ArchivedLogs:Coffee Date

Coffee Date
Dramatis Personae Mariot, Selene
In Absentia	2014-01-14 Mariot and Selene go on a date, Selene reveals some..interesting things about herself.
Location <NYC> Montagues - SoHo
Montagues harkens back to the day when SoHo was filled to the brim with artists, with its mismatched furniture, all plush and decorated heavily with carved wood, but remains trendy enough to keep its newer patrons by making sure that furniture is clean, in good repair and inviting. The antique tables all have been reinforced to seem less creaky. The real draw of the cafe is the smell: fresh roasted coffee mingles with perfectly steeped teas. Spices from crisp pastries mingle with the tang of clotted cream but don't overwhelm too much the scent of chalk on the menu boards. For Mariot, this is as early as she can get in to the city after work. For the self-professed heiress... well, the Briton suspects that this might be breakfast rather than a treat after a day's labours. Either way, it might be considered a date - her call to the number provided having got her straight through to Miss Gallio, and the setting-up of a meeting at which both should be sober. Perched on a stool at the counter, so that she can both see and be seen, Mariot has attempted to dress to impress - pairing a short skirt with high boots to draw attention to the toned lines of her thighs. Her high-necked top fits rather snugly in places, while silver earrings gleam against the dark-blonde fall of her unbound hair. At present, both hands nurse a gently-steaming mug as she awaits the arrival of her hoped-for guest. Not one to disappoint, Selene's arrived as quickly as she could through traffic. Dressed in a stylish black jacket, matching trousers (not one for skirts), and a pair of heels, her lips have black lipstick on them and she also has black eyeshadow on, her black hair flowing behind her. Scanning around, she's not looking for the person who she /can/ read the mind of, instead the person who she cannot. Spotting Mariot (visually), she walks up to her, smiling. "Why, hello there. You look nice. How are you?". Selene's looking up to the counter, ordering a pure black, as she smiles. "It's very pleasant to see you again." Mariot allows some relief to show in her expression, her smile quite genuinely warm. "It's good to see you, too," she affirms. "And, hopefully, you're not now thinking that you must have been excessively the worse for wear when you gave me your number." "No, I'd say you look better when there's nothing messing with my mind.". Selene grins, as her coffee is slid out to her, her taking a sip. "It really is strange not being able to. know.". She silently taps her mind, as she sighs. "But maybe it's better that way. I've just been used to this for a very long time, it's strange to find people who are immune. Not that I am calling you strange, I think you're quite the opposite. I think you're lovely.". Mariot laughs, but sounds - and looks - amiably amused rather than as if she's mocking or offended. "Oh, I suspect it's safe to say that we're both at least a little strange. But thank you. I am flattered. And... yes. I can imagine that it can be rather strange, dealing with a... degree of silence, I suppose. I... well. I'm very glad that it's not proven to be unduly off-putting." Taking another sip, Selene shakes her head. "I adapt. I have done so..for a very long time.". Her facial reactions make this seem like she really means a VERY LONG TIME, though she doesn't elaborate. "I apologize if I am bad at this, I haven't been on a date in a very long time. Though, I make exceptions for the fitting.". Selene smiles again, taking another sip. "And you can't live without it, human nature mostly predicts." Mariot slightly cocks her head, studying Selene with quite open curiosity... and some measure of concern. "Should we adjourn to a more private spot, perhaps?", she asks quietly, before wincing slightly. "And... I belatedly realise quite how hopeless a bit of flirtation that sounds, but I was thinking that it seems as if you're sharing things you don't make public." At this 'private spot' comment, Selene's nodding, gesturing to a table that's pretty much out of range of hearing unless they shout. Taking her coffee over, Selene takes a seat and smiles, making room for Mariot. "I take it you observed my comments. I'll just say...I am /much/ older than I look.". She smiles, taking another sip of her coffee. "I can elaborate slightly further, but I'm not ready to reveal all my secrets on the first date.". Mariot slips elegantly off the stool, taking a moment to smooth down her skirt before collecting her drink and coat, then following Selene's lead. Her burdens are deposited, and she folds herself onto a seat, expression quite intent and serious. "I can't blame you there," she concedes with a slight smile. "But... yes. Your emphasis on time was... marked. Would it be dreadfully rude to ask just how old you are, now that the topic's been raised?" "99 going on 100.". This is all Selene gives, as she begins to change the subject, taking another sip. "So, you said you were a teacher, yes? What's that like? What do you teach? You said foreign languages and history, yes?". She's trying to make smalltalk, though is remarkably bad at it. "What is the public schooling system like?". Mariot blinks. Then blinks again, before her brows lift... and offers a low laugh. "You don't get to slip that past me without comment," she responds - though she accompanies her words with a smile. "Good grief. I must seem so dreadfully young to you." It seems that the Briton isn't doubting that Selene is indeed old, whether or not she accepts the number given as wholly accurate. "And... ahhh. Well. I probably wouldn't be allowed to teach in the public system, here. I'm not a formally-qualified teacher. But private facilities can take a few more risks. And... thus far, I don't think that I've proved to be entirely disastrous." "I guess I'm a bit of a cougar.". Selene says, jokingly. Sip. "I usually don't tell many people. Then again, many people don't know I am what I am. Only those who can detect, and those I have told. You're one of the few of the second.". Selene nods at the schooling thing, smiling. "Thank the heavens I'm not a teacher. I'd feel sorry for those children. Well, since I know what you do, I'll just say I'm going into business. Truth be told, don't know what yet, though I have a very talented architect hired. Did the Mendel Clinic.". "Well, at least it seems that I can be in no doubt that you're interested," Mariot observes, flashing a rather teasing smile over her coffee, before taking a long sip. "Mmmm. Well... I teach portions of history that most here would consider 'specialist', or just outright obscure, and offer some support in a couple of foreign languages. As well as some extra-curricular activities. It's very much a learning experience for me, never mind whatever I might manage to impart to the students. But it can certainly provide quite a few interesting challenges - as well as flashes of