[video]

[sharpes]

[Brandon looks, for all intents and purposes, bored as hell.]

You know what this place really needs?

[Bit of a pause. Purely for dramatic effect, you understand. He is an actor.]

Twitter.

And if you have to ask me what that is, you're seriously dead to me. Like. Don't even try.

Comments

[sharpes]

It's not as bad as you think. Any publicity is good publicity, you know?

[controlledvariable]

I've heard that, not entirely inclined to believe it.

[a beat, and she puts down her bowl so she can rub the back of her neck] I was in the news a little. After.

[She's just going to say "after" and I hope he knows that she means "after I got tortured in a gang war"]

[sharpes]

... Oh. Well.

... Yeah, that's probably bad publicity.

[whoops.]

[controlledvariable]

Sorry. [More awkward-apologetic than anything.] They used one of my crappy school pictures, it was terrible.

[jo...ke...s...]

[sharpes]

Let me guess. Braces and frizzy hair?

[two can play that game...???]

[controlledvariable]

My hair has always been fabulous, thank you very much. [it's just blonde and slightly wavy calm down, Steph] I just think it's impossible to look good in a school photo. They do something to the cameras.

[sharpes]

Aaaaaaaand we're back to witchcraft.

[chinhands.]

[controlledvariable]

Everything always comes back to witchcraft. [FACT]

[sharpes]

Hey, at least nobody's mentioned Salem yet.

[Well except that he just did but shhhhh.]

[controlledvariable]

[The look she gives him translates pretty much exactly to you just mentioned it right now]

I'd hope not, I don't think that was a fun time for anyone.

[sharpes]

Well, middle ages, right? A pox on your houses and all that.

[Yeah he actually has no idea what the middle ages are like. Brandon isn't really a student of history.]

[controlledvariable]

So close. [she looks fond, if amused.] Let's leave the witchcraft to me, you'd look silly in a pointy hat, anyway.

[sharpes]

Amen to that.

[srsly tho.]

[controlledvariable]

[Oh god help she imagined Brandon dressed like Klarion's witchy peole.

Why would her brain do that to her.]

Should we be worried that our conversations keep coming back to you in silly outfits?

[okay so it's happened twice but considering they've only known each other for like a month...]

[sharpes]

Is there something I should know about your preferences, Ms. Brown?

[... well, roleplay. He could do that.]

[controlledvariable]

[Oh god if only he knew; Steph would like a medal for not instantly bursting into laughter]

Well, I wouldn't say silly outfits.

[She's joking.

Probably.

Mostly.]

[sharpes]

More a leather and lace kind of girl, huh? I can dig it.

[Actually, pretending he was just... acting would probably make this whole thing easier.]

[controlledvariable]

Lace is a little too fragile for me, generally. [That's. not entirely untrue] But leather works.

[sharpes]

You're talking my language, sunshine.

[NO SHE SORT OF ISN'T but he'll roll with it. Because reasons.]

[controlledvariable]

I knew I liked you for a reason.

[sharpes]

Being a charming, good-looking superhero wasn't enough? Way harsh, babe.

[controlledvariable]

Those are a dime a dozen 'round here. [wow rude]

[sharpes]

Guess I'm just unique.

[SHRUG.]

[controlledvariable]

That's certainly one word for it.

[Steph you're a jerk]

[sharpes]

[POINTED EYE ROLL.]