I don't want somebody to love me... [open]

[cosmetological]

Who: Thomas and YOU!
What: a simple meal as Thomas and Margaery get used to one another
When: Post-exploration trip
Where:Carmichael's Deli, City of Tomorrow
Notes & Warnings: None so far! It's just song lyrics.

What's Thomas doing in the City of Tomorrow?

Looking over possible storefronts to purchase for what he's hoping will become Coiffure Cup's second location. That's why he's his laptop and a few printed out listings that he's checking off, circling, or X'ing out as he does his research on the various locations using some of the demographic information he was able to find.

Because the thing of it is, he really likes this place. Like... really likes it. Especially since he can come here without being unavailable to his brother much. But he doesn't have to deal with his sister's bullshit, or the small amount of bullshit that he actually minds from Harry, and hey, he might even be able to find an utterly out of this world Christmas present for the cranky beansprout.

But the thing of it is, if he's going to spend a decent amount of time here, he needs a local cashflow source and a local location to get his fix. Which means... a salon. And given how well his salon fusion has worked back in Chicago, he sees no problem with making a franchise of it.

Of course, all of the things around him make sense for someone working on this goal except, perhaps, for the black and white california king who's coiled up around his shoulders. Her name happens to be Margaery, you see, and she's something of a souvenir from his time on 'Demon' Island. For the moment, she's resting and soaking in his warmth happily enough, but there may be a few whispers in his ear as she notices a tiny detail or otherwise passes judgement on the various locations that he's looking through.

All in all, a rather relaxing afternoon, all things considered. But do feel free to interrupt...

Comments

[capwolf]

He grins back at Thomas. "I think you don't want my aesthetic deciding, and you should pick the one you'll like looking at most."

[cosmetological]

He rolls his head back and forth with a groan.

"Oh my God, pick something and it'll help me pick something, you big after school special."

[capwolf]

He fanned the options out in front of him and then put his finger down on one - without looking away from Thomas. Or in fact breaking eye-contact. "That one."

[cosmetological]

Thomas doesn't look away from Steve's eyes.

"That one it is, then."

[capwolf]

Well, now they're just stuck.

Steve realizes it, laughs at the ridiculousness, but ... doesn't break eye-contact. "You're probably gonna have to save me here."

[cosmetological]

That laughter...

It's beautiful, is what it is. And where the Hunger had just started to claw at the cage, had just begun itching at him through the stranger, softer connection of eye-contact, it helps slam the door shut. Shut hard enough that he can grin right back.

[capwolf]

That grin's pretty damned beautiful, too.

Steve holds it another second, then waves a hand between them so he can stop staring and shakes his head a little. "You wanna take a walk? See if we can find something to do?"

[cosmetological]

Oh, Steve. You left a White Court vampire with that kind of opening? Badum-ching. He ignores it and nods before pointing over to the waitress who was even now bringing over the fries.

"I'll get those put in a cup so I can eat and walk at the same time. Help me clean up?"

[capwolf]

Opening? What opening? There was no opening.

Steve smiled and nodded, and then started getting the papers back into order, and stacked neatly, and generally organizing and straightening up. "How long's it been since -" He nodded toward the snake.

[cosmetological]

"Not too long," he admits, "couple weeks since I saw you last."

Margaery peeked her head up as Thomas made the arrangements with the waitress.

"You can talk to me, you know. My hearing isss just fine."

[capwolf]

"Will talking to you yield different answers than talking to him?" He lifted an eyebrow but he was also smiling a little.

[cosmetological]

"Dependsss on how ridiculouss he'ss being that day."

Thomas was now working on his bill.

[capwolf]

"In that case doubling up might be a little bit pointless, but I'll certainly save you for all awkward questions." He's ignoring Thomas now. Apparently dealing with both at once is going to take some doing.

[cosmetological]

"Got it in one, hotsshot."

Thomas looks sideways at the two of them.

"Are you seriously trashtalking me with my daemon? Both of you. I'm hurt."

He's smiling.

[capwolf]

"I'm not trash-talking you at all. Your Daemon is trash-talking you while I encourage, though." He's still smiling, but starts walking once Thomas is finished paying up. "Have you spent much time in Nightmare?"

[cosmetological]

That actually makes him pause a little near the door.

"Not much, no. I've noticed there's an import around there who seems keen on inviting people in, though. Did you see that video on the CALL Net?"

[capwolf]

"I didn't. I've been trying to avoid getting dragged into heroics." Not very well probably since he'd gotten entangled with Peter and Clark, but he was trying. "Not using much of the network at all. What's going on?"

[cosmetological]

"Some dude who gives me the serious heebies has been posting from there," he admits with a shake of his head as they made their way out the door. "And by serious heebs, I mean, he reminds me of my father. That is never a good thing."

[capwolf]

"Okay, but what's he actually saying?" He should be a little less pedantic maybe. Or actually go look. There was an idea.

[cosmetological]

"That's the problem," he says with a sideways look. "He's not. People like that never do. You just get a knife somewhere soft late some night and they make their desires clear once you're gone."

[capwolf]

"He's using words whether he's saying anything coherent or substantial or not. Does he have a name?"

[cosmetological]

"He goes by 'basileus' on the CALL Network. And most recently, his 'point' had to do with inviting more people to enjoy Nightmares. It's apparently 'underrated' by most of the people here, in his opinion."

[capwolf]

"I'll keep an eye out." Or ear out, either one. Then he shrugs, awkwardly. "I actually like it over there."

[cosmetological]

"Hey, it's as close to hometown as it gets for me too," he says with a spread of his hands, "but I guess that's why I've been checking out some of the other spots."

He glances over at Steve.

"You met any other fuzzies?"

[capwolf]

"I haven't really tried. You and a couple of other people are the only ones here who know I grow fur, and I'm... not sure I'm up to trying to tangle with a wolf." Even as a wolf.