notyourutopian | IC Contact: Recollé

[A virtual Twix shows up on Eleanor's screen. But after that, he'll also text an address for a café somewhere in Tisse then.]

see you in fifteen minutes? unless you have other plans, i mean. [Any explanation? No, probably not.]

Thanks

Well my plan was to get take out and eat it sitting on the couch at home so.
This is probably better. See you in a few.

[And fifteen minutes later she comes pulling into the parking lot and heading into the diner, still in her clothing from school, that ridiculous oversized purse of hers over her shoulder.]

[He's already there waiting for her, hands in the pockets of his hoodie and leaning against a wall. He perks up upon seeing her and immediately pushes himself away from the building to meet her halfway across the parking lot before turning to walk back with her.]

Since you picked treat, and I am also kind of hungry, I thought this would be better, yeah. [To answer her text.]

[She adjusts her purse on her shoulder as she meets up with him, continuing the walk towards the restaurant.]

Hey, I'm not going to argue with whatever reason you came up with. [She shrugs, grinning.]

So what's up?

[Asked as they reached the building, and she tugged the door open, holding it for him to step past her.]

[A stupid reason, probably, but he says a quick thanks as he practically bounces through the door. This particular diner is a seat yourself sort of place so he's quick to gesture for her to follow as he leads them to a table.]

I really just wanted to get out and away from any sort of establishment representing higher education? School is killing me already and it has been, like, a month. Plus I haven't seen you since the party so I figured why not?

[Once they're seated though, he starts for a sec.] Oh! I have something for you, too. [He'll reach into one of his pockets and pull out a few roses? They might be a little squished because he's been toting things around and making deliveries to people, but hey.]

[That made her chuckle softly.]

I can't help but agree with you there. Most of my classes just feel...like work for the sake of work.

[Stupid core requirements. She followed him across the diner, swung her purse into the booth and plopped down across from him...only to come face to face with roses.]

[What?]

[She froze up for a good three seconds before reaching out to carefully take them.]

Uhm. Thank you?

[There's a grin and then like. No real explanation as he launches into something else.]

Sure. I was not really sure how many you would want, so I guessed. Anyway yeah exactly? And I already have a job so doing work for the sake of work is cutting into a lot of my free time and it sucks. I know it is the dumbest thing to complain about but...you know. I want to prioritize time spent with other people and not in a library somewhere throwing my calculus book across the table.

[Yes John just keep talking and give Eleanor time to process the roses you just gave her. Which is a thing no one has ever done for her before. She smooths them out a bit, grey eyes flicking from them to him and back a few times.]

Yeah. [She said, her voice a tad distant.] Uh.

Do you need help with calculus?

[She managed to latch onto part of what he said, at least.]

[Who's 100% oblivious? This guy.]

I always need help with calculus. I really do not know why I am still determined to stick with science. [Well. No, he does. Nevertheless there's a teasing grin even as he takes a menu to review his options.] Promise you won't rap the formulas and concepts at me?

[Stupid oblivious boys. At least the normal talking was settling her mind a bit. Maybe she was reading too much into the roses. Could you read too much into roses?]

Well I'm not Dave, so I think you're probably good. [She smirked, and when the waitress came by, ordered two glasses of water for herself. She had to have something to put the roses in, right?]

But I can help if you want. Math has always been really easy for me.

[It's entirely possible and John's also just a menace sometimes. He laughs slightly and also order a glass of water before he continues.]

As much as I am sure Dave's methods work, I would never say no to the extra help. Plus I live with him. Seeing other people is probably not the worst thing. Engineering involves a lot of math anyway, right?

[A complete menace, really. Toying with a girl's mind entirely on accident!]

It does. A lot of it. I suppose I'm lucky that I've had a knack for that too. Thank you.

[This last bit is directed towards the waitress as she comes back briefly with their waters, and Eleanor carefully sets the roses into the glass, then places them off to the side on the table.]

There.

[He eyes the roses and he grins slightly. Let's be honest, he probably wouldn't have thought of that himself.]

Good idea. They'll stay fresher longer, I think. [But he waves a hand and looks back at the menu instead. Food. Food is a thing that is happening.] I am pretty sure the only knack I have is for maybe magic tricks, music, and bad jokes.

That's the idea.

[She agreed as she finally picked up her menu. Diner food, diner food...so, either a cheeseburger, or breakfast. Decisions, decisions...]

Well it sounds like you have a shot at some kind of performing arts future at least. [She said with a bit of a teassing smirk.] Maybe not a great shot though.

Hey! [He laughs though.] I think you will probably change your mind if you ever hear me play? But it's not really something I want to do. It sounds fun, don't get me wrong, but I do not think it is right for me. And magic is just for fun. I was pretty into it when I was a kid but I stopped learning after a while.

Hey, it's not my fault I haven't heard you play, you were supposed to tell me when you were practicing sometime.

[Hmm. Okay. Definitely breakfast.]

So...can you do any magic tricks then?

I've been busy. [It's a feeble defense, but:] I actually got pulled into this last-minute project for someone so I have been out of the music room for a while. But definitely soon if you still want to come.

[There's a nod though before he picks his food and closes the menu, waiting for someone to come back to take their order.] Maybe one or two? I think the other me used to be really into them though.

Hey. no worries. I assumed you wanted an audience, no need to apologize to me.

[She shrugged, opening her mouth to say something else, but then the waitress was back, so instead she ordered her pancakes and bacon. And a bagel. And orange juice. Then back to him once she left, folding her arms on the edge of the table as she regarded him.]

So, what tricks? Card tricks?

[He seems to reconsider his own choice before there's an order of eggs and bacon and orange juice and the waitress disappears as John focuses on Eleanor again.]

I am still getting used to playing in front of people again, too. But it's easier now. And yeah, card tricks mostly. They were the easiest to pick up on and a different form of sleight of hand that did not require a lot of effort to execute. I don't have a deck with me or I would show you right now.

[Eleanor looked so amused.]

You keep telling me you have all these talents, but you can never show me any of them. I'm starting to get a tad suspicious.

Hey, it's not really my fault the stars don't align all the time or whatever. Or, like, that our schedules keep clashing. He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.] I've been getting caught up in stuff and sort of forgetting that the outside world exists.

[She chucked at his sheepishness.]

I'm just teasing, John, really.

I am just saying! I want you to come by sometime. I did promise. [He will always continue to be sheepish okay, it just. Is.] I've been writing a lot for class based on stuff I remember.

Writing music, you mean?

And sure, seriously, just text me next time and I'll come over. I'm either on campus in the lab or at my apartment anymore.

[Stupid homework.]

Yeah. I took a break for a few years and I am just starting to get back into it? [There's a hint of a grin.] I think Dave's getting more out of it than I am, but it's good practice. Plus I have a composition course this term so it's a nice change from science and math and shit I'm not good at. But I will. I kind of get carried away for hours so even if you're working you can come by later.

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