culture shock. As you might imagine, my, ahh, frames of reference can be rather different to those of most of my students." Another sip, then the Briton cocks her head. "Still... it sounds as if you have quite a bit on your plate yourself. And a rather unusual approach: an architect on retainer before you even know what sort of business his work might house? I suppose that construction will give you quite a bit of time in which to sort things out. But... what are you considering doing?" Selene nods at all the school discussion, before moving back onto her business talk. "Whatever gets me ahead, mostly. Perhaps real estate, or some sort of legal service that I can provide without a sort of degree. Or..something shadier, if it comes to that.". Selene's tone makes her really seem the 'self-preserving' type of person, though to be this old and still 'in the closet', you probably have to be. "Nothing truly illegal, more on the gray lines. Everyone needs someone like that, the way I see it. Though, if I can do something more legal, it'll most likely come to that.". A low chuckle accompanies Mariot leaning back in her seat, a whisper of nylon accompanying the crossing of her legs as both hands return to cradling her drink. "Perhaps I should encourage you to engage in a bit of venture altruism", she muses amiably. "But I should certainly think that there could be some rather unusual opportunities, especially at this point in time. Whether you want my advice, however, I don't know." "Venture altruism? That would be?". Selene places her head on her hands, curious. "Advice is always a good thing. Whether I go the route of it or not depends on what happens, however.". Another sip of coffee, and she's grinning. "I can trust you to keep my secret, yes? Just something I must know.". "In this world, I can make no absolute promises," Mariot cautions. "You'll know that far better than most. But I think it's safe to say that I'm a good deal less likely to reveal details of you than most, even should... talented individuals seek to learn them from me." A slight, rueful shrug. "If there's something specific that you would like to remain between the two of us, then feel free to say so, whenever it comes up." "As for venture altruism... it's a concept that, so far as I know, was first explicitly named by a Scottish science fiction writer, within the last decade or so. You are, presumably, very well-aware of venture capitalism: investing money into something which is not yet turning a profit, and might well not even be a recognisable business. That capital gives it a chance of developing into something that would not otherwise have existed... and therefore permits the venture capitalist to reap future profit from it. Venture altruism works on the same basic principles, but doesn't look to extract profit in terms of capital. It's a rather post-modern approach to human interactions, working with the simple truth that there are economies in play that cannot be quantified in monetary terms... and that can be more valuable than money. Venture altruism seeks to shape and foster growth in economies beyond the purely monetaristic." "Of course, it has been around in various forms throughout recorded history - but it tends to manifest as patronage, directly granting jobs and favours in return for future - often underhanded - benefits thereafter. The point of venture altruism is that rather than operating in a manner akin to a loan shark, one can take a leaf out of a venture capitalist's book... and seek to build things that last. And, much as with venture capitalism, that can often most effectively be done at the cutting edge of economic and social development. The ventures created can shape what comes thereafter, what possibilities open up for people, and how society develops. After all, we very much live in a world in which technology and economic ventures are intimately bound together... yet the greatest telecommunications network in existence was given away to the world for free. And since its release into the wild, the internet has become home to possibilities undreamt of when it was created." "My 'status' is something that I'd prefer kept as personal as possible. The world we live in..doesn't take kindly to people like you or me. I'll keep yours as personal as well, though my bodyguard does know, which I apologize for but I tend to tell him most things, I have know him since he was a child.". Selene takes a long sip as Mariot explains venture altruism. "Fascinating. I'll definitely look into it, see what it could do for me.". Mariot purses her lips at confirmation that Casper (or someone else, if he's not her bodyguard) does indeed now know more about her than the overheard French had indicated... but after a moment's thought she nods acceptance. "I mentioned venture altruism initially mostly as a joke... though you are in truth in a better position than most to make good use of it. After all, you have - it seems - a degree of weight in the 'obvious' economy, and we both know that you have direct access to an alternate network of economic and social trends that are only just starting to take form." "As was, all too bloodily, recently demonstrated... we're living in a time where conventional capital can quite abruptly become irrelevant, and social capital can be quite literally a matter of life and death. And we are very, very obviously in a period when contending parties are seeking to shape society, both for the present and the future. People capable of giving helpful nudges might be critical, if we're to avoid more bloodbaths - whether uncontrolled eruptions like the plague, or violent conflict between people no longer able to remain in the same community. I'm not saying that you can change the world in the same manner as Sir Tim Berners-Lee, with the free gift of the internet... but you and I are both, by our very nature, part of a trend and development to which Sir Tim doesn't have ready access. We're among the small minority who can straddle boundaries, and who might be able to nudge our collective course away from disaster." "I also have more experience in this type of thing than most people, I'd assume. Though I've just learned the term, I've been doing this sort of thing for a long time. Though, I did have to fake my death many, many years ago and become my own grandchild. Now that, is a fascinating subject that I /might/ tell you about next time.". Selene grins, taking another sip of coffee. "I've really enjoyed today, thank you for this, very much." Mariot offers a somewhat sheepish shrug - though it's accompanied by a smile. "I can't tempt you to join me for dinner, then? Or have you had enough of being lectured by someone young enough to be your grandchild? There's a Chinese place near here that I'm rather keen to try..." "Hmm. Dinner sounds fine. I'd love to spend some more time talking to you. You seem to really understand me, it'd seem.". Selene grins, standing up and finishing her coffee. Maybe Mariot had more uses than a puppet, who knew. And besides, she was pretty. "Shall we?".