[ It takes him a second or two to really perceive his surroundings; he's a little disoriented from the fall, but he's pretty sure he hasn't broken anything save his own pride, and he'll probably have a few bruises tomorrow, but it's not the worst injury he's ever sustained. Instead, he's reeling right up until he realizes who it is that's come over to check on him — and then he doesn't exactly shrink away from her, but he does jerk back in surprise as she crouches down next to him.
Oh, kriffing hell, it's her. ]
Uh, no, yeah. I mean, yes. I'm fine. Totally fine. [ She's here and it might be his imagination — had he hit his head after all? — but he's pretty sure she's touching him right now and he swallows hard, glancing from her hand up to her face. ]
[Mona takes a quick look at him to make sure there are no cuts or bumps. He will undoubtedly wake up with a few bruises tomorrow.
She smiles sheepishly at him.]
Okay. Sorry again.. I realized who you were and couldn't help but look. But didn't mean for this to happen. [She's very much real, smiling at him while helping him up.] You work out here often?
[ He offers a weak smile, though it's not necessarily anything lacking in sincerity — still closer to embarrassment, because he feels a little sheepish that he'd gotten so distracted by the mere sight of her, but now that she's this close he remembers why, and the memories of dancing with her come back again in a flood.
She's strong, too, he notices, as she helps haul him to his feet, and the smile on his face now is more grateful as he tries not to wince when he rolls one shoulder experimentally. ]
Yeah. Usually first thing in the morning, but sometimes I like coming at night. Sometimes there aren't as many people and I can just, you know, get out of my own head for a bit.
[He's not the only one with vivid memories of them dancing together. Ever since that day she'd hoped they'll run into each other again. She regretted not telling him her name back then as it would've made it easier to meet.]
I'm glad. By the way, I'm Mona.. We never quite got around to exchanging names that day. [Mona lets out a soft laugh. They were preoccupied with their passionate little dance.]
Exercise is the perfect way to get one's mind off things, for sure. Didn't know it'd be good for running into people you missed, too.
No, I, uh — [ He's trying to think of a response that doesn't fess up to the fact that he'd been too distracted by dancing with her to even think about getting her name before, but now it's one that he has, something he can assign to her face and all the memories he has even if they're fairly brief ones.
He doesn't remember every single detail — something having to do with the spices themselves, maybe — and even afterwards, when they'd gone their separate ways, most of it had felt like a dream he'd had, and once enough time had passed he'd started to wonder if he'd just dreamed up the mysterious, nameless blonde woman too. ]
I'm Finn. [ He realizes in that moment she's probably waiting on him to introduce himself and so he does, reaching out to offer her a hand. ] I haven't seen you around here before. Do you usually come at a different time?
[It's easily one of her favorite days, letting go for a moment with the mysterious man whom she finally had a name for. Moments like that made it easy to forget the homesickness.]
Good to meet you, Finn. That's a nice name. [She smiles and takes his hand, giving it a gentle shake.]
I haven't been here that many times yet, actually. Work's kept me busy, along with some other things. Definitely picked the perfect day this time. [She drinks a sip of water, handing Finn a bottle as well.]
[ He shrugs, clearly not sure how to take the compliment about it. ] It's the only name I've ever had. [ Before that, it was nothing but a designation, a combination of letters and numbers he was supposed to respond to; he'd never even had a name until Poe decided he didn't want to refer to him that way, and he's been Finn ever since. ]
Oh. Where do you work? [ He's asking out of curiosity, obviously, but also because he's trying to line up a job for himself too; so far, he hasn't stumbled across anything that seems to really fit what he's suited for.
But he reaches out to take the bottle from her with a brief murmur of thanks, even if he doesn't uncap it right away. It's a little difficult for him to trust anything in this city that he hasn't served himself, knowing the possibility that it might be tampered with or dosed in some way. Not that he thinks she'd dose him or anything like that. ]
[Coming from a world where almost all her loved ones had a special name, Mona was drawn to them.
She may have shown a calm, confident exterior, but the nerves were definitely there. It's just the two of them this time. No loud music, no dancing to distract them. Just Finn and Mona, and she definitely feels an attraction.]
I work as a bouncer at 13th Step. A nice little bar. [A smile comes naturally around him.] What do you do, Finn?
[She can't blame him for being cautious. It's easy to doubt things offered by half-strangers in this city. There's always something spiked, but Mona would never do that to him.]
[ It hits him then, enough to make him stop mid-sentence and glance down at the bottle in his hands, that he actually hasn't really made any headway on finding a job yet. Some of that is comfort in his current situation, his contract with Kendra, and the fact that she's made it clear that he doesn't necessarily need to work anywhere in case he needs to pay for anything — but he wants to feel useful, like he's contributing in some way. He just... hasn't really figured out how to do that yet. ]
— don't exactly have a job. Yet. [ He wants to make it clear that he's not just mooching off of his dominant, but he makes a mental note here and now to start being more proactive about that so he has a better answer in the future.
