tushanshu | 10° VIDEO

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[There's a pause before Johnny's face appears on the screen, bent over to press the buttons. Once he confirms that the screen is on, he straightens and makes sure he's in frame, wearing very basic clothes.]

Aw, Reed. You shouldn't have! It's a little small, but I admit, I like what you've done with the place.

[He waits a beat, as if Reed might actually respond.]

There are two obvious possibilities for why I'm here. One, the Emperor is a crazed fan who abducted me to find out if The Torch is really as hot as they say he is – I am, by the way – or, two, I'm actually dead, they're lying to me, and I have a motorcycle and a pile of women waiting for me somewhere.

[A split-second pause.] I'll tell you what. If it's the first option? You can come find me. If it's the second, let me know and I'll come find you. Until then? This Fire Sector is like home, sweet home.

Johnny out.

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Only the pretty ones.

[She says this with a teasing sort of bravado, breaking eye-contact only to thank the waitress who brings them glasses with water. Picking it up, she takes a sip.]

So how are you settling in, hm? You had a couple hours or so before meeting me.

Lucky me. [He offers with a grin. Johnny makes the same quick but sincere thanks to the waitress for the drinks before his attention returns to Bryn. The torch tries not to think about the fact that he's sitting in a restaurant on the back of a turtle with a woman who can do god knows what - although that last part's a great thing.]

[His smile fades a little at the latter and he shrugs.] Some of the people here seem to know some version of me, which is a little weird. Otherwise, it's not so bad. I met this mutant, Victor. He's a fan. Good kid.

I've heard of that happening before, though it seems my world is entirely unrelated to anyone else's.

[Meaning it hasn't happened to her, recognizing anyone, or anything from any culture or place. And vice-versa.]

But hey, having fans must be pretty cool. And if people know you it's like you got here with friends you just haven't met yet, right?

[That makes him laugh. Johnny reaches a hand up to scratch awkwardly at the back of his head, as if just caught with someone he's not supposed to be seeing, awkward and just a hint embarrassed.]

Not quite. Lots of people have heard of me, but it seems like only one was any kind of a friend and I get the feeling she got along a lot better with my sister. I already stormed out of her place.

[He drops the hand, still smiling that crooked smile, and reaches to grab a sip of his water. The man doesn't like sitting idle.]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear it.

[Her smile falters just a little bit, because wow how incredibly awkward for him. It makes her wonder if perhaps it's better that she's arrived so...disconnected from everyone else.]

Care for something stronger than that to take the edge off?

[She gestures to his water glass, expression showing hints of sympathy.]

[Johnny grins in response to the sympathy, never wanting to be someone who draws attention in any negative way. His response is upbeat and optimistic, completely contrary to the situation just because he can be.]

Hey, dinner's supposed to be about you and how amazing this place is, not the other Johnny's acquaintances. We'll both get something stronger to drink so we can toast to our time together.

Well if you don't mind sharing, here.

[She reaches under her jacket to pull out a metal flask and offers it toward him. It's about two-thirds full of the local equivalent of vodka.]

It's some of the local stuff I've been savoring since rationing began and the prices went up. A bit like vhedir but not as sweet.

[Johnny accepts it with an appreciative smile, immediately lowering it into his lap as he unscrews it. Once open, he takes a sip, makes a face, and then takes another. He lowers it again to recap it.]

Wow. This is terrible. I don't know what vhedir is, but this tastes like middle shelf vodka and that is.. whew!

[He's still grinning through it, complaining in a teasing way. The torch unscrews it and takes one more sip before screwing the lid back on and returning it to her.]

Thanks, for sharing. [He means that.] I forgot about the rations.

[She grins the moment he says it's terrible. It is. She's had all kinds of terrible, cheap alcohol. The Keeliai liquors aren't horrible and they do in a pinch, but she doesn't prefer them at all.

Taking it back, she shrugs.]

It does the job, I find.

[Bryn unscrews the cap and takes a sip of it herself, no, two of them. Unlike him, she doesn't make a face because she's used to it.]

But you're welcome to see if there's something better to your tastes here, but this place is better for food than it is for booze.

[Johnny chuckles at her response, then at the idea of trying to find something better. He doesn't expect that to happen and isn't about to waste his rationing tickets for alcohol here. The torch shrugs.]

I'll take your word for it and save the drinks for another time. So what's good then?

Mm, probably any of these.

[She reaches over and points to a few items on the menu. Vegetarian. Chicken-like. And a third:]

That one has some kick. You don't mind a little spice, I assume?

Of course not.

[He returns her mischievous smile, looking at her suggestions and easily dismissing the first two. Johnny loves heat in all forms and her third suggestion is extremely tempting.]

What are you getting?

This one. Best parts of the second and third, in my opinion.

[She points to the dish. Spicy poultry dish with a mix of vegetables. Vegetables, at least, are easier to come by than meat.]

They have anything like these foods back home?

[Johnny looks at her choice and gives her a smile, decided to stick with his meat-centric spicy dish for now. His smile widens at her question. It's one thing to think of others living in a world like his but with different people. It's another thing to think of a completely different world.]

Close enough. Different meats usually and American restaurants tend to have more of a theme than the places I've seen here so far, but it's not far off. What about you?

Edited 2013-06-27 06:22 (UTC)

Similar in some ways. The food tends to be more hearty and savory, and there's a great deal more fruit and nuts to be had, all fresh in the marketplace.

[Smiling, she leans back, pushing her menu to one side.]

Though really when I think about the differences between here and there, it's just the quantity of everything that's the most different I think. It's still an adjustment to be in a place where so many things aren't plentiful, that resources are scarce.

[Johnny unconsciously mirrors her posture, leaning back and throwing an arm around the edge of the back of his chair to be as nonchalant as possible.]

I used to read about rations in history books as a kid and I could never really understand what it was like, but I never wanted to. I don't like being hungry.

Same here. Never understood it, never wanted to.

[Speaking of which, the waitress returns to take orders. Bryn gives hers, calling it her "usual" which indicates how often she's there, then looks to Johnny.]

I'm hoping it gets resolved quickly.

[Johnny orders the spicy dish Bryn suggested, giving the waitress the same charming grin he gives most people upon introduction as he does. He gives her a grinning thanks, meeting her eyes until she turns to walk away. Then his attention is back to the woman across from him and the exaggerated smile fades from his lips for something more sincere again.]

In the meantime, I guess we'll just have to make do.

I guess so.

[And for the evening, they make do with delicious local cuisine, the contents of Bryn's flask, and each other for company.]

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