"She seemed like a ray of sunshine, huh?" Kaye mumbled, though his voice was raised loud enough that the other man could hear them. The girl– Ashley, Ash, whatever her name tag read– hadn't exactly seemed like she enjoyed where she worked, especially with her dark band shirts and piercings. Though, it somehow made the diner a little more interesting.
Simon snorted, staring down at his scarred hands. “Yeah..” he muttered back, though distracted. “Agreed.”
"She kind of reminds me of someone I dated. Laney, I think her name was," Kaye sighed as he ran a hand through his bedhead style hair, his voice almost as if he were speaking out loud to himself. He was never really specific about who he dated, mostly caring about who they were as a person, though he never had a word for it.
Simon took in the information, turning it over in his head as he recalled something Kaye had said back at the bar about a guy— plus the fact that they’d been flirting with eachother. “If you don’t mind me asking— are you bi?”
"Well, not exactly," Kaye started, pausing for a few moments as he thought, seemingly searching for a word. He usually didn't tell many people about his sexuality, though he thought that he could most likely trust Simon with this kind of information. "I forgot what it's called. When you don't mind who it is, boy or girl, etcetera."
Simon pushed a hand through his knotted hair. “Pansexual?” he tried, a small, thoughtful frown on his face. “Is that it?” In all honesty, he was surprised that Kaye had actually responded to such a personal question.
"I think so," Kaye answered with a small shrug, deciding that it didn't matter all that much if he had a word for it or not. Glancing up towards Simon's hair, he liked the way the blond curls appeared to be a little messy, a few stray strands falling across their forehead, before he looked back towards the other man's gaze. "So, do you have any friends or family that live around here?" He asked, attempting to make some small talk.
Simon shook his head, lips twisting into a wry smile. “My family is all closer to the coast. And as far as friends go…” He shrugged, as if he didn’t give the subject much thought. “I don’t really have any. What about you?”
(I might be posting a new rp with a title along the lines of 'Orleans' later if you'd like to join)
"No family here," Kaye said with a shake of his head, before he tilted it to the side, looking towards Simon. "I've got a couple friends at the bar, though no one else beyond that." He explained with a loose shrug as he glanced around the diner for a few moments before settling his gaze back on the other man.
(Yeah sure, what’s it about?)
“I guess we’re both alone, in a way.” The words flew out of his mouth before he had the chance to stop them. “I mean— shit. I didn’t mean to say that.” Simon wanted to fold himself up into a tiny ball and disappear— a feeling which confused him completely.
(It was originally a story idea, though it has to do with a few families– a bit like gangs– that takes place in old New Orleans. I'm going to post it soon, so the description there should make more sense lol)
"Hey, it's okay, Simon," Kaye answered, giving the other man a light, reassuring smile. He had mastered the art of saying things with no filter, so he understood when it happened. "I mean, you're not wrong. You're the first person I've met who hasn't just 'disappeared' right after."
Awesome, can’t wait! Could you post the link here when it’s done?)
Whatever Simon has been expecting in response to his blurted words, it had definitely not been this. He cleared his throat— something he’d been doing an awful lot today— and nodded. “You too. I mean—“
Kaye raised a brow in question, wondering what the 'I mean' part meant, if it did actually mean anything. Though, he was glad that Simon thought of him as a friend…something he thought the other man would never come close to consider.
(It looks awesome!)
Simon inhaled sharply, trying to clear his head. “I mean,” he resumed, keeping his voice calm, “That I don’t really know what…… I can’t really recognize what friends are. But you didn’t disappear, as you said, so.. I don’t know.”
(Also, I’m currently in the process of making an rp based off the Tarot Cards with a Caraval-esque feel [if you’ve ever read the books] with Marla from the witches rp, would you be interested in joining?)
(Thank you! It took so long to write lol)
"Oh," was the only word that Kaye responded with, though it didn't sound offensive or pitying, only thoughtful. He wasn't sure what he could say– maybe tell Simon he wouldn't leave– but no words actually left his mouth after that.
And… you messed up again. Nice. Simon would have slapped himself had Kaye not been watching. “Anyways.” His mind scrambled to find a topic of conversation. “Any plans for the weekend?”
"Plans? Probably sleeping," Kaye answered with a small shrug and undone smile, looking towards Simon as he raised a brow in question. "What about you?"
Simon tried for a chuckle at this response, running this thumb along the edge of their table. “Nothing, really. Work, I guess. Try not to starve.”
"Where do you work?" Kaye asked, the mention of it suddenly piquing his interest, tapping his fingers against the metal surface of the diner table. He usually couldn't sit for very long without moving, so it was a surprise that this far into the conversation he had only just begun fidgeting.
Simon’s mouth twisted into a grimace at the question, but he forced himself to reply. “I clean boats, down at the harbour. People pay me to fix up their vessels.”
"Really?" Kaye answered, the word not carrying a teasing tone, but something that seemed almost excited. "I've only been down to the harbor once or twice, but I can never bring myself to get on the boats," he added with a light shake of his head.
Simon tilted his head, perplexed both at the answer and at the fact that Kaye did not seem to be poking fun. “How come? Do you get seasick?”
"Not exactly," Kaye started, a small sigh escaping him as he glanced around the diner before settling his gaze back on Simon. "My mom used to tell me these old Japanese folk stories, about the ocean and spirits. I used to be terrified of those stories, and I've just never really gone in the ocean after that." He explained, with a small shrug. He thought it sounded a bit stupid, though he was willing to tell Simon this at least.