orangetoughguy | log post II

Yeah, I guess.

[Freddy nods, unable to add more to that without inevitably bringing the scumbag up. So he just leaves it as is but he nods to the old man for the beer.]

Thanks. [A much needed sip goes here as the kid does go for the couch. He's planning to take up the long chair lengthwise. Larry can take the accompanying sofa chair...or move Freddy.]

[Just the way to end the day. Beer and a little surprise. Larry takes a seat near by. He's not leaping on the good part. Not yet.]

Same ol' then? [Brown eyes shift to gander at the bag, like it'd move]

Same old, you?

[He asks but the constant shifty-eye over the covered pile on the table gets this kid's attention as he lays down.]

What's in it?

[In the bag, duh.]

Oh yeah. [First sip. Ah.]

Why don't you take a look.

[Green eyes are narrowing. What's the old man playing at huh? Time to find out, the kid sits up now to peer over into the curious bag.]

... [A very very curious bag. He pulls out one figure mint on card in the right and another in the left.] What the fuck is this...?

[Wait for it, Lawrence Dimick, wait for it. He's got Iron Man as sportscar and Hulk as a tank in his paws.] These are fucking supercool.

[Larry sits back, quiet. This is the part where a good hour and a half spent at the toy store is gonna pay off.]

Like em?

[See, he knew Iron Man was a big deal. The Hulk looked cool cuz he's a big green brute.]

Should be one more in there.

[Hopefully he made good choices.]

Where'd you get'em??

[That's a yes in case Larry needs translation. He digs through the bag for the fourth and of course it's none other than Johnny Storm himself.]

The Human Torch. These are great, Larry. [See this beaming kid smile??]

This place kinda near the shore.

[Shrug. Though he is now grinning back.]

I happened to be in the neighborhood and they caught my eye.

[Quazi-fib. He did happen upon a store. And they did catch his eye. Cars and super heroes in one?]

Well you sure know how to pick'em.

[Rrrriiiippppp. He's opening the Hulk already. Some guys keep their figures on the card, some guys actually like to pop them out and play with them. Freddy is the latter. Oh wait, he looks up from reading the instructions.]

Thanks Larry.

I'd say so.

[Talking about you, cowboy. But really though. Larry's ready to surrender to the fact that Freddy is going to be occupied with the figures. Better than thinking about pokerfaced psychos.]

Did you see'em cause they looked like cars?

[He's still gonna talk to you while he tinkers with Bruce though. In case Larry thought he was off the hook.]

[He didn't think he was off the hook per se, he believed that there wouldn't be too much conversation.]

Only on the package.

[This is a lot harder than it looks on the backing card. Freddy quirks a brow and attempts the same step three different ways. Oh wait. He looks at Larry again.]

Did you wanna keep one?

Me?

[Come between the kid, the Human Torch and the rest?]

Nah. They're all for you.

[To take his mind off of the bullshit.]

Yeah you. [Tinker tinker tinker. Again he looks up, this time more expectant.]

Are you sure? [Last chance, Dimick.]

I kinda get the feeling it'd be more appreciated in your hands, pal.

[Larry knows he would be, besides. They're just some plastic. ...right?

Sip, sip.]

Well, okay.

[I agree. The kid gives another smile as he goes back to tinkering. Sipping. Tinkering. Now he's looking seriously concentrated on the Hulk, trying to put his huge tank barrel down...yep. This piece goes up. This piece goes down. Who knows how long it's taking Freddy, but eventually he speaks up again.]

I think I got it...! [Hear the enthusiasm.]

[In the mean time, the old man finds the clicker and gets more comfortable on the couch. Freddy's got his attention, don't you worry because the Andy Griffith show is on. Right now is all about fucking off.]

Oh yeah?

[Well hey now, he wouldn't guessed it fit together like that.]

[Freddy makes the mechanoid Hulk walk forward, big bulging arms...bulging about.]

This is so fucking awesome, who the hell came up with this idea anyway? [Jack Kirby? Stan Lee? No probably some corporate merchandising honcho but it's still badass.] The guy deserves some fuckin' world peace prize.

[Actually maybe you want to call it the Nobel Prize. Oh shit was that a giggle the kid just made?]

[Pretty fucking big, then again that's how the Hulk is.]

Somebody who knew their market I figure.

[Look at the effects! This is not the face of a man who could have had to deal with a fucker that set a cop on fire. That man is still in there, no doubt. Just sleepin'.]

I'm sure all the money he's made is a good enough condolence for being passed up.

[Getting a prize that big for a toy?]

[Oh well in that case...]

How much were they?

[This question is going somewhere, honestly, and nowhere bad.]

A green I think.

[Whatever that means. Though he still tries to think of it in dollars. It's a hard habit to break.]

It don't matter. [He hopes. Larry leans forward to put his beer down.]

[A green...a green...a green. Freddy does the math necessary to translate that cost into dollars which as far as he knows comes to something just right, maybe even downright criminal for such masterpieces.]

I gotta get some more.

[Says the kid who hasn't even opened up the other two. He gets up on his feet as if he might go out right this very second, except he's going over to the other man first because he's put the beer down. That means the beer's out of the way. That means Freddy can kneel right over Larry's lap.]

You smooth bastard.

[Let it be know that Larry keeps a few bills carefully folded in his wallet.]

I think there were three or four others.

[There were many other cool figures that almost made the cut. No doubt Freddy will find them. Brown eyes follow him, and yeah, with his enthusiasm it's believable that he'd set out for more right now. When he settles though, it's not only a relief but something worth being enthusiastic about.]

Knew you'd like em.

[Paws go right on him.]

You know me pretty well.

[Says the kid, neither surprised nor too factual. It's a statement confirmed by time and observation, evoked by the paws on him. Larry knows Freddy pretty goddamn well by now, enough to be aware even though he's all smiles and sly green eyes at the moment underneath is a man who draws a serious line at burning people alive.

In the meantime his own paws go for the old man's hair, fingers running through brown and silver, mostly brown.]

There any way I can thank you?

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