Ivy and Chrome PbP Forums

Dane runs the math in his head, weighing complete honesty against playing it down. What Kendal confided to him feels like it should stay between them—for now. He shakes his head slightly. “Nah, you know me. Most of the time I’m buried in a computer screen at the library.” His feet scuff against the ground as he debates saying more. After a moment, he looks back up at her. “She mostly wanted to talk about… well, you and me. Said we looked like a cute couple and wanted to give me some advice. Not that we ever really got to the advice part. But I think maybe we’re on the way to being better friends.” He leaves it there, keeping Kendal’s shift toward something more personal locked away. Some variables are better left untested—at least for now.

"I see," she replies, blank faced. "I think you're doing just fine without her advice. How's her crush on Teddy working out?"

Dane wonders if he detects a hint of iciness in her voice or if he’s only hearing it because he expects it. oO If only life had a revert button. Yesterday was simpler. Oo

“Don’t know about Teddy, but she was quick to worry it might’ve been him on the obstacle course.” He gives a quick rundown of the idiot shouting someone had died, then adds, “Kendal got pretty shaken for a minute there—guess that’s natural when you think someone you care about might be gone.”

Knowing that rumors are inevitable, he decides to open up a little more about his morning. “Honestly, people might start talking about Kendal and I just because they saw us together this morning. You know how fast things spread around here and how people jump to conclusions. I just don’t want you hearing it from someone else and thinking there’s more to it than there really was. I mean, look at how many people thought we were couple just because we spent some time hanging out together yesterday.” He forces himself to meet her eyes. “Meg… I really enjoyed yesterday. No one’s ever treated me that nicely before. I’d like to spend more time with you—get to know you as more than just the pretty woman at the library who’s nice to me.” He tries a smile, but it comes out crooked, more half-grimace than charm. Luckily, his gray eyes carry the sincerity his expression fails to.

“Maybe we can quit talking about Kendal,” he adds, lighter, more question than statement, “And start talking strategy. Like how we’re going to crush this three-legged race.”

"Yeah... good idea," She smiles with suspicious eyes.

After a few moments of walking silence, other than the crowd, she says, "Dane, you're not very good at this." She laughs, "It's cute in a way; watching you flounder and try to explain yourself." She takes his hand on the inside, interlocking fingers, "It's okay, you'll get used to it. Why are you so worried?"

“Well…” Dane starts to answer, but his intellectual side intercepts the short, dismissive reply he almost gave. After a pause—his brain trying to reroute around the distraction of Meg’s hand in his—he continues.

“I can sit in front of a computer all day and dive down pathways hardly anyone’s ever explored, no problem. I’ll chase one thread, surface for air, then dive back down another just to see where it goes. That part makes sense to me. But with real people… you, and, uh, others—” he lets the implied Kendal hang unspoken—“I don’t have any grounding. No real point of reference.”

His tone is more serious than the words alone might suggest, as if there’s something deeper beneath the surface. “The last twenty-four hours have felt like that obstacle course over there.” He gestures in its direction with his free hand. “One minute I’m swinging across some chasm, not sure if there’s a platform waiting or just a drop, and the next I’m climbing a wall with my heart racing, surprised I even made it that far.”

He falls quiet again, walking beside her, content to let the silence stretch while he takes comfort in the simple fact of her hand in his.

“Well…” Dane starts to answer, but his intellectual side intercepts the short, dismissive reply he almost gave. After a pause; his brain trying to reroute around the distraction of Meg’s hand in his... he continues.

“I can sit in front of a computer all day and dive down pathways hardly anyone’s ever explored, no problem. I’ll chase one thread, surface for air, then dive back down another just to see where it goes. That part makes sense to me. But with real people… you, and, uh, others...” he lets the implied Kendal hang unspoken, “I don’t have any grounding. No real point of reference.”

His tone is more serious than the words alone might suggest, as if there’s something deeper beneath the surface. “The last twenty-four hours have felt like that obstacle course over there.” He gestures in its direction with his free hand. “One minute I’m swinging across some chasm, not sure if there’s a platform waiting or just a drop, and the next I’m climbing a wall with my heart racing, surprised I even made it that far.”

He falls quiet again, walking beside her, content to let the silence stretch while he takes comfort in the simple fact of her hand in his.

Meg gives his hand a tight squeeze, "That almost sounded poetic. You described that so well that I could understand you and it makes sense. Have you thought of writing?"

Murmurs through the crowd sound somewhat excited when Felix Coulee runs out of the Bottoms Up, "He did it! Frank beat stage one!"

OOC: Dane is officially halfway to level 1

OOC: Dane is officially halfway to level 1

OOC: Woohoo!
"Thanks." Dane replies quickly. "I've never really put any thought towards writing. I just...well, with you I feel comfortable saying stuff that's on my mind." He obviously does better speaking when he has time to think and formulate his response; making sure that the logic flows rather than rushing into a response and having things come out haphazardly.

"Thanks." Dane replies quickly. "I've never really put any thought towards writing. I just...well, with you I feel comfortable saying stuff that's on my mind." He obviously does better speaking when he has time to think and formulate his response; making sure that the logic flows rather than rushing into a response and having things come out haphazardly.

"Well, you're at the computer enough. Why not?" She smiles.

Felix runs over to Meg and Dane, "Hey! Did you hear? Frank beat stage one! And so did Teddy!" A confused look crosses his face, "And what is Vagincool? Customers are coming in asking for the stuff."

"Uh sorry, Mr. Coulee," Meg responds, "I don't know what it is, but Dane and I are late for the signups!" She grabs Dane's hand and leads him towards the three-legged races.

Dane glances at Meg to read her face. That was a pretty cold greeting for Felix....icy even. He contemplates that turn of events as they head towards sign-ups.

"Uh sorry, Mr. Coulee," Meg responds, "I don't know what it is, but Dane and I are late for the signups!" She grabs Dane's hand and leads him towards the three-legged races.

Dane glances at Meg to read her face. That was a pretty cold greeting for Felix... icy even. He contemplates that turn of events as they head towards sign-ups. She seems determined to reach the race signups, but adds, "Sorry, I wasn't interested in hearing about Frank and his new brews or getting lucky at that obstacle course." She tightens her grip as they go sign in and reach the starting line, where every pair has their legs tied to each other.

"That makes sense." Seeing everyone else getting ready to go he quickly ads "Looks like we better hurry. Sorry I made us late." He proceeds to the registration desk and offers to pay for them both before proceeding to help get them tied together and ready for the race.