|
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val was in a park, early evening, and had a small crowd. Every park has those little concrete buildings with benches and stuff. Her current trick was using one of the benches to vault upwards, grab the edge of the building, and hoist herself up. Then pushing up into a hand stand. She didnt even look phased, there were lots of claps from the gathered people, someone recording it on the side.
Even better for onlookers, she had a crop top on, her hoodie on one of the benches, showing off her abs.
Kenzie:
Kenzie went to the park via skate board, dressed comfortably as the clacking of the board was heard to get closer and closer. The crowed drew her attention and she rolls that way until she see's Val showing off. While everyone clapped, she just folds her arms over her chest with a sly smirk. "Booooooooo!" She shouted over the crowed clapping. "Shes holding back! I've seen her do a flip into a half twist off her dismount! Dont let her be lazy! -Entertain us!-"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val looked up, a smile on her face at the familiar voice.
"Ay, shut up Kenz."
A laugh as she shifted onto one hand in the hand stand, a gasp from the crowd, even more so when she shifted back and went to the other hand. Now showing off. Then, from the hand stand, leaned off the building, into a flip with a full twist in there, lands in a roll, and then a second front flip as she pops up. Its still WAY better than almost anyone can do, but not quite as graceful as the last one, partially from the harder manuver.
And she didn't even look to be sweating.
She pointed to the guy recording.
"Tag me on Insta if you're gonna post that. Valeria Rolan-Ruiz baby."
She flexes an arm, a big smile on her face.
Kenzie:
"Oh, when did you Hyphenate to. Rolan-Ruiz-Baby? Is that Guys last name? Thats--- Hilarious. Guy baby." She laughs happily. "Keep that pose!" If anyone could feel magic, it was felt as she gave herself a bit of good fate. She hops on her board and gets some speed, Pops up as she gets mad air, kickflipping OVER Val and landing onto a grind on the table behind her. A 5'1 Kenzie jumping over the mountain that was Val, was impressive. After the grind she celebrates as she rolls through her momentum and turns to head back to the group.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She shakes her head at the jab.
"Aight Kenzie, thats en-woah."
She doesn't move, but she does flinch, the crowd claps and a series of "woahs" and cheers erupt.
Val frowns a bit at getting shown up, but let's her have her moment too, clapping in that silent clap.
Kenzie:
As she heads back she hops off the board next to the woman. "That--- dude... You should have ducked! I could have sworn my board was going into your face. You're so lucky to be alive!!!"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She shakes her head, more joking than annoyed.
"You told me to stay right there! Not my fault you tried to kill me! You would mess up my pretty face?"
A cackle and a hug to Kenzie.
"Aight folks. Its fucking cold, I'm done for now."
She picks up her hoodie, and puts it back on, a few "aws" in the crowd.
She points at camera guy.
"Send me that video actually, I'll credit you."
Kenzie:
Before anyone could even move, Kenzie had the camera mans video device and was digitally sending it to Val, and removing Vals info after to keep her safe. She gives it back to the dude. "They never fucking send them. Do you have any idea how many videos of me there are that I have asked for and never seen?!" She grumps. But anyone who checked Kenzies Instagram would see probably a lot of tagged video and photos.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She laughs.
"Aight aight, lets get you outta here."
A nod.
"Thanks for recording that, means a lot to me."
She slowly escorted the 5'1 gremlin, being a 6' goddess of muscle and 'don't fuck with me' energy.
"Okay so a) cool kick flip, b) holy fuck that was close, but really cool."
Kenzie:
She laughs and when she was sure no one was around. "Dont worry, I -insured- that would have worked out." She wiggles her nose to indicate she did magic like the witch she is. "So, hows life Val? What chaos should we get into? Fuck with people and have me skate with you on my back?"
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She bites her lip.
"You sure that was smart with all those people around? Sounds pretty risky."
She has her arm around Kenzie. And despite that intense athletics display, isn't even breathing hard at all.
"Pretty good, pretty good. Dumbassed my way into a rough talk with Vinny, turned out great. As for chaos....hmmmm, well I'm thinking tacos are a great chaos to start, then we see from there? For Tommy's sake, that aint a date though."
