InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "IT'S RAINING IN MY HEAD!!!"

wow (flirty) wrote in genome_project,
@ 2012-06-27 02:13:00

Entry tags:

june 2012, megan grant, scout collins

Who: Scout Collins & Megan Grant
What: Meeting
Where: The Met
When: Wednesday, June 27; around 3pm
~~Why~~ Rating: relatively low

Although he was technically due to arrive at his brother's bar in about an hour and a half on the other side of the city, Scout had decided upon waking that he wanted to peruse some collections at the Met beforehand. Yes, the admission was steep, and yes, he would be a touch late, but whatever! Ian would survive hanging around for twenty extra minutes, Scout was pretty sure. And if not, oh well.

Yawning, the man made his way toward Gallery 373, which housed the armor and arms of late medieval to Renaissance Europe. The last time he was here, a couple of weeks ago, he'd had to leave before he could finish his walk through. Although he didn't show it outwardly, Scout was actually quite interested in things like history and art (as general subjects), and being at the museum put him at weird sort of ease. He could be alone and read plaques and descriptions at his leisure, without fear of interruption. Which, truly, was a large part of what brought him back each time.

It wasn't as if he didn't spend a substantial part of his day alone. He did. But, he was sleeping for nearly all of it. Then he would go to the bar and pour drinks for strangers for several hours, see his siblings, rinse and repeat. The Met offered him some conscious alone time, which was nice. And it was interesting, which was a plus.

Dressed in some faded brown corduroys and a dark gray t-shirt, he'd hooked his sunglasses to the front of his shirt, and stood, hands in his pockets, reading the brief description of a very elaborate sword.

(Post a new comment)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-27 06:59 am UTC (link)

Food was really supposed to be consumed in the cafeteria, but since Megan's lunch hour didn't begin until after the interns came back from their breaks (Fuckers weren't even getting paid! Who decided to give them lunch breaks?), it was her own act of silent rebellion to eat wherever she damn well pleased. She wasn't going to spill on the art work, and the guards knew better than to tell her off, especially on a day when she had coffee stains on her blouse. her favorite blouse. Brown didn't wash out of pale blue. Or at least, it would never be quite the same.

She liked Gallery 373 in the summer. During the school year it was filled with middle school kids on field trips, but during the summer months it was quiet, and had a cave-like feeling that she liked. Probably all old metal artifacts on display. She had banked on being alone for a while. The way her day was going though, she sould have expected a trespasser. She took a bite of sandwich (cheese and tomato) hoping he would pass through on his way to a different exhibit. No such luck. The curator in her (damn her) was dying to share trivial information. Not even information. Trivial opinions. Sharing trivial opinions to guys who looked nice from behind (and maybe from the front?). Not that she was looking, cuz, yanno, boyfriend and all. But, okay. She was.

"I always think that's what Excalibur should look like." Sharing is caring!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-27 07:12 am UTC (link)

Scout stared idly at the sword, noting the reflection of the light. He briefly allowed his mind to wonder at how pointless the thing was behind glass, rather than in someone's hand, hacking away at someone else. He was frowning slightly at himself when a voice piped up behind him. - He hadn't even heard footsteps, he'd been so preoccupied with stupid, quasi-philosophical musings about an ancient piece of sharp metal.

Quizzically, one eyebrow raised, he turned just enough to glimpse the intruder. He was prepared to wonder aloud why someone would bother sharing such information when he realized the person behind him was a very pretty woman. He turned back toward the sword and pretended to eye it thoughtfully. "Nah," he said dismissively, shaking his head. "I mean, the shit was magical and all, but Arthur was a practical, if overly noble, kind of guy. You think he'd want something so flashy? We're not talking Lancelot here."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-27 07:23 am UTC (link)

Definitely worth sharing. She bit back a grin and shook her head, "Maybe, but it wasn't as if he got to choose it. It chose him, you know? Plus, like you said: magic. Magic things are always ridiculous." She shrugged and took another bit of sandwich.

"Anyway, I think Lancelot gets a bad rap. He was mostly pretty cool. He might have screwed up a little near the end, but he had a good run." She'd always found King Arthur himself a little boring. Too noble, maybe? It was probsbly stifling for Guinevere to be married to someone who was always so good. There was nothing human about that.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-27 08:24 pm UTC (link)

The girl, Scout realized after wondering at the strange pauses between her words, was eating a sandwich. As far as he knew, this was a strictly "no food/drink" kind of place, but, well, he didn't care that much. Instead, he turned himself so he could look at both the sword and the girl comfortably without having to constantly turn around. He raised his eyebrows incredulously at the mention of Lancelot being a cool dude.

