orangetoughguy | phone post

[That makes two of them although at the moment Freddy isn't channeling his inner teenager. He needs his Speed Racer shirt and a box of Cap'n Crunch for that.]

Just a little somethin' that you know what you coulda done, maybe how to fix it. I ain't sayin' you gotta get on your knees and atone for fuck's sake, it's a 'curse' or whatever, I get that.

[Another puff, and when he blows the smoke out it's certainly away from Angela.] Ain't like I'm gonna kick the shit out of that little son of a bitch, that ain't right either...

At this point, getting on his knees might be what's needed. A curse doesn't excuse you from responsibility.

[They're speaking impossibles now since it truly seems like Amory isn't going to own up to what he did.]

As tempting as that might be, there's no reason to stoop to his level...

[Angela almost slips and calls him by the nickname she gave him, but no, Chris doesn't fit anymore. Steve? Frank? George? She'll get back to this.]

Just somethin' you know, somethin' showin' that the guy cares about what he can do to other people. Who knows if it's happened before or if it'll happen again?

[Yes there's a bit of wounded pride thrown in somewhere but Freddy genuinely believes someone who acts this way about what he's done would easily walk away from a hit and run. He waves his free hand before grabbing another pair of fries then popping them into his mouth. No he won't talk with his mouth full.]

It ain't even stoopin' to his level. Fucking him up's just not right, it's getting even, but it's not bein' the better guy.

[That sounds a lot more than just a little bit to Angela, but she doesn't comment on it. Doing so would invalidate Freddy's experience and what he feels is just as important those who worried about him felt. Maybe Claire's words about Amory were true and not just spoken from one or two bad experiences with him.

He's going to choke himself on those potatoes. Leaning over, Angela grabs his wrist gently, holding his fingertips still with her other hand.]

There's no crime in wanting to get even. The problem comes when you actually do it. I don't think you're the type of guy to do that.

[Her contact is unexpected. Freddy looks down at Angela's fingers before his attention draws along her up and up to her face.]

No. Not like that, not by kickin' the shit out of a guy.

[Unless he willingly and knowingly kicked Freddy or anyone else he knows around unprovoked. Is that a double standard?]

[It's something she can't help. Angela's a tactile person. She's the type to hug a complete stranger if it looks like they're having a bad day. Touching Freddy now serves the dual purpose of letting him know somebody is there for him and that somebody won't let his bruised pride kill himself on french fries.]

Exactly. So I'm sure none of us has to worry about that much happening. [Angela raises her eyebrows and makes a face.] I wish I could do something about the rest.

Edited 2010-11-24 08:36 (UTC)

No, no you don't gotta worry.

[He reaffirms with two nods. Freddy can't say the same for other people he knows, people who have already gotten back at Amory. He doesn't know if he ought to feel better that Angela understands how he feels or worse because it drives that wedge deeper.]

There ain't much for anyone to do, nobody owns the guy...

Well, I wouldn't say there's not much...

[Angela falls back into the booth as she lets go of his hand. There's a smile on her face that says she's been thinking bad thoughts again.]

A well-deserved cussin' out can make you feel a whole lot better.

[He sees that look and it piques his curiosity but Freddy won't ask, at least not yet.]

Tried it. Went over not too good but I wasn't expecting it to. [He pulls that cigarette closer to the filter, exhaling through his nose.]

I didn't say it would work on him. But did it at least make you feel better while doing it?

[Because that's what her point is. Five minutes of verbal release can do a lot.]

Yeah...it did, I guess.

[Freddy was over it, already moving on, until someone brought it all back to the forefront again. Is she still touching his hand? Because if so his fingertips are absently rubbing against her skin.]

[One hand has long been off his wrist, but the other is still attached. Angela glances down at the table, his hand rubbing hers in the middle of it, a tiny smile playing at the corner of her lips as her brow once again goes up to the ceiling. Her forehead is getting quite the workout tonight, but it's not like she's telling him to stop.]

Then that's the bright spot in all of this. It's small, but it's there. You just have to notice it.

