|
June Desrochers:
There's a new food truck style ice cream place that showed up a few weeks ago called "Lick Me Up" that June decided that she had to try out. Why? She loves ice cream, okay. Since she was also supposed to spend some time talking to Sturm about how to do beekeeping stuff, that's where she suggested they meet, so they can eat tasty ice cream and talk about how to raise bees.
"Did you know that honeybees can reach up to fifteen miles per hour?" she asks as she spoons up a spoon of her roasted strawberry and white chocolate ice cream. She doesn't do cones. Not since the incident.
Sturm:
Sturm looks absolutely ridiculous holding a waffle cone with a double scoop of Birthday Cake Explosion in her giant hands, and wearing the ferocious frown she's so well known for.
She's got one thumb hooked into her front pocket and she's looking down at June while she eats her ice cream. "What? Fifteen miles per hour? That's fucking ridiculous, I call bullshit."
Nevermore Usher:
The day is warm enough that Nevy has had to make some sacrifices of The Aesthetic™️ in order to prevent heatstroke. Instead of their usual high boots and elaborate victorian finery, they're in doc martens, lighter slacks, a T-shirt with the universal monsters and the caption "Squad Goals," and no hat. Still in their coat, though, because there's sacrifices and there's blasphemy.
They see the ice cream truck and make a (heh) bee line for it. The sign catches their attention and they spend a few moments just raptly reading. "Churro bowl?" They say in mixed awe and glee.
Petra Fichette:
The little bird had heard about the ice cream truck from her coworkers this afternoon and while they'd all come for some over lunch, Petra was back for seconds now that she was off the clock and no one would judge her for getting excessive amounts of chocolate raspberry. She hummed happily and was so focused on getting the treat that she didn't notice anyone until she had her cone in hand- she didn't have anything against waffle cones dipped in chocolate and sprinkles.
Petra nearly dropped the glorious creation when she saw Sturm there in the flesh and took the opportunity to stare in blatant admiration.
Arthur Phoenix:
The crunchy thudding footfalls of a jogger precede Artie a wee bit as he trots up and hops in the line for ice cream.
Entirely distracted by the prospect of ice cream, he doesn't notice the other freeholders for a long moment.
Finally though, he looks around after perusing the menu for a moment. "Oh. H-hey you Guys."
June Desrochers:
"Don't be jealous," June teases Sturm. "Just because bees can," and then she hears the words "churro bowl" and her head whips around as her sentence cuts off. "A WHAT bowl?" she demands, like she hasn't already gone through the line and ordered something. Apparently she should have read the whole menu and not just picked the first thing that said "strawberry" on it. "Aww darn it, Sturm! Did I order the wrong thing?" To many eyes, her fluffy little ears droop a bit and she looks at her ice cream, which is delicious but not a churro bowl. She's pulled out of it with Arthur's arrival and greets him with a cheerful, "hey!"
Sturm:
Sturm continues to scowl long. Y'know, because Bees can. She takes a lick of her ice cream cone - trying to catch the dripping before it has a chance to run down the side. "If you wanna get back in line, June, I won't tell anyone." She turns to regard Petra with a nod. "Oh hey, you. Sorry, I don't remember your name but I know your face from somewhere." Beat. "Wait. The fight? With Guy?"
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy turns to look at June, face aglow. "I know, right? A churro bwoah!" This when they turn and almost run into Sturm. They blink, looking up at the large, intimidating woman. "Uh... hi?"
Petra Fichette:
Petra lit up, happy that Sturm remembered her... mostly. Her wings rustled and she scooted over. "Yeah! That's right. I'm Petra." She beamed, blushed, and was more than a little flustered. "It's, um, cool to meet you again. I loved your fight that night. It was great. Uh, Artie! Do you know Artie?"
Arthur Phoenix:
Waving animatedly at June, the wizened realizes it's his turn and whispers a quick "j-just a sec, J-June!"
"Uhmm... H-hi. Can I g-get a mango curried raspberry in a churro bowl topped w-with gummibears p-please?" He asks just loud enough to be heard by the worker.
