He teased her by throwing out a hint about his middle name. Fairly common? What names were fairly common that started with a T? "Are there any fairly common T names?" She shook her head. Oh no. She wasn't going to get tricked into caring about his middle name just because he wanted her to. No, sir. She shoved that avid curiosity down and down again before throwing it in a box and locking it away.

“Pansy stuff? I suppose you drink your tea cold too? Iced tea is rubbish.” [/color]

She arched a brow at him. My, my someone was getting opinionated. "I'm more partial to beer, honestly." And even more partial to mixed drinks when she could get her hands on the spirits.

“Hmmm, would you be mad if I found out you were bluffing right now?"

She hmmed at the thought. "Perhaps flattered that you thought so little of me." She winked. Honestly, she'd checked up on so many other people's 'private business' that she could hardly count it against him. But hopefully this wouldn't make her a liar to him. Because you have to be at least a little credible if you want to keep up the facade. No, she'd done her work carefully. Perhaps Mars would see through it, but hopefully there was only that one physical proof. Now she really was looking to get rid of it.

"Perhaps something as simple as Anne, Lori anne. But if we are going to give you something from my made up language of latin. Pallax or Vulpes would due. ” [/i]

"I'd accuse you of thinking me mundane, but it's really my parents you're insulting with guesses like that." Not that she minded. "You make me wish I'd taken Latin." Lori held up her hands with a sigh. "I give up. What does Pallax and Vulpes mean?" Because she could maybe use those as false firsts later given that she understood the meaning behinds them first. Also that curiosity had gotten out of the box. Which was okay as long as she had a safe direction to point it in.

"I couldn’t care less about it, it’s a company car. And as you can imagine we are sure to get natural disaster coverage.”

"Company car or not," she strapped herself in, "I'll save it for my rust bucket, thank you." The thank you was a proverbial poke to rather than an actual thanks.

She nodded about the steering ground even as he was starting the car and frowned at the insecurities of being large. She wasn't here to hold his hand. There had been attempted emotional hand holding earlier and she'd had more than her fill then.

"With your size you shouldn't have to pay at all if you didn't want to, and if the doorways give you any trouble, send 'em to me." She cracked her knuckles before pointing to the turn toward Chinatown. "I know a thing or two about teaching lessons to inanimate objects."

"Are there any fairly common T names?"


“common among legends no less.” He winked.



"I'm more partial to beer, honestly."


“ah I prefer a amaretto if I’m drinking. I think you know that though.”he shrugged. Favorite colors, favorite drinks, who’d mind the difference.

"Perhaps flattered that you thought so little of me."


“Its just that so few like their middle name, its like they save that slot for the crummy name.” he shrugged, still trying to read if he was on to something.



"I'd accuse you of thinking me mundane, but it's really my parents you're insulting with guesses like that." "You make me wish I'd taken Latin.". "I give up. What does Pallax and Vulpes mean?”


“Pallax is akin to seductive and Vulpes, Fox. Lori Pallax Vulpes Faust.” He nodded to him self.



"Company car or not," "I'll save it for my rust bucket, thank you."


“Buckle on up then little lady, I’ll do my best to avoid any sudden movements.”

"With your size you shouldn't have to pay at all if you didn't want to, and if the doorways give you any trouble, send 'em to me."


“watching my brothers throw their weight around gets old. I much prefer civility. Usually.”

"I know a thing or two about teaching lessons to inanimate objects."

“milk for instance? You’d be surprised how much people don’t appreciate you remodeling their businesses.”

They pulled onto the path and then the road. And were heading to little china at a decent rate. He could smell it, She hadn’t been simply joking. And the festival seemed to amplify it for everyone’s smelling pleasure.

A "T" name that was a legend? A myriad of answers flicked through her head like flash cards in quick succession. Tyrannous? Tiberius? Titian? Oh Titian was fitting considering the man was legendary for the brilliant red color he used in every painting. Lori eyed Mars. Did he know many old masters beyond the norm? She couldn't be quite sure. He carried the mantle of civility, breeding, and culture. It was possible, but improbable.

Blink.

What was she doing? She didn't want to know his middle name! Lori stuck her tongue out at his wink.

“ah I prefer a amaretto if I’m drinking. I think you know that though.”[/color]

"And who would blame you if we're talking spirits. I was just thinking everyday equivalents to iced tea. You're more likely to find cold beer in my fridge is all." Or rather the left over beer from her daddy's fridge. She hadn't touched that either.

She only nodded to the middle name crumminess. It seemed a common malady for those unfortunate enough to be cursed with one. Or unfortunate enough to not mold their names with their own hands. "It sounds like you didn't follow the crummy name rule for you middle name." But of course, she wouldn't be interested in knowing it so she let him off the hook for breaking such a rule. Besides. She liked the Latin names he'd picked for her. Flattery went quite far with her. Especially when it sounded so sincere.

