epidemiology | bounty time!

Entry tags:

bounty time!

CHARACTERS: Graham & Sonia, Graham & Nami
DATE: There are zombies afoot, but animals tho.
WARNINGS: IDK prob not
SUMMARY: Graham gets to doing some super important bounties with some of his friends.

WHAT'S NEW, PUSSYCAT? (NAMI)

( considering his general reception to the feline members of ALASTAIR, one might assume Graham didn't care about cats at all. that wasn't quite true. while he didn't care for them as much as dogs, that was practically an impossible feat to begin with. he cared greatly about all animals, and when he heard of a missing cat and realized no one else was bound to go look for the poor creature, he'd taken it upon himself to look into it.

he wasn't alone, though; the last time he and Nami had tried to protect an animal together, they'd both been former versions of themselves. still, she seemed a good choice for going into the dour sewers in hopes of finding a lost kitty. his brother had refused to join them, and with the smell so strong it was doubtful that he could have caught the scent of anything, anyway. ) Why on earth would someone kidnap a cat?

EVERYBUNNY NEEDS HELP SOMETIMES. (SONIA)

( the idea of rogue bunnies out there hadn't escaped his notice, either. this time he'd recruited Sonia, and she'd agreed to the task of collecting the quick footed escape artists. while the rabbits were asymptomatic, it was dangerous to leave them hopping free when they could be transmitting the virus.

Brother was with them, eyes bright and ears alert. Despite the fact he looked like a dog, he was still a wolf... hopefully he could manage this mission without eating any of their catches. He could likely help them find the little bouncy bastards, though. ) Do you have any ideas for collection?

( he's got a... well, he's got a net. but that's still going to require catching the little things.) I might be able to tell them to come with us... but I'm not quite sure. ( hopefully that does not make him sound like an insane person, since it's true. he can actually talk to their little fluffy friends... it's just that being able to tell them they were here to help and being believed were two different things. )

LIKE 10,000 SPOONS WHEN YOU NEED A KNIFE. (DANY)
backdated to before the riots break out

( it isn't like Graham to catch on to subtle things in socialization. little tells usually fly right over his shoulder, whether he wants them to or not. all things considered, the static unrest lingering in Woodhurst actually registering to him showed exactly how bad things were starting to get.

even in a tiny, alternative cafe full of cigarette smoke, people dressed oddly even for the 90s, and incredibly unusual food, there was an unspoken current of unrest. even in a crowd people that seemed to make an effort to not show they were affected by much of anything.

Graham sticks out a bit more like a sore thumb, a badge at his hip and an enormous white dog snoozing at his feet. trust that Daenerys would find the only establishment in town that welcomed animals as much as it did people for their meeting. the creature perched on her shoulder demanded it, and there was something bizarre about the reality of a dragon usually big enough to fly her through the skies suddenly being reverted to such an insulting form.

once the waitress flits off for their orders, he focuses on his company proper. talking in veiled code is required, when they're around so many ears that might be listening. ) Are you taking to the city well? ( Dany's cover is that she is a socialite from abroad, so it seems a fair enough question to ask... even though they know he means it differently than it sounds. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ As soon as she'd heard that some of the bunnies had escaped when all of this has been going on, it finally gives her incentive to actually step outside again. She's left the hospital sparingly to go home, shower, sleep and maybe eat but it hasn't been as often as she probably should.

The air will be good for her, nevermind the fluffs that they're going to be looking for. ]

I brought carrots with me, as that is... what they like, no? [ Sadly she is not her classmate, King of Animals. ] Though I shall try my best to convince them as well. [ She's... just taking it as it is. She talks to animals too, Graham, though it isn't likely they understand quite as well. smh. ]

One of many things, yes. It's a start. ( he pauses to open the trunk of the cruiser, pulling out a couple of humane traps. ones the rabbits could run into, and not out of again. Brother was bounding around their ankles with clear delight — he didn't like town as much as he loved the woods, and look at how vast and wonderful these were! )

Remember, we aren't here to hunt. ( it was rare that Graham ever took such a serious tone with the wolf. he was a wolf, as far as Graham was concerned he was not a creature to be commanded. still, this was a potentially dangerous situation, if the wolf were to tear into every bunny he saw. if they were infected, it was possible the wolf could get infected himself, and that put him and everyone else in danger.