In a few seconds he has his confection and a spoon, a pile of napkins and a slips over to the others with a huge greedy grin on his face. "Ice cream..." He mutters.
"H-hey. Y-yeah. Sturm has seen m-me before. B-but she doesn't remember my name..." He mutters with a bit of a frown as he pokes at his ice cream with the spoon.
June Desrochers:
"Maybe if I'm still hungry," June answers to Sturm. Even when you're tiny, when you work out as much as June does you tend to eat a lot of food still. She might actually end up still being hungry. "You'll have to let me know if it's worth it!" she replies to Nevy. "It sounds amazing." She waves Petra, hesitates, then says, "I hope you don't get upset when I say this, but wow, I pretty much never meet anyone who I think is actually shorter than I am." Then, laughing, "augh, Artie's getting a churro bowl too. So much FOMO"
Sturm:
"Thanks," she reaches up to scratch the undercut part of her braid. "Was a good fight - Guy might be a shitty boxer, but he hits like a fuckin' truck." Her brow furrows at Artie's comment - and she opens her mouth to say something, but then Nevy nearly bumps into her. Thankfully the medium came from her field of vision, so it wasn't as mad as it could've been, but she definitely jerks back - accidentally planting her nose into the top scoop of her ice cream.
"Hi," Sturm's response is a low growl. To Nevy's eyes, she's a massively tall blonde dressed like a metalhead, with a square jaw and a ferocious frown. Though, now she also has ice cream on her face and she looks ridiculous.
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy blinks and their rosy complexion pales almost to the point of proper gothitude. "Um... Sorry. I'll... um... I'll get some napkins. You've... you have a little..." As they speak, their voice constricts into a squeak, until apparently it cuts off entirely. Their mouth works for another moment, then they turn and start plundering the cart of its trove of napkins.
Petra Fichette:
Petra stiffled a giggle at Sturm's misfortune, then redirected her attention from Sturm and Nevy to shake her head at June with a grin. "There are quite a few of us vertically challenged people around here. I'm not the title holder for shortest either." She held an arm out to Artie for a hug in greeting. "How could anyone forget who you are? You've got mad skills!"
Arthur Phoenix:
The smith blushes a little at the praise. "I'm alright..." He says bashfully. It takes him a moment to step into the hug and he's a bit awkward with it. He pats gingerly with his one arm.
"Wh-what'd you get Petra?" He asks peering at her ice cream then looking over the others. He blinks and grins at ice cream nosed Sturm.
"Heheh. Nobody's even tall enough to l-lick it off her nose!"
June Desrochers:
June laughs -- laughs! -- at Sturm's misadventure with the ice cream cone, but she also grabs one of the copious napkins tucked under her cup of ice cream and hops up onto the bench and then the table with it. "Here, let me get that off for you," she says as she starts trying to wipe Sturm's face off, if Sturm will let her. Because having a tiny little (red panda to most present) woman standing on a table cleaning her face will surely salvage Sturm's dignity.
Sturm:
If the way Sturm growls at the suggestion to lick ice cream off her nose is an indication, anyone else who tried to do what June is trying to do? Well, they'd probably end up on the ground with a black eye. Fortunately, June is good and pure and has no ill intentions - and even though it'd be very easy to feel like this crowd of people were laughing at her reaction, rather than it's effect - Sturm stands still, and lets June clean off her face. "It's all good," she fixes Nevy with a sullen look. "Just a bit jumpy about being touched is all."
Of course, when June's finished, Sturm is definitely going - should June allow it - to grab the red panda 'round the middle with her free arm, and gently set her back down onto the ground. Safely.
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy nods and swallows. "Okay. Sorry." Then their order's up and they're handed an elaborate concoction of chocolate ice cream, bananas, hot fudge, and what looks like cinnamon or some other spice dusted over it all - in a churro bowl. This is almost enough to distract them from the nearer-than-usual-to-death experience, and they find a seat at a table, gazing in awe at the offering before them.