She winks.
Kenzie:
"Probably not, but, look at me. Do I look like it would be me?" She joked. "I'll be fine. I'll bathe in some goats blood to clean my soul. Tacos though. Tacos sound fucking great! The not so great is Tommy. They just up and left again. No answer at all--- for like over a week now. We don't know what to do." She rolls along with Val, taking it a step further, rolling on her board she links arms with Val so she didnt have to do any more effort than---stand. "Hard chat with Vinny huh? I need one of those with Adam. Dude is into me way more than I am into them. Fundamentally totally different too. While we work well together--- romantically we just wont. It doesnt help that hes a cocky fucking ass hole who's always putting me down."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Tacos are fucking amazing, goats blood, eh, I'll leave it to the weirdos." A wink.
"Although, I'm starting to help out weirdos of my own, ya know?"
A pause.
"He...they texted me like 4 days ago? Got um....surgery to get the metal outta my knee. Someone like you helped out."
She laughs.
"Oh no, not that kinda hard talk. Vinny's like...a brother to me. As is Alice...well sister, well...as far as I know." A shrug. "He and I are both overprotective bastards soooo....that kinda hard talk."
She taps her finger's on Kenzie's shoulder.
"Nah I've had guys like that before. I don't like 'im. I don't like most agents. If it wouldn't reflect badly on Guy, I'd punch him for ya if you wanted. If he does anything...ya know...ya know, I'll punch him for ya anyway."
Kenzie:
She laughs and nods. "Yes please. Mostly because I want to see you just punch him and him be so fucking confused why." She laughs at the thought of it. "Burt seriously though-- just--- There are parts of him I do like, just more that I don't." She looks to Val to meet her eyes. "He legit asked me if I needed -him- to get -me- a dress for a night out, because it was a dress code fancy place. Like, how fucking conceded. He calls me kitten like I'm some small toy he can just mess with, he discounts what I can actually do all the time and he throws his money around in weird ways like -oh look at this amazing beach house, now lets eat at a red lobster- like what? And dude, not impressed with money. I am a fate master, I can always be more rich than you if I wanted with the literal snap of my fingers."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Ya know... punching him woulddddd be fun. You can get in one or two as well if ya want. But you're both Tommy's people which is why I care so much. Would want them to know whats up before I ever did anything like that."
A nod.
"Damn, I hate dresses but thats just... nah. You shoulda showed up in a suit, one nicer than his."
A smile.
"I gotta say I'd be impressed by money but that's just me. All your shit makes...no sense to me. Do be careful, we are in public though."
She keeps an eye on anyone else who might be nearby, she's a tad paranoid.
Kenzie:
"Tacos. Lets just get tacos." She sighs and rolls along on her board. "Tacos are always good-- But I do miss SoCal Tacos. They are just next level."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Tacos are great, just gotta know where to look. I make pretty good tacos I think though, never had SoCal though, moved around a bunch as a kid but never SoCal."
She nods.
"So you're paying. Yeah?"
A joke with a wink.
Kenzie:
"Only if you promise to be impressed by my crumpled 20 dollar bill I'm gonna use." She teased. "Gatta keep the broke girl vibe alive and well." She winks to Val.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She laughs.
"Aight miss snap of the fingers. I'll play along, gotta give me that solid second to look for my wallet though, yeah. Is a 'oh you shouldn't!' too much?"
Kenzie:
"No no. You're good. Im not expecting -that- game." She laughs again. "Spring for the good stuff. I always manage to have just enough."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Mmmm, all the sour cream and hot sauce. Jalapeños."
She has a destinctly hispanic accent on that word.
"And I think I gotta pay next time then?" A smile.
Kenzie:
"If you pay--- It's a date. Because you made a promise of some sort. Now you're trapped." She grins more.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She purses her lips.
"I would have to ask my partner for any of that sort first. She's typically pretty chill with it. I just don't wanna push her that much, addict brain can be a lot."
