🍇 the fall is colder, but its warm all the same 🍇

[graftage]

WHO: Steinbeck and...you!
WHAT: Open prompts and closed starters for the fall!
WHEN: Fall time baby!
WHERE: Everywhere
WARNINGS: will update as needed, but its steinbeck, what do you expect

bingo

Comments

[unchainer]

[ Steinbeck isn't the only one with distaste on his face; Vanitas certainly has it too. He's leaning back on a while, sipping on a cup of water -- too close to a corner, apparently, because someone turns the corner and almost knocks him right in the face.

Vanitas steps back, alarmed, but upon seeing who it is... ]

...John Steinbeck.

[ :) ]

Here without your date, I see.

[graftage]

Which date is that?

[A genuine question, it seems, as he tilts his head.]

Aether and Uta? Or with Kaspar?

[unchainer]

Oh, I just meant in general.

[ Not true, but there's his answer. ]

Taking a breather? You had quite a few winning bids, didn't you?

[graftage]

I suppose I am. Just seeing what this place has to offer.

[And he does glance around as he says that.]

Remind me, did you get multiple winning bids? You should! You quite likeable.

[unchainer]

Ahaha, no, no! I ended up with just one date with a woman named Amber.

[ He waves his hand dismissively. He doesn't seem too bothered, surprisingly. ]

You happened to outbid me, after all. You earned it, obviously.

[graftage]

Aw, she's nice. I hope you have fun.

[There's a little flicker in his eyes at that, like he's briefly shown a knife in his coat. NO HURTING BNUNY.]

Hm. You mean on Aether, huh? [A tilt of the head.] You like the guy?

[unchainer]

Oh, of course I will. She's quite an energetic woman, I'm sure it'll be a wonderful time.

[ sweats...

As for Steinbeck's question, Vanitas shifts his weight onto his side and folds his arms over his chest. ]

He's my roommate. It's only natural that I'd want to get to know him better! As long as he has fun with you, though, that's really all I can ask for.

[ Hm. ]

Now, how about you? Have you taken a liking to him?

[graftage]

I'm sure it will be.

[ehehe]

[And...ah. So they're roommates. He seems to consider it a moment.]

What do you like about him?

[He isn't even answering the question.]

[unchainer]

I asked you first.

[ SWEATS AGAIN??? He is also...trying to avoid answering this...... ]

[graftage]

[Just stands there.]

[And smiles.]

[Go on!]

[unchainer]

[











]

Why are you looking at me like that?

[graftage]

[Hm. He considers it a long moment here. Poor, poor Vanitas. You would do horrible in a poker game.]

[Finally, he just says, almost a little bluntly:]


Hey. Want to go out on a date right now? Just a little one.

[unchainer]

[ ...?

You know, Vanitas is usually the one who's confusing people, but in this moment, he can't read Steinbeck. It's starting to piss him off, but he kind of has a feeling that he might know why he's being asked out on a date right now. So after a moment of surprise, he collects himself and gives Steinbeck an award-winning smile. ]

Oh, how kind of you to ask! Certainly, as long as we're back by the time my date starts searching for me.

[graftage]

Yeah, no. I would never want to take up your time too much.

[He really does seem to mean that, genuinely.]

Anything you want to check out?

[unchainer]

How about the bar? A glass of wine would be nice, don't you think?

[ Eh, he'd been meaning to check it out, anyway. Why not? ]

[graftage]

A glass of wine sounds lovely.

[And a nod.]

Lead the way. [He'll follow.] Are you a fan of it? Wine, I mean.

[unchainer]

I'll drink it on occasion. I suppose you can say it's my alcoholic beverage of choice.

[ He looks towards the bar several yards ahead of them. ]

And yourself?

[graftage]

I tend to go for a whiskey if I had a choice, but wine ain't bad either.

[A little hum as he moves towards it.]

Kind of reminds me of home.

[unchainer]

[ A little tilt of his head, then: ]

Oh? How so?

[graftage]

Knew a guy who owned a brewery not too far from the farm. Sometimes he'd bring over some of what he made over to bring to my dad. I got to taste it a few times myself.

[The memory makes him smile a little to himself.]

Feels so long ago, now.

[unchainer]

[ This makes him remember something about his own past, and his eyes flicker towards the bar for a moment. Once the memory is shoved back down, he looks back at Steinbeck with a measured grin. ]

You know, people have been saying that they recognize certain foods on this ship. Certain dishes that would only exist where they're from. Fascinating, isn't it?

[ Vanitas pulls up a chair when they approach the bar, and props up an elbow onto the bar counter. ]

I bet they'd have some of that wine you're talking about.

[graftage]

Oh no. I was talking about the whiskey!

[He says with a little laugh, even as he moves to take a seat himself. He leans back a little, pausing, before offering a wink.]

Though let's just say I do know my way around grapes.

[unchainer]

I see! My mistake, then. I'll have a glass of it, if they've got it.

[ He looks at Steinbeck expectantly. Between the two of them, Steinbeck would be the one who would know exactly what to order. ]

[graftage]

...You sure? It's pretty strong.

[But he'll get a glass of straight up whiskey on the rocks to slide over to the other man. Enjoy, Vanitas!]