Backdated to Nov. 6th | Restaurant in the city then a park
SUMMARY: Eliot and Abigail meet for lunch to catch up then go for a walk in the park.
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Nah
It was a gorgeous day and Eliot was glad to be getting out and meeting up with Abigail. He hadn't seen her since the whole lights going out and slimy creatures invaded Valo. He knew she was busy with school and other things though, but hoped weekends were a bit more free for her. He'd never heard of the restaurant she suggested, The Tipsy Samurai, but he liked the name. After letting Quentin know he'd be out for a while he took the waypoint into the city.
Inside the restaurant he spotted Abigail who had already arrived and said as much to the hostess. "Hey," he smiled as he approached the table and sat down. Their waitress quickly followed, gave them menus and took their drink orders. "So, how have you been? It feels like I haven't seen you in ages."
Abigail looked all around before he arrived. It was different from her admittedly limited experience. Nothing like what she'd seen in Minnesota. That was a good thing to her, she wanted to try new things.
"Hey." She replied when he joined her. She returned his smile and ordered a simple glass of juice for herself. It felt a little early in the day for her to have any of the alcoholic drinks. It the food was good, she might come back to sample them with a dinner.
"I've been okay. The whole being younger brought up a lot of old memories. And strangely, I have new memories too, of being here when I was younger." She answered. She'd never had those memories before and doubted her younger self did, but she had them very clearly.
"Sounds like it was interesting to be younger." That was something Eliot wouldn't want to be. He didn't have a good childhood or home life and thoughts of being that age again when so much happened wasn't something he wanted to have fresh in his mind ever again. "I did catch glimpses of you at the Halloween party at Asgard, but that was such a crazy night." Interesting was an understatement for that night. "You have memories of being in Vallo when you were younger. That would be a lot to take in." Eliot had been to Vallo before (or some form of him), but he didn't remember any of it.
The waitress came back and Eliot ordered ramen with pork and veggies. He didn't want anything too heavy, but was hungry. "How's school been going? How much time will you get off for Thanksgiving?"
"It was." Abigail answered. "I don't really feel like I was younger, more like I was replaced with my younger self for a few days, only I'm not sure where I went." She had no memory of where she'd been. There was a little worry in her mind that she had been dead for those days, and death was nothingness. No reunion with her mother or Marissa, nothing for her if Vallo sent her back to her universe.
"I didn't see you. I don't think I did." She commented. A magician could have had a very convincing costume after all. "Were you turned into your costume?" She nodded. "It is, but it isn't all bad. It's nice to know that you and others stepped up and were there for her..me." No one in her world had done the same for her at that age.
Abigail ordered a similar dish, the black garlic ramen with pork, veggies and egg. "School's good. I'm learning so much, it's making it harder to pick a major than I thought it would be." She said with a smile. "I get two days, Thursday and then Friday. So it's a four day weekend. I might go hunting the weekend before, for wild turkey." For herself and to sell. Hunting was more profitable here than back home.
"From what I read on the network it seemed to have happened to a lot of people. I still don't understand why all this crazy shit happens here. Maybe we're all part of magical experiments." He shrugged. It might explain a lot of what happened.
"I went as the devil and Quentin was an angel." It still made him grin to think about. They were the perfect costumes for them. "We did turn into them," he chuckled. "Quentin was trying to help everyone during the attack and I was causing more mischief and trouble. A fun and crazy night for sure." He smiled and nodded. "Of course. If you ever need any help, anything, you just have to ask."
Their food was served and Eliot tasted it. "Pretty good. Next time I'll try the sushi." Maybe he'd see if Quentin wanted to come here sometime. "You'll choose the perfect major when you're ready." He ate more then took a drink of his water. "Quentin ans I are celebrating it at the cottage with all the trimmings. Would you like to come? If you don't have other plans that is. There may be a couple of other friends there, but it will be a small gathering."
"Experiments sounds right." Abigail agreed. The idea that Vallo was one more place where she was put through trails to satisfy someone else's curiosity was disturbing. Especially if this magical power was even more secretive than Hannibal. Perhaps that was why it rang true. Life usually was unpleasant in that way.
Abigail smirked. "Perhaps it's best we didn't interact. Younger me wouldn't have reacted well to mischief." She paused for a moment, thinking. "Would it be strange to leave a message in my home, just in case she comes back, to let her know that she can trust you?" She knew that young Abigail hadn't been able to fully rely on anyone. It was a shame that she hadn't been able to truly experience that.