Eventually, he just lets the bottle fall by his side without drinking from it, still grasped loosely between his fingers. ] But I'm working on that.
I'm sure you'll find something. There must be a few places in need of a strong but kind man.
[She didn't want to assume about people, but Finn seems like a good-hearted person. He's certainly charming. Incredibly charming. If they were in New York, she'd recommend him to Tommy or maybe even Frank. She'd love to work in the field with him.]
I've heard there's a few clubs and such looking for people.
[Mona tries not to stare, but it's hard to resist that feeling bubbling up inside. It's the same thing she felt while dancing with Finn.]
Do you have anything planned after this? Because I was thinking.. Maybe we could do something.
[ It's a comment that kind of takes him by surprise, because whether he's kind or not... that's not anything she can possibly know about him after the length of a dance and half a conversation, right?
Sure, there's such a thing as having a good feeling about someone from the jump, and he's had those moments before in meeting people, but it's a separate issue altogether when he finds himself on the receiving end of it, and for a moment he's so taken aback that he doesn't know what to say in response to it.
Ultimately, there's going to be a lot of verbal fumbling, during which his brain temporarily short-circuits, before he realizes she's just asked him a question and it takes him a second to actually figure out what it is and how to answer it. ]
[It's just a feeling she had about him and she hopes it won't completely weird him out. It's not like she has some strange power of reading people.
Mona takes a moment to think, feeling those nerves kick in. She wants this to work out and for something to happen between them, perhaps. But she will leave it up to chemistry.]
Maybe we could go have a coffee or some early lunch?
[She'd love to continue their talk and get to know Finn a little better. They've only scratched the surface by exchanging names and gym schedules.]
[ Finn winces at the mention of coffee, but it's more of an involuntary reaction to the idea of drinking it instead of her suggestion to go somewhere else instead. ]
I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but — I could always eat. [ That's not an exaggeration; even if he hadn't been burning a fair number of calories on weights earlier, not to mention the quick jog he'd attempted on the treadmill before making an idiot out of himself and faceplanting, he'd still have an appetite for food.
After a beat, he reaches up to rake fingers through the growing ends of his hair; it's been a while since he's had it cut, but he's not necessarily opposed to seeing how it feels about it now that it's a little longer. ] I should probably shower first, if you don't mind, you know, waiting.
Lunch it is. I'm not really in a coffee mood anyway.
[Mona giggles softly. She's glad to see he wants to go out and take this thing further. A small work out's always a good way to build up an appetite and she won't say no to the good company.]
Sure. I should take one too. Meet you by the entrance?
[ His enthusiasm definitely leaves him a little stronger than he intends it to and at first he's clearing his throat to try and downplay the suddenness of it, trying to school his face into something more neutral before he musters a firm nod. ]
I mean, great. [ He'll even try deepening his voice a bit, but it comes out sounding slightly ridiculous and he's probably going to wait until he's back in the locker room before banging his head against one of them, where she can't see. ]
Yeah, I'll, uh — I'll meet you out front. Say in like, fifteen? [ That's about as long as he thinks it'll take, anyway, and he's not planning on getting sidetracked with some unexpected company in the shower like he has in the past here. ]
[She finds his enthusiasm incredibly cute and endearing, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't feeling the exact same way. Their first proper time together after the dancing.
With one more smile flashed his way, Mona makes her way to the women's locker room. There's a constant smile on her face while she showers, thinking about the day ahead.]
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Oh, kriffing hell, it's her. ]
Uh, no, yeah. I mean, yes. I'm fine. Totally fine. [ She's here and it might be his imagination — had he hit his head after all? — but he's pretty sure she's touching him right now and he swallows hard, glancing from her hand up to her face. ]
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She smiles sheepishly at him.]
Okay. Sorry again.. I realized who you were and couldn't help but look. But didn't mean for this to happen. [She's very much real, smiling at him while helping him up.] You work out here often?
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[ He offers a weak smile, though it's not necessarily anything lacking in sincerity — still closer to embarrassment, because he feels a little sheepish that he'd gotten so distracted by the mere sight of her, but now that she's this close he remembers why, and the memories of dancing with her come back again in a flood.
She's strong, too, he notices, as she helps haul him to his feet, and the smile on his face now is more grateful as he tries not to wince when he rolls one shoulder experimentally. ]
Yeah. Usually first thing in the morning, but sometimes I like coming at night. Sometimes there aren't as many people and I can just, you know, get out of my own head for a bit.
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I'm glad. By the way, I'm Mona.. We never quite got around to exchanging names that day. [Mona lets out a soft laugh. They were preoccupied with their passionate little dance.]
Exercise is the perfect way to get one's mind off things, for sure. Didn't know it'd be good for running into people you missed, too.
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He doesn't remember every single detail — something having to do with the spices themselves, maybe — and even afterwards, when they'd gone their separate ways, most of it had felt like a dream he'd had, and once enough time had passed he'd started to wonder if he'd just dreamed up the mysterious, nameless blonde woman too. ]
I'm Finn. [ He realizes in that moment she's probably waiting on him to introduce himself and so he does, reaching out to offer her a hand. ] I haven't seen you around here before. Do you usually come at a different time?
