orangetoughguy | phone post

okay but this aint charity

Duh. It's a thank you.

fine chili dogs

Come find me when you're ready.

[Here comes Mr. Orange, knock knocking on the engineering department's...wall. Door? Does she have a whole space to herself? Whichever. KNOCK KNOCK ARIADNE.]

[ That very much depends on whether she's working a desk or not. Today, however, she is, and she does get her own space. She's not dressed terribly professionally, which isn't much of a surprise, considering her department -- layers and a scarf, plus yet another pair of boots. ]

Chili dogs, huh?

Wow you're fancy.

[He's teasing, though his teasing is particularly dramatic just because he can walk the walk in addition to talking the talk.]

Yeah chili dogs or are you too rich for that?

[ Eyeroll. ]

Maybe next time I'll put on makeup and everything.

[ And now a snort. Really, Orange? ]

Do they have fries, too?

I've never dated such a classy chick.

[Yes, really. You love it, Ariadne.]

Sure they do. Real greasy ones. You can put all the salt and seasoning you like, if you're brave enough, anyway.

That makes two of us.

[ And she makes a point to try not to date guys who wear eyeliner. ]

Excellent. But napkins are happening.

Fine, it's a deal.

[Since she's buying, it's only proper that Freddy Newendyke uses napkins. And really that's like the most gentleman thing he can do.]

You're gonna have to take that off, don't want it dippin' anywhere. [Another joke about being fancy, he's pointing at her scarf too.]

[ What a keeper. ]

I'll be fine. It's not the first time I've eaten while wearing one of these.

[ And she's really hoping that will be the end of it, because she has a mark on her neck from George's teeth under that scarf. It's why she was at her desk today; a scarf is a hazard around power tools, but she wasn't going to flaunt it. ]

[He'll lead the way now, cool and casual, not at all like the old man she met on Saturday.]

Shit's gonna get caught in a machine. [SHRUG.] Unless you don't do that kinda blue collar thing since your promotion.

[ She's half tempted to ask to see his phone, just to see if it's the same or if the picture of the girl is still on there, but she's not sure if she will. ]

That's why I don't wear it when I work with the machines. [ And another snort. ] If I didn't, I think I'd take it out on Eames the next time his snoring kept me up.

[Casual point at Ariadne.]

So you are desk jockeying, today. Don't get embarrassed, it happens to the best of us, man.

[Er, lady. Girl. Tomboy. Something.]

I'm head of the department now. It happens.

[ She can handle sitting at a desk every once in a while with that promotion under a belt. ]

Besides, I'm an architect. We draw, and desks are good for that.

Lots of work. [Here he goes pantomiming sitting then standing and having to toss the scarf over a shoulder.] Draw anything lately?

[Freddy drew a shark on one of the sheet metal panels, a cartoon shark with a cartoon bubble saying "I'm a Staaaaark."]

[ Here Ariadne goes, pantomiming flipping him off-- oh wait. ]

Of course I have. I've got some designs for work and some sketches for Christmas presents.

[Heh heh heh heh heh. Freddy laughs anyway--wait what.] Sketches? You're makin' stuff? That's pretty...

[He doesn't have a good word for 'badass' and kind of 'hardcore' but also very 'sweet' and 'supercool' cause who makes presents anymore?]

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.]

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