Kenzie:
"Im fucking with you." She laughs and rolls her eyes. "No Guac? Yeah you definitely not been to SoCal. Carne Asada with some pico and quac, a fish taco and a carnitas taco with salsa verde is the move."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"See, I feel like its either queso or guac, not both. And I'm in more of a queso mood. Maybe cause both cost extra and I'm a broke bitch."
A pause.
"¿Tu hablas Español?"
Kenzie:
"Si." She had the accent and all. She rolls her eyes though, "Queso is fucking Tex Mex, not Mexican. You can take that queso right back to whatever backwards ass place you came from. --- Queso---." She makes an icky face.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She rolls her eyes.
"I like queso! I'm from here, then moved around a bunch cause I'm a military brat. Is there anything wrong with adding something you like to your recipes? Fuck, I make my own tacos half the time."
Kenzie:
"Its wrong to call it Mexican. Its TexMex, which is not Mexican. It also doesn't belong on a taco. Its like adding steak sauce to a steak. Just covering up the amazing taste of what you're eating with a thick layer of cheese."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"I never called it Mexican. Im not Mexican! It tastes good so shush."
She laughs.
"Better on quesedillas though. Or fajitas. Guac is superior on quesedillas though."
Kenzie:
She laughs. "Alright whatever. I said I would pay, so I will pay for whatever bad choices you choose to make." She heads to the taco place Val takes her. "Though I am totally questioning your taste in tacos now. -You just have to find the right one- as if you tasted the right one" She teases more, all smiles and good natured.
Erik Samuelson:
As the pair reached the source of all things taco they would spot a somewhat familiar face already in line, idly checking something on his phone while he waited. Erik was in good spirits by all telling, dressed casually in jeans and a grey t-shirt.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"I've eaten plenty of tacos. Innuendo and not. Appreciate you paying though."
She would order in Spanish when they got there.
"Hey...is that...I've seen him at Maddy's before. Elliot or something. Im bad at names."
Kenzie:
"No no, Aaron I'm pretty sure." She said back to Val. "and I have paid for all sorts of tacos, innuendo and not." She joked back at Val, straight faced until she bursts into laughter. She orders her tacos, electing not to get the fish this far from a coast.
Erik Samuelson:
Erik glanced up from his phone at just the right time to spot the two ladies, smirking as he gave a quick salute with his free hand. "Hey there."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Issac? Isaiah? Edward? No that was someone else."
She smiles at the joke, laughing as well. Beef tacos!
"Hey, tacos of the innuedo veriety are good in their own way. We can go join him no matter the name. I remember he was chill."
She drags the small one over.
"Hey there! Long time no see!"
Kenzie:
She pays for the order and heads over with Val to sit with Erik. She sat without the invite. "Hey there! I am so shit with names, I do remember meeting you though. So hard to forget those arms." She grins a bit. "Was it uh--- Jeremiah? no no--- that wasn't right. Uhm, Daniel! no--- hold on hold on I'll get it! Alex maybe? Hmmmm... definitely not an Alex. Maybe something more exotic like Aurelio? You could totally be an Aurelio! ----"
Erik Samuelson:
"I'll take the compliment." He chuckled, scooting over a bit to give the pair room at the table. "Erik, actually. It has been a minute; been busy at work and whatnot."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Yeah see, told you it was Erik."
She definetly didn't.
"I get you on the work front. I got a new job so been doing training and stuff."
She pokes Kenzie.
"Oh yeah, I'm a chef at the Green Room now. Let me know where you're there so I can poison you with Queso."
Kenzie:
"Dude, no, I totally said Erik and you were all nah man! Totally an Adam! Like, who is named Adam anymore?!" She laughs happily. "Oooh, yes. food, the clear way into my heart and soul." She eyes Val. "If you're going to do Queso, it needs to be a chip dip with brisket." She looks to Erik. "So her little got you beat comment mean you cook too?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Good stuff. Haven't been by there yet but I've heard about it." He nodded to Val, chuckling at Kenzie's comment. "I do, yeah. I'm the head chef at Fork in Old Town."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Look, I said I cook. Dunno if I can sneak much queso into the recipes there though."
