Players:
Summary: Pudge and Stephen enjoy a nice dinner out.
Date: June 25, 2009
Log Title Tortoise and Dinner
Rating: PG
NYC - Sweet Cafe
Located on the eastern side of the Central Park Lake is the Sweet Cafe, a cozy cafe for diners. With tables located on the raised plaza overlooking the water and an excellent menu, customers can enjoy typical cafe food while they enjoy the serenity of the view. With a moderate wine list a variety of foods this place is comfortable for all sorts of diners.
It's been a long past few days at work and on top of it Pudge has been sick of dealing with rain. He doesn't always like to manipulate the weather but somedays some sun is nice and of course his forcast was the only correct on on Today being nice and sunny. So after work, Pudge called up Stephen and asked if he wanted to join him for a bite to eat at Sweet Cafe. Still dressed in his suit, hey he came from work, that's his excuse, he waits by the door for Stephen.
Stephen comes carrying a small box. It looks like a jewelry box, and IS, but isn't what one would think. "Hey!" He calls, moving towards Pudge with a grin. He's dressed in his own work clothing… jeans and a t-shirt. He's not the dressy kind of guy.
"Hey Stephnen, how's the shop doing?" Pudge asks as he still has to go visit him there sometime. "I reserved us a table so we can relax and have some dinner." He doesn't say it but with his size, he does like food.
"Food's always good and welcome here." Stephen laughs, grinning up at the bigger guy. "And I wouldn't have even thought of reserving anything. I've not really gotten a chance to come out this way before." He says, shrugging slightly as he moves along with Pudge, happily.
"I've been here with collegues before, I really isn't usually that fancy of the guy but the do have good food here." And Pudge does like Stephen even if he's not sure if it's as more than a friend or not. "And then we can always enjoy the park afterwards."
"Of course. And I have something to bring you, anyway. I've been meaning to, it's just been hopping at work lately. The chain mail designs have been doing quite well." Stephen says with a chuckle. "now, don't get excited." He teases, passing the box over. When opened, it contains a fetish tortoise.
"You didn't have to bring me anything." Pudge says sounding surprised but yet flattered at the same time. He opens the box and looks at the tortoise before picking it up, and he can definately feel the magics inside it. "A Tortoise?" He acts curiously not ungratefully.
"You have seen what I can do." Stephen explains softly. "And with the way things happen around here, I know you can pack a punch, just from what I have seen. But… you may not have armor. Just call on Turtle when you're in danger. He'll protect you. Only once, though." Stephen explains. There's power in it, as well, just like in his own. Only… the power seems to be keyed to Pudge himself.
"Wow…I don't know what to say but thank you." Pudge says honestly flattered. "Wow, I think you're one of the first people to leave me speechless." He says with a chuckle. He turns the fetish over in his hands a few times before closing his fist around it. "I'll keep it near me always."
"Good. And if you need him, use him. He'll come and listen." Stephen says with a grin. "I just… in a town like this where there are so many of us with differences, it's good to be prepared." He nods, quickly.
Pudge nods. "I know what you mean. I've a couple of close calls myself. I guess I can't resist the urge, I don't look for trouble but it's it's there I'll do something." Pudge admits that he's played hero a few times. "I guess it comes from growing up and being facinated by Suepr Heroes since there's nothing else interesting in Kansas."
"Well, I didn't have any desire or need for them when I was smaller, but hey. I do what I can because I am what I am. To quote the great sage, Popeye." Stephen snickers, bumping a fist into Pudge's shoulder.
Pudge chuckles at the Popeye quote. "Does that mean you're quite the spinach fan as well? Buy anyway, I just thought they were facinating when I was a kid it wasn't until I moved in with my aunts when I realized what I am and learned about it."
"Not really. I'm more of a meat and potatoes kinda guy with the occasional salad that I'll never admit to." Stephen laughs softly, running a hand through his hair as he gives a wink. "Ohyeah, your aunts. Are they doing well? Or are they cantankerous old biddies?" He snickers.
"I'm the same way, meat and potatoes but I think it shows." Pudge says with a chuckle, he doesn't hide his size but he's comfortable with it. "My autns are two of the strangest people you'd ever met, well maybe not but it felt like that at twelve years old. They're great and they are doing well. Adjusting to New York still."
"You wouldn't be you if you didn't. And they probably had a lot to do with who you became. Well-adjusted, but believing in things that no one else could see." Stephen chuckles, really enjoying the evening. Hey, it works for him. Just having someone to hang out with.
"Oh they had a lot to do with who I became." Pudge says knowing that he's lucky to have them in his life. "I don't know what I'd do with out them honestly. They taught me everythign I know." Well with magic. "Do you have any family up here or anything?" Pudge asks feeling a bit bad he's just talking about himself.
"They're all back home. But that's fine. We're not exactly the closest of families. My family is who I make it." Stephen says with a shrug. "And I've been alone for a while. Though, it's not such a bad thing. Just… had so much going on that I closed everything away."
"Well you don't have to be alone anyone." Pudge says and then realizes Stephen might take that the wrong way. "I mean, just, you have a friend here now in the city and anytime you need a friend or want to go out for dinner or drinks or something…I'm here for you." He flusters his words a bit hoping he doesn't sound like an idiot.
"I know. No worries. I just get a little down sometimes. I only know the people I work with and you. And that one invisible guy, but he's not really someone I KNOW know. We were just in a fight together." Stephen shrugs.
"I'm in the same boat, people I work with and you. And my aunts of course." Pudge says looking at the tortoise a bit more with a smile. He likes it. "Well like I said, you need a friend I'm here for you Stephen. You're the first person in the city I can call a friend and feel good about it since my coworkers…" He just shakes his head.
"And someone you can talk to about real things without worrying if they'll freak out and run away." STephen laughs softly as he ponders what to do or say next. but he's not that creative, so he simply shrugs.
"That and someone who I can just talk to and they're not superficial." Pudge says honestly. "And the other thing two, you're the third person who knows what I really am." He finally picks up the menu and smiles at Stephen. "Well how about we order some dinner and continue our conversation after we decide what we want?"
"Alright. Let's do that." Stephen says with a nod as he moves along and opens a menu with a wink.
