7 February 2014 |
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Hey.
I need an idea for a place where two people can go.
It's for a mission.
That sounds like a romantic tête-à-tête.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )
Do you have an idea now or do you just want to make fun of me?
Let me think
How much do you want to pay?
What are your thoughts, Johnny?
Classic: A Restaurant
…
I'd rather be outside.
A park?
No, wait.
The Zoo!
It's going to be fun!
Oh, shut up, Viktor.
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14 February 2014 |
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Stephan Faust is nervous. His head is filled with questions: Whether his long hair is splicing a bit and looks unkempt? Whether he had applied the right amount of perfume? And whether it had really been the best idea to put on a linen shirt?
He checks the time and then the electronic letter his date had replied to suggesting he go to the zoo. He sighs. Everything is correct and some peace returns to him.
How's it going?
You look lonely.
Of course, I'm ten minutes early.
I hope it's this and not something else…
Head up
I think I see her. :^)
Stephan startles. Then his eyes grow wide behind his sunglasses.
With wide, sweeping strides, a woman in 501 Levi's Black jeans and a plaid lumberjack shirt approaches him.
"Hello," despite the casual tone, Alice' nervousness is audible. She taps her peaked cap, which she has on backwards. "Did you have to wait long?"
"Ah… No, not at all," Stephan looks discreetly at his watch. They are still on schedule, which Stephan has meticulously worked out.
Alice offers her arm with a wry, mischievous smile. "Shall we, sir?"
It is no real surprise that on 14 February, the entrance fee to Sjhlfels' Zoo is lower for couples. Nevertheless, there are still not that many people to see.
The duo is studying the brochure with the zoo's map.
"Would you like to see the orangutans and gorillas in the ape house first, Alice?"
"Stephan! What makes you think that!"
Alice laughs at the startled, confused look on Stephan's face and nudges him. "You know I like to watch them. I was just teasing you a bit."
Instant relief appears on the man's face and he looks at her with mock reproach, which only elicits more laughter from her.
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Alice fishes her mobile phone out of a jacket pocket when Stephan is not looking while buying popcorn at a food stall and logs into a chat.
Eeeeeh… I'm nervous.
Obviously. You've been together how long?
Two years?
It's just that Stephan always backs out when I want to make a thing out of us two.
I thought this was not possible.
You know:
"Meant for each other" hogwash.
In that direction.
The Entity apparently underestimated Stephen's shyness. ^~^
And she only made sure we fell in love, not that we were in a relationship. Obviously a rookie. ;P
Look: Focus on your romantic tête-à-tête and Orlanda and I support from the background.
I'll fire up the drone that you gave me recently. I wanted to try it out anyway.
And don't make the Ape House Joke, Alice.
You hear that?
You're going that way. You did tell it …
Was his idea, Bell.
And I couldn't deliver it (yet).
"Who are you texting?" Stephan looks over her shoulder. Alice is startled and hastily the mobile device disappears back inside the shirt.
"No- no one!" Alice tries to blow off some steam about not paying attention by giving him a few swats, careful not to hit the precious goods.
"Hey! If it's not bad, why are you hitting me?" her Valentine teases her.
She grabs a bag of the salty munchies and takes a mouthful, still sulking.
"MMMH! Are they good!" mumbles Alice, her eyes wide. Stephan follows her lead and agrees, nodding, "Anomalously good!"
"Thank you, I'm glad," the salesman hums with a smile. He has dressed up as a cross between Auguste Clown and White Clown and with his strikingly long arms he looks like an orangutan himself.
Alice looks at him for a long moment. "You look like someone I know. Do you have a brother?"
The jester immediately becomes nervous, evident by the rushed look.
"You must probably have me confused. Aaaaaanyway, you should stop by Cand…" he clears his throat, "By my colleague at the sweet stand."
Alice squeezed her eyes briefly, but decided not to pursue the matter.
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"Look at that bird, Ksavis!" squeaks a giant of a woman. Her skin has a strange grey tinge. The man, apparently called Ksavis, tries to calm his company down, which he doesn't quite manage.
"Your friend is very lively, it seems to me," Stephan says as they come upon the two of them on their tour. Alice has to chuckle at the outgoing and cheerful personality of the odd giantess.
Those addressed blush and look at each other sheepishly.
