9380/Winter Tidings

Winter Tidings
Date of Scene:	31 December 2021
Location:	Alley Pond Park
Synopsis:	Jan and Veira meet for the first time. Atilla runs off with his addiction. No one was mauled.
Cast of Characters:	Veira Lazarescu, Jan de Wit

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Veira Lazarescu has posed:
The sun is still up, which is to the benefit of those that are wanting to get in some sort of outdoor activity before the colder night sets in. Veira sticks out like a sore thumb against the back drop of people dressed in athletic wear and tennis shoes. Her steps had drawn her to the pond that's not far from where she was standing. The woman with the eyepatch is talking to...something? Maybe she's wearing a bluetooth headset under all that black hair. But she quiets if anyone gets too close and looks at her like she's a loon.

Jan de Wit has posed:
The outfit Jan is sporting is also not quite park-wear. He's dressed nicely - slacks, a button-down shirt, dress shoes, a warm wool coat and a fashionable scarf. He's got nowhere in specific to be - just a need to roam the park. Something seemed to draw him here, more often than not. Today he was simply out for a pleasant stroll, no particular agenda or to-do list. Just a nice walk.

People talking to themselves is no real thing to gawk at, thankfully - not in New York. Especially if they aren't ranting and raving to themselves. Jan's meandering takes him near to the pond as well, looking out over the brisk water.

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira gives a look to the walkway, a friendly smile given to Jan as she notices that someone else is doing what she's doing, just wandering. She doesn't look like she's cold either, but some folks are just built for Winter. She takes a sip out of the take away cup that she has before slipping it back into the holder of her bag.

"No, no more nuggets. You're going to get fat, Atilla." she whispers as she tries to not giggle at the conversation.

Jan de Wit has posed:
The polite smile is returned, Jan always one to reciprocate a friendly gesture! He's certainly not cold, bundled as he is. No travel mug for him today - he'll have to take a mental note to bring one next time. Nuggets? Who is she talking to?

But then, there's the impending vision of a dragon? Rushing him? Carrying... a chicken nugget? Jan looks perplexed, but takes a step out of the projected path of the rushing reptilian.

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira's just about to follow up the smile with a polite greeting, but the bag that she was holding is snatched right of her hands by something that was lower to the ground and most assuredly not visible a moment ago, "Atilla no!" she hisses out as the small dragon makes off with his head in the bag. He finds the chicken nugget box and grabs onto one before ditching the bag and heading straight in the direction of Jan.

Poor Jan.

Veira's eye goes wide and she rushes after the dragon, "You're going to scare someone to death." she fusses at the reptile. Then she gives an apologetic look to Jan, "I'm sorry he's about five when he gets McDonalds." she chuckles. She picks the bag up from the ground so that they aren't littering and the dragon plops down and tends to eating his prize.

Jan de Wit has posed:
Thank goodness for reflexes. And precognition! Jan's safe from being trampled, but no less confused. As she wrangles the dragon, he blinks. "Quite... the friend you have there." He comments, once he's collected his wits. "I don't think I've ever see anything like him. Atilla, you say?" He looks the dragon up and down before looking back to Veira.

"Quite all right - he missed me." Or Jan moved just a second or two before, tomato - tomahto. "He's not ... I mean, nuggets are the extent of his hunting tonight, right?" The man grins.

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
It would be a most adorable trampling if it did happen. "He's probably not aware that you can see him." Veira muses as she crouches down to noogie the dragon gently. And it's about that time that Atilla looks up, his one golden reptilian eye looking at Jan before he fades out of sight. She straightens back up and there's a smile to Jan, "Yes, his name is Atilla. I met him about twenty years ago." she tells him. "And if you do see anything else like him lets hope it's about the same size and not hungry." she chuckles.

"I'm glad he missed you, I'd hate to have to explain to one of your managers as to why my friend injured their dancer." she tells him with a bit of a soft smile. "Nuggets are the extent of his hunting, yes. He's getting used to being a fed dragon and not having to hunt." she admits.

She offers a hand to shake, "I'm Veira."

Jan de Wit has posed:
Jan's hand clasps her's in a polite, firm handshake. "Jan." Yahn, as it sounds. "Pleased to meet you, Veira. I'd have hated to explain to my manager that I was bowled over by a dragon on a McNugget rampage." He grins, his smile coming to him easily. "Thankfully I was able to avoid such a need for telling the tale."

"Twenty years ago? Clearly, you must have been a child?" He chuckles. "I would wonder where you met him, but I would not wish to pry."

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira smiles, "Nice to meet you, Jan." she tells him with a dip of her head. "Oh your manager would probably tested for all the drugs if you told them you were bowled over for nuggets." she grins to that. "And yes, you do have very good reflexes." she looks to him thoughtfully at that.

Then she sobers just a touch, "I was about twenty one or so when I found him. We had a lot in common." she admits. "And it's not prying." she assures him. "He's recently decided he didn't want to be cooped up in the mountains in Romania anymore and decided New York would be a good place to visit." she muses.

Jan de Wit has posed:
A wry smile. "Comes with the dancing, I would wager." Jan chuckles. "Romania? And... he can be invisible?" The man wonders, still marveling at the dragon who appeared and has since vanished. "How ever did you find him, then?" A nod of his head to her.

There's a pause, the man hrming. "I... didn't hear him speak. Is that normal?" He smirks. "So many questions, I feel terribly rude."

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira gives a chuckle to that, "It might. I tried dancing growing up and well...my depth perception was horrible really." she admits. "Yes, I was born their and after some very ill advised caving when I was visiting, found him." she tells him. "He's got a lot of little tricks he is able to do, and he used to be much bigger, but due to an incident he is going to be a small guy for the rest of his days. Makes it easier to get him on the subway really." she grins.