Brother's ears flattened, clear distaste on his face. in the woods, but not to hunt? large eyes turned on Sonia, as if she might give him approval where his human wouldn't. two mismatched puppy eyes were hard to say no to, weren't they, Sonia? )

Edited 2017-02-18 00:10 (UTC)

[ She's glad that they are humane ones at least, though she will definitely try things she remembers from foggy memories of class. Gundham was very good at it, after all, and she watched him closely enough to notice some things. ]

Mm... [ She keeps the carrots close to herself, though it's the interaction between Graham and Brother that catches her attention for real. She smiles softly as he sounds almost like he's chastising him and the wolf's eyes turn to her instead. Gently, she kneels in front of him, letting the carrots rest on her lap instead, and reaches out to rub his fur. ]

We cannot harm them, but perhaps if you do well we can give you a reward later?

[ She glances up towards His Human. ] We could do that, could we not?

( it's more a last ditch effort than anything else. he can even leave them out and collect more of the escape artists and come back to collect them later. he's got a job (well, a cover job, but he still takes it quite seriously), realistically human lives are more important than bunny ones. still, Graham will do his damnedest to make sure none of the poor creatures are left out, if he can at all help it. the traps won't hurt them, and it'll help to get them contained again.

the wolf disguised as an overly fluffy dog seems less than impressed by Sonia's promises, ears going flat again and exhaling a drawn-out sigh. he did seem content to take her affection, though, so how put out could he possibly be? ) I have some treats in the cruiser, ( Graham agrees, though he does not buy into the wolf's dramatics. )

It's important, you could get sick, or someone else sick. It's either that or you're staying in the car. ( Brother huffs, downright indignant this time, yet the reaction makes it clear that he can understand, even though that might be somewhat surprising ... if Graham hadn't already admitted to some capacity in communicating with animals. )

[ There are others who can cover for the time being, so he shouldn't need to worry too much -- at least this way it'll be one less job for someone else to do.

Sonia laughs faintly when his ears move and shifts herself to give him a half hug instead, ruffling his fur more. ]

Do not be like that. I am sure we can find something else for you to chase if you are that desperate.

[ A stick???????????

Though honestly she sees nothing strange in that and acts like she's 100% following as well. How. Why.

#disneyprincesslife ]

( he may look like a dog, Sonia, but he's not exactly as easy to amuse as one. the only reaction she'd get from throwing a stick would be dry disinterest. Brother could likely enjoy playing a game of hide and seek... when they had a spare moment.

now, they needed to focus on the task they had come to accomplish.

though, Graham does not stop Sonia from doting on the wolf, at least as long as it takes him to set up the traps, and bait them. when he returns, the wolf is at least a little less sour, and his nose high in the air. )

He can bring us closer, though catching them after that will be up to us. ( brother will likely be better at catching them, Graham just does not want to give the wolf that kind of temptation. )

[ Look, she doesn't know! It isn't like she's met a wolf before (nottalking)

Hide and seek would be fun though, and she'd be more than willing to play along with that. Still, she doesn't know how to set up a trap effectively either, so it's best that he handles that for now. ]

Because he can smell them, right?

[ She pushes herself to stand up after giving Brother one last ruffle, holding the carrots in her other hand again. ]

Are you ready?

Yes, he can.

( usually to track a scent, brother needed something to go off of. however, he knew very well what rabbit smelled like, there was no need for that when he'd been hunting them his entire life.

the traps set, and Sonia's doting over, Brother lifted to his feet again, looking up at both of them as if he were wondering the same thing as Sonia. his answer was to the both of them, with a quiet nod. )

Let's go. ( Brother moved first, and Graham followed after, an eerie silence to how he moved that might not be easy to replicate. lots of practice in hunting in action. )

[ She tries to keep as quiet as she can as she follows them, knowing that the slightest sound might make a rabbit dart off before they have the chance to grab onto it. She keeps her breathing steady, trying to not trip over any roots or fallen branches as well.