Petra Fichette:
"Chocolatey chocolate chunk raspberry. With chocolate and raspberry sauce on top." She held it for Artie's inspection. "I had the Tres Leches churro earlier today and just about died of happiness. I can't decide which is better. This one is very intense- that looks good too," she mused as Nevy's arrived. "I'm going to have to start doing more exercise shit," she moaned. "Life just isn't fair."
Arthur Phoenix:
"Ooh. That's a lot of 'ch-chocolate." Artie replies with wide eyes as he inspects from multiple angles. "Mine has raspberry too! Lookkit the swirls. They're a little sp-spicy. But like... Warm spicy not hit spicy." Then he blinks.
"I should get an ice cr-cream machine!. They sell those." He explains like a goofball.
Then his eye catches Nevy's treasure of a dessert. "Oh. They got bananas...."
June Desrochers:
June laughs when she's picked up and put down on the ground safely after cleaning Sturm's face. "You could come work out with me and Sturm some time," June suggests to Petra. "It's fun. Well, when the dickbags aren't being dickbags and trying to mansplain how to do squats to me." She turns toward Nevy and says, "hey gothy person, want to sit with us?" She points to the bench next to where she was sitting. "I think this table was really meant for four, not five, but some of us are tiny enough that we don't take up much space." Then she looks at Artie and blinks. "Did you say spicy icecream? spicecream?" And she plops down in her seat again.
Sturm:
"S'all good," Sturm shrugs. "Not like you could've known - and it's not like you did it on purpose." She seems very sincere about this point - like, perhaps the low growl on her voice is just a natural affectation rather than a product of her mood. "... but yeah, work out with us - and I spend enough time at the gym even without June, so I could definitely use company that isn't on Spotify."
"Unfortunately, I'm not tiny." She wriggles free of the bench, gesturing for Nevy to sit. "So you can have my spot if you'd like to sit. Would rather hover awkwardly than be stuck in close quarters."
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy smiles at Petra, regaining some of their normal confidence. "Mexican chocolate banana split," They say. Then, June invites them to join the table. They look surprised and uncertain for a moment. "I don't want to displace anyone..."
Petra Fichette:
Petra was clearly hesitant to accept June's invitation. She had principles about not getting dragged into physical exertion by Summers, but when Sturm echoed it, Petra's little bird brain broke. "I'd love to," she said, before common sense and reason could weigh in. "This ice cream is more than my entire recommended daily caloric intake as it is and I had one for lunch too." She shook her head and scooted to make room for Nevy. 'You're not! Sit!"
Arthur Phoenix:
Artie takes a seat and looks forlornly between the three lady changelings. It's not hard to fathom that he feels left out... But probably doesn't know how to ask.
But then June asks about his food and lights up a little. "Yeah! Here. T-taste it!" He suggests, scooping up a bit of the orangey colored goop and offering it to her, sure to get a big river of red swirl.
"Uhm... Also. What is m-mansplain?" He asks, unfamiliar with the term.
"Also um. Hi. I'm Ar-Arthur Phoenix. It's nice to meet you." The young man offers to Nevy with a smile and squared shoulders. Though he fumbles around a bit with his hands trying to get one available to offer a handshake. Finally he switches the spoon for June into his left and extends his right.
June Desrochers:
"Nah, come here," June echoes with an encouraging wave. "I'm June." She picks up her bowl of ice cream and nods her head as she agrees with Sturm, to Petra. "I do a lot of workouts at home, too." Honestly, although everyone else can't see it so much because of the ridiculous poofy fur the Mien shows, for Nevy who can see her Mask, June is basically solid muscle in short shorts and a tank top. "I'm always happy to have people come over and work out with me!" When Artie offers her some of his ice cream she leans over to take the bite, then savors it a moment before explaining, "it's when men explain things, usually to women, in a ridiculously condescending way, especially in cases where they obviously or probably know at least as much as he does. Like I can squat more than most of the men who mansplain how to do squats at the gym."
Sturm:
"Sit," the surly Germanic bodybuilder echoes June and Petra's statements with a rumbling growl. She points at the spot she just vacated for emphasis. It's a very final "this matter has already been decided" type of gesture. You don't wanna piss off Sturm, do you Nevy?
