exsiliumlogs | (closed) the force is great

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(closed) the force is great

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.

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Hmm. Probably 'cause I'm too skinny.

( Not that she has ever really-- been concerned about her appearance. Only sometimes, rare occasions. There were more important things. And it definitely wasn't something she'd ever thought about lately, not something that ever made her feel a bit restless. She's flippant and lighthearted, and starts walking down the stairs backwards - no hand on the railing - as she talks to Steph. )

And I drool on your pillow.

( Feelings are not complicated here at all )

I've slept with skinnier people.

[Just tossing that out there as well, as she keeps an eye on Ellie as they walk. It's not that she thinks she'll fall but-- she kind of thinks she might fall.]

The drool is a valid point, I'll give you that.

( An arched eyebrow, because sure she's been here a couple of months, now, but she's still not exactly-- well, actually, she's looking a lot better than she was before she got here, but she was still used to thinking of herself as flesh and bone. She glances down, hand pressing against her abdomen, before she shrugs. Okay, yeah, maybe that much is possible.

For a few moments, she lapses into silence, just turning things over in her mind, the imaginary situation where she and Steph are going out or sleeping together or whatever this bizarre thing that she's composed in her mind is, really, twisting to walk the right way for a few more steps before they reach the ground floor.

It's an excuse for a moment of silence as she pushes the door open, her holding it for Steph, this time.

She's not too sure why she feels so odd, uncomfortable, but it reminds her a fraction of how she felt when they were camping, even without that thick film of awkward that accompanied it, just that physical feeling that seemed just beyond reach.

Wake up, Linton. ) Oh, look. Another beautiful day of pissing down rain. ( It's to her credit how genuinely enthusiastic she manages to be, even as she flashes a cheeky grin at Steph. )

[She lets Ellie have that silence, though she's watching her a little curiously, having been expecting a remark back. Still, she huffs a laugh at the feigned enthusiasm.]

You know, they always joke about it constantly raining in England, but I never thought they actually meant it.

[Nevermind that this rain is the result of a nuclear winter. Once they're outside, Steph reaches out for Ellie's hand, entwining their fingers. In case that might ease some of the awkwardness in the silence.]

They must've angered the gods. Not enough sacrifices left at the altar of tea and corgis.

( Not even dryly said, quite serious as Steph catches her hand, letting her grin give her away. She gives her hand a reassuring squeeze, gently tugging her along towards the NORAH cafe - Steph might recognise the way as Ellie ambles along. She'd rather smooth any awkward away, rather than brooding on it because this is meant to be fun, a good day. All kinds of sentimental crap. )

At least it's not as bad as home. When the rain hit there, the temperature could plummet. Pretty ordinary when you're sleeping outside.

( Not bitter, not even... brooding or serious, just wrinkling her nose and laughing about it. It feels good, to be able to talk about Hell without becoming all locked up. )

And crumpets. That's a British thing, right?

[Beryl would probably be ashamed of her right now, but Steph's just having a bit of fun, running with Ellie's joke instead of letting that awkwardness build up.]

I thought it was always hot in Australia. [Continuining with the 'Steph is ignorant about non-US places' joke, since it's usually a favourite of Ellie's.]

Crumpets, scones, those funny fuzzy hats.

( Gold star, Steph, for getting a laugh out of her. ) We're the land of extremes. Droughts, floods, wet season, dry season. I mean, it's never like Alaska or Siberia, but it can get pretty cold when you're used to it being baking hot. You could get a bit of frost in the morning, sometimes. Not a lot, it'd all be gone by 8am, usually, but still. A tiny, tiny bit.

( Behold the extremes. )

I reckon cold for us would be pretty weak compared to some people around here. ( And she isn't being grumpy or defensive about it, either. ) Some places you can go skiing, too.

I've worn one of them. [a beat] The fuzzy hats, not the scones or crumpets.

[In case Ellie might've thought Steph made a habit of wearing food.

It's nice, hearing Ellie talk about Australia without the context of the war, just the - little things. But she does huff a laugh.]

It snows in Gotham, sometimes, we get about half a meter or so. [Look at her, automatically converting for Ellie.] But yeah, even that's not cold compared to some places. I don't think frost in the morning really counts.

[Gently teasing, as she nudges Ellie's shoulder with her own.]

Oh, right. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

( With a gentle counter-shoulder bump, for good measure. ) I bet you could make the jam and cream work, though, if you tried.

( Ellie please try thinking before you speak. For someone who over-thinks, sometimes, she really doesn't process how things are going to sound, very much. It's just the internal stuff that goes into overdrive.

And, yeah, she's actually just imagining Steph with a fuzzy hat and scarf and little mits, and it's a bizarrely cute image. Making little snow-bats, or something. She's grinning a bit at the thought, but doesn't explain it, just enjoys it. )

We're tropical, if we got half a meter of snow I reckon we'd have a few thins to worry about. ( Whoops, sudden turn, pulling Steph along. )

[Another little chuckle, as she looks at Ellie with a raised eyerow] Is this your way of telling me you have a food play kink? Because I can probably deal with cream, if it's whipped, but jam might be a bit much.

[Ellie is welcome for that mental image of Steph with whipped cream on her.

The turn almost surprises her, but she adjusts pretty quickly, catching herself before she does anything embarrassing like fall over.]

The sheep might like it, they could blend into the landscape.

Uhh--

( Wow, Stephanie, wow. She just said that, didn't she? And that sure is a mental image. It's a good thing she totally isn't turning a bit red. ~~This is a lie.~~ )

Suddenly I'm really sad all the sex I've ever had was during the war. Whipped cream doesn't sound bad.

( Ellie Linton can run with this and not be flustered! Yes! She can make this conversational!)

Actually, that's not such a good thing if they get sick or separated from the rest. It's better if we can find 'em quick.

[Steph smirks]

It can be fun. A little sticky if you get carried away, but that could be said for any sex.

[She's incorrigible, and enjoying the reaction she got out of Ellie.

Though she does have to roll her eyes, still looking amused.]

I was joking, El. I know it's kinda bad for sheep in winter.

Oh, God.

( She cannot. She simply cannot. The hand that isn't holding Steph's just presses into Ellie's forehead. )

I was so cut that I didn't have any girls to discuss this stuff with, and now I realise how lucky I was.

( Because she is stuck with this jerk. God. She's complaining through a smile, though, even as she nudges Steph to indicate they're almost there - the NORAH cafe, where she's dragged her before for milkshakes, though via a totally different route. It was meant to be a surprise, after all. )

You never know. ( Maybe she just takes farming a bit too seriously. She misses it. )

[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.

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.

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.]

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. )

[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.]

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. )

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.]

( 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.

[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.]

( 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. )

[ 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. ]

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.]

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reconnaissance - 2013-04-18 16:12 (UTC) - Expand

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