I'm serious! [ she laughs again, though this time it's a little less bright. ] I really don't do anything outside work. [ ... well. ] Except make bad decisions after too many drinks anyway.
And so am I! [Super serious. See - he can't stop grinning.
He nods at the comment about work because - well. Same boat. Besides working on his bike there's not... much... he actually does. Especially now that the thing's up and running like new.
But he gestures towards her with a point when she finally adds something.]
Well that's something. How bad do you think these decisions are? Because I think there's gotta be some sort of sliding scale...
I think I might've hooked up with a married woman last week?
[ she says it with a hushed voice and a bit of a grimace — not that julie particularly cares about this random woman's relationship, but she's kind of surprised that one hasn't come back to bite her considering how people in this town love to gossip. ]
I'd say that probably ranks as at least "not great".
[ the way she emphasises 'lady' should say plenty about whether or not julie thinks of herself as one (she doesn't), as should the way she looks like what she's said is very funny to her. ]
[ she notes too, that he's gone a little pink, just a bit. it's cute. something to remember for later if this whole date goes well and julie really feels like teasing him. she won't right now though, not least because a waitress comes over-- does a bit of a double take when she realises who julie's here with, or rather that corey is here with someone, but she doesn't say anything. julie doesn't really give her the chance anyway, just politely orders a burger and fries. and a sprite. ]
[He rolls his eyes at her comment - just a little - but it's all in good fun. Messaged received. He wasn't asking for anything super specific, nor did he think she'd be so quick to share. He's just trying to be a tease and make conversation. Dropping the subject.
The waitress coming to the table might as well be a jumpscare for him. Corey had entirely forgotten where they were, the fact that someone hadn't come over yet to begin with. He makes the briefest eye contact with the woman (he thinks he's seen her working here before), gives a shy smile just to be polite, then decides to focus straight ahead at Julie across from him. He doesn't like the looks he gets. Still isn't used to them. It's uncomfortable.
He orders once Julie does (the same thing but swap the Sprite out for a chocolate milkshake because that's just who he is), then says thank you not once but twice. He doesn't physically relax again until she leaves their table. And it's obvious whatever vibe of confidence he had going a few minutes ago is gone.]
Sorry, uh - you don't have to tell me who it was. Or anything about it really. If you don't want to.
[ she breathes out a little laugh. ] I was joking.
[ julie notes the loss of confidence, but honestly she's surprised he kept it up this long. which is fine, she's used to just pushing through corey's awkwardness and discomfort. though... maybe not so candidly. julie shrugs a shoulder, just speaks like it's nothing at all. ]
I mean if you want the details, she's just a lonely cougar who could barely even find her own clit, let alone mine.
You know what - I'm totally cool being left in the dark. [The slightest nervous laughter.] Don't mind me. Shouldn't have said anything. It's none of my business - whatever you and... said lonely cougar did... or didn't do.
[Let's just keep ramping up the awkwardness, shall we? He's so quick to shut down the topic of conversation, despite all the joking around only moments before, and he's physically shifting in his seat with discomfort.]
[ julie doesn't laugh, not out loud, but the amusement is clear in the pull of her lips and the way her eyes brighten up a little. she reaches across the table, puts a placating hand on corey's arm and shakes her head. ]
[Wait. Julie Touch? Julie Touch. He freezes up, the sensation taking a moment to register in his brain. He just goes from one sort of flustered to the other and he's honestly not sure which is better or worse or whatever.
She's smiling - at least somewhat - so it has to be okay. Corey takes that as a sign for him to calm the hell down or at least try to.]
Please and thank you. I'm too sheltered. My brain wouldn't be able to handle it.
[And then he throws in that self-deprecating joke just because.]
[ julie doesn't think anything of the touch, it's just a normal and friendly gesture, but corey's clearly not the only one who thinks a little more of it. she can't make out what they're saying exactly but she definitely picks up on some jeering from that table near the front, turns her head to shoot a scowl their way. ]
[ she's distracted from her new nemesis...es. nemeses? by the waitress coming back with their drinks, setting those down along with a little cutlery basket and some napkins. julie waits until she's gone again to look at corey and roll her eyes with a shake of her head. ]
People in this town really don't know how to mind their fucking business do they?
[ she takes her drink and leans back in her seat, staring back at that table. yeah, she's talking about you idiots. ]
Oh. Whispers and gossip come with the territory of choosing to socialize with him. He’s just… so used to it by now he usually ignores it. Or does his very best.
(He can’t hear them either but if he had one guess as to who they’re giggling about he’d hit the nail on the head without fail.)
But hey! Milkshake. Chocolate milkshake. He slides it over towards himself. Time to chill out. This will help.]
Uh - no. They really don’t. [An awkward chuckle.] Never have and - between you and me? It’s gotten way worse. [Straw sip, an accompanying eyeroll. He doesn’t want to look where she’s looking, but he ends up doing it anyway. And then quickly looking away before he’s caught.]
[ julie doesn't give a shit, she keeps staring at them. they pick up energy when one of them notices corey looked their way; calling his name, laughing. typical bullshit. ]
[ yeah, fuck that. she's trying to have a nice night out with a cute guy. julie puts her drink down, reaches over to the cutlery and grabs a steak knife as she stands up. twirls it around her fingers in a movement that belies exactly how comfortable holding knives she is and starts off toward that table with purpose. ]
[ there's maybe 2 seconds before she gets to that table with a loud "hey, fuckwads" if corey wants to stop her causing a scene. ]
[Yep okay so this isn’t good at all. She’s still looking and they’re getting louder and Corey can’t help but keep glancing between Julie and the other table and back again, increasingly more uncomfortable by the second.]
Jules—-
[He manages to spit out just her name, but doesn’t tell her to stop or to sit back down as she grabs the knife and stands to turn away. He could just stop her. There’s a big part of him that wants to. There’s another that wants to hide under the table. Another is beyond curious to see how things play out - utterly amused at the prospects really - and he wants nothing more than to turn that specific part off.
He moves to stand up himself, palms flat on the tabletop and ready to push, and he doesn’t take his eyes off her back as she heads straight for the other table. A moment later he relaxes, ends up sitting back on his side of the booth. So quiet as he observes.
[ there's a moment, when julie calls out to them, that they're still laughing and they point her out to the guy who's probably their leader or whatever. he spots the knife in julie's hand and sits up straighter, looking panicked, and then his buddies follow suit. she leans over this main guy, arm around his shoulders like a friend, if not for the way she gestures with the knife in her other hand. taps him on the chest, points at the others, makes sure it's always close enough to his throat that nobody could stop her no matter how fast they acted. ]
[ the conversation she has with them is hushed, but tense. mostly she's querying why they feel the need to butt into other people's business, to harass people who are just trying to have a meal in peace. one of them says something that definitely bothers her, and julie squints and points her knife at him, but it passes. ]
[ of course, she has to really be a terror, so she snatches up a wallet off the table as she stands and slips the driver's license out of the front to read it with a smile that could pass for friendly in different circumstances, like this is a funny joke everybody's in on. ]
Daniel Green from... 1264 Winchester Drive, thank you so much for your apology. [ she tosses his driver's license down on the table. after some thought she grabs some cash out of his wallet and tosses the wallet down too. ] And for making it up to us by paying. That's so kind of you.
[ and back to the table she comes. everyone's staring, but nobody stopped her. no wonder awful shit seems to happen here. ]
[Corey doesn’t make a move, doesn’t strain to try listening in. Her conversation with the goons is private as far as he’s concerned. Besides, the body language - hers, theirs - that tells him everything he needs to know from where he’s seated.
To stifle his chuckles of sheer amusement he leans in to sip some more shake every now and then, casually pretends like he’s looking elsewhere instead of where the action is.
He can’t keep a straight face when he says this, but damn does he try to. He’s all grinning teeth and on the verge of laughter:] But I thought I was gonna pay for us, babe?
[LOOK. He’s trying it on. Seeing how it fits. And if he wasn’t looking at her like an overtly smitten fool before she pulled a knife on someone in public - he certainly is now.
[ it takes a second, after she sits and puts the knife down, while she's smoothing out her shirt, for the words to make any kind of sense. when she looks across at corey it's obvious by the pinch of her lips that she has to make an effort not to burst out laughing. ]
[When she finally does look his way, Corey’s busy sipping more shake through the straw and it’s apparent he’s been staring at her while she settles. Elbow on table, side of face held up by hand. Smitten and silly.]
Oh I’m down for a free meal. But I was supposed to treat you, not Dan Green over there. [There’s a nod of his head in the other guy’s general direction, then he gives a cheeky little expression.] He wasn’t even invited on this date last I checked.
[ it's weird how easily corey accepts what just happened, totally relaxed, finding it funny even. given how he usually is, one would expect him to be totally freaked out about julie more or less threatening a man with a knife and stealing his money. weirder still that julie doesn't think much of it, like some part of her already knew he wouldn't be a problem. ]
[ she tilts her head in thought and turns her head to look back at the table, offers them a wink when she sees them watching and turns back to face corey with a shrug and a grin. ]
Wow. That sure was sweet of him. [He sinks into his seat a little, sipping more milkshake, eyes trained solely on the other table as they keep looking their way. They’re just gonna keep watching, huh? He’ll look right back.
Until they get spooked enough and stop.
Which doesn’t take long, surprisingly enough.]
So what do you think, Jules? [His attention is back on his date.] Are the wishes well? [He laughs a little at his own terrible joke.
When the waitress comes back it’s with burgers and she’s questioning if everything is okay. The scuffle was definitely noticed. She’s not being accusatory or anything. She just works there, you know?]
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He nods at the comment about work because - well. Same boat. Besides working on his bike there's not... much... he actually does. Especially now that the thing's up and running like new.
But he gestures towards her with a point when she finally adds something.]
Well that's something. How bad do you think these decisions are? Because I think there's gotta be some sort of sliding scale...
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[ she says it with a hushed voice and a bit of a grimace — not that julie particularly cares about this random woman's relationship, but she's kind of surprised that one hasn't come back to bite her considering how people in this town love to gossip. ]
I'd say that probably ranks as at least "not great".
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He’s just gonna… lower his voice too. Because one never knows who could be listening nearby.]
I mean - yeah. I’d say so. [Pause.] But did you have fun at least? At the time? [The slightest smile. Is he blushing? A little.]
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[ the way she emphasises 'lady' should say plenty about whether or not julie thinks of herself as one (she doesn't), as should the way she looks like what she's said is very funny to her. ]
[ she notes too, that he's gone a little pink, just a bit. it's cute. something to remember for later if this whole date goes well and julie really feels like teasing him. she won't right now though, not least because a waitress comes over-- does a bit of a double take when she realises who julie's here with, or rather that corey is here with someone, but she doesn't say anything. julie doesn't really give her the chance anyway, just politely orders a burger and fries. and a sprite. ]
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The waitress coming to the table might as well be a jumpscare for him. Corey had entirely forgotten where they were, the fact that someone hadn't come over yet to begin with. He makes the briefest eye contact with the woman (he thinks he's seen her working here before), gives a shy smile just to be polite, then decides to focus straight ahead at Julie across from him. He doesn't like the looks he gets. Still isn't used to them. It's uncomfortable.
He orders once Julie does (the same thing but swap the Sprite out for a chocolate milkshake because that's just who he is), then says thank you not once but twice. He doesn't physically relax again until she leaves their table. And it's obvious whatever vibe of confidence he had going a few minutes ago is gone.]
Sorry, uh - you don't have to tell me who it was. Or anything about it really. If you don't want to.
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[ julie notes the loss of confidence, but honestly she's surprised he kept it up this long. which is fine, she's used to just pushing through corey's awkwardness and discomfort. though... maybe not so candidly. julie shrugs a shoulder, just speaks like it's nothing at all. ]
I mean if you want the details, she's just a lonely cougar who could barely even find her own clit, let alone mine.
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You know what - I'm totally cool being left in the dark. [The slightest nervous laughter.] Don't mind me. Shouldn't have said anything. It's none of my business - whatever you and... said lonely cougar did... or didn't do.
[Let's just keep ramping up the awkwardness, shall we? He's so quick to shut down the topic of conversation, despite all the joking around only moments before, and he's physically shifting in his seat with discomfort.]
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Okay, okay. No more details.
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She's smiling - at least somewhat - so it has to be okay. Corey takes that as a sign for him to calm the hell down or at least try to.]
Please and thank you. I'm too sheltered. My brain wouldn't be able to handle it.
[And then he throws in that self-deprecating joke just because.]
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[ she's distracted from her new nemesis...es. nemeses? by the waitress coming back with their drinks, setting those down along with a little cutlery basket and some napkins. julie waits until she's gone again to look at corey and roll her eyes with a shake of her head. ]
People in this town really don't know how to mind their fucking business do they?
[ she takes her drink and leans back in her seat, staring back at that table. yeah, she's talking about you idiots. ]
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Oh. Whispers and gossip come with the territory of choosing to socialize with him. He’s just… so used to it by now he usually ignores it. Or does his very best.
(He can’t hear them either but if he had one guess as to who they’re giggling about he’d hit the nail on the head without fail.)
But hey! Milkshake. Chocolate milkshake. He slides it over towards himself. Time to chill out. This will help.]
Uh - no. They really don’t. [An awkward chuckle.] Never have and - between you and me? It’s gotten way worse. [Straw sip, an accompanying eyeroll. He doesn’t want to look where she’s looking, but he ends up doing it anyway. And then quickly looking away before he’s caught.]
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[ yeah, fuck that. she's trying to have a nice night out with a cute guy. julie puts her drink down, reaches over to the cutlery and grabs a steak knife as she stands up. twirls it around her fingers in a movement that belies exactly how comfortable holding knives she is and starts off toward that table with purpose. ]
[ there's maybe 2 seconds before she gets to that table with a loud "hey, fuckwads" if corey wants to stop her causing a scene. ]
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Jules—-
[He manages to spit out just her name, but doesn’t tell her to stop or to sit back down as she grabs the knife and stands to turn away. He could just stop her. There’s a big part of him that wants to. There’s another that wants to hide under the table. Another is beyond curious to see how things play out - utterly amused at the prospects really - and he wants nothing more than to turn that specific part off.
He moves to stand up himself, palms flat on the tabletop and ready to push, and he doesn’t take his eyes off her back as she heads straight for the other table. A moment later he relaxes, ends up sitting back on his side of the booth. So quiet as he observes.
Guess which part won.]
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[ the conversation she has with them is hushed, but tense. mostly she's querying why they feel the need to butt into other people's business, to harass people who are just trying to have a meal in peace. one of them says something that definitely bothers her, and julie squints and points her knife at him, but it passes. ]
[ of course, she has to really be a terror, so she snatches up a wallet off the table as she stands and slips the driver's license out of the front to read it with a smile that could pass for friendly in different circumstances, like this is a funny joke everybody's in on. ]
Daniel Green from... 1264 Winchester Drive, thank you so much for your apology. [ she tosses his driver's license down on the table. after some thought she grabs some cash out of his wallet and tosses the wallet down too. ] And for making it up to us by paying. That's so kind of you.
[ and back to the table she comes. everyone's staring, but nobody stopped her. no wonder awful shit seems to happen here. ]
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To stifle his chuckles of sheer amusement he leans in to sip some more shake every now and then, casually pretends like he’s looking elsewhere instead of where the action is.
He can’t keep a straight face when he says this, but damn does he try to. He’s all grinning teeth and on the verge of laughter:] But I thought I was gonna pay for us, babe?
[LOOK. He’s trying it on. Seeing how it fits. And if he wasn’t looking at her like an overtly smitten fool before she pulled a knife on someone in public - he certainly is now.
For some strange, inexplicable reason.]
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You're not down for a free meal?
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Oh I’m down for a free meal. But I was supposed to treat you, not Dan Green over there. [There’s a nod of his head in the other guy’s general direction, then he gives a cheeky little expression.] He wasn’t even invited on this date last I checked.
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[ she tilts her head in thought and turns her head to look back at the table, offers them a wink when she sees them watching and turns back to face corey with a shrug and a grin. ]
I think he just wanted to send his well wishes.
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Until they get spooked enough and stop.
Which doesn’t take long, surprisingly enough.]
So what do you think, Jules? [His attention is back on his date.] Are the wishes well? [He laughs a little at his own terrible joke.
When the waitress comes back it’s with burgers and she’s questioning if everything is okay. The scuffle was definitely noticed. She’s not being accusatory or anything. She just works there, you know?]