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 Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:50 am
Well, it appeared that Yin wasn't going to say anything either, so it was completely down to Alex to break the incredibly awkward silence. But then, he also began to wonder if it was impolite by weremantis customs to speak at the dinner table.
Hmmmmmm....only one way to find out, really!
He stopped tapping at the table, stopped glancing around as though looking for something interesting to stare at, and leveled his gaze on Yin, then broke into a large grin.
"So, getting lost aside, how are you enjoying your time in the Maul?"
Yep, that was really the best question Alex could come up with. It was a little frustrating that he couldn't think of any better conversation starter then that.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:52 am
When the zomboil looked at Yin it was slightly unnerving as he began to smile at him. The mantodae swallowed, distinctly feeling like maybe it was a trap. It was neither confirmed nor denied when Alexander brought up him getting lost. No, no he should trust his friend. "It is a..." he chose his words carefully, "an experience. There are more people than I expected and it is much larger than I had thought it would be."He took another sip of water. While doing so he realized the Alexander was catering to him, asking him if he was okay and if he was having a good time. He swallowed quickly, not even enjoying the cooling sensation before gazing earnestly into the zomboil's eyes. "And you? I hope you are finding everything okay. If I have been rushing you or anything just ignore me and take your time. I am sorry that I got separated from you," he looked down, and speaking quietly, "it was not my intention to ruin your trip."Then the waiter arrived, setting down a plate in front of each of them with a slight bang. "It'll still be another minute on that platter," he informed them before whisking off.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:29 pm
Alex gave Yin a rather funny look, frowning yet still smiling as though Yin had just told a joke but he wasn't sure wether to laugh or not.
"You, rush me? Yin, I don't ever rush, you should know that by now." At this point he did laugh, "The only way I could possibly go any slower is if somebody chopped my legs off." He grinned, since it was essentially very true. At least he could laugh at himself, right?
"As for us getting separated for a time, it's really not a big deal. It's in the past, and everything is all right now." He reached out to pat the other boils hand reassuringly. "My trip is far from ruined. I've actually had a lot of fun. In fact, I don't think I would have had nearly as good of a time if you hadn't come with me. Hell, I might not have even made it here if you hadn't come." Still smiling, still being as reassuring as possible.
When the Waiter clunked down the plates though, Alex nearly growled, but managed to keep himself from doing so.
"No tip, Yin. No tip." and then he just shook his head, eyes glaring into the back of the waiters head as he wandered away. Like the weremantis would even know what that was?
"So, have you managed to read that book I helped you get from the library, yet?" He asked, pulling his hand back and steepling his long pale fingers.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:55 pm
Yin rather did not like the idea of the zomboil's legs being chopped off, but it was a joke and he smiled tentatively. Alexander kept talking, and once again reminded Yin that he really was a very tactile boil as he patted his hand. Perhaps it was a zombie trait.
"I shall not give you any advice," he assured the zomboil, though slightly confused. No tips for him indeed. But if he had given him a tip it would have been something like "calm down."
But a distracting waiter was much, much better better than the next thing that Alexander said. Yin looked properly abashed at the reminder as he drew his hand back. "I started it," he said softly, not meeting the zomboil's eyes. "I am now in the second chapter." It had taken him a lot time to get that far, and he was working on it diligently every night. "Oh but I skipped ahead to read the informative chapter on minipets, so I have already read chapter eight."
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:26 pm
Alex didn't really feel like getting into what a 'tip' actually was, so he left that one alone for now. The weremantis already looked embarrassed enough as it was, when Alex brought up the topic of the book. But really? Only up to chapter two now? That was...rather dismal, Alex thought, and a little bit surprising. Maybe the weremantis just had trouble sitting down and focusing. He did seem to spend a lot of time training, after all.
"If you ever have any questions about what you've read, or need a study partner, you can always come to me for help." he said, meaning every word. He felt like he really owed it to Yin after the training and offering up so much information about his culture.
Suddenly the Waiter returned, setting down a very, very large plate of food in front of the two boils. Alex could feel his mouth watering already as he stared at the heaps of different meats on the plate. Some of it looked well cooked, some of it mostly raw. It was the latter that Alex decided he would try first, picking out some choice pieces to pile up on his plate.
