Who: Elena Alvarez and Enjolras What: Catching up over dinner Where: starting at the arcade, going to the Red Pepper When: this evening Warnings: adorableness? Status: complete gdoc
It had been a while since Enjolras had first had that all too important sit down talk with Elena. He found he quite liked the girl. She was only a few years younger than he was and she reminded him a great deal of himself at that age. Young but full of fight...and hope. There was definitely hope there.
It seemed only fair to let her know that her advice had been sound. And that despite all the odd feelings he still struggled with at times, he was going to attempt to make things work for him.
He sent her a message, asking if she'd like to grab dinner after her work shift. He had the early shift that morning and was ready long before she would be free, but that was fine with him. Wandering the arcade while he waited, he poked and prodded at a few of the machines, considering learning to play. Some of them were very loud and flashy, but the people all around did seem to be having a good time.
***
Losing Layla was difficult and Elena still wasn’t entirely sure how to process her feelings about it. They hadn’t been officially dating for that long, but Layla was one of her first and closest friends in town and it was weird knowing she wasn’t there anymore. Especially when there were two other people walking around with her face.
The message from Enjolras was a pleasant surprise and she eagerly accepted the invitation, needing distractions from wallowing in pity over her girlfriend being sent home.
When her shift ended, she found him easily enough and even managed to smile. “Did you try playing any of the games?” she asked.
***
He grinned when she slipped up behind him. “I made an effort at this Pac-Man guy. He’s alright, I suppose.” Maybe he’d come back some time just to play the video games. Or maybe he would even buy one of those systems people kept at home. Things were so very different and so many changes had been made, but it had the potential to be a lot of fun.
Once he turned to look at her, he took in her appearance. She seemed okay. Not overwhelmingly happy, and he wouldn’t expect her to be. But she did seem to be holding up well enough. He didn’t think he could fake it as well as she probably was under the same circumstances. But then, Grantaire had told him he didn’t have a face for gambling.
“How are you?” he asked. Logically, Enjolras knew she was probably tired of hearing the question. Still, he wanted to let her know the opportunity to talk was there if she needed it. It had to be difficult.
***
Elena was a little frustrated by that question, largely because she didn’t know how to answer it. Yes, of course she was upset that Layla was gone. In the grand scheme of things, though, they hadn’t dated very long and it wasn’t as if they were married or had a child together or anything like what some people were dealing with so she felt guilty for making a big deal out of it.
“I’m okay,” she said, giving him a little shrug. “Trying to do all the normal things.” Otherwise, she would probably go crazy.
As much as she appreciated his concern, she was fairly certain he hadn’t asked her to meet up to check on her. “What about you? What’s going on?”
***
Well, now he just felt guilty. Or awkward. Like she only considered him that guy who needed her in order to acclimate to 2019 America. “Maybe I simply wanted to take a friend to dinner. Especially if that friend might need a little extra support right now.”
He didn’t know exactly what she was going through, but he had experienced loss of his own. And he did know it hurt. So as happy as he was in certain aspects of his life, he wasn’t about to ignore her hurt, either. And being so young probably made it harder. Stranger. “If you’re not up to it, I completely understand. But if you’d like to get your mind off of things for a bit… Or talk about it. Honestly, whichever is best for you, I’m here.”
***
“I… thank you,” Elena said. She really did appreciate that he was concerned about her. “I don’t… I’m not sure what to say about it right now.” It was hard to put feelings that she didn’t quite understand into words. “Distractions would be good though.”
Which meant just hanging out and chatting with him. Having dinner. Maybe she could even teach him some video games if he was interested.
***
That he was definitely sympathetic. Especially as someone who prided himself on his words. When he didn’t know how to say the things he wanted to, he was angry and frustrated. It made him feel lost. He understood a little about how Elena was feeling.
“What are you in the mood for? Grantaire would tell you I will eat whatever you choose so long as they sell desserts.” His sweet tooth was a bit of a joke between them. Still, he wasn’t much of a picky eater. It would make him look like a terrible person if he was choosy about his meals while so many went hungry every day.
***
Most of the vegetarian friendly options in town were places that Elena frequented with Layla and she wanted to avoid those since it would defeat the purpose of a distraction. On the other hand, places like Hinkles were decidedly out of the question if she wanted actual food. “How about the Red Pepper,” she suggested. They had decent salads.
“I’m not sure what they have dessert wise, but there’s an ice cream place a few doors down,” she added.
***
Enjolras offered a smile, nodding. "I haven't been there yet, and I'm trying to make it a point to try everything at least once." He liked the name, too. It implied food with good spices. The food at home had been good, but he was grateful to be able to try and eat new things.
"Oh, I'm sure I'll find something sweet enough. Besides, you shouldn't take too much stock in anything Grantaire says. I am perfectly capable of eating like an adult."
***
Elena chuckled. It was nice to hear him speaking so casually about his friend and she hoped that was a good sign that things were going well for him. Despite her own loss, Elena wanted her friends to be happy and she counted Enjolras among them. He was a sweet guy and had an open mind for learning about this modern time.
“You know, I haven’t met Grantaire yet,” she said. “I feel like I should change that.”
She flashed him a grin as they headed out of the arcade and down the street towards the restaurant, curious to see his reaction to that.