She can't see as well in here which makes this all the more difficult, and even when she scrunches her nose to see if she can smell anything at all if comes up with naught (but of course it does, she's human... but you can't say she didn't try!!!) ]

Do you think any are close? [ She whispers it softly, hopefully low enough so only Graham can hear her. ]

( rabbits are especially flighty creatures. they were prey for all too many, and it left them hesitant and incredibly cautious. that made them all the more difficult to catch, unfortunately... and they were able to move far faster than a human, even at their prime. it'd make catching them a bit difficult, to say the least.

Graham has stalked around enough forests now that the slight dim doesn't disturb him any. he can't see as sharply as the brother that pads silently before him, just well enough. he can hear fairly well too, and that's what catches his attention sooner than his nose might.

Sonia asks and he pauses a breath after, moving a hand toward his mouth to listen a little closer. he nods, before inching a little closer — in the clearing not far, two rabbits were chewing solemnly on grass and underbrush. Graham nods to the space behind them, indicating it might be easier if one spooked them forward and the other manned the net.

hopefully Sonia is really good at silent communication!!! )

[ Sonia is sadly not good at silent communication, just text her Graham?! She nods nonethless though, getting geared up to go ... and starts to walk in the opposite direction to where he's indicating to.

The good thing is that she's quiet and keeps low as she does it. Her dark clothes mask her a bit, but she does have long blonde hair so it isn't exactly the best way to conceal herself. ]

( texting is maybe not his strong suit... what does she feel about carrier pigeon???

still, for someone unpracticed with stealth she does remarkably. he stays low, his brother lower — luckily they're downwind or the rabbits likely would have bolted off the second they heard him. when she seems to be in position, all he can do is nod his assent — scare when ready, Sonia, he'll try to catch the poor fluffy things with minimal stress and damage for either of them.

and he doesn't miss, so, maybe he'll even be okay at it!!! )

[ Wouldn't a pigeon frighten them?! Thankfully she doesn't ruin the plan, but she has to kind of think about what... she has to do next. He makes a signal by nodding his head, but then he isn't doing anything.

So it's on her?

Well, a minute or so might have passed by the time she creeps closer to where the rabbits are. She takes one step, then two steps, then gently tries to make a small growling noise herself. This is not how to do it, yet she's trying at least!

It's enough to make the rabbits run forward and straight into Graham's trap at least. ]

( the wee furry things are veered in the perfectly right direction, until one curves away, suddenly and swiftly. there'd be no time for a human to snatch them from the grass, but a nimble wolf? it's no contest.

Graham can't help a sound of dismay before Brother pads over with the little bunny dangling from its scruff, grip surprisingly soft. sometimes the wolf impresses even his brother with exactly how intelligent he can be.

Brother pads over to deliver the rabbit and Graham takes it with a silent bit of pride. the little thing quivers in his arms and the scruff of soft fur is a little damp, but the rabbit is unharmed. )

You certainly get a treat, ( Graham tells his brother, sufficing even a hint of a smile for the poor little bunny. no matter the size or kind of animal, the huntsman is fond of them all. ) Quite a monstrous noise that was, ( he says, almost wry. aka even the heartless guy thought that was cute as hell, Sonia. )

[ They are lucky that in this case Brother is a good wolf and does the Right Thing(tm) and brings the bunny back unharmed. She lets out a sigh of relief and reaches out to gently give the rabbit a soft pet, breaking off some of one of the carrots to hand it over for being brave. ]

There there.

[ Though her head snaps up when he says that, and for a moment she's confused before it dawns on her. ]

I was not sure what else to do.

( poor thing. rabbits did not do enormously well with surprise, in fact they were quite capable of dying from fright. the quivering ball of fluff seems to be well enough, though, especially considering it was willing to nibble at the carrot presented. )

Even movement would have startled them, but I found the sound quite charming. Have no fear.

( he offers her the rabbit, carefully, nodding toward the trap. it's easy to put the rabbit in, and the little thing will probably be safer there while they look for more. ) Two down. I'm not even sure how many more of them there are to go.

[ Something that she isn't likely to forget, that's for sure. It's why she'd tried something softer at least, a less menacing growl. She does flush slightly after he says it was actually charming, just because it is a little embarrassing. It isn't very lady-like??? ]

I see... perhaps next time I will only use movements then.

