I Choke, I Crash, I Crawl [Reg]

[RC Manne]

RC really didn’t like to ask for Conrad’s car. It was presumptuous, and he usually needed it for work or doing awesome things (because Conrad is the most awesome, in RC’s mind), but he really didn’t want to take a bus to the Uni to pick up Reggie. Also the fact that the bus didn’t always run on Saturdays…he’d eventually broken down and asked for the keys. Then had come the embarrassing admission that he was going on a date sort of thing, and the teasing, and the whole mill of brotherly activities.

Yet despite it all, RC was strangely un-nervous. His texting with Reggie had gone really well, and while it didn’t account for a face-to-face conversation, it was good to jump into this knowing a little something about her.

Whatever this was.

RC parked in a public lot and walked the rest of the way to the University, meeting Reggie by the entrance she’d indicated, tucked safely into his tattered grey hoodie. He’d scoped some little coffee shops and diners in the block or two surrounding the University, and had seen a couple that caught his eye.

One was a Thai place.

“God I hope she likes Thai food…” RC murmured, peeking over his shoulder to look for Reggie.

[Reggie Earle]

She just secured the last clip to her hair when she realised the time. "Oh my word." She squeaked before running off to grab her boots. As she was zipping it up, she prayed to whoever was listening that RC didn't think she was a complete putz, being late as she was.

Once her bag was secure in her hand, she rushed out of her dorm and practically flew down the stairs and out to where she was supposed to meet RC. The entrance was packed with people going to and from classes and some were heading out and in. She politely excused herself from people she bumped into and finally she saw RC.

A smile spread quickly on her lips as she walked the rest of the way. No use being out of breath when she faced the boy. So unattractive.

He was mumbling something as she crept behind him, patting on his shoulder, containing her smile a bit. "Hey." She waved a little at him, glad she wore the boots because she was now more or less his height instead of being extremely tiny as she had the last time they had met. "Still sporting the badge of honor I see." She had to physically push her hand down from touching the black eye.

[RC Manne]

RC jumped a bit when Reggie tapped his shoulder, turning quickly to face her. His surprise quickly faded into a sleepy smile when he recognized who it was. “Hey!” He ducked his head a bit, some of his shaggy hair falling into his eyes. “Ah…yeah. It’s lookin’ pretty gross. But I guess that means it’s gone soon.” He said sheepishly.

True to what he’d said, the angry bruise had faded to a mottled yellow, green and purple splotch. The redness and mostly ebbed out from his eyes, but it didn’t really look any better. Now it looked like his face had fallen victim to some strange disease as opposed to simply sporting a black eye. No matter, Reggie didn’t seem to mind.

He tilted his head, finding it much easier to meet her eyes than it had been before. “You’re taller?” He leaned back, finally bothering to take in her outfit. She looked fantastic. Really fantastic. RC offered her a dreamy smile. “I guess it’s the boots?” He offered.

Turning to step beside Reggie, RC stuffed his hands in the pockets of his hoody. Chewing his cheek nervously, he held his elbow out to her, wiggling it once a bit like a chicken’s wing, should she want to walk arm in arm with him. He wasn’t sure if she would…but at least he could pass off the gesture if she ignored him. “Are you hungry? I saw some cool looking places on the way in, if you didn’t have any suggestions or whatever.”

[Reggie Earle]

RC's head ducking made Reggie suppress a giggle. Wow what a small gesture from him could do to her. "Maybe you can get an eyepatch for it!" Reggie suggested with a chuckle. "Nah, it'll make everything look less cool." She waved her hand in disagreement.

His comment made Reggie grin widely, stepping back a bit to show him the boots. "My favourite boots ever. My ma bought it for me when I was fifteen." She beamed, and it grew even wider when RC offered his arm. What a gentleman!

She switched the bag from one hand to the other before slipping her arm cautiously. She had to look around to see if anybody was looking before hooking her arm properly on RC's. She may have a slight problem with public touches...maybe.

"I am starving! And no, anything you're good with." She smiled, finally realising that she was about to go on a date. Sure, she had been squealing to her roommate about it the past week but it was finally sinking in. She was on a date! "What did you have in mind?" She asked as they started walking. Reggie let RC lead, since she relinquished all decision making to him.

[RC Manne]

RC looked at her, his face scrunched up dubiously. “I think I’ll pass. I don’t want the pirate jokes to follow me until graduation, y’know.” He said, managing another weak smile. “You think it’s cool? It’s not exactly my favorite accessory.” He sighed heavily. “Jean thought it was cool. Can’t seem to get him to change his mind.” He chuckled.

His eyes grew wide when she explained where the boots came from. “They still fit you from fifteen?! Wow. I wish I could say that about some of my clothes.” RC had been through a few growth spurts, thank god they were slowing down. Now his biggest problem was swimming: his shoulders were getting broader and muscular, and some of his shirts a little too tight for his liking.

