[It's like coming upon a fawn in the woods, that smile. A quick hint of something rare and precious and adorable before it slips back into the shadows from whence it came. It causes Wade's already heightened mood to soar ever higher, and he points his finger mock-accusingly at the elf.]
You look like a fuckin' sharpshooter, that's what you look like. I see your game now-- lull people into a false sense of security with your little edgelord act, and then immediately snipe 'em with a laser-accurate joke outta nowhere. You ain't as slick as you think you are, pally.
[Wade flashes him an appreciative grin before turning his direction to the prizes in the display case.]
See anything you like? Got my eye on that ring down there, myself.
[He taps an area of the case, beneath which a small black ring is nestled.]
[ Fenris snorts, making a note to himself to ask Wade what a — what, a lord of edge, is exactly? For now, though, he examines the so-called prizes available to them. A lot of them were downright silly, but he supposes it's expected, seeing as this place seems largely catered towards children. Like Wade.
The ring looks...intriguing? Fenris isn't much for rings, though — the markings on his fingers are especially sensitive.]
Strange.
[ He doesn't say it to anything in particular. There are just so many weird things. The small doll with the crazy hair, the fake mustache — something does inevitably stand out to him, though. A bright blue, glowing tube with a cord weaved through a plastic ring on top. Maybe it's because of the irony, or the fact that it's the only thing here that seems familiar, but he can't help but want it.
[For a second, Wade thinks he's pointing at the troll doll, and is about to eagerly weave up some bullshit about how they're magic totems used to ward off the nightmares of children-- but he deflates a little after noticing what Fenris is actually pointing at.]
The glowstick? Surprised they make those anymore-- they were more of a 90s thing. You used to see 'em being sold in state fairs and carnivals and stuff. I think they still use industrial ones for, like... mining excursions or whatever.
There's some kinda liquid in there that makes it glow-- not really sure how it works. I only know you're not supposed to drink it. N-not from personal experience, of course.
Mining excursions, [ he mumbles thoughtfully, immediately making the connection to the lyrium being carefully mined, lighting up the darkest caves with its luminous glow. There are so many shades of irony to everything Wade just said that it would take way too long to explain — not that he wants to — the pull of familiarity to this novelty item. Not exactly the most positive connotations. Just familiar.
He gives a small nod of his head.]
I want that one. [ He spares Wade a glance. ] No drinking.
I DIDN'T EVEN SAY IT WAS M-- y'know what? Whatever.
[Wade hands the tickets over to the vendor, who ducks briefly behind the counter and reappears with the prizes. Plucking the ring from the vendor's hand, Wade slips the ring on his finger, smiling with delight and satisfaction when the stone set in it immediately turns a deep shade of purple.]
Oh sweet, it does work!
[He briefly looks up from admiring his prize at the glowstick the man is still holding out in his other hand.]
Looks like that comes as a necklace, Fen. That's good-- a lot harder to lose that way.
Fenris peers at the ring turning purple, having to remind himself that it's probably not infused with some kind of magic or curse, before his gaze returns to the glowstick being held out to him, hanging from a leather cord and swinging side to side like a pendulum.
He takes it into his hand and gives it a once-over, turning it over and watching the bubble inside race from one end of the stick to the other. After a moment he wordlessly puts it on. The glow of the blue liquid really does look an awful lot like Lyrium. Except there's something infinitely more comforting about it that he can't quite place. ]
[It does, actually-- that's not just rhetoric. The gentle glow from the necklace lights up Fenris's face in a way that is both ethereal and appealing, causing his hair to glimmer with pretty highlights and adding a rather fetching contrast to his olive skin. Wade suddenly stretches, opening his mouth in a jaw-cracking yawn.]
Man, y'know what? Now that all the fun's over I just realized I'm starving. What say we see if there're any food stalls nearby? My treat.
[ It's hard to tell if the reflective tone in his words was actually sarcasm or not. There's not much chance to reflect on it either way. Fenris also realizes that...he's hungry. That's saying a lot, honestly.