"You'll have to give me your number," she fishes a nice looking smartphone out of her pocket, opening up a blank contact page, and then passing it to Petra. She fixes Artie with a look - but then June explains the thing first, and she keeps her mouth shut.
Sturm takes another lick of her ice cream cone, standing there with a thumb hooked in her belt loop.
Nevermore Usher:
Sturm's declaration initially has Nevy swallowing and wondering if they have a choice. Finally deciding to accept the offer with equanimity, though, they square their shoulders and stride over to take a seat. "Thank you," They say, pulling dignity over themselves like a knit cap over a bald spot. "My name's Nevermore."
Petra Fichette:
Petra tapped in her number, took a selfie for the contact photo, and sent herself a message so she had Sturm's info too. "Quoth the Raven? Nice!" She beamed and handed Sturm's phone back. "I listened to an audiobook the other day about superheroes and one of them was 'Professor Well Actually' whose superpower was mansplaining. He was super smart and magically perceptive but only when correcting other people."
Arthur Phoenix:
Artie frowns at the newly defined term. "But... What? Why? That s-sounds like a waste of t-time?"
"Superheroes? Were there any cool ones?! I wish I was cool enough to m-make up superheroes." He muses a little before eating some more of his ice cream.
"N-Nevermore. Got it. Th-that's a cool name"
June Desrochers:
"Oooh, I listened to that on audiobook!" June says to Petra, brightening to have something more concrete to connect with the other diminutive changeling. "The Corporation for UltraHuman Protection stuff, right? I listen to a ton of audiobooks while I'm working out." Coming back 'round to Nevy they say, "that's a cool name! I like it. What are your pronouns? Mine are she/her." Then she laughs and tells Artie, "because some men feel like they have to know everything, and that women don't know anything."
Sturm:
"Yep," she enunciates the p with a pop. "They just cannot fucking fathom that we might know shit about sports, or guns, or comics, or working out, or... whatever other "manly" pursuits they think don't belong to us. Y'know, on account of our dumb, tiny ladybrains." This is all delivered with an absolute deadpan. "It's a damn shame that Professor Well Actually Guy probably just gets his face punched a bunch for doing that shit."
Another lick from her ice cream cone. "Sturm. She/Her." She doesn't offer her hand, but she does fix them with a curt little nod.
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy groans at Petra. "Ugh. That's a superhero?" They shake their head. "He sounds like way too many of the people I meet at horror conventions." Then they grin. "I had to homage Poe somehow when I chose my name. This way, most people know how to say it." They blink when June asks for their pronouns and glance down, then roll their eyes and move their coat. "Sorry. They/them - today, at least." Pinned to their shirt (previously hidden beneath the coat) is a pin with a selector between she/her and they/them, currently set to the latter, alongside the legend "Gender is a sometimes food."
They offer a (slightly nervous) return nod to Sturm. "Nice to meet you."
Petra Fichette:
"Yes!" She grinned to June. "I loved that reader too. She did a great job of it." Petra laughed at Sturm's assessment. "Yeah, he's not anyone's favorite to deal with, and his subplot is relationship issues since he literally can't stop himself from correcting everyone." Petra bounced in her seat a bit, feathers fluffing up happily. "I love audiobooks. And real books. I'm Petra, by the way. Female pronouns and all that jazz."
Arthur Phoenix:
Turning to look at Sturm while she rants, Artie listens growing more confused. "But... Girls are smart? And and... But... Girls do all k-kinds of manly things. L-like Sigrun. She has armor and spears and a sword a-and y-you Sturm. You're the second biggest strongest person I know. And Laura too. And uhm... Petra takes care of bloody people which is so c-cool. It is weird that all comicbook girls are really pretty though. B-but I guess boys draw them and most of them like pretty girls..." The tailor says, looking down at his churro bowl as he considers.