Lori maintained her zen by watching Mars manhandle the wheel. The moving car didn't stress her out nor was it Mars' driving. It was the other drivers she didn't trust. So as long as she pretended they didn't exist, she'd be peachy keen.

"Civility has its place as does muscle." She'd certainly used both much to the surprise and subsequent detriment of others. "Often silence does quite a bit of talking for you, though, as far as intimidation goes at least." In fact, if Lori were trying to be intimidating it was quite probably the best she could do to fill that role. Mean eyes and a reluctant tongue. "Lucky me, flies are more easily caught with honey."

"...You’d be surprised how much people don’t appreciate you remodeling their businesses.”[/i]

"You'd be surprised how very often I actually can behave myself. It's appalling really." Yeah, if she ever behaved more than 60% of the time, it would certainly be cause to worry.

The parking situation was dismal, but festive never the less. Colorful paper lanterns hung in long strings that extended clear down the street and a mixture of smells greeted them that were so pungent, Lori could almost taste some of the items already.

There were little yellow paper signs, handwritten, that directed them from the parking lot to the stat of the tasting tour. Stop number 1? A cart on wheels with a paper umbrella for shade. One dollar a stick for dumplings. It was only when the man quoted the price that Lori realized she'd left the trailer without a penny. Oh usually she milked the guys for all they were worth, but at least she kept some emergency money for a cab ride home. Bleh. She was being so sloppy today.

~~"And who would blame you if we're talking spirits. I was just thinking everyday equivalents to iced tea. You're more likely to find cold beer in my fridge is all."

“Ah, well in that case, nothing wrong with a good draft , I suppose.” Mars replied easily.

~~"It sounds like you didn't follow the crummy name rule for you middle name."

“Oh sure I did. I am sure if someone else had given me the name I would find it nearly as amusing.”

~~"Civility has its place as does muscle." "Often silence does quite a bit of talking for you, though, as far as intimidation goes at least”

“That is true enough, I’ve been told that smashing things that normally don’t get smashed works as well.” Jupiter was telling him right now in fact, but he was going to do his best not to remind his date that there were six would be voyuer’s along, the only one he might pay any attention to at all is Venus and even he wasn’t all that great for his end game where Lori was concerned.


~~"Lucky me, flies are more easily caught with honey."


“Have I been caught with the honey, dear?”



~~"You'd be surprised how very often I actually can behave myself. It's appalling really."

“Behaving is overated most of the time, but then we have a very unique way of misbehaving I think.”

Mars eventually moved another car into a no parking zone and then moved the jeep into the spot, they still had to walk a bit. But it was an interesting part of the City.

Mars broke a twenty right off, might as well get it started, Abyss and all the clones liked to carry around a significant amount of pocket change, with the exception of mercury who carried only his magical credit card that caused him not to need, money. Ah the wonderland that eccentrics. He held a pair of fingers out to the vender and then got his change, handing a stick to Lori.

“They are smart to ease us into it. A simple dumpling is a good way to do it. “


He reached down and took Lori’s free hand in his and looked to where the next arrow pointed, hmmmm, how much did he really know about this woman? and how much would she let him know? Perhaps tonight was time to get to know her a bit more, he knew about her, and he knew about her, but he couldn’t really say he knew her for who she really was. She shied away from that sort of intimacy and he craved it from her, he wasn’t sure if it was that particular hard to get, that drew him to her like a moth to a bright blue bug zapper, or if it was that he didn’t’ know enough and wanted to know more, he leaned toward the more legitimate fact that he thought she was worth knowing and he would weave his way in through her defenses all in good time.

“So, I think tonight has some potential. Maybe we could hit the art district after this? You can see my namesake tonight at the observatory, if you want to?”

“Have I been caught with the honey, dear?”

She dignified the fly's last glimpse of freedom with a smile that promised dark things when they returned back to her web. Although a promise never uttered was only as good as the person reading into it. That was her whole game after all, let them think what they wanted, but at the end of the day the only one looking out for Lori was Lori.

"I try not to assume." Of course she'd used the sex or no sex bargaining chip with Jacen so who knew if she'd even allow Mars to venture in that direction any time soon? Ah but he was more interested in behaving or not behaving. Even she didn't know what it would be today. She was often a creature of whim. She was quite amused when a car was relocated to afford them a parking space. It wasn't even that good of a parking space, like mars just got frustrated and something snapped enough for him to just pick one at random.

Icy eyes watched Mars as he got back into the car and pulled into the spot. Did he get frustrated? This predicament she had put everyone into would be considered vexing by most and yet, when she thought she'd be alone breaking things, instead she was out tasting all that Little China had to offer. Who was the fly again?