"CorCo has never been to the zoological gardens," the young man explained. His friend nodded as she played with the snail shell pendant on her necklace.
"I'm honestly not," corCo confirmed.
"Come on, let's go on," with these words the odd couple disappear.
Alice tugs Stephan by the sleeve. "Hey, do you want to go to the aquarium? Because I just saw Georg go in with another man."
He finished his sip of soft drink before Stephan replied, "Are you going to spy on them?"
"Aren't you curious?"
A short pause for thought.
"Yes, actually I am a little. I thought he had his eye on us, the way he's usually hanging around with us."
Alice lifted her sunglasses. "I had that impression too! Although I rather thought he was more interested in you."
Dr. Georg Sturm stood with another man in the crowded corridor with the dimmed lights in front of a large shop window. The shorter man, whom Stephan and Alice are only now surprised to recognise as Dr. Orma Kabhu, gestures and points at the aquatic animals swimming past. "This is an Atelomycterus marmoratus. One of my favourite Chondrichthyes."
Georg studies the small shark swimming around enthusiastically.
"I think Silurus glanis with his bartel is droll."
"Where do you see him?"
Georg points to the dozing catfish on the gravelly bottom.
"Ah! Indeed a Silurus glanis. I've heard that some specimens reach almost two metres, but I haven't seen one myself yet."
Stephan sees disappointment on Alice's face. In the meantime, the two have reached the animal research duo.
"Ah, good afternoon, Mrs Peterson, Mr Faust," Dr Sturm greets them.
Dr Kabhu greets them with a wave and his trademark smile.
"I see you are observing the aquariums."
"Indeed, my dear," Georg confirms, "The esteemed colleague Dr Kabhu is without doubt a master of his craft."
Orma looks a little embarrassed. "Ah, you flatterer. If I did not do this, what use would I be to the …" he interrupted himself as he realises that the four of them are in public.
Alice finally asks the question burning on her lips:
"We had seen you two and I would now like to ask so directly, what are two such educated gentlemen doing together on Valentine's Day?"
Georg now turns fully to the two and raises his eyebrows in surprise, "Oh, that explains why we had to pay less admission."
The Belgian next to him chuckles at his companion's naivety.
Stephan winks mischievously at Orma. "You seem to be aware of the holiday."
"When such a strapping and educated man asks me to study fish with him, I find it hard to say no, Mr Faust. And you seem to have made a good catch too."
Georg sheepishly nudges the limnologist against his shoulder, while Alice rolls her eyes and Stephan blushes.
Suddenly the quartet hears shouts and screams. One of the zookeepers around them pulls out her radio and listens. Their eyes grow wide. "What do you mean: Someone jumped into the tank with the catsharks with a battle cry‽"
Georg snorts and Orma giggles, "Who would jump a tank full of sharks? Who would that be? Do we want to deal with that or …"
But when the Belgian turns around, Alice and Stephan have already disappeared. He scratches his head, then says to his companion, "Then the two of us will have to deal with it alone."
Georg shrugs his shoulders. The two of them follow the zoo staff as discreetly as possible.
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Alice pulls Stephan along the winding paths past the many cages. They stop at the impressive outdoor enclosure with the timid zebras, sluggish rhinos and prancing giraffes and the hyenas in a separate, segregated corner. Stephan is a little out of breath.
"You got my pulse up," comes a puff of amusement from him. Then his gaze falls on his Valentine, who is sitting on a bench. Alice pats the seat beside her. It is a clear invitation. Stephan is still reluctant.
Alice takes his hand and pulls him towards her. He lands - as Alice had hoped - on her lap. Or rather halfway, since the other half is on the bench. Satisfied with herself, Alice puts both arms around him. Stephan looks less enthusiastic and tries to get into a slightly less awkward position. Some visitors, who apparently also have a date, laugh at the scene and one or two spur Alice on not to let go.
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Hey Orlanda.
I don't see them any more.
Do you see them with your "Thunderbird"?
You said it!
=_=
Oh, sorry.
Let's see.
Didn't you keep an eye on them? :/
Well.
How am I going to explain this?
I like to stalk people, but I don't peep.
Are you trying to imply something?
Not directly, if I can imply anything directly at all.
At the moment Steph' is sitting on Alice's lap. (^ ͜ʖ^)