Arthur opened the door and started to get into the car, but Cyrin's words stopped him. He watched Cyrin talk, listening, and his brow furrowed a bit.
"Preferring not make decisions is indecision, by definition. And you just said that if you don't like something, you'll tell me, but you didn't We did movies and video games the other night and you never said a word about not liking it. So how can I believe you would actually tell me if you didn't like something?" His voice went from frustrated, to this soft pleading, like what he was saying was very important to him. "Cyrin, I want to make you happy, whether you're a people pleaser or not or whatever else. I want to do the things you enjoy, and put a smile on your face, and that's not going to happen if I just do what I want. And on top of that, planning something, only for you to tell me halfway through that you don't like the thing, is a great way for both of us to end up frustrated and upset. I just…"
He paused, thinking, his eyes beginning to water. "I care about you, probably more than I have any right to… so it's important to me."
Cyrin huffs, “Indecision is the inability to make a decision. Preferring not to has nothing to do it. Look in a dictionary.” He mutters, getting into the car, “And just because I’m not a movie or video game person, doesn’t mean I didn’t like watching a movie with you. Or playing video games with you. I know it’s confusing, but. . .” He shrugs, “I don’t know. . . I enjoyed playing Mario Cart and watching that movie with you. Probably because it was with you.”
Cyrin looks at Arthur, “I’m sorry. . .” He mumbles, “I just. . .” He looks away, shrugging slightly.
Sixclaw growled internally at Cyrin's snippy response, but Arthur pulled off the reaction he wanted.
He stepped back as if Cyrin had physically slapped him, before getting in the car, completely silent. He didn't look at Cyrin, didn't say anything, didn't let his face relax from the upset, hurt look.
He considered the admission that the night had been enjoyable cuz they'd been together, and he softened a bit. Just a little.
He drove carefully, not acting angry, just… sad. Defeated.
He finally very quietly said "You just, what?"
Cyrin looks at him, biting his lip, “I-“ He looks down, “I never really know what I like until I’m in the moment. . . I wanted to play video games with you to see if I’d enjoy playing them with you. . . And I did. Same with the movie. I’m sorry if. . . I. . .”
He rubs the back of his neck, “I’m sorry for being a smartass. . .” He mutters.
Arthur was quiet for a moment more, before very slowly reaching over and resting his hand on Cyrin's leg, near his knee. A comforting touch, just establishing contact and that things were ok.
"It's ok… I'm sorry I snapped." He hadn't, really, but at least a little bit, this conversation had been tense on account of him. "As long as you had fun and enjoyed yourself, enjoyed your… time with me… then it's all good. I just want to make you happy, Cyrin. You deserve that."
He paused, thinking, before going on. "I'll just have to be sure to get you in the moment a lot then." And here, he finally looked over and gave Cyrin a smile. "Sound good?"
“You didn’t snap. I was being a smartass.” He looks at Arthur’s hand, smiling slightly. He hesitates, looking at Arthur, gently setting his hand on Arthur’s. He sighs, “I did. I enjoyed myself. More than I have for a while.” He laughs softly.
He smiles, “Sounds good.” He keeps his hand lightly over Arthur’s in the case he wanted to pull away, watching him.
“You didn’t snap. I was being a smartass.” He looks at Arthur’s hand, smiling slightly. He hesitates, looking at Arthur, gently setting his hand on Arthur’s. He sighs, “I did. I enjoyed myself. More than I have for a while.” He laughs softly.
He smiles, “Sounds good.” He keeps his hand lightly over Arthur’s in the case he wanted to pull away, watching him.
Cyrin seemed relaxed, at least, and they were in agreement, so Arthur considered the… fight? disagreement? whatever it was, settled.
He didn't move his hand.
They got to the burger place, a spot with the pretentious name Steak on a Bun. The preposterous claim was half the draw. They had delisicious burgers, greasy, heavy, smothered in cheese and ketchup and any other topping you wanted, with thick cut fries, tall sodas, and milkshakes so big you could share a medium with another person and have enough to have leftovers.
Cyrin smiles slightly, getting out of the car, stretching. He looks at Arthur, still smiling. “Steak on a Bun?” He asks, laughing softly, “Really?” He shakes his head slightly, walking towards the diner.
He looks at the palace, “Looks like the kind of place with a floor slick with grease.”
"Oh, absolutely." Arthur grins at him. "This place is so good, but yes. You're exactly right. Watch your step or you'll slide across the floor."
They walked in, and a waitress pointed them to a booth. "Be right there to get your orders, boys!"
Arthur scooted in, and slid a menu towards Cyrin. "I don't know if you know what you want already. I certainly do. This place serves exactly what you'd expect."
Cyrin laughs softly, leaning back, “LIke I said burger and fries.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, “I’ll probably regret all the grease later, but it’s too good to resist.” He rests his chin on his hands, quiet for a moment, “What are you getting?”
