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[paged]

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

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[endlesswar]

Right now are you like at the mercy of your department?

[A question out before his own hearty bite of salad. There's soft music playing but nothing too loud. The establishment has become more crowded though. They had perfect timing.]

Did I catch you on a good week?

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[ She is chowing down on her salad, too hungry to really care about "dainty" bites. She shakes her head, smirking as she chews, ]

Any week outside of finals week is a good one.

That's when I disappear and don't talk to anyone. I need to focus and put my all in every project and course.

[endlesswar]

[She's gorgeous. And he has basic table manners that they're both abiding by so really it is no big deal in the end.]

Ooohh. Okay. So say this does go well and you do wanna see my mug again....

[Washing down some salad with water, pacing himself on the wine.]

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[ Her brow creases a little as she pauses long enough to take another swig of wine, ]

I thought you said you were leaving in a month?

[endlesswar]

I am. And that's a month away. Also they got like telephones, letters.... things.

[You know. Means of communication. It's occurred to him for the first time that perhaps being deployed is not something she sees favorably.]

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[ She manages a snort at that, despite not feeling much amusement at the prospect, ]

Let's see how tonight goes, yeah?

[ Because from her end, it's as simple as all that. ]

[endlesswar]

Oh yeah, absolutely.

[Seeing as they're just at salad sooo... Frank has a smile for her and lifts his glass before taking a sip.]

Those people who you were sitting with earlier, those your friends?

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[ She nods, ]

Yeah. Two of them I live with. We share an apartment near the campus. We were in a dorm but wanted more freedom and privacy so we moved out when we found a place. It's worked out pretty well so far.

[endlesswar]

Sounds like a nice arrangement.

[Giving him a sec, he's cleaning away his salad.]

How much more do you have to go before graduating?

[paged]

It can be.

[ She laughs a little, remembering a few times when it... wasn't so nice. But having guys over was definitely one of the reasons they decided to get the apartment in the first place. Then they could have their own rooms for All That. ]

One more year after this one.

[ Just gotta reach that home stretch. ]

[endlesswar]

I bunk with a buddy of mine these days. My folks don't live in the Manhattan anymore. It's a little much, you know?

[As much as they firmly, savagely proclaim they were here first. Thus far Queens is suiting them just fine.]

Hey. That's terrific! Won't be much longer now. Anything you're thinking of doing after?

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Mostly just looking for a job. Eventually move out to live on my own.

[ She shrugs. May not sound exciting to anyone else but it's important to her. She'll genuinely be making a new life for herself and of her own choosing. And one as distanced from her parents as possible. ]

Did you grow up in Manhattan?

[endlesswar]

A job in editing, right?

[See? He's paying attention. And honestly, having a place of your own in the world is a cornerstone of independence.]

Yeah. My grandmother had aboarding house that converted to an apartment complex after she died.

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[ She nods again, pleased he remembered. ]

Most likely. I doubt I'll write a novel of any kind.

[ Following up with, ]

Your parents didn't want to run it?

[endlesswar]

You sound so sure about that?

[He lightly scoots his empty salad plate away and dabs his mouth and chin with a napkin.]

I didn't want to run it. I have an uncle that had dibs. And he's got a wife and kids.

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[ She finishes hers around the same time, licking her lips before bringing a napkin to them. She finishes off her wine, too. ]

You didn't want to stay with them? Sounds like you could've had your dibs on a room, at least.

And no, I really don't think I have the creativity needed for one.

[endlesswar]

[They can go on and talk about her story telling skills later. That's fine. He tilts his head thoughtfully.]

Having a family member in the business helps. I just... wanted my own space for awhile. If I really need the help I'll ask for it. I wanna see how far I can go on my own.

[paged]

[ Her expression turns a little more thoughtful at that and she nods slowly, ]

Yeah. I know how that feels.

[ It's more or less what she's trying to do. She's just determined to stay away for as long as she can. ]

[endlesswar]

Yeah? What part of the city did you live in before school?

[Because everything about her reads New York to him. Frank rubs his hands together as the waiter takes away the salad plates. Karen gets her lasagna. The rest is coming! And soon!]

[paged]

[ She's momentarily distracted from her food by his question, hesitating briefly before picking up her fork again to start cutting at her main dish. ]

Uh, none. Actually. I'm from Vermont.

[endlesswar]

Oh wow. Well, you fit right on in to me.

[Ahhh to even things out Frank's got his entree. The plate is steaming and he's got to blow on it or else be scalded by melty, cheese and noodle goodness.]

What's it like there?

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[ She smirks at that, pleased and even a little relieved to hear it. Taking a bite of her own dish after blowing on it some, she braces herself for the taste. This is it.

Karen is immediately going for another bite, making a sound of pleasure from the first bite, ]

God, that's so good.

[ Sorry, Frank. She's a little distracted. ]

[endlesswar]

[He lifts his fork in solidarity. And because eating along is half the fun. Frank knows what he's in for. And knows it's amazing. His own bite gets a sighing little head tilt. Too busy for more than chewing.]

I told you it would be.

[Please, don't mind him because watching her enjoy herself is a pleasure of its own.]

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[ She's a little slower with it than she was with the salad because she doesn't want to go slinging sauce and cheese everywhere. But She's definitely eating with gusto. She shakes her head. moaning softly again, not even caring if she's making noise, ]

S'not fair. Food this good shouldn't exist.

[ Her wallet is already weeping at future prospects. ]

[endlesswar]

But it does.

[He beams over his own bite and in the moment that's more filled with eating then conversation there's such a genuine warmth and appreciation. Frank hopes that she enjoys his company half as much as she's enjoying her selection.]

Perfect sauce, perfect cheese, just everything is five star flavor.

[At a three star price.]