30th Combo - An adult at last!

[redcladidealist]

~Vatheon, Vatheon, guess what, guess what?
I'm eighteen, an adult, huzzah, huzzah~!

[For once, Lloyd doesn't seem to mind that he's bursting into song. Hey, if there's any occasion where singing is appropriate, a birthday is definitely it! And this curse means he's actually good at it, even if he can't necessarily control the impulse to sing.]

Comments

[ladyinscarlet]

Congratulations on your birthday, young Lord. Is eighteen when you come of age in your world?

[redcladidealist]

Huh? Uh, I think you've got the wrong guy. I'm not a lord, I'm just Lloyd. But yeah! Eighteen is when people where I'm from are adults!

[ladyinscarlet]

It is nice to meet you, Mr. Lloyd. I hope you will enjoy this very important birthday then. I am Angelina Durless, by the way. But you may call me Madame Red, if you wish.

[redcladidealist]

It's nice to meet you, too, but... uh... really, you can just call me Lloyd.

[What is formality?

He perks up with interest at that last bit, though.]

Madame Red? Why do you call yourself that?

[ladyinscarlet]

Alright then, Lloyd. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. Where I come from we do not usually call someone we just met by their first name. I was just trying to be polite.

[Yep, that seems to catch people's interest.]

Well, people in my social circle started calling me like that because I always dress in red.

[redcladidealist]

Not... uncomfortable? It's just a little weird. Where I'm from, no one calls me anything but Lloyd.

[But with that explanation, the awkwardness drops away. Lloyd's face lights up.]

I almost always dress in red, too! I mean, sometimes I'll wear different pants and shirts, but my favorite jacket is red.

[The one he has on right now.]

No one calls me anything cool like Madame Red, though. They just say "that kid in red."

[ladyinscarlet]

Oh, I understand! I can call you Lloyd as well then! [Smiles.]

Is red not a lovely color? [Nope, she doesn't honestly think that. She hates red, but it's her way to cope with the pain.]

[She chuckles.]

I suppose I simply like to stand out in the crowd?

1/2

[redcladidealist]

[He doesn't even feel it coming on, he just bursts out as though it's the most natural thing in the world. His voice is strong, enthusiastic, and really good.]

~Red is the color of passion and love!
Red is the color of youth!
Red is the color that lifts you above!
Red is the color of truth!

[redcladidealist]

[Of course, as soon as he's done, he immediately flushes, cheeks turning a shade of, well, red.]

Er... sorry. I mean, that's... a good reason! What you said.

[ladyinscarlet]

Well, you are right there on all accounts, Lloyd. [She giggles a bit.]

[redcladidealist]

[Still blushing, Lloyd offers a tentative smile, trying (partly failing) to put the moment of song behind him.]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees things the way I do. Some people give me grief about it. It's... nice, having someone agree.

[ladyinscarlet]

Do not listen to them at all. I was also given much grief during my childhood for my red hair, but eventually I learned to like it.

[Honestly, she hates it, because the man who told her it was beautiful married her sister.]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd blinks, completely nonplussed by what Madame Red just said.]

Wait, what's wrong with red hair? Why would anyone pick on you for that?

[ladyinscarlet]

[She shrugs.]

My father's hair was red... And well, my blonde sister was the pretty one of the family, anyway...

[redcladidealist]

That... still doesn't make any sense. And... I think you're pretty? [Turning pink again.] I- I mean, I don't see why anyone would tease you about that.

[ladyinscarlet]

[She shakes her head and giggles a bit.]

You are very kind... I suppose I was simply just insecure when I was young.

[redcladidealist]

So, that means you don't think that way anymore?

[That is what she's saying means, right? He's not one hundred percent sure.]

That's good. I think it would be cool to have red hair.

[ladyinscarlet]

Not at all. I was rather popular back in London, you know. The soul of the party. [Winks

An, you're a huge liar. You hide too many negative feelings behind your popularity. Not to mention you actually kinda hate red...]

You think so? [Smirks.] That could be arranged...

[redcladidealist]

[The name London doesn't mean anything, but he assumes it's the name of someplace in the world she's from. Maybe he would have asked about it, but what she just hinted at catches him off guard and draws his attention instead.]

What? Really? How would you do that?

[ladyinscarlet]

[Well, An will just assumes he knows or whatever. But back to the subject at hand.]

Well, there are dyes that can give your hair a different color.

[redcladidealist]

Whoa. You mean like cloth? And it doesn't just wash back out?

[He lifts his fingers to his hair, pulling enough forward that he can get a look at it, and tries to imagine it being a different color.]

Where do you get them? I've never seen them before.

[He also doesn't frequent the hair care sections of stores all that much.]

[ladyinscarlet]

Well, I guess something like that... It does wash out, but it will take some time for that to happen.

[She smiles softly.]

You could find them in those stores they call super-markets in this world.

[redcladidealist]

[Picturing himself with red hair now, or maybe blond or black. He grins at the images he comes up with, then drops his hand.]

It might still be fun to try out. What do they call it? Just... hair dye?

[ladyinscarlet]

Yes, the box says 'hair dye'. I have never tried it for myself, but I have seen others in this world buying it and using it. I could help you, if you like. It should not be so hard to use...

[She had at some point considered dying her hair.]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd hesitates.]

And you're supposed to put it in your hair? You... wash it in, like shampoo?

[He's taking a guess there, but he knows that when cloth gets dyed, it has to get washed in it. The idea of having a woman, any woman, but especially one he's already admitted is attractive, help him wash his hair...

He turns pink.]

Um, I... I think I can handle it myself.