Escape 031

[prefers_chess]

[Voice Post]One down, approximately one hundred and seventy-nine to go

Comments

........../going to hell

[caughtthebullet]

[Maybe their eyes meet. Maybe they don't. It doesn't matter because Adrian has his focus shamelessly on this boy in his car who hides behind his sunglasses.]

[caughtthebullet]

[Adrian meets Rudy halfway before executing a firm shake.]

The pleasure's mine, Rudy Miller. Do you have a habit of keeping track from your car?

[chessmastering]

I have a habit of being entirely too generous about waiting for an acquaintance of mine, rather than leaving her to walk home if she's late.

[Though his eye-roll at Mindy's tardiness is hidden by his sunglasses, it is equally evident in his tone.]

Though I imagine you're not here for the same reason.

[caughtthebullet]

Clever and a gentleman?

[He shakes his head then looks to the nearest intersection.]

I was passing through. Your vehicle and your music caught my attention.

[Among other things.]

[chessmastering]

And with incredibly good taste in cars, no less, but you knew that already.

[The longer he talks to Adrian, the more his usual standoffish facade is beginning to melt into casual, almost friendly arrogance. It's a refreshing change.]

The vehicle more than the music, I presume. You don't strike me as a punk rock kind of guy.

[caughtthebullet]

[Friendly arrogance is something Adrian here can relate to. Case in point, he folds his arms loosely across his chest and looks Rudy right in the eye. Well, as much as he can anyway.]

What makes you say that?

[chessmastering]

Because I assume a guy of your position has transcended feelings of teen rebellion and anti-establishmentism.

[Pause.]

Or has learned to hide them really well, at least.

[caughtthebullet]

Feelings of rebellion and anti-establishmentism transcend punk rock, Mr. Miller. I appreciate good music.

[chessmastering]

[There is a faint--very faint--twitch at the corner of Rudy's mouth. Mostly because Adrian just stole the answer Rudy was planning to offer, if asked.]

Do you have a favourite, or would you say your tastes run more cosmopolitan?

[caughtthebullet]

[Be a little quicker at the draw, Rudy.]

Only one? That's a hard question, I'm sure you couldn't answer it.

[chessmastering]

[It wouldn't be nearly so interesting if he won every time.]

Ah, the classic defense. You would be correct in that assessment, but fortunately, we're not talking about me.

[caughtthebullet]

My assessment applies to us both. But if I'm to be perfectly honest, taking pleasure in music varies depending on the company involved.

[chessmastering]

Or the lack of company, on occasion.

And if we were talking heavy metal instead of punk rock, I would've answered Iron Maiden.

[caughtthebullet]

[He's eyeing Rudy before answering in a pleasant manner.]

I prefer Led Zeppelin but it'd be fair to say the two are incomparable.

[chessmastering]

Also an excellent choice. And admittedly, mine was largely motivated by nostalgia, which naturally varies from person to person.

[caughtthebullet]

Nostalgia? By how many years?

[Because clearly Rudy isn't packing four decades.]