He still pauses before giving his answer. This night ended up way different than he anticipated. ]
[Wade only affords Fenris a quick smile before he's striding off again, mostly to hide the delight he feels at Fenris actually accepting his invitation. He figured that the silver-haired curmudgeon would have filled his social tolerance by now, but apparently the old adage about the way to a man's heart being through his stomach applied to elves as well.
There's a chill in the air as he exits the arcade, though that seems impossible considering the city's under a giant dome. Maybe there was some mechanism designed to simulate weather? Best not to think about it too much-- things are already creepily Matrix-y enough as it is.
He can't hear Fenris's footfalls behind him, but he fights the urge to look back. Don't want to give Fenris the impression that he's needy or anything. A few lefts and a right later, Wade finds himself on a nondescript little street where a lonely food stall has been set up. He grins in relief.]
Good. I was worried this guy might've moved or something. You ever have ramen before, Fen?
[ At the very least, Fenris does indeed stay behind Wade despite the silence of his footfalls. He doesn't feel very comfortable until the crowds of people grow smaller, and he finds himself grateful that the place Wade picks is a lonely food stall.
He doesn't mean to hesitate, but it's an annoying response to a question that took him off guard. Stupid. ]
[Wade finds himself being selfishly disappointed that Fenris has had this experience already, but it's tempered somewhat by morbid curiosity. That's... a rather strong reaction to an innocuous question, after all.]
Bad experience? We can always go somewhere else if you're not into noodles.
[And for a moment, Wade wrestles with the urge to dig further. It seems like there's a story there, one that goes beyond simple dislike for spicy foods. Maybe someone had made him eat fish despite knowing his dislike of them? Douchey thing to do, if that were the case.
Regardless, Wade decides to let it go. No sense in probing for something that might not be important in the long run. He slips onto one of the stools in one fluid motion, indicating with his head that Fenris should follow suit.]
Well, don't worry. I may have wanted you to try gross nutrition cubes once upon a time, but I draw the line at overly spicy things. Getting you to try 'em, I mean. Personally, I'm all for it.
[He turns his head to address the man attending the food stall.]
You hear that, my good man? Get me somethin' that I'll practically have to sign a waiver for.
[ Fenris isn't used to the prodding being let up when he expresses discomfort about a subject. If anything, his discomfort encourages the prodding to persist.
He hesitates a moment, still surprised, before he takes a seat on the next stool. He goes into a deep thought when Wade mentions the "nutrition cubes" again, trying to dredge up...anything.
For some reason, an encampment flashes in his mind. Did Wade say something about that?
He sighs in frustration, completely at odds with what he says when he addresses the man as well. ]
Just give me a plain one.
[ Without thinking, he glances over at Wade, brows furrowed in thought. ]
[Whatever Fenris is considering while looking at Wade, he's definitely getting himself a show on top of it. Even seated at the noodle cart as he is Wade can barely sit still, tapping his fingers on the counter and jiggling his feet against the rungs of the stool. It's almost as if he's moving along to a rhythm only he can hear.
Eventually he cottons onto the fact that Fenris is looking at him. Glancing the elf's way, Wade accidentally meets his gaze and drops his eyes immediately, an embarrassed smile stretching his lips.]
See anything green, pal? You're kinda lookin' at me like I'm on the menu here.
[ This man can never be still, can he? Complete opposite of Fenris, who sometimes appears as a statue. Though, there was a time when he fidgeted nonstop, looking over his shoulder often, so maybe he gets that a little bit.
Realizing he seems to have embarrassed Wade, he looks away and folds his arms over the counter space. ]
No. I seemed to have gotten lost in thought for a moment. Apologies.
[ Sorry, he couldn't let that one slip by. But when Wade speaks again, Fenris glances back over at him, neutral features a touch more intense than they need to be, debating with himself if he wants to answer him or not. ]
You.
[ But he realizes that alone is not a very good answer. ]
[The sheer simplicity of that statement causes Wade to blink in surprise, and it isn't helped by Fenris's elaboration moments later. One hand comes up to awkwardly squeeze the back of his neck as he huffs out an altogether bashful laugh.]
