[Fiona, where are you getting all these cigarettes?]
No big deal. The sudden scene change was dumb as hell. [He glances back up the snowy trail. And then it belatedly occurs to him they never swapped names. Oops.]
Though I gotta say, in retrospect, usually you're not supposed to tell strangers where you used to live.
[Her expression, verging on blank before, snaps into a dull grin.] I think that only counts for if we met in a chatroom in '97, but I promise not to tell your mom anyway.
I think I'd be in luck either way. You would've had to rat me out to my bro and I don't think he'd care. At least not outside of telling me to apply my stranger danger lessons if you showed up at the door.
[She scoffs, and folds her arms.] Oh, good, I've always wondered if I could kidnap a kid. You know, if I ever needed more than the five I got. [Out of habit, stance grows a bit defiant. Admitting that straight up isn't unheard of, but it's certainly an... experience every time.] But I don't think they keep, what'd you call it, the Further Ring? I don't think they got that on Google Maps, so you're safe.
[The relief is mildly perplexing, tbh. But it isn't enough to merit acknowledgement.]
Damn, and you passed up the chance to scandalize all the old, traditional aliens. [Not that he can ballpark her age too accurately. Having an older brother over twice your age kind of skews your perceptions.]
Talk about lost opportunities.
[He's sardonic enough that it's like he was plunged into a vat of sarcasm and recast from it as a whole.]
[Yes, yes, very impressive, kid. Years living with two teenage brothers has made her a bit numb to the whole 'unemotional teen' thing, but it's mildly comforting to see that that's a universal constant.] Would lying about being an unwed mother really be in my favor in space? Since you got so much experience with it.
[Fiona rolls her eyes, but, atop a smile, it's more amused than annoyed.] Oh, right. I'll keep that in mind, next time I'm making friends and influencing people. Anyway, thanks for the lift, kid.
[She's heard weirder. Well, not really-- she doesn't rate them-- but it's a recognizably American name that isn't too impossibly out of place in a phone book. He's no Optimus Prime.]
You'll be okay making it the rest of the way, Dave? [She's pretty sure he'll be fine, and she doesn't want to slow him down, but still. You gotta ask.]
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[His shoulders lift in a not-quite shrug.]
Though whoever nabbed us did hire a ghost. Chatted with her on the network back on mountain dragon planet.
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[And then, back to the kid.] Anyway, thanks for saving my ass.
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No big deal. The sudden scene change was dumb as hell. [He glances back up the snowy trail. And then it belatedly occurs to him they never swapped names. Oops.]
Though I gotta say, in retrospect, usually you're not supposed to tell strangers where you used to live.
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[Her expression, verging on blank before, snaps into a dull grin.] I think that only counts for if we met in a chatroom in '97, but I promise not to tell your mom anyway.
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I think I'd be in luck either way. You would've had to rat me out to my bro and I don't think he'd care. At least not outside of telling me to apply my stranger danger lessons if you showed up at the door.
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[Although he does look mildly perplexed about the admission of five kids.]
What did you do before you got hired to destroy planets. Run an adoption agency out of your basement?
i legit lost this tag HAHA
I got a big family. [Wait.] Little brothers and a little sister.
friendship = over
Damn, and you passed up the chance to scandalize all the old, traditional aliens. [Not that he can ballpark her age too accurately. Having an older brother over twice your age kind of skews your perceptions.]
Talk about lost opportunities.
[He's sardonic enough that it's like he was plunged into a vat of sarcasm and recast from it as a whole.]
ur br8kin my heart
u betrayed me, padme
[He sizes her up.]
—eh. Three, maybe.
y do i have 2 be padme >c
bc i broke your heart, your achy breaky heart
[Might as well get a name here, right. Fiona, you're so normal...]
10 years later.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug88HO2mg44
(They didn't.)]
If you're from Chicago, you've got to know what a fist bump is. Seems way more apropos for a hostile environment than a handshake.
[Fist bump him, Fiona. You know you want to.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhrBDcQq2DM
Hell.
Fucking.
Yes.]
Dave Strider.
[SO MANY JOKES ABOUT THAT NAME for reals.]
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You'll be okay making it the rest of the way, Dave? [She's pretty sure he'll be fine, and she doesn't want to slow him down, but still. You gotta ask.]
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Yeah. You think you'll be able to avoid transforming into a slush pancake?
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[Time to find somewhere warmer to hang. Dave gives Fiona a thumbs up, before taking advantage of his flight capabilities.
L8er, dude.]