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[rideme]

"You've got the Iron Bull here. I'm listening.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

TEXT | VOICEMAIL | CALLS

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12/21 action;

[rassera]

[Hi Bull are you home because that is one pissed off teenager storming into the house and immediately heading for the kitchen. He doesn't even notice wherever you are honestly, he's pretty much making a beeline for that fridge.]

[rideme]

[Congrats, Kaneda. You just stormed in on Bull trying to work out how this world does cocoa. That, and him making a massive sandwich. Oh, and wearing this, because he literally has no shame.]

[Buuuut he arches his one eyebrow, and slides the sandwich Kaneda's way, without comment.]

Here. Everything else is out.

[rassera]

[Okay, that does stop him for a moment, because usually Bull + a kitchen meant either something was going to be cooked to death or disaster. Sometimes both.

But Bull is quick to slide the sandwich his way, gingerly taking it with his hands as he leans over the counter, tearing into that thing like he hadn't eaten a meal in his life.]

...

I'll grab something tomorrow.

[Don't talk with your mouth full, trash.]

[rideme]

You know no one fucking understands you with all that crap in your mouth.

[Mercenary speak for: Don't talk with your mouth full, trash.]

[Meanwhile, he turns back to that little pot on the stove, scowling at it. And... delicately stirring the thing.]

What happened now?

[rassera]

[There's a pause, slowing his current chew before swallowing, imitating his sentence silently in light mocking.

-stands you with all that crap in your mouth!! is what those lips read.]

...

[But his attention turns to...whatever the hell Bull is making, raising an eyebrow as he sort of just...watches.]

Got a text from some bitch, prying into my life and talking shit about me because I went on one date with a girl.

[rideme]

Ohhhh... oh shit. You got one of those.

[He leans sideways a little, digging his elbow into Kaneda's side. Lightly.]

Must have been a good date then, huh?

[rassera]

[The elbow nudges him, although not enough to really move him anywhere, but there's a playful shove with his one free hand, trying to hide that smile with that sandwich.]

Good? It was nothing like the one's I've had here.


Almost didn't even feel like one, you know?


And then I get that text, like the chick thinks she knows me.

[rideme]

Thaaaat's how you know it's a good one. When you don't feel like you're doing anything at all.

[There's another elbow nudge, before Bull goes to dig in the fridge himself, pulling out an entire pack of bacon.]

Yeah? Who was it? Wha'd she say?

[rassera]

[Shoulders hunch up, free hand reaching in to pull out the communicator. Hell, why bother summing it up if he's got it all right there for him. He certainly doesn't look happy as he browses through his inbox, scrolling all the way to the bottom where those eyes narrow.


Flipping it and gripping it by the screen, he holds it out to Bull for him to read.]

[rideme]

[Bull pauses in the act of dumping the whole thing of bacon into the pan long enough to look at the screen. And... frowns. Deeply.]

[Holy shit whoever this is, that's his kid they're insulting here.]

"What are you, scared" -- The fuck kind of crap is that?

[rassera]

[He watches Bull work, about to raise a hand to try and...tell him to separate that shit out, or do only a few at a time--instinct by now--but that last part catches him before he can speak. Returning to his shoulders hunched.]

Yeah, see that?


All this cause I went on a date with someone they know. They think kissing means we're automatically married or some shit.

[rideme]

Eh... if you're dating someone's kid, parents get overprotective. Doesn't mean stooping to this crap is okay, though.

[Wellp, now we're frying that bacon. And keeping an eye on the other pot -- no pun intended.]

Parents are weird. Glad I never had any.

Long as you and this other person are square with what it means, I've got no room to have a problem with it.

[rassera]

Yeah. Me too.

[His head tilts back, even trying to remember what their faces looked like. Maybe he was too young, but he can't even pick out sillouhettes. He can't even feel what it's like to NOT have a parent. He'd been without them his whole life. The closest he probably ever got were caregivers in the children's home. It's hard to imagine MISSING something when you never had it to start with.

He doesn't say anything at first over Bull's statement. A little shrug, maybe a sigh of relief--because he had had it up to here with lectures. And Bull's acceptance was more than comforting right now.

Maybe that feeling isn't as far off as Kaneda thinks.]

WE'RE fine. It's THIS one with the problem. [A hand reaches over, tapping the screen.]

[rideme]

I mean, we've got the Tamassrans, but hell. That's not like humans have. Or... most humans, anyway.

[He's pushing the bacon around the pan now, while it fries. Before occasionally popping a bit out onto the floor, where the pile of cats has gathered.]

Good. [And now stirring the other pot.] Glad to hear it.

That one though... you tried just straight-up ignoring 'em? Maybe that'll shut them up. If you and this other person are fine? Screw it. You're fine.

[rassera]

[Kaneda watches as the cats sniff and investigate that bacon, like a spectator at a zoo.]


...Does ignoring work? Never works ON me, you know, so I doubt it works on you guys.

Wasn't even that big of a deal. She just kissed me.

[rideme]

Ehh, sometimes. I hear people pull that "new number, who is this" crap on messages a lot though.

[Skinner is the one who takes the bit of bacon. Actually popping out of a cabinet to snatch it up, before darting away down the hall. Bull snorts, and flips another scrap to the floor, before putting the bacon on a plate to drain.]

Kissed, huh? How was it?

[HE'S MOSTLY TEASING.]

Anyway. Try not to let that asshole get to you. Kissing's nothing to get all carried away over.

[rassera]

[That gets a little snort out of him--mentally making a note about that and holding a 'phone' gesture with his hand, a mountain of Japanese rambling pouring out.

WHO IS THIS I CANT UNDERSTAND YOU WHAT IS IT YOU WANT CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME I CANT UNDERSTAND YOU IM HANGING UP NOW DONT CALL AGAIN!!

The equivalent translation.]

...[But he laughs, cutting that act and going back to his sandwich.]

Pretty good.

[It's hard not to hide that little smile.]

[rideme]

[At that, Bull just bursts out laughing. Hard. He's cracking up, in fact, slapping the countertop.]

That's the spirit kid! Give it to 'em.

[He's still chuckling as he goes back to the concoction on the stove. Eventually pouring it over the bacon.]

You like her, eh?

[rassera]

[He freezes, realizing just what kind of loaded question that is.]

It's not like that.


She owed me a favour, that's all. So we went on a date.

[rideme]

You do favors for and go on dates with people you don't like?

Shit, kid. You're one soft heart.

[rassera]

Hey, SHE owed ME! And it's not that I don't like her it's--

[Fuck.]

You know.

[rideme]

Uh huh.

Here, try this. [As he shoves the cooling, chocolate-covered bacon at Kaneda.]

Point I'm making is... you can like being around someone without feelings, kid. Shit, I've done it all the time. I'm not asking if you're going to marry her and pop out a kid, here.

Just curious.

[rassera]

[A brow raises as he takes the piece of bacon between forefinger and thumb. A part of him isn't sure if this is an American thing or a 'Bull'-thing. Settling for a mix of both as he lets the chocolate harden.]

I know -that-.

[It's how he always dated back home, at least!]

But yeah, with THAT reasoning guess I'm guilty as charged.

[rideme]

Good.

[Bull, meanwhile, just chomps down on the concoction, without so much as waiting for it to cool.]

All right then. All I wanted to know.

Have fun with her, Arvaarad. [And this is accompanied by a noogie from one huge fist.] Have fun.

[rassera]

[Bull manages to catch him right before he puts the chocolate bacon in his mouth, eyes shutting tight as those knuckles ruffle his already unkempt hair.

If anything...it's an improvement.]

Gah!! Bastard!

[There's a lot less bite to it than usual, a more playful tone as he tries to fight off those giant hands. HE'S GOING TO EAT THIS BACON IF IT KILLS HIM.]


What's that even mean, anyway?