Arthur smiled at him. "Double bacon-cheeseburger, hold the mustard and onion. Medium Cajun fries, medium root beer. Maybe a strawberry shake afterwards." He winked at Cyrin. "I like their food. Two meals for the price of one, if you take the leftovers home."
Cyrin smiles softly, “Sounds like a meal. . .” He hums, “Fires dont save well though. They get soggy.” He shrugs, “But whatever floats your boat.”
He yawns slightly, rubbing his face. He was tired. Really tired. The lack of sleep was finally getting to him. All he wanted to do was nap, but he was also starving.
"Yeah, but these fries are thick cut. Essentially potato wedges. They re-heat ok." Arthur smiled at him.
He could tell Cyrin was tired. "After this, you can go back to your new place and get some sleep. You look like you need it." he said gently.
The waitress from before came by, and took their orders. Their food was on the table within a couple minutes.
Cyrin sighs, “I’m fine. I won’t be able to sleep anyways. Not for a while yet.” He looks at his food, picking the burger up, “I’ll probably spend some time practicing before I can sleep.” Dancing himself to exhaustion was the only way he’d ever get sleep. It was how he’d gotten sleep last night. And it was the first time he’d slept since. . .
He blinks, shutting his mind up and takes a bite of his burger, closing his eyes and smiling slightly. It was perfect and hit the spot.
Arthur nodded, his face turning sympathetic. "Well… if you need company, or don't want to be alone or something… Im just upstairs now. Gimme a call and I'll be right down, or even just come up and knock. Or better yet-" He dug his wallet out and slid a key across the table. "There's my spare. Just let yourself in if you need anything."
He smiled a little at Cyrin's idea. "Yeah, gotta break in that new floor space."
The burger was huge, slathered with cheese and loaded with bacon. It was a carnivore's dream, and Arthur tucked into it like he hadn't eaten in two days.
Cyrin looked at the key, then back to Arthur, then back down, not taking it. “Look, I may like you. . . But we barely know each other, should you really be inviting me into your apartment like that?” He takes another bite of the burger.
“And I‘ll be fine. It’s just some restless nights. I just have to dance for an hour or so, and then I’ll be passed out like a rock.”
"You keep saying that, but… you've spent time with me. Slept in my bed, been around me enough to know me… just take the key." Arthur wasn't taking it back. "I have no problem with inviting you in, Cyrin."
Cyrin looks at him, taking the key, silent, “Okay, fine.” He slides it into his pocket, smiling slightly. He takes another bite, shifting slight, “Well. It’s nice to know you’d invite me in in the middle of the night when you’re sleeping.”
He chuckles slightly, “That sounds creepy as fuck. . .” He mutters, taking a drink of his soda.
Arthur smiles as he takes the key. "Good. And I absolutely would." No hesitation. He'd invite Cyrin in anytime.
Sixclaw was chuckling internally, pleased. Cyrin had come closer to truth than he realized with that last statement.
"It's only creepy if you're a creep, which… you're not, Cyrin." Arthur's smile softened a bit. "I hope… I hope you don't think I'm one… your friend seemed to think so…"
Cyrin sighs, “Avdey’s always been superstitious. He’s right sometimes and other time’s he wrong. I guess whether he’s right in what he says about you or not, I’ll find out eventually after my whole life is on it’s ass and I’m barely left.”
He flashes a grin, “But for now, I’m still fine. I should care, but I don’t really.” He shrugs, “If I’m making the biggest mistake of my life trusting you. . . Well, then I guess I am. . .” He looks at Arthur, “I just hope he’s very wrong in what he has to say about you. Because then I don’t think life will be very pleasant for me much longer.”
(When you want to reach through the screen, grab hold of your character and shake them very violently for being a little stupid-)
Arthur just gave him a long look, before going back to his food, the look on his face a bit hurt.
"Well… glad to know I'm at least on probation." he said quietly. He'd kinda hoped they were past the point of deep distrust.
Though he could certainly settle for that.
"So. How lond have you known Avdey?" If the guy was going to cause trouble for him, he may as well know about this friend of Cyrin's.
He frowns, “You’re not on probation, Arthur. I said Avdey doesn’t trust you, not me. I trust you.”
Cyrin sighs softly, leaning back and thinking for a moment, “Well. . . I met him when I was. . . Nine, so, longer than a decade.” He shrugs slightly.
Cyrin's clarification startled Arthur, and he looked up, his face lighting up. "Oh… ok." He ducked his head to hide the blush creeping across his face.
He glanced up after a moment. "Wow. That's a pretty decent time. You guys been close the whole time?"
Cyrin laughs, “Oh, hell no. The quiet and hard working dancer and the hotheaded and loud fighter? No, God no. We hated each other at first, but eventually, we got along. We found out that though we do diffrent things, we’re still pretty similar.”
