Oh, Quail was still sore after his run in with that blond Negaverse agent. His side hurt really bad and he probably had a bone bruise. The gray haired man huffed hard and just stroked his side as he continued on his quest to patrol for chibi’s needing his help. They seemed to be the only ones not interested in questioning what he was or even really caring once he started to talk to them. Honey colored eyes glanced around as he landed on top of a bill board.
It was getting so cold in Destiny City lately. His legs weren’t protected like the rest of him and he really didn’t have enough fat on his bones to protect him from the biting cold. “So going to regret this,” he muttered to himself squatting down to rub a his legs. “Why couldn’t I have gotten pants? Pants would be so much better…”
So far tonight had proved quiet. Which.. in all honestly, Quail’s Eye was thankful for. He didn’t want more Negaverse battles, okay.
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It was hot in the kitchen, and cold outside, and even when Evan was decked out in thick enough clothes that he should have been warm. Except that he was cold. And it was from more than just the temperature.
This was the worst sort of spiral Evan had in quite some time, and it seemed like he was walking him more often than not, at these awful hours of the night, and more often than not it was ending poorly. He had spent hours poring over city maps and plans, studying published crime reports and reading blogs about 'terrorist attacks', trying to pinpoint the absolutely, one hundred percent safest route from work and home.
Because he wasn't going to get mugged, or beaten, or kidnapped or murdered or anything in-between, and he wasn't going to be youma chow or a Negaverse punching bag. He just wanted to be a normal guy who did normal things, like stay home all day until you had to go to work, and then go straight home and repeat.
Well. 'Home' being crash at his boyfriend-but-maybe-not-boyfriend-but-friends-with-benefits-but-sometimes-it-didn't-feel-like-they-were-friends-and-maybe-he-was-dating-that-girl-at-work, Zack.
Maybe just 'Zack' was a better thing to call him, because trying to figure things out was hurting his head and hurting his heart.
Evan clutched his bag with him as he trudged (rapidly) from the back of the bar. He moved as quickly as he could without being conspicuous, kept himself hunched over and had a hood pulled up as he walked. He had pepper spray in his hand and his recent run-in's had convinced him to carry a chef's knife (his largest) with him at all times. Though he was perpetually afraid he would be arrested and accused of murder, but he'd already come to terms with the fact that maybe he wasn't just carrying that knife to use on someone else.
Trying to be swift and alert meant little when you were walking with your head downcast—something Evan realized entirely too late when he wound up running face first into the back of someone he hadn't even known was there.
He let out a startled yelp and fell backwards, already on edge and scrambling.
Pepper spray was, however, utterly useless if when surprised you dropped it and it rolled three feet away from you.
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Quail had dropped to try to get behind a building to block the cold air. Only this time he wasn’t lucky enough that no one was around. As soon as he landed on his feet someone bumped into him, sending the usually graceful man to the ground. He braced for impact by putting his hands out in front of him and held his breath as his body weight crashed into the pavement. An involuntary gasp left Quail’s Eye as the side of his head met the road in a way no head should. At least he wouldn’t crack his head wide open. No, instead the heels of his hands took the brunt of it and got scraped up something fierce.
The gray haired man quickly got up and dusted himself off before turning to look at whoever bumped into him and noticed it was a civilian. He blinked and let out a noise before whining and reached down to help the other gather whatever he dropped and helped him get settled again.
“Hey, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? It’s not safe out here!” He looked around, scanning for Chaos energy signals before looking back at Evan with a worried look. “We should get you indoors. Can I walk you home?”
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Evan looked like he might have been about to bolt running (he probably was) and recoiled from the hand as though the stranger has pulled a gun on him. It took him noticeable effort to focus on picking his things up as he processed what was even said to him, and even though he had told himself not to worry about anyone and just focus on himself, when he opened his mouth to reply the only thing that came out was, "I'm sorry for running into you. I was in a hurry. I wasn't looking, I'm sorry."
He had quickly scooped his belongings up and kept a good few feet of distance between the strangely dressed man and himself, wary and trembling—and not just from cold.
"I—I can walk home myself. I don't…"
Want anyone to follow me and steal my starseed while I sleep.
