new faces

Who: Cheyenne and Lila
When: Midafternoon
Where: The steps of the Alexandrian Library

With most of her errands for the day completed, Lila took some time to have lunch in one of her favorite spots in the city - the library. Her last task before work was to drop in and pick up a new book or two; it kept her busy in between sets. She wouldn't actually eat inside the library (even if it had been allowed), but the steps leading up to the wide front doors provided a nice view and relatively calm spot to enjoy a few moments.

Finding a spot that was somewhat sheltered from the wind that had been kicking up all day, Lila smoothed her skirt beneath her and took a seat. Lunch was a small cup of fruit she'd bought from a street vendor - a rare indulgence for a girl who usually ate every meal at home - and she sat back for a few moments of peace before her usual routine continued.

Cheyenne had been walking around trying to find things she actually wanted to record on film. After a few days of feeling really out of it, and generally paranoid, she found her creativity was taking a hit. So, today she was determined to do something with her photography. The day was darkish, but that was alright. The wind was creating some interesting imagery. As she walked past the library, she paused as she spotted a pretty girl sitting by herself. So, pausing herself, she stopped, set up a shot and focused on her. She waited til a stray bit of wind took the woman's hair, and then snapped a shot, smiling.

It took Lila a moment to notice someone had stopped instead of either climbing the stairs or continuing on by; she was rather absently nibbling bits of fruit and letting her eyes rove over the architecture. It was a rather forbidding building, but Lila had always felt more peaceful than anything else when sitting in its shadow. But notice she did, glancing down to see a girl with a camera - a camera that was apparently pointing at her. Lila twisted around to look behind her and see if there was anything else of interest that could be the subject, but there was nothing except more stairs and building. She turned back around, giving the girl (who was quite striking in appearance) a quizzical look.

Cheyenne smiled and took a picture of the look the girl was giving her, then she grinned at her over the camera. "I was taking a picture of you." she told her. "I hope you don't mind. I'm just a sucker for a pretty girl and an interesting building." she explained, walking closer. "Am I interrupting anything important?" Since she was clearly interrupting lunchtime, anyhow.

Lila blushed at the compliment, smiling in response. "No, I don't mind," she said, just a touch shyly. "And no, you weren't interrupting anything at all, I was just eating lunch." She hesitated a moment. "Would you like to join me?" she asked. "If you're not heading anywhere, that is."

"I'd love to!" Cheyenne said brightly, walking up to sit down next to the girl. "Mind if I take a close up shot?" she asked. "I'm Cheyenne, by the way, nice to meet you. What's your name?" she asked, looking the girl over better since she was closer. She had beautiful hair, and she wanted her to look away from the wind so when another gust found it's way around to her, it would blow her hair around towards her face. But that would be counting on nature to do something nice for her again, and while it cooperated and provided lots of pretty things, it didn't exactly perform on cue or anything.

"No, feel free," Lila said. "Should I smile? Or do something else?" She offered the hand not currently holding her fruit. "I'm Lila," she introduced. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cheyenne. You have a very unique name." It fit, the girl herself being rather unique as well. She'd never seen anyone with that shade of hair - except the elderly, of course - and it looked natural, from what she could tell. Either that or it was a very fresh dye job.

"Do whatever comes naturally." Cheyenne told Lila, holding her camera up as she waited for the shot she wanted. "And thanks, I like it. It's native american, actually. A tribal name, I believe." She'd looked it up before, anyhow. "You come here often?" she asked. She hadn't been by in a while, which she was thinking she should remedy. She should probably read more than she did at current.

"Whenever I have the time," Lila said, nodding. Rather solitary by nature, it wasn't her habit to keep eye contact for too long and she glanced away and up at the building, smiling faintly at the sign that named it. "I try to get here at least once a week. Actually go inside and browse, that is, not just sit here, although it's a nice spot for a short break. Do you spend much time here?"

"I haven't spent a lot of time here recently. I was just thinking maybe I should." She snapped a shot or two, then put the camera down against her leg, smiling at her. "I was also wondering if there were still parts of it that were roped off and the like, due to fire damage, and thinking that would be really great to take photographs of." Which might be considered tresspassing, but a lot of times she could smile sweetly enough and people would let her do what she wanted. Besides, it wasn't as if she was going to harm anything.

"The east wing," Lila confirmed, nodding. "The scaffolding and everything is still up; I suppose they're still working on repairing it." She never really saw anyone from there (or at least, what she could see from the ropes), but they likely worked when the library was closed to cut down on the inconvenience to the patrons. "I believe it's been posted off-limits to the public, however," she said gently. She'd never presume to tell a stranger to stay away, but perhaps she didn't know. "Likely because it's not safe. The rest of it is quite lovely, though," she added. "Though I suppose you'd know that already," she continued with a small, wry smile.

Cheyenne laughed a little. "Think we could sneak into the not so pretty part?" she asked. "That is, if you wanted to hang out for a while. I bet I could get some brilliant shots in there, and with a person in them, it'd be even nicer." She liked just still frames of things, but if she had a person in to add context, or in this case, to add a strange element, it should be really nice.

"I don't know if we should," Lila said, biting her lip and casting a worried glance at the entrance to the library. "With the fire... it's probably unstable. I'd hate for either of us to get hurt." It was obvious Cheyenne was much more adventurous than she was; Lila'd never even dreamed of sneaking into the roped off area. "And we'd almost certainly get kicked out."

