Backwater Nexus. Mall. Let's Rock and Ride!

[misslucysleeches]

Lucy approaches the mall with just a little trepidation, smoothing out her dress (bright green with yellow flowers on the skirt -- and it's just over knee length, so a certain little pitcher needn't worry if she's around tonight) and making sure her hair is pulled back neatly in its ponytail. Silver's mention of the Rock N Ride nights at the mall stuck with her even after her return to her own world. So, after a rather annoying day trying to make sure her passport was up-to-date, she's decided it's time to seek out some fun and see what else this Nexus has to offer. "Just hope they accept regular old American dollars," she mumbles, patting her purse by her side as she reaches the front entrance. (Nothing in her vast array of literature suggested they wouldn't, but discretion, valor, etc.)

Comments

[random_xtras]

"The roller coaster dragon." A muscularly built little brunette in front of her points skyward, big brown eyes dancing. "We're riding on him tonight!"

"You bet we are, says the tall, grey-eyed Indian woman standing next to the brunette, her full mouth turned into a smile of quiet glee.

[misslucysleeches]

Lucy looks up. "Oh! Wow -- I've ridden dragon-themed roller coasters before, but not. . ." She grins. "Wild."

Looking back down again, she offers a hand. "I'm Lucy."

[random_xtras]

"But not a living one that can take you for a ride among the clouds and sky mountains, huh?" The taller woman's smile becomes a grin as she gives Lucy's hand a strong shake. "Rhea Summers. This is Uzulee McCoy, and Ruhamah Logan."

"Hi," says a quiet voice from about four foot above the ground.

[misslucysleeches]

"We're not lucky enough to have dragons where I come from -- or, if we are, they keep well out of sight," Lucy says, shaking back. She looks around, dipping her head down to make sure she's properly acknowledged everyone. "Lucy Leech, if we're doing full names. Good to meet you all."

[random_xtras]

Lucy might not be able to see Ruhamah at first. The tiny woman has skin as black as tar, literally. And her hair matches. But the lights pick out blue highlights in her hair, and show the glint of her large, obsidian coloured eyes.

"You're new here?" she asks, tone of voice showing her to be the eldest of the three friends despite her stature.

"Huh? New?" Uzulee looks around from watching the dragoncoaster overhead.

[misslucysleeches]

That is very black, yes. It takes a moment's searching, but spotting the blue highlights does help. She nods in the appropriate direction. "Relatively. I stumbled across this place a few weeks ago. Found myself in the sign area," she adds, pointing back. "Someone mentioned these nights to me, so I decided to come check them out."

[random_xtras]

"Ahhh," says Uzulee. "So just before the big ugly sign got replaced with the Visitor Center, and the floating mountains showed up." She grins.

[misslucysleeches]

"I saw a big ugly sign, so yes, I would imagine so," Lucy nods with a smirk. "I heard something about this Nexus peeling off from the rest on my last visit -- guess that's a consequence of the split?"

[random_xtras]

"Yeah. Probably." Uzulee steps forward as the rest do. "Though they've got a new little sign up on the Visitors' Center." Then she sniffs the air. "Oooooo!"

"I smell it too," says Ruhamah, her teeth a white flash in the darkness.

"Smell what?" Rhea frowns and sniffs.

[misslucysleeches]

"Hopefully it's not as eye-blinding as the old one," Lucy says, then frowns. "What?" She takes a few deep sniffs herself. "What is it?"

[random_xtras]

"Bannock." Ruhamah grins again. "And they just pulled a Native pizza out of the oven."

"Want," says Uzulee fervently. Then she looks at Lucy. "Want to come with? Ruhamah's treat."

[misslucysleeches]

Lucy finds herself biting back a smile. Is it just her, or does she keep running into people wanting to feed her? Still, she's intrigued. "Yeah, I'll tag along if you'll have me. See what's what."

[random_xtras]

They do, don't they? Maybe it's to show where the good stuff that doesn't do creepy things can be found.

"Do you eat meat?" asks Uzulee, once more stepping forward with the others as the lines move.

[misslucysleeches]

Maybe. That's good knowledge to have in any new situation.

Lucy nods. "I'm not an 'om nom carnivore,' but I do like it," she says.

[random_xtras]

"Good. Then it's only Rhea that'll have to wait for the meatplant one to finish baking." Uzulee grins at the older woman and gets bapped.

[misslucysleeches]

"The -- meatplant?" Lucy desires more information, because she's pretty sure this is going to be nothing like the substitutes vegetarians get at home.

[random_xtras]

"It's a species of giant, meaty mushroom with a slightly spicy flavour," says Ruhamah. "It's hard for most humans to tell it from beef."

"I can tell," says Rhea, wrinkling her nose. "It's better than beef."

"You're not most humans," comes the dry response.

And Uzulee is just laughing at the snark.

[misslucysleeches]

"Weeeeird," Lucy says. "But interesting. Maybe I'll try some later -- after it's finished cooking," she adds with a chuckle.