extremely qualified ambassador of earth

[bitterchill]

Vancouver, being Vancouver, lacks a vibrant night life, or for that matter a dingy one. Take this alleyway, for instance. Completely empty. Where are the muggers? Where are the filthy strays? New York clicks its counterfactual tongue in grimy disapproval.

That said: the alleyway is empty. It would be a shame if something... happened to it.

Comments

[between_worlds]

"I like kind people. People who take risks, maybe even enjoy them. Cheerful people."

[bitterchill]

"Fascinating, fascinating. Theoretically, how would you feel about me retroactively declaring this whole gelato thing to be a date?"

[between_worlds]

"Theoretically, I'd be very happy."

[bitterchill]

"Excellent!"

He takes Alex's hand decisively. They are holding hands now. (Ari's hands are mostly smooth, apart from some surprisingly light calluses on his knuckles. There's a heavy ring on his middle finger. Despite the chill of the Canadian night air, his skin radiates warmth.)

[between_worlds]

Alex squeezes Ari's hand, grinning so hard his face begins to hurt.
"You know, I think I like the Outer Gates."

[bitterchill]

"Aw. I'd probably be alright with you being physically able to leave, but this is nice, it's true. And they keep the universe from exploding, which is always positive."

[between_worlds]

"Sometimes the universe is too big," Alex says, staring up at the sky.
"I was wandering around, doing absolutely nothing, trying to figure out what the hell to do with the rest of my life. I wasn't making any progress and every world started to look the same."

[bitterchill]

"Well, I'm glad you're stuck somewhere decent, then. I mean, I wouldn't say this world would be on anyone's top ten retirement spots, but it's hardly the worst."

[between_worlds]

"I'll figure out how to leave eventually, but there's no rush. Maybe I can pick up a new career."

[bitterchill]

"Yeah! Something that doesn't make you feel like a plastic bag floating on the wind and such."

[between_worlds]

"I could be a lawyer!" Alex pauses, "I'd be a terrible lawyer."

[bitterchill]

"Not my first choice, no. You could 'invent' some spacefuture technology, if you know the tech well enough?"

[between_worlds]

Alex ducks his head,"Umm, well, I should probably, but I don't get tech stuff at all."

[bitterchill]

"Yeah, that seems reasonable. Pretty sure I couldn't teach cavemen how to build a car, or something. You'll probably figure something out."

[between_worlds]

"So what kind of monsters do you fight?"

[bitterchill]

"All kinds, really. There used to be a really bad vampire problem in Vancouver, but we've pretty much wiped them out by now. What else... there's fae nasties everywhere, that's always something to deal with, of course. Necromancers and demon-summoners pop up sometimes. Couple of years back we had to handle a rogue Valkyrie. That sort of thing."

Look, a gelato place! Ari lets go of Alex's hand to hold the door for him grandly.

[between_worlds]

"Thank you," Alex scans the rows of flavors and sighs, "This is a hard choice."

[bitterchill]

"Eh. Try pistachio? Or almond? One of those, probably."

For himself, he orders amaretti and coffee with dark chocolate. (It looks appropriately decadent.)

[between_worlds]

Alex orders almond with chocolate.
"Mmmmm, this stuff is good."

[bitterchill]

"It is! Good gelato is a blessing."

Before he starts on the dessert, he marks a triangle over his heart with his left hand.

[between_worlds]

"What's that mean?"

[bitterchill]

Ari starts. "Huh? Oh, um. Just force of habit, I guess. Benediction to the Winter Queens. I don't usually bother, but, y'know, this is frozen."

[between_worlds]

"Would she curse you if you didn't?"

[bitterchill]

"No, no. It's just that, you know, when you're raised in the mystery cult of goddesses who actually exist, the rituals don't go away easy."

[between_worlds]

"Have you met her?"