He swallowed. "…Don't…want to be any more trouble than I've already been. Are you okay? You hit the ground pretty hard. I—I'm sorry."
His hand had instinctively gone to cover his chest, remembering very vividly when that girl had come into the bar and shoved her hand in. He apologized like he meant it—and like he was begging, sucking up, hoping to get out of some angry act of revenge. He was only partially convincing; most of his demeanor reflected that of a beaten and terrified dog. If he'd had tail it would have been between his legs.
Even though Quail's Eye hardly looked imposing, Evan watching him with a worried expression and knees bent and buckled and ready to run if it meant he might live just a little longer.
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“No, no, I’m fine!” He flapped his sleeves a little as he waved his hands in dismissal. “Honestly, I’m tougher than I look. But we really need to get you in doors because there are some bad people out here that will want to do bad things to you. As long as I’m with you until we get you home I’ll do my best to protect you!”
Not that Quail was any good at fighting, but he could fight when it came right down to protecting a civilian who had no idea what they were getting themselves into by coming out at night. Quail licked his dry lips slowly and then offered his hand. “Come on. I’m Quail’s Eye. I’m not out to hurt you. I’m not a bad person, I swear!” This one looked really scared, hesitant and like he’d been hurt somehow. That hurt Quail’s heart in a very bad way. To think some Negaverse person probably tortured this little civilian.
He was making assumptions, but with the way the kid was acting? Well, Quail’s Eye didn’t doubt it was someone on the Chaos side making this man’s life hard. “..Come on. Let’s walk and we can talk. You can tell me about yourself and why you look absolutely petrified…”
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The words seemed to trigger something in Evan and his hand went to his bag instinctively. He was body went rigid, though his eyes went wide and he immediately scanned the area for anyone else.
But Evan didn't want to hear that there were bad people who wanted to do bad things to him.
Again.
His chest tensed and he found himself backing up against the wall and away from the hand for a second; Evan knew what a panic attack felt like, and he knew that he would be absolutely, incredibly stupid if he let himself sink into one right now.
Except they weren't actually controllable, and him holding his breath did little to stop his pounding heart and only served to make him more lightheaded.
But then, suddenly it seemed like a good idea to listen to the guy telling him to go inside where it was safe, and outside from the cold, and he could sit down for a minute and clear his head and maybe nap, and…
His muddled thoughts were quickly clouding the rational ones and he had to shake his head to force himself to focus. "I don't. I don't want to stay outside anymore. I want to go back to work. It's closer."
His words were shaky and he was already backing up to inch towards the direction he had come in, but there was that weak, hopeful little voice clinging to the idea that maybe this guy was telling the truth. Even though he was dressed in one of those weird outfits, maybe he wasn't bad. "—Do you promise that? That you're not…bad?"
Maybe he didn't care if it was a lie. Maybe he just wanted to believe it even if it was.
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When he was asked if he wasn’t a bad guy, made to promise, Quail’s heart definitely broke into pieces for this civilian. He took that hand and nodded slowly as the other seemed to get over a panic attack that hadn’t quite gripped him completely. “I am a protector of the city. Of the innocent like you,” he stated with a determined and (hopefully) soft look on his face. He squeezed the other’s fingers slowly and then just let his expression melt.
“I’m aligned with the good guys. The ones trying to save everyone.” At least by now he was. Slowly the smaller of the two tugged the other off of the wall and let his brows knit. “Well, I can walk you home. It’s probably a lot safer in your house than at a job that would be in this part of the town. I know there’s a guy who skulks around bars looking to pick off the drunks..” Rutile. He’d heard the whispers and watched him from time to time, but Quail’s Eye had never gotten close enough to tangle with him, nor did he ever want to.
If Quail’s Eye could save even one civilian tonight he’d call it a good night. With one as jumpy as this one, he was certainly going to be a target again. Negaverse agents sometimes liked to toy with civlians.
“What’s your name?”
An innocent enough question, right? Hopefully it didn’t have any negative effects to the other. “I don’t mean to pry, but it’d be good to know the name of the man I’m escorting home. When you get inside, lock your door and close your blinds. You’ll be safe. I’ll hide out on the roof for a while then leave.”
