InsaneJournal

Who: Alecto and Gourry
What: Date
When: Last weekend
Where: Some laser tag place and then food truck land
Rating/Warnings: N/A
Status: Completede



Alecto still didn’t really understand the idea of dressing for a date. But considering it was going to be a lasertag date before the dinner part, Alecto didn’t worry herself about getting too dressed up. A pair of skinny jeans and a tight shirt that maybe showed off a little cleavage. She was pretty sure that was an important part of dating or really any interaction with blokes she was interested in. She was used to flaunting herself to get attention. Of course, the laser tag vest did cover things up a little bit.

Laser tag was easy, really. It was pretty impossible to be awkward while shooting fake guns at people. It was the dinner part that was awkward. Not that they’d exactly gotten to that part yet. “Soooo what’s the dinner plan? Is this an adult dinner or a...we could probably get food from a food truck and wander around somewhere dinner? Just so I know.” She almost wished she’d thought to bring her camera. At least that could have distracted her from her general awkwardness.

“We could do that if you feel like some greasy food,” Gourry smiled at her, adjusting his jacket. He wore a very nice looking black jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, blue jeans and big boots. A simple, low v-neck shirt that looked pretty faded was the only thing under the jacket. “Or I know a nice italian place too, whichever you’d like.”

Alecto almost groaned. Choices. She’d always been good at decisions, at knowing what to say to get a specific reaction. Only Gourry didn’t operate like other people and he missed messages more often than he seemed to get them, which meant most of her usual methods didn’t work. Looking up at him, Alecto let out a small sigh. “You planned for Italian, didn’t you?” Adult dinner it was. “We can do that, then.”

Gourry shook his head. “I could eat anything, really, so I wanted to make sure I had options for you.” He gave her a smile.

She studied him very closely for a moment. He basically made no sense.

“What?” Gourry blinked at her.

“I don’t know. I’m trying to figure you out, but I’m not very successful.” She scrunched up her nose. “Most people I can puzzle out, but you’re not...most people.” Which was frustrating and nice at the same time. “I’m not used to not knowing what to do.”

“Well, everything’s kind of new, so if there’s any preferences, you just let me know.” Gourry gave a nod.

“We can do Italian tonight and then later we can do food trucks and you’ll have to deal with me taking pictures.” Her gaze dropped to the ground briefly before she looked up at him again. “Plus, I have to kick your ass at paintball still.”

“We aren’t on a team?” Gourry laughed, reaching over for her hand.

“No. We’re definitely enemies when it comes to paintball. You’ll have to get used to that. We might turn into a team later, though.” She stilled for a moment at the feeling of his hand, glancing down at it for a moment before reaching back to take his hand.

“So it’s fair even if I win?” Gourry grinned toothily at her.

“That’s assuming you stand a chance,” she retorted. “I’m excellent at paintball.”

“Well, guns are certainly different than swords, which I’m more skilled with.” He shrugged. “Ready for it?”

“Annnnnd you’re going to teach me how to use one. Obviously. I can’t teach you how to use a wand, though. But I’m sure I can figure something else to teach you.” She grinned. “I was born ready.”

“Even if I could, I’m sure I wouldn’t remember anything you teach me about magic,” he gave her an amused smile. “Pretty sure Lina will back that up.”

Alecto tried not to laugh at that, but she couldn’t stop herself from a half laugh and a smile. “Well...I’ll remember to make flashcards if I ever try to teach you anything. Then you can remember for later.”

Gourry patted his pocket. “I’m good at keeping scraps of paper with notes,” he winked.

Alecto rolled her eyes. “You’re hopeless. It’s a good thing you have me around or who knows what would happen?” A pause. “Also if you ever get lost, you can probably text and I can show up wherever you are. Just prepare for a loud sound like a gun going off.”

Gourry’s eyes widened for a moment as he watched her. Slowly, they crinkled at the corners as his lips broke into a wide, sincere smile. “Yeah,” he murmured softly, “it’s a good thing I have you around.” It was so familiar but so different. Beside him now wasn’t a redhead sorceress ready to destroy villages, instead, it was a brunette that also had a very similar type of humor to her like Lina. ...Kind of.

Alecto found herself smiling without actually meaning to. She was pretty sure that his smile was a dangerous weapon. “I’m pretty handy and I make for excellent company.” She looked off to the side. “So where is this Italian place? I bet I could get us there really fast.” Ignoring the fact that she’d never tried apparating with someone else.

Gourry dug into his wallet and pulled out a business card, handing it to her. “This address. But first, shooting each other, right?”
Alecto studied it for a moment before handing it back to him. “Yes. First shooting each other and then dinner. It’s going to be epic.”

And so they went off and shot each other and others!

