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[ That order gets a crooked grin. ]

I'm assuming I get to help with that. [ He takes another bite before sliding his plate halfway across the table, maneuvering it around mugs, plates, and condiment containers. ] God, this is nice. I should do brunch more often.

[That earns Matt a sly grin.] I'd be sad if you didn't.

[David reaches over with his fork and cuts off a piece of Matt's French toast, glancing up at him out of the corner of his eye before he sits back and puts the bite in his mouth. His eyes roll back in his head a little.]

Oh...oh my god. I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, it's going to be a struggle not to come here every day.

[ Matt glances back, though he tries not to look like he's ... watching David eat. Still, when he seems to like it, Matt beams. ]

I'm not here to judge how you spend your time. Besides, I'm sure this local business would appreciate your patronage.

[ He forks up some more french toast. ]

There's been some major storm activity this year--I forget if I mentioned. So anything food industry related I think could probably use a boost.

[Going back to his own plate, David swallows and gives Matt a conspiratorial slant of the eyes.]

Who am I to withhold my purchasing power from such a fine establishment?

[Over the rim of his coffee mug, David's brow furrows.]

Like...are we talking Hurricane Katrina?

[ There's a brief flicker of surprise on Matt's face, like oh, you had a Katrina too. He frowns thoughtfully. ]

I'm not sure how the scale compares. I know there've been climate refugees; a lot of them ended up in Espera Village, which is one of the poorer parts of Sumarlok.

The major difference as I understand it is that the storms were--are--a product of Malachite's instability. [ His lips twitch. ] So a literal act of god.

[ This is when the waiter brings over their pitcher of mimosas, along with two glasses because he correctly deduced that David wasn't intending to drink the whole thing himself. It's a bit of awkward timing, but then again, Matt would love a drink right now. ]

Hmm. I see. [Well that's just a whole other bag of worms, isn't it?] That's really unfortunate. You would think in a place as advanced as this they'd have solved, like, economic inequality and climate change.

[It doesn't give David a whole lot of hope for Earth, either. Yikes. Thank god the alcohol arrives right then! David sets about pouring a generous glass for Matt, and then the same for himself. He half-raises his glass.]

What should we toast to?

In a way, I think it's sort of hopeful, [ Matt muses. ] Deprivation really is a lack of political will. Failure of love and imagination, not capacity.

[ He accepts his glass with a rueful smile. ]

But uh, let's see. We could ... toast to ...

Expanding one's knowledge of interior design? That's a mouthful.

[That's an interesting take, and one David is going to need to mull over when he's not about to be intoxicated. He gladly focuses on the toast instead, raises his glass halfway with a thoughtful look.]

...Hmm. What about... 'To vintage-urban-jungle vibes'?

[ Matt laughs. ]

Shorter. I like it. [ He hefts his glass. ] To vintage urban jungle vibes.

[Clink! David grins around a mouthful of bubbly and oj, letting it fizz in the back of his mouth for a moment before swallowing.]

I'm so glad that even on another planet they have mimosas. Now all I need is Mariah Carey's discography and I'll be set for life.

[ Matt takes a genteel sip, followed by a much longer swallow once he's confirmed that yes, this is both delicious and drinkable. His lips come off the glass with a soft ah, and he flicks a crooked smile David's way. ]

Unfortunately, that's where my ability to be helpful ends.

[ Is he a bad queer? Matt wonders for the seven thousandth time in his life. ]

But I have faith in you. My ex got a book of family magic from home by ... I think asking Red? So that might be an avenue worth pursuing.

[David, leaning into his trashy queen side, is already halfway into his glass. His curiosity is piqued, though.]

So I could find this Red person and just...ask for shit?

Pay for shit, [ Matt hedges. He takes another luxuriant sip before clarifying, ] Red is kind of a purveyor of hard-to-get items, which is as sketchy as it sounds as far as I can tell. They're the one who sold me the drugs.

Oh. [David rolls his eyes. No shit. Besides, nothing's really free in a place like this.]

Well, duly noted. I still haven't tried that, by the way. Though I have tried the lotion and I have to say, I'm loving the results. Everything feels very...supple.

[ Matt brightens. ]

That's great! [ Fortunately for David, he's nowhere near tipsy enough to try touching his face. ] Please keep me updated on how it goes. You're kind of a scientific trial of one, so not at all scientific ... but still.

Who knows, maybe someday I'll figure out those other effects you wanted.

Of course I will.

[David can't help the smirk that creep across his face again.]

Even if your methods are scientifically dubious.

[ Matt cants a grin back at him. ]

That's actually one of the kinder ways people have characterized my methods. [ Another swig of mimosa. ] So I'll take it.

Well, it helps that you're adorable.

[David says it without thinking, and then blinks a few times and puts food in his mouth in the hopes it'll make him stop saying words. It shouldn't be this hard, they've established a base-level flirtation, but Matt seems genuinely nice. David doesn't want to scare him off, or something. As far as he knows, Matt is just a naive, innocent magic boy, after all.]

[ Matt--both a naive, innocent magic boy and a person whose Noctium Number sits at over two dozen--bursts into bright, pleased laughter.

He thinks adorable is good. Adorable can be sexy, right? He finds plenty of people he wants to sleep with totally adorable. ]

Thanks, [ is where he lands. ] You too. Not that you need help, just--

Yeah.

[David can feel a flush creeping up his neck from beneath his shirt, and he hides it by drinking more alcohol. He swallows, clearing his throat, struggling to form a coherent sentence for a moment.]

I, um, it's. [His eyes press closed for a moment. Focus.]

I'm finding it hard to say real words right now because you're very attractive. So there's that.

[ Matt says, ] Oh.

[ Cool, so is it adorable to be 1000% clueless? Inquiring Matts want to know. He scrubs a hand up his left cheek, rubbing over the hairline scar that sits there, and smiles bashfully. ]

Well ... I think you're really attractive too, if that helps. [ His lips twitch, as he realizes, ] I've never had somebody say it was hard to form words around me before. That's flattering.

[ And way better than "every time I go to see you I tell myself we won't have sex (and then we do)." No offense Simon, he knows you're going through your own stuff. ]

Oh. [David echoes the sound, glancing down at his food for a moment before his gaze darts back up at Matt a few times. He's barely suppressing a smile, which only becomes more difficult as Matt indicates that the feeling is mutual.]

That's...[words,] ...great. I promise I'm not an idiot, oh my god.

[It doesn't help that he's polished off his first glass of mimosa rather quickly and is rapidly becoming buzzled.]

[ Matt can't help another laugh. It's not at David! Really! It's the whole pleasantly preposterous situation. ]

I know you're not an idiot.

[ But jeez, he's gotta catch up mimosa-wise. Matt takes another swallow, getting down to the last fifth in his glass. ]

Thank you.

[David busies himself refilling his glass from the pitcher, but doesn't take a drink just yet, instead sitting back against the booth seat to fix Matt with an intent gaze.]

So in the spirit of you not thinking I'm an idiot...do you...want to hang out after we're done eating?

[ Matt returns David's regard with a curious smile, one that fades into a more solemn expression as David keeps looking at him.

When the question lands, Matt brightens in surprise. ]

Yeah, I'd love to.

Maybe you could come over and see how my design attempts are going? No consulting unless you want to, of course.

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