[Wade finds himself cocking his head in genuine puzzlement.]
Well... yeah? I mean, what else was I supposed to do, be a dick about it? Seems like you don't wanna talk about it, so that's the end of that. No sense in bringing the mood down just to satisfy my curiosity, y'know? I keep my cards close to the chest too sometimes.
[He rolls one shoulder in a shrug.]
No big deal. I'll probably have forgotten I asked by the time we're done here.
[ Fenris returns the genuine puzzlement with more genuine puzzlement. ]
Then I've misjudged you.
[ Reminds him of someone, actually. A little bit. Still, different enough that Fenris is still taken aback. He seems content to let the conversation end there, falling into silence, but after a bit he speaks up again. ]
I've always looked at conversation as a potential trap. Watch your step, look over your shoulder, listen for trouble. Say the wrong thing and someone has you backed into a corner.
[That doesn't really surprise Wade. Fenris had always struck him as the type of person to choose his words carefully, to speak as succinctly as possible and not to give anything away. He shrugs again, the most noncommittal response he can think of, but that doesn't seem like enough.]
I'm probably not the guy to talk to about what's normal, but... honestly that sounds like a really sad way to live, from where I'm sitting. I mean, I'm obviously biased-- you know me, no filter. I just say whatever pops into my head, consequences be damned. Have for years. My parents used to say I was vaccinated with a phonograph needle-- uh. A phonograph's a type of, like... machine that plays music, I guess is the best way to put it? And a vaccine is... y'know what? Forget it. Explaining it ruins the joke. Um.
[Mercifully the noodle chef cuts his stumbling diatribe short by serving them their food. Wade utters a tiny breathless "ohthankGOD" before he sweeps up his chopsticks effortlessly and begins stirring his bowl.]
Bon appetit, Fen. This's pretty much the only way to get me to shut my gob at least for a few seconds. Try to enjoy it as much as possible.
[ Despite not knowing what Wade is even saying, Fenris still appears to be paying attention, even as he explains the overly complicated joke. He still doesn't fully get it, but that's fine. The chef sets their bowls in front of them, and Fenris gives a small thanks and a nod. ]
Noted.
[ It's a teasing reply, but there's something that lacks the usual bite. Softer than it is dry. For whatever reason, Wade seems nervous. He's not sure why exactly...something about the turn in this conversation, he supposes.
He picks up his chopsticks, stirring his bowl as he finally lets his gaze shift from Wade to his food. Fenris gives Wade mercy by shifting the subject back to the food, though he has filed away some mental notes in his head. ]
...This is better than whatever it was I ate before.
[ As the chef returns to what he was doing before, he mutters something along the lines of, "that's because it's not a cheap gimmick", seemingly aware of the place Fenris had been talking about despite not giving any information about it. Seems like there's a rivalry going on there. It wasn't too far from here, after all. ]
[Wade huffs out another laugh at Fenris's teasing remark, pretending to find something very interesting in his bowl so that he doesn't have to look at his dinner partner. A snide comment from his childhood suddenly bubbles to the surface-- y'know, Wade, you don't always have to spill your guts out of your mouth-- before he quiets it with a heaping mouthful of spicy ramen. Waiver-signingly hot, just the way he likes it. He can already feel his face flush from the heat and revels in the pain as he chews.
Fenris's comment catches him by surprise, and he jerks his head up to look at him, mouth unfortunately still laden with noodles that dangle out of his mouth and give him the appearance of some sort of red-faced, pasta-based cephalopod.]
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thebluewraith) wrote2010-04-10 03:45 pm![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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no subject
You look like a fuckin' sharpshooter, that's what you look like. I see your game now-- lull people into a false sense of security with your little edgelord act, and then immediately snipe 'em with a laser-accurate joke outta nowhere. You ain't as slick as you think you are, pally.
[Wade flashes him an appreciative grin before turning his direction to the prizes in the display case.]
See anything you like? Got my eye on that ring down there, myself.
[He taps an area of the case, beneath which a small black ring is nestled.]
no subject
Like Wade.The ring looks...intriguing? Fenris isn't much for rings, though — the markings on his fingers are especially sensitive.]