Although Gourry was very good at dodging, he honestly wasn’t that great at using a gun, toy or not. By the time it was over, Gourry was one of the many losers and was ready to kick back and relax.

“I’m really fine with getting something from a food truck and sitting, too,” he said happily.

Alecto, however, did pretty great. She’d shot at people with a fake gun a lot. It meant that she had a pretty good advantage. Once it was over, she was feeling victorious and had an extra bounce in her step. It took a lot of her energy not to gloat.

“There’s a few in the park if you really want to do a food truck. And I might know all the good spots in the park.” Because she tended to creep on people in the park. With her camera. She just liked to take pictures of people. When they didn’t think they were being watched, they were more open about who they were or how they felt, which was interesting. “Or there’s a few I’ve found around other places, too.”

“Take me to a place you like,” he grinned at her. “I’d like to know what Alecto Carrow enjoys.”

She studied him for a moment before asking, “Do you want to go the super exciting way or do you want to drive? I mean, the super exciting way can always come back here if you need to.”

“Uh, super exciting way?” He tilted his head.

“Is that a question or a decision with a questioning sound?”

“...Both,” Gourry stared evenly.

“Okay. The exciting way is what we call apparating. It’s going to feel weird as a warning. You might feel a little off kilter after the first time. Which is now for you. Less now for me.” She looked up at him for a moment before wrapping her arms around him. “Ready?”

Gourry looked surprised at her ‘hug’, which he happily returned. He nodded. “Yeah, I hope so.”

A hug from Alecto was definitely surprising, but she wasn’t sure if hand holding worked or what. She’d never done it before. Letting out a breath, she focused on where they were going and apparated. When they got there, she looked around. “Everyone still in one piece? You don’t feel sick to your stomach, do you? Please don’t puke on me.”

Gourry did feel sick, he gagged a little, feeling dizzy as everything became righted. He groaned loud, rubbing his face. “I’m okay.”

Alecto looked up at him apologetically before letting go and stepping back. “Are you sure? Do you need to sit down? We can sit for a moment.”

Gourry shook his head, smiling at her once he calmed. “No, I’m fine.”

She gave him a quick smile. “Good. Now you've survived your first side-along. You were also my first side-along, so yay us.” She did a quick assessment to make sure there wasn't any splinching. “Points to me for not killing you.” And now to go get food. She grabbed his hand, deciding not to worry about the hand holding aspect in order to pull him toward the food.

Gourry threaded their fingers as they walked, smiling proudly. “What are you hungry for?”

Alecto considered it for a brief moment. “Bacon.” She grinned as she walked, making her way toward a bacon-inspired food truck. “Everything comes with bacon. It’s hard to find fish and chips that aren’t hideously American around here, but you can’t go wrong with bacon.”

“Isn’t that just fish and french fries?” Gourry asked, confused. “What’s hard about that?”

“Yes. Yes, it is. It’s just...a British snob thing.” And American’s being weird. “But the first time I saw someone try to microwave tea, I decided I didn’t trust them for much by way of English food or drinks. It’s a shame.”

Gourry looked even more confused! “Does it taste differently in England? I’ll have to try it then,” he nodded wisely.

“One of these days.” She smiled. “But until then, bacon. Bacon everything. They once had peanut butter and jelly with bacon, which is great, actually.” Once they reached the truck, she peered at the menu for a moment. She ordered the hot dog wrapped in bacon with mac and cheese on top. It was probably a terrible thing to eat, but she was totally eating it. “There’s also bacon brownies if you’re up for it later.”

Oh, poor Alecto, her first real sight into Gourry’s ability to eat anything and everything. He orders a pulled pork sandwich with tangy BBQ sauce, bacon of course, along with a BLT, bacon cheese chips, a large insanely loaded set of fries, chili and more bacon, along with a chili bacon cheese dog. He looked at Alecto happily. “I worked up an appetite.”

There was a moment where she just stared before shaking her head. “At least there are tables.” She was pretty sure she’d never seen anyone eat that much before or maybe she just forgot about it. But she was okay with it. Even if she’d still stare a little as he ate.

Gourry beamed as they found a table to sit at with their food once it was called out, and Gourry immediately began digging in. He went to talk with his mouth full, but stopped, swallowing, wiping his mouth, and only then talking. “How did you like today so far?”

Alecto sat across from Gourry to give him the space for all of his food. “It was nice actually.” She shrugged slightly. “I might be okay to do something like this again.”

Gourry smiled wide. “Yeah? So I did alright?”

That smile was a weapon and it was dangerous. “Yeah. You did all right.” She took a bite of her hotdog, smiling a little. She waited till she’d swallowed to say. “I guess I had fun.”

