(closed) the force is great

[reconnaissance]

Date & Time: 10th April
Location: Casa de Batrek, NORAH cafe
Characters: Ellie and Steph Brown controlledvariable (with guest appearance by Snow Villiers stonewall)
Summary: WAFFFLLLEEESSS
Warnings: Just... Ellie...


( It's been busy, camping, training, invasions and everything. She almost forgot, really, about the whole cafe and waffles thing. At least that meant she couldn't accidentally let slip about the waffles, either.

Now, though, she was in a good mood, and sometimes you just gotta grab that and run with it; carpe diem and that, right? Although she was pretty sure that didn't usually get applied to having waffles for the first time, but screw bloody convention, eh?

So, she all but bounces through the door to Steph's apartment. )

Steph? Hey, come on, we're going out.

Comments

[controlledvariable]

[For a moment, she manages to keep a straight face, but then she's laughing, a little cheeky.]

What, you don't wanna talk to me about sex? But I'm a fountain of knowledge and wisdom.

[No that's... pretty much the opposite of true.

Ellie gets a raised eyebrow once their destination comes into view, because why would they need to go a different way just to get to a cafe they've been too before.]

What I do know is that you're acting a bit suspicious.

[reconnaissance]

You're a fountain of something.

( Terribleness, actually. And total crap, that was another thing. Everything bad in the world, that was what Steph was a fountain of. She was responsible for those shitty garden tools that broke in half the first time you used them.

And because, o wise one, she had to maintain the surprise. )

Me? ( So hurt! ) I try to do something nice and you say it's suspicious.

[controlledvariable]

Delightfulness? Beauty? Adventure?

[She's just going to toss some options out there, even if she can all but read Ellie's thoughts on this particular topic. She probably shouldn't enjoy the teasing so much, but oh well.]

It is suspicious. [Shooting her such a suspicious look to match] Why are you doing nice things?

[She doesn't remember doing anything that deserved a nice thing.]

[reconnaissance]

Irritation, despair, horror.

( Cute try, though. A for effort. And ugh, she just rolls her eyes, heaving a sigh. )

To make up for making everyone think we're dating, obviously.

( Which she still thinks is a load of crap, just for the record.

Steph always deserves nice things, though. That's what Ellie actually reckons, even when she's being a brat. She wouldn't have done well at all here, without Steph. )

[controlledvariable]

[Steph rolls her eyes right back, lightly jabbing Ellie in the ribs with a finger. But the comment about dating gets a laugh]

You say that like it's some terrible thing, that pepole think we're dating.

[And she might just be raising an eyebrow at that, a slightly challenging look, as if daring Ellie to come up with an insult.]

[reconnaissance]

Well, you can con people into thinking you're pretty decent, unless they see you hanging out with me too much.

( It's a flattering shade of self-mockery that Ellie is sporting, today. )

And if they thought we were dating, that's it. Any good things you had going around here would go south, right away.

( Light and airy, but maybe she wonders sometimes if that's true. If things would be smoother for people if she weren't around. She can recognise the good she does, but she knows she's bloody difficult to get along with. In the meantime, though, she's going to hold the door open for Steph and tilt her head to usher her into the cafe. )

[controlledvariable]

I dunno, seems like a good way to figure out the sort of people I don't wanna be friends with, anyway.

[Continuing with that light tone, but there's the implication that if anyone is going to judge her for hanging out with Ellie, she couldn't care less about their opinion.

And for all that they're joking, Ellie is her friend, so she means it.]

[reconnaissance]

( Ellie grins a little, even if she is shaking her head. Steph thought a little too highly of her, sometimes, she was pretty sure. It didn't feel like like all the time, or even most or much of the time, but when the thoughts did strike, they bore far in. It wasn't too bad, right now. Just a possibility, something catching light and shining it back in her eyes, but she could step on it soon enough. For now, she just tugs Steph along, pointing at a table in the far corner. Optimal view of the rest of the cafe, near a window. Surveillance and exit strategy, done. Probably something like the usual table.

Some habits die hard. )

I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but I'm not an easy person to get along with.

( Weaving between the tables, but still holding Steph's hand, giving it something of a reassuring squeeze. ) They could be right.

[controlledvariable]

[It's things like optimal table selection that make Steph like Ellie, because she doesn't have to explain why they need to sit in that particular spot, they both just automatically go to it. It's like being with another vigilante, except without all the crap tied up in that.]

Lots of people aren't easy to get along with. [Her included, when her anger gets the better of her.] Doesn't mean they're not worth being friends with. Or that people should judge.

[And she brushes her thumb over Ellie's knuckles, to let her know that she means it.]

[reconnaissance]

( Okay, fine. That might actually make her feel better. Warm fuzzies, the whole sentimental nine yards and then a few more just to drive the point home. It's nice, though. It's nice having someone removed from the war who has her back. She's had that thought about Steph so many times, and she never stops being grateful, either. Ellie just casts a fond look over her shoulder, squeezing Steph's hand in some effort at a return gesture, before sliding into the chair. )

Is it corny if I say you're worth being friends with?

( It is, isn't it? Oh well. It's true. Sometimes you gotta let someone know things, because otherwise the chance will slip away, and you'll be stuck with them forever. Corrie.

She tries to brush that off, though, and casts an eye around to see if she can spot that giant monstrosity of a human being, also called Snow Villiers. )

[stonewall]

[ Said giant monstrosity is, in fact, on his way over right now. Sure, he has waitresses and waiters for this kind of stuff, but it's a quiet night behind the bar — and Snow + quiet tends to equal trouble. He'll take this one on himself. ]

Hey. Ellie, right? [ He greets her with a wave, then nods to Steph. ] And this must be your friend. You here for those waffles?

[ A smile tugs at the corner of his lips, one a little cheekier than his usual expression. But they get off lightly for now. ]

[controlledvariable]

Really corny, but I don't mind. [It's almost said under her breath, just for Ellie, getting the answer in as she watches Snow approach.

And she smiles in greeting, but any other attempt at politeness is lost with that mention of waffles, as she turns to look at Ellie.]

Oh my god. [Waffles!] Is that was this is about?

[Waffles.]

[reconnaissance]

( See, that reaction? That made this whole plan worth it. Not that it was much of a plan, admittedly, more just badgering Snow to see if he could make waffles and it turning out that yes, yes he could. That wasn't going to keep her from pretending it was something a lot more epic and exciting than that.

She grins at Steph, gives her a conspiratorial wink (good choice, Ellie) and looks up at Snow. )

We are definitely here for the waffles. ( A beat. ) And milkshakes.

( Hey, a girl needs her calcium. )