Abigail sampled hers as well, eating slowly to appreciate all the flavours. "I think I'll try the yakitori next time I'm here." It would be fun to try skewered meat without it needing to be metaphor. She nodded. "Yeah, I think any one of them would be perfect." Each major held a different appeal. Some for figuring out her past., and others looking to a different future. She gave him a genuine smile. "I would like that. Can I bring anything?"
"You never know. Like most things when it comes to Vallo," Eliot added. He had some strong opinions on the place - good and bad, but it was when things went to hell and people just randomly disappearing for no reason that he disliked it most of all. He felt most didn't understand his view on Vallo. It was complicated. He didn't hate it and he didn't love it. He wasn't even sure he was somewhere in the middle.
Eliot chuckled. "I don't think I did anything too outrageous." That he could recall anyway. He smiled and shook his head. "No, I don't think it would be strange to leave her such a note. Thank you for trusting me." That meant a lot to him. She was a good friend and he'd always help her in any way he could.
He ate more as he listened to Abigail, nodding here and there. "Excellent! Would you like to help with any of the cooking? You don't have to, but I thought I'd ask in case you wanted to. Hmmm," he thought a moment, "how about some type of dessert and some wine?"
"Maybe that's better than knowing, if the reasons behind all this are bad or can't be changed." Abigail commented, pausing for a moment to savour more of her meal. "Then we can pretend that it's not bad." She added. Maybe Eliot would understand that more than others who didn't know her as well. She'd done plenty of that in her life. It hadn't changed the outcome, but it had given her a few good memories of her old life.
"Oh, that's good." Abigail said, letting amusement show on her face. "I wouldn't want you to have ended up trapped in ice with three heads, like in Dante." She smiled again. It was easy to do with a genuine friend and helpful to have a man in her life who wouldn't let her down. "Thank you for being trustworthy."
Abigail nodded. "Yes. Oh, I can't wait to be able to cook a Thanksgiving meal with others again." No more isolation on the holidays. She'd be able to work out a plan for Christmas and New Year's too. "I can do that." She agreed, already thinking of a few desserts. "Any allergies or restrictions?" She asked.
"Maybe it is better. It already seems we can't really change anything here." He'd accepted that for the most part, but it didn't mean he liked it. "I don't think it's all bad, but I do hate not being able to leave, to travel. There was so much of the world I wanted to see and experience." He sighed quietly. Knowing he could only be on this one island for however long he was here and possibly his entire life didn't set well with him.
Eliot laughed. "Oh, I don't know, three heads might be kind of cool!" He teased winking at her. "You're welcome. I do my best. I'm not perfect, but I will go to the ends of the earth for my friends. Abigail was now in that category. Such talk made him think of Margo. He missed her terribly. He hoped she was doing well and happy back home. Part of him wished she were here.
"It'll be fun. I'll have to talk to Quentin to set a time for dinner and when we'll start cooking, but you're welcome to come over any time you'd like. "I don't care for lemon desserts of any kind and no one coming has any allergies that I'm aware of, so go crazy and cook or buy whatever you wish."
Eliot finished off his food then sat the his bowl aside. "Since we're on the topic of holidays, you'll have to get me a list of what you want. I like to do my shopping early," he smiled.
Abigail gave a little nod. There'd been a lot of the world that she'd wanted to see and experience too. Everything in Vallo was new for her in a way, having never experienced magic of any kind before. Vallo couldn't be as new of an experience for Eliot, and it wasn't the same as places he'd been dreaming about.
"But how would anyone know which head to look at?" Abigail said with a grin. She let the smile linger, even though she started to feel a twinge of guilt. The ends of the earth? She hadn't done all she could have for Marissa. She couldn't make a promise like that for Eliot either, knowing if there was ever a real problem, her instincts would lead her to put herself first. "I'll try my best to be a good friend to you too." That felt safe to say.
"Crazy might mean different things to us." Abigail felt that might even be putting it lightly. I mean, would something like sanguinaccio dolce go too far?"
Abigail still had some ramen in her bowl, but the question made her stop. "Like a Christmas wish list? To be honest, I don't think I've ever made one of those before." Even when she was young enough that a part of her believed in Santa - she knew she'd get the kind of gifts that her parents, especially her father, thought were best for her.
"You take turns looking at each head of course," he said returning the grin. "Trying is all we can do. You're doing a good job, Abigail," he assured her. She was kind and always willing to help where she could. Of course he knew about her past, well, some of it, he knew there was more to it, but despite that she was sweet and he hoped she would make a great life in Vallo.