Strange.
[ He doesn't say it to anything in particular. There are just so many weird things. The small doll with the crazy hair, the fake mustache — something does inevitably stand out to him, though. A bright blue, glowing tube with a cord weaved through a plastic ring on top. Maybe it's because of the irony, or the fact that it's the only thing here that seems familiar, but he can't help but want it.
He points. ]
What do you call that?
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The glowstick? Surprised they make those anymore-- they were more of a 90s thing. You used to see 'em being sold in state fairs and carnivals and stuff. I think they still use industrial ones for, like... mining excursions or whatever.
There's some kinda liquid in there that makes it glow-- not really sure how it works. I only know you're not supposed to drink it. N-not from personal experience, of course.
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He gives a small nod of his head.]
I want that one. [ He spares Wade a glance. ] No drinking.
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[Wade hands the tickets over to the vendor, who ducks briefly behind the counter and reappears with the prizes. Plucking the ring from the vendor's hand, Wade slips the ring on his finger, smiling with delight and satisfaction when the stone set in it immediately turns a deep shade of purple.]
Oh sweet, it does work!
[He briefly looks up from admiring his prize at the glowstick the man is still holding out in his other hand.]
Looks like that comes as a necklace, Fen. That's good-- a lot harder to lose that way.
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Fenris peers at the ring turning purple, having to remind himself that it's probably not infused with some kind of magic or curse, before his gaze returns to the glowstick being held out to him, hanging from a leather cord and swinging side to side like a pendulum.
He takes it into his hand and gives it a once-over, turning it over and watching the bubble inside race from one end of the stick to the other. After a moment he wordlessly puts it on. The glow of the blue liquid really does look an awful lot like Lyrium. Except there's something infinitely more comforting about it that he can't quite place. ]
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[It does, actually-- that's not just rhetoric. The gentle glow from the necklace lights up Fenris's face in a way that is both ethereal and appealing, causing his hair to glimmer with pretty highlights and adding a rather fetching contrast to his olive skin. Wade suddenly stretches, opening his mouth in a jaw-cracking yawn.]
Man, y'know what? Now that all the fun's over I just realized I'm starving. What say we see if there're any food stalls nearby? My treat.
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[ It's hard to tell if the reflective tone in his words was actually sarcasm or not. There's not much chance to reflect on it either way. Fenris also realizes that...he's hungry. That's saying a lot, honestly.
He still pauses before giving his answer. This night ended up way different than he anticipated. ]
Sure. Thanks.
[ Or SOMETHING he doesn't know. ]
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There's a chill in the air as he exits the arcade, though that seems impossible considering the city's under a giant dome. Maybe there was some mechanism designed to simulate weather? Best not to think about it too much-- things are already creepily Matrix-y enough as it is.
He can't hear Fenris's footfalls behind him, but he fights the urge to look back. Don't want to give Fenris the impression that he's needy or anything. A few lefts and a right later, Wade finds himself on a nondescript little street where a lonely food stall has been set up. He grins in relief.]
Good. I was worried this guy might've moved or something. You ever have ramen before, Fen?
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He doesn't mean to hesitate, but it's an annoying response to a question that took him off guard. Stupid. ]
Once.
[ Ugh. ]
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Bad experience? We can always go somewhere else if you're not into noodles.
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[ He got the impression that that was part of its charm, though. A gimmick to draw in customers, most likely. ]
It's not important.
[ Not anymore. ]
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Regardless, Wade decides to let it go. No sense in probing for something that might not be important in the long run. He slips onto one of the stools in one fluid motion, indicating with his head that Fenris should follow suit.]
Well, don't worry. I may have wanted you to try gross nutrition cubes once upon a time, but I draw the line at overly spicy things. Getting you to try 'em, I mean. Personally, I'm all for it.
[He turns his head to address the man attending the food stall.]
You hear that, my good man? Get me somethin' that I'll practically have to sign a waiver for.