The waiter made some short comment when he had set down the food, but Alex barely even heard him. There was food to be had! Nothing was more important then that right now! (Except for maybe ties...)
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:42 pm
As the waiter set the food down in front of them he muttered under his breath and rolled his eyes. "Oh Jack, seriously?"
Whatever that meant.
Yin therefore decided to ignore it in favor for the food as Alexander seemed to be doing, deftly moving a piece of each different type of item to his plate, generally taking the smallest piece that he could find. "It is going much quicker now," he assured the zomboil. "I made it through an entire page last night, and the picture on that one was fairly small." It was actually a rather nice accomplishment for the weremantis, and there had been quite a bit of text on that page. This chapter seemed to be talking about the generic types of beings in Halloween, while the first one spoke of how Halloween came to be and things like FEAR.
He took a bite of the one that looked the least appetizing (the one that seemed rather well cooked), but it had a flavor he had never tried before and it was interesting. "I would not mind a study session if it would not trouble you too much. I have a few questions about some of the classes that I have been attending." He took a bite of new bit of meat, but this time the flavors were not quite as agreeable. He forced it down, mentally reminding himself not to eat more of that type.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:42 am
Meanwhile, Alex was basically shoving handfuls of meat into his mouth, the red bloody juices staining his pale grey lips, his teeth, his chin, his fingers. Every once in a while, he'd slow down just to lick off his fingers, but then he'd grab some more. Occasionally he would mix some of the cooked stuff in with some of the raw, just to make it more bearable to consume. He didn't really care if he looked like a completely uncouth slob, this was just how he was. Though he may have been attracting the attention of a few of the restaurants guests. A lot of the ones in their near vicinity were stopping what they were doing to stare, then they would probably mutter something to do with zombies being barbaric savages, and continue on with there meal.
Alex was used to it, and barely even noticed. He wasn't going to change just for their sake.
Finally he took a break between all the chewing and swallowing to answer Yin, a somewhat sheepish smile spreading across his face. "I..I think I was a bit more hungry then I realized." He noticed that the platter was nearly empty already, with only a few bits of meat left here and there. He glanced around for a napkin to wipe his face with, since he probably shouldn't use his shirt, right? Oh and he should probably hold in this belch that was threatening to escape...he might be a messy slob, but he wasn't completely rude.
"Uh, so ya, study session would be no problem at all! You know you can almost always find me in the library...though maybe I should show you where my room is sometime..." he frowned in thought. He'd never actually shown anybody where his room was before, not really caring to have people over just to give him that look that said '..you actually live in this mess?'. "It's pretty cold as well, however, so that might not be the best idea I've ever had...." yes that was a good out for the weremantis! Alex was fairly confident if Yin thought it was too chilly he wouldn't attempt to find Alex's room, or want to Alex to show it to him. No need for Yin too know the full extent of Alex's horrible inability to clean things.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:29 pm
Yin was slightly jealous. Not of Alexander's fingers which he was apparently content to lick in public, but rather of the zomboil's wild abandon of how he attacked his food. Now realizing that it was probably okay to eat however he wished, he sped up slightly, delicately spearing morsels on his nails and devouring them.
The food was gone quickly, and when Alexander slowed the mantodae stopped completely, content to let him finish off the platter. He was obviously half-starved if how he had been eating was any indication.
"We can arrange a time later," Yin said with a nod (and not so that it will fit in with future plots). The zomboil seemed to be backpedaling away from the topic of his room, and it sounded simply awful. A cold room? How despicable. "Perhaps at a later date I could be shown your room, but for now I believe the library is acceptable." A thought crossed his mind. "Unless it is too far for you to walk to the library just for a study session?" It was really a rather short walk from the dorms down to the school, but any walk with Alexander never took a small amount of time.
The waiter came and whisked away the platter quickly, but as he turned he made a slight retching noise. He had not even bothered to ask if they were finished.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:51 pm
"Not too far, never too far to go to the library." Alex was looking down at the meat platter, just about to grab another piece of meat when the waiter came back and took it away.
He took Alex's food away. His FOOD.