[ She's careful when she takes the rabbit at least, nuzzling it with her cheek before she leans to gently place it into the trap so it's stuck inside. ]

We can just find as many as we can. On to round two, then...

[ With that in mind, she nods towards Graham and Brother to indicate she's ready to go again. At least by the end of it they'll have a good truck full of bunbuns. ]

[ there are very few things that could get Nami to brave the sewers (or the smell of them, really), but money and cats are both on that list, so here she is, trudging through the tunnels as she wrinkles her nose.

(at least the company is good??) ]

To get a ransom, probably! You'd be surprised how willing people are to pay, as long as it saves those they love. But it's despicable, to kidnap a poor cat like that! [ she huffs as she glances down at the sheet of paper she's carrying, full of strange lines and marks. ]

Ah — the tunnels should turn east here. The only thing to our left should be the west-side entrance. [ yep, she sure is marking where they've come down to the tunnels to where they should be going based on the city layout above them. ]

Edited (also ugh dw gave me an error while posting so i accidentally posted the comment twice.... smh) 2017-02-15 20:15 (UTC)

( the sewers don't seem to bother graham much. surprise surprise, what does bother graham much? besides, you know, animals in trouble. that seems to be one of like 3 things that actually affect him. so he doesn't bother covering his nose, he doesn't even seem to notice the smell as they move through the sewers.

frankly they don't smell worse than villages had in the Enchanted Forest. modern sewers were a little cleaner than medieval times, so he'd have been unfazed even if his senses were as strong as they ought to be. )

Wretched, to turn an animal into a bargaining chip. ( not that it'd be better to use a human, not really... but an animal was highly incapable of understanding what was going on, much less than a human. ) Let's try that, then. I haven't seen any obvious tracks yet, but... ( unless their catnapper tracked through some filth, it'd be hard to spot their footprints on cement. )

[ the smell is gross, but it isn't like she isn't used to things like that — ports don't always smell the best, after all. she's just afraid it's going to ruin her clothes and catch in her hair and linger even after she's washed it... ]

Some people would do anything, [ she says with disgust. granted, she isn't a complete saint, either... but she would never kidnap someone for ransom. ]

Mm, I guess you wouldn't really leave too many footprints here, anyway... aahhh, this could take a while, couldn't it?

[ might as well prepare herself to get used to the sewer smell. ] Right, here we go. The tunnels continue straight ahead. [ a pause, then, ] Why would a kidnapper come to the sewers in the first place? That makes no sense!

The mayor didn't give us a lot to go on, I'm afraid.

( just that the kidnapper had been last seen entering the sewer. it was hard to even stay if the catnapper had remained there, even, though they had yet to exhaust the possibility that they were hiding still. )

I suppose is an awfully unlikely place to be chased.

( that's his only guess. it does not seem to be a particularly good place to hide out to him either, for the record, and he's heartless and less affected by the stink as most might be. )

Yes, he really didn't! Honestly, how are we supposed to find the kidnapper with limited information like that?

[ she huffs, but at least she's... still here... limited information or not. ]

I have to agree... they probably thought no one would come down here to search for them. [ so hah! if they're here... they're also cornered. hopefully. ]

I wonder if there's some sort of maintenance rooms down here. If I were to hide out, that's where I'd do it.

( he starts down some steps, before pausing suddenly. he's no wolf, that's for sure, but his situational awareness is incredibly keen. important, if you want to survive in a forest full of predators. )

There's somebody down here, ( he frowns, irish lilt to his tone falling to little more than a whisper. and there were distinct footprints echoing, though they sounded quite strange. )

That isn't a bad idea... hiding out here in the open where anyone could get to you, or the cat could run away? Hm, doesn't seem likely.

[ she seems to be about to say something more, except Graham stopping suddenly like that is enough to make her steps halt, too, her lips pressing together as she looks at him to see what it is. ]

... yes, I hear it, [ she whispers back, her brows furrowing as she listens to the gait of the person walking down there, the uneven echoes. ]

What do we do?

It's not cat or a kidnapper.