"You can hear him when he's visible, though he tends to hide away from others until he's sure that they won't try to cart him off, so no offense on that." she offers quietly. "And no, don't feel rude. Questions are welcome. Questioning is better than reacting in fear." she points out in a gentle tone.

Jan de Wit has posed:
"Perhaps you had the wrong style or teacher?" He suggests, with a grin. "I've been about the globe, all over eastern Europe. I think I missed out on Romania, unfortunately." Jan laments, shrugging to her. "Hopefully the incident wasn't too traumatic." An empathetic nod to Veira... and the blank space where Atilla was.

A chuckle at the mention of fear. "Well, a healthy bit of fear of the unknown - but it's how you respond to that fear that makes the difference." He admits. "Learning more of it, as opposed to reacting with violence and hatred is best for me. I mean, avoiding harm, of course - but I don't tend to lash out at the unknown."

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
"Maybe I did, learning never stops so maybe I'll try it again sometime." Veira tells him with a smile. "Romania is a beautiful place. I didn't get to spend a lot of time there as a child...or most of my time there is hazy. I've lived most of my life here in the states." she explains. "And it wasn't too traumatic, just something he is getting used to." she tells him.

She listens to him speak on the fear of the unknown and reaction and she gives a thoughtful look to him, "I think that's a very good way to think, Jan. I wish others had that sort of mindset." she admits.

Jan de Wit has posed:
"Do let me know! I can show you some steps that are less reliant on depth perception." Jan offers. "Do you ever think of traveling back there? I get back to Amsterdam every year - if only to see family and friends." He chuckles. "Good to hear the incident isn't a situation to mend up after. Hate to hear of trauma for people - we have such a limited time on the Earth, and when we have to heal it takes away some of our time to explore."

A wry smile. "There are many who wish the world were that way. All too often, race, genetics, religion - all suffer for the improper response to fear."

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira's cheeks redden a touch at the offer of teaching her some steps, "I'd be delighted to learn some, I would apologize about stepping on your toes or making a mess of things first." she chuckles. "And yes, I think of visiting again. My parents died when I was a child and I was adopted so I still look for my birth family when I have time." she tells him. Then he talks about limited amounts of time and her gaze looks a little wistful, "Yes, time is precious." she tells him.

Then she shakes herself and takes a moment to pull a card case from her coat pocket, "I try to make it a safer place." she nods to that. Then she offers him her card, "In case you ever want to ask questions or watch a dragon eat his favorite food." she offers with a soft smile. On the card is the Homeland Security crest with her name and job title underneath.

Jan de Wit has posed:
A friendly grin. "Lessons learned are worth toes being stepped on, I can assure you. I've had my share of toe-steps, and given them in return. We all have to learn somehow." At the mention of her parents, he offers an apologetic smile. "Sorry for bringing up potentially bad memories, Veira. While I am generally confident of my dance steps, I seem to be trodding all over the wrong subjects tonight." Jan chuckles.

He takes the card, studying it briefly before putting it in his inside jacket pocket. One of his cards is offered over to her - though his simply has his name and phone number. "I would be delighted to learn more of Atilla, and yourself!" He chuckles. "I love this park... I meet the most unique people here." A pause. "Is there a favorite food, beyond nuggets?"

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira agrees with his words, "We do have to start somewhere, yes." she tells him. "No need for apologies, I didn't know them well." she states. "We all misstep at some point. I'm sure I'll do the same at some point, so it'll just be a learning moment." she smiles to that. She then gives a grin as his card is offered and she accepts it with a dip of her head before pocketing it.

"I don't know what brought me here today, just felt like a good place to visit, though I'm sure I'll be visiting far more often." she winks at him. Then she looks down to where Atilla is at her side and she tilts her head as if listening to an unheard voice. There is a roll of her eyes as she laughs, "Naturally." she murmurs. Then she looks back to Jan, "He likes sushi and sashimi as well." she tells him.

Jan de Wit has posed:
Mental notes are taken. "Sushi and sashimi. Good taste, good taste." Jan muses. "And yes, missteps are how we learn. Much like touching something hot - we often learn best in experiencing things. Some exceptions, of course. I wouldn't suggest trying to fly right out of the gate." The man chuckles a bit.

A look to the space she looks to, then to her. "Now I wish I could hear him." A healthy laugh from the Dutchman. "I am sure we'll see each other around the park - though as it gets colder, I might be even more bundled up." He winks.

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira gives a grin to that, "He has expensive taste...minus the horrible McDonald's." she muses to that. "You're very wise, Jan. It's nice." she nods to that. Then there's a grin, "I'll keep my feet on the ground where I won't break something." she chuckles to that.

"I'm sure he'll talk your ear off when he gets friendly. He can get quite talkative." she smiles as she looks down to the spot again. She only does that for a moment before looking to Jan, "I look forward to seeing you again and it was good to have met you." she smiles to that. "Have a good evening, Jan." she offers before starting to withdraw and heading back towards the parking lots with her invisible dragon in tow.

Jan de Wit has posed:
Jan's hand goes to his chest and he offers a little bow of his head. "Expensive tastes are often the sign of someone interested in experiencing everything in life." He chuckles. "Something I can appreciate. It was a pleasure to meet you, Veira." A smirk at the compliment. "And you are quite the wonderful conversationalist."

"Until we see each other again, stay warm and have a Happy New Year. You too, Atilla." He offers over to the space she was peering at. Then he's on his walk again - destiny has an interesting way of weaving people's paths together!