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 Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 7:45 am
Adonis was reasonably sure that all this ice cream would go straight to his thighs — if he wasn't expending monstrous amounts of energy by draining energy in the name of the Negaverse every night.
It was a rare opportunity to hang out with anyone in the Negaverse, as they all had their duties and hardly spared an extra minute for each other, so he was happy to escort Danalite to the ice cream shop. Bonus points that no one would recognize who the hell he was, since he first walked in as Adrian. And, since most of the city knew better than to ask questions, they could score themselves a booth without being bothered. By the workers, anyway.
With a wave, Adonis ushered Danalite into the small establishment. Modeled after a '50s diner, the place was all rounded corners and checkered tile and stainless steel accents. Even the bistro tables for twos were tall, round, and checkered. And the employees? Well, some were round, but they were all cursed to wear those uncomfortable-looking themed '50s ice cream shoppe getups. Adonis felt bad, but he didn't feel that bad.
"Get what you want, I'll cover it," he mentioned to his companion with a smile.
Then, leaning on the counter, he addressed one of the startled-looking workers. "Evening! I'm surprised you're open this late, honestly. Heard a lot about monsters in these parts, and those terrorists? Vigilantes, whatever they're called. It's dicey, you know?
"Anyway, I'd like an ice cream sundae with chocolate drizzle and extra sprinkles. And make sure you get my friend's order on my tab."
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 10:17 am
Sprinkles. Danalite’s eyes lit up and she nodded her approval of Adonis’ choices. Sure, going to the ice cream shop seemed…dangerous to do while she was powered, but at least her outfit could…kind of pass for actual clothing. He was the one looking like…well. Looking like he did.
“I’d love an ice cream sundae also, marshmallow topping with extra sprinkles and cherries, please. No nuts! With Cookie Dough icecream!”
If he was going to take care of the bill, she would happily indulge herself. The grin she wore at his outright brazen words was bright and entirely unfeigned. It felt…naughty. Sure, she could take energy from people no problem, and knew that when she took starseeds she was killing those she took them from but…this was a level of…naughty she had never done.
…Murder was fully acceptable but freaking people out to get free food…at least, she assumed that Adonis had no interest of paying…it felt…
Kind of wrong.
…But. Perhaps her morals were just mixed up. Not that it really mattered. She wanted the ice cream.
“Shall we find a place to sit? I’m sure they’ll bring our food to us.” It was perhaps a bit of power play on her own part but…
The workers were here to serve them, weren’t they?
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 10:29 am
"Hear that? No nuts." He choked down a laugh at that. Then he beckoned for her to follow, since they had a whole lobby to themselves that night.
They must've been open until midnight, but this part of town was getting hit hard by the Negaverse of late. No one was dumb enough to go out for ice cream and sit in the dining area at this late hour, not when people have been randomly fainting on the street again. Hell, some of 'em even die from that crazy fainting sickness. Sounded like it sucked for businesses like these, too.
"This spot looks as good as any," Adonis decided as he motioned to the table. It seated four, by the look of it, but it had chairs on one side and a booth on the other. Adonis was a chair type, he liked being able to sit any which way at a table, and a chair was always good to have in hand in case one of the ice cream workers got any ideas. Or in case a senshi strolled in here with indignation written all over their face.
Yeah, that deserved a chair. Maybe even a snapped-off chair leg.
"So, how long you been working with us for?" He asked her as he waited for Danalite to sit down. "I been around for a while, but I haven't seen you before. Maybe we've been running in opposite circles."
As he spoke, one of the workers arrived with two sundaes on a tray, and she wordlessly placed them both on the table. Then she turned to leave —
"Whoa whoa whoa," Adonis stalled her as he caught hold of her wrist. "It's the other way around. Cookie dough's hers, not mine."
"Sorry," the girl whispered as she rearranged the dishes to their proper owners. Only then did Adonis let her go back to the safety of behind-the-counter-land.
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 2:21 pm
Danalite covered her mouth with her hand, trying to make it look as though she were wiping her mouth, but truly, it was only to hold back her laughter. Adonis was such a bully, and truthfully? She loved that for him, though…maybe she wouldn't have gone so overboard with the poor worker. It wasn’t her fault that she had this kind of a shitty job, and the two of them were only here to make it more shitty.
“The poor thing, Adonis. She’s having a bad night from just having to be here so late! You don’t need to scare her that badly, do you?”
The Captain finally snickered and took hold of her sundae, digging into it without another sign of any kind of pricking conscience.
“Good call on the ice cream though. This was just what I didn’t realize I needed! Thank you for inviting me.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 2:30 pm
"Yeah I do," Adonis answered matter-of-factly. With a flippant shrug, he added, "Consider it motivation to find a better job. Really, I'm doing her a favor!"
Probably one that wasn't worth the price, but really, that's what people did for each other. They pissed each other off, or ******** each other over, or sold each other out to get ahead — he was just following the rules that others laid down before him. If the girl didn't learn to roll with the punches, then maybe he'd do her one last favor.