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"I don't—" he faltered, but didn't protest; the contact helped him a little bit. "It's Evan," he said after a few more seconds, and then confessed, "I don't remember your name, I'm sorry. I don't want to go home," he repeated, and while he didn't try to pull away he began to lead the other man towards his place of employment.
Except, now he was worried about this guy that lurked around bars because he had always known that bars were bad business, but not that bad.
"It's not mine," he confessed as he moved; the silence was unnerving and Evan had two modes when jittery; he either shut up entirely or couldn’t stop talking. Tonight, it seemed, he was vocal. "The house, I mean, not the name. The name is mine, the house is my friend's. He lets me crash there. I don't get along with my parents, but I don't want to live alone. I hate living alone. I mean—it's expensive, you know? But it's nice to have someone who knows when you make it home okay. And statistically speaking, you're less likely to be robbed or attacked or murdered in your home if you don’t live alone, so that's something to consider. I mean."
He swallowed and tried to hide the fact that he was still shaking. "If you worry about that sort of thing."
Evan knew about that sort of thing. And he also knew how to hurry inside, lock the doors, close the blinds, shut out the lights, hide in the bed—or under the bed, or if it was a bad night, in the bathtub. At least, that was how it used to work, when he had his own room. At Zack's place he had access to the couch, in the living room, almost right in front of the door.
At work, he at least had a supply closet he could lock himself in.
"…If you know it's dangerous, how can you be out here?" he asked, pursing his lips almost immediately afterwards. It wasn't accusatory, but it was almost sharp.
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When Evan started to protest, Quail’s Eye did stop and look at him, brows knitting a little bit. “..I’m Quail’s Eye. I… am neither Negaverse or a Senshi. I’m a protector of dreams. I want everyone safe. I want this war over..” He was honestly trying so hard to get the other to calm down.
But he was rambling and worrying Quail even more. The shorter one took a deep breath and nodded. “If you think you’re safer at work, then I can bring you there and stay around for a half hour.” He swallowed a bit and just let Evan guide him the proper direction. “I just want you to be somewhere you feel safest.”
Quail ran his free hand through his hair and then gave him a softer smile again. “Living with someone does make you feel safer, doesn’t it?” He personally loved living with his boyfriend. They had their own differences, but they overcame them to come together and leave in semi-peace and harmony. Sometimes the cat would try to attack his bird, or the cat knocked something breakable over, but it was a learning process for everyone involved!
“So. Are you okay with me hanging around a while after I get you indoors to make sure no one will bother you?”
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"Yeah," Evan replied, mulling over the information he'd been given. "You can come in for a bit if you like. It's a bar," he confessed. "…But I work in the kitchen, I'm the chef. But the kitchen's closed so I was on my way home. I don’t like walking home at night, but I don't have a car. And every other restaurant I applied in wanted me to wash dishes. I can cook, I don't want to wash dishes."
He shuffled quickly, winding around another alleyway. He could see the bar up ahead and was fishing for his keys with his other hand. "…I mean, I will. But only if I get to cook. Are you hungry?"
Food grounded him. Cooking grounded him. If he talked about cooking, he could pretend like this was normal. Just two friends hanging out so Evan could show off his cooking in the (sort of) safety of his kitchen. As long as that lieutenant didn't find him.
He swallowed. "I'm sorry. It's nice to meet you. I haven't had a good week. I've been on edge and I'm jumpy and I probably look really stupid. I'm so, so sorry for running into you, I was just so focused on getting home that I wasn't paying attention. I'm really glad you weren't some youma or something.
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Quail’s Eye just walked with the rambling Evan and gave a patient smile as he explained his choice of work. How.. cute. Meanwhile Quail worked at a gas station. He hated it, but it paid the bills. Of course, this couldn’t be said out loud. That was far too much information for anyone besides his friends, especially out at night.
Then the keys were fumbled with him and quail gave a low noise and nodded yet again. “You don’t have to apologize to me, trust me..” He sighed hard. “I know how it goes, getting ..Oh. So… you’ve been attacked by a youma?” That drew a look of concern across the boyish man’s face and Quail just stepped a little closer to slowly reach out and pat Evan’s shoulder. “Listen to me. The next time you come across a youma, just.. run and hide as best as you can. I’ll… start patrolling this area daily so hopefully I can keep a look out for you and the others that work at night and have to walk home.”