A nod.
"Green Room is cool. My boss is super nice, my girlfriend works there too. Part of why I did go there honestly."
Kenzie:
"Can't say I have heard of the Green room or Fork. The people I hang out with are much more impressed with the butter biscuits at Red Lobster."
Erik Samuelson:
"It's more on the high-end side of things overall, although not 'random gold leaf because we can' levels of nonsense. Been there for a couple years now, got a good team going."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Well maybe hang out with more than just Adam. I think Tommy's been to the Green Room."
A frown.
"High end isn't normally my style unless its some recruiter or agent trying to get on my good side. Ya know?"
Kenzie:
"I like it all." She looks at her chipped nail polish on her fingers and her skateboard. "Anything from hole in the wall Tacos to enjoy with good company to treating yourself. A girl has to be pampered you know? Otherwise you start to look like Florida handbags. ---" She eyes them "The mid 30's Florida girl with platinum blonde hair and skin so tanned it looks like a vintage leather bag." --- "Any way, some times a gold leaf is just fun, but in a different way than this is fun. Be well rounded, explore boundaries you never have before. The world has too much amazing shit in it to close off to other parts of it."
Erik Samuelson:
"I get you, yeah. Splurging on a good meal now and again is worth it in my opinion, especially it's a cuisine you don't get to try often."
"Agreed." He nodded to Kenzie, lifting his drink in a small salute. "There's too much worth experiencing in the world, and not enough time to do it."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"I'm a bit of a tomboy but I hate being pampered to be honest. I'd rather just go look kickass. Although...do gotta do makeup and stuff for competitions. I've always just hated spending money on things that weren't good, ya know? Especially with my bestie and his sister living on the streets."
Kenzie:
"Enjoying what you have and flaunting it are two very different things. Dont be a dick. Basic enough rule. Should have been rule one on the 11 commandments."
Erik Samuelson:
"Here here. Dealing with entitled customers who think their bank account alone earns them respect are the most annoying part of my job. Looking into ways to curtail that somewhat, though."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Right? I hate Karens. Had to chase off a ton at my last place of work. Luckily I can be scary when I wanna. I try not to flaunt too much though."
Kenzie:
"I love Karens." She eyes Val. "Think about it. Without Karens, skaters would be the ones who are look at as a collective hate. They bring so much joy to laugh at via social media, or watching them live in their natural habitat. Think of the kind of person one would have to be to not only be a Karen, but to raise one. How close minded and just petty. They bring--- a sense of reminders that things could always be worse, and no matter how we feel about ourselves in a given moment--- the Karen is there to remind us, were not that."
Erik Samuelson:
"Fair point, and seeing them get their comeuppance is always enjoyable."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She shakes her head.
"They're fun to laugh at until you're dealing with one every other day. Being sassy at one though. High point of some shifts."
Kenzie:
"Then don't." She shrugs. "Literally keep doing your job as they yell at you as if they're not even there. Legit saw a video of a robber who just left because the cashier literally ignored him as if he wasnt there." She takes her phone out and shows them a YT video.
Erik Samuelson:
Erik leaned over to watch the video, smirking by the time it ended. "That does take the wind out of their sails more often than not. Some of them do it for the attention more than anything."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
A nod slowly as she watched the video.
"Yeah, that can definetly work. Just be careful and all that, walk off if you gotta. All that jazz."
She dives into her taco that she forgot about.
Kenzie:
She shrugs. "I can box a bitch if I have to Put hands on me, its game on."
Erik Samuelson:
"Mmhmm. When I was a busser as a teen someone grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to get my attention and I jawed them on reflex. They pitched a fit but there were enough witnesses to keep me off the hook since they started it."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Self defense at that point, yeah."
Her phone goes off at that point, and she checks it.
"Ah, I gotta head out. Dad needs some help. Thanks for the tacos Kenzie, I'll buy you the next round, yeah?"
Kenzie:
"Only if its a date." She kept to her tease. She was good at her ongoing jokes. Maybe because she didn't have much more. Or maybe she did. Who knows? The shadow know.