[He puts his cigarette out and doesn't go for another. Rather, Freddy goes for those fries again.]

Well it ain't easy. [A small concession from his pride, this.]

[Still staring at their hands, Angela realizes this holding thing might lead to trails that should remain untraveled lest either side makes a mistake. She takes the lead in this and snatches her hand away, almost as if she was suddenly burned. The friendly smile on her face belies what she's really thinking--Don't go there ever again.]

I didn't say it was. All things are difficult before they are easy.

[That guy dead Angela just quoted would be proud. Maybe.]

[Freddy hasn't forgotten what Chase told him about her, Angela and Cameron, but those thoughts are at the back of his mind right now. None of those ladies are missing teeth, laid up in a hospital, unlike one Amory Felix.]

Yeah, I know...

[Hand reclaimed he uses it to pepper a fry before chomping down on that sucker...then pushing the tray back towards Angela, as a gentlemanly after thought.]

[They're never too far from Angela's mind. With Brennan as a constant reminder of what she had and what she will lose back at home if she ever gets to go back, Angela needs to keep up this facade of being the woman with a habit of fearing commitment in anyway that she used to be. It used to work well for her a couple years ago.

Besides, this agreement she started between them two is just an easy option to regain the control in her life that the City seemed to have taken away from her. Nothing more, nothing less. So she likes to tell herself. Less deep attachments, less hurt when they eventually leave.]

Oh, I forgot why I texted you in the first place. [She waves the plate back over to him.] Any plans for Thanksgiving?

[He takes a brief moment of silence to think on this. White and Pink and the Prancing Pony. Yeah he has plans though they're hardly the kind appropriate for Thanksgiving, and Angela sounds like she's got an invitation with his name on it. Freddy smiles.]

I got an 8 o'clock engagement, you doin' anything before that?

[Appropriate? Maybe not. Traditional? Hell no. But Angela's done other things than stuff herself silly to celebrate the day. Who is she to judge?]

Probably eating, but nothing really important. It's only me and Brennan and I can't eat a whole turkey by myself. I figured if you at least take some of the leftovers, they won't go bad before I get sick of sandwiches. [She grimaces.] Unless you want part of the tofurkey. You can have all of that.

The what?

[See his brow quirk and his mouth do that mild grimace at the corner.]

Tofurkey. Vegetarian turkey. Brennan doesn't eat meat and I don't want her to feel like all she gets is salad and sides, so I got her a tofu turkey.

[Yeah, it doesn't make sense to her either, but oh the things we do for our BFFs.]

[Well, can anyone blame Freddy for making a face right now?]

That's just weird. [Of course he's aware of the rising fad known as militant veganism, he just don't believe in it.] Whatever makes her happy. When should I stop by?

[No, because she's making one to match his. Twinsies?]

Whenever you can. It's not like we have a strict bedtime or anything.

[Because tofurkey deserves the shame.]

Alright, I'll give you a heads up before I'm on my way.

Works for me.

[As she drops a couple of colorful coins on the table for her half, one spins on it's edge before flattening out by the napkin d'art. Angela forgot that was there. She doesn't hesitate to pull it out and stuff it into her pocket.]

I'd invite you over for a quickie, but my roommate's back. That and you should fully heal up first.

[How does she manage to say these things with a straight face like it's a business deal? The world may never know.]

[Darn and he thought she might leave it by accident, something for him to keep out of curiosity. Anyway Freddy drinks the last of his cup before leaving coins on the table himself, plus a little extra as a tip even though it was just drinks and fries. Those fries weren't bad. In fact, watch him drag his fingers around the bottom of the tray for delicious salty crumbs--whoa.]

Yeah. Yeah that's a good idea.

[Smooth recovery Newendyke. Her casual approach still takes him by surprise but maybe that's much better than becoming immune to it right? He can't offer his own place because...just because. Yeah Freddy hasn't prepared for how to answer that question in the event that she pops it. And besides, he's got a neck to take care of.]

phone post

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