"If it was that unstable, I'm sure someone would have discovered it within the last like, ten years or so." However long it had been since the fire. "If you don't want to though, I totally understand. It wouldn't be fun if you weren't comfortable." Which she was a firm believer in. She knew she'd had some photoshoots herself that had bugged, and she couldn't wait to get out of there. Later, she hadn't been able to appreciate the images produced either. All it did was remind her of being uncomfortable.

"I'd really prefer if we didn't," Lila said with a small, apologetic smile. Off the subject of burned-out library wings, she nodded to indicate the camera. "Are you a professional photographer?" she asked. "Or is it just a hobby?" She always felt a small kinship with those who devoted time to creative pursuits, no matter how similar or different those might be to how she made a living. She'd never tried photography before - she couldn't afford a camera - but it looked fun.

Cheyenne looked disappointed and sighed, but smiled. "Alright. I'll have to go in by myself at some point." Getting kicked out wasn't really anything she was afraid of. "And it's a hobby, at the moment, but I hope to break into being a professional on it. I'm used to being on the other end of the camera, but have given that up." she explained. She just didn't have the desire anymore, even if she still sometimes agreed to shoots, because she was well paid.

"Modeling," Lila said with a smile, "that's very glamorous. Did you stop to focus on your photography, or just because? What sort of modeling did you do?" She didn't really follow fashion - she wore what she could afford and what fit, usually things repurposed from pieces she already owned - but she at least knew there were different types.

"It's something that always seems more glamorous than it is, trust me." Cheyenne told Lila with a bit of a conspiratorial tone. "It's meant to look that way, basically. What it boils down to is a whole lot of standing around in clothes you don't especially like that someone else has decided is 'high art', and even more being physically uncomfortable." Then she gave a quirked little smile. "And I've done all sorts, but I called quits after being a pin-up model." she admitted.

"That must have been an interesting experience," Lila said, blinking. She didn't feel any censure for the genre - she was hardly one to talk, as a cabaret dancer - but it was strange to think about having her photo taken so that some man could stare at it whenever he wanted. At least her performance came and went without any sort of permanent reminder. "I don't think I could do that. Are you doing any other sort of work now, or focusing on your photography?

"Mostly just focusing on my photography, honestly." Cheyenne admitted. "I've...made enough to keep myself fairly well for a while, so that's what I'm interested in, so that's what I'm doing. What about yourself?" she asked, interested. She liked knowing people's stories.

"I'm an entertainer," Lila said. "Singing and dance. I perform at the Kitten Club." She wondered if Cheyenne was the type to visit clubs like that, but decided that she likely hadn't seen the former model during any of her sets - she thought she would remember such distinctive hair.

"Oh there!" Cheyenne said, recognizing the name. "I was always curious about that place." she admitted. But she knew that her family wouldn't stand for her going there. She didn't know why exactly, but she knew there were certain places in the city that she flat out wasn't allowed to venture. That was one of them. She'd never got that satisfactory an answer about it other than the owners weren't 'their kind of people'. But whatever. "Is it a fun place to work? Do you enjoy it?"

"It's not bad," Lila said, nodding. "I love to sing and dance, and it's definitely the nicest place I've ever performed. The people there are nice, too." For the most part, assuming she stayed clear of certain managers. "You should come by one evening," she suggested. "It's pretty peaceful, for the most part, especially if you don't stay too late. They have some really amazing performers there." She was too humble to include herself in that group, though she drew her own share of fans.

"I'll think about it." Cheyenne said genuinely. She was mostly just having to weigh the pros and cons of going somewhere she was quite clearly not supposed to go. But she was rebelious when she wanted to be. Maybe she could sneak. Or kind of dress herself in a less conspicuous manner. God that sounded a whole lot like dressing in costume, and she didn't necessarily appreciate that idea. But what could one do? "I'd like to see, anyways. It'd be a lot of fun."

"It would be," Lila agreed, smiling. "If you come, you'll have to let me know you're there. Just signal one of the bartenders, they'll send word." She didn't usually spend her time between sets out in the bar proper, but something about Cheyenne's warm and friendly demeanor prompted her to make the offer. Lila didn't have many girlfriends (or friends at all, if she was going to be honest), so she could appreciate someone who could draw her out of her shell a little.

"I will!" Cheyenne said. "What kind of things do you do for fun other than be awed at?" she asked. "Ever want to go out sometime? My treat, we could go someplace fun, maybe the theater? I met this girl the other night, she doesn't speak very well, but she does some back stage work for the theater. I was interested in going and seeing what they have going on. It's not an activity to do alone though." she prompted.

"Oh, I doubt it's awe," Lila said with a laugh. Then she shrugged. "I don't really go out much," she said, smiling slightly. "I usually stay home and look after my mother when I'm not working or running errands. I usually try to come here as often as I can, too." She looked mildly surprised at the invitation, but pleased. "I've never been to the theater," she said shyly. "It sounds like fun."

"Well then it's an absolute must that we go then if you've never been!" Cheyenne decided. "And you take care of your mother? Is she alright? Or...?" she asked, concerned. She had older relatives that were in some stages of poor health. Like Maya's husband before he'd kicked off. They were kind of distant, though so she'd never had cause or opportunity to care for anyone in that position.