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[ Well he doesn't think it's like that, anyway. ]

She's not traumatized, just bitter about some things. [ He dries his face and follows Cole back out. ] I've noticed there are a lot of young everyone. A ton of them are still teenagers. We're old, here.

[ And the number of kids who've had as bad a time of it as they have, or worse... well. They were both at the group meeting. Ramse shakes his head, reaching to start unpacking their dinner. ]

Time to break out the canes and lawn chairs, brother.

Who hasn't got things to be bitter about? [He's pulling out cartons as well, then going for plates because he's really become so much more civilized. And why not have a bit of everything all at once?]

Hey, you can throw in the towel if you want. I got a babyface, or so I hear, so I'm still in the game here. Just - not with the kids.

[Really. Not ever. 20 clears the kid bar, right?]

Nobody I've ever met. [ They've fallen into a pattern in the apartment already, Ramse pulling out utensils as Cole goes for the plates. Despite their issues, lately it feels like they've never been apart.

...pfft. He chuckles, looking Cole over. ]

Babyface? Who told you that?

[ Maybe? It depends on the person for Ramse, 20 could easily still be too young. Hell, 30 could be, if it's someone who never had to grow up. He's a patient person but only to a point. ]

A couple people now. Then again, I got otter eyes twice too, so I probably shouldn't go with public opinion.

[He swings by Ramse, grabbing his fork and knife, and starts to serve up. Like clockwork, really. But there's a little dirty look thrown in there, because hey, it's not like he's lying.]

I dunno, people think I look young. I mean, you've seen Birkhoff. I probably look ten years older than him, not two.

[ Hey now, no glaring. He isn't saying Cole's lying about it, he just doesn't agree. Maybe if he shaved? ]

Don't ask me, man, I just think you look like you. I was never any good at guessing ages.

[ Ramse pulls down glasses for them and fills them with water, setting them on the table. Then he leans against the counter and watches as Cole serves. ]

Otter eyes? Do I want to know?

[At that, he holds up his hands in the classic display of innocence.]

I don't even know. Sad baby otter eyes. People say the weirdest shit about me. Don't you ever get any weird compliments? It can't just be me.

[ Sad.. baby otter eyes.... ]

Weird compliments, let's see.

[ He thinks about that, and comes up blank. Cole gets a shrug. ]

Only in the phrasing, like stuff I'm not sure was a compliment in the first place. I've got strong hands. Is that a compliment or just an observation? Nothing weird like otter eyes, though, that's for sure.

[That's kind of a combination of both times otter eyes came up. Don't ask, Ramse.]

Strong hands? [Now he's smirking again, shoving a huge mouthful of kung pao chicken into his mouth and talking around it as he chews.] Depends who said it and why. That sounds like a come-on to me, but I'm no expert.

[ Ramse raises and eyebrow and claims his plate, sitting himself down with it. It's all still hot and smells amazing -- he's never even had most of what Cole got, which he suspects might be why there's so much. ]

Oh please, man, how is that a come on? How can you make that a come-on? [ He takes a bite of dinner and looks up, impressed. Best in the city, huh? Hold that thought as he shovels another bite in. ]

This is good.

Told you. Best in the city. But still not as good as 2015 Philly.

[He licks at the inside of his mouth when Ramse doubts him, his face pure really.]

Unless they were hiring you to do manual labor. what do they care? Just saying it, that means they're thinking about your hands. Touching. Strong hands mean a firm grip. You can't make it not sexual.

[ Alright, Cole, he gets it. Hmm. He finishes off another bite before answering, brow furrowed. ]

I might have to do something about that.

Not your type?

[He's somewhere on the line between teasing and genuinely curious now, almost concerned. Ramse got damn serious when it clicked, and now he's wondering what the situation is. Not just pruriently, either.]

It's more that I don't think she has any idea what our life is like, what I'm really like.

[ The flirting was light and fun and he doesn't really want that to end, and if she's serious he'd be interested but. In a lot of ways she's just a kid. ]

[Oh. That is serious. The kind of divide in those situations can definitely be felt, sometimes to an offensive level, whether they mean it or not. There's a reason most of Cole's closer friendships and relationships have sprung from that exact point of common experience.]