Honestly a city wide curfew should mean businesses close down earlier to get everyone indoors at the cut off point, but obviously that wouldn’t ever be the case.
“As much as I’d like to accept your invitation, Evan, I’m afraid I can’t. I’ve got to continue to chase away youma from humans and help the senshi dust them.” At least Quail had the decency to look a bit put off by this news.
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Evan faltered when Quail declined, but nodded as though he understood. "Oh. No, that's okay. I understand. You’ve got important things to tend to. Fighting monsters and all has to be busy business, I figure. What with them being everywhere and all."
Evan walked past the still noisy bar and to a door hidden deeper in the alleyway. It took him two tries to get it in the slot, even with a very focused approach. Even then he had to wriggle for a good few seconds before the door clicked open.
"I've seen three, I think. In the past two months." He laughed mirthlessly. "They're disgusting. I hate them. I tried running, you know. The first one was just too fast, if that Knight hadn't been there I'd have been dead. The second one moved too fast, too. It got a good chunk out of me. Are you sure you don't want something?" he asked when he entered, swallowing as he flicked on the lights and looked back at Quail. "I can fix you something to go. Or—I mean, if you ever get hungry or want to drop by, you can. Winter will be here soon, so I can get you some hot chocolate or some soup for while you're out there. I don't mind. I'd like to," he insisted. "If you're. I mean, if you're going to take time out of your day to keep an eye on this place, I'd…I'd really appreciate it."
Evan did not like to give in or sound weak, but this guy had already seen him near tears just for bumping into him. Evan didn't think there was much salvaging any first impressions, and he doubted Quail would buy a tough guy act now. Evan just didn't have the energy.
"…If…you want, anyway. No pressure. You don't have to ever see me again if you don't want to, I get it," he mumbled, adrenaline now very worn off. He dropped his bag by the door and peered out it nervously, as if expecting someone to try to sneak in while it was open.
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The faltering didn’t go unnoticed by Quail’s sharp eyes right now. His face contorted to more worry and Quail drifted closer and just sort of followed him at the same pace, but settled back comfortably once he realized there were really no Negaverse signatures around.
“...You’ve met three in the past two months?” He frowned hard and then looked like someone had ruffled his feathers. “Look. I’m going to swing by every night and actually wait until you’re outside. I can… escort you until you’re wherever you’re staying.” He was very serious about that. Swallowing a little, Quail glanced around a bit and then looked back to Evan with a soft noise. He was offering a meal and honestly Quail could use something to nibble on.
“Something small would be good,” he chirped softly, smiling a little more. “I’m.. not one to pass up a meal. Especially from a potential new friend.”
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"You don't have to come by every night," Evan said, and he flashed a quick smile but didn't manage to make eye contact. "…Sometimes people come to check on me. Hyperborea said she would. If you know her. She's nice, she saved me from a youma and talked to me about a lot of this stuff. And how important starseeds are." He was quiet for a second and then shook his head. "Anyway, my schedule doesn't always make sense and I don't want you to wind up wasting your time if I'm not around. But thank you."
He could always use a new friend.
Evan didn't get out much, and he'd been going out even less than usual now that old fears were creeping up.
"—Do you want some soup in a to-go cup?" he asked, moving to his counter. "Grilled cheese? Sandwich? —Wings? Or, wait, no."
He looked at Quail's Eye hesitatingly, seemed embarrassed, and then opened the door to his fridge to hide behind it. "…Toast? Hot chocolate? …I can get you anything."
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“I’m gonna come by every night.” He was unapologetic about it and just flashed him a wider grin, bouncing slowly before he continued on to say some people came up and checked on him. His head canted to one side and he hummed. “Hyperborea? Never heard of her, but I’ll keep an eye out for her and let her know I’m also going to take you under my wing!” Probably figuratively and literally.
