"oh, fun. gives us all something in common." nik leaned back, and simon took the chance to speak. "yeah, it does. i'm from chicago! some city slickers, aren't we?"
nik smiled at that, reaching for simon's hand. he met him halfway, lacing their fingers together. "we really are."
Tessa's eyes narrowed in on the action, trying not to let the flicker of jealousy show in her eyes. Ronan noticed, however, and snickered. Their drinks arrived, and Tessa turned around and grinned when she saw that he had ordered her an alcoholic drink. "You know me so well," she exclaimed, momentarily forgetting about Nik and Simon.
Ronan chuckled and grabbed his matching drink. "Yeah, well, you're usually the one to stock my kitchen whenever I come over, making yourself at home and all that."
"pff, is simon gonna have to be our designated driver?" nik had gotten some sort of alcohol mixed with soda, and simon just had a lemon water.
"probably, knowing your lightweight ass. i'd be happy to drive any other lightweights home as well, though."
"Tessie and I can hold our alcohol pretty well—more so me than her," Ronan said with a chuckle. She scoffed and threw a napkin at him, hitting him right between the eyes. He scrunched his nose and threw it back at her.
simon chuckled at their napkin throwing, and nik smiled before saying abruptly "hey! you guys want to move to our table and order together? separate bills and whatever you wanna do, but it'd make it easier to talk."
Ronan shrugged and looked to Tessa. They seemed to have some sort of silent conversation before standing up and heading over to Nik and Simon's table, carrying their drinks with them.
(how should seating be?)
(simon would want to sit near nik, but what kind of table were you thinking?)
(One of those tables with individual seats, maybe?)
(nice! maybe like a round table?)
(Yeah, that works! So maybe Nik is sitting next to Simon, and Tessa sits next to Simon with Ronan between her and Nik?)
(yeee that works)
"welcome to the table, you're officially part of the cult." nik deadpanned. "you're now obligated by law to be twinks in the journalism industry."
Tessa and Ronan snorted in unison, though Tess was the first to speak. "I just came for the food, not to be dragged into some journalism cult."
Ronan said, "Yeah, well, I'm leaving in two weeks, so I have an excuse to decline." Tessa scowled at him and punched his shoulder. He grabbed his shoulder and wined in protest.
"too bad, you're automatically inducted." simon carried the joke on, ending with "i thought this nerd looked lonely one day and now i'm his editor and gay lover."
nik rolled his eyes at that "you overestimate yourself."
Tessa huffed a laugh and propped her head on her hand. "Usually what happens to us street rats. We look lonely as shit and get adopted by a gay lover." She raised her other hand. "Can honestly say–same."
Ronan rolled his eyes. "You've screwed, like, half the city and pissed off about three-quarters of it."
She punched him again. "Fuck off! Did not."
"Did too," he said, nursing his bruised shoulder.
"pfft, at least not this city. i have to side with ronan on any others, though." nik teased, hoping he could still get away with joking on her like he used to.
simon raised an eyebrow, suppressing a snicker.
"Oh hush, you. How dare you take his side over mine." She stuck her tongue out at Nik, and Ronan flicked her tongue in revenge for his shoulder. She glared at him instead.
both of the journalist squad laughed at that. apparently nik's lungs had repaired themselves some, or he got himself fixed up by a doctor with more time on their hands. just sounded raspy, less of a death hack.
"aww, is someone being ganged up on?" simon cooed, leaning forward on his elbows.
a waiter approached their table with a cheerful "you guys ready to order?" and both men looked at tessa and ronan questioningly.
The two nodded in sync, and Ronan was the one to speak before Tessa could even open her mouth. "I'd like the spaghetti alle vongole, and she'd like the spicy tomato cream pasta." Tessa was about to scowl and object to him ordering for her, but shut up when she realized he remembered her love for spice and pasta–and put it together.
the others ordered afterwards, turning back towards the other pair. "good choices," nik mentioned, not really knowing what else to say.
Tessa smacked Ronan's chest once the waiter had walked away, which caused him to yelp in surprise. "I can order for myself, thank you very much," she hissed.
"Oh, shut it. I got you spicy pasta. What more do you want from me, woman?"
"independence, apparently. can't relate. i make nik order for me at every restaurant except this one," simon nudged simon with his elbow, causing nik to roll his eyes.
Tessa huffed and rolled her eyes as well. "You and your seafood," she muttered to Ronan. He defended himself with an 'I'm Hawaiian.' She leaned on her elbows and said to Simon, "So how bad was Nik at writing when you first became his editor?"
"quite spectacular actually. only when edited by himself, though. he's an editing nightmare because nobody except himself can understand the side notes and self directions. it's better though, he's improved a lot."
nik flushed at the praise, muttering an "aw, gee si'."
Tessa flicked her brows up at Nik, her lips curling up to a slight smile. "I can only imagine." She then turned to Nik. "But I'm glad you're doing great here, and even making improvements."