14516/Dinosaur Date.

Dinosaur Date.
Date of Scene:	27 March 2023
Location:	American Museum of Natural History
Synopsis:	Harper and Viv have a date at the museum. They make tentative plans to throw a little get together. And a plushie is purchased.
Cast of Characters:	Harper Row, Vivian Vision

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Harper Row has posed:
It's a pretty nice day. Not a cloud in the sky but a day involving thunder lizards. Waiting on the front steps of the entrance Harper is clutching some tickets in the kind of grip usually reserved for scaling the outside of a brownstone in Gotham. Dressed in a way that could never be called inconspicuous, Ms. Row is wearing practically pastel hues. Purple leggings, fushsia top, lime green highlights, like she was dressed for a rave. Her hair has had extra attention to style it real flash, headphones, backpack and shoes that don't light up, but are pretty eye catching. Her piercings are all in, as is her ever-present choker, because sometimes a punk wants to go urban princess on an honest to god date in NYC.

From her demeanor she's anxious and excited, giving the eyeball to those passing inside, particularly families and students, her lips quirking.

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision hasn't dressed up for the occasion. Not because she doesn't want to dress up, but her outfits are made of special materials that cost a fortune to make. So getting a new dress made for a date is unfortunately an impractical expense. Which is why she's in her typical yellow cargo pants and a green sweater. Of course because it's a date she has brought a handbag with her. Mostly filled with things that'll be useful for her date. Home made cookies, bottled water and other things a considerate date might offer their partner.

She gives Harper a wave when she arrives.

"I hope you haven't been waiting long?" she wonders. "I always try to attend events slightly early. But if I have misunderstood the meeting time I do apologise!"

Harper Row has posed:
Harper's head whips around, her faux-hawk sweeping over a moment later. Her eyes light up and her smile is free of the mask of smug or smirk. An unvarnished expression of relief and gladness. "Viv, hi! No no, not at all. I got here way too early, just in case. There's a new exhibit on my favourite that I heard just got set up. A real big boy, and this place is so much bigger than what we've got in gloomy Gotham. And..." she remembers to take a breath. "I once kinda got banned as a kid from a museum for a bit of overenthusi-...You know what? Nevermind!" She holds up her tickets, making them splay into a V.

Harper swipes at her hair and comes over to reach for you hand. "I haven't been here in awhile. I hope it'll be kinda interesting. I mean, these might be just big walking petroleum deposits to a lot of people. Ancient history and that's it." she flusters and swallows. "I'm...so glad you're here. You look great." Not nervous at all.

Vivian Vision has posed:
"You always look wonderful," Vivian says back with a shy smile. "I love visiting museums. I quite like the exhibits about Ancient Egypt. The cultural rituals from past eras are quite interesting from an anthropological point of view." It's probably a little presumptuous for Viv to try learn about ancient Humans while she's still trying to figure out current Humans. But the more data points she can obtain the better, right?

"If you start getting overly eager we can hold hands so you don't run off and get in trouble," she teases. "Also the dinosaurs in museums don't generally tend to walk. Or have anything to do with petroleum. As usually they're plaster casts of fossils rather than the genuine bones."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper grins, tilting her head, pleased by the compliment. "That might be for the best. I've got a rap sheet." A small laugh, because it's partially true. And she reaches out to take Vivian's hand right now. "We'd better be cautious then, right?" And of course, holding hands is high on her list at the moment. "Ancient Egypt is pretty cool. I mean when it comes to building things that'll last, or trying to preserve stuff...oof, they did the best they could with what they had, right? Well, they kind of grabbed the ball and really ran with the whole thing of life and death...yeah.

Harper tugs at Vivian to bring her up the steps, intending to breeze past the ticket counter efficiently and get into the interior. "Gawd, wouldn't be great if they did though? If we can't have a Zoo, at least some animatronics that could like...~hrooooonk~ or ~hoot hoot~" The poor girl actually tries to make sounds of the ancient beasties. "Where do you think they keep the bones? Do you think they're in a secret part of the basement?" She's a bit excited.

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision interlinks her fingers with Harpers and grins. "Ancient Rome was also pretty impressive," she adds. "They made things from concrete that have lasted absurdly long times. When typically modern concrete gets corroded and worn down. Largely due to the iron rebar breaking down over time and causing weakness in the concrete. But as the Romans didn't use metal reinforcements their buildings have lasted."

She follows along, letting Harper dictate the pace. She has the tickets after all!

"Usually a museum has climate controlled areas for the storage of delicate specimens. So I would expect the actual bones to be in one of those areas. With pretty heavy security too. There is quite a lucrative black market for stolen dinosaur bones. Rich people like having them because they're rare and the value will only ever increase."

Harper Row has posed:
The bubblegum Punk pulls Vivian over past a diorama of some ancient flora, the kind that should slurp up all that good unpolluted oxygen and be munched on by certain ancient saurians. With her other hand free, she's very touchy feely with putting smudges on glass cases. Her fingers dragging down the enclosures with small ~sqeee~ noises. "I wonder...Yeah, I can see that. I mean, they'd be older than anything. Maybe to one person it wouldn't need to be as shiny as a diamond or have the luster of gold, but it could be ~older~." Her mind whirls, and she feels a thrill of wanting some. Oh no, criminal heel turn possible?!

Harper comes to a halt next to a display of veloci-cuties. Her sneakers squeak as her insteps work at the floor like she was crushing a cigarette beneath. The duo of hunters are sleek, vibrantly coloured in scale and feathers. The display making it look like they were caught in mid-hunt for the poor delicious mammal or other kind of morsel on the menu. She purses her lips and tears her eyes off them to regard Vivian's expression. Her hand squeezes. "Do you think they could have eventually made stuff with rebar, concrete...figured out how to bang rocks together?"

Vivian Vision has posed:
"Did you know that all of our assumptions about what dinosaurs look like are pretty much totally guesses?" Vivian asks. "There is a fascinating collection of drawings in which Paleoartists did drawings of modern animals and applied the same techniques used to estimate what dinosaurs look like. And none of them came out even remotely similar to the actual animal. Because all the soft tissue is gone so we don't really know if they were sleek or plump. They even used the techniques on Humans and they look like some kind of science fiction alien."

"I don't think they needed to really," she muses. "The Romans had a fantastic understanding of compression strength in construction. And by building massive structures with arches and strong geometric shapes they ensured buildings would last thousands of years. Why bother to add metal bars? Especially when it makes the building last less time."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper chews on her bottom lip piercing, getting the edge of a tooth over it while masticates. For such a clever girl, she finds she's always learning new stuff with Vivian. Whether it's a perspective free of embellishment, or facts coinciding with clear logical facts, free of falacy. And for some reason it leaves her looking like ~this~ when listening. Eyes owlishly gazing at Vivian like a student receiving a lesson from a mentor. "But imagine if they ~did~" comes her hushed reply.

Harper pulls Vivian along past the v-raptors and moves onto the bigger displays. And what she said before about their composition is made ever so plain. The artful depictions over casts and molds, lighter than what they'd realistically be, because these floors are only load bearing to a certain level. "I liked the plump ones quite a bit as a kid. Cullen like the T-rex...obviously. But I had a soft spot for..." She uses the fingers of her free hand to make horns protrude from her forehead. "Triceratops." She muses over the info plaque detailing some basic facts as the family before them in the display is frozen in place, an ancient nuclear family of Momma, Dadda and two lumpy offspring. "I tried to ride one of these during 3rd grade. If only I'd had a grapple launcher back then..." She smirks. "I used to have a lot of dinosaur toys with Cullen. Cheapo rubber things...easier to hide from Dad. Harder the break."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I suppose we'd have a lot fewer Roman ruins," Vivian points out with a grin. "Because they'd have all fallen down hundreds of years ago. Especially after the fall of the Roman empire which would have left the buildings without anyone to maintain them."

She gives Harpers hand a little squeeze as they pass from exhibit to exhibit.

"I like the ankylosaurus. It's a practical design. Armoured, able to graze crops, and has a huge tail mace for if it needs to fight other dinosaurs."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper's eyes light up. "Oh yeah! Big donk-a-donk!" She nods enthusiastically. "I think they might have one here. I hope so." She's just tickled pink Vivian's got her own preference. "When I think about it, it's like they've all got like...primal superpowers or something. And some could fly, and some could swim, and some could be stronger than strong."

Oh no. Oh no. There's a bad impulse kiosk that acts as a waypoint between this Hall and the next for aquatic Dinos. It's got hats. It's got shirts. It's got figurines. Harper takes one look at it, and tries to bolt like a dog on a leash that sees a squirrel. A quick restraining hand could give her pause, or just let her go and press her face against the display cases and the stuffies from hanging hooks.