She looks to Erik. "I guess I am all yours now for as long as you have me."
Erik Samuelson:
"See you around, Valerie." He gave a quick salute to the ghoul before looking back to Kenzie. "Don't have anywhere else I need to be for a while, and I'm all for good company."
Kenzie:
"Sweet." She smiles. "So, what sort of food do you enjoy making?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Cuisine-wise I lean more Mediterranean overall, although I'm down to try just about anything. I've worked in a few different kitchens over the years and have done my own experimentation besides to see what works for me."
Kenzie:
"Oh I -love- med food. Hummus, pita, olives--- all the olives--- Shwarma too. Mmmm. If I could only do one food type the rest of my life, it would be Med."
Erik Samuelson:
"Agreed. There's a place on South Street that's been open since I was a kid that's my usual go-to. Haven't had a bad meal there yet."
Kenzie:
"I'd say lets go, but that would be rude to the Tacos." She laughs softly. "So you're one of those born and bread here huh? What was that like?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Maybe after. Their baklava is to die for." He chuckled, nodding. "Decent enough overall. Big family, lot of local connections due to being here for a while and running a few notable spots in the neighborhood over the years. It was hectic at times but we managed, and we're all still pretty close."
Kenzie:
She nods. "After huh?" She makes a cute face. "What are we doing before huh?" She teased happily. "Big families are fun. You always have something to do, someone to annoy."
Erik Samuelson:
"Presumably enjoying each other's company and some excellent tacos besides." He replied with a smile, nodding as she continued. "Mmhmm. I was the fourth of six, so there was always someone running around making a mess."
Kenzie:
She laughs softly and nods. "Oh I bet. We were all just sent to the beach all the time. It was, survive the waves and your brother trying to drown you or survive. Just dont bring that crap home."
Erik Samuelson:
"Sounds about right. There was a park a couple blocks down that we got sent to a good bit, probably for similar reasons."
Kenzie:
She chuckles and nods. "I do miss the beach though. But I hear home is getting slammed with all sorts of rain. That makes the beaches nasty, so couldn't surf anyway."
Erik Samuelson:
"I tried surfing once, went well enough. Where's home for you?"
Kenzie:
"Here now mostly. But uh, Santa Monica out in SoCal. Aside from the beach, I miss palm trees." She laughs. "Which aren't even trees. Its grass. Mind blown right?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Ah, nice. Been out to San Francisco once or twice but never made it over there." He nodded, eyebrow arching a touch. "Really...did not know that."
Kenzie:
"They're also the source for the Truffala trees. Dr. Suess lived in San Diego." She smirks and shrugs. "San Fransisco, LA, San Diego--- they are all so drastically different from one another."
Erik Samuelson:
"So I've heard. Haven't been on the West Coast much, I'll admit, mostly this side of the map and some trips to Germany to see family."
Kenzie:
"Oh, so you're good at handling sausage? I'll keep that in mind for Oktoberfest this year." She smirks. "I've seen and done most of the west coast. I have been traveling east over the years. I need to see the north east more."
Erik Samuelson:
"Haven't had any complaints yet." He smirked in return, nodding quietly. "There are some nice places up here. Been to upstate New York a few times for winter holidays, which was interesting. It's a peculiar kind of quiet up there, but not bad per se."
Kenzie:
"In my experience, quiet is bad. Its when its quiet when things are plotting."
Erik Samuelson:
"True enough. There are different kinds of quiet, though, and when certain sounds stop you know to start keeping an eye on what's around you."
Kenzie:
"Like a Kenzie. Never trust a quiet Kenzie. Or--- so I am told at least." Sweet -innocent- smile.
Erik Samuelson:
"Will keep that in mind." He chuckled with a small smirk. "I tend to get quiet when my buttons get pressed enough, although that takes some doing."
Kenzie:
"Oooh. I love pushing buttons!" She grins wildly. "But I do have an off switch, once you stay stop, I stop."
Erik Samuelson:
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me." He smirked, taking a sip of his drink. "Knowing where to stop is the important thing, though. I'm more of a 'talk things through' sort than getting physical, although I can handle myself if that situation pops up."
Kenzie:
"Im sure you can. You appear to get physical--- often."
Erik Samuelson:
"There's a lot more heavy lifting in a kitchen than you'd think."
Kenzie:
"Oh I am sure. Nothing like a nice meal, a great dessert--- and some heavy lifting in the kitchen--- after." She laughs more.
Erik Samuelson:
He grinned in return, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Good way to relieve stress at the end of the day, if anything."
Kenzie:
"I hear it is a magic cure for headaches too."
Erik Samuelson:
"So I've heard." He sat back in his seat, smiling a touch. "Haven't been with anyone long-term for a while, admittedly. Work stress broke up the last partnership I had, albeit on good terms, and then getting diner access and adjusting to all of that."
Kenzie:
"I dont tend to do relationships. Things get messy. Have one guy who is trying, and hes not bad but also--- I- Its fucking complicated to say the least. I don't like complicated. Casual, free, fun, chill or don't. It just makes things so much easier. Maybe I am just a broken emotionless robot though."
Erik Samuelson:
"I get that. Part of why I haven't really started looking again; the thought of having to hide certain things from a partner irks me."
"I'd lean towards the opposite, honestly. If you feel too much it's easy for things to get tangled up, and you strike me as the type to care deeply."
Kenzie:
"I've never felt so seen. How dare you!" She said in her best Greta Thunbergh before a small laugh. "But seriously--- This, this right here is why I think it is so complicated with this person. You -see- me. You, catch my underlaying meaning of how I talk. They take everything at face value and they often miss clue, subtext or queues. It---" She takes a deep breath. "It isnt easy with them. Casual or not, it should be easy."
Erik Samuelson:
"I call 'em like I see 'em." He replied with a smile, holding his hands up a 'you got me' pose. "Ah...that can be rough, yeah. Have you talked with them on that front?"
Kenzie:
She sucks in a deep breath and huffs it out. "No. Not from lack of trying. I---, I come off harsh, and like you, I call it like I see it. But its how -I- see it. I dont often step to the side and see it from someone elses perspective and that is a huge fault of mine. But also, and a huge butt--- like mine---." She joked softly to cope with talking about big topics. "Being in a -relationship- is not something I do. Having Tommy call me girlfriend is a stupid huge deal, even if its open and like literally nothing changes on how we are with other people. It, has been weird and I am still not sure how I feel about that. Dealing with other people who also want to get closer to me, it-- it is not helping me out to say the least. I think it is forcing me extra hard to the Casual side, random hook ups and just--- I dont know and now I am rambling."
Erik Samuelson:
He nodded along as he listened intently, smirking a touch at the joke. "You're allowed to ramble, it's a weird spot to be in. You're used to moving around a lot, I'm guessing, so having people want to forge longer-term relationships - both romantic and non - and you actually being here to do it probably feels odd."
Kenzie:
She nods. "Are you also a bar tender because I think that Therapy bill will be far less expensive." She laughs some more. "But exactly. I am -always- moving, from task to task, thing to thing, town to town. This has been the longest I have been in a city since I was 15. It's a little suffocating. Tommy has been super sweet about it too and even said, if I get to a point the -title- alone is too much, we can keep things as they were and just not say girlfriend or any of that. I think I would have gone further insane otherwise."
Erik Samuelson:
"I have worked behind the bar before, yeah." He smiled, giving a little nod. "Glad they're taking your comfort level into consideration. Tommy seems like a good person overall, if a little...overly truthful at times."
Kenzie:
She laughs, covering her face a bit and nods. "Ohhhh yes. I often have to pull them back a lot from just blurting things aloud all the time. That is a huge pro with my other party member in my D&D game." Keeping in mind they're public. "He doesnt go around blurting everything like Tommy. But, we all have our faults, right? I'd have to guess that mine is that there aren't more of me for people."
Erik Samuelson:
"I get why, from how they've explained their view on things before. But yeah, there's a time and a place for that sort of thing." He nodded, smirking a touch. "So much to do, so little time, yeah?"