In Scout's eyes, Lancelot was just kind of annoying. He preferred the tales of Sir Gawain, honestly. Lancelot could just go die a hermit or whatever. "Please," came Scout's response, weighted in disbelief. "He becomes a hermit."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-27 08:33 pm UTC (link)

Megan rolled her eyes and crumpled up the brown paper she had wrapped her sandwich in (it felt less destructive to use than a plastic bag to her), stuffing it in her purse, "Because he feels like a dick." Duh. Sandwich now finished, she pulled a compact from her purse and checked her face for crumbs. Satisfied, she snapped it shut and tossed it back in her bag.

"Plus, you're not exactly a hermit when you live with, like eight other people." He had a point, becoming a hermit was a dumb way to deal with your issues, but she wasn't going to give it to him.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-27 08:44 pm UTC (link)

"If I decided to live in seclusion every time I was a dick, I'd be in the woods right now. As it is, I choose to accept it as a part of me that's unchangeable. Much healthier, right?" Scout smiled at the girl, watching as she snapped her make-up-mirror-thing shut and put it in her bag.

Whoever this girl was, she was cute. And while, perhaps, cute girls were a dime a dozen in the city, apparently this one had working knowledge of the legend of King Arthur, which was interesting. "I still say Lancelot is overrated. I'm a root-for-the-underdog type myself. No overblown hermits for me."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-27 09:02 pm UTC (link)

She raised her eyebrows at that one. "As long as you are aware of the fact and are okay with it?" What a strange thing to bring up. People were weird. "I wouldn't exactly call it healthy, but if it works for you... Congratulations?" Megan tilted her head at him as if she were trying to decipher a painting. Her dick radar was off aparently. But then again, most people didn't just come out and tell you that they were habitually mean.

"Fair enough. I suppose I can respect that. I'm something of an underdog myself."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-27 09:11 pm UTC (link)

Scout was saying he was habitually mean. He didn't equate being a dick with being mean necessarily. He was mean often, but he was a dick almost all the time. He interpreted the word more along the lines of he liked to fuck with people and wasn't polite. He was also confrontational. And he had no problem with that. He preferred bluntness to the faux-kindness everyone else seemed to ooze. Gross.

"Well, thanks," he said off-handedly, looking at the sword again. He studied its weird little ornamental swirls on the hilt that he was sure had some sort of hilarious scientific/artistic name. After a moment, he turned his eyes to the girl again. "Then consider me rooting for you."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-27 09:25 pm UTC (link)

She wasn't in charge of how he interpreted dick-like behavior. If their definitions differed, so be it. Anyway, he hadn't been rude or anything so far, so she'd believe it when she saw it. She would have to agree with him about prefering bluntness to faux-kindness, but even so, she didn't think the was anything wrong with being nice when it was genuine. That said, sometimes a little fakeness was necessary to make it through the day. Or finally get promoted. Not that it had helped so far.

Megan could feel a flush come over her face when he said he was rooting for her. It was silly really. He didn't even know her name or anything so why should he? She quickly snapped out of it at that realization and shook her head, "I bet you use that line a lot."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-27 09:37 pm UTC (link)

Perhaps the lack of social niceties on Scout's part was why he was never promoted, no matter the job. Ah, well. That's why he stuck to bartending (you didn't have to be nice to drunks) and dealing in illegal things, where being nice would likely get you maimed or killed.

The girl's cheeks reddened at Scout's words. He laughed. He didn't know how what he'd said made her blush, but. He'd roll with it. "Only for the underdogs," he said as if it was blatantly obvious, giving the girl an uncaring shrug. "I do try to squeeze a mention of underdogs into every conversation I have. Just in case."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ipaintmysoul 2012-06-27 09:53 pm UTC (link)
	"That seems unlikely. I can't think of many conversations where that would work," Megan crossed her arms, "Maybe you just change it up a bit to suit the occasion. One line fits all." She was still trying to figure him out. "Anyway, who roots for people they don't even know, underdogs or otherwise? Seems like a waste of time." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-27 09:59 pm UTC (link)

Scout gave another shrug, watching the girl cross her arms. "It just takes creativity," he said simply. He smiled. "And I have to know whether or not I'm rooting for the person I'm speaking with. That's imperative."

He was (he thought) obviously lying. That would be kind of ridiculous. But it was fun to pretend anyway. And it kept the girl from walking away, so that was a plus. At the girl's next words, Scout cocked an eyebrow. "I suppose you only root for those you know, then? Seems a bit unfair."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-27 10:21 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, of course." She agreed, "And I bet you're very creative, walking around an art museum and all." Some people were like that, after all. Just because you'd seen a Picasso didn't mean you were one, but that didn't stop a lot of people from believing such a ridiculous notion.

"Maybe," She shrugged, "But how am I supposed to know if I'm rooting for the right person if I don't at least know something about them." She didn't have to know them, per se, just know about them.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-28 02:35 am UTC (link)

Scout snorted at her comment about being creative. He gave the girl a genuinely amused smirk. "Obviously," he said dryly. "I get my inspiration from swords." He gestured to the glass case, then paused, realizing the implications of what he'd said. With a smile, he continued: "Which could be misconstrued as a phallic obsession, but I don't believe in Freud, so I'm safe."

He paused a second time to consider the girl's next words. He squinted at her. "Are you trying to ask me my name?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ipaintmysoul 2012-06-28 02:54 am UTC (link)
	Megan snorted, "Nice backpedaling. That was embarrassing." She squinted back at him, "That would be a start, right?" That was how normal people introduced themselves, last she checked. "Here, I'll make this easier." She adjusted her purse and held out her right hand, "I'm Megan." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	flirty 2012-06-28 03:23 am UTC (link)
	"Maybe for you," replied Scout lightly. "What's that theory about penis envy?" Then she was squinting at him and holding out her hand. "Megan," he said as a greeting, nodding his head at her as he shook her offered hand. The name, he supposed, was fitting. He gave her a smile as he dropped her hand and looked down at her. "Good to know." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-28 03:33 am UTC (link)

"Oh yeah, ever since I was a little girl, I've wanted one." She rolled her eyes, "I guess it wouldn't ruin my life if I got to stand and pee." Public toilets were sketchy.

Good to know?! What kind of answer was that? Once he'd dropped her hand, Megan's hands were on her hips. She looked up at him with a look of indignation, "And? This is the part where you tell me your name."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-28 03:42 am UTC (link)

For the second time, Scout laughed. Now that he thought about it, it was pretty cool. It would suck to have to squat everywhere, that was for sure. It would make pissing in alleys a lot harder. "It's great."

Then he laughed again at the sight of the small girl with her hands on her hips, giving him a look he'd only thought his mother could make. "What?" He asked innocently before she spoke. "So you do want to know it, then?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ipaintmysoul 2012-06-28 03:57 am UTC (link)
	Seriously. It was really a pain in the ass. "Lucky you." Megan held back an urge to roll her eyes again. "No, I'm standing here like an idiot because it's fun for me." She tossed her hair, "That was a yes," she added, just in case he was going to continue to be difficult. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	flirty 2012-06-28 04:28 am UTC (link)
	Scout smiled smugly at her comment. And then, smiled wider at her further clarification of her sarcastic comment. He had been planning on continuing to be difficult, buuuut. "Scout." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-28 04:55 am UTC (link)

Sarcasm is a useful tool, aparently.

Scout. That wasn't a name. It was... A profession? Maybe? Not a name. The more she thought about it the more it registered. Ian's brother. Or, one of them anyway. They all had odd names, right? Something from a book she'd read in high school before she'd dropped out.

Megan squinted her eyes again. She wasn't sure she wanted to bring it up, but honestly, how many grown men went by 'Scout'? "You have a brother don't you?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-28 05:02 am UTC (link)

Scout looked at Megan curiously - was that an accusation or a question? He was unsure. Did she know him? Should he know her? Was she a friend of Boo's or something? No. If she were, he'd've remembered. He wouldn't forget someone as cute as her. Briefly, he entertained the idea of pretending they were still just asking each other questions and saying, 'do you have a sister?' Instead, however, he scratched his chin and spoke matter-of-factly. "I have one that's a moron and one that does yoga."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-28 05:09 am UTC (link)

Well. If she had to choose between the two options... Ian didn't do yoga. "Does the moron own a bar?" This was one of those strange situations where she probably knew more about him than he did about her. And even she knew very little. Ian seemed to like to keep his younger siblings out of his conversations, and she was sort of starting to see why that might be. Frankly, if he wasn't so attractive, she would have headed back to the office a while ago. Sometime around the point where he'd called Lancelot a hermit, mostly because he'd disagreed with her. And she was still in a mood.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flirty
2012-06-28 05:17 am UTC (link)

It was Scout's turn to squint, and so he did. She knew Ian? That idea was almost laughable. As if. Now, of course, Scout knew his brother had - hahaha - a girlfriend, but he didn't know her name and had never seen her. That, however, was very likely the end of Ian's interactions with women. Ever. And neither Boo nor Scout even knew how he'd gotten so far as to actually get a girlfriend. How did he woo her? Did she have a soft-spot for people unable to laugh? Seriously.

But this, obviously, wasn't aforementioned girlfriend, so how she knew Ian was a mystery. Scout nodded at her, wondering if she'd elaborate.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ipaintmysoul
2012-06-28 05:26 am UTC (link)

This was sort of fun. Did she spill the beans on that one? It was sort of weird, she tought, that in all the time they'd been dating, she's not once met any of Ian's younger siblings. Or at least, not on purpose. She liked to guess, sometimes, if she saw people around the bar (apparently they all came in from time to time and were obnoxious) who looked as if they were maybe siblings, but she never really acted on these musings.

She gave him that look again--the one with the head tilt and the curious expression--and tapped her fingers on her chin, "Interesting." Was her only response to him. She didn't feel like awarding him the pleasure of a more elaborate response. Frankly, it would be more fun for him to wonder.