papa was a rolling stone

[insolvent]

Who: Yang (flaredo), Ludger (insolvent>), and Elle (foodcritic)
When: October 18
Where: Ludger's apartment
What: Play date... more or less.
Rating/Warning: None

---

[ ludger wasn't entirely sure how it had happened, but one way or another yang had talked him into inviting her over to his (moderately overpriced) apartment. er... at least, that's what he thought had just happened. still, this was probably a good thing. when all was said and done, ludger still wasn't sure how to best take care of elle now that she was here, so having some help on that front was appreciated. though he'd taken care of her back in their world as well, he'd always had jude and the others to rely on. suddenly playing dad to an eight year old girl was not something ludger was particularly equipped to do... okay he was actually strangely well equipped to do that, but he was still having some trouble wrapping his head around it.

it would definitely help if elle had some friends around her age here though, so calling yang over seemed like a good idea. not that yang was actually elle's age... now that he thought about it, he actually wasn't sure how old she was, but she was definitely closer to ludger's age than elle's. well, regardless, having someone else to play with would would be good for elle.

probably.

he'd at least used that as an excuse to put his place back in order at least, not that it was ever particularly out of order. he'd told elle that yang was coming over too, and she seemed more or less happy about the idea (at least, he thought that was happiness, anyway). so for now, all there was to do was wait. ]

Comments

[foodcritic]

[elle will put her fork down long enough to cross her arms over her chest and nod.]

You got that right! [embrace it!]

[flaredo]

Say it with confidence! With passion!

[ waving her spaghetti-laden fork like a conductor's baton why the hell not. ]

[insolvent]

With passion...? [ he has no idea why he's going along with this, but somehow he's getting swept up anyway. ]

Alright, I'm the best there is! No one else can compete.

[foodcritic]

[because they could use a little bit of silly cheer now and then.]

That's the spirit! Now you're really getting it!

[flaredo]

There you go! Keep up that attitude and you'll have the ladies cheering for you in no time!

[insolvent]

...what do ladies have to do with this?

[ why can't he keep up with this conversation at all!! ]

[foodcritic]

What ladies?

[are there even ladies around to cheer for ludger? she can't keep up with this either, it okay.]

[flaredo]

...

I'll tell you both when you're older.

[insolvent]

...

I'm pretty sure I'm older than you.

[foodcritic]

No fair! Why do grownups always use that as an excuse? [rude!!]

[flaredo]

Because half of the time it works.

[ and she's just shaking her head at Ludger. ] Then you should know what I'm talking about! I'm not gonna bother giving you a lesson at all!

[insolvent]

[ ...he still has no idea what you're talking about, but: ]

Oh. Right. Um, yeah, that. That's what you meant. Right. [ ??? ] Sorry Elle, but she's right. [ maybe? whatever, he's passing the buck on this. ]

[foodcritic]

It's still not fair. [damn right she's going to huff and be pouty over this. being treated like a kid sucks sometimes! ...even though she is a kid.]

[flaredo]

[ Ludger who are you even fooling-- ]

Of course it's fair! It'll be our promise when you're a little bit bigger, okay?

[insolvent]

[ apparently elle, and that's really all that counts here.

but yeah he's staying out of this. the less he says now, the less likely it is his sly deception will be revealed. ]

[foodcritic]

[wow ludger, she thought you were on her side here! way to leave her out to dry...]

If you're gonna make a promise like that, you know you have to seal it, right? [meaning that if there is a point where this can even be possible, she's holding yang to it. ...even if elle has strange, mixed feelings about promises.]

[flaredo]

[ sticks out her pinky, then. ]

Of course! I'll keep my word.

[insolvent]

[ he is on your side. he just recognizes he needs to choose his battles wisely here... or not at all.

...though in the back of his mind, he is starting to wonder if maybe he shouldn't be letting this particular promise be made. he might regret this. ]

[foodcritic]

[stop making poor choices, friend. this is not the path to max affinity.]

Well, it's definitely a promise this way. [even though she asked for it, there's a very brief hesitation before elle sticks her own pinky out to finish the gesture.]

[flaredo]

[ Too late, Ludger, she's got a promise made now, and a most solemn pinky swear. ]

I've never broken one, either, so we're set!

... But Ludger probably feels lonely, so maybe we should make him promise something too.

[insolvent]

Huh? N, no, I think I'm okay...

[ not lonely over here, not at all. he's already seen where this particular road leads. ]

[foodcritic]

I don't think I really have any promises to make with Ludger now though...

[they already have their own okay. she isn't sure she'd want to make another for a bunch of reasons right now. sorry, luds.]

[flaredo]

... I don't have anything I'd make him promise me yet, either.

[ drat. ]

[insolvent]

[ insert sigh of relief. ]

We can leave that for later then. [ or never. ]

[foodcritic]

Is that like... a promise to make a promise later?

[asking the tough questions.]