This kid has had a tough life so far, dealing with youma, starseeds, which means Negaverse agents or corrupts.. It just wasn’t a fun time for him. With a deep breath, Quail’s Eye just gave him a soft smile and shrugged. “I’ll still come bye.”
Then the food list started and Quail’s Eye’s stomach started to growl and he rubbed his stomach lightly. “I eat plenty of wings as long as it’s not actually quail, but! ..Grilled cheese and hot chocolate sound so good…”
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Evan flashed another quick smile, but this one was fleeting. "You have a life," he said, and for as shaken as he was outside, he moved quickly and gracefully in the kitchen. Milk was in a pot on the stove and he had a pan buttered for grilled cheese in a matter of seconds.
"I'd be really selfish to want you here all the time. And—I have people who take me home. Zack does, sometimes. He's got a car," he mused. "He's my roommate. Or, rather. The guy I crash with. I stay on his couch, mostly, so I don't think I count for a roommate. You know—I've never eaten Quail. But, uhm. I don't think I plan to."
"I'm not a big bird fan, anyway. I mean—eating. You," he faltered, trying not to stumble over his words, "You seem all right. I like you well enough. But then, it's probably a good idea you don't come visit too often. I'm sort of insufferable," he said—and laughed, like it was supposed to be some sort of joke. Or someone had said it enough that he figured it was true. The laughter faded quickly and his face settled back into it's natural, furrowed brows and pout as he put the bread and cheese into the pan and reached to stir the milk in the pot next to it.
"…Small doses are probably best. But I'll still cook for you whenever you want to drop by. I probably shouldn’t give out free food every day, but you know. Now and then. Accidents happen in the kitchen and all—well, not mine, but I'd lie—but no one would notice a few missing ingredients. And anyway…if you're taking care of youma," he shrugged.
"…Then I'd love to help out however I can. Even if it's just making sure you're not going hungry while you're out fighting them.
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He followed the other into the kitchen and just hopped up on a counter without even asking if it was alright. Mainly because his feet hurt and his shoes aren’t actually that comfortable, but still! Now he was off them and watching the other flit about like well… a bird. Quail’s Eye was pretty easy going when he didn’t have to worry about things like youma and Negaverse agents, so the jokes and jabs of him being bird themed settled well with him. He just let out a huge grin and shrugged his shoulders.
“Well.. I like chicken, pigeon, turkey..” He shrugged and then pushed a particularly dirty thought came blazing through his mind. He let out a low noise and rubbed his face that was slowly before clearing his throat again. “I mean I like quail eggs?”
He couldn’t be more insufferable than the one he was dating. quail laughed a little and just watched him again, head turning this way and that, taking everything in. “Well, I tend to do well with the people who claim their assholes or jerks, whiny, that kind of thing. I mean…” It took a lot to rile the man up.
“A meal for protection seems like a good deal, but i would do it without the promise of food, too.”
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Evan gave the male a look when he hopped onto his counter but said nothing; he just focused on his cooking. "It's not fair to take and take, though. And if you're out there fighting, it's dangerous. And I figure you don't have to be doing it. You're just…people. Like everyone else. Same as me. Well." He moved to take some powdered cocoa out of the pantry. It was tucked away—clearly a private stash. He returned to the stovetop and flipped the grilled cheese sandwich. "Same as me, except more important."
He seemed focused on his cooking but now that he wasn't expecting someone to jump him (and since he was so comfortably nestled in his comfort zone) he asked, "How long have you been doing it? I mean…the whole…big fighting monsters thing? If you don't mind me asking."
Evan cleared his throat. "I have a lot of questions about all of it, and I keep thinking about more, but you don’t have to answer. I get if it's private. Your grilled cheese is going to be done in just a few minutes, though."
Even if Quail said he'd have done it without the promise of food, Evan would have cooked for him. He didn't have a lot of ways to try and make a good first impression and he needed a quick save for the awful one he was sure he gave this guy. A grilled cheese sandwich was simple and it was too late already for him to do anything fancy, but hot chocolate?
That, he could show off with.
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He saw that look and mentally winced, but physically did nothing. His legs swung gently, trying not to make a clatter of shoes against the cabinets. Then the other was off into the pantry and the pulled some cocoa powder out and he perked up even more, grinning and practically vibrating in his seat. Hot chocolate was something he absolutely adored. It was the perfect weather for it too.
