cravating | (no subject)

[Nate tries to hide a smile before he leans forward a little and lowers his voice.]

We can get out of here, you know. Slip out the back and find a place to just gets burger and some chips or something.

[Not that Big Mac you want Matt, still slightly fancier]

Honestly. I want you to actually enjoy this.

No, hey no. This is your thing and that's cool. I want to do the things you like. You've already done enough trying to fit to me, I think the least I can do is order kale chips right? And mushroom... well mushroom something. I'm sure it's great.

You're sure? [He wouldn't be mad or upset if they left. He doesn't want this to be weird or uncomfortable.]

Maybe I can order for us? If you trust me, that is.

Go for it [ he agrees with a warmth in his smile ]

And I do, by the way. Trust you, Nate. Completely. So order the craziest shit on the menu. It'll be a wild ride.

[He smiles at that, glancing at Matt over the menu before he lets his eyes sweep it, making some decisions as the waitor approaches. He orders something that sounds awful and pretentious. But it's actually the closest to a normal dish that he can manage. And kale. Kale is happening. He also orders some fancy beers that they brew special at the restaurant. So fucking hipster it hurts.]

So how's work? Slay a dragon yet? [You said you were a knight. What do you expect?]

[ Yay kale. He will try and like it all and not pick at the food like it's some sort of alien on his plate. This place is upmarket you know.

He laughs. ]

Yeah you know we don't really get dragons circling the M25 [ FORESHADOWING~ ]

But I'll let you know when we do.

Pretty sure the whole world will know if that happens. [He says with a laugh. Because all of this is definitely just a joke.]

But that's what knights do, yeah? Slay dragons, rescue princesses.

[ Yeah something like that would never ever happen. ]

Oh yeah. I mean it's my calling right?

[ He shakes his head though. ]

I'm nothing though. Some of the guys there, whoo. The things they've done would make your hair fall out.

Well, you can't just say that and then not give me some sort of example.

[Tell him about your life, Matt. He wants to know about your life.]

[ He's not really sure how much he's supposed to tell, and even if it is Nate part of him worries someone might appear and look disappointed at him or something. ]

Well when I left I got this job. In a bar on this island. Seemed like a good thing, get me away a bit, but it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Big wanker dictator type there doing pretty much all the things a bond villain would do. And these guys, the Knights, well they came on in. Started an all out war just to save people.

[He just stares for a minute.]

Bullshit. I mean, I would have heard about a war, wouldn't I?

Language Nathan, we're somewhere posh. And yeah, I mean I dunno, we've got people who's job it is to keep this shit under wraps. The computer nerds who can delete records, people who are in with the police. The whole thing.

So...should you even be telling me any of this stuff then? If they have people that can keep a war quiet, imagine what they'd do to some poor little artist.

Nobody's doing anything to you. They'd have to get through me first. And anyway, world needs some poor little artists if you ask me. 'Specially this one.

[Normally, he would think Matt was just making some sort of dumb joke, but he gets the feeling he really means this. Nate gives him a little smile in return.]

Really taking this knight in shining armor thing to heart, yeah?

[ Give Matt an award for the very fact he manages to avoid the obvious joke about allowing Nate to polish his helmet. Really, round of applause to the Irish guy. ]

Doing my best. It's sort of a work in progress. You'll have to give me marks.

So far? You're doing alright. [He gives him a little smile. Just then, their drinks and appetizers arrive. Good luck with this pretentious food, Matt.]</small

Yeah?

[ he leans back a bit when the waiter comes in with a plate of something piled up in a little tower. It looks more like something in a gallery than food. Oh, well, it'll be fine. He gives it a bit of a look. ]

So this is... [ ok no he can't help but laugh ] It's something.

[Nate can guess why he's laughing. He nudges a fork towards him.]

It's good, promise. I've had something similar at another place.

[ Easily, he takes up the fork and pokes surreptitiously at the unspecified food before popping some in his mouth. It's actually pretty good. ]

You know this reminds me of that dinner party you had. Remember? When you thought I was going to be at work but I was in. Showed you right up.

[He nearly chokes on a bite at the laugh that bubbles up at that memory.]

God, I was so nervous all night. I thought for sure you were going to make some sort of scene about the new plates I bought for it.

[Nate had tried really hard to be impressive. It was embarrassing, thinking back on it, how much he cared what people thought of him.]

They weren't plates, Nate, they were roof tiles. [ okay no they were plates, but they were some sort of slate or something so therefore roof tiles ]

You sure you're not worried I'm going to show you up?

I'm not worried. [He's enjoying himself too much to be worried]

Do your worst. [That comes with a little teasing smile.]

You know you might regret saying that. You can't take it back later.

[ But he smiles back, because god if it's nice to see him looking like that. Did Nate's smile always make him feel so warm inside?

And then he will eat food but eating food is boring, just assume it's happening okay. Weird pretentious food is being consumed here. ]

[Yes, so much food and fancy beers that probably aren't at all the sort Matt would prefer, but they're fancy or something.]

Not really interested in taking it back, am I?

[Oh, flirting is nice. Flirting while they're on a date. It's so strange to think about, but a good strange.]