Alex didn't think, he just responded any way a predator might respond if somebody tried to take away their meal before they were finished with it. He growled, his lip pulling back from his teeth, and pushed back his chair with a loud scraping noise. "Put. That. Back." He snarled towards the back of the waiter, who had halted in his tracks some few feet away. The waiter turned around and rolled his eyes, giving an over dramatic sigh before walking back and putting the tray back on the table with a clatter. Alex just continued to glare at him, eyes cold and steady. "I think we'd like a new server, please." His voice came out flat. He was severely unimpressed, and it took a lot to get this sort of reaction from him.He was willing to put up with small slights, little insults, as long as it wasn't completely blatent. He would not, however, put up with somebody who who would do all that, and then take away his food before he was finished with it!
He did notice with some satisfaction that while the waiter kept a brave face, his eyes were a little bit wide, and slightly nervous looking when he turned to leave them.
Alex plopped back into his chair with a happy smile. "As I was saying, the library will be fine!" He reached out and plucked another morsel of meat off of the tray, happily popping it into his mouth to chew on.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:26 pm
Yin had no idea of what to say about the little display, though he was suitably impressed by the zomboil. The plate was back, and there was no way that Yin was going to touch another morsel on that plate and risk getting a growl for himself. "I look forward to it."
When that plate was cleared a chipper young ghoul sporting a blond ponytail and who would could easily have been employed at Headlights, with the tiniest waist that could not possibly have supported her torso without the help of Fear appeared, smiling happily to reveal nice straight rows of perfectly white teeth.
"Good evening gentleman! I'll be your waitress for the rest of the day!" She bent down to place a card with her name on the table, and a man behind her watched her rather short skirt ride up, obviously impressed as his wife slapped his arm repeatedly. "My name is Lucy and if you need anything don't hesitate to let me know~! Now then, would you like me to clear that plate for you?"
Yin could not hear her. He was concentrating extremely hard on the boils across the way, one of whom had his mouth hanging open as his friend murmered "Oh sweet Sally its a v-neck."
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:10 pm
Alex just continued to grin, happily finishing off what was on the platter since Yin appeared to be finished with it.
"Good, I do toooo---" He was suddenly very distracted by an incredibly pretty ghoul waitress who had approached their table. He eyed her figure appreciatively, but also wondered how she managed to stand up straight. He tilted his head somewhat to the side when she leaned forward, eyes just..staring.
"Uhhhhhhhhh..." His mouth gaped open a bit, as he forgot whatever it was him and Yin were even talking about moments before. Helloooo, Lucy!
He flashed the waitress his most charming smile, gesturing towards the plate "Go right ahead!" Then appreciating the view once again when she bent over to pick up the plate, and turn to bounce away.
"She's..a perky one." Oh, did Alex just say that out loud? Well, nevermind, he was sure Yin would be just as impress----oh wait, no, the other boil was very determinedly not even looking anywhere near the waitress. Alex winced, suddenly very aware of how stupid he probably just made himself look in front of his friend, and realising how hard it would be for Yin to accept a ghoul server.
"Do you want me to ask for somebody else? They must have another boil on staff." Though honestly, if he demanded yet another new server, they might just be asked to leave before dinner even arrived.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:21 pm
Well, Alexander seemed comfortable enough talking to her, though he did not look back at his friend until he made a comment about her being perky. Whatever that meant. "Oh no, it is perfectly alright, I would not want to get her in trouble." As a server she would do perfectly fine. As long as Alexander was the one talking to her. Right? Right.
And then the ghoul was flouncing back, setting down Alexander's order of brains in front of him while Yin began studying the light fixture over in that other direction. "You just let me know if you need anything else~!" She then turned to Yin. "As for you, the chef fixed up something extra special for you so I'll just bring that right out!" She winked at Alexander, "I guess you got yourself a quiet one there didn't you?" With a giggle she disappeared to the back.
Yin inwardly grumbled. So what if he was a quiet friend? Being a loud friend would not have made him any better.
But then a plate was being set in front of him. He had not even seen her coming. Oh. What was that word again? Jack. Oh jack she was behind him. Leaning over him. To put that plate down. And she was not leaving.
"Now this here is something really special," it looked like a piece of raw meat on a bone. "It gets cooked right at the table~!" And with that she flicked her wrist, revealing a lighter from out of no where, and lit the meat (which had a fine layer of alcohol on it) on fire before she finally straightened up.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:05 pm
"Ok then, if you're sure." He smiled, and then noticed that the waitress was coming back with his meal. Excellent! When she set it down in front of him, steaming and perfect (well, as perfect as it could be without his mom making it) he inhaled the delicious aroma's, before nodding to the waitress. "This will be fine, thank you."
