♛Choose a character from my muselist. ♛Put their name in the subject line. ♛Leave me a starter or a request for a starter. ♛Prose, comment spam, and everything in between is welcome!
[They make their first pit stop 90 miles out of Star City and only because they need to fill the tank. It isn't a city or even small town, but rather an old trucker's stop consisting of a gas station, convenience store with attached fast food, and not much else. Tank filled, Laurel pulls the car into a spot, shutting off the engine and turning to face her companion in the passenger's seat. There are a hundred things either of them could say, but she finds it easier to focus on the necessary for the moment.]
It's a while before we hit anything else. We should eat.
Expedient, yes. [And she's just going to snag a chip before undoing her belt.] But I'm not a fan of eating and driving. Besides, everyone should experience a truck stop once in their life.
[She smirks and then steps out of the car, throwing a hand over her eyes to block the glare of the afternoon sun.]
You think Oliver knows we're gone by now? [There's a deliberate casualness to the words that does't ring true with the rest of her body language. It's not as though they were running from anything. Her father knew and so did Thea even if they didn't know all the details, but Oliver hadn't been told. Mostly because he would likely have been against it for one bullshit reason or another and Laurel didn't have the patience to get through that conversation.
She was beyond sick of letting Oliver's self-righteous attitude dictate what she could and couldn't do.]
[ Nyssa closes and folds the packet, tucking it between the seats, and huffs. ]
As always, I fail to see the appeal.
[ She's still getting out of the car. ]
I'd be surprised if the man can see past his own nose.
[ She does not have Laurel's years of knowing him to temper her opinion. Nyssa was against him from day one, and tolerated him for Sara's sake. Now Sara is dead and that fool is taking what should be hers. No, Nyssa sees no need to be charitable to him. ]
[Laurel can't help an unrepentant grin. Oliver is and always will be her friend, but for a while now their friendship has been tested to its limits. Nyssa's blatant dislike of the man should be uncomfortable and instead she can only find it refreshing. These days finding anyone willing to disagree with him or as in this case, outright ridicule him is more of a breath of fresh air than it should be.]
[Thoughtfully.] I used to know him so well. These days it's like I might as well be talking to a wall for all he hears me. [Laurel sighs and opens the door to the rest stop's fast food area, moving to check out the menus.]
[ But even this she can't comprehend as the actions of one in love, or even one who claimed to have felt it once before. It seemed so without passion, and cruel in its turn. She has always shed blood with purpose. This is cruel. ]
[She shrugs, eyes darting away from Nyssa and up to the menus above. Honestly she didn't know what had been between Sara and Oliver and it's not something she cares to dwell on. It doesn't hurt her to think of it anymore, not how it once had, but it's uncomfortable nonetheless.]
He did love her, even if it didn't start that way. [She reaches up to push her hair away from her eyes and her arms settle across her chest, folding neatly as she tries to focus on the menus and fails completely.]
I just don't think Ollie was ever in love with her. [She's beginning to wonder if he has ever been in love with anyone. She doesn't mean it to be a cruel thought even as she knows it is. It's just that there was so much...Oliver there to really make room for anyone else.
A bright red and white sign catches her eye down the line of "restaurants" and she nudges Nyssa's shoulder with her own to indicate they should move in that direction.]
[ This is a story, and Nyssa has no desire to push Laurel towards telling it. Their road trip is supposed to be a relaxing getaway, even though Nyssa doesn't feel extremely relaxed out here, amongst strangers. So, briskly, she changes the subject. ]
[Pushing away her more serious thoughts, Laurel's lips pull up into a smile that can't bode well for either of them. It's the fries in milkshakes expression all over again.]
This-[And she drops her arms in order to make a dramatic hand flourish in the direction of the counter]-is Kentucky Fried Chicken, and no one's tour of American fast food would be complete without it.
[Teasingly.] You say that like it's a bad thing! [With one more good-natured grin she steps forward towards the line, head turned to glance at her friend.]
Want me to order for both of us? [On the bright side, if Nyssa hates it there are plenty of other things to order. Not that she could possibly hate KFC.]
[A quick nod and then Laurel is rattling something off to the checker. For herself she gets a combo plate, and for Nyssa she gets something called popcorn chicken that comes in an actual mock popcorn container. You're welcome.
It only takes a couple of minutes for their food to be ready, and with drinks in hand they find a seat at one of the outside benches a moment later. Laurel settles herself in and then waits expectantly for Nyssa to try her chicken.]
[ This is ridiculous. Nyssa opens the box cautiously like she expects it to have — she's not sure what she expects, honestly. It's not like there's much of a mystery to be had here. She pops a piece into her mouth, and chews. Her eyes widen. ]
The flavour will take getting used to, but it is good.
And to think you still doubted me. [She smiles victoriously before beginning to eat. They're a little more than two hundred miles out from their first planned stop which leaves them with a little more than three hours of travel time (with laurel driving anyway) and more than enough daylight to reach their first destination by foot.
It feels good to enjoy a meal in companionship with Nyssa and she finds herself at ease in a way she hasn't been in a long time. Relaxed and content, in spite of the mess that is her life.]
Maybe one day we can go to Pakistan and you can make me try all sorts of things that I've never heard of. True trust is built on letting your friends convince you to eat things you've never tried before after all.
[ It doesn't go unnoticed. Laurel does not express herself in halves, it's all or nothing, and every emotion of hers is true. Nyssa chews a few more pieces. ]
It's not where I'd go for food. Mumbai, perhaps. Do you mind crowds?
Busy. