orangetoughguy | log post II

I got a whole bunch of coins right here so if you got the time I think we're pretty much set.

[Maybe they're like a black bear roaming through the neighborhood with a street dog trotting right next to him.]

You can win tickets to trade for other crap or win a huge dog dressed as a banana. [Don't ask him what it is cause Freddy don't know.]

I got time enough. [Leaving a loophole if one is needed. If.] You? [Though with that hat Larry's near certain that Freddy doesn't need to get down and dirty for work. It's got Iron Man after all.]

That were you got the hat? [He flicks a finger against the bill. The old man isn't going to even process the dog dressed as a banana.]

I got lots of time.

[He's had this whole week off if the bear couldn't tell. Why he's had the week off Freddy may not have explained completely yet but that's because Saya's sworn him to secrecy.]

Naw I picked this up at a thrift store. Pretty cool for a couple of oranges huh? Somethin' like four dollars. [He tilts it back into place after the flicking fff.]

[Mighty hard to fix up cars in the dead of winter, at least ones that aren't on the road. Must be slow. Also, Freddy puts up a good front, in case if he didn't know. The old man, on the other hand had a few days off but back to the grindstone.]

It looks like new.

[It looks good for a comic book cap say those brown eyes, even when Larry is shaking his head.]

You should get a Brewers one.

Whoever gave it up doesn't know what he's missin'.

[That's Freddytalk for snooze you lose, sucker. He tips the brim again then darts a gaze Larry's way.]

For you? Sure.

[Freddy might never get a Brewers cap on his own but Larry definitely, definitely appreciates the thought of it alone. Oh. Are they there already. Huh. There's a hope that they're not the only adults in this joint outside of the sucker who's got to work maintenance... then again with this being the City it could very well be another young kid.

The lights going off and sounds it could be an infant Las Vegas.]

After you, sir.

[However long it takes is however long it takes, but Freddy's walking out with a haul of one giant plush dog dressed as a banana, a light up yo-yo, and some brand new top scores to his name. Not bad all in all, they could've done more but even this kid can tell when an old man's had enough of blinking LEDs, rattling noise, and stupid adolescents trying to tilt the coin machine.]

Come on you know you had a great time in pinball row.

[That's supposed to be a dog? Larry thought it was a polar bear from a distance. Must be the nose. Why a dog would be dressed as a banana, only Freddy could tell. The old man on the other hand is walking out with a big gorilla, nostrils flaring and chest puffed out at some unseen threat. He's a little bit too small to be King Kong. More like Donkey Kong without the tie. That's his only prize besides getting at least four extra balls in the machine.]

I did.

[They had an Archie comic pinball machine. This place is a kick.]

Don't think it was as good of a time as you over all.

[Yeah, he's eying that yoyo.]

What can I say? It's my kind of place. [He shrugs once, nonchalant and ever so casual.]

Here kid.

[It doesn't take Freddy long to pass the banana-dog off to a short scrappy looking...boy? Girl? That kid's got a Latino Jodie Foster look to it. Regardless, that kid seems pretty happy to get a gift from a stranger. now all he's got left is the yo-yo. That's staying with him.]

[Larry holds his tongue from asking if everyone here knows his name. Nobody does. Though there is little doubt that they see him as a regular. The way that the banana-dog is passed, that's real fucking sweet. That mulatto kid will never forget it. The old man knows he wouldn't have, free handouts that good are hard to come by.]

What was that?

[There's a grin on his face, kid. This ain't no interrogation.]

What was what?

[Freddy asks while letting the yoyo loose. Look at that shit light the fuck up, it may as well be a mini-identity disc.]

That.

[Half a turn behind them to see where the kid has gone. Too late now to see. Shrug and turn back.

What's with young people and things that light up? Though it's pretty fucking cool all lit up like a UFO.]

Now you don't got somethin' big anymore.

[Meanwhile, Larry's still toting his gorilla.]

A dog in a banana suit?

[Another look, like Larry ought to have known better just by looking at it. Duh. As for something big though...he just hooks his thumb at the big bear with the big ape.]

I got that.

[Which does he mean though hm.]

Yeah. Sure it wasn't a bear though? [Could have easily been. You couldn't see the ears. He waves the hand. Spare him, kid, won't you?] Made that kid's day.

[In doing so made this old man's day. Fuck, Dimick you're a sap.]

This? Well, you do, don't you.

[Even though he's holding the gorilla he thinks of the other option. All the same, he'll shove it under the wiry arm that isn't handling the yoyo.]

It had a dog's face to me. [The kid smiles, knowing the old man appreciated the gesture too. Oh wait what? Fff he hooks his arm securely around the ape so it doesn't drop to the ground.] So where's your prize?

[He's not fishing for compliments, not really...]

My prize?

[He wets his lips, they're feeling dry though he intentionally keeps the action slow nodding to the gorilla and the funny dog holding it.]

Right there. Can't you see?

[The lip wetting does not go unnoticed one bit.]

Light me a smoke will you?

[Point of the exercise, champ. Is it strange that Larry's still just as attracted to him after stepping out of some teenager's paradise?]

No problem.

[Larry takes the liberty of removing the box of smokes from the other man's coat, since his arms are full. He puts it to his mouth first though. Flick. Flick goes his lighter.]

[It shouldn't be strange and anyone who tells Larry otherwise is the real chump.]

Thanks.

[Green eyes are watching, much more earthen and caramel in color than the blue and teal of his new toy.]

[There are a lotta chumps around, more than the champs and chimps.]

Sure.

[Since he's lighting up, the old man gets a first drag. Inhale holding the smoke and getting the full heady feeling of nicotine. Brown eyes meet those green eyes as he exhales, slowly. Larry's not the kind to make smoke rings.]

Like this.

[The kid shapes his mouth just right for smoke ring formation, rounded with pursed lips. He makes a soft quick blowing noise, like a puff.]

[Watching, first for the joy of watching the way his lips move. Then for technique. Okay then. One more puff and he tries it again. Not quite so well, but something rounded comes out at least once.]

Close enough.

[Here, fella. Larry hands over the kid's smoke.]

Keep trying.

[Does that sound familiar? Maybe if ice skates, a stick, and puck were involved. He adjusts his armful to take the cigarette and blow those rings to one side.]

See? [He smiles.]

'Course you gotta make it look so damn easy.

[That sound familiar too? Maybe, maybe not. But hell, looks nice having all that smoke roll out in uniformed formation from the careful set of Freddy's mouth.]

Where'd you pick that up?

[Smoking or his signature trick, pick one.]

I think you'd have a lot more experience in this kinda thing.

[Freddy says in his own--and Larry's own?--defense. Again that mouth purses to form another set of rings.]

School. Someone's brother taught me, said only upperclassmen could do it though. [Obviously this comic book loving kid showed them a thing or two.]

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