10.) [video.]

[illgrowoutofit]

[Neil's face is seen for all of two seconds before the device is knocked to the ground, landing instead on an awkwardly-angled view of the underside of a table. A good deal of shuffling can be heard, and the clinking of pet collars.]

Stop-- No! Off the-- Okay, Nymeria, to me! And little dude, you need to-- no, no, guys! Okay, c'mere.

[There is a

Comments

[ action ]

[the_dawnster]

[There's a knock on the door and when he answers it, there's Dawn with a large bowl of homemade party mix. She sing-song's the next phrase for him.]

Hey Neil! It's your birthday. No it isn't. Go anyway. [She shrugs and rolls her eyes.] Okay I just really wanted an excuse to say that. Happy belated birthday. I brought food.

[illgrowoutofit]

[Neil is in an instant good mood now, as he leads her in.] I get songs! And food! You totally didn't have to do either of those things. [He takes the bowl graciously and deposits it on the table where some other snacks have been laid out haphazardly-- corn chips and salsa, pizza rolls, a liter of cola, and some rather sad-looking cookies.]

Thanks. You're awesome.

[the_dawnster]

[Of course Dawn goes straight for the sad little cookies, cause -- cookies. She does pause in the partaking of said cookies to give Neil a quick hug though. But then -- cookies. And after one bite.]

These are so good. Chocolate chip is my favorite. Especially when they're heavy on the chocolate chips, as in "I'd like some dough with my chocolate chips, please". In fact, sometimes I'll just eat the chocolate chips plain right out of the bag, which I've heard is not what you're supposed to do or something like that.

[illgrowoutofit]

I totally do that too. [He looks at her, surprised and curious.] Are those actually good? It's Stephen's recipe and he's like, hardcore-amazing cook guy, but I thought I kinda screwed 'em up. I was actually kinda scared to try, myself. Would've had Nymeria taste-test, but, y'know. Chocolate. No good for puppies.

[the_dawnster]

No chocolate for puppies. But yeah you did good. They're super sweet which is the best kind of cookie if you ask me.

[In fact, she's going to pick up another one.] Maybe you should be a chef like Stephen. It might be your calling, you never know. You could be the next Emeril and yell BAM! as you put the seasonings into something, only you know, you could be cooler than him cause you're you.

[illgrowoutofit]

[Neil smiles bashfully at the compliment.] Maybe. 'Cept most of my cooking experiments end in disasters, sorta. I'm pretty good at Cooking Mama, though.

[A beat. And then he winces.] If I asked you never to repeat that to anyone, would you?

[the_dawnster]

Possibly, unless I get cursed to reveal the most hilarious things ever. Then I hold no responsibility for what comes out of my mouth. But if it makes you feel better, I say things like that all the time. My foot lives in my mouth pretty much.

[illgrowoutofit]

Gotcha. I guess I've had worse things revealed 'cause of curses, anyway.

[the_dawnster]

Like that memory curse? That one's the worst, like hello the opposite of privacy much? And it happens to a lot of people! Hopefully I'm all avoidy when it comes to that one for forever and ever amen.

[illgrowoutofit]

Yeah, that really sucked. Like, a lot. There was also a singing thing that was a little to... feelings-y. But at least that was kinda awesome, 'cause, singing.

[the_dawnster]

Singing and dancing can be fun as long as things don't start going boom... and by things I mean people. Hey, how hot is that salsa?

[illgrowoutofit]

Medium-ish? There's really hot stuff in the fridge, too, but I thought this'd be safer 'cause, y'know. [He shrugs.] There's girls here.

[the_dawnster]

Yeah I like to actually taste the tomato in the salsa instead of having my tongue burn off. I know some people who can be all sweating and crying from the hot and think it's the most awesome thing ever. I don't get that.

Oh! And hey! [Now she's smiling at him as she uses a chip to stir the salsa up a bit.] There's girls here. [She waggles her eyebrows and looks over the crowd.] Want me to be your wing-woman and help set you up with someone?

[illgrowoutofit]

[Neil helps himself to come chips as well, and when Dawn makes this suggestion, he promptly almost chokes on one. Please hold while he has a small coughing fit.]

I... uh... [His face is bright red.]

[the_dawnster]

Oh come on. [She lightly bumps his shoulder with hers.] I could be a great wing-woman. Okay maybe not but still.

[illgrowoutofit]

No, yeah, I mean, totally, I know you would be. I just... [He clears his throat.] More cookies?