( which left few options, unfortunately. Graham hasn't had to face much infected since the worst of the riots, and while he was heartless there was still a burn of discomfort. it reminded him much of those lost to the Taxara in Perdition, which in turn had reminded him of being stuck under Regina's thumb. this is no easier, not really.

and yet when it comes down to it, he won't die for his pity nor his remorse. )

We either run or we deal with it. Do you have any of those sedatives, from Sonia? ( he'd rather stop the lost soul with that over violence, if they could help it. )

No... it isn't.

[ she's had to deal with the infected more, during the riots and since, mostly to help any friends who have been caught in the fray — she feels sympathy for them, but for her, it has always been kill-or-be-killed; survival is what matters, in the end.

but that doesn't mean she wants to kill someone needlessly, either. to the question, she nods. ]

We can't leave them there... if we want to find the cat, we must keep going. I've still got mine, I haven't used it yet... and if it fails, I can electrocute whoever's there. It won't kill them, but it'll be enough to knock them out.

( he nods, grimly. he doesn't like the prospect of harming an infected, yet practicality demanded it. there was nothing noble about letting a creature kill them, they had to do what they must to protect themselves. if they could avoid lethal force, then it was the best they could offer at present. )

I'll try to take out its footing. When it's down, it should be easier to pacify.

( here's hoping, anyway. as the infected finally stumbled around the corner, eyes flashing wet in the dark, he doesn't linger to let Nami think about it too much. he trusts her to follow, moving forward only to drop low when the creature reaches for him, causing it to stumble forward face first. his handcuffs are helpful in securing the woman's hands, though he has to move carefully to avoid the tainted blood on her fingers. )

[ It is fortunate for Woodhurst and its continued veneer of peace that such a cafe exists. If one had not, Dany might have breezed into one herself and made it so. Drogon is tame enough in bird form, so long as no one seeks to harm his mother.

(And so long as no blood is shed, but she doubts that it should come to that.)

At the query, she smiles, her hands folded together in her lap. She wears a denim jacket over a deep red blouse and plaid skirt, yet somehow she has found a way to make even this much regal. Perhaps it is in the way she carries herself still, with head held high and her shoulders impossibly straight. Her accent, too, is unmistakably foreign, her words high in diction. ]

You know the answer to that. [ A tease, for an old acquaintance. ] This city daunts me no more than any other. It's good to see your face again, my friend.

[ A contraction, for informal flavor. Her ears have ever been sharp, and what she has learned quickly is that speech is more given to that of the common people in her world here. ]

( of course it doesn't. Graham would not have held it against her, if she found herself uncertain in a time so different than her own, though he also suspects she wouldn't confess to it openly if it was. he knows she has others to help guide her, and that seems to have made the transition easier. his transition had been quick; it was hard to equate the decades he spent cursed as a gift, yet living through the 90s once before leaves him easier able to remember the ways of it.

though, as he did in Storybrooke and likely always will, he blends in to a point, and somehow continues in the peripheral. truly blending into the fold is not something he can do, anymore. he will always be a step apart, be it from what he lacks or the memories split into two lives. )

It is good to see yours, too. ( he asked if she was taking to the city, yet looking at her could answer that as well, or at least to a point. there's a twist at the corner of his mouth at the very subtle attempt toward informality. it might not have been noticed by someone that knew Daenerys little, though in the months between them Graham can say that less and less. ) You have a gift at finding a place, I've noticed, no matter the circumstances.

[ I've a gift for adapting, you mean. He does not need to say it, nor can he know how truly his words ring. She has had to make homes for herself wherever she travels, whether by choice or by fleeing.

To her, for all its technological advancements, this city is no different from Tyrosh or Braavos or Lys, in that she must make it her own, and quickly. A car drives past their shared window, and Dany tears her eyes from Graham to watch it trundle its way down the snowy street, violet hues looking after one of the common wonders of the modern age with a contained sort of interest. ]

By nightfall I shall have placed myself well enough to drive a car, [ she tells him, sly. ] By tomorrow I will have persuaded the mayor to give up the city into my governance. Who will protect me then?

