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"I'm here." Mira smiles. Her mouth is stretched thin, the barest hint of teeth gleaming in-between. She's not even glaring, it's her natural RBF as she adds, as an afterthought. "But I'm not desperate."
The male Alpha deflates some, and he looked like he might argue some more. She shrugs, the shoulder strap on her summer midi dress slipping off as she signals her disinterest by looking around the cordoned area. His horrid scent, a concentration of burnt incense and condensed milk, drifted away as he walks off.
She huffs to herself, chewing on a plastic straw as she finishes her water.
Alphas and Omegas aren't supposed to advertise using their own pheromones. It's rude for a first meeting with any stranger. Sure, scent compatibility often led to hormonal compatibility, in a complimentary manner. But the entitlement of forcing someone to smell you before they get to know you is instinctively manipulative.
"Hi, Mira?"
She turns, raising an eyebrow at...Zoey, she thinks. They spoke for two minutes earlier, in the mass introduction phase earlier in the evening.
Faint florals, mostly neutral. A Beta wearing perfume? No. Mira spots two scent patches over her glands. There's pen-doodles on both, but there's a faint 'A' on the corners. Personalized, how quaint.
"Zoey." The corners of her mouth tug up for a moment, she didn't mind this Alpha. "Find anyone interesting tonight?"
"Oh I'm talking to her right now." Zoey grins, offering her a new water bottle, cap still sealed at the top. "And there's another lady, but I think she's avoiding me."
"Two for a night? Ambitious." Mira hums a note of thanks, accepting the drink and shifting over so the Alpha could join her in the booth. "But same. Not a bad haul for a speed dating event."
"Oooh, you got her number?"
"Yes."
"And that's her clutch?" Another nod, "Whoa crazy. You like Rumi too?"
"She's…" Mira hesitates.
They discussed their surprising shared interest over cartoon pig McDull and a distaste for matcha additive desserts. Of course Rumi is conventionally attractive, but there was also an...earnest sort of sincerity. Some almost enigmatic quality that Mira feels she lacks in her own social circles. Whether they date or become friends, she just knew she wanted to be in Rumi's orbit.
"She's...sweet." And yet the word doesn't feel like it encompasses what she thought of the purple braided woman.
"She is! And so thoughtful. She asked me if I needed more finger-tape 'cause my nails look worn."
"Finger-tape?"
"Just for the nails." They both turn, Mira feeling herself smiling a bit at the sound of Rumi's voice. "But you have to keep your finger-tips free to build up callouses. And practice."
"Psh, I can practice, but I might need a tutor, pretty please?"
"Mira could—"
"No. I've never taught music." She slides Rumi's clutch back to her across the table. "I do the accompaniment thing. Piano, woodwinds, harp, strings."
"What can't you do?" Zoey teases.
"Brass. It's unbecoming."
"I...also don't play horns or trumpet." Rumi sits opposite to them, though her eyes are looking around in an attempt to be discreet. Looking for an exit.
"So you aren't a blowhard!—oooh!" Zoey takes both of their hands, squeezing them. "We should do a jam session some time! It'd be super fun, and Mira has everything."
"Did you just invite yourself to my studio?" On some level, she thinks she ought to be more appalled. But the freckled-woman's smile and tone made it clear she's just excited.
"No. I invited Rumi and me to your studio." Zoey's grin grows impossibly wider.
"I guess it'd give me an excuse to tune everything..." She trails off, looking to Rumi. "You in or what?"
And Rumi nods, smiling back at the pair.
(It might be a little presumptuous, but, Mira does feel like the pieces have snapped into place for something new to happen between the three of them.)