Then he realizes that they're supposed to share pronouns. "Oh. S-sorry. I'm a boy. And I like boys. N-not that girls aren't c-cool or n-nothin'! Enbies too! I think I j-just like how boys are shaped..." He mutters with a vibrant blush, looking away from the group embarrassed. Gosh he'd said too much.
June Desrochers:
"I've had men mansplain what what it's like to be short, or the difference between honeybees and wasps." She stops counting things to scoop up a little ice cream. "The list goes on." Then she points a finger -- she has some seriously pointy black stiletto nails, fyi -- at Nevy's pin. "I like that, that's cute. Sturm, we have to tell Teagan about that." Apparently Sturm is part of some kind of 'we' now. " She sighs and says to Artie, in a way that says she's not sighing at him. "That's all exactly why mansplaining is so annoying. Or a big part of it, anyway."
Sturm:
"My point is," her eyes narrow at the wording. "None of that shit is actually fuckin' manly. Being big, or small, or strong, or makin' weapons is not a fuckin'.... gendered thing." Sturm turns and tosses the rest of her ice cream cone in the nearest trashcan with a growl. "So, even if you're trying to help here, maybe don't fuckin' call me manly?" Sturm's brow furrows, and her scowl returns in full force as she turns on her heel and stalks off. "Fuckin' twerp." Beat. "I'll see ya' when I see ya', June - and enjoy y'all's fuckin' ice cream."
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy grins at June. "Glad you like it! I got it off Etsy. It's a really fun shop." Then they look at Petra, and the grin becomes mildly devious. "If you like books, then maybe y-"
They're interrupted by Sturm... well, Sturm ing out. They stammer to silence, eyes wide as the big woman walks off. They're quiet for a few seconds afterward, too. "Um..."
Petra Fichette:
Petra stared after Sturm and sighed. "She's so hot when she's mad. I bet she could punch through a tree."
Arthur Phoenix:
Artie's face drops, more confusion and dismay, this time not sure entirely how he'd done bad. "..... S-sorry..." He calls after the jotun as she takes her leave. To the others: "I... D-didn't mean to m-make her mad at me. She really is strong... Which is cool..." He mutters, sticking his spoon in his slowly melting ice cream. It is noticeably melting faster than the others'.
June Desrochers:
"Some day I'll hang out with Sturm again, without someone making her get mad and leave," June grumbles. "You should think about what you say a little but more, Artie. I'm disappointed. I'll talk to you another time about why that wasn't cool, if you need help understand." She starts moving away. "Nice to meet you, Nevy! Maybe I'll see you around. Take care, Petra!" Then she hurries after Sturm.
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy shakes themselves out of it. "I'll... see you later!" They call after June, then they glance at Artie, trying to gauge how he's reacting to the rebukes.
Petra Fichette:
"Bye!" She called after them, then whipped out her phone to text Guy, sending him a picture of her half eaten ice cream.
Guy Dagenham:
Guy walks up from the other direction, taking in the scene and those departing. He sits next to Petra and nods to Artie. “Hello everyone.” His gun-barrel gaze sweeps over Nevermore, and then he looks down at his girlfriend. “Hi.”
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy blinks as the man's brief attention makes them feel as though they were being sized up for a coffin (again, not in the fun way). "Hhhhhi," They say tentatively before glancing around to see how the others react to him.
Arthur Phoenix:
The wizened just sort of sits there looking at his food then at June as she too gets up. "Ok.. I guess..." He mutters looking dejected. "I th-think i'm just gonna st-stop talking again. Things worked just f-fine when I didn't say anything." He decides. True to his word, he waves silently at Guy.
Petra Fichette:
Petra's expression lit up like the sun and she bounced from her seat, stood on the bench, and threw her arms around Guy. The ice cream still in her cone went flying- leaving her with an empty waffle cone in one hand. "Guy! I missed you!" Petra gave him a kiss on the cheek, then turned and glowered at Artie. "Absolutely not. Stopping talking is not the answer. Listening and paying attention to others feelings is. Apologize to Sturm, and if you don't understand why you should then talk to June like she invited you to. She seems really nice and cool."