“I’m hardly important,” he flushed at that and shook his head, ducking it slowly. “I’m just part of something greater than myself, therefore I’m a pawn in this war. I’m not a Princess or a Prince. I hold no greater power than anyone. In fact? I might actually hold less because I’m not a senshi.” He thought about that. He had served his original purpose and yet here he was, back in play on the powered side and trying to forge his own path.
“Well, me? This? Mn.. A few years now. Actually more like..five or so maybe?” It was honestly difficult to pin point. “I ...quit for a while. Left to protect someone very important to me. But I only came back in the past year. As for the other questions, I’ll answer what I can, but I was gone for some years. So… I might not be able to answer everything.”
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"I don't know that much about senshi," Evan confessed, but that wasn’t really saying much. He wasn't a part of this war—unless being youma chow counted for anything, in which case…
He kinda had that covered.
He opened his cocoa powder mix and poured three spoonfuls into the warm milk before stirring.
"I just know that there are good people and bad people and monsters, and…I don't know. Maybe it doesn’t have to be more complicated than that."
…It was though, and he knew it. And now, he wasn't sure he wanted to think about it. A headache had wormed its way to the forefront of his attention—likely a result of the waning adrenaline. His fatigue was kicking in and he knew he wasn't going to last for much longer.
Moving about the kitchen, he pulled a paper plate and napkin, and a Styrofoam to-go cup. After a few more seconds of cooking, he plated the sandwich quickly. He set this on the counter and slid it over to Quail. The milk had turned a good brown color but he mixed it for a few seconds more before he poured it into the cup. From there, he went to the fridge and withdrew a bowl of whipped cream and explained, "I was baking earlier, so this is still pretty fresh. I wouldn't feed you anything poisoned."
He wasn't sure why he felt the need to reassure, but he knew he had a habit of zoning out while cooking. It didn't take him long to finish preparing the Hot Chocolate; he spooned a good portion of his whipped cream, sprinkled a pinch of Cinnamon, and then placed the lip next to Quail.
He tried not to look expectant or hopeful and busied himself with fussing to turn off the stove and get the dishes in the sink. "...I had some questions, but…I think I'm forgetting them. I'm more tired than I was when I left. But…if you're planning on coming back, maybe I can just make a list and…we can go over some things later?"
While Evan had reassured that he did not need company every day, he wasn't going to throw away a friend where he could have used one. He would have liked to see the male again; he did have questions, but without hesitation Quail had offered to keep him safe and seemed to have his best interests at heart.
And that had to mean something, right?
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So, Evan met Negaverse and youma, but knew little about senshi? He tilted his head to the side and thought about that for a moment before watching the other make the cocoa. This was like porn to Quail's Eye. He loved watching people cook. Leaning in a bit to get a better look, the shorter of the two beamed at him a little and then nodded.
"That's the basics, yes. But.. There's a faction somewhere in the middle, not like me. Dark Mirror Senshi. I don't personally think you can judge their faction as a whole... They're just.." He flapped a sleeve and let his lips pull into a frown. "There. I don't know, honestly," he murmured softly. Dark mirror senshi were... really odd. He hadn't run into too many of them, but so far, he heard the stories and he liked what he heard. Sure, there were one or two extreme individuals, but that's literally any faction.
Then Quail spotted the bowl the other held out and practically vibrated with excitement. HE waited and then took hold of the cup and bounced a bit before getting off the cabinet and took a sip of the hot liquid, whipped cream getting all over his nose. He didn't care. It tasted amazing.
"It's the best I've ever had!" he said, laughing hard. "It's so good." He licked his lips, licked as much whipped cream off his face as he could and then just let out a hard noise. "You can just make me this now and then, an we can call it a deal!" Laughing hard, he continued to sip at the drink and turned on a heel, looking like his moral had been boosted enough to be hyper again. It's not fault he had a bit of a sweet tooth.
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All of Evan's concerns looked like they melted away when Quail praised him. He shifted on his feet as if flustered. "Oh—good," he said, swallowing. It was easy to forget that there was bad in the world when he was here in the safety of his kitchen—where there was only good.
