hippie_ninja | IC INBOX

hippie_ninja

This is Jesus. Leave a message.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

hippie_ninja

I'm headed there now.

From:

braveoff

Cool. See you soon.

[ Drake cuts the call, heading out right away so he can get there in case the guards give Jesus any trouble. It's way worse moving around the city as an uncontracted sub.

There's nothing terribly distinctive about Drake -- he's a big guy, tall and muscular, but not exceptionally anything in particular. Still, there's only one person just waiting around when Jesus arrives, and he's got the same casual friendly energy in person, body language relaxed and open. Drake lifts a hand to wave when he spots Jesus, letting the newcomer approach him rather than the other way around. ]

From:

hippie_ninja

[ He feels a little naked being out in the world without armor, without even his leather coat. But he leaves the coat at home because he's discovered that being slathered in rotting walker guts doesn't wash out as well as everyone thinks it does. He hadn't noticed until he came here, where people smell like soap and laundry detergent and sweat.

He lifts a hand back, and offers a smile when he's in talking range. ]

Good to see you.

From:

braveoff

Yeah, nice to meet you. I think I know just the place, if you can stand a really questionably sexualized menu.

[ This city really loves drowning everything in innuendo. Drake got used to it a long time ago and just thinks it's funny now, but Jesus is new enough it might still be weird. ]

From:

hippie_ninja

[He laughs lightly] You mean more than just hotdogs and tacos?

From:

braveoff

Oh, so much worse. It's a chicken place -- they went a little overboard with cock jokes.

From:

hippie_ninja

[He raises his eyebrows] I've got to see this.

From:

braveoff

[ Hold on to that sense of humor, Jesus, you're gonna need it around here. ]

Remember you chose this when it's time to order. Follow me.

From:

hippie_ninja

All right, but you should tell me your favorite joke off the menu when we get there.

From:

braveoff

[ Drake laughs softly and nods in agreement, leading the way to the restaurant. It's not a long walk, and soon enough he's holding open the door of a fast casual chicken joint with a neon rooster bolted to the front of the building. His expression as Jesus heads in is very much 'I warned you,' but it does smell pretty fantastic inside.

The menu is indeed ridiculous, with dishes and combos named semi-randomly after whatever chicken themed innuendo they thought of. You can choose your preferred parts (helpfully pointed out on a sexy hen pinup on the wall) and preparation. They do seem to offer a wide variety, from the "glistening cock" glazed bbq to fried "bone(r) in" options to "spitroast"ed with fixings. Onion rings are cock rings. The sauces are lubes. It's all extremely blatant and silly. ]

So I think my favorite joke is that you order nuggets in "nugg"sacs, but that isn't actually what I get here.

From:

hippie_ninja

[ Jesus is a fairly quiet person but he can't help laughing. Especially at the pinup chick. Drake need not have worried, the ridiculous is a wonderful change of pace. ]

I'm tempted to order based on name, but what's actually good?

From:

braveoff

[ Oh good -- they're on the same page, then, and it bodes well for Jesus adjusting to the city in general. It's also just nice to hear somebody laugh. ]

Nothing's ever been bad? If you can't decide based on what sounds good to you name's as good a way to go as anything. I'm a barbecue guy but my partner likes the Korean-style wings best.

You said it's been awhile, right? Go for nostalgia.

From:

hippie_ninja

[Nostalgia is a new and novel concept, and he's grinning--biting back a juvenile laugh--when he orders the Nugg'sacs.]

What's your partner like?

From:

braveoff

[ Drake orders for himself, along with a few sides for them to split and drinks, then pays. And thoughtfully passes Jesus his cup so the other man can choose something from the fountain against the wall. ]

You know, I don't think I've ever had to describe him. People either just don't ask or they know him already... he's an artist. Ex-military, but even if we were from the same world his war was against aliens way in the future. We had like. Almost nothing in common.

[ His expression is very fond as he talks about the other man, though, even as he shakes his head and sets his cup into the machine. ]

It's kind of a long story.

From:

hippie_ninja

[The tone people have when they talk about their loved ones says as much as the words, and he smiles to hear the warmth in Drake's voice.]

What do you have in common now?

From:

braveoff

...that's really complicated.

[ He gestures for Jesus to take his turn at the machine, considering if he should start listing things and if so which, but decides it might make more sense if he explained why it's complicated first. ]

This isn't my first time winding up in another universe. About three and a half years ago I woke up on an alien planet and he was the first person I met. We left there together last year and wound up here by accident... and he didn't remember a thing.

[ A little shrug; he's come to terms with it. But that doesn't mean it's ever going to be totally okay. ]

I guess that should be a warning for you, I'm hard to get rid of.

From:

hippie_ninja

[He smiles very softly. Consider him warned.]

I can't imagine what that must have been like.

[He's had to kill friends, many of them, who had turned after death and were simply no longer people. No longer the people he had known. But that's not at all like someone simply forgetting who you are, who you were to them.]

From:

braveoff

Heartbreaking. But you don't only love someone in a specific moment, you know? It's not exactly how it was, he's not exactly who he was, but I still knew the person he rewound to... if that makes sense. And I realized pretty quickly there was no way I could be in the same city as any version of him and not have some kind of relationship.

[ Drake smiles again, small but genuine. ]

So I just told him the truth. No expectations, no pressure if it was too weird for him to deal with me. It went where it went.

From:

hippie_ninja

It says a lot that even without the history he wanted to be with you.

[Which doesn't mean there aren't bad days, ones where perhaps Drake still misses things he had before all this.]

Is it hard for you two to be here? [What with all the rules, the pressures.]

From:

braveoff

Yeah. It's never actually been my goal or anything, I was even more surprised the second time around. Especially since yeah, the rules here are really hard for him. Knowing it would be is a big part of why I couldn't just leave him feeling completely alone.

Lightning striking twice is reassuring, though. Sure, universe, make an already batshit situation even more complicated. We still work.

[ A worker behind the counter calls their number, interrupting the conversation, and Drake steps up to grab the tray and lead Jesus over to a table. Once they're seated he tilts his head at his new acquaintance curiously. ]

What about you? I know you just got here, but what about home?

From:

hippie_ninja

[Excuse him while he takes just a moment to enjoy the sight of chicken nuggets. He hasn't seen anything like them in a very, very long time.]

Mm? No, no one at home. Not like that. Which I think is making it easier to adjust to life here. ...Sort of.

From:

braveoff

[ They smell just as good, too, still very hot. Don't burn yourself, Jesus. ]

Sort of? I've been letting you ask questions, but I'm a pretty good listener if you wanna talk about it.

From:

hippie_ninja

[He has to wait for them to cool which is also a novel thing. Stew gets wolfed down still warm, but wings from the oven? Steamy.]

I've just never had sex because I had to have sex. I wasn't always close to the men I was with, I didn't always know their last names. But I chose it, I wasn't going to be punished if I didn't.

I don't like using people and that's what this all feels like. I don't know that I want to become someone who's comfortable with it.

From:

braveoff

[ Drake nods his understanding, because that's extremely valid. And honestly? ]

You're being more charitable than most people, myself included. I feel like the reality of living here long term is kind of both worse and not that bad at the same time, it just depends on what aspect of the place you're looking at.

[ He'll wait to see if Jesus wants to hear his opinion before going on, though -- it's kind of a lot. ]