Guy Dagenham:
He hugs her back with a little smile. “Hey, Schatzi. How're you?” He peeks around her glance at Artie, then looks up to her. “What's wrong?”
Arthur Phoenix:
"Yes it is. Talking isn't worth th-the trouble. Half of what I say is apparently inf-inf-infur-ating and peo-people just y-yell at me and st-storm away. It d-d-doesn't matter wh-what I mean. J-just what pe-people hear." He scowls and pushes his bowl a few inches away from him.
"I d-did ap-apologize and hear her. She w-was mad. Be-because I s-said she was str-strong because be-being strong is "m-m-manly" and she hates that. A-and me! I'm the stu-stupid pr-problem!" He says clearly getting himself worked up which makes his stutter worse.
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy is about to speak, but then Arthur talks, and they frown. "We can't know what you mean," They say evenly - not seeming angry, but very serious. "Only what you say. Words matter, and words like 'manly' and 'girly' come with all kinds of baggage that's way more trouble than it's worth, a lot of the time. Nobody's saying you have to stop talking. Just... think carefully about what you say, all right?"
Petra Fichette:
"Better with you here," she murmured to Guy, and was about to formulate a counter to Artie's words when her phone rang with the Indiana Jones theme song and she checked her messages. She swore softly. "I'm sorry love- and I hate leaving like this, Artie, but a friend got hurt and I need to go. Listen to Nevy!" She gave Nevy a thumbs up, kissed Guy again, then literally ran.
Guy Dagenham:
He frowns, giving Petra a squeeze and returning the kiss before she tears off. He watches over her a moment, then looks back to the others. “Well. Here we are.”
Arthur Phoenix:
"But i d-didn't say she w-was manly! I s-said girls can do manly things! I didn't p-pick how words w-work!" He exclaims.
Thinking back over what he'd said he tries to narrow down how what he'd said was offensive. Coming up with nothing he resigned himself to having to ask June.
Taking a few breaths to try and calm down, he finally mutters "Now I'll have to g-get lectured later..."
Nevermore Usher:
"Why is being strong 'manly?" Nevy says.
They shake their head. "That's what I was talking about. Being strong is no more 'manly' than being brown-haired is."
Guy Dagenham:
“It's not. I've met women who possessed unfathomable power, and men who were worms. Gender doesn't make you strong, flesh doesn't make you strong...” He's looking off into the distance at nothing, finger drawing a little circle over and over on the table.
Arthur Phoenix:
"I don't know. That's j-just the word. Uhm stuff ass-associated with m-males get's called manly I think. Cuz s-some f-folx made up words and now that's what we say." He suggests. It isn't hard to see that he's not malicious simply this is what he knows and hasn't been taught any different.
Artie glances at Guy and nods. What the man was saying made sense and he agreed.
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy leans forward slightly. "Language isn't carving. It's topiary."
Guy Dagenham:
He frowns at nobody. “Language is filled with bias and misunderstanding. Words are a filter to meaning, and imprecise. A simulated idea. You must choose words carefully.”
Arthur Phoenix:
"Huh?" The smith asks, face twisting in puzzlement. "Well I only sp-speak half of English. And all the stuff I know about other languages is th-that some words are m-male and some are f-female. El and l-la in spanish and stuff."
Then he looks at Guy, now confused by the front half of that expression. "Uh....y-yeah I think? Th-thats why I d-don't wanna talk. What I want n-never comes out r-right."
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy takes a deep breath. "Being strong isn't inherently associated with being male. That's just something people tacked on. But you don't have to think that way. How we use words isn't decided once and then set in stone for all time, never to change." They pause. "Well. Unless you're speaking official French, I think." They return their attention to Artie. "Language grows. It changes. It flowers. Bits die off and fall away, or get diseased and have to be pruned. That's what I mean by 'language is topiary.' And you-" They point at Artie. "Get to choose how you prune your language. Think of it this way. By saying being strong is inherently manly, you'd be saying anyone who's not manly is inherently not going to be strong. Is that what you want to say? If not, then you have to change how you say it."
Guy Dagenham:
He stares at the ice cream stand, not really moving. Finally, he says, “Being manly is meaningless anyway. Be like water instead.”