***
At that, he felt that all too familiar blush rise to his cheeks. But this time, it was actually an almost pleasant feeling. He wasn’t embarrassed at the way things were going between the two of them. Slightly uncertain, but that was probably to be expected, really. This was all new to them both.
“Perhaps you should. He can be a bit of a handful sometimes, but he’s also one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. And the most compassionate.” And a very good kisser, but he thought maybe he should keep that bit of info to himself for now. It felt wrong talking so happily about his...friend? Whatever he was, it felt awful to be talking about him so freely when Elena had just lost the person most special to her.
***
“What kind of handful?” Elena asked, curious about the young man her friend fancied. There must be something special about him for Enjolras to like him.
She didn’t mind hearing about someone else’s happiness despite her loss. It was good to know that other people were having better luck with the whims of the dome than she was.
***
"He has a bit of a reputation back home for instigating. Well, mostly instigating me," he admitted with a laugh. All this time later, he could almost recognize that as the need for attention it had been. Grantaire had simply wanted to be noticed.
"The problem is," he continued, reaching the door of the restaurant and holding it open for Elena, "he's too smart sometimes. He knows what to say in a debate scenario to get under his opponent's skin. And often enough, I was the opponent." Which was frustrating. But also kind of amazing. Enjolras certainly held him higher than any of those fools with more money than education that he had so often spoken out against.
***
That sounded like fun to Elena. “Were you in some kind of debate club?” she asked, unsure if such things existed at that time. “Or do you have opposing views on things?” She supposed they were equally likely.
“It’s more fun to debate an intelligent opponent though.” Which was why she seldom bothered to argue with anyone. The people who disagreed with her positions on most things tended to be… not very intelligent.
***
Enjolras grinned, shaking his head. “No. I mean, I did do debate, or what you would consider debate. But not with Grantaire. We had a group… Some friends of mine and my other friends. We were working to try and change the conditions of the poor and homeless and hungry in Paris.” His face went a bit dark at the conversation. Not for anything Elena had said. And he did love and miss his friends desperately. But he definitely still felt the guilt of losing them.
“I agree. Grantaire was good for that. He was able to pick apart my arguments with ease. Made it easier to take on those in power when the time came.” He did understand why Elena wouldn’t want to argue with those who couldn’t keep up with her. But often he found himself in a position where he had to. Having a solid argument helped in those moments.
***
Elena thought she would get along well with Enjolras and Grantaire’s group of friends. From everything he said, they sounded like an early version of the type of activists she and her friends were. “I’m familiar with the history of that time,” she said, not wanting him to feel like he would need to elaborate.
Once they were settled at their table, she leaned forward. “So, what’s going on with you two anyway?”
***
He thought she would, too, honestly. Especially with Combeferre. They had similar ways of speaking out against things they disapproved of. She would have been a very welcomed addition. Far more than the girl who had simply followed Marius around. "The actual Revolution fares much better in history, it seems." Enjolras gave a little shrug at that. He had long since accepted that.
His cheeks turned a bit pink at her question. "Oh, would you look at that salad," he said, looking at the menu with a little laugh. But well, she had asked. And it was partly because of Elena that he had found the courage to approach whatever it was they were. "I honestly don't know. We are taking things as they come, I think. There is snuggling. And…" The red in his cheeks deepened. "And perhaps a bit of kissing. Other than that, I'm not sure even we know."
***
“You don’t have to put labels on it,” Elena said, smiling at his blush. “As long as you’re both comfortable with what you’re doing and in agreement about your boundaries, that’s all that really matters.”
Everyone was so focused on labels these days, wanted people and things to fit into neat little boxes, and that just wasn’t how life worked, at least not in her experience. “Now I definitely need to meet him though,” she couldn’t help but tease.
***
Enjolras couldn't help smiling. And why shouldn't he? He was pretty content with the way things were at the moment. Even if they weren't labeling things. "You know by now, I like labels. They make things easier. But I see your point." Because for him, they didn't tend to make things easy at all.
"Go for it. But if you hate him, please don't tell me. I would hate to have to make you two fight it out for my time and affection." Even if his sense of humor was a bit drier, he could tease, too.
***
That made Elena laugh. “I’m pretty sure I would lose that fight,” she said. She was okay with that though. As much as she enjoyed spending time with Enjolras and hoped she could consider him a friend at this point, she would fully expect him to prefer his lifelong friend to her.
She spotted their server coming towards them. “Do you know what you want yet?” she asked, nodding at the menu.
***
"Not necessarily!" he protested, but he was laughing, too. This was a little ridiculous, he knew. But Grantaire could be so cynical, he and Elena might not hit it off. That would, as they seemed to all say now, suck.
"Of course. Not the salad." Enjolras grinned and pointed to the chicken tenders. Another food he knew was terrible for him and yet he'd gotten hooked on.
***
If Elena knew what he was thinking, she would laugh. She was full of cynicism about a lot of things, particularly political ones, so that wouldn’t be an issue at all.
“Okay, I’m going to have a vegetarian omelet,” she decided. Breakfast for dinner was great. She wouldn’t judge him for the unhealthiness of his choice nor would she subject him to a lecture on the ethicality of eating meat.