"Very true!" Eliot smiled. "I don't know what sanguinaccio dolce is and I'm almost afraid to ask." He chuckled, but couldn't help wondering if was something made with animals that one went hunting for since she had mentioned that's how her family had gotten a lot of their food.
"Exactly like a Christmas wish list with things you want. It makes shopping so much easier. "Never?" He raised an eyebrow. "Well, we'll have to change that this year. I'd like one so I have an idea of what to get you." Eliot looked around then motioned the waitress over and asked for the check.
"Good to know. I'll remember that as proper multi-head etiquette." Abigail joked. "It might come in very handy here in Vallo." She gave him a small nod. After all, he had to be the best judge of what kind of friend she was to him.
"Sanguinaccio dolce is a really rich, creamy, dark chocolate pudding." Abigail explained. "It's made with pig's blood, or cow's blood, to add to the texture and bring out the flavour of the cocoa." She let that sink in, hoping he wouldn't be too bothered by it. "Perhaps a more traditional pumpkin dessert would be best." She added after a moment.
"I'll have to give it some thought." Abigail said and finished the last of her meal, thinking of things she needed for school, or for hunting, though she wasn't sure if he'd be comfortable in a hunting goods shop. It hadn't occurred to her think of things she wanted.
Well, he hadn't exactly been expecting it to be a dessert made with animal blood. "I've had blood pudding and didn't like it at all, so I think I'll pass on Sanguinaccio dolce. No offense, dear." The last thing he'd want to do is to offend her. "Maybe a more traditional dessert would be better. Or you could make both. I'd be willing to try it." It was good to try new things.
He signed the receipt then tucked his copy in his wallet. "Of course. You can text me your list." He stood and they made their way outside toward the park. It was a perfect fall day and the leaves, warm for it being the beginning of November.
"None taken." Abigail knew it was an acquired taste. "Perhaps one traditional dessert and one gentle introduction to sweet and savoury desserts. You might be surprised at what a bit of bacon can do for a dessert."
Abigail looked up at the trees as the walked. "The colours of the leaves remind me of home." She commented with a smile. That was the best parts of home, being outdoors and the freedom before things went wrong. "It's warmer here though." She touched her scarf almost without thinking of it. She wore to hide her scar. It might be a while before it really fit with the weather.
"I think both is an excellent idea. We should always be open to trying new things." He had tasted Abigail's cooking, so he had every confidence that she would make something good.
"They're beautiful. I love this time of year. It's magical." He smiled and glanced over at her. "Where are you from again?" He couldn't recall if she'd told him before, but he didn't think so. "I have a question for you. Remember how we talked about going to a gay bar or club? I was wondering if you'd want to go to one this weekend? No pressure or anything to go, but I thought I'd ask."
"Minnesota." Abigail answered. She might have old him that before, in a very different context. It was nice to talk about the better aspects of her early life and not the ugliness of the Minnesota shrike. She gave his next question a moment of thought. "Yes. I want to go shopping first." Her clothes were either chosen for practicality or similarity to things she'd worn in the past. Nothing in her closet fit with what she thought people wore to bars. "Would you go with me? I never went to bars or clubs back home. I'm not sure what to wear."
"Brrr! Winters there are very cold." His face lit up at the mention of shopping. "Now you're speaking my language. I love shopping. We'll find you a few fabulous outfits to paint the town red." He smiled and was already thinking of colors and style.
"Yes, I'll go with you. It's good to always go with someone or friends." Even here in Vallo you never knew what could happen. "We'll have fun and you can try a new drink or two and maybe meet some new people."
"Cold and snowy." Abigail commented. Her mind went to how it made tracking easier. She had other memories too, those are the ones she'd share. "There's a lot of lakes in Minnesota and some of them are safe for skating." She smiled. "I'll like that. My clothes were always practical back home." Or chosen by hospital staff or Hannibal.
"That all sounds amazing." Abigail said, and a bit daunting too. "Having you there will keep me from standing out too much."
"When I was little we'd go skating on ponds in the winter sometimes," he smiled. It was one of very few good memories from his childhood. And ice skating was something he still liked to this day. "Well, we'll find you something fashionable and kick ass for a night out on the town," he assured her.
"It'll be a good time. I'll text you the name of a few places and you can look them up to see which one you prefer to go to." Eliot chuckled and slipped his arm around Abigail to give her a hug. "You want to stand out! You never know who's attention you may attract." He was teasing her mostly. He was well aware she was on the more shy/conservative side.
They talked and walked through the park enjoying the color, sights and sounds of fall. It was truly a beautiful afternoon. When they parted Eliot said he'd be in touch soon about going out over the weekend, something he was looking forward to.