We're Strange Allies With Warring Hearts

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

[A year.]

[Gray Fox had been in a relationship for an entire year. The thought was almost depressing. He'd been involved with Elisa for a year but how much time did he honestly spend with her? The existence of Ursula immediately cut that time in half, coupled with the long stretches of time he'd gone with barely speaking to the young woman, the end result was not the most desirable. This, however, wasn't the only thought that plagued his mind.]

[Another Naomi had found herself in the Nexus. One from a time Fox didn't want to fathom; a version of his sister that had come here after facing her own death. She appeared no older than any other Naomi he'd encountered in his time here - to think that every one of them may have been suffering in silence, to think he couldn't be there in her time to care for her as he'd done when she was a child.]

[It was almost too much for him.]

[Tonight, however, was about Elisa. He'd asked the girl to meet him here at this restaurant tonight. He had to swallow his feelings and push these thoughts to the back of his mind. He'd canceled engagements with Elisa all too frequently; their anniversary dinner was something he knew he couldn't put off. Clad in his dark green suit, he idly paces at the entrance, glancing out down the hallway now and then as he awaits her arrival.]

(ooc: for [Bad username or site: elisula title=Elisa @ livejournal.com])

Comments

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

He isn't a child, even now. He's never been a child, Elisa. [Naomi had been a child. Naomi had the opportunity to be a child. Fox had ensured she had every opportunity he didn't, from a childhood to an education and yet, she dies at such a young age.]

[He pushes this thought from his mind, trying to focus on the topic at hand. For a change, speaking about his child counterpart is preferable than speaking about himself.]

...You still dress him?

[elisula.livejournal.com]

.... [She doesn't say anything to that]

[Elisa blinks] Not... completely. But, you know, if he's really tired or something- Sometimes he has trouble with... the straps on his uniform and such...

[Elisa looks to his plate again] ...You sure the food's alright?

[Diverting attention away from the topic maybe?]

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

Hm? [He glances down at the plate] Yes, it's fine. I seem to be caught up in the conversation tonight, don't I?

[Time to divert her elsewhere.]

...How old is the boy again? Roughly fifteen? I'd estimate that was how old I was when I shared my first beer with Jack.

[elisula.livejournal.com]

I suppose that he could be about 16 or so, yes..

[Elisa goes deep in thought] ...A beer with Jack..

[The girl eventually nods her head in approval] Okay;

I suppose that's not so bad. Even 14 year olds are allowed to drink with family in Germany. As long as he's with someone who could supervise him, I guess I don't see a major problem.

...How much did you have? Do you remember?

I- I'm only curious.

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

Hard to say. It wasn't uncommon for me to drink with him; it's a bit of a habit that's stuck with me. He'd let me smoke a cigar now and then as well, I eventually just started carrying my own cigarettes - they weren't as bad for you back then, you see.

[elisula.livejournal.com]

....Hnh.

[She suddenly doesn't much like this subject either. Elisa lets him finish as she swallows another bite of food.] Well. Alright.

SO- What have you been up to lately? Do anything interesting?

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

Nothing worthy of merit. You know I dislike speaking of my work.

[...]

And yourself?

[elisula.livejournal.com]

...Yeah. [Elisa looks down at her plate. Can't say she wasn't expecting a very basic answer.]

Nothing really... Not outside the usual, anyway. Except-

[Elisa suddenly lifts her head] -Oh! I've been meaning to ask you;

Have you ever heard of "Philanthropy"?

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

"Philanthropy"...?

No, it doesn't sound familiar. Why do you ask?

[elisula.livejournal.com]

It's an organization that Dr. Hal Emmerich is a part of, apparently. I was contacted sometime last week, and asked if I could help them in their attempts to... well, remove the current leaders of the building from power.

[She wasn't sure how he'd react to that. The two ARE a Big Boss and an EVA.]

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

Hn.

[Fox doesn't particularly get along with Emmerichs. He once assaulted one for merely mentioning the name of his sister... What connection does he have with her? And, for that matter, why does Elisa know of his apparent plot?]

Admirable goal, I suppose.

[elisula.livejournal.com]

[She watches him carefully] ...So you... don't mind if I help them out, right..?

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

Hm?

[His eyes had been cast down to his plate for a moment but they move back up to meet Elisa.] Don't mind what?

[elisula.livejournal.com]

....

...Okay.... [Elisa places her fork down for the moment, keeping her eyes on him]

There's something wrong here, and it isn't the food.

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

What do mean?

[elisula.livejournal.com]

Something is bugging you...

[Elisa looks to his plate, then to his face. Her expression serious.] You wont eat, and you seem distracted, and...

...I think I know what this is about.

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

[Fox picks the bottle of wine up again and refills Elisa's glass.]

Have some more wine.

[elisula.livejournal.com]

I just-- [She watches as he refills her glass] ...Thank you..

[Elisa is silent for a moment as she lifts the glass to her mouth and drinks. After the initial sip, though, the girl reaches out across the table to gently touch his hand]

Frank, look...

[Elisa sighs, lowering her voice as she speaks quietly] Constipation is very common for men who work as you do. It's really nothing to be embarrassed about...

1/2

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

[...]

[He's going to pretend he didn't hear that.]

2/2

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

Finish your dinner.

[elisula.livejournal.com]

[Was that not it?] ...Okay.

[...Maybe she'll need that drink after all. After silently eating her food for another few minutes, the girl washes more of the pork down with a few hefty gulps of alcohol.]

[It warms her chest; and flows throughout her body. Elisa feels her face getting warm after only 2 glasses of the wine, though she's luckily still not drunk just yet- due to the low alcohol content of the drink.]

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

[He opts to silently drink the remainder of his own glass, proceeding to refill it once it's emptied.]

...

[elisula.livejournal.com]

.........

[Well. This isn't awkward at all.]

[The wine helps Elisa to stay somewhat relaxed. Maybe his problem isn't medical, so much as it is mental. He seemed fine at the beginning of the date... Did she do something wrong?]

[Or has he been hiding that mood all night?]

[zanzibarasshole.livejournal.com]

[Finishing his wine, Fox sets his glass down to pour another.]

Care to tell me more about how you've been babying the boy?

[elisula.livejournal.com]

[Elisa is quick to extend the glass, gesturing that she would like a refill.]

Well... maybe babying was a strong word...

I don't think anything else I've been doing is too bad. Sleeping with him, doing his laundry, picking up his clothes, ...well, cleaning up after him in general, reading to him, sometimes I might offer to wash his back...

Y'know. Just the usual stuff. [The alcohol has begun taking effect; allowing her to speak in a fairly relaxed manner about everything]