[But surely enough, Scott will be waiting or meeting Maelle right on time after about 30 minutes. And hey, he's actually dressed a little nicer than normal-- some nicer cargo pants and a blue shirt and brown jacket that Sophie 'forced' onto him because she decided to help overhaul his wardrobe. It's fine.]
[Anything outside of her Expedition uniform has some sort of Sophie or Sciel influence--in this case, jeans and a slightly cropped black t-shirt because that's apparently the style. Not that Maelle knows. Either way, she appears with a smile.]
Hey. You ready?
[Weird to hang out with someone that isn't Sophie or someone that lives with her. How do you do this?]
[There's one passing thought that runs through his mind as he sees Maelle, one that can't help but think she looks pretty cute in that outfit, but he doesn't say anything and only raises his hand in greeting as she walks over to him. Yeah, well, there's always something with redheads with Scott--]
Born ready, Maelle.
[Trying to act cool even now-- but he seems to take point, the teen bumping his shoulder into hers as he smiles.] So, pastries first, right? Then walking around.
Stop, everything you're saying gets more depressing by the second.
[He's still teasing, really. A light jab even as he starts leading the way-- towards whatever closest coffee shop is nearby. Mostly for the pastries and since it is cooling down... maybe they can grab some hot chocolate too? He wonders if she ever tried that before.
Only one way to find out.]
Besides, you have me around now. Your resident expert of all things cool. [Somehow saying that with a straight face.]
[Or, you know, the only other person she's really explained her world to. It's a compliment, at least. Maelle really likes Sophie. It's why she let her drag her to this and that. And if she hadn't allowed that, she might not have met Scott.]
... except she's pretty cool. Maybe expert level. You'll have to convince me otherwise.
[Another small playful nudge against her side because wow.]
Are you saying that I'm not as cool? So deeply hurt, Maelle. Wounded. [Of course that means he definitely has to convince her otherwise. Luckily, they'll have like all day to hang out and do that, hopefully. Just. Chilling and eating pastries and walking around without something stupid happening. No fog or anything.
And at least he knows what she actually looks like without a tint of ruby quartz from his glasses.]
But yeah, Sophie is pretty neat I guess.
[A small acknowledgement of that, especially if Maelle is at all worried about how he was during after all the fog stuff.]
[Okay, guess he's actually being real for once. Even if it's easy to be endlessly teasing about Sophie, he honestly would not know where he'd be if she wasn't here. Probably pissed and alone in his own way because that's his normal go to before Alex helped him up and he's not here.
Not that she's replaced his older brother or anything. Although speaking of older brother/father figures...]
I guess I should meet your old man at some point, huh? He's so worried about you.
[He jokes, even though he knows full well that their world is pretty much shit and horrible. They're trying to get away from that general feeling.]
No promises.
[But honestly, anyone that willingly took in Maelle and looked after her is pretty alright in Scott's book. Hell, even Sophie is asking advice from him. Not that he's anxious or worried about making a bad impression, but uh, he's keeping that in mind maybe.]
Buuut I will promise that today is gonna be cool and stuff. Actually, there's a place I wanna take you to after we grab pastries. I just remembered about it.
Well, if I tell you right now, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore.
[He's gotta keep her in suspense!! It also might be a little embarrassing to admit to Maelle that he's planning on taking her to a flower field-- a place that Shadow showed him all those months ago. His hedgehog friend is long gone, but he sometimes visits it when he wants some alone time.]
It's all about the anticipation. [And just to be a dick, he starts to walk a little slower.] But we can still take our time.
Damn, when you put it that way, it almost sounds cool being around here.
[Which, maybe isn't entirely wrong?? These between moments of stupid missions can be kind of nice, just hanging out with... friends and stuff. And. He's finally made those, huh? Maybe he's noticed a bit more too after losing some of the baggage he's been carrying.]
Yeah but you'd be hanging out with a bunch of old people, which sucks. [And Scott wonders why people think he's an ass-- no, he knows.]
And you wouldn't be giving chocolate pastries with me. Hard to argue with that, right?
[They're really close by now, as if to add to his argument.]
Please, they're not that bad. Makes me wonder what kind of old people you know.
[She quite enjoys her time with them, actually. Sometimes she really enjoys sitting in the living room while Gustave, Sciel, and Lune talk about this or that.]
But you're right, I probably wouldn't be doing this.
[It's her turn to nudge him first with her elbow.]
What did you want to drink?