“Good,” Gourry said proudly. “I’m very glad I did alright, and I’m even more glad you had fun. Food good?”

“Definitely good. Probably going to have to go back for those bacon brownies.” She ate a bit more. “I still have no idea how you can eat all of that.”

“I dunno either,” Gourry admitted. “But I can,” he went back to eating for a few minutes. “Lina can, too.”

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.” There was a brief moment where she considered the idea of moving to sit next to Gourry instead, but she forced herself to stay put. It was a weird idea anyway. “Anything you want to do after eating?”

“Get you home before ten so Isabela and Hawke don’t hang me?” Gourry grinned.

Alecto snorted. “I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t hang you if we got back after ten. I mean, they might make a few suggestive comments, but that’s probably the worst of it.” Her smile changed into a smirk. “But then knowing you, they’d have to be pretty blunt about their suggestive remarks. Can’t even properly tell you you’re hot without saying it in those exact words.”

“Well, I wasn’t thinking you’d like me that way,” he laughed.

“I still don’t see how people wouldn’t think of you like that. Pretty sure there are plenty of girls had their eye on you. Still do.” She shrugged slightly. “Just cause I’m broody and morbid doesn’t mean I’m blind.” And she was pretty glad about that. “But now you know and we’re awesome.”

Gourry smiled. “But you’re different, and not in a bad way. You also know about my memory.”

“Everyone’s different. That’s not unusual.” She shrugged. “Everyone has something. Except me. I’m pretty much perfect in every way. No weaknesses or anything. Super great all day.”

Gourry’s sincere smile returned as he watched her. “Yeah, you are, but if you ever happened to have weaknesses, I think I’d be there to help those.”

“I don’t even know how you can help with any unlikely weaknesses that I might have.”

“By supporting you no matter what?” Gourry said easily, reaching over toward her hand.

Once again Alecto felt a little like the awkward person out. She wasn’t used to people saying these sorts of things. So she just stared for a long moment. This was probably the normal thing people who understood these sorts of things would say. She was only vaguely aware of the hand reaching for hers. “I’m pretty sure you’re too nice for me.”

“Why do you think that?” Gourry looked surprised.

“Probably because...I don’t know. I guess I’m still not used to...niceness. The weirdness hasn’t faded. And obviously I’m super awesome and have no weaknesses or anything, but I…” She shrugged, fidgeting for a moment with the edge of the table. “I just…” Don’t know how to form actual sentences? Get it together, Carrow. “Niceness probably shouldn’t feel weird.”

Gourry shook his head. “If it’s weird to you, then it’s weird to you. Is this because of the dreams? Something with your past? Not that you have to talk about it, but I am here if you’d like to.”

“Just the nature of being me. You’re only the second guy I’ve gone on dates with that wasn’t centered around ulterior motives and getting things I wanted. It’s been brought to my attention that I’m possibly a very selfish individual that doesn’t think about what other people want. And I’ve been told that I keep trying to make people live their lives the way I want them to.” Even if she didn’t feel that it was strictly true. But it was possible that’s how it appeared and so it could have been upsetting. “Sooo...I dunno. I’m used to negative feedback more than positive. But then I probably deserved a lot of the negative feedback.”

“Ah, I guess I’m kind of used to those type of people so I’m already prepared for that,” he laughed lightly… before glancing around quickly, just in case a certain redhead was there. When he was certain she wasn’t, he turned back to Alecto. “I hope I definitely keep being something uncommon then.”

“For people trying to take advantage of you or…?” Because she wasn't entirely sure she would hex someone in their face if that was a thing. Which seemed like a strange reaction, but also sort of how she operated. “I've contemplated multiple ways of getting out of this, but have succeeded in following through with none of them, so until then you're probably set.” Her eyes were trained on the table. “But enough weird emotions. Probably we have to make up for that with a lot of snogging later so I feel less weird. I'll do my best not to get too handsy...unless you're into that sort of thing.”

“I like handsy,” Gourry nodded oh so wisely, grinning.

Alecto noted the lack of response to the other question, but as she was not going back to the emotions discussion, she was happy to focus on the response to her not-really-a-question question about her snogging habits. “Good.” Finishing her bacon and mac hot dog, she got up. “I am getting bacon brownie bites now, but once all this eating is done, we should totally move forward with all this snogging stuff. Absolutely.” It was clearly very important.

Gourry nodded, then scratched his chin slowly. “What… is snogging? Is it hugging? Cuddling?”

“I’m not really a cuddler unless it is sprung upon me without explanation or warning. It’s basically making out. That’s the term, I think?” She shrugged. “I’m excellent at it, so don’t worry.”

Gourry nodded. “That works for me,” he laughed.