Kenzie:
"Is that the polite cue that you're sick of me and want to be set free?" She smirks as she watched Erik. "But yes, time and places for it all. Not everything needs to be public knowledge and domain."
Erik Samuelson:
"Not in the slightest." He smiled in return. "Mmhmm. Hopefully that's something that'll click for them sooner rather than later."
"Are they the one who tends to take you at face value, or is that someone else?"
Kenzie:
"Its a few names to be honest. All with a different flavor thrown in the dish that is me. But hey, I guess people need to keep me on my toes as much as I keep others on theirs." She looks at the menu and back to Erik. "Think they have Chacotacos or have those been fully discontinued already?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Not a bad thing, that." He nodded, glancing back towards the menu himself. "I think so, sadly. Their churros are pretty solid, though."
Kenzie:
"I'll have to come back in 2003 I guess." She said and went to get two churros. Back to the table soon and hands Erik one.
Erik Samuelson:
"Thanks." He let her get settled and try her own before taking a bite of his, nodding with approval. "Choux pastry has always been a weak point of mine, I'll admit. Can never get it to come together properly for some reason."
Kenzie:
"Not enough butter at the proper temp." She nods as if she knew. "Its always ill tempered butter."
Erik Samuelson:
He thought on that a moment, smirking a touch as he nodded. "Maybe. I tend to stick to the savory side of things overall. Baking is a science in itself, where you can be a little more fast and loose with cooking."
Kenzie:
"Oh the German is into savory over sweet. Who would have thought?" She grins a bit. "I enjoy both, and mixed. Just never skittles and M&Ms with popcorn."
Erik Samuelson:
"Surprise surprise." He chuckled. "I enjoy eating both, but never had the knack for pastry work. And yeah, agreed. One or the other works but not both."
Kenzie:
She furrows a brow confused. "Skittles and popcorn is a thing? No! I swear everyone is on some sick city wide joke against me." -- "Yes, I am paranoid."
Erik Samuelson:
"For some people, yeah. Not a fan of it myself, though." He smirked a touch. "Not as bad as the caffeine spike, at least?"
Kenzie:
She blushes and hides her face behind her hands. "I will -still- pick the coffee fiasco over skittles and popcorn every time."
Erik Samuelson:
He laughed as she hid her face, shaking his head with a smile. "Sounds like a wise choice."
Kenzie:
"Well, as bad ass coffee taste, I do still enjoy my taste buds and I want to treat them well." She nods sagely. "What about you? Worst thing you've eaten?"
Erik Samuelson:
"This Icelandic stuff called Hákarl. It's shark that's fermented and then dried for a few months before serving. Some folks like it but I couldn't get over the smell."
Kenzie:
She scrunches her nose. "Yeah--- I can see that. yup. No thanks." She chuckles softly. "Sounds terrible."
Erik Samuelson:
"I get it from a preservation standpoint, but it's definitely an acquired taste." He paused, thinking a moment. "I might not have as much of an issue with it these days, now that I think about it. One 'perk' of my sort of diner access is being able to withstand things that'll turn most people's stomachs."
Kenzie:
"Oh thats--- useful?" --- She watches him a bit, unsure how to respond. "Ok, uhm--- Worst movie you have ever seen?"
Erik Samuelson:
"It can be. I've seen some...interesting stuff over the years." He nodded, mulling over her next question. "We talking intentionally bad or 'this did not click with me at all' bad?"
Kenzie:
"Your choice. For me? Gentlemen Bronco. Just awful in every way."
Erik Samuelson:
"Good choice. Probably the second Highlander movie for me. Friend of mine forced me to watch it and it was harsh."
Kenzie:
"Never heard of that--- So I take it, it came out in a date starting in 19?" She grins teasing Erik.
Erik Samuelson:
"Late 80s, yeah." He chuckled, taking the teasing in stride. "I saw it in high school, though, so the early aughts."
Kenzie:
"Nooo! You're way too hot to be that old! Am--- am I looking for a sugar daddy? Am I -that- girl?"
