#ask-downbeat

[asktheappraiser]

((Again with the ponies:

Downbeat

Bellus

Stopmotion))

[theoiljoint]

Downbeat's eyes only shine brighter as he watches Elijah's reaction to the CD, feeling accomplished when she holds it to her. The hug, unexpected as it was, causes him to teeter slightly. He gives a pleased sort of hum and hugs her back, patting her. "Yeh. You give that a listen when you can, alright? Just settle down with nothin to interrupt ya. It's a little under an hour long."

Elijah nods best she can with the top of her head against Downbeat's torso.

"I will, I promise."

Stepping back, she looks to Tonic. "I'mma put this away 'n then get back ta work, okay Ms. T?" At the bartender's nod, Elijah grins lopsidedly at Downbeat and scuttles into the back rooms. Tonic, eyes still shining, flips the dancer a thumbs-up.

[theoiljoint]

He frowns as he watches her excitement die down with her quickly retracted hand. It was nice to see her smiling. "Well, even if ya think that I still brought it for you." Downbeat holds the package out towards her, his eyes brightening once more into a kind smile. "Mixed CD I put together for you. S'all chillstep. Dunno if you know what that is but, it helps me chill out when I need it. It's nice to listen to if ya wanna relax." He glances at Tonic and gives her a hopeful look and smile.

Tonic's eyes shine back as she gives him a subtle nod.

Elijah's head turns curiously as she gingerly plucks the gift out of his hands. Hesitantly, afraid to scratch the case underneath, she takes a claw and tears through the wrapping. Her fans flutter as she looks at the CD, slowly closing then opening back again as she hugs the CD to her plating. Without warning, again, she steps forward and bumps her head into Downbeat's chest, a second pair of arms reaching out to hug him as well.

"Thank you, Mr. Downbeat. Relaxing sounds...really good, I think."

[theoiljoint]

Downbeat's distracted by the sound of the bell, and he's only got time to look over before he notices Elijah quickly making her way over and next to him, grin on her face. His eyes glow a brilliant green in his own happiness to see her looking so well. Definitely different than when he had met her. "Aw man hey! Yeh, nah my classes are over for the day, I probably won't be out dancin till later at the clubs. I actually came by to give you somethin!"

Elijah's eyes get round, and her gaze is betrayed by the point of her snout ticking back and forth between his face and the hand with the case.

"A thing? For me? You wha? Me? (What's a club?) Thingy?"

She reaches out to take the package--but catches herself in her rudeness. Looking down at her sharp-tipped hands she seems to deflate again a little, the reminder of her 'issues' hamstringing her excitement.

"...You didn' have ta get me nothin', Mr. Downbeat."

[theoiljoint]

"Oh, Downbeat!" He says. "Sorry, just kinda walked in here and didn't say anythin 'bout my name or nothin." He laughs quietly and quirks an innocent brow. It would probably be better to remember to introduce himself in future situations like this. "Anyways, yeh, you're welcome. I'm glad to hear she's gettin back on her feet. I mean, I only ran into her on the street and I don't really know her but she seemed so upset, ya know? Had to help."

"It's quite alright. I've dealt with much ruder," Tonic says, laughing quietly in return. "And that's very kind of you, Mr. Downbeat. I--"

There's a jingle of the bell as the front door open and Elijah clacks in--she stops upon seeing Downbeat before grinning, quickly crossing the floor and popping up at his hip. Her mood does seem much brighter than it did before.

"Hey, it's you! I, I didn't think you'd be around so soon--eheheh, thought you'd be, y'know, busy dancin' 'n stuff."

[theoiljoint]

"Oh nah, I'm not here for anythin to drink," he says. /Maybe/, if he didn't have classes later. But he did. She was spot on about him having other business though. "Yeh, actually," Downbeat starts as he holds up the package. It's flat, and square; the shape of jewel CD case. Anyone who knew him well enough would know that it probably /was/ a CD case. "I'm lookin for Elijah. I ran into her on the street. She was lookin kinda bothered. Dunno if my talkin helped her much."

Tonic's eyes brightened gradually as he talked, until they were shining. Impassive as her face was, her gratitude was clear in her stance and the tilt of her head, as she put two and two together.

"She's been having a hard time recently, true, but she's starting to get back on her feet. I'm sure whatever you said to her helped, and for that, I thank you, too--Mr...?"

[theoiljoint]

His optics brighten in a knowing way as he spots Tonic - she's familiar, from P.R.O.M., and that much helps him to get a step closer to giving what he made to Elijah. Although, he realizes, she doesn't appear to be anywhere around. He moves towards the bar with the package hanging almost loosely in his fingers when Tonic nods at him. "Uh, hey," he says. He suddenly looks lost again.

"Hello, sir," Tonic replies amiably, one pair of hands folding in front of her. Worried as she's been for Elijah's odd behavior, she refuses to let it weigh on her when there's business to attend to. So her optics stay bright as she holds Downbeat's gaze.

"Is there something I can get you? Or," she looks toward the package he's carrying, "Are you here on some other business?"

[theoiljoint]

Downbeat enters the door, looking somewhat lost and fiddling with a small package in his hands, and then he goes from looking lost to looking like he's searching for someone in particular.

It's a slow, quiet afternoon in the Joint, handfuls of automatons sprinkled throughout the vicinity. While there's no sign of the leviathan-bot, a familiar looking bartender works behind the counter; unmistakably the same one who'd been there at P.R.O.M., even if they hadn't spoken. She catches his eyes and nods to him in greeting.