And then she said something that made Alex frown a little. He'd gotten himself a quiet one? A quiet..friend? What an odd thing to say...woah, wait..she didn't think that Yin was...? When she winked at him his suspicions flared even more. What did that wink mean!? Oh Jack but he was so confused now. Was this because they had been holding hands when they'd come in together?
Ok, ok. that probably did make things look bad. Oh well, they just had to get through dinner and then they could leave.
"Something special, that sounds..good, I guess." Alex speculated, just as the waitress returned, pushing herself up against Yin's back as she set down his food in front of him. Alex leaned a little further forward, not quite sure what was so special about the food in front of the weremantis. It just looked like a big slab of meat on a bone.
Wait..OhJackohnoohsweetsally what was she doing??? Alex let out a strangled gasp as the ghoul flicked a lighter to life, instantly setting the meat ablaze. He tried to back away so quickly that his chair fell over with a clatter, and he ducked down to the floor, arms up over his face, knees tucked into his chest.
Firefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefire
firefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefire
firefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefirefire
firefirefirefirefire
He stayed on the floor, trembling, and making odd whimpering noises.
Meanwhile in the back room a certain waiter that Alex was going to kill if he ever showed his face again was laughing.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:24 pm
After the initial fwoosh of fire it quickly died down, quickly enough that it had not bothered Yin in the slightest. Unlike what was happening across the table from him. He could hear the zomboil underneath the table, and by now had realized the zomboil's issues with fire. He turned to look at the waitress and actually said something to her rather firmly, which was surprising for the weremantis. "That will be all Miss."
Waitress thus dismissed he got out of his chair and crouched down under the table. "Hey...Alexander?" Dear Great Mantis this was not something he was good out. He reached out to put his hand on his arm, as always taken just a little by surprise at how cold the boil felt. Putting your hand on someone when they were upset was a calming gesture...correct? "It is alright now Alexander. The fire is out.
He really was not good with this whole soothing business. Maybe he should just...distract the zomboil instead. Distraction sounded like a good idea. "Come on, lets just finish our dinner. I shall make sure that nothing else gets lit up and there is water on the table. You do not wish for your brains to get cold now do you?" He patted his arm a couple of times. "I could...I could get some of your ties out of the bag for you to look at if you'd like?"
He really had no clue what he was doing.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:44 pm
Even with his eyes closed and lying on the ground in the fetal position with his forehead pressed against the floor Alex could see it, hear it, feel it. It was going to light him up and burn him until he dissipated into Fear particles. It was going to sear through his rotting flesh and scorch his bones until there was nothing left but a pile of ash. He continued to rock, and tremble. There was nothing that could possibly make him feel any better.
Warmth on his arm. No, it was hot, too hot! He flinched away like it burned him. At least he'd stopped making the pathetic whining sounds now. There was a voice, a familiar voice, but it was so quiet compared to the words beating out a rhythm in his head. Only one word in the sentence's stood out. Fire. The voice said fire. It only added to the cacophony.
More words, this time more words made their way through. Dinner...Water...Brains...Cold. Soothing words, much better. His trembling began to slow. That warm feeling on his arm again, it wasn't really so hot, it wasn't. It was just warm, somehow familiar and comforting. Ties...ah yes, ties. Ties were wonderful things.
He slowly lifted his head from his arms, eyes bleary and a little red. Almost as though the zombie had been crying..though there were no tears and his eyes looked very dry. He sat up as though in a daze, and lifted up a hand to push back his hair. "No more fire?" he asked, looking at the weremantis with very unfocused eyes.
Ties. Dinner. Cold.
"The fire is out.." he said, as though repeating Yin's earlier words.
"I think..I think I just need a minute."
He continued to sit, under the table. He didn't want to come out, he didn't want to face the people in the restaurant. He was pissed off, but still in so much shock it just wasn't evident on his face. They'd done that on purpose. They must have done that on purpose. He was going to demand to speak to the manager. No! The owner.
But what was the point? A free meal now? It wasn't free, it had cost him his dignity.
"Just another minute." He gave his friend a small smile.
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