Day 34: Lunch

Yuffie bounced all the way through collecting her lunch, all the way to a good seat- one with a nice view of the whole cafeteria, which was something she'd been missing out on during the past day or so that she'd been stuck in the Institute- and hell, she even bounced into her seat.

A good mood? No, really?

Despite the occasional blip, talking to Sagara had been awesome. He was a fun guy; he wasn't a prude, didn't have a stick shoved so far up his ass it was poking out his eyeballs, and he'd actually had a conversation with her. One that hadn't revolved around doom, gloom or how much life sucked. If she could find other people like that and keep in touch with Sagara, maybe there was a little hope for this place.

After a quick gulp of pink lemonade, Yuffie settled to munching through her food and keeping an eye on the door.

[Waiting for Dean, I think? :x]

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
"I... The former. I've... deffinitely never felt the latter." The way that Armand had started acting when talking about that was... He really didn't know what to make of it at all. But that was nothing new.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (earnest)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
Armand glanced down, embarrassed and blushing faintly. "My apologies. I was thinking of my wife." And how he'd destroyed his life to save her. "You deserve a chance." He rested his chin on his free hand. "I need to find a way to tell if you like men or women."

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
TK's slighly puzzled look was replaced with a blush within seconds. "I, uh... I really have no idea. I mean, I've always been around other men..." Women were just as alien to him as another species would be.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (smile)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
Armand reached for TK's hand again, meaning to hold it gently. It seemed to him that people needed comforting when talking of things like this. "Don't distress yourself. You may not have it in you to be a lover. After all, you are not French, and we are the greatest and most passionate lovers in the world."

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that was one good way to make a Stormtrooper blush bright red. He didn't think the blood loss would have allowed for it, but his cheeks were burning. "Uh... I really, really have no idea what to say to that." And not enough brainpower to be anything more than stupidly honest.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (energetic)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
Armand grinned cheekily. "There is nothing to say. We may make a passable beau out of you yet, though, if you work at it. You are handsome and honorable, and very, very tall. Women like tall me. Perhaps other men do too." His blue-gray eyes sparkled in good cheer as he tried to plan. Something like this was just what he needed to get his spirits out of the doldrums.

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
"...Oh." The blush didn't look like it was leaving anytime soon. Well, at least Armand was looking happy. That was a nice change. He was fine with being confused and vaguely worried he was embarassing himself as long as Armand actually cheered up.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (happy)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
The blush was good to see on Morrison's face. It meant the big man was feeling something, even if it were only embarrassment. "You're such a dear man. I would hate to see you lonely if I can help it." The idea of finding friends for his friend was cheering. It gave him something to plan that wasn't guaranteed to fail or hurt someone. There were still risks. Broken hearts were painful too.

He leaned closer, conspiratorially. "Do you wish me to find out for you?

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I... guess..." If my old Sarge heard me talking like this, he'd whallop me for being soft. That thought didn't help. But he was completely out of his depth here. The whole concept of... all of this was just utterly alien to him.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (thoughtful)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh wonderful!" Armand said cheerily. "Perhaps I can put up a note after lunch." He drank some more lemonade and poked at the breaded chicken. "Is that chicken?" he asked doubtfully.

Then, as if forgetting what he just asked, he went on, "What are we doing next shift? Do you know?"

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
TK decided he wasn't going to try and respond to that any more. The renewed blush was doing that well enough for him. Food was a less contraversial topic. "...What's a chicken?" Maybe he didn't want to find out, but he'd already eaten whatever it was, anyway.

Usually he could remember the schedule perfectly, but right now he needed a moment to think before he could say with certainty. "Showers for adults." He remembered how much Armand seemed to dislike those.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (half-face)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Some of his smile fading, Armand sighed. "There's nothing wrong with being clean, I suppose." But he wondered how to get the note up.

"Oh well. I'll work out how to find you some friends somehow. And if you look after yourself, you and Bridget can show me more about self-defense."

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
TK nodded. He saw nothing wrong with the idea of a shower, although a water shower was going to sting like hell on any wounds right now.

"I have no intention of going anywhere dangerous at the moment. Too woozy." Sleep sounded like the most attractive option, really.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (nerdy)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
"I meant in general," Armand murmured absently as he continued to poke his chicken. It still didn't look like food. He glanced up at Morrison through is lashes. "I can imagine someone being very happy to warm your bed, my friend."

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Wh-" Oh. Well, here came the blush again, along with a look of comprehension. It might be best if the blush just stayed there, so it wouldn't have to keep coming back every ten-or-so seconds. And now he didn't even have any food left to act distracted with. 'Awkward' was an excellent way to describe his state of being.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (nerdy)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
"When you do that you seem very innocent and naive." And on that subject, he supposed he was. At least Armand had experience in bed. Not a lot, but enough. "I want to help, not torment you. Would you rather I didn't?"

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, I am, really." He knew about the whole concept in a vague sort of way, but that was it. "It's fine. I'm just... This is completely new and unfamiliar."
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (thoughtful)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
"It won't be new for long. There's a first time for everything." His hand is still now, resting on the table, but his eyes are watching Morrison, not warily but speculatively. "I do wish to know..."

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
The blush almost started to come back in preparation for whatever was going to be happening next. "...What?" He was sure whatever would happen next was going to warrant another blush, possibly from a combination of surprise, embarassment and confusion.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (smile)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
With a quick, nervous glance from side to side to see if any nurses or orderlies were too close, Armand leaned across the table--that part was awkward--and attempted to plant a very quick kiss on Morrison's lips. The man was already blushing far too much.

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
TK's response to surprise wasn't often to freeze up, but this time was an exception. He stopped dead, mouth just slightly open, and very, very confused. There had to be a reason for this, somehow, somewhere, but he couldn't figure out what that was.
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (earnest)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
He didn't linger. Armand wasn't attracted to Morrison himself, but he thought it would be very easy to tell if the man loathed being kissed by another man. He didn't as far as Armand could tell. No cringing, no slapping or groans of disgust. Armand settled back, somewhat relieved that the act had gone unnoticed, at least so far.

He was red-cheeked as well, and ducked his chin to let his hair fall over his face. "Ummm... my apologies. I only wanted to see if you hated it." As far as he could tell, Morrison had reacted like any inexperienced person to a surprise kiss. "Perhaps you do not hate intimacy with men," he murmured, still hiding his face. "I should find a young lady to kiss you now."

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh..." That was about all he could manage, at the moment. The blush seemed to have gotten to his brain by now.

The last thing Armand said made him snap out of it a bit. "Oh, no you don't have to do that..." Then he realized something. "...That was the first time I've ever been kissed by anyone."
ext_203323: Malcolm Jamieson as Armand St. Just in The Scarlet Pimpernel looking down while outside with a tree in background (earnest)

[identity profile] secret-orchard.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"You don't think you like women?" Armand asked, head to one side. His own flush was fading now. "I'm sorry it was your first. I wish I'd been able to make it more enjoyable."

[identity profile] loyal-soldier.livejournal.com 2008-08-07 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's just that getting kissed randomly again would probably make me blush so hard I'd spontaneously combust..." TK ran a hand through his hair, embarassed. "And it's alright. I was just startled, that's all."