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He hesitates a moment, still surprised, before he takes a seat on the next stool. He goes into a deep thought when Wade mentions the "nutrition cubes" again, trying to dredge up...anything.
For some reason, an encampment flashes in his mind. Did Wade say something about that?
He sighs in frustration, completely at odds with what he says when he addresses the man as well. ]
Just give me a plain one.
[ Without thinking, he glances over at Wade, brows furrowed in thought. ]
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Eventually he cottons onto the fact that Fenris is looking at him. Glancing the elf's way, Wade accidentally meets his gaze and drops his eyes immediately, an embarrassed smile stretching his lips.]
See anything green, pal? You're kinda lookin' at me like I'm on the menu here.
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Realizing he seems to have embarrassed Wade, he looks away and folds his arms over the counter space. ]
No. I seemed to have gotten lost in thought for a moment. Apologies.
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[Another, shorter silence occurs as Wade watches their food being prepared. Eventually he can't handle the suspense any longer.]
Okay if I ask what you were thinkin' about just now? Now you got me all curious.
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[ Sorry, he couldn't let that one slip by. But when Wade speaks again, Fenris glances back over at him, neutral features a touch more intense than they need to be, debating with himself if he wants to answer him or not. ]
You.
[ But he realizes that alone is not a very good answer. ]
You're...different...than what I'm used to.
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Uh... different in a good way, I hope?
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Perhaps.
[ Sorry, Wade. He's bad at this, in case it hasn't been blatantly made clear by now. ]
When I give you an answer to a question you just...accept it.
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Well... yeah? I mean, what else was I supposed to do, be a dick about it? Seems like you don't wanna talk about it, so that's the end of that. No sense in bringing the mood down just to satisfy my curiosity, y'know? I keep my cards close to the chest too sometimes.
[He rolls one shoulder in a shrug.]
No big deal. I'll probably have forgotten I asked by the time we're done here.
[A soft, self-deprecating chuckle.]
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Then I've misjudged you.
[ Reminds him of someone, actually. A little bit. Still, different enough that Fenris is still taken aback. He seems content to let the conversation end there, falling into silence, but after a bit he speaks up again. ]
I've always looked at conversation as a potential trap. Watch your step, look over your shoulder, listen for trouble. Say the wrong thing and someone has you backed into a corner.
Perhaps that isn't normal after all.
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I'm probably not the guy to talk to about what's normal, but... honestly that sounds like a really sad way to live, from where I'm sitting. I mean, I'm obviously biased-- you know me, no filter. I just say whatever pops into my head, consequences be damned. Have for years. My parents used to say I was vaccinated with a phonograph needle-- uh. A phonograph's a type of, like... machine that plays music, I guess is the best way to put it? And a vaccine is... y'know what? Forget it. Explaining it ruins the joke. Um.
[Mercifully the noodle chef cuts his stumbling diatribe short by serving them their food. Wade utters a tiny breathless "ohthankGOD" before he sweeps up his chopsticks effortlessly and begins stirring his bowl.]
Bon appetit, Fen. This's pretty much the only way to get me to shut my gob at least for a few seconds. Try to enjoy it as much as possible.
[An awkward, self-deprecating laugh.]
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Noted.
[ It's a teasing reply, but there's something that lacks the usual bite. Softer than it is dry. For whatever reason, Wade seems nervous. He's not sure why exactly...something about the turn in this conversation, he supposes.
He picks up his chopsticks, stirring his bowl as he finally lets his gaze shift from Wade to his food. Fenris gives Wade mercy by shifting the subject back to the food, though he has filed away some mental notes in his head. ]
...This is better than whatever it was I ate before.
[ As the chef returns to what he was doing before, he mutters something along the lines of, "that's because it's not a cheap gimmick", seemingly aware of the place Fenris had been talking about despite not giving any information about it. Seems like there's a rivalry going on there. It wasn't too far from here, after all. ]
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Fenris's comment catches him by surprise, and he jerks his head up to look at him, mouth unfortunately still laden with noodles that dangle out of his mouth and give him the appearance of some sort of red-faced, pasta-based cephalopod.]
Mph?
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