Arthur Phoenix:
Artie looks at Nevermore and nods after a fee seconds of processing. "W-well n-no. That's not what I meant. B-being strong isn't even a-about muscles sometimes. Like.... Heart strong and m-mind strong."
He sighs though. "I like it when y-you put it that way. It m-makes language and words sound beautiful. Like a piece of art."
Now he just scowls in deeper confusion at Guy though. "I... What? I don't wanna be splashy. I wanna be solid and cool. Not like uhm... Cold water cool though. Like..." He considers for a long moment. "Superhero cool." The wizened finally settles on.
Nevermore Usher:
Nevy glances at Guy, then grins and looks at Artie. "If you mean strong, then say strong. Gender doesn't come into it. And trying to bring gender into it can hurt people. All right?"
Guy Dagenham:
“Water is adaptive, patient, life-bringing. It is also inevitable, unrelenting, powerful.”
Arthur Phoenix:
"Alright I guess... But 'mansplaining' sounds g-gendered..." He points out, a callback to how this all started anyway.
Looking towards Guy he simply replies: "Oh."
"Well. Ok. Yeah. I guess I do wanna be like that."
Nevermore Usher:
"It does. Because in our culture, it's overwhelmingly done by men. The term's supposed to draw peoples' attention to that fact - maybe by realizing what they're doing, they can stop." Their phone rings, and Nevy pulls it out to glance at it. "Dammit," They say. "My boss wants me in early tomorrow. I've got to go." They look at Artie. "Keep all this in mind, all right?"
Guy Dagenham:
Guy looks Nevy over a moment, then nods. “Have a good night.” He looks to Artie, studying the young man.
Arthur Phoenix:
The smith nods an affirmation. "Mhm. Th-thank you for ex-explaining, Nevermore. It's really helpful. H-here. Have one of my cards. Swing b-by some time and I'll make you s-something cool" he offers a business card with a hopeful grin.
Nevermore Usher:
They nod and offer one of their own - no phone number or address, but a couple social media sites, an Etsy shop, and an email for commission inquiries. "If you like how I talk, you should see how I write." They tilt their head. "And buy a copy of everything, just in case." Then they head out. "Good night, gentlemen!"
Guy Dagenham:
He glances at the departing stranger, then back to Artie. “Do you want more ice cream, or should we head somewhere else to chat?”
“Or do something else?”
Arthur Phoenix:
Artie looks at his ice cream then at the truck and shakes his head. "No... It's... Ok. I'll try it again an-another time." He takes one last bite and savors it for a few seconds.
"I... Wanna go somewhere wh-where I don't have to... Be careful a-about words." He finally pipes up quietly.
Guy Dagenham:
“In my experience, those places are few and far between. But if you want to go somewhere that makes you want feel comfortable, we can. Or somewhere to get away from the world, that too.”
Arthur Phoenix:
".... N-no I just mean a pl-place I can say... Uhm....." He mouths the word 'kindred'.
"The only places the world doesn't exist are in my head..." He bemoans.
Sturm Today at 1:58 AM
Guy Dagenham:
He nods. “We can go...that rooftop? The one we went to with Finley?”
Arthur Phoenix:
"Oh. Y-yeah ok. That place is cool. D-do you really wanna go there though? Y-you don't have to... Hang out with me if... If you d-don't want to..."
Guy Dagenham:
He looks around the deserted area. “My girlfriend is busy saving her friend, and I can't help. My plans are shot, and a friend is in a rough place. Come on, Artie.” He stands. “You bring a car, or do you need a ride?”
Arthur Phoenix:
"N-no... My car's... Ov-over there." He points. "I just jogged around the park to exercise earlier. I d-don't like treadmills. They're kinda boring to l-listen to and there's n-nothing to see."
"B-but ok. R-race you there!" He says forcing a grin as he bolts from the table with his ice cream in hand. He tosses it in a trashcan as he sprints to his car.
Guy Dagenham:
Guy glances around, and takes off for his bike before roaring away.
|