"Well—like I said, you can drop by whenever. I mean, if you see me. Sometimes there's another guy that comes in and works back here, but we're not popular enough that we need a lot of chefs. But you can tell it's me because the smells coming out of the kitchen are good."
He had never heard of the Dark Mirror Senshi, and even if he wanted to know more about them, he wasn't going to ask tonight. Tonight, he was already planning on pulling out some spare tablecloths and sequestering himself in the storage closet to sleep.
He didn't even care how ridiculous it sounded; it sounded safe to him, and that meant he didn’t have to walk home in the dark or deal with showing a stranger—no matter how polite—where he lived.
"Most of the time I work during the day, but the guy that worked the later shift…" He shrugged. "Just up and left. Disappeared. But I'm getting paid a lot to do this shift, and for all the overtime."
…Not that money meant much when you were dead, but if he could save up enough…
Maybe he could do something better for himself.
His mind was wandering and he felt bad; he was quickly turning into terrible company. "Thank you, though. I mean, seriously. You can come by any time. If I'm not here…leave a note or something. I…I wanna know that you're doing okay," he confessed.
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"I will definitely take you up on that. But... don't be alarmed if I literally drop by. You know... Jumping down from a perch where I was either waiting for you or sensing something.." He ummed and just kept sipping the delicious beverage until his sandwich was done. With that nhand, he took a bite and just made a high keening noise of pleasure and rocked to and fro on his feet because everything was perfect.
Quail's Eye was basically getting spoiled.
"Mmm.. Money's money. It, unfortunately, makes the world go round, so you have to do what you have to do." He nodded a bit more and licked at his lips slowly. "If you keep cooking like this, I might have to marry you and get fat and useless like a bird in a very content cage." He was joking of course, the grin on his face said that and it made him laugh a little.
"Okay, but seriously. Mn.." If only he had a way to leave his number. "One day I'm going to leave you a way to get ahold of me. If you don't want to be alone.. Now isn't the time, but I'll think of something."
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Evan's ears burned when Quail mentioned marrying him; he looked surprised, embarrassed and, joke or not, flattered. "Okay," he said, fumbling for a better response. He would have loved to have a way to contact the male, even just for emergencies, but until then he would be all right with him just dropping in.
Well. No, Evan suspected very strongly that there was a heart attack in his immediate future, but better a heart attack from a friend than some Negaverse lackey pulling his starseed and ruining the rest of his forever.
A shudder ran down his spine, but he tried to stay positive.
He had someone else in his life that was going to try and help look out for him.
And that meant a lot.
"Well," he still seemed flustered from the marriage comment, "You…take care of yourself. In the meantime. And if you find a way, please let me know. Until then, I'll keep my eyes out. And I'll try to stay out of trouble so I'm not making your job any harder."
…He didn't go looking for trouble. It just always seemed to find him.
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Quail nodded a bit more and moved over to give the other an awkward sort of hug since both of his hands were currently preoccupied. One with cocoa and one with the grilled cheese. He stepped backwards after a moment and then just flashed the other again.
“Until our next encounter, I’ll be off!”
With that in mind, he walked out the way he came with quick, almost silent steps and out into the night. Oh, he’d stay on top of the building until the other decided to go home, or someone came to pick Evan up. He said he would, after all. All in all, it seemed Quail’s Eye had made a friend and he was just really excited about it. He didn’t have too many people to consider friends.
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Evan seemed pleased with the hug, and even though he was a bit sad to see the male go, he smiled a bit. "Bye," he waved.
When Quail was gone, he lingered where he stood for a moment and then hastily bustled around locking the door. He turned off the light, made sure his kitchen was safe…
And then holed up in a nest he had made for himself in the supply closet.
He literally did not care if anyone found him there; when other employees had been found passed out drunk on the tables, he thought this was a perfectly sane place to be. He could run home for some clean clothes and a quick shower tomorrow, when the sun was up and when it was safer.
…But for tonight, he was going to sleep here, on the floor with his bag for a pillow and a tablecloth for a blanket.
It wasn't the worst night of his life.
In the Name of the Moon!
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