orangetoughguy | log post II

[The old man gives a nod to the man waiting to one side before sliding into his seat.]

Just what I want to hear. I'm starved.

[By description alone the food looks fantastic. Though they should start with a wine.]

I'm impressed, kid.

Really?

[Oh there's that tone of being unsure he's really truly succeeded in impressing Lawrence Dimick of all people. This is his territory after all. As for the wine, he's going with something he's picked out before based on someone else's recommendation. He's no wine connoisseur.]

It sounded cool and I heard some pretty good things so I figured why the hell not. Oh it's on me this time.

Well sure. C'mon. I didn't have a clue. Here we are.

[The way all those thin panels look side by side it's eye catching.]

Oh you?

[Brown eyes are looking up from the menu. Freddy has money of course. There's no doubt of that. Though the old man is the one who usually wrestles the check away or is more insistent.]

Well well. Thanks very much, sir. I think that you deserve a toast.

[In the very least.]

Yeah me. [And Larry better not have a problem with it. Ahah! Freddy sees an opening. He turns his wine list around to face the old man.] In that case you pick what we're toastin' with.

[Clever clever huh? Besides, he trusts Larry's taste in fine drinking.]

[Zero problem here. It's hard not to smile. This was not where the old man imagined they'd be a few days after seeing that distinct skyline. He had motel rooms and drive through food. Clearly this is superior.]

I'm gonna go with a red wine this time.

[One that's from Germany. It's gonna go with red meat too. Larry's on board.]

Sure, that'll do.

[Freddy says in his best upscale posh tone, also known as trying to sound as if you know what you're talking about. It's all in good fun though because he knows Larry knows this sort of thing is still a little foreign to him. Maybe the kid might never fully get used to be immersed in such plush luxury but then again if he did he wouldn't be the same Freddy Newendyke, right? Just as well, he doesn't think the old man could ever give up good eats in a greasy wrapper on dirty benches.]

I think I'm gonna have this.

[He points at a description in the menu. It's florid language for something that amounts to a four cheese ravioli with bacon topping and a side of chicken. It's not red meat however Freddy clearly doesn't care.]

[Red wine in color and Red in name. Italian. About four years old. All minor details. What matters is that it'll taste good. It's not a beer in a bar in a City they don't intend on staying in. If there is a they after reaching their destination. Or dead. Hah.

However good this food will be Lawrence Dimick will still want a taco wrapped in thin, loud paper and foil.]

Sounds like it's right up your alley. [Though it isn't in a can. And no they can't fuck while eating that. Not here.]

I think I found mine.

[Here, he'll point to his own choice of grilled rib eye steak with potatoes au gratin and mixed vegetables.]

Sounds heavy. Are you gonna save room for dessert?

[It's not a trick question...or is it? The kid's thinking of having a dessert but the real curiosity is what kind? He's not telling.]

I might.

[Is that the waiter? Ah. There we go. Larry's ready to give his order. After Freddy's since he's being the date. Oh yeah. And their wine.]

I think you should.

[It's a hint, a little suggestion as he leans forward. Oh hey it's the waiter, he smoothly leans back. Freddy puts in his order for the food but he leaves his wine selection to his older and wiser date. But wait! At the last minute the kid adds this curiously named beverage to the ticket.]

This too, elderflower soda.

[Because it totally sounds like it comes from Middle Earth and secretly a boyish part of Freddy Newendyke hopes it does.]

[Ears perk up at those four words. Okay that'll wait some. Consider him interested though. Do they have? Chocolate? Maybe sort of vanilla scones? Something to go?]

We'll take water too.

[To wash it down. The table is big enough. Away their man goes.]

What was it that you were saying, pal?

About what? [Yeah he's teasing.] Oh about dessert? I just like a little sweetness now and then. Don't you?

[After all they've been through this is pretty obvious.]

Oh I know. Between you and me we should have a sweet tooth contest.

[Donuts, ice cream, milkshakes...though they probably don't have those here. Bet they have a bitching pie or cake.]

I'm glad to be here.

