notyourutopian | IC Contact: Recollé

[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.

Huh. [She leaned back as she thought this over.]

So basically I could come watch you try to jam session a song you're writing as you write it?

Yes! Exactly that. [Their food arrives not long after that.] Some people think it is boring since it involves me mostly plunking at keys until it sounds right and writing stuff on the fly, but it can be fun. Maybe you can even be inspiration for me. [There's a teasing grin before he moves to start cutting into his food.]

[Diner breakfast foooooood.]

Eh, I just think it's cool to watch people make something. [She said as she started cutting up her pancakes.] Probably the engineer in me.

I mean, I hope it's cool to watch me build something.

I don't see why it wouldn't be. That is the best part about creating, isn't it? Starting out with one thing and using time and your own hands to make it something even better. I think it would be really cool to watch something be built.

[Eggs are great, he'll focus on those for a bit.] But if you want, we can run an experiment just in case.

I watch you write a song, you watch me build a...something?

[She'd need to come up with a something.]

Dave called dibs on being my lovely assistant when I try to build this drone, but you're welcome to come by when I'm working in the lab sometime.

Exactly that. I think it would be a cool exchange. We can decide if it's boring or not and if it is I can make it up to you later. [Why he's decided his thing would be boring for someone not-Dave, who knows?]

But I will definitely come by. I should maybe pretend I am good at this science thing anyway and going to a lab sounds professional. [...] Dave did what now?

Eh, it's a college lab so less professional more uh...occasionally on fire?

[Engineering students...]

Oh, so, Dave offered to help me with this drone thing and I asked if he was going to be my lovely assistant and he said yes. And then it kind of...devolved from there. most of our conversations do, actually.

[Dave and Eleanor talked a lot and half the time it wasn't really about anything. Which was nice.]

[She grinned mischievously as she popped a bit of pancake into her mouth.]

I may make him wear a dress.

I know, I kind of got that impression from the first time we talked. I am totally okay with that, too.

[He's just going to pause for like maybe half a second before he snorts.] That jackass would probably still manage to look good in a dress. And anyway a lot of conversations with Dave are just like that. [But he's not at all surprised.] Definitely make him wear a dress just to see how that goes, but I also want to see the drone thing when you guys are done.

He better, I'm not not-paying him to not look good.

[He was her lovely assistant. That was a requirement!]

And sure, you can see it. Assuming it works. If it doesn't I'll just hide it from everyone forever.

[Oh the shame.]

I really doubt anything you touch wouldn't work, Eleanor. You're smart. And also seem like you won't take no for an answer? [A shrug.] But if it doesn't I promise to keep all jokes to a minimum.

We'll call it a deal then.

It's not a question of whether or not I can build it right. I just don't know if it'll work at all outside of Rapture, you know?

[She shrugged.]

I can hope though. And it's not going to stop me from trying!

You never know. It becomes one of those weird things of like...does it work because it's from you who's part of Rapture, or does it work because it's from Rapture where the other you happened to be from? All of those weird philosophical questions.

That's how it was for me and music, I guess. I only started writing again because I wanted to learn a song I remembered so...maybe not all memories are bad memories.

Oh trying to figure out all that would just give me a headache. [She chuckled.] We'll find out when I do it, I think.

You're kind of lucky. [She poked at her pancakes with her fork.] Most of mine aren't.

It's both kind of exciting and scary all at once if you let yourself dwell on it. [He pauses, fork clenched between his teeth as he thinks that one over.]

A lot of people seem to have that same probably. Not okay memories, I mean. Which kind of sucks. I've had a mixture of okay and weird but so far I think I've been able to handle everything. [He shakes his head.] But I didn't ask you to come out with me to talk about that stupid shit. That can be saved for later.

[Eleanor just smirked.]

There's always time for misery later. [Hm.]

So why did you ask me out here? And give me flowers.

Because I thought you'd appreciate them and I had some left over. And because I like hanging out with you? [There's an echoing smirk.] I did not think I needed a reason besides that.

...No, I guess not. [Eleanor looked a tad embarrassed.] Sorry.

Guess I'm used to people having motives lately.

[He finally stops eating and settles for propping his head up on his hand, giving her another look as if he's trying to read between the lines.]

Those people suck then. [Just saying.] I mean I get it? Having motives and stuff but I don't like using my friends for things like that. So...I guess I am trying to say you don't have to worry about that with me.

IC Contact: Recollé

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I swear I tagged this.

<3

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