❢ open rp ❢

[paged]

hit me with your best shot ❢ meme continuations ❢ aus ❢ idek

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[ Well. She wasn't expecting that. It's so... sweet. She actually feels her chest tighten and cheeks get warm. She takes the offered flower with a polite nod. ]

Thank you.

[ She gives it a sniff before shaking her head, ]

Can't say I've heard of it. My friends tend to hit the sushi bar or curry places.

[ And looking up at the sky, she shrugs, ]

The weather is nice enough for us to walk?

[endlesswar]

As a person who likes lasagna you're in for a treat.

[Asian fusion places are the rage right now. Frank puts his hands in his pockets and tilts his head.]

I don't mind. Nice to take a stroll now and again. I'm usually doing laps and don't take much time to smell the flowers.

[paged]

Glad to hear it.

[ Because she actually skipped lunch without meaning to today. Looking over at him as they walk, ]

"Laps"?

[endlesswar]

It's a sweet mom and pop place. That's all I'll say. I think you should make your own assessment.

[It is a pretty day. The spring is warming up slowly but surely in the city. And there is a light breeze and sunshine.]

Yeah I'm going to bootcamp in a month and a half. Trying to get used to the physical activity on the daily.

[paged]

[ The guy was telling the truth about his playing so she'll believe what he says about this restaurant.

Though the mention of bootcamp shocks her some. ]

Bootcamp? Seriously?

[endlesswar]

[That tone. What. Frank's brow furrows and he laughs a little.]

Yeah. I'm going to be a third generation Marine.

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[ Her brows go even more. Third generation? Shit. ]

I--I had no idea. I thought maybe you were a jock or a music major.

[ She laughs again, realizing how silly her assumptions sound when said out loud. ]

[endlesswar]

[Their steps slow and he isn't sure if this is good shock or bad.]

Can't a guy do em all?

[The question doesn't betray any worming doubt.]

[paged]

[ She turns to him some, ]

Yeah! Of course! I'm just... not used to it.

[ She then faces forward again, continuing to walk in the direction she's assuming they were to continue on to leave the campus, ]

Most guys I know tend to stick to one thing. Until they change their minds.

[endlesswar]

I like to keep busy in my way.

[They are still on the move. A few blocks more to go. Though it seems as if this new detail is indeed a surprise.]

Well, uh I knew since I was a kid I wanted to be a soldier. They're people too. I'm not athletic enough to get a scholarship of any kind in these parts or an academic grant. The GI Bill will help me get by.

[See? Got his future planned out so far.]

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[ A lot more planned out than her own feels like. ]

Yeah but what made you want to? Because other people in your family have?

[endlesswar]

In part yeah. My old man had some stories. My grandfather too. More than that... I feel like all that I have is because of what this country gave my family despite Mussolini. And there are more deserving people that'll come after me who aren't ripe for a fight.

[Putting it to words though. That's never been the easy part.]

Byron went to war. Hemingway too.

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Your family is from Italy?

[ Her family has been here long enough that it's easy to take that for granted. She's also estranged from her parents so any family pride she might have felt once is long gone.

She can't help snorting at that latter half, ]

That they did. But Byron was a selfish douchebag despite his talents and Hemingway was a sexist asshole that thought torturing bulls was fun and cheating his multiple wives was okay.

[endlesswar]

Yeah. There'd be more of us if it weren't for hard times.

[Though that could be said for anyone. He really doesn't want to go over the whole nitty gritty on a first date. Karen's gift of words makes him smile, he shakes his head.]

Service is a gift that doesn't undo all the other unflattering aspects of a person. ...yeah.

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[ She sighs to herself, ]

Sorry, I'm--I've been told I'm very opinionated.

It puts people off.

[endlesswar]

Same here.

[Now he's smiling like she had given him the verbal equivalent of a daisy.]

You haven't said anything wrong.

[paged]

You? You seem pretty chill to me.

[endlesswar]

I got my hotblooded moments. Don't you worry.

[He lightly touches her arm because they've come to a corner. Just guiding her to take a left.]

Time and a place. In your company sure don't need to be touchy. You told me like it is. I can do the same.

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[ She takes the left, laughing, crossing her arms as they continue to walk, ]

I have been told Italians have a temper. Never thought there was much stock in it and was just something the movies made up.

[endlesswar]

Some things have a shred of truth to em. Not in every case. They say blondes are dumb. And you...seem plenty smart to me.

[There's a wink there. Look out Karen. All the charm is out. Like it or not.]

What're you studying, Karen?

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[ She scoffs at that wink but ends up laughing and grinning anyway. Not bad, Frank, not bad.

She shrugs, ]

I know it's considered a pretty useless degree but I'm going for a BA in English. I know I want to write. Or at least get a job as an editor at a publishing house. I feel like that kind of work matters a lot when you're basically helping to get ideas out there to people.

[endlesswar]

[Their brief acquaintance is established by Karen accepting that Frank has little to no shame. Knowing that she liked the wink anyway is a good sign in his book.]

Editor huh? What about a reporter? That's a sure way to be a voice of the people. You're not afraid to speak up.

[Another light touch on her arm as he guides her to a place with a flying Italian flag and faux columns framing the door.]

[paged]

Now you're just talking about a good way for me to get shot. Write some editorial that pisses someone off and that's all it takes.

[ But hey, at least the restaurant looks nice from the outside. The smells coming from it as they get closer just makes her stomach growl. ]

[endlesswar]

Hey, I will defend your right to say whatever you like and the rights of the dick head who thinks bullets are an extension of his penis.

[Even as he's saying awful words that would make his Mama smack him, he's holding the door open for Karen to let her in.]

We got a table for two for Frank.

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[ That gets another laugh from him, unable to help it. She gives his other arm a smack as she walks in, ]

I can't believe you just said that out loud.

[ But she waits for him by the door, turning back to him, surprised once again, ]

You made reservations?