[At Aardvark Artie's. And here to eat food with the kid. They can keep saying shit like this. Another thing to be grateful for.]

Yeah pour a little brown sugar on that and you're set right?

[Just a quip, don't mind him old man. As for pies and cakes, yep they absolutely have that, and also some kind of cookie baked into a pan and topped with hand churned ice cream some such. A lot of this stuff Freddy would consider overdoing what could have been a big old cookie dunked in a carton of ice cream, but he has to admit too the bells and whistles are nice when you can freely afford them. Must be something rubbing off of Larry.]

I'm glad to be here with you.

[Freddy amends even though he knows Larry means the same thing. Is it more rare when the kid says it?]

[More rare and more special. It's not those three words ("I love you") that took longer to say (than those other three words "I'm a cop") but it's there. It's apparent. The old man can see and hear it. Maybe it's because he's a seasoned, cock sure date all over.]

You got my number.

[Fine dining, brown sugar. Yep. The celebration keeps on going. Hopefully with less back pain in the morning. Then again Larry didn't tell the kid that he found a remote control Transformer car. Getting him something worked very well last time after Blonde visited. That's what? Three times now? It's still very unnerving.]

Everything seem normal at work?

867-5309 right?

[The kid can't help but laugh at such a predictable punchline but look the old man was asking for it okay? Oh hey breadsticks. He picks one up to crunch off the tip.]

Yeah, pretty normal, no visitors. [No Blonde.] Thor didn't stick around.

Should I change it?

[Now it's going to be stuck in his head. Fuck. Except he's laughing. Yeah, kid. He's laughing at that dumb joke because it's funny to him.]

Sorry. Bet that's a big disappointment.

[Yeah, Freddy. He's not stupid.]

That other guy too?

[The old bear pays attention.]

Naw it's easy to remember, got a nice ring to it.

[If he had a cigarette he'd be pointing it at the old man but this is a non-smoking restaurant so fff. The disappointment over Thor's departure is kind of big but not fatal. Freddy will live.]

It's okay, but he was so fucking cool man.

[Er...what other guy? Oh...that guy.] Nobody new stuck around.

[It fits so perfectly to the tune too. A throwaway hit that packs a punch. Freddy didn't even sing it and now it's stuck in his head for God's sake. The old man can deal though.]

So I noticed.

[Looking at the man across the table he smiles.]

I wouldn't have told you like that.

[That he's good looking. Though Freddy is. He's gotta know that right? It's unbelievable to see some smug ass motherfucker strut on in and be so clumsy over it.]

Told me what?

[Freddy asks like an oblivious kid or maybe he's just not sure what Larry's referring to with regards to that smug ass motherfucker. At least he wasn't a therapist...or was he? Freddy never dug deep enough to find out beyond he's a bird man. And unlike Thor, Reynold did not get to see Sam the toucan.]

That you're good lookin'.

[Already the old man surrenders himself to the fact that Thor and all those super hero types get him off in a way that is beyond normal people. It's not really a contest more as something he recognizes and accepts because that's Freddy for you.]

Can't think of his name right now.

[Sure isn't Toby Wong.]

[Thor, Tony, Steve, Reeds, the Storms, they just spark a boyhood imagination. He could always count on them to be his friends in school whenever he had none.]

Oh, yeah. That was kinda weird.

[Talkin' birds and what not with Saya's brother, he didn't know she had one, one in the city, one with a mouth like that. As for his name, Freddy shakes his head.]

I didn't get one outta him.

[Super friends like those never let you down. The Lone Ranger wouldn't do that either.]

Ballsy.

[As well as weird. Did the kid like it?]

Rey...Reynard? Reynold. That's what it is.

Beats me.

[Have a shrug for your troubles, Lawrence Dimick. Now Freddy's kind of just looking at him funny. Why does he want to know, jealous? He leans in, one brow quirked up.]

How come you know his name? [Toucan play at this game.]

[Here comes the wine. The glasses first then the bottle. Hold that thought, Freddy. One glass, two glasses.]

He was bothering me. Not the same way he was bothering you though.

[He lifts up his glass to look at the color of red against the light before taking a sip.]

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