[ His alter ego has left her alter ego's fake employ, after all. ]

Driving is not so hard, it is one of few advances that I don't struggle with.

( don't ask him to explain the internet to you, Dany, or how to set up AOL. you'll just get charming Irish confusion. apparently not even being cursed into a modern world means he'll acclimate to it perfectly. driving though, he doesn't mind. it's simple enough and more intuitive than it might seem to someone who has never been behind a wheel.

he scratches at the scruff of the wolf that is lounged under his feet, hidden in plain sight. he huffs out a breath of limited amusement at the idea of Dany having the mayor under her heel before the weekend. )

You jest, yet I've met the man. It wouldn't take much. ( Graham can understand the overwhelming desire to rescue an animal that is loved, yet it does seem a little bit lazy to simply throw money at collecting a cat instead of doing it himself. ) You'd have the entire force instead of just a single man, I suspect you'd find yourself well off. In the meantime I'll try not to disappoint.

[ She reaches across the distance between them to pat his hand. ]

You've never disappointed me.

[ Truth, simply given from a foreign socialite, but the same holds true for the queen, and so the sentiment is genuine. She sips daintily at her lemon water, allowing a small silence to fall in favor of the raw strains of some grunge track being played. Little sharp pricks from bird claws pinch at her skin as Drogon hisses gently and moves away from the offending arm, walking almost daintily across her shoulders. ]

There is another choice, though, for driving. Another man of the force has procured a speeder, [ she tells him, with a coy look. Motorcycle, she means, though she assumes any mismatches in words can be explained away by linguistic barriers. ] Anakin, he was named. It would please me to learn the mechanics.

[ A new word. Of course she had accepted his partner's offer of a ride home. She is only a young girl, and young girls must have their thrills. ]

Edited 2017-03-01 18:37 (UTC)

( and nor does he intend to, for what it is worth. it is rare that one chooses to be a disappointment, though, and Graham knows full well he's made choices worthy of shame before. true, he tries to live better than he's been, learn from the things he's done and the things he's seen. still, can anyone promise to never disappoint someone they care for? perhaps he is a pessimist, yet he imagines the likelihood is scant. all he can do is try.

Graham has never been one to be troubled by silence. he picks at his food, a vegetarian sandwich with some sort of fried root vegetable. beet, he thinks, from the color. it's far more refined than he's been able to provide himself in the past few missions, though, and even heartless he seems to enjoy good food. he may or may not secret a chip to the dog-disguised wolf under his chair, too. so much for table manners.

he listens to her mention before he speaks. speeder...? it takes a bit to sink in what she's implying, and the name rings a bell, whether she suspects it might or not. ) Anakin. He's my partner, here. ( providing a great deal of color, when the huntsman had so little. they were an odd pair, to say the least, yet they managed to function acceptably. ) I can't say I've ever been on a motorcycle, Dany. That might be something I cannot teach you.

( it's a bit odd to use a nickname, even if it is for her cover. Graham has never been one for formalities, yet a name seemed an important thing to a person. a fact he's only come to grips with after realizing the absence of his own. )

[ He glosses over the revelation so quickly that she offers him a curious look over her glass, as though to prompt him to tell her how that is going. Has any partnership ever been more unlikely?

But soon he admits ignorance, and tells her the machine's true name. ] Motorcycle, [ she agrees with a knowing little quirk of an eyebrow, an upturn at the corners of her mouth. It is good that she has chosen to portray a foreign national.

By the time the server returns with her sandwich, Dany is spreading her napkin, settling it daintily into her lap per what some of the other diners around her have done. It is flimsy and crackles about her fingertips with little urging, and the sound distracts her from something in her belly that stiffens queerly. She had chosen Dany again so that it might draw her attention, but it had been Viserys' affection, borne of youthful innocence. He called me that until the end. ]

I will have little time for lessons, alas. [ And so it makes no matter, but she cannot deny that her interest is piqued. ] Asher has informed me that I must drive for a year before I will be trusted.

