[milliways: kidplot]

[hate_gettin_older]

What the hell is this place?

Edgar's only sure of three things: (1) it isn't the Tail, therefore (2) he's not supposed to be here, and (3) he's going to be in the worst kind of trouble if a guard sees him. Or anyone who'll call a guard.

The thing is, he's not sure how this could be the Front either. But he's not sure how it could be anyplace else.

For the moment, he's got to try and get out of sight. Maybe under one of those tables.

Comments

[hate_gettin_older]

Edgar looks up sharply, startled. Jesus, another Front kid --

"Yeah," he says, trying hard not to look frightened even though his heart is racing again, "fine."

[dejah_thoris]

Dejah frowns a little, looking back at Curtis for a moment.

When she looks back at Edgar, she studies him for a moment. He's frightened of her. Why is he frightened of her?

"I... um..." She thinks furiously. "I'm trying a burger for the first time. Do you think you could help me? I don't think I can eat this all."

She holds the plate up in explanation. To be fair, it's a LOT of food.

[2goodarms]

Curtis, meanwhile, crouches down next to Dejah with his own plate of food.

(He's pretty sure Edgar was just making stuff up about playing hide-and-seek, but if he really is, and Dejah's the one who was looking for him, he's going to feel really bad.)

"She's not from America," he explains, helpfully.

[hate_gettin_older]

"Oh," Edgar says, and hesitates before adding "Me neither."

He's pretty sure he isn't, after all.

To the girl, he adds "Don't you want to put the rest away for later?"

[dejah_thoris]

Again, Dejah shoots a look at Curtis.

"That's a really good idea. I will do that, if we have any left. Do you want us to sit down here with you?"

She has no idea what she's doing. She just really knows she doesn't want him to be afraid of her.

[hate_gettin_older]

He glances at Curtis too, and then shrugs and scoots back a little to make more room. "Sure, I guess. If you want."

(He isn't looking too closely at his own reactions here, but they can possibly be summarized as: the girl's probably okay if Curtis brought her here.)

[2goodarms]

Curtis scoots under the table, back to the spot he took up the first time, and sets his plate on the ground.

It's dark enough under here that the girl won't see him blushing, right? Extra points in favor!

"Thanks," he says to Edgar. "Didja try any more candy?"

[dejah_thoris]

Dejah follows suit, very carefully bunching up her skirt so she doesn't get it dirty. (It's still getting dirty, but at least she's trying, right?)

As soon as she gets settled, with her plate between them all, she reaches out and tugs on Curtis's sleeve. "What's his name?"

[hate_gettin_older]

"Nah, I ..." He glances down at the bowl of candy, and squirms a bit before saying "... took some for later."

They've got so much. It would be easy to hate them, except that they're sharing it all so easily. Like they're not even Front.

[2goodarms]

"Oh. Okay."

He hunches up his shoulders an inch at Dejah's question. He should've told her that first! "He's Edgar. 'M Curtis. What's your name?"

[dejah_thoris]

He doesn't know! He really, really doesn't know who she is! This is AMAZING.

"I'm Dejah. Hi Curtis. Hi Edgar."

Why are they whispering? Why is she blushing now? What in the twin moons is going on here?

[hate_gettin_older]

"Hi."

A touch self-consciously, Edgar reaches down to start gathering up the parts of the half-burger he disassembled.

[2goodarms]

"Oh, um -- "

Curtis tries for a smile.

"You can keep the rest of that one if you want. It's okay."

[dejah_thoris]

"You can have some of mine, too. If you're still hungry. Or to take for later. I don't mind."

[hate_gettin_older]

"I just wanted to, y'know, try and see what all the parts were," he mutters.

[2goodarms]

"Oh."

(He seems to be saying that a lot. It's making him turn red again -- he sounds like an idiot.)

"The brown stuff's hamburger," he offers. "The rest is just vegetables and stuff. Oh and the red, yellow, and white stuff is ketchup, mustard, and mayo." Beat. "The little green ones are pickles, but they're kinda gross. I usually pick 'em out."

[dejah_thoris]

"These?"

Dejah picks out one of the small green disks and takes a nibble. She pulls a face quickly thereafter.

"Ugh! I can see why!"

[hate_gettin_older]

Well, that's a challenge if he ever saw one.

Edgar reaches for one of the green things, pops it into his mouth, and chews.



And chews, frowning consideringly.

[2goodarms]

"Right?" Curtis says, brightening considerably at Dejah's reaction. "They're so gross. I dunno why they always put 'em in there."

...Edgar seems like he likes them, though. Weird.

Well, he can have Curtis's if he wants!

[dejah_thoris]

"I like these, though."

She's plucked out a juicy bit of tomato and is happily nomming on it. It seems a strange thing to disassemble one's food after someone so carefully put it together, but she's content to follow their lead.

"So you two aren't from Helium, I take it?"

[hate_gettin_older]

"Nah." He shakes his head without looking up, more interested in trying a taste of the pulpy red vegetable than in the question.

[2goodarms]

Curtis shakes his head, too.

"'M from Boston. Where's Helium?"

Probably somewhere in Europe. Or even further. Maybe Australia.

[dejah_thoris]

"It's on Barsoom."

She blinks, and something, thought she's not sure what, makes her add, "What you call Mars."

Mars. Earth. Barsoom & Jasoom. Two worlds separated by millions of cariads of empty space. How does she even know that?

[hate_gettin_older]

Edgar stops chewing, and looks at her cockeyed.

With his best sarcastic politeness, he says "Oh is that it. Well. Definitely not from America, then."

[2goodarms]

Curtis, meanwhile, is staring at Dejah with his mouth hanging open.

Oh no. She's pretty, but she's crazy. What has he gotten himself into? Is it too late to run away?!

(He might still pull her hair on the way out from under the table, though.)

"No you're not," he finally says, with all the scorn he can muster.