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Good to meet you, Finn. That's a nice name. [She smiles and takes his hand, giving it a gentle shake.]
I haven't been here that many times yet, actually. Work's kept me busy, along with some other things. Definitely picked the perfect day this time. [She drinks a sip of water, handing Finn a bottle as well.]
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Oh. Where do you work? [ He's asking out of curiosity, obviously, but also because he's trying to line up a job for himself too; so far, he hasn't stumbled across anything that seems to really fit what he's suited for.
But he reaches out to take the bottle from her with a brief murmur of thanks, even if he doesn't uncap it right away. It's a little difficult for him to trust anything in this city that he hasn't served himself, knowing the possibility that it might be tampered with or dosed in some way. Not that he thinks she'd dose him or anything like that. ]
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She may have shown a calm, confident exterior, but the nerves were definitely there. It's just the two of them this time. No loud music, no dancing to distract them. Just Finn and Mona, and she definitely feels an attraction.]
I work as a bouncer at 13th Step. A nice little bar. [A smile comes naturally around him.] What do you do, Finn?
[She can't blame him for being cautious. It's easy to doubt things offered by half-strangers in this city. There's always something spiked, but Mona would never do that to him.]
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[ It hits him then, enough to make him stop mid-sentence and glance down at the bottle in his hands, that he actually hasn't really made any headway on finding a job yet. Some of that is comfort in his current situation, his contract with Kendra, and the fact that she's made it clear that he doesn't necessarily need to work anywhere in case he needs to pay for anything — but he wants to feel useful, like he's contributing in some way. He just... hasn't really figured out how to do that yet. ]
— don't exactly have a job. Yet. [ He wants to make it clear that he's not just mooching off of his dominant, but he makes a mental note here and now to start being more proactive about that so he has a better answer in the future.
Eventually, he just lets the bottle fall by his side without drinking from it, still grasped loosely between his fingers. ] But I'm working on that.
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[She didn't want to assume about people, but Finn seems like a good-hearted person. He's certainly charming. Incredibly charming. If they were in New York, she'd recommend him to Tommy or maybe even Frank. She'd love to work in the field with him.]
I've heard there's a few clubs and such looking for people.
[Mona tries not to stare, but it's hard to resist that feeling bubbling up inside. It's the same thing she felt while dancing with Finn.]
Do you have anything planned after this? Because I was thinking.. Maybe we could do something.
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[ It's a comment that kind of takes him by surprise, because whether he's kind or not... that's not anything she can possibly know about him after the length of a dance and half a conversation, right?
Sure, there's such a thing as having a good feeling about someone from the jump, and he's had those moments before in meeting people, but it's a separate issue altogether when he finds himself on the receiving end of it, and for a moment he's so taken aback that he doesn't know what to say in response to it.
Ultimately, there's going to be a lot of verbal fumbling, during which his brain temporarily short-circuits, before he realizes she's just asked him a question and it takes him a second to actually figure out what it is and how to answer it. ]
No, no plans. Why do you ask?
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Mona takes a moment to think, feeling those nerves kick in. She wants this to work out and for something to happen between them, perhaps. But she will leave it up to chemistry.]
Maybe we could go have a coffee or some early lunch?
[She'd love to continue their talk and get to know Finn a little better. They've only scratched the surface by exchanging names and gym schedules.]
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I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but — I could always eat. [ That's not an exaggeration; even if he hadn't been burning a fair number of calories on weights earlier, not to mention the quick jog he'd attempted on the treadmill before making an idiot out of himself and faceplanting, he'd still have an appetite for food.
After a beat, he reaches up to rake fingers through the growing ends of his hair; it's been a while since he's had it cut, but he's not necessarily opposed to seeing how it feels about it now that it's a little longer. ] I should probably shower first, if you don't mind, you know, waiting.
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[Mona giggles softly. She's glad to see he wants to go out and take this thing further. A small work out's always a good way to build up an appetite and she won't say no to the good company.]
Sure. I should take one too. Meet you by the entrance?
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[ His enthusiasm definitely leaves him a little stronger than he intends it to and at first he's clearing his throat to try and downplay the suddenness of it, trying to school his face into something more neutral before he musters a firm nod. ]
I mean, great. [ He'll even try deepening his voice a bit, but it comes out sounding slightly ridiculous and he's probably going to wait until he's back in the locker room before banging his head against one of them, where she can't see. ]
Yeah, I'll, uh — I'll meet you out front. Say in like, fifteen? [ That's about as long as he thinks it'll take, anyway, and he's not planning on getting sidetracked with some unexpected company in the shower like he has in the past here. ]
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[She finds his enthusiasm incredibly cute and endearing, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't feeling the exact same way. Their first proper time together after the dancing.
With one more smile flashed his way, Mona makes her way to the women's locker room. There's a constant smile on her face while she showers, thinking about the day ahead.]