Vivian Vision has posed:
"If you consider being able to fly a power," Vivian points out. "Then that means every pigeon has super powers. And while birds are elegant creatures I am not sure pigeons are very super." She blinks a few times. "Although they are very good at processing visual information and were trained to guide missiles. In the era before computers could be made small enough to fit inside them."

Despite looking slender Viv is quite hard to move. So when Harper tries to rush off she'll find Vivian largely unmoving. So unless she lets go Harper won't get very far!

"No need to rush," she teases. "They'll still be there in a few minutes. Not to mention you can buy similar dinosaur merchandise online for a lower price."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper is delayed in her need for instant gimmie-gimmie-gimmie. Vivian stands firm and she's brought up short. She stares at a particularly large stuffed the Pleiosaur. "Sweet Zombie Jesus...It's Paddles. Paddles the Plesiosaurus!" She's not frothing thankfully and she turns her eyes on Vivian, her eyes going wide.

She takes a deep breath and looks back at the kiosk. "Yeah...Yeah that's true probably." She gives a few nods and tries to fake it until she makes it. She huffs and chews on her lip in thought before becoming much more firm in her object permanence perspectives and turns towards the next Hall. "How about we grab a snack and a drink Viv? Feel like some sugar and hydration." She casts a look at Paddles one more time. The look says 'Don't go nowhere buddy, I've got your number.'

Vivian Vision has posed:
"If you really want one," Vivian starts. "Then at least let me buy it for you. Given you paid for the tickets." It's not like money is really something Viv needs to worry about after all! She can pretty much think crypto currency into existence...

"I don't eat or drink but I packed a small picnic for you if you'd like it?" She wonders. "Sandwiches, a little salad, and I baked some savoury pastries. There's also some bottled water which is not very exciting I expect but will prove suitable for hydration needs."

Harper Row has posed:
"You prepared a small picnic?" Harper's eyes widen in surprise. They shouldn't, but Viv's consideration still manages to catch her off-guard. Too many past relationships, which didn't have the benefit of being so organized and thoughtful perhaps. Her brows are knitting together and she swallows her parched throat. "Just the water then Viv. I can hold out a little until my appetite is roaring like a dinosaur."

A smile is flashed to Vivian and she squeezes her hand, ushering her over towards a collection of trilobytes and others. "I would have thought your favourite dino would have been one of the flying ones." she muses. "Sometimes I wish you did have to eat and drink, then I'd be able to cook you up a 'Row of Ribs'. That's about the only good thing my Dad taught. And an object lesson on why alcoholism is bad."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"Of course I prepared you something to eat," Vivian says with a smile. "I seem to recall you requested I help you eat more foods which are healthy and will support your training." She blushes a little. "Besides I like to make things for people and the more I like those people the more rewarding it is." There's a slight shrug. "I could just... try them? I am physically able to do anything you can. I just don't need to eat for nutrition."

She hands over the bottle of water. Thanks to the wonders if online gig economy websites she's able to find someone in the local area willing and able to run round the museum buying one of every different type of dinosaur plushie on offer. So that by the time they're at the exit Harper will be swamped with assorted overpriced museum souvenirs. Plus some flowers. Maybe a few balloons. The pink heart shaped ones.

A totally normal reaction to her date trying to buy herself gifts and not letting Viv buy the plushie.

"If you want to cook the dish for me I will try consuming it?" It's less the food eating bit she's not a fan of. And more the processes which organics do after.

Harper Row has posed:
Harper takes the bottles and pinches the cap. Her chin drops, as does her eyes, listening to her girlfriend be the perfect considerate partner. She catches the blush when she looks up briefly. And there's warmth in her cheeks in return. The bottle is to her purses lips, tilting it as she takes a long drink. Her gaze remains on Vivian as she wets her throat, like the sight made her thirstier. The cool water feels good, but she stops before she's drained more than half.

"Yeah, I wanna cook for you." she says in a quiet voice. "I do have one other physical request actually."

Harper continues on towards a bend in the hallways where the lights are lower. Something to do with the more interactive displays behind glass. Shining UV light on this fossil or that part of a Dinosaur exhibit to point out different senses of the ancient saurians. There's a drone of ancient insects, trilling of raptors and subtle sounds of things moving amongst extinct foliage. It's all to help lead patrons towards the 3-d theatres and dioramas. It's inbetween these things, a nook that's not so well lit, but feeling more private, that Harper turns to Vivian and places a hand on her hip. "I've been cooking up something for you since we arrived." The Gotham girl leans forward and presses her wet lips against Vivian's.

