|[that boy needs therapy || v o i c e m a i l ]|

[cold_dry_pieces]

☎  v o i c e m a i l
☏   t e x t   m e s s a g e
✍   m a i l b o x
♟   a c t i o n

[have at it ♥ just let me know which]

Comments

i stay up so late, lying again to hook up with a date;

[cold_dry_pieces]

"I think they don't want to rush us," he says with a slight smile, obviously not perturbed by the wait. Either for her or for the check. The service isn't bad, just painfully unobtrusive, leaving them to their own devices for longer than necessary.

Brian is ever inclined to suit himself to the situation, picking up quiet cues on what's expected, what's desired; and so if Angela doesn't want anything romantic from him, he's not going to press the issue too hard. Oddly enough the tactic works out for him anyway, more often than not. Romance isn't in his nature; but he's gotten good at it, and he takes a certain satisfaction in being able to play the game as well as he does. Angela's insistence that she isn't interested-- at least, not enough to outweigh her sense of loyalty to his girlfriend at home-- piques his curiosity... And without Dexter here, without Deb to twine around his fingers, there's not much else for him to do.

"That or they're trying to get us to have a couple more cups of coffee." Glancing aside he catches a waiter's eye, raising his fingers to get the man's attention.

i stay up so late, lying again to hook up with a date;

[cold_dry_pieces]

"Or at least go somewhere for fancier coffee."

It would be an admirable attitude, if he felt the way most people do about interpersonal relationships. As it is he feels slightly thwarted, hampered by a history that hasn't happened, circumstances he doesn't remember. It's borderline maddening; and if he pursues her, it's mainly because of a childish refusal to be denied his whims.

There are more practical, more flattering reasons for his flirtation as well; but they don't inspire the same persistence.

The waiter comes with the check, and he slips it off the table before she can make a grab at it.

i stay up so late, lying again to hook up with a date;

[cold_dry_pieces]

"C'mon, let me be old fashioned," he says with a grin. Getting a rise out of her is better than nothing.

After all, it's not like he has a ton of expenses. And it's not like there's anything to save for in the City. And well, it's not like he has any qualms about resorting to illegal and immoral methods if he finds himself in need of cash.

i stay up so late, lying again to hook up with a date;

[cold_dry_pieces]

"I'll let you tip," he says, teasing with a compromise. If she insists on leaving the full price of her meal he'll leave the full measure anyway, if only because it's an interesting little power struggle. And because, ultimately, he does prefer to have his way.

Claims of being old-fashioned have nothing to do with it; it's not because he's the man and she's the lady, but because he has a deep-seated need for control.

i stay up so late, lying again to hook up with a date;

[cold_dry_pieces]

"I could let you buy the coffee," he points out, eying the money but not making a move for it. For now. The waiter is a small distance off, wisely deciding not to interfere with this transaction until the diners have it settled.

"I guess it really comes down to, who can find more expensive coffee?"

i stay up so late, lying again to hook up with a date;

[cold_dry_pieces]

"No cheating by ordering a cafe Americano," he tells her sternly, dropping the cash for the other half-- plus an even more generous tip, this is the luckiest waiter in the world-- on the table. There's a certain sharpness to his smile, something a little too hasty in the way he puts the coins down; not quite enough to make it seem false, just a slight and inexplicable tension.

But it passes quickly and he stands, head cocked slightly to one side.

"Shall we?"

i stay up so late, lying again to hook up with a date;

[cold_dry_pieces]

"I wouldn't believe that for a second," he answers smoothly. There are probably exciting coffee concoctions that at least match up to a fraction of her bill. Probably not non-alcoholic ones, but he doubts that will bother either of them.

He leads the way out, not quite too close for comfort but near enough to call the 'just friends' thing into question.

i stay up so late, lying again to hook up with a date;

[cold_dry_pieces]

Like as not, he'd order a fancy drink for her anyway, and if she doesn't drink it that's her loss. Still, he knows a cafe a few blocks up, and if she can resist the temptation of their drinks and pastries then she's either a saint or dead.

"Curse-excused," he corrects her with a little laugh.

[ooc; LATEST REPLY EVER I know, if you'd rather not continue i understand bb <3 sob sorry]