to do today."[/color] She took another sip from her mug - at this point the coffee was pretty much just about finished. [color=a6c4ff]"Are you particularly interested in art?"[/color]

Clarice thought for a moment before answering.[Color=purple] "I don't think I ever got the chance to be interested in art, but I would love to try. What about you? Ever had an intrest in art?"[/color] Clarice took another long sip from her coffee. She could already feel the electric tingles of caffeine jumping across her skin.

Ava smiled, the first time since arriving in this cafe, in a somewhat mischievous way. It was almost 200 years ago, approximately, when she became acquainted with Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun in Italy, after the French Revolution. People had such obnoxiously long names back then, yes, but the two bonded over their shared first names. Élisabeth had become quite a popular portrait painter in her time, best known for her painting of the infamous Marie Antoinette. The memory of her late friend gave Ava a small moment of delight. 

[color=a6c4ff]“I am acquainted with artists,”[/color] Ava remarked, without much enthusiasm in her tone of voice, keeping her delight private. [color=a6c4ff]“I don’t personally paint myself but I can always admire the skills of others.”[/color]

Clarice noted the smile that crossed Ava's face, it was hard not to when it lit up the room the way it did. Clarice took one last pull on her coffe and finished it off, before setting it back down on the table. It was now or never. [Color=purple]"Well, would you be interested in accompanying a lonesome stranger, less learned in the ways of art than yourself, to a certain art exhibit? I was recently informed of one nearby from a wonderfully interesting woman."[/color]
Smooth.

The coffee cup in Ava’s hand was emptied by now, and her mind had long since left the medieval world of the novel she had been reading. Ava had already visited art galleries around the world before, and the thing with art galleries is that the pieces on display don’t change too often. An art exhibit might be more interesting if it features a new artist Ava has never encountered, so she entertained the idea. Not to mention, a nearby table in the cafe was becoming increasingly crowded by a group of people, loudly chatting about a concert or whatnot. The volume was something Ava could do without. She shot the group a side glance that displayed a flash of visible contempt, before returning her attention to Clarice.

[color=a6c4ff]“Sure,”[/color] Ava replied. She didn’t need much convincing at this point, and Clarice’s compliments were a nice bonus. [color=a6c4ff]“I actually just got into town so I’ve never explored the campus before. Know where an event like this might be?”[/color]

Clarice blinked  bit in surprise. That worked... apparently. She stood and walked to Ava's side of the table, offering her arm like an old-fashioned gentleman. [Color=purple]"Of course, allow me to lead the way."[/color]

It would be an understatement to say that Ava was surprised at Clarice’s outstretched arm. It felt a little too forward for Ava’s rather traditional and reserved mindset, when Clarice was only a stranger she had exchanged a few lines with. She figured maybe a revival in chivalry was a trend for youth these days, though she had high doubts.

To appear courteous, Ava gently accepted the offered arm, only to hoist herself up from her seat, before retracting her hand back to her side. She grabbed her purse that was placed behind her, and stepped away from the table. [color=a6c4ff]“After you.”[/color]