At least Mars didn't make a fuss about the cash. Lori was running low on liquid assets. Her bank money was still hidden at the Sanctuary and after that nest egg ran dry, she didn't have anything left. Not that she had anything to start. Her attention was brought back to the taste of China when Mars handed her a stick of dumplings. "Hard to go wrong here. You're right." She nibbled at the hot steamed pocket of meat and vegetables in an almost dainty way. Her mind was still a little ways away, though she probably couldn't say where. Maybe the full idea that she'd just possibly alienated Jacen was finally sinking in.

He took her hand. That action alone was enough to bring her back from so very far away. What if she needed that hand? He'd had to dip down to grab it and now she arm was practically out level from her elbow in order for him to not have to crouch.

Lori pulled the next dumpling off all at once and let Mars pull her in the direction of the next arrow. It was a little like hide and seek. Though what the Chinese were hiding in their food, no one really knew. To think someone was paying for all this...

“So, I think tonight has some potential. Maybe we could hit the art district after this? You can see my namesake tonight at the observatory, if you want to?”[/color]

Observatory? Her features became shrewd as she tried to think up which moon he had appropriated for his middle name. "If you so please. Maybe we could even see Venus or Mars... are they not low this time of year?" The next arrow pointed to a shop that smelled like sweat and cardboard. Lori watched the patrons and owners scramble around to make space for the pair. She tried to sneak a peek at what the others were eating and she really couldn't discern what it was. Guess it'd just be a surprise then. She swung her feet absently and tried to break her now empty dumpling stick with only one hand.

"I try not to assume.”

He glanced at her and one of the corners rose as if taunting her denial and avoidance.



"Hard to go wrong here. You're right.”

He replied with a simple Mmmm. He would have bought another if it hadn’t been for the fact that they would be hiking around town eating.


"If you so please. Maybe we could even see Venus or Mars... are they not low this time of year?"

if you so please he could get used to that.

“Actually, I was speaking about Mars, My middle isn’t in the heavens, and then again it could be all over it really.” He was enjoying this cat and mouse game of riddles. She would catch on at some point until then though he would toy with it.”

Mars glanced at what Lori was doing and stuck the little twig of a skewer and put it in the bow of his pinky and flexed the little stick shattered. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t look at her to see his reaction; he half expected a little zap of annoyance coming his way or the sticks. He held up a two again and handed the man a five dollar bill and came back with two thin paper plates topped with something that smelled better then the area…kind of. apparently this little mystery on a plate was worthy of chop sticks. A moment ago showing off now had him wondering if he could separate the stick with out tearing them in half, they took just enough effort to put them In danger. He pulled and slowly added slightly more strength one chopstick ended up with having the others top so he just snapped off both and put it on the table. He looked at Lori warily. And then took a pinch of the meat hidden in noodles, it was kind of spicy almost General Tso ish, but there was something else to it too, not bad. not necessarily good, he finished his in spite of it.

He wondered if anyone had ever taken her to the observertory at night? It was a bit of a drive to get to from here to there but the atmosphere was worth it, it was very Greek, perhaps that’s how he felt with her, greek but still allowed his passions, they were a very indulgent people and as humans were indulgent, well they seemed very natural to him, besides they totted their mutants as children of the gods.

“Have you ever tried Saki?” he asked he kind of felt like he needed something to wash that done with and maybe kill any harmful remnants that it left.

His middle name wasn't in the heavens, but could be all over the heavens? What kind of riddle was that? She felt like she was missing the obvious and it was a feeling she didn't particularly enjoy. It was rather akin to tearing her hair out of her head. She sighed a long suffering sigh. Okay. She would indulge him this once. For the sake of her sanity. Ri-ight. "I give up. You'd better tell me your middle name before I go bonkers and claw someone's eyes out."

Mars took the skewer and crunched it between the muscles of his finger-- that was finger in the singular sense of the word. Her lower lip threatened to jut, but she somehow contained herself. She'd wanted to do it herself. No zap, no pout... just a little sigh. To show him the value of being self sufficient, she let him do his chopsticks himself to great detriment. He ended up with short sticks, but they worked the same. See? Self-reliance wasn't all that bad.

He looked at her after the food was delivered and she shrugged. Lori had to stand to whisper a message, but since it was of dire importance, she hazarded looking silly. "It's no longer living so in theory it's edible." She watched him take a bite and after he did not immediately fall into a coma or start convulsing, Lori retook her seat and pulled out a small bite.

It was... sweet. Surprisingly sweet before it kicked her in the teeth with a little spice. Good thing it was a small portion and there were more places to sample because whatever this was, she didn't make it through half the bowl before giving up. Her mother would have scolded her for wasting. "If it were more spicy or maybe if the sauce was less thick..." She jabbed at the viscous fluid with a chopstick. Yes. Maybe it was the texture.

“Have you ever tried Saki?”

"Sake? Rice wine or whatever? I've had it once and it tasted like..." She realized they were talking loudly while nestled snugly in a group of asian people and lowered her voice before continuing. "It tasted like a trash bag. I hear if it's warmed it can go down quite nicely, though. Tsingtao or Asahi are asian beers, but i haven't ever really had the pleasure."

"I give up. You'd better tell me your middle name before I go bonkers and claw someone's eyes out."

He offered Lori his skewer so she could snap one too. The pout didn’t make it to her lips but it made it to her eyes, He was just trying to help.

He let out a small laugh while wondering if his eyes would be in any imminent anger.. “The.”

He then explained to make it clear he had just told her.

“Alexander the great, Atilla the hun, Vlad the impaler, Ivan the terrible. The milky way, the big dipper…” He waited for her reaction, or for her to call him lame,something, she was the first that had heard all of it and he was pretty sure he would get a negative reaction in some way, paticularly since he had made her ask.



"It's no longer living so in theory it's edible."
"

“In theory.” That made him glance at others around him who were eating it and seemingly enjoying it, so he manned up and ate.


"If it were more spicy or maybe if the sauce was less thick..."



He nodded “ I can’t figure it out either.Just that it could use something” his typical answer to bad asain food was a good bathe in sodium, in the form of soy sauce. He liked soy sauce.

“Perhaps we should move on to number three? Though if we find it picked at stall one we might want to save our selves the walk.”


Mars nodded to her assessment, “I am reluctant still to help a warm trash bag to go down smoothly, Perhaps we can find a couple of Tsingtao.” He repeated the word carefully, perfecting the pronunciation slowly and surely to make sure he had it. “ As he rose taking her plate and tossing it for her when she was ready. As they went toward the next arrow he looked at her fondly, he didn’t snatch up her hand this time wondering if she would offer up such affection.

They made a little distance before he commented bit more harshly. “well theoretically we survived. If this going to become a pattern maybe we should run away while we can.” It was just as he said that sentence that the most fantastic smell came from the general direction of stop 3. He was pretty sure that Pho was a Korean or Thai dish but he wasn’t at all disappointed to see it. Beef flank and rice noodles bathed in herbs and bean sprouts, cilantro and sunflowers. “never mind.” He said quietly, relinquishing his retreat.

The? First she was incredulous, but when he didn't back down with no flinching be hind his eyes... oh god, he was serious. She groaned as if he had dealt her a physical blow and the man who had been sitting uncomfortably close to her before, suddenly found space to give her room. Funny, if she blew chunks he'd give her an inch, but nothing less had moved him.

"Oh, Mars... why would you do that to yourself? Mars the Intempestivus? I mean, it makes sense, but ... not when you learn the names were of your own design." She shook her head. He had won. Somehow knowing his middle name wasn't so bad. "The" was so unbelievable that it hardly even counted. ""If your middle name were "Aubruh" or "Perry" or "Featherwright," then I might have some pity for you..." The corners of her pink lips twitched upward at her own crack. Mars Aubruh Intempestivus, now that was a name to be ashamed of. "I think I liked it better when it was just T." She muttered as they made their way on to the next stop.

"I've been skeptical about warm trash bags too. Hence the lack of a second attempt. Warm just seems... worse." She shuddered, but the movement was erased by a smell so pungently delicious all thoughts about garbage temperature were forgotten. "Maybe we should just visit number 3 over and over again." And they hadn't even sat down yet. Soup? Mars seemed to have similar sentiments. All lack of hand holding should be forgotten with that mouthwatering smell.

Moderately sized bowls of steaming broth with thinly sliced beef and clear rice noodles were accompanied by plates of herbs and several squeezey sauces to flavor with. Well, one of them smelled too fishy for comfort, but the dark brown thick one seemed decent. Lori piled on the herbs, dunking them in the broth until they became limp. Then she squeezed in the bright red siracha hot sauce and the dark brown stuff. Mmmm. Delicious thy name is Pho.

If she could have slurped up any of the broth, she would have, as it was she used a fork and drained each bite carefully before chomping on it. Pesky mutation. It was fantastic, though. "Did you see something that said how many stops are on this crazy train?" She spoke around a cheekfull of noodles. The natives seemed to be doing as much themselves so she didn't even get a sideways glance. "'Cause if they're all this big in portion and this yumptious I may have to pop." She swallowed and gave him a serious look. "This could get messy."

((OOC: Story continues in Like a Hurricane))