nik threw an arm around her waist in response, grin shining with chaotic energy. "i'm glad to have met you, too! arson or not, we make a pretty good team."
alex raised their eyebrows back, raising an arm to stay beside their torso in an open gesture. "well, i suppose that makes two of us. i was going easy on you, babe, but if we want to up the ante, we can."
group
Tessa laughed lightly. "But arson is the best part! What better way to get things done than to blow stuff up or set stuff on fire?"
Connor put a hand on his chest, silver eyes wide with a playful gleam. "Be still my beating heart, we go from doofus to babe? Such progress already, my charm is affecting you."
"i could say the same about chaotic reporter energy. us rat bastards, we manage to make rich folk just uncomfortable enough to spill all their business secrets. it's a well-known tactic." he countered, pulling back from the hug to cross his arms.
"yes. i'm swooning." alex said in a deadpan, face going from amusement to flat expaseration.
group
Tessa snorted and crossed her arms as well. "Of course. Intimidation also works. They never seem to like it when the lower class scum gets the better of them."
Connor pouted, crossing his arms over his chest and curling his nose in disappointment. "Aww. You're no fun." He then clicked his tongue, which reminded him of something. "Oh. Tongue piercing. Yay or nay for this bad boy?" he pointed his thumbs at himself.
((was confused for a second lmao, i think you meant connor))
nik just smiled in response, and nodded. "higher class are a tad sensitive."
alex raised their eyebrows, standing back to look connor up and down. "you're asking me if you should get one? i think you should re-evaluate referring to yourself as a 'bad boy' before making any major decisions."
group
((fuck, yeah. His name is Nikolas, but I changed it to Connor for this rp. Knew I was going to do that))
"Just a bit," she said, holding her hand up and pinching her fingers together, leaving a small gap.
Connor rolled his eyes and sighed. "You are no fun whatsoever. Yes, me. Should I or no? They look hella cool, and I heard they make you more appealing," he added with a slash of a wicked grin.
((what a coincidence! lmao))
"all except for this one chick i interviewed. the most out-of-body experience i ever had. she was… surprisingly down-to-earth. i hope she's doing alright." nik looked distantly out the window.
alex stood back. "maybe. depends if you can even get a piercing. some people can't because of the blood vessels in your tongue. they'd go nicely with your aesthetic, but it's all up to you." they straightened, giving connor a deadpan look.
"as you can tell, i'm obviously a professional." they gestured to their own piercings, voice dripping with sarcasm.
group
((Lmao, yeah. It's messing with me tho))
Tessa rose a brow at Nik, slightly confused but also intrigued. "Oh?" was all she could get out, not quite sure what to say to that. The look on his face didn't help her make up her mind.
Connor stuck his tongue out at Alex. "Alright, Mr I-Have-No-Fun-Or-Emotions," he said while rolling his eyes. "I'll just get someone else's opinion."
nik snapped back, and brightened back up. "sorry, zoned out for a moment. i was trying to remember her name. i can't unfortunately, but hey. i'll never see her again, it's not a big issue." he shrugged.
"hey, it's not that i'm no fun, it's that tongue piercings can get nasty real quick. not a good look on anyone. it would look great on you, i'll admit that, though. just be careful."
alex offered a smile, slipping out of the deadpan.
group
Tessa flapped her hand in dismissal, smiling when she was sure Nik was okay. "It's fine. Just didn't recognize the look you had." She mentally stored the memory of Nik's 'zoned-out' face for later use, just in case. She didn't want to get worried again. "Anyway, I'm more of the background kinda gal, believe it or not. Messing with people without actually having a conversation with them, unlike you."
Connor let a half-smile slip through, happy with the compliment Alex had given him. "I'll be sure to be careful," he said with a nod. "But there's no way it'll stop me from getting coffee."
"ah." he gave her a tired, close-lipped smile. "yeah, tch. my whole thing is having conversations with people."
alex gave a short laugh, shaking their head. "no, i know. don't worry about that. just go to a good piercer, don't bleed out. we'd miss you." they punctuated their statement with a wink. are they subtly flirting? who knows, honestly.
((hey i gave alex a character page Invalid Character ))
group
((ooo! Sorry I haven't responded, I've just been lacking in the inspiration department for the past few days))
((its alright!! hope your inspiration comes back.))
((also, sorry to bother again, but i drew nik and tessa in a moment of inspiration. i wanted to get your permission before posting it anywhere, and do you have anything i can link to for credit? here's the drawing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13mPZHEgnAFVsPPUSitZ4RygAPaUMQRyI6BGtUScnAMs/edit?usp=sharing ))
group
((I have an insta account, if that's what you mean. And I love it???? Its so good dude!!))
