"Shut up and eat your stupid food," Eli retorted, giving him a look as he aggressively shoved a piece of pork into his mouth.

There seemed to be a small lull in conversation as food was brought out. They began to eat, and even doing that in front of Caden made him feel self conscious. He felt like he was watching his every move, calculating exactly what to say next.

He felt like he couldn't read him well at all.

Thank Arceus that he had no food or drink in his mouth when he answered his question, because he would have aspirated and needed the Heimlich. Eli cleared his throat, awkwardly coughing.

"So... what, you want to... do that after this or something?"

Was he proposing that Caden come over after dinner?

caden maher

☉

caden laughs.

[break][break] "ooh, bossy eli. i think i like that side of you."

[break][break] he smirks, but otherwise listens to the blond. unlike the other who seems to all but shove food aggressively into his mouth, caden is a lot more methodical in his approach. even as he cuts apart his meat, it replicates the motion of him tearing through flesh with a scalpel.

[break][break] it amuses him probably more than he should as the other all but spits his food out. (good thing he hadn't been eating.)

[break][break] "hm - i think we should take a walk on the boardwalk. that's romantic, right?"

[break][break] this was supposed to be a blind date after all.

[break][break] his gaze darkens, slightly. "after, we can go to my apartment or yours. assuming that's what you want."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Elliott Jenkins [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]

Bossy? The hell was he calling bossy? He was being assertive.

But, Elliott would store that information in the back of his mind, for future reference should he need it.

Wait... why would he need it? Was he considering anything more than this dinner with caden maher? His best friend's brother?

As he was thinking it, Caden suggested a walk and going back to their home. Together. He had to admit that he was surprised that the doctor would want to spend more time with him after this. However, his question he had been asking before was answered.

"Okay. Where's your place?"

caden maher

☉

he was mostly teasing. it was just so easy to do it with eli, that caden didn't often think twice about it.

[break][break] and that simply was just how caden was — skirting on the edge of disaster. he loved a good rush.

[break][break] "it's not too far from here," he says, putting a piece of steak into his mouth and chewing. he takes a sip of the red wine afterward, and licks his lips.

[break][break] "don't worry eli. i'll take good care of you."

[break][break] he meant, of course, that he would take care of the transportation to his home. that being said, he was willing to let eli think whatever it was that he wanted.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Elliott Jenkins [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]

Dinner went swimmingly. And by that, it went as awkwardly as it had been going. At least on Eli's side.

Even after that comment, which could mean so many things. He didn't know what was with the Maher brothers and their inability to be clear.

The check was paid, and Elliott led the way down the boardwalk. One of his hands rested in a pocket of his outfit, the other hanging out to the side as though he was modeling in the night scenery.

"How long have you lived down here? Away from Rustboro?"

caden maher

☉

caden was glad to let Elliott Jenkins pay. it was his idea after all to go to this restaurant.

[break][break] his fingers slip into the other's as they step into the boardwalk to enjoy the night scenery. "such a gentleman, eli. i'll be sure to pay you back." he winks at the other.

[break][break] at the question, caden hums as if considering the question. "since med school at least. i used to commute between rustboro and slateport a lot in undergrad, until i got fed up from the commute." not that it was any better commuting to lilycove, but his place in slateport was ironically a lot less expensive than the seaside town. "what about you? do you live in slateport too?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Elliott Jenkins [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]

Eli didn't expect the feeling of a warm hand grasping his, looking down where their fingers had somehow become intertwined. Part of him wanted to rip his hand away, as though he had burned him with a hot iron.

But he didn't, instead indulging him and allowing himself to accept this intimate gesture.

"Sounds like a lot of money," he grumbled.

Eli had always been a stickler for money. Tonight was an exception, since he had been forced into this.

"No. I live in Sootopolis now. I left Rustboro a long time ago."

caden maher

☉

"it was, but booking an apartment in lilycove was worse."

[break][break] not to mention, caden had gotten comfortable with his apartment in slateport. that is, until his roommate up and left him.

[break][break] "i'll have to find a new place soon. i'm out a roommate," he says with a sigh. "maybe i'll look for a place in lilycove now."

[break][break] as they walk along the boardwalk, the smell of seawater and cool air rushing past, caden tilts his head. "sootopolis, huh? that's pretty far from rustboro."

[break][break] he smirks.

[break][break] "i bet you can go skinnydipping in the summer there, though."

[attr="class","ooc"] Elliott Jenkins [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]

"What'd you do to make your roommate hate living with you?" Eli teased, unable to hide the smirk growing on his lips.

Roommate... he couldn't imagine living with someone. He'd had his own place for a while now, thanks to the sufficient pay checks that modeling brought it.

And the occasional penny or two thieving brought as well.

"Had to leave at some point."

Shooting him a look, Eli snorted.

"Are lewd thoughts the only thing going in that mind of yours?"

caden maher

☉

there is a rare flash of annoyance in his gaze at the implication that he had been less than ideal.

[break][break] "hate? i was an ideal roommate, elliott."

[break][break] no teasing, no pet names, no eli.

[break][break] still, caden doesn't let go of their intertwined hands, so he must not be that mad.

[break][break] instead, when the other speaks of lewd thoughts, caden's gaze seems aghast. "lewd? i don't know what you mean. i've been a gentleman this whole time." he smirks. "maybe it's you with the lewd thoughts, eli. i was simply stating a fact."

[attr="class","ooc"] Elliott Jenkins [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]