if i get home before daylight

[salamanca]

who: lalo salamanca + you!
what: lalo's log for the month of august, including closed + open threads! ft. lalo's bulletin board post and the re-opening of his restaurant at doe's retreat in lakeside
when: throughout august
where: lalo's restaurant in lakeside (first 2 weeks of august) + all around milton (second two weeks of august)


[ open + closed starters below. ]

Comments

[salamanca]

[ Briefly, Lalo wonders what it would be like, to be effected by emotional things as powerfully as Sveta. She's sweet. Lalo isn't. The thought passes quickly. Instead, he zeroes in on something else she said. ]

Good news. It does.

[balancedlight]

[Sveta doesn't seem shocked by this news. In fact, she nods as if he has simply confirmed a fact that she knew so deeply already.]

I thought as much. How do you know?

[salamanca]

Talking to people, mostly! Talking to everyone. None of the people who were killing each other and acting [ he makes the crazy sign to his head with his finger ] had a human blood talisman.

But! Here's the thing. It's gotta to be human blood. The other two, the animal blood and the monster blood, they don't do anything. [ One actually makes it worse, but Lalo doesn't know that. He's deduced that only the Interloper blood talismans are effective, though. ]

[balancedlight]

I know.

[She puts her hand over her pocket.]

I knew that it had to be human blood.

[salamanca]

You gave your blood? Wow. That's amazing. Very commendable, Svetlana. Did Randvi introduce you to Heartman?

[ Lalo looks at her gently. He wonders, briefly, what it would be like to be someone like Sveta. The kind of person who doesn't think twice about doing for others. Lalo isn't sure he'll ever know; they're not wired the same.

But that just makes him enjoy her company even more. ]

Thank you for your help. I have an idea for you. If you'd be willing to help me. [ He smiles at her, with a sincerity he only feels safe showing to a few people. She is one of them. But the grin turns slightly mischievous. ] Oho! Maybe two ideas!

[balancedlight]

[There's such a jump between one topic and another that it gives her a little mental whiplash. She's grateful, though, that his topic-hopping means that she doesn't have to fell that well of sadness for Heartman again.]

No, I - came to him because of the talismans and we became friends.

What are your ideas?

[salamanca]

[ Sorry, Sveta. Sometimes Lalo has so many ideas it's hard for him to stay on one topic! He's happy to see that she's cheerier now, and forces himself to focus on one thing at a time. ]

I wish I'd gotten to know him as well you did. He sounds like he was a lovely man. [ But he doesn't want to dwell on Heartman too long, if only because it's clear that makes her sad. It is too bad, though. Their community needs someone like Heartman now more than ever. ]

Ah. Well. [ He has to word himself carefully; Sveta and Fraser are pretty cute together. He doesn't want to jeopardize anything between them. But if he can get an idea of what Sveta and Randvi did together, he might get an idea of what kind of girls Randvi might like to move on with.

Hence the question. ]

I think we need people going throughout the community to make sure that everyone has one of these. Billy told me he'd help make some more. If you'd be so kind, I'd love to have you go with me to help deliver them to those who want them. [ He adds, since he knows it's important: ] He's promised to make Cornelius wear one, too, so he won't have any excuse to do again what he did last time.

And I was thinking... Randvi has been a bit low lately. I was hoping maybe you could help me find her a girlfriend. You know. Take her mind off things. [ Asking your friend's crush, who is your other friend, to help find the first friend a different girlfriend, is surely normal human behavior and not the behavior of a sociopath desperately trying to do the right thing in the weirdest way possible.

Besides, it will probably help Svetlana take her mind off things. She's always running herself so ragged doting on everyone else. It might be fun for her and Lalo to get to spend some quality girl time together!!! ]

[balancedlight]

I would love to help, yes. As - long as I do not have to see Mr. Hickey. [There's something low and angry in her voice still. She has to keep herself from trying to curse him, even though she has none of her normal powers here.

It's the thought that counts.]

As far as Randvi, I - I'm not certain. I didn't - I don't think I'm the right person to ask.

[salamanca]

You won't have to see him. I promise. [ Lalo reaches out, to gently and reassuringly touch her elbow, like Chloe does for him, hoping to make her feel better. He usually doesn't touch women like that, aware of how it could come off, but he knows Sveta well by now. He's careful, though. Sveta is spoken for; he doesn't want to seem like he's encroaching on Fraser's territory. ]

What do you mean? Of course you're the perfect person to ask! You're a girl. You know what girls like! And you know Randvi!

[balancedlight]

I know what I like. Why are you - I am not the right person for this! [She understands that she's repeating herself, but she has no idea how to answer the question. Why would it even matter? She doesn't understand at all what this is about.]

[salamanca]

[ Oh, no. It seems like he's really upsetting her. Lalo decides to let it drop. He can't tell her why he really asked, after all. He just hopes this isn't enough for her to guess.

He puts up both hands, gives her a cheesy smile. ]

Ah - ah! I'm sorry. You're right. I just thought you might like to do something fun, that's all. You work so hard. [ It's not a lie. She does work hard, and he does think she'd like to do something fun. But clearly this isn't fun to her. ]

You know what? Forget it. I'll tell you what. I'll stay home and rest for the rest of the day. [ He knows Sveta likes it when he rests so maybe this will make up for making her uncomfortable? ] We can go find out who needs talismans tomorrow. Okay? [ He looks at her hopefully. ]

Maybe you can show me what you think is fun someday. I would like that. I don't get out enough here. And you're from Russia! I'm not used to the snow like you are. In Mexico, we don't really have it -- not like this -- [ He sounds slightly sad. He misses Mexico! But he also knows he's rambling out of embarrassment, unused to genuine apologies, and if she was confused before he probably makes even less sense now. He quiets, and sheepishly looks at his feet. ]

[balancedlight]

[She reaches out and takes his hands for a moment.] Lalo. You are trying to do a good thing. I know you are. And I want to help.

Give me a little time and I will find out the answers for you, yes?

[She smiles.]

And I think ice skating is fun. Reading, too. I miss my books and yes, I miss home. I've never been to Mexico. Tell me about it?

[salamanca]

[ Lalo smiles brightly back at her. ] Okay! I trust you.

[ He looks down at her hands in his. It's funny. It feels nice. His are warm against her skin, due to his fire power. He smiles at her. ]

Oh, it's lovely. It's home, you know? Probably different from Russia, I would imagine. It's warm. The people are so friendly. It's a beautiful place.

[balancedlight]

It's home. [She nods and tucks her hands under her chin.]

And warm! I miss being warm. I've been to the hot springs, but that's so different. I've heard there is good food.