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I will have to stop by your place sometime," Vivian muses. "Perhaps we can make a little event of it? You could invite some other friends. I'll make the sweets course. And you could have everyone else bring sides like... potato salad? I have never tried cook barbeque before. It's a bit impractical to make in a dorm room."

She follows along as they head into the interactive display area. Perhaps a little distracted by her online scheming. She doesn't even notice the kiss until Harper is moving in for it!

She is however. Not opposed to this request either. Kissing back shyly. Making them both disappear using her powers to avoid any disruptions.

Once the kiss is over she flutters her lashes and innocently wonders. "What was the other request?" She holds the innocent look for a good thirty seconds before grinning and, keeping her voice low, adding "I hope it's for more regular kisses like that?"

Harper Row has posed:
Harper's mouth curls up into a wry grin. Playful and mischevious, her attention on Viv she isn't aware that they've been helpfully obscured from the sight of others. The hand with the bottle curls around Vivian's back so they can stay pressed together.

The nod from Ms. Row brushes noses lightly against one another. "Affirmative." she answers and licks her upper lip before going in for another smooch. This one doesn't rely on surprise, taking its time to place some eager pressure. A happy kiss, that lingers to give the PDA its due before pulling back. "I like the way you think. A little event, cozy, friendly, no stress. Taking the time to be with good people and share a space." A pause and Harper tilts her head to the side, smiling at a secret thought, and relinquishing quite such a possessive squeeze against you. Taking in a deep breath to clear the senses. "You should stop by my place after this."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian, still carrying the picnic, leans in for the second smooch. Holding the food carefully out the way. Alas she's not exactly the worlds best kisser, no matter how much academic research you do it's never going to beat practise, but what she lacks in experience she does at least make up for with enthusiasm!

"We're probably at the 'meet each others friends' stage too I think?" she muses. "Although really you know most of my friends from GIRL. Even most of the Titans I know well are in GIRL. I guess it's mostly people I knew from High School. But I'm sure you know plenty of cool people." She raises an eyebrow quizzically. "Probably lots of tough types who ride motorcycles and throw wild parties."

She gives a little squeeze back.

"Sure. I'd like that. It certainly helps getting to Gotham and back now I'm in New York rather than at Happy Harbour. It's a /lot/ closer." And sure the hyperlink helps, but no service is perfect! "I hope you're not just inviting me because you know I'll tidy up if I have spare time.."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper laughs and runs a thumb across her glistening bottom lip. She gives the thumb a quick suck like she's been eating some tasty snacks and loiters with Vivian just a little bit longer in this place. "Yeah, very tough, very cycle-y, good peoples. Some are even tougher than me. But I think they all need a chance to let their hair down now and then. Burning the candles at both ends makes for some sore wax." Harper frowns at that, and dismisses it with a head shake. She'll think of a way to say that better.

"Gawd, I promise to take up that chore on my own. Plus, I've got a lot less crap laying around now that I'm on my own and Cullen is yucking it up with some school pals. Not that I don't still check up on him and nag the crap out of him. But it feels nice not to smell his socks or wonder who ate all my Cronchy Crumbs cereal." Harper squints. "Though he has managed to somehow share my streaming channels...But anyway!" she says brightly and tugs at Vivian's hand. "Let's go find a quiet place? We can plan how to ambush our friends all together in one place while I digest these ~pastries~ you spoke of. Ms. Row is feeling very curious as to how those taste now that you've helped me with some of my thirst."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I am at least much tougher than I appear," Vivian says solemnly. "Although I must admit I dislike making people aware of the fact. It does not help my argument for AI deserving equal rights because we are not all evil very much if I go around punching people." Or threatening Russian diplomats. Thankfully she was at least careful on those few occasions when she went rogue...

Thankfully it seems her online scheming is going to succeed. And by the time they've finished exploring the museum there will be plushies and shamelessly sappy gifts. Hopefully none of Harpers cool friends will catch her holding cutesy heart shaped balloons!

"They're called Pastry Mousse Bombes. Chicken and mushroom mousse inside a puff pastry shell." She pauses and then teasingly adds "Not very healthy I know but.. better for you than that sugary cereal."