[She'll order for them. She likes talking to the bots.]
Ordering for me? Well, if you insist... hot chocolate.
[He's not much of a coffee guy, not yet, but something warm in this cooling weather sounds good. Besides, chocolate pastries and hot chocolate? He thinks that's a great combination.]
Going to order the same as me? [He smiles, almost teasingly.] Come on, we gotta match.
[There's a bounce in her step as she goes to order from the bot working the cafe. It's a cute place--]
I haven't been here before. I'm starting to realize I should... probably get out a little more. There are so many places to see, here. More than NYX and the apartments.
[This time, he bites any sarcastic commentary, the mutant tilting his head slightly as he fully takes in her words. She really is kind of a shut in, huh? Maelle reminds him of a good friend he made back home, someone that also had a hard time making friends and...
He smiles, something sincere for once taking hold of him.]
Yeah, there's some pretty cool places here. Seems kind of boring to stay cooped up in just two buildings when there's a lot out here. [...] We don't have to see everything all in one day, we can do this again, you know?
[With their twin orders put in, Maelle listens to Scott with a pleasant smile. It grows when he says they could do this again--it sounds like a good idea to her.]
Are you sure you want to say that? We've barely started this adventure. You might find you don't want to spend a minute more with me.
[Another bump of his shoulders against hers, teasing but still edging on something supporting because didn't she mention that she didn't a lot of friends back home? If just because of the nature of her world. Yeah sure, he didn't have a lot either, but it's just different.]
If I didn't want to hang out with you I would've told you from the start. Seriously, you're like one of the cooler people around.
[What's with the doubt!! When has he ever led her astray?? Scott snorts though, clearly not taking any offense to her reaction. Besides, there is something nice about her admitting that she'll always remember his compliment, even if she's joking mostly. It's why he doesn't put too much focus on it, instead sliding ahead so that he can grab their hot chocolate and pastries as they become ready.]
Don't worry I got this.
[Just Scott grabbing both hot chocolates and trying to hold the bags of pastries to his chest before walking over to Maelle like this.]
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[But surely enough, Scott will be waiting or meeting Maelle right on time after about 30 minutes. And hey, he's actually dressed a little nicer than normal-- some nicer cargo pants and a blue shirt and brown jacket that Sophie 'forced' onto him because she decided to help overhaul his wardrobe. It's fine.]
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Hey. You ready?
[Weird to hang out with someone that isn't Sophie or someone that lives with her. How do you do this?]
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Born ready, Maelle.
[Trying to act cool even now-- but he seems to take point, the teen bumping his shoulder into hers as he smiles.] So, pastries first, right? Then walking around.
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Yeah, sure. I don't really know what else we could do. I don't get out much.
[Well, that's not entirely true. She just doesn't get out with people her age.]
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[He's still teasing, really. A light jab even as he starts leading the way-- towards whatever closest coffee shop is nearby. Mostly for the pastries and since it is cooling down... maybe they can grab some hot chocolate too? He wonders if she ever tried that before.
Only one way to find out.]
Besides, you have me around now. Your resident expert of all things cool. [Somehow saying that with a straight face.]
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[Or, you know, the only other person she's really explained her world to. It's a compliment, at least. Maelle really likes Sophie. It's why she let her drag her to this and that. And if she hadn't allowed that, she might not have met Scott.]
... except she's pretty cool. Maybe expert level. You'll have to convince me otherwise.
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Are you saying that I'm not as cool? So deeply hurt, Maelle. Wounded. [Of course that means he definitely has to convince her otherwise. Luckily, they'll have like all day to hang out and do that, hopefully. Just. Chilling and eating pastries and walking around without something stupid happening. No fog or anything.
And at least he knows what she actually looks like without a tint of ruby quartz from his glasses.]
But yeah, Sophie is pretty neat I guess.
[A small acknowledgement of that, especially if Maelle is at all worried about how he was during after all the fog stuff.]
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[No mention of any tears she may or may have not seen in the past from him, just gentle teasing with an equally as gentle nudge back.]
There's definitely worse than her. She's very [what's a good word for being A LOT] encouraging.
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...Yeah, she really looks out for me.
[Okay, guess he's actually being real for once. Even if it's easy to be endlessly teasing about Sophie, he honestly would not know where he'd be if she wasn't here. Probably pissed and alone in his own way because that's his normal go to before Alex helped him up and he's not here.
Not that she's replaced his older brother or anything. Although speaking of older brother/father figures...]