[ She says it loftily, as though such standards are for other people, not for a queen. The sandwich, though, is queenly enough: heaped high in meats, cheeses, hot peppers, and some foreign oils, it looks as though it is made for three of her. In interest, Drogon is clipping his way down her arm at a swift pace, hooked beak open to emit a curious hiss. ]

( the prompt is silent, and subtle, and therefore entirely missed. much like many of the things Anakin tries to relate to him... though Anakin is a great deal more obvious. that really explains how their partnership is going — perfectly well, because Graham is not emotionally aware enough to notice any different.

yes, the time for lessons was likely hard to come by. time was slant for all of them, as the mission started to intensify around them. there was a static crackle of anticipation in all of Woodhurst, people not speaking and yet entirely cognizant of what loomed ahead. that feeling would get worse, not better.

it's truly horrible advice for a man in possession of a badge, but Graham notes mildly as he pushes his half-eaten meal away, ) To get a license. You could learn without, if you go out of the city. ( it's technically illegal, yet less of a concern if she wasn't on the road. he still couldn't teach her, though.

they've shared many meals together, and he's never seen Daenerys stare down such a feast on one plate. it's rather something similar about them, their appetite seems to usually be the least of their concerns. he doesn't think too much of it, though. ) Portions tend to be mad around here. ( in times like this one, he means, he just can't phrase it that way in public. )

[ She does not laugh at the understatement, but she does smile. ]

What am I meant to do with such a feast? My teeth will scarce fit around the bread! [ The query is half a jape, and it draws the attention of a passing server carrying a tiny espresso cup, who glances back to stare and smile, a hair too indulgently--perhaps at her face, or perhaps at the bird perched upon her arm, who is leaning down to pick at an outlying slice of ham with his beak. It bears a similar taste to the salt pork he had liked, perhaps. ]

Drogon, [ she scolds, and moves the plate out of his reach. The sandwich is too tall for her to comfortably bite into it, and so she plucks away at the top slice of the bread, removing a massive tomato. Calmly and with regal aplomb, as though this is her throne room and not a cafe in another world, she begins to daintily separate the contents with a knife and fork so that her bites will be manageable, ignoring anyone who might be glancing over. Let them look; she is wealthy and accustomed to doing as she likes.

The mood is too light between them, but it is a strange thing to find food so plentiful. If the commerce of this society were like that of Meereen, perhaps her people would not be starving in the streets. ]

You must help me, [ she sighs. ] Oh, at least with the fruit.

Edited 2017-03-10 03:25 (UTC)

Seems to be a feat of pride, to make food too large to consume. ( it was much the same at Granny's, with burgers tall enough it hurt the jaw to look at them. he's lived in a modern world for thirty years, and yet when he comes face to face with discrepancies between one life and the other they always stick out, like a sore thumb. he can't wrap his head around servings large enough for three — it seems wasteful, to him, a man that only hunted for the food he and his family needed.

at the very least, ) You can generally take what you can't finish with you when you go. ( he'll bring the rest of his sandwich home to Emma, even though some part of him knows she'd rather he eat it on his own. she's always trying to gently remind him about his eating habits, and he's heartless, not brainless. he can tell she wants him to eat more, it simply holds little allure when even the desire to eat has been curbed by his curse.

he can't help her with the meat, which Daenerys knows. perhaps better than most, for all the meals they've shared. at her pressing, though, he does pluck up a fork to take some of the fruit salad decorating her plate. ) It seems Drogon will be happy to finish what you cannot, if that fails.

How practical.

[ Her tone is dry, as if to say: In that much at least they do not squander their stores. There are people around them who have left their own sandwiches half-eaten, others who scrape loftily at sweets, in a queer sort of security that their bellies shall not want tomorrow, even if they should dispose of their meals today.

For a heartbeat, she feels far away from this place. The din of the gritty guitar blaring from the speakers, the semi-eloquent (and self-indulgent, Dany thinks) lamentation of a man discontent with his place in the world, all swells to a hollow blur.

And then she offers Drogon a piece of ham between delicate fingertips, thankful that it is too thin to merit roasting. ]

I believe I will content myself with ordering another, [ she decides. ] There is a man standing beneath the shadow of the grocer, begging for coin.

