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He almost teetered to the side at the sudden shoulder nudge, the tall young man catching himself before he could do anything stronger than lean to one side. The friendly gesture was laughed at - he was being silly. It was all just silly and Tris was being extra friendly; that's what friends were supposed to do, right? Stick together, through thick and thin?

"Yeah, okay," He nodded, feeling the heat gathering at the tips of his ears, which were thankfully (or rather, hopefully) tucked behind slightly shaggy blonde hair. "For the sake of the artists."

It wasn't at all because he was enjoying the startling feeling of comfort that had come with someone holding (and squeezing) around his hand.

The photographs were intriguing, though most were bland at best. Danny didn't really understand the abstract ones, but the scenic and animal featured ones were breathtaking - grassy fields with almost paint-like clouds in the sky, a family of wolves nestled together beneath a tree. One of the photographers clearly had access to a farm, as there was an idyllic scene captured around a red painted barn, hay stacks nearby.

All sorts of images that one wouldn't find by walking the streets of Destiny City, sadly.

Tearing his gaze away from the mounted photos, he glanced towards his companion.

"You ever thought about putting your stuff in a gallery like this, Tris?"

He looked at him suspiciously, his chin tilting up as a smirk managed to slide its way across Daniel's face at hearing the other man's first comment.

"I have a feeling your friend Fiona feels differently about your work," His head turned back towards the photographs, eyes settling on a black and white piece that featured a lake and a dog, sitting alone at the end of the pier. Seeing the canine made him think of Tristan's earlier comment and offer of joining him at the animal shelter. While he'd yet to actually see any of Tris's work, he had a feeling that if he was seeking out clients on a professional level, he had merit to his talent. "Guess I'll just have to make that judgement call for myself, whenever you're willing to share it."

He understood what the brunette had meant, though, doing stuff just for himself. Pleasure for the private life - like his own tea blending. Sometimes it was fun to share secrets with the world but there was something comforting of keeping things to oneself, a nice, simple comfort to come home to at the end of the day.

As his free hand began to fidget with the end of the slightly-long-on-him shirt, fingers began to rub the edges of the soft fabric.

"Guess you don't get many pictures of yourself taken, if you're the one always taking them, huh?"

"I haven't... I don't..."

Shaking his head, he forced out another laugh as he refused to look over to his companion, choosing instead to focus way too hard on the lake pier picture.

"Nah, I imagine there'd be a need for a selfie, right?" His free hand was tugging more relentlessly on the hem of the shirt, "Like, people to send them to and stuff. I'll take a picture on my phone now and again but it's mostly just of the schedule and whatever."

Pictures were not Danny's forte by any means.

"But I mean, if you wanted, we could always give it a try later?"

The question hung in the air, the blonde realizing how awkward it sounded to his own ears. Selfies? Really? He wasn't one of the high school minded girls that came into the cafe, taking pictures of his food and then turning around to take one of himself in...well, in any situation that he found himself in. Guys didn't do that kind of crap - what was he thinking?

Deflect, Danny, deflect!

Tugging on his hand, he gestured towards the exit with his free hand, having finally released the poor, abused shirt fabric.

"Maybe we'd just better grab some lunch or something. Sorry - it was a stupid question. It's your turn to be asking me things, anyways!"

"Yeah?"

There was an almost hopeful hitch in his voice as he finally turned back to look his way. No, no, it made sense in Tristan enjoying taking pictures - what was he thinking, he was a photographer, of course he enjoyed taking pictures!

Think before you speak, Danny!

At the mention of the dining options, the blonde wasted no time in making his way towards the exit, pulling the slightly taller man with him, hands still locked together. Food was a safe conversation topic, right? He couldn't possibly flub that.

"Sticking to this area is more than fine," he agreed, only stopping when they were finally out of the crowded room, lingering by the exit as he allowed the other man to take the lead, "I don't know this campus very well, so either you're going to have to take me wherever or we're in for another adventure this afternoon."

Though the idea of going on an adventure didn't sound so terrible, honestly.

"Then I imagine," Danny said, one shoe following the other as he watched the sidewalk below their feet as opposed to the environment around them. Goodness only knew that he didn't need to trip - not when tripping would send the brunette down with him, "We should probably take one for today, since I'd like to think it's been a fond memory, so far. Y'know, now that Tea Stain of Shame is no longer visible, haha."

Hands gently swung with the walking motion, the blonde suddenly nervous as he realized they were still locked together. Should he pull away? Would Tris? The crowds were far behind him but yet they still latched on to one another, as if scared that one would drift away should they release their grasps.

He was overthinking things, plain and simple. No, he'd enjoy it as long as it lasted - hand in hand with his newest friend as they sought out their next place to conquest together.

"Looks like they've got a few neat places around here. You in the mood for anything in particular?"

"Then it's settled. But you're going to have to be the one to take it, Camera Man." His hand was squeezed for effect, Danny appearing delighted at the idea and unable to suppress his eagerness. "I don't know the first thing about taking pictures - much less selfies - and I don't want to mess up something I want to enjoy looking at in the future."

Wait, wait. Too much info, Danny, too much!

He scaled back his grin to a simple smile, pretending to peer off in the distance to get a better look at the cafe that Tristan was gesturing to. He didn't care six ways from Sunday where they ate at, but it seemed the safest alternative than floundering his way through the selfie conversation any longer. "I think it looks fine. I bet they've got some decent sandwiches."

Something his own cafe didn't offer, sadly. Focused on their sweets and drinks, The Sugar Cube's storage and kitchen areas weren't nearly competent enough for a lunch menu to be served. Alas, he had to seek elsewhere in the mall for his meals, if he didn't bring them to work with him.

"I could go for anything with turkey on it, honestly." The simple things never failed to delight him - fruit salads with a sandwich made for the best lunch to read a book with, after all. "What about you? You're not a strictly veggies kind of guy, right?"

Finally breaking free of the hand that held his (as he silently mourned the loss of the warm feeling), one hand moved out to tug the cafe's door open, both sets of fingers then moving to hold it back in offering, allowing the other man to walk through first. "Because we may have a problem eating together, then, because I'm a guy who likes some meat."

He grinned as he glanced inside the cafe, spotting several empty chairs. It took approximately three seconds to realize what he'd said and how he'd said it, the grin soon overwhelmed with yet another flushed color under anxious eyes.

Scale it back, Daniel McKay, scale it BACK!

"Yeah, that's great."

He closed his eyes for a brief instance, regretting several of his choices in life at that very moment. Mostly, most importantly, his mouth and his apparent inability to function like a normal human adult. Christ.

Maybe if he put some actual meat in his mouth he'd shut up and not sound so ridiculous?

Making his way over to the table, they were (thankfully) greeted by a friendly waitress and handed menus that Danny graciously accepted, as it provided a decent enough buffer from the embarrassment on his face. He hadn't heard of the place before - then again, he wasn't normally in the area, either - but they seemed cute, in their quaintness. He wouldn't be surprised if it was a chain, based on how their menus and the boards behind the counter looked alone.

"Sweet tea," He said automatically upon his drink order being requested. Food would take a bit more to decide, all of the lunch menu looking fairly appetizing by description.


Green eyes peered over the top of the menu. Food was still a safe subject - at least, until he mucked it up with another cornball statement again.

"Anything look good to you?"