won't you take me by the hand

[3rs]

Comments

[3rs]

Oh, darling. Sweetheart. I always play to win.

You won't be disappointed.

[echokay]

okay, see you around 5?

how goes things otherwise? good week?

[3rs]

I'd say it's a stormy week... That might be the best adjective to describe it.

However, you are of course a pure ray of sunshine. How are things going with you?

[echokay]

Pretty good, annoyed at my family but no biggie there, just usual living with people stuff.

So I decided to move out :D

[3rs]

Really now?

How are you swinging that?

[echokay]

Make my dad give me money or I'll move to thr Narrows?

Also Query has money.

And Victor too and he loves to support people being weird. He'll give money to anything entertaining

[3rs]

I see you've got it all figured out.

I'll have money one day. Maybe one day soon, depending on how things go. Then I can pay you for being pretty.

[echokay]

You're such a good boy.

You're from the Narrows, right?

How bad is it? Like seriously bad or normal bad?

[3rs]

It's not a good place for you. Or anyone, really.

Overall, seriously bad. Worse for some people, maybe better for others? I don't know anyone there who doesn't have it bad.

[echokay]

What is your family like?

Can I ask or is that a no-go thing?

[3rs]

Not no-go. You can ask anything. The answer may not always be satisfying.

My family is not good.

[echokay]

Both parents? Any siblings? Grandparent? Cousins?

Can you... like, are any of them reliable.

[3rs]

You are ever so sweet, Echo. Don't you worry about me, I've been taking care of myself all those years. I'll be fine for a bit longer.

I'm a smart boy, remember? I'll work things out.

[echokay]

So no one reliable?

Well, you have me. Promise.

Anyone you like in your family or is it all a write off?

I like my grandpa :D he's nice. He thinks women shouldn't work or wear pants but still, lovely guy.

[3rs]

It's not a positive for me, being attached to anyone in my family. Luckily, they mostly don't make it hard on me.

I do have a little sister.

[echokay]

Aww, that's cute? How old?

I have two little brothers and one sister. They all suck.

[3rs]

She's ten. She's good. She's not like me. In a good way.

She'll be fine. Less of a face that asks to be punched.

[echokay]

I don't think your asks for it. You ask for it when you call people stupid. These days, at least. Who'd want to hit your handsome face otherwise?

Well, maybe in bed. You make nice sounds

So six years between you? I guess it's hard to bond with kids.

Mine are 7, 11 and 13. I get to play the adult card on them :D it's fun.

[3rs]

Yes, well. It's different in bed. Anyway, most people aren't as enamoured by my face as you are.

She is sweet. I was never that.

Anyway, where are you exactly?

[echokay]

inside, eating fries, table 3

bring me a drink <3 thanks.

[3rs]

Edward set the coke bottle down in front of her, then bent down to kiss her cheek before sitting down in the chair next to her, crossing his legs. He reached for a fry and looked around, already trying to decide where he'd be able to win the most the fastest while having fun and giving Echo something to watch. "That's the fanciest arcade I've ever been to. The floor is barely sticky."

[echokay]

"It's aimed at families so they have to have a certain quality. Means there's more kids but nicer floors and some really good pizza. I ordered some, it'll come soon." She smiled at Edward and ate another fry, reaching out to put her hand on his leg. "You know, Eddie, I wanna have something cute to cuddle. Win me a unicorn." She hoped he could pull it off, she really wanted something to show off with.

"Sooo, now I have you in person, lemme ask you. If I live somewhere else without my family prying, wanna crash there? Not all the time but like, as you wish? You could leave stuff." It was a relationship thing, just a favour to a friend.

[3rs]

"...it's a potential." Which Edward realised was a strange way of talking about anything, but that was how he thought about it, another avenue opening up in the roadmap toward the future he decided. He looked at her and smiled. "I'd want to visit you anyway. If anything, I believe you could probably use a hand getting organised."

She was not good at that. But then, he didn't think she really wanted to be good at that. "I'll live with Jonathan. One day."

[echokay]

"The sullen boy who hates me? Don't worry, I don't take it personally. I assume he hates everyone." Jonathan was not a warm sort of person, he treated everyone but Edward as a distraction who was just in his way. She found it hard to feel like it was directed at her but she did feel he hated her an extra special bit. He often called her an idiot and not worth Edward's time. Very loudly. Right in front of her.

"You and Jonathan have a weird relationship, you know?"

[3rs]

"He is a rude bastard. I think he really does hate everyone." Except for him, obviously, which was quite satisfying to know. He liked Jonathan, loved Jonathan, of course he did. He was one of the most intelligent people he'd ever met, he had a fascinating mind and he could keep up with him. Besides, it was flattering to be liked by someone who essentially despised the world. "What's so weird about it? We're friends. He's simply defensive, he doesn't have an easy life."