( sometimes, it is a mercy, to lack the heart in his chest. the vessel that is so quick to remind the pain of hunger and the knowledge that pain may very well stretch before it was sated. he could remember, yet he didn't feel the discomfort of the memory, the ache in his chest that overwhelmed his stomach when he looked down at a brother that starved just as much.

it does not bother him, to be surrounded by those wasting and wanting without any idea of how it would be to live a life in lacking. his own meal is even left unfinished, something the shadow of his past would never forgive. not enjoying a meal was no excuse to waste it, when one could never guess at when the next would be.

the mention of a man makes his brow line, though. ) I'll order him one as well. ( he can't feel the murmurs of history, yet he can still rationalize the desire to help someone who suffers. he can remember being hungry, even if the memory does not haunt him. if he can prevent it for a night, then he will do it. )

[ Even without a heart, he is a kinder than the nobles she feasted on the eve of her wedding, and a better person than much of the world, besides. That night, she had balanced upon the edge of a knife--wishing to flay the men she ate with in one thought, and in the next, sending their excesses down for distribution among the hungry.

Even in a city of plenty, there is at least one who has very little to his name. She remembers how that had felt. ]

A hungry man is ill-suited to beg on the streets when the weather is kind. Less so when he must trudge through snow. [ She looks thoughtful. ] I would see him found a warm place by a fire, as well. A place with heat.

[ This advanced world has already achieved so much, enough that she needn't salt her food, walk for miles, or light a brazier to keep warm. Surely Woodhurst must have resources allocated for the displaced.

Before she can speak again, their server reappears, her hair dyed violet, a nose ring gleaming faintly in the indoor lighting. She taps a pen on her order pad, looking bewildered at their lack of progress, and asks whether everything's tasting okay. Drogon hisses faintly at her proximity. ]

( it's thoughtfulness he would never have expected from royalty. the queen he'd served for so very long would never spare a thought to those lacking. in fact, Regina was often the reason her people suffered, and she cared little for their plights when presented with them. generally she made them worse. it would be easy to assume all queens were so, and perhaps for a time he had.

Daenerys was not a perfect queen. he knew he was not a perfect man, either. she cared, for those who to some did not merit any thought. she cared more than some who had never had the weight of royalty on their shoulders. that was what earned her his loyalty, more so than her title. ironic to respect her for her heart, when he had none, yet it was a relief to see one in a queen when he'd only ever witnessed the absence in his last. )

There are shelters. A few of them. I'll call the station and see which have openings, at least for the night. ( when they left, they could dedicate the funds they wouldn't use to the man; he could suggest it to her after they left the cafe. there was a chance the money would be used poorly, yet for the hope it wouldn't, why not? it would do nothing otherwise.

when the waitress returned, he shook his head at the inquiry of the taste. it was fine, or at least, he assumed so. ) I'll take this with me, and I'll have another of whatever is most popular on the menu. ( probably was not the vegan number he'd asked for, it was safe to assume. he didn't eat meat any longer, yet he wouldn't push that on a stranger. as for Dany, she was more than capable of ordering for herself. )

I will do the same, with a cup of water, [ Dany tells her, having noticed the little white boxes some people are carrying out the door. ] And bring me another sandwich of this kind, if you would be so good.

[ The woman glances at her for a hair too long, perhaps to process the distinctive phrasing, but in the end she assures them she will return shortly. Dany does not seem troubled, and as soon as the server moves away, she fixes Graham with a grateful look, her eyes softer around the edges. I have chosen my guard well. There are many who would not have understood her whim, even those she loves, but in the matters of aid, even on a smaller scale, Graham has always understood her at once.

In the space between their reception of the checks and their leaving, Drogon the large scarlet bird hops onto their table, tearing into his ham with relish, and she nibbles at the remnants of her sandwich in comfortable silence, watching the cafe stream around them in denim and black leather and choker necklaces. When they gather their boxes to go and find their man, the snow has begun again, and the streets are blessedly silent. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

bounty time!

hello i am here uwu

HELLO BEAUTIFUL

WAILS ABOUT HOW CUTE THIS IS

brother is the cutest thing ever pass it on

passes it on!!!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

possibly wrap on yours?

okie dokie!

hello im here too

HEY THERE GORGEOUS

insert that waving tswift emote here

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

sneaks in here

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject