[It's a small café, less crowded than the corporate spots. Quiet. The coffee was good, strong, cheap and refills were free if the owners liked you enough
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[ Said violation came in the form of a piquantly-dressed teenager pressing through the door with an unintentional flourish to his movements, multiple bags from his recent shopping excursion hanging on the crook of one arm. It's one of the reasons Kurt never hesitates to visit his mother's family here in New York.
He had a little time to kill before he'd be picked up, and his aunt had a particular affinity for the place that Kurt didn't quite understand. It was a little dark for his taste, the low music a little too pretentious...but, he wasn't really in a place to complain. Besides, at least the clientele wasn't overly seedy.
Green eyes darted around the room, trying to find an empty spot he could occupy--ah, there was a table, empty yes, but jammed-close with the one next to it, where Alan sat. Kurt adjusted his bangs with a bit of a sigh, then sauntered over and took a seat, glancing at the slightly-scruffy man scribbling away in his notebook. ]
This table isn't taken, is it? [ A formality, really. ]
[It would be a kid. But at least his face seemed devoid of the "Oh my gosh, I know who you are" sparkle that usually accompanied the strangers in Alan's life. Maybe he'd be quiet. The outfit wasn't real inspiring on that front. His initial answer to the niceties presented was a hollow grunt of acknowledgement. "Yeah. I heard some noise behind me." in fluent caveman. It was briefly very satisfying, but hard to maintain. It was just a kid, there was no reason to totally blow him off.]
Yeah, it's open. Go for it, kid. [A small scoot closer to the table, polite without compromising his own comfortable distance] Just, uh, watch the bags?
Thanks. [ There had been a flicker of something in Kurt's expression at the caveman-grunt, something between mild amusement and the need to roll his eyes. He set the bags down on the other side of the table so that they wouldn't be a nuisance, and crossed one leg over the other as he relaxed in the chair. Well, as much as Kurt Hummel ever appeared relaxed, anyway.
That likely would have been the end of the "conversation" (if it could be called that), except for one little problem: he drew out his iPhone, intending to waste time playing a game or watching videos, but...he'd forgotten to charge it fully, and it seemed that it had given out entirely.
With a slightly-dramatic sigh, he repocketed the gadget and looked around the cafe instead. Maybe due to the close proximity, his eyes fell on his somewhat surly companion. Well, one way to alleviate boredom was to talk to someone, right? This would have to do. ]
[Alan winced. That was distinctly a voice, aimed with the intent of reaching him. Exactly what he'd been hoping to avoid. The tense reaction was impossible to avoid, forcing Alan to close his notebook with a mechanical motion. He set his hand on the cover, protective of it for reasons completely beyond him. He turned with a somewhat forced smile, biting back his regrets at not ignoring the kid from the start.]
I was just organizing some ideas, I'm a writer. Was there, [Alan paused momentarily, physically exerting himself to limit the sarcastic tone in his voice to a passably social level.] something you needed?
[ This reaction, too, couldn't be avoided: Kurt did actually roll his eyes, a hand coming up to adjust his bangs again. It's New York, he figured--he should have probably expected this sort of rudeness, but...well, it's still better than Lima, by a long shot. ]
Nothing in particular, no. Just making conversation. But I do apologize for my mere presence being an offense to you. [ Despite the snarkiness, a bit of a smirk did light his lips at this. His sarcastic friend there didn't seem like a bad guy by any means, just one that had dealt with one too many annoying people in his life.
But, Kurt Hummel was not annoying (thank you very much), and he had nothing better to do with his time, so he wasn't going to give up so easily. ]
[Alan leaned back in his chair, resting an arm along the back and fighting back a grin. The expression still manifested itself as a sideways sort of smile, as though his mouth was somehow linked to the carefully raised eyebrow. It was hard to fault a fighter, he'd give him that.]
Hey, no need to get pissy. Just answered your question, right?
[At this point, Alan knew he was being obnoxious, but what point was there in small talk if you weren't pushing someone's buttons?[
[ There was a change in the man's demeanor, from simply irritated to vaguely hesitant amusement. A small step, but probably one in the right direction. Kurt's little smirk tilted up a little more at this, arms folding amiably across his chest. ]
Just like I answered yours. [ Here was to being obnoxious and pushing buttons, right? In a weird way, it made people easier to talk to. ]
A writer, you said? What sort of writing do you do?
He had a little time to kill before he'd be picked up, and his aunt had a particular affinity for the place that Kurt didn't quite understand. It was a little dark for his taste, the low music a little too pretentious...but, he wasn't really in a place to complain. Besides, at least the clientele wasn't overly seedy.
Green eyes darted around the room, trying to find an empty spot he could occupy--ah, there was a table, empty yes, but jammed-close with the one next to it, where Alan sat. Kurt adjusted his bangs with a bit of a sigh, then sauntered over and took a seat, glancing at the slightly-scruffy man scribbling away in his notebook. ]
This table isn't taken, is it? [ A formality, really. ]
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Maybe he'd be quiet. The outfit wasn't real inspiring on that front.
His initial answer to the niceties presented was a hollow grunt of acknowledgement. "Yeah. I heard some noise behind me." in fluent caveman. It was briefly very satisfying, but hard to maintain. It was just a kid, there was no reason to totally blow him off.]
Yeah, it's open. Go for it, kid. [A small scoot closer to the table, polite without compromising his own comfortable distance] Just, uh, watch the bags?
Reply
That likely would have been the end of the "conversation" (if it could be called that), except for one little problem: he drew out his iPhone, intending to waste time playing a game or watching videos, but...he'd forgotten to charge it fully, and it seemed that it had given out entirely.
With a slightly-dramatic sigh, he repocketed the gadget and looked around the cafe instead. Maybe due to the close proximity, his eyes fell on his somewhat surly companion. Well, one way to alleviate boredom was to talk to someone, right? This would have to do. ]
What are you working on?
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I was just organizing some ideas, I'm a writer. Was there, [Alan paused momentarily, physically exerting himself to limit the sarcastic tone in his voice to a passably social level.] something you needed?
Reply
Nothing in particular, no. Just making conversation. But I do apologize for my mere presence being an offense to you. [ Despite the snarkiness, a bit of a smirk did light his lips at this. His sarcastic friend there didn't seem like a bad guy by any means, just one that had dealt with one too many annoying people in his life.
But, Kurt Hummel was not annoying (thank you very much), and he had nothing better to do with his time, so he wasn't going to give up so easily. ]
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Hey, no need to get pissy. Just answered your question, right?
[At this point, Alan knew he was being obnoxious, but what point was there in small talk if you weren't pushing someone's buttons?[
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Just like I answered yours. [ Here was to being obnoxious and pushing buttons, right? In a weird way, it made people easier to talk to. ]
A writer, you said? What sort of writing do you do?
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