"Tell you what." He picked up his spoon and started to mix the chocolate syrup and rainbow sprinkles into the few mounds of ice cream. "If she goes back there and cries, I'll track her down and take her starseed. Then no one'll bully her ever again." With a fat clump of ice cream on his spoon, he took a taste. Was damn good stuff, he thought, but nothing like eating a starseed when he didn't need to. Ah, but this texture? Way better.
It was good to see the Captain indulge, though. Hell, it was good to connect with anybody working in the same organization as him. It'd been a while, and he missed the company.
"My pleasure, really. Gets old, being out there alone all the time. Sometimes you gotta share the good times with a coworker, you know?" Grinning, he stretched his legs out to the side of their table, then picked up another spoonful of the good stuff.
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 2:38 pm
Danalite snorted again, shaking her head and then making a face. “God, I'm so sorry, I was trying so hard not to laugh. I’ve only been with the Negaverse since February, I had been a stupid little page before that, but I decided to join the winning side of things so I could be stronger. It helps, I’ll tell you that one. And I like myself a lot more.”
Her confidence, her strength, everything had gotten better since her corruption.
“Also, Adonis, I think you should. If she can’t handle one crazy, somewhat rude and scary customer, what good is she really? I hope you’ll give it to me though, I do love starseeds. Beautiful little things.”
Her eyes grew wistful for a moment, as she remembered all of the times she had managed to see glimpses of her own. And how it felt to just have it held and kissed by those who cared for her.
“I’m happy to hang out with you whenever, seriously. I can always use more friends. And you’re fun as hell.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 2:58 pm
"February, huh? And you're already a Captain?" Adonis quirked his brows. She must've been doing good if she got to Captain so early. Or maybe they granted her a promotion as part and parcel to taking her in. That'd be the move of choice, right? Give a Page a power boost to go with choosing the right side of the war.
Sounded like all things were turning out better for her, which was how it should've been. And how it would be for him, soon, eventually, he hoped. Maybe his new Boss would help him out with getting out of construction and into something less soul-sucking.
Adonis cut the banana into his spoonfuls of ice cream as he listened to her. Joined in Feb, and she already had a taste for starseeds? Sounded like she was going the hard and fast route to youmahood, probably. Damn shame, that was, but he couldn't do much for it. They only just met, anyway — if she wanted to turn herself into a monster, that was her business. He'd politely stay out of it.
"Alright, if I rip it out, it's yours. I'll even mail it to you. Or, send some Lieutenant to put it on your desk. Maybe I'll be extra generous and send you a bowl of ice cream with the starseed on top, like the world's most ******** up cherry. How's that sound?" He smiled, then broke into a bit of a chuckle himself. The audacity of it was just — chef's kiss. And if he went through with it? That'd be a ******** trip.
"You free next Saturday? We can grab our quota in half the time, maybe work on grabbing some starseeds, too."
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 3:05 pm
"Yeah, the promotion happened with the bringing me over. I had been a page for quite a while, stupid little thing with a bottle of glitter but. Axinite was quite generous. He brought me over, and gave myself and one of my boys a boost in power for our pains. Great guy he is." Danalite shrugged, rubbing her chest slightly at the memory of how the corruption had hurt. But. That was then. And things were perfect now.
“Oh my god I don’t want to eat it! They’re just really pretty and I like to collect them, that’s all. I’ve never actually eaten one and I don’t really plan on starting now.” She took her own spoon, snagging three cherries on it and eating them with glee. “Still, yes. I’m free next saturday and I would love to hang out with you, so long as we can get ice cream after and you’re.”
Danalite grinned suddenly, waggling her eyebrows. “Treating like you are today. I like that in a man, you know.”
She took another bite, looking thoughtful. “Though. If we do plan to make this a regular outing, perhaps we shouldn’t attack the workers here. It would suck if we picked them off and the place closed because everyone who works here dies…so maybe these fools should be off limits from our wandering hands, deal? Especially if they keep giving us such good service.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 3:17 pm
Ah, so she was one of those types. He wondered if Axinite got a little something-something out of her for his troubles. Adonis thought about it, and…
Naaaaah. The big man was too pent up to let himself go like that.
"No? Well," Adonis paused as he scraped a few spoonfuls out of the side of the bowl. "They're always telling us to keep one on us in case something happens. I hear they're real good for fixing up injuries, or giving you a boost. And they don't taste that bad." He licked the spoon clean. "Really, they taste like crushed hopes and dreams. With sprinkles on top.
"Thing is, though," and he hadn't missed her wink, "I don't mind treating a coworker, but if you're trying to get farther than that? I gotta get to know you first. And if I misinterpreted that? Forget I said anything. Water under the bridge." He made little waves with his empty spoon.
Once the bowl was empty, he stood and stretched. "Ah, man, Dana, you act like this is the only ice cream parlor in town. Don't worry so much about it. Besides, if they shut down? It gives us a chance to try somewhere new."
He beckoned for her to follow once she finished her bowl. As he strode by the counter, he pulled his imaginary pockets inside out and sighed dramatically. "Sorry, folks, looks like I left my wallet in my other pants again. Promise I'll pay you back next time, and don't you worry — there'll be a next time." He shot a wink at their server, who, to his pleasant surprise, managed to hold back her tears.
"Next time, indeed," he murmured to Danalite.
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