Harley doesn't expect him to pull her chair out for her and stands there confused at why he would set his plate in one place and then choose to sit in another. Oh, he's -- she's only read about that. She gives him a curious look as she sits.
"I don't think I've ever been exceptionally anything."
She cranes her neck to look around the massive, echoing dining hall. The giant room, the weight of history and expectation, the exhaustion of a ten day on the road. Suddenly it all makes her feel so, so small. She swallows with a click in her throat and tries to rally with a smile.
"I find that hard to believe," Gale replies, and it doesn't sound like he's
trying to be kind. He says it matter-of-factly. Harley seems like such a
force of nature, the type of bold personality he has always aspired to
through mimicry. How could she not be exceptional?
"You're welcome. I, ah- sorry it's burnt. I've been trying to improve my
cooking, not that you could tell it today."
She tips her head and scrutinizes him, trying to figure out if he's flirting with her or making fun of her. It doesn’t seem like either. She ... doesn't know what to do with that neutral middle ground.
"I've been on the road for days. Anything other than hardtack and dried meat is the height of luxury."
She takes a bite of her first cooked meal in days and immediately melts into bliss.
"Oh fuck me," she moans in a way that echoes lewdly in the empty hall. She startles and giggles self-consciously behind her hand.
He raises his eyebrows, startled by this declaration, and immediately
started turning red.
"Ah, well, um..." He tries, stammers, fails. Gale takes a moment to remove
himself that it's merely a colorful turn of phrase. "I, uh, an glad to be
of service, then. If you think that's something, though, you should try my
mother's cooking. I'm trying to learn, though."
If he had made dessert too then it would have been an invitation and not just a turn of phrase. But he didn't, so their budding romance meets an early demise, and Harley has a new love already.
"Then I think I would like to marry your mother. I'll be a good father to you, and love you as my own."
Gale barks out a laugh, loud enough to ring in the empty hall, and it almost seems to startle him. He's typically more one for measured chuckles, always trying to seem grown up and mature and impressive. She keeps catching him off guard, however, saying unexpected things.
"Who says I'm in need of a father?" Gale says, wishing he hadn't, and pressing on to put that topic quickly behind them. "I think I'd be a bit too much for you to handle, honestly. Far too rambunctious. Too much of a troublemaker and a rebel." Gale seems far too much like a nerd for that to be true.
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no subject
"I don't think I've ever been exceptionally anything."
She cranes her neck to look around the massive, echoing dining hall. The giant room, the weight of history and expectation, the exhaustion of a ten day on the road. Suddenly it all makes her feel so, so small. She swallows with a click in her throat and tries to rally with a smile.
"Thank you for dinner."
no subject
"I find that hard to believe," Gale replies, and it doesn't sound like he's trying to be kind. He says it matter-of-factly. Harley seems like such a force of nature, the type of bold personality he has always aspired to through mimicry. How could she not be exceptional?
"You're welcome. I, ah- sorry it's burnt. I've been trying to improve my cooking, not that you could tell it today."
no subject
"I've been on the road for days. Anything other than hardtack and dried meat is the height of luxury."
She takes a bite of her first cooked meal in days and immediately melts into bliss.
"Oh fuck me," she moans in a way that echoes lewdly in the empty hall. She startles and giggles self-consciously behind her hand.
no subject
He raises his eyebrows, startled by this declaration, and immediately started turning red.
"Ah, well, um..." He tries, stammers, fails. Gale takes a moment to remove himself that it's merely a colorful turn of phrase. "I, uh, an glad to be of service, then. If you think that's something, though, you should try my mother's cooking. I'm trying to learn, though."
no subject
"Then I think I would like to marry your mother. I'll be a good father to you, and love you as my own."
Call her daddy.
no subject
"Who says I'm in need of a father?" Gale says, wishing he hadn't, and pressing on to put that topic quickly behind them. "I think I'd be a bit too much for you to handle, honestly. Far too rambunctious. Too much of a troublemaker and a rebel." Gale seems far too much like a nerd for that to be true.
no subject
"I won't hesitate to take a firm hand when you are in need of a spanking, young man."