orangetoughguy | phone post

I couldn't think of anything else.

[ She's a little embarrassed, maybe, a little defensive -- trailing off like that could mean anything, and despite herself, she actually likes Orange (even his regular, twenty years younger self). Being the uncool kid isn't something she particularly wants to repeat, even if she claims it doesn't bother her. ]

I think it's neat. Real smart.

[Unique and one of a kind too but Freddy doesn't want to sound sentimental as much as she doesn't want to seem sensitive. The hot dog place is coming up and by place he really meant a cart. An old timey street corner cart. Who needs sit down and dine in places? This is real food. They're still a half block away though so Freddy reaches out to palm the scarf.]

The best I can do is one of these.

[He may or may not be fishing for ideas for a gift for her too.]

[ She may not want to seem sensitive, but that doesn't do a thing for not looking pleased at the compliment. Her ego is always up for stroking, especially in a place where she feels a bit useless to the team. ]

Thanks.

[ And then he goes for her scarf and she can't help the way she jerks away. It's an automatic reaction, and she knows as soon as she's done it that it's a mistake, but there's no taking it back now... so she'll try and act like she didn't do it at all. ]

There's nothing wrong with more scarves.

[He won't push it by saying she's welcome anytime. Freddy knows how that goes, sometimes it's a treat knowing you can understand each other without having to say all the words too. Er, this scarf thing though, that takes him by surprise.]

What is your head gonna fall off?

[Ghost stories, ladies with ribbons on their neck, etc. Wait a second. He spots it for the briefest second.] Are you okay?

[ Oh god. She's really hoping he didn't catch a glimpse, hoping that's just a reaction to the fact that she jerked away from him like a startled animal. ]

I'm fine. It's just always been sensitive.

[ Trying to lie by masking it in the truth. Her neck is sensitive, something certain people (George, usually, though there was a memorable moment with the cowboy when he brought her more cigarillos) like to take advantage of. It's not usually something she broadcasts, but if it'll get him off her back... ]

[Serious or not so serious? He's hoping it's the latter but if it's the former what better way to get at the truth than to use a little humor?]

Sure I've heard that one before. Allergic to fuckin' mouths. [Yes. He is in fact referring to hickeys.]

[ Of course he would say that. Of course. And of course her complexion is light enough that a blush is easily noticeable; she could blame it on the cold, maybe, but she's definitely more red than she was a second ago. ]

You nearly found out firsthand. [ She never thought she'd be the one to bring up the mistletoe curse first, and yet here she is, doing just that. ]

[Uh. He's actually kind of stunned. Did she just own up to it? Is that what it really is? Uh. Oh shit he's been standing near the cart for a moment now, barely noticing it because this mark on Ariadne is more interesting.]

Congratulations.

[Wow. That sounded pretty dumb, Newendyke.]

[ It didn't occur to her that saying he nearly found out how sensitive her neck is could, in fact, basically say "yes there is a hickey on my neck, ace detective skills". It has now though, of course, and thank god she isn't drinking anything or she'd choke on it. ]

That's not what I meant.

[ Quickly, too quickly, but she's quite possibly screwed if Arthur finds out and might as well just go jump off a building if Cobb finds out. ]

[He opens his mouth to say something...then decides against it. Food first. One chili cheese dog here. He waits for Ariadne to order too. See, Freddy can have some tact. Nevermind how this guy at the cart probably thinks they're together but experiencing temporary rifts in the relationship.]

[ Small favors. She orders her own chili cheese dog, plus those fries she asked about, and then pays up. When she does, she makes sure to fix the guy at the cart with a Look -- no thoughts about how Orange should have paid, please and thank you. She'd wear the pants in the relationship, if there was one, anyway. ]

[Don't mess with the pint sized blueprint princess. That's what that look says. Away from the cart now, he takes a bite before he starts talking again. Yes, with his mouth semi-stuffed.]

So what d'you mea'?

[Sorry Ariadne, he doesn't drop trails so easily.]

[ That look is now turning into one that's somewhere between disgusted, amused, and somewhat fond. ]

Didn't we have a conversation about chewing with your mouth shut? I think not talking with your mouth full is included in that.

[ She's just going to ignore the question. Yup. ]

[SWALLOW. Girl oughta know better about the capabilities of this here Mr. Orange's mouth. Of course she doesn't. She doesn't even know he's off the market.]

So what do you mean that ain't what you meant? What is it?

[ She has a hunch. Her hunches are usually right. Good enough for her. ]

What's what? All I said is that my neck is sensitive.

[ Arthur, any time you could talk to Eames about those lying lessons, it would be appreciated. Going to start on that chili dog now. ]

What are you embarrassed? Afraid you're gonna go into anaphylactic shock next time?

[He's still a tiny bit skeptical about what it is, but the more color she turns the more he's convinced he's on the right track.]

Next time...?

[ It's probably not the safest response, all things considered, but she's flustered. Poor girl; no one's thought to inform her that Orange does this for a living. ]

[Geeze no treat for using a big college word? Well okay so he knows it because he got some EMT training with his police training but still. Who expects Mr. Orange to know the word anaphylactic? Anyway, he's noticing her reaction but pushes forward a little more.]

Well you liked it, right? I hope you liked it enough to get one.

[Because of her evasiveness he's going to talk as if she's already confirmed what it is. It doesn't occur to Freddy that maybe she didn't want it and that's why she's being evasive. Oops.]

[ She knows Orange is smarter than he looks and acts sometimes, so no, no treats for big words.

But he's not going to stop pushing (unfortunately), so she squares her shoulders. Deep breath. ]

It was fantastic, you should see the other guy, and so on. Happy now? Because if you tell any of my housemates, you're going to have to do a lot more than offering to buy lunch and losing at baseball to pay me back.

[Er. He wonders what her housemates have to do with this and if it's because of what he thinks well then he ought to tell Ariadne something about two of those housemates. Maybe the poor girl is in denial.]

Why the big fuckin' secret?

[That's a start. God he hopes she doesn't say because she's dating Argyle.]

It's not any of their business.

[ Because she'll be warned, if not outright scolded. Eames doesn't care who she has sex with as long as that's all it is (as far as he knows), but the others might not be so welcoming -- especially Cobb. It would make them think she wants to stay. She doesn't let herself think about whether or not that's true. ]

Besides, youngest and only girl. If one of them decides I need to be protected... [ Eyeroll. ]

[Om nom nom on this hot dog.]

Newsflash, if you wanna keep the youngest and only girl card up your sleeve you gotta take what comes with it.

[ie. their protective nature.]

[ Have a hand waving at you, complete with french fries. ]

I can't help that that's the way it worked out. What do you suggest I do, get a sex change?

[ ... please don't say yes, Freddy. ]

Considering who you live with...

[That's a joke, Ariadne, but Freddy's already regretting his words because again he doesn't know she already knows and this would be the worst way for them to come out. But, how can she not know? Anyway moving on.]

Sure it ain't their business but if you like the guy why not? You got nothin' to hide right?

What?

[ She has no idea. Good job. ]

It's the fact that we're from different places. If there's an opportunity for all of us to leave, they don't want to be held back because I might actually care about some people here.

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