You don't wanna scare her.

[Because he's not scary. Ramse is the opposite of scary. But if she's lived one of those beautifully normal lives, he could look like a monster, and that'd hit him hard. It hits Cole hard, and he's much closer than Ramse will ever be.]

[ He thinks that just seeing the amount of old wounds his clothes conceal would be a wake up call for her. Cole gets a nod; it's not even anything he'd do on purpose, but people like them have an intensity that can frighten people who don't understand it. ]

I don't. Right now I'm obviously not.

[ It hasn't even hit him yet, because he hasn't run into anyone who'd think so, that he could be seen as a monster for doing what he had to, to survive. ]

[It's an extremely odd sight: Cole pushing food around his plate, not shovelling it into his mouth. This went down dark roads, ones he's already travelled here, and he's got no idea how to shine a guiding light for Ramse to make it any easier.]

I dunno what to tell you, man. I've told a coupla people about the West VII, but not - Quinn, or Rachel. The ones I knew might be able to get it, or at least handle it. No one's gonna get our shit completely without living it.

[But what he did with the West VII is worse than anything Ramse could dredge up. And if this is any comfort:]

They're both still around. The ones I told.

I haven't told anyone that kinda stuff. It doesn't feel like the place for it, and it's not what I'm having the hardest time dealing with anyway.

[ He takes another bite, gesturing for Cole to eat too. before it gets cold, man. ]

Anybody I know?

[ He'd like a heads up for who knows about them, honestly. ]

[If only he knew he was flashing Ramse the sad otter eyes at that. Because of course he knows what Ramse's having the hardest time with, and it's something they've gone over but can never quite get to closure.]

Jem. She's a survivor too, she had to - do bad shit too. I just wanted to give her some perspective. And Sheva.

[Surely he won't mind Sheva knowing. And really, all he told was about himself. Ramse was painted as the hero.]

[ Oh are those the sad otter eyes? Because he notices them but personally wouldn't think otter. He just looks back at his plate. ]

Haven't run into her yet. Sheva, though... [ And he gets that fond look again -- it's not for the general tso's on his plate. He looks back up at Cole, changing the subject. ]

Do you think it's too soon now to actually ask her out?

[Ah, that look. It makes him want to bring back the playful ribbing of earlier, but he should probably check in if Ramse's asking this question.]

How seriously are you asking her out? Should I get out of the picture now?

[ Hold up. Ramse thought it wasn't like that. He puts his fork down and reaches for his glass of water but doesn't lift it yet, just pulls it close like something to hold on to. ]

...since when were you in that particular picture?

Since - you didn't know? Shit.

[Why did he assume Sheva would bring it up? This is the kind of thing bros should probably touch base on personally. Shiiiit, he feels like sinking right through the floor.]

Since me and Cassie talked about what we were gonna do here. Neither of us wants to do anything exclusive, 'cause it's not how the city works and it won't get us what we really need. We'll do that when we're back home.

Oh my god, man, I thought you knew. [He leans over the table, scrubbing his hand over his face.]

[ He does take a drink, then, to help fight the dropping feeling in his stomach. Not that anybody here's exclusive or should be, with how the city works, but he really likes her. He did mean ask her out that seriously, if it wasn't too soon. He's been holding off with her in general because of the warning from Cole. ]

So after you told me it wasn't gonna be like that. Okay.

[ Nope. Noooooope. ]

Not cool, bro.

I know, I know, it - happened, and it kept happening, and I always figured -

[Like he could read minds. Now he feels sick from just a few bites, which is another brand new thing for him.]

- I messed up, really bad. I'm sorry, Ramse, I'm seriously sorry. You know I'm not gonna get in your way on this one, though, if you two are that close - it's way better for both of you.

You figured..?

[ He holds up a hand, shaking his head. It doesn't matter. ] It's not about getting in my way. I don't want to be responsible for keeping you apart that way, either, it shouldn't be my decision. I was just holding off on... everything.

[ He's telling the truth, he doesn't want to keep them apart in any way if that's where things have gone. But he's not going to be able to be with someone Cole currently is, either. Too weird. ]

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