Who: John Sheppard and Ronon Dex What: Ronon takes Sheppard to Hinkles Where: On the way to Hinkles When: Pick a day, any day mid day Warnings: None Status: Closed, Complete
Showing up in Madison Valley, Indiana had been interesting. There were people there that knew him, outside of Ronon. Who had talked about being there before. He was sure if he'd been there before then he'd remember it. It didn't sit right with him. Honestly, it sounded like a bunch of crazy talk, but he trusted Ronon. Trusted the Satedean with his life.
He'd gotten settled in at the apartment they'd given him and managed to grab a few civilian clothes. Something to blend in. There was no way he was going to go around in his military gear and startle the people of Madison Valley. His friend could do that well enough on his own.
"So, where are we heading, Chewie? You had to of had a favorite place last time you were here."
“We are heading to Hinkles.” Ronon wasn’t a big fan of restaurant food. He greatly preferred home cooking. Especially at the farm. Not that he could take Sheppard there. Not without Wanda’s consent, and he had a feeling it was too soon to even consider it. So he didn’t ask.
“They have these little tiny burgers. Fries, odd little things called tater tots.” Ronon shrugged. “And milkshakes. I like milkshakes,” Ronon said. Ronon didn’t really go to the other restaurants in town. He’d gone to Lou’s a few times, maybe Verdant. But that was for drinking, not eating.
What the hell kind of name was Hinkles? It was like someone was trying too hard or couldn't come up with a different name. Maybe they'd wanted to be... well, no. He had nothing. The name Hinkles was going to make him think of Crinkles. Which wasn't a place anywhere in the world, not that he knew of anyway.
"Sliders, yeah," he says with a bit of a chuckle. "Tater tots aren't so bad. It's basically fries but not at the same time. It's still a form of potato." Though, he can't help but smile and shake his head at the mention of milkshakes. "I shouldn't be surprised by that. There's probably a lot of new things for you to try here."
Ronon shrugged. He’d tried a lot of different things when he’d been in Madison before. A lot more than what he’d had a chance to try when he’d been on earth with Sheppard before coming to Madison.
“I like sliders. I like pizza. I like donuts,” he said. He also liked Thanksgiving leftovers, like he’d had at the farm the first night he’d returned to Madison. He didn’t want to bring that up, though, because Sheppard hadn’t been invited. Wanda needed time to process him being in Madison, and not remembering her at all.
That shrug spoke volumes. People who didn't know Ronon wouldn't know that, but he did. He'd been working with the guy for a few years, so he'd better know. Just like the big guy beside him knew all of his quirks and nuances that he had.
"You like anything that's put down in front of you," John teases with a bit of a smile. "I haven't seen anything that you won't eat yet. I doubt that's going to change just because we're here."
Ronon’s response to that was a sly little smile. He had spent seven years running for his life, in a very real and literal sense. That was before he’d met Sheppard and his team. In that time, he’d had to keep moving, he couldn’t stay in one place for very long, couldn’t risk being around people and bringing the Wraith down on them. Real food had been a luxury he often had to do without, foraging instead, and eating whatever he could hunt and kill.
After he’d gone to Atlantis with Sheppard and the others, he’d had access to real food, steady food. But even after several years, both in Atlantis and in Madison, there was plenty he hadn’t been exposed to, and plenty he had never tried.
“I’m not even going to deny that.” Because why would he? Sheppard knew it was true. Ronon was like a human vacuum. He’d eat anything that was put in front of him.
John can't help but laugh at that sly smile. If anyone knew Ronon Dex, it was him. They'd been through a lot together. Far more than what he could even really think about, in that moment. He had to admit that it was nice to see one of his teammates in good spirits. Something that it seemed the other was in.
"I know you can't. So, lets get to this Hinkles before we starve to death," he tells him. Though, he was pretty damn sure that wouldn't happen in Madison Valley. "And then you can show me to some of your other favorite places."
“We’ll go by the clinic after we eat and take some grub to Beckett.” Ronon had a soft spot for Carson. He was grateful for Carson still being in town, even if he had been for a time the only one from Atlantis left.
And if Carson wasn’t hungry, well. Ronon would gladly eat a second dinner. He had absolutely no worries where that was concerned. The food wouldn’t go to waste.
"Sounds like a damn good plan to me," he tells him. Since showing up in Madison Valley he hadn't seen Carson. The good doctor was someone that he wanted to find and see anyway. There were people there that knew the man. People that even knew him, which still messed with his head a bit.
He gives Ronon a bit of a smile," We've got a solid plan, Chewie. I like it. I'm not surprised that he's still working at the clinic either. Or, well, a clinic." It wasn't the medical facility in Atlantis. Made him wonder how low tech some of the stuff around was.
Honestly, Ronon couldn’t imagine Carson working anywhere but in a medical facility. The clinic was a good fit for him. It wasn’t as advanced at the med bay at Atlantis, no. But this wasn’t Atlantis, so they all had to make do.
Ronon had no idea what Sheppard was going to do since he couldn’t fly. Or what he would do since he couldn’t go planet hopping and kill things that needed to be killed. But he’d managed twice before in Madison. He could manage again. Even without Teyla this time.
Carson was still in town, and Sheppard was there too. Ronon would be fine.
“Great. Let’s eat.” He was more than ready for a heaping plate of Hinkleburgers.
Just like Ronon, Sheppard couldn't see Carson anywhere else. He'd wonder if the man was sick if he was doing something that wasn't medical related. That man thrived on helping people. On being able to take care of others. He wasn't even thinking that the good doctor in Madison Valley was the real deal either, not when their Carson back home had been a clone.
He takes in his surroundings as they walk, making sure to memorize everything around them. This place was foreign and yet not at the same time. Something that he wasn't entirely sure that he liked. It was definitely something to get used to. He'd do just fine. After all, he was originally from Earth anyway.
Coming up on Hinkles he opens the door and gives a smirk," After you, Chewie."
Ronon smirked as he waltzed past Sheppard into Hinkles. He drew in a deep breath, taking in the sights as well as the smells. Hinkles might not have blue jello, but it had the best damn little burgers Ronon had ever tasted. He hadn't been disappointed by anything on the menu that he had ever tried, and he was looking forward to sharing that joy with Sheppard.
He led the way to an empty table and sat. "I hope your taste buds are ready for this," he grinned, as the waitress came over to take their drink order.