Art students in a sushi bar talking about Japanese art. Well, one art student. Ruby loved her friends, she enjoyed being in the company of passionate people in general, but this blind date kept talking about Banksy and she was quick to excuse herself to go to the bathroom. “Passion is fine,” She mumbled as she washed her hands. Straightening up and looking in the mirror, she ran a hand through her bangs and let out a sigh. “But man, do I hate feeling pretentious.” She hoped none of the waiters were annoyed at the conversation. The guy who had taken their order looked dead on his feet to begin with. It was a shame really, the date (Sean, a shifter from Maine, her friends had talked him up for days) seemed sweet until he kept trying to impress her by throwing around Buzzwords of the art community.
Speaking of waiter’s, she’d just stepped outside of the bathroom and nearly collided with one. Only semi-mortified, she brought a hand to her chest, her cheeks tinting pink before she let out a light laugh at herself. Of course it would be her waiter. Not only did he have to catch snippets of long winded rants about how the MOMA should do more for smaller artists, now she was nearly barreling into him. So the night included not just a bad date, but at least one completely embarrassing moment. “I’m so sorry,” About everything, you look like you need a break. She stepped past him with an apologetic smile, fingers brushing his upper arm in a small pat before she stopped practically mid step and whirled around. Because she knew that feeling, the presence of magic and an idea slowly formed, an escape from the terrible evening. “I promise to tip fifty percent if you’ll help me get rid of this date.” She practically blurted before looking from the waiter to the floor, took a second to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. This was terribly awkward now and her idea was half baked. “Please?” Her words were meek and her teeth were biting at her bottom lip. “Nothing too mean, just something so I don’t have to risk him following me out and don’t have to listen to anything involving street art anymore.” @teddy-antonov