“Do you like Thai food?” RC ventured cautiously. Not a lot of people did, and he almost bothered to cross his fingers about it.

[Reggie Earle]

Reggie bit her lower lip to contain her laughter at his statement. "Maybe hold off on the eyepatch." She nodded decisively before leaning in against him sort of affectionately when he spoke of Jean. "Maybe I'm dating the wrong brother." She teased before shaking her head. "Nah, I'm pretty good at decision making." She looked at him and gave a big smile. "But I insist on meeting Jean some day."

"My feet were comically large back then and they stopped growing. So yeah." She explained with a laugh, not at all uncomfortable with naming parts of her body she didn't quite like. At least her boots made her legs look good.

RC's question brought a small laugh from the petite girl. "I eat anything. I swear, if you ask Carter, he'd tell you I'm a pig." She covered her face with one hand and shook her head. "Never ask my brother about my eating habits, please." She sighed before squeezing the arm her hand was currently wrapped around.

[RC Manne]

RC laughed outright, shaking his head. “He is the ladies man of the family. Even if he’s barely thirteen. And you’ll meet them all someday, I’m sure.” Then he paused, looking at her in an odd fashion, as if she’d sprouted another head. Dating? Were they dating? Was that bad? No way. That was good. Very good. Sheepishly clearing his throat, he looked to his shoes, then shyly back to Reggie. “Are we? Dating, I mean?”

After an odd pause, RC stared at her feet, steering them toward where he remembered by the map he’d made staring at the sidewalk. “You’re feet aren’t big.” He murmured. “and I live with dudes. There is no such thing a pig, in my book.” RC felt warm at the back of his neck when Reggie squeezed his arm, something like butterflies, but it didn’t make him feel like he wanted to puke (like he usually did with girls).

It was just nice. Very nice.

“I love thai food.” He added off-handedly. The spicy smell drew them in to the small restaurant as they rounded a corner.

[Reggie Earle]

Reggie chuckled lightly at RC's sentiment of his younger brother before realising what she had let slip in all her excitement. At first she worried that she had come on too strong. She looked up and tried to see if RC minded at all and found that he was looking at her...expectantly. It was the answer she needed. Her cheeks heated up and she ducked her head slightly before nodding. "I hope so," came a soft reply before she looked up, gulping inaudibly. "Only if you're okay with that." She grinned up at him, matching his shyness with her own.

Looking down at what RC was staring at, Reggie's cheeks heated up even more at his words. "Thank you, RC." She smiled softly before laughing at his next statement. "Well, if you say so." She stared at him until she realised she was actually staring at him. Turning away, she laughed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and continued walking, tugging at RC's arm.

"Cool. I'll keep that in mind." Reggie bumped him lightly on the shoulder and turned the corner and walked into the place, settling at a table immediately.

[RC Manne]

In most social situations, whooping and hollering for joy are not okay. Generally they’re only accepted in betting situations, and they were especially inappropriate when celebrating an incredibly unexpected but totally awesome relationship (?) thing. RC felt like whooping, but settled for smiling. “Way okay.” He enthused. “More than okay.”

Man she was cute. And his girlfriend…or something? Whatever. The point was, she was very cute, very sweet, and being rather like all of the things any boy like RC hoped for in a girl. “I do say so.”

Settling in the other chair across from Reggie, RC let out a heavy breath. He was reluctant to let her hand slip from his arm, but it was probably for the best. When the waitress came by with the menus, Raoul thanked her and waited for Reggie to place her drink order. For himself he ordered and glass of milk and a glass of water before staring intently at the menu, searching for his favorite: Tom Yum soup.

“Have you eaten here before?” He asked, peeking over his menu at her.

[Reggie Earle]

Reggie had trouble sustaining her glee when RC expressed enthusiasm at the 'okayness' of this union. She was also more than okay with it. It was going a lot faster than she had fathomed but RC was just so darned cute. She didn't even care that he was younger than her. He seemed fairly more mature than any other guy her age she had met.

And he knew exactly what to say to make her feel good about herself. Which really wasn't that hard to to begin with. But the fact that he was actively doing so spoke volumes.

She ordered a bottle of chilled water and perused through the menu before deciding on a shrimp and garlic noodle when RC's question brought her head up from the menu. She shook her head with a small smile. "I usually order in but I don't think this place has delivery." She chuckled lightly. "Are you ready to order?" She asked, setting the menu down.

Adjusting herself in the seat, she called a waiter's attention and pointed out what she wanted. "I'll have one of these with a side of the green chilli paste and a bowl of stir fried noodles. Thank you." She smiled up at the waiter just in time to see someone else bringing their drinks.

Speedy service, they needed to have a delivery system.