((yeah, that's what i mean! just a "hey this character belongs to [link]" kind of thing. and thank you!! worked for quite a while getting it just right :). feel free to post it anyplace too, just link my deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/sassafras0 ))
group
((My insta is Dances_with_Shadows, just like my notebook user. And I just might do that!))
((im flattered! best of luck with inspiration!!))
group
"ah." he gave her a tired, close-lipped smile. "yeah, tch. my whole thing is having conversations with people."
alex gave a short laugh, shaking their head. "no, i know. don't worry about that. just go to a good piercer, don't bleed out. we'd miss you." they punctuated their statement with a wink. are they subtly flirting? who knows, honestly.
"Which is why that's your job and not mine," Tessa said with a small smile. "I'd just end up knocking their teeth in."
Connor smirked, catching the wink and choosing to interpret it in his own way. "You'd be one of the very few, but the thought is much appreciated. I'll be sure to do my research. Wouldn't want to rid the world of this beautiful face."
nik gave a soft chuckle. "yeah, sounds about right. the only thing that keeps me from knocking someone's teeth in is my paycheck."
"few? that's surprising. but hey, check it out." alex stuck their tongue out briefly, gesturing to the scar tissue going straight down their tongue. "got my own ripped out a while back. hurt like a bitch, honestly."
group
((Heyo! Random spurt of inspiration led to me attempting to draw my fave golden girl. Here's Tess. Sorta))
Tess chuckled. "Yeah, I can imagine that being a little harmful to paychecks. I usually get paid to do harm, so…" she held up her hands in a partial shrug as if to say, Who am I to say no?
Connor rose a brow at the scar. "Hm. I'll be sure to try and prevent that from happening. How the hell did that even happen?" He asked, looking up at Alex with a curious look.
((apologies!! my life has been crazy for a while, im still adjusting to a new school. love the drawing!))
"ah." he replied simply, not really knowing how to respond.
alex smirked. "i'd like to give you some crazy story about a one night stand or something, but truth is i was just being careless and ripped it out with a fork while i was eating."
group
((it's all good! And thank you!))
Tessa hummed and tipped her head, glancing over at Alex and Connor. "D'ya think they'd notice if we left?" she asked, looking over at Nik with a raised brow and a slightly hopeful light in her eyes.
Connor had to cover his mouth to keep his laughter in check, though his silver eyes gleamed with humor. "Are you shitting me?" he finally got out after he was able to talk without laughing. He had expected some crazy story, not a simple act of carelessness involving a fork.
"i think alex might give us a side-eye, they seem observant, but i don't think either of them would care." nik noted, watching as connor suppressed laughter and alex pressed a hand over their own mouth to keep from joining him.
alex shook their head, gesturing widely. "no, i'm really not! i'm never getting that shit repierced, knowing that i'm physically capable of ripping a metal bar out of my tongue with a fork."
group
Tessa looked over as well, considering the pros and cons of asking Nik to slip out with her so they could be alone. She didn't know if she should or not, so she stayed silent save for a little hum of acknowledgment.
Connor's shoulders shook with silent laughter, silver eyes gleaming. "I'd like to think I won't do that, but who's to say? I'm careless at times. Not that I haven't endured worse."
nik saw her considering, and swung into an easy smile. "what do you say we get out of here, ey? i say those two'll be alright on their own." he turned to toss his empty cup in the garbage, and turned back to offer a hand.
"forks are dangerous, who knows. doesn't matter who you are, they'll get you at some time or another." alex shrugged, choosing to ignore the 'endured worse' comment.
group
Tessa smiled as well, happy he had asked and saved her the mental panic. "I think they'll be fine, yeah." She also tossed her cup into the garbage, then tipped her head towards the door. "Let's go, then."
Connor chuckled with a shrug. "I'll let you know if I ever encounter such assault by fork scenario," he said, offering an amused half-smile and reaching up to fluff out his silver dyed hair away from his eyes.
nik nodded and made an effort to reach the door first while still looking casual, and held it for tessa.
alex cocked a hip and raised their eyebrows at connor. "let you know? as in, 'im planning to keep in touch', let you know?"
group
Tessa smiled to herself when Nik held open the door for her, dramatically bowing to him with a bright smile. "Why thank you, good sir," she said as she exited.
Connor shrugged, though there was something in his eyes that he wasn't letting on. "Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on you, I guess."