Erik Samuelson:
A sheepish smile crept into place at her comment, giving her a little nod. "Thanks. Do my best to take care of myself, and it's worked well enough so far." Baring the whole getting murdered thing, but that's neither here nor there. "I wouldn't say so."
Kenzie:
"Oh thats good. But, I mean, if you got that kink, we could totally talk it out."
Erik Samuelson:
"I do not, no." he said with a quiet smirk.
Kenzie:
She laughs softly. "No judgment here. You never know what someone is into." She shrugs." Did Val say she was coming back? I feel like she said to sit here for hours until she comes back---"
Erik Samuelson:
"Mmhmm. To each their own, as long as it's not harming others." He thought a moment, shaking his head. "Don't think she did, no. She said her dad needed her help with something."
Kenzie:
She nods in agreement. "Agreed. Do your thing as long as it doesnt harm someone physically, mentally or financially."
Erik Samuelson:
"Exactly. That's harder for some folks to follow than it really should be, which is a shame. Ties back into the entitlement issue we talked about earlier."
Kenzie:
"Exactly. Lack of any sort of awareness outside of them." She shrugs and stretches. "Dude, I didn't even order a horchata. For shame. Its too late now. Not going back for more."
Erik Samuelson:
"Means you can try it next time." He took a moment to polish off his churro, tidying up his plates and whatnot on the table to make life easier for the busser.
Kenzie:
"Mmm, yes. My 2003 trip," She joked.
Erik Samuelson:
"Indeed. Was a good year, or was for me at least." He smirked, looking her over.
Kenzie:
"Oh yeah? What happened for you in 03?"
Erik Samuelson:
"Got my first actual chef position rather than doing dishes and helping out on the side, plus some good family moments: brother's wedding, that kind of thing."
Kenzie:
"Aaaah. I wasn't born yet." She laughs a bit. "I loved the whole emo vibe though that was going on."
Erik Samuelson:
There was a brief pause as Erik did a bit of mental math at that revelation, smirking a touch as he nodded. "Wasn't my particular scene but the folks I know who liked it enjoyed it."
Kenzie:
She laughs softly. "Yeah, I will be 19 in June--- technically." She chewed her lip a bit as her eyes went to the side in thought. "Yeah. I will leave it at that for now."
Erik Samuelson:
Cue a curious arch of the eyebrow. "Conversation for a different place, I take it?"
Kenzie:
She grins and nods. "Yeah. Probably. Most definitely. Another place, another--- time." -- "'03 perhaps." She winks.
Erik Samuelson:
"Gotcha." He nodded with a small smile. "If that time and place ever comes and I'm around, I'm more than willing to listen."
Kenzie:
She nods. "100%. Its a good story. Though I am pretty sure I broke Klaire with it."
Erik Samuelson:
"Klaire...don't know if I've met her yet. Another part of the diner crowd, I'm guessing?"
Kenzie:
She nods. "Shes pretty cool but, as we all do, has growing to do. Its been cool seeing how much she has in the short time I have been here."
Erik Samuelson:
"That's how you know you're living, if you can still change." He nodded. "Wager I'll run into her at some point."
Kenzie:
She nods. "Adapt, over come, be water as Bruce Willis would say" It was totally Bruce Lee and she probably knew that. "Change or fade away to the time you want to be stuck in. Its rather simple."
Erik Samuelson:
He smirked a touch at the attribution but didn't bother correcting it, nodding in agreement. "Exactly. Getting stuck in those moments is easier than some realize, too."
Kenzie:
"Oh absolutely. Your generation will be all -Oh man, 2000's internet was the best! All these amazing sites like happy leap frog, and Home star sprinter, and Filmy the squirrel- and I am here like--- ok, but, I can view a photo on my phone in half a second."
Erik Samuelson:
"Great example there." He said with a chuckle. "I get it on some level - it's comfortable, where things may have been less complicated. It's not healthy to linger like that for long, though; you need to keep moving on, no matter where that may end up being."
Kenzie:
"Be water, my friend. With that water talk, I should get going and find a little ladies room and get blood flow back to my ass. Been sitting way to long!"
|