I guess I should meet your old man at some point, huh? He's so worried about you.
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He signed adoption paperwork, you know. There was a whole part where it says he has to worry.
[Only part of that is a joke, and Maelle smiles, hands clasp behind her back as her ponytail swishes behind her.]
You really should meet him, though. Maybe don't call him an old man to his face until the third or fourth meeting, yeah?
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[He jokes, even though he knows full well that their world is pretty much shit and horrible. They're trying to get away from that general feeling.]
No promises.
[But honestly, anyone that willingly took in Maelle and looked after her is pretty alright in Scott's book. Hell, even Sophie is asking advice from him. Not that he's anxious or worried about making a bad impression, but uh, he's keeping that in mind maybe.]
Buuut I will promise that today is gonna be cool and stuff. Actually, there's a place I wanna take you to after we grab pastries. I just remembered about it.
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[Lune and Sciel are exempt from being called Old despite being the same age as Gustave.]
Oh, yeah? Do I get a hint about this place you've just remembered, or is it a surprise?
[A beat.]
Actually, I probably wouldn't get it even with a hint. So... where are we gonna go?
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[He's gotta keep her in suspense!! It also might be a little embarrassing to admit to Maelle that he's planning on taking her to a flower field-- a place that Shadow showed him all those months ago. His hedgehog friend is long gone, but he sometimes visits it when he wants some alone time.]
It's all about the anticipation. [And just to be a dick, he starts to walk a little slower.] But we can still take our time.
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I have nothing but time. No job, no school, no saving the world between missions...
[No Paintress painting away their lives. It's still strange to think about possibly living for a very long time, now. Every day feels like extra.]
If we weren't hanging out I'd just be at the apartment.
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[Which, maybe isn't entirely wrong?? These between moments of stupid missions can be kind of nice, just hanging out with... friends and stuff. And. He's finally made those, huh? Maybe he's noticed a bit more too after losing some of the baggage he's been carrying.]
Yeah but you'd be hanging out with a bunch of old people, which sucks. [And Scott wonders why people think he's an ass-- no, he knows.]
And you wouldn't be giving chocolate pastries with me. Hard to argue with that, right?
[They're really close by now, as if to add to his argument.]
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[She quite enjoys her time with them, actually. Sometimes she really enjoys sitting in the living room while Gustave, Sciel, and Lune talk about this or that.]
But you're right, I probably wouldn't be doing this.
[It's her turn to nudge him first with her elbow.]
What did you want to drink?
[She'll order for them. She likes talking to the bots.]
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[He's not much of a coffee guy, not yet, but something warm in this cooling weather sounds good. Besides, chocolate pastries and hot chocolate? He thinks that's a great combination.]
Going to order the same as me? [He smiles, almost teasingly.] Come on, we gotta match.
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[There's a bounce in her step as she goes to order from the bot working the cafe. It's a cute place--]
I haven't been here before. I'm starting to realize I should... probably get out a little more. There are so many places to see, here. More than NYX and the apartments.
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He smiles, something sincere for once taking hold of him.]
Yeah, there's some pretty cool places here. Seems kind of boring to stay cooped up in just two buildings when there's a lot out here. [...] We don't have to see everything all in one day, we can do this again, you know?
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Are you sure you want to say that? We've barely started this adventure. You might find you don't want to spend a minute more with me.
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[Another bump of his shoulders against hers, teasing but still edging on something supporting because didn't she mention that she didn't a lot of friends back home? If just because of the nature of her world. Yeah sure, he didn't have a lot either, but it's just different.]
If I didn't want to hang out with you I would've told you from the start. Seriously, you're like one of the cooler people around.
[Yeah, 'cool.']
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[Doubt. Maelle pretends to need to take a step to not topple from that nudge, laughing.]
What a compliment! I'll remember it always, Scott.
[She jokes, but. Maybe she will.]
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[What's with the doubt!! When has he ever led her astray?? Scott snorts though, clearly not taking any offense to her reaction. Besides, there is something nice about her admitting that she'll always remember his compliment, even if she's joking mostly. It's why he doesn't put too much focus on it, instead sliding ahead so that he can grab their hot chocolate and pastries as they become ready.]
Don't worry I got this.
[Just Scott grabbing both hot chocolates and trying to hold the bags of pastries to his chest before walking over to Maelle like this.]
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[Not really. Maelle smiles and steps up so she can take her drink and pastry before anything tragic can happen.]
There. What way are we going?
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