[RC Manne]

RC nodded, but it didn’t really seem he had a choice. Ready or not, a waiter was nearby to take their orders. Fortunately RC was fairly easy to placate when it came to Thai food. “Can I have the Tom Yum soup and a side of sticky rice please?” He ordered after her, handing over
the menus just as the drinks were set before them. He blinked, impressed.

“You’re right, I didn’t see a delivery menu for this place, but they move real fast. I bet they’d make tons of money being so close to the school.” RC ran his fingers nervously over his silverware still wrapped in the napkin, the remnants of his foolish grin still lingering on his lips. He was still worried that he might wake up, but for now he was going to try to enjoy himself.

“So how was your week? Classes good?” RC inquired genuinely. He knew her major, but nothing about her schedule. Was she still stuck in general education classes? Or would she be in classes tailored to her major? RC wasn’t quite sure how Universities worked anyway, it’d be a nice way to learn…y’know—

From his girlfriend (or something).

[Reggie Earle]

Twisting the bottle cap open, she set it down and took a sip of the water as RC ordered. She briefly wondered if RC was the type to share his food.

"I think so too. They'd definitely flourish. And with the business they get here, it'd be worth it." Reggie grinned, realising she was talking about the weirdest thing on a date. She noticed his hand skirting the napkin and she grinned. He was just as nervous as she was. She quickly pushed all thought out of her head and reached one hand out to press on RC's.

She didn't draw attention to the gesture as RC asked his question. "My week was good. Classes are...classes," she shrugged with a grin. "I refuse to bore you with school talk." She laughed lightly. "You're graduating right? That must be exciting."

[RC Manne]

“Maybe we can suggest it on the way out. I’m sure there’s a manager on duty.” RC murmured thoughtfully. He wondered briefly what sort of business changes would need to be made to have take out from a restaurant. Would they need more cooks? Obviously they’d need delivery people….

His thoughts trailed away when Reggie’s hand rested on his. He blinked down at them, her fingers against his, blushed hotly, and looked up at her with a smile. Turning his hand so that it was open, he folded her fingers in his palm, tenderly taking her hand without entwining their fingers.

He shrugged. “I don’t think it’s boring. School is important…sometimes cool things happen, right?” He ventured, hoping to keep the conversation on her, though it seemed she would have none of it. RC sucked in a tight breath, looking momentarily excited before he cooled down again. “Yeah! I mean, one year left…it’s weird sort of. I still don’t know what I want to do in college.”

[Reggie Earle]

Reggie made a small sound of agreement as she smiled at his idea.

She couldn't have guessed how RC felt about the hand holding but at least he didn't pull away so that was a good sign at least. Then the fact that he pulled her closer made her grin even wider. It didn't even occur to her that what she was doing was a blatant display of affection.

"Well...I guess," she shrugged delicately. "We did have this sort of peer interaction thing in class where we had to continue a story without using 'and'. It was kind of grade school-ish but we had fun with that exercise." She nodded. She really wanted to steer the conversation away from herself so she was excited with him as he spoked about graduation and his fears, sort of.

"You have about a year of general studies to think about that, I think. And you could always do one major and one minor if you think you can handle that. But at least you'll have choices." She suggested.

When the waiter came with their side dishes and sauce, Reggie hesitantly let RC's hand go. Her hand suddenly felt cold as she grinned up at the waiter. "Thank you." She turned back to RC and smiled. "So what are your interests? Besides games and French?"

[RC Manne]

“Without using ‘and’?” RC repeated, obviously impressed. “I couldn’t do that. That’s…Huh.” He trailed off into though about how much he used ‘and,’ still baffled by the fact that it could be eliminated. He was definitely not a language guy. Scratching his head with his free hand, he smiled at Reggie. “Impressive that you guys made it through, even if it was sorta lame.”

Chewing his cheek, RC thought about gen ed and the opportunities it would give him to settle out his major. “Yeah, but that stuff is just like…high school part two, isn’t it?” He asked, shrugging one shoulder shyly. “I’m sure I can handle it. Maybe it’s just the choices that are tripping me up.” He said, shaking his head.

RC curled his fingers into his palm when Reggie had to withdraw her fingers, looking slightly forlorn about it. He sat back a bit in his seat and shook the hair from his eyes, looking a bit bewildered. “Uh…me?” He said stupidly. He colored a little bit.

Great, now she would discover he was boring.

“Well, I swim. I’m on the swim team, I mean.” RC fumbled through the brief explanation. “It’s non-competitive at Hammel…but I’m hoping I can get a scholarship out of it.” He rubbed his arm absently and chuckling. “Plus it’s great exercise.”

He made sure to leave out the part where he’d gotten into the scuffle that caused his black eye with one of his team mates. That was something that Reggie didn’t really need to know. Ever.