Slippery Introductions - Ella tags Esme

[Ella Tate]

"Coz he's my big bad handsome man, yeah." Ella mumbled, her body moving to the music on her music player. The young woman had just got back from a successful recruitment mission and her spirits were high. Unaware of the looks she was garnering from the people she passed by, she danced across the halls while an upbeat jazz song played loudly into her ear.

"He's the Devil divine I'm so glad that he's mine coz he's my big, boom, bad, boom I'm so glad that he's my big bad OOF!" The petite brunette staggered a few steps backward when she bumped into someone just as she twirled around. Turning to face the person, she found that the girl she bumped into had also bounced back.

"Holy smokes!" one hand flew to her mouth, cupping it lightly. "I am so, so sorry." She said behind her hand before dropping it and apologising once more. They were at the entrance of the staff lounge and the pretty woman in front of her was apparently coming from the opposite side. "Wow, I'm so sorry. I should have been looking at where I was going." Ella bit her lower lip before sticking her hand out to shake. "Ella Tate. Should I give you my social security number should you want to sue me for bodily harm?"

[Esme Bakus]

Esme didn’t make a habit of dancing around in the staff lounge. She used to! But there had been a collision incident at Esai gakko and…well it was bad. Very, very bad. So now she tried to keep herself aware at all times, especially when someone else didn’t seem to be paying attention.

She heard some singing, but she also thought she heard someone calling her name, so when she leaned back to check, the poor lady already in the lounge knocked right into her, sending the petite researched stumbling back a few paces. She clattered along the floor, her hot-pink patent heels nearly sending her flying. Thankfully she managed to regain her balance with all the grace of a new born calf: her knees bowed and her arms windmilling. The skirt canary yellow dress waving dangerously high, she gripped the door jamb and pulled it down. “Great god in heaven, that was close!”

She chuckled and shook her head at her attacker the woman who’d bumped into her and smiled widely. “No problem, sugar. Life happens. And no one is hurt so I won’t be needing your SS.” Esme took Ella’s hand and shook it cordially. “Esme Bakus. Nice to meet you, Ella.” Esme walked into the open area and put her hands on her hips, winking playfully. “Havin’ a little dance party, huh?”

[Ella Tate]

Ella's nose wrinkled as a smile spread across her face. Her hand gently grasped the other woman's hand, shaking it once briskly. "Esme, very medieval. I like it." Ella nodded. At Esme's wink, Ella grinned and nodded, taking her earphones off and stuffing it into the pocket of her slacks. "Just got back from a mission. No fuss, no mess. So...happy thoughts all around."

"Were you going in the lounge? I was thinking of having hot cocoa and a sandwich. Might like the company." She smiled charmingly. She had previously stowed away her lunch in the fridge - which was now working, thank heavens for Savvy - so Ella hoped it was still edible. "You're new here I gather? I am. I've only been here like...three months." She said as she entered the lounge straight to the fridge to find her sandwich still edible looking. She unwrapped the cellophane and took a sniff. "Oh...still good. Awesome."

[Esme Bakus]

“Medieval? Never heard that one before…” She mused, shrugging and deciding to take the compliment. It was better than well, that’s unfortunate. Once Ella had shaken her hand, Esme easily draped her arms around her waist, reclining against the counter. “Mission? What kind of mission?”

Esme smiled brightly, her eyes growing big with glee. “Aw, really?! I’d love to step in and give you some company then.” She chirped, wiggling a bit with excitement. Esme shrugged. “Eh. New-ish. I’ve been here about six years.” She giggled. “I just spend a lot of time in the caves known as the research division. I don’t see much light of day.”

[OoC:: @.@ TINY. My bad.]

[Ella Tate]

[OOC: No worries! Mine wasn't exactly a novel either ]

"Really?" Ella looked at Esme incredulously before breathing out a giggle. "I would have thought that was the first thought that crossed people's mind. You know, Lady Esme of Northwood. Or something," Ella waved her hand lazily.

She tilted her head slightly at the darker skinned woman's question. "Oh, I'm a recruiter. My recruit is a terrakinetic. He's settling down in the dorms. Sweet little guy." She smiled at the image of the young boy who all but threw his suitcases into Ella's rental car.

The smile widened at Esme's enthusiasm. "Would you like to share? I've got two pieces here. If you don't mind a cold sandwich." She waved the cellophane wrapped sandwich in Esme's direction.

She put it down for a bit before rummaging through the cabinets for the instant hot chocolate and grabbed two sachets. She paused and turned to Esme. "Cocoa?" She set to make a mug for herself as she waited for Esme's answer.

"Six years? That's not new." Ella chuckled. "Well, you're going to have to start with the light of day seeing. I don't much like being in enclosed spaces." She shook her head, having never imagined herself just staying cooped up in a room for more than an hour. "So whatcha researching now?"

[Esme Bakus]

Esme smiled widely, shaking her head again. “Oh no. That’s gotta be a northeastern thing.” She snorted a bit, picturing herself in a stereotypically medieval princess gown, complete with pointy hat. Maybe next year for Halloween she’d crown herself Lady Esme of Northwood.

Esme nodded emphatically. “Oooh~.” She cooed, impressed. “Recruiting is a job I think I’d really like to do some day. But I’m such a nerd that I guess it won’t happen until I can get my brain out of the octopus tank.” She said, giggling. It didn’t occur to Esme that her euphemism would come off a little strange to anyone who didn’t know she was a shifter, but she didn’t think much of it.

Shaking her head graciously, Esme put up a hand. “No thank you. I’m not hungry. But enjoy! Maybe we can share lunch some other time.” She rubbed her hands together with a giddy smile. “But Cocoa, I will have. Yum!” She chirped.

Shrugging Esme waved her hand. “The research division here is pretty involved, so six years still feels pretty new.” Playfully Esme hunched over, imitating the stereotypical ‘Igor.’ “but I liiiiike ze daaaaahhhrk.” She joked, straightening out and curling a lock of her hair around her finger.

“Right now I’m researching the pH balance adaptability of shifted humans versus true animals.” Esme prattled off, blinking for a moment. “Er…basically I’m trying to see if shifters can handle pH balances in water that humans can, but the animals in the wild that they shift into can’t.” Esme looked sheepish. “Does that make any sense at all? Its totally geeky.”

[Ella Tate]

"Maybe," Ella chuckled at Esme's response. At least she's not taking any offense where Ella didn't mean any.

At her coo, Ella grinned lightly, her hand stirring the spoon in the cup of hot cocoa before handing it off to Esme before making one more cup for herself. "Recruiting's pretty awesome. But your first time alone is pretty strenuous." She shrugged, not really noticing the weirdness of Esme's euphemism. All she heard was Esme trying to say she needed to get her mind out of her comfort zone [in this case, her research lab, Ella supposed]. They had octopus tanks in the labs didn't they?

"Ah, I see. I suppose that makes sense." Ella said in reply to Esme's explanation about her length of stay here. Her impression of a hunchback had the dark haired recruiter giggling as she bit into her cold sandwich. Good thing the researcher turned it down.

The power suppressor sipped her hot cocoa as she followed Esme's explanation on her research. "I...think I understand. I mean it would probably make more sense if there was a demonstration or something since I'm really more of a visual person. But the good thing is you're pretty excited about it which means it must be fun for you!" Ella smiled widely at the cheerful researcher.

"Have you been here long in Pilot Ridge? I mean, I've been here awhile but I haven't actually explored the place in all it's smallness." She giggled, tucking a lock of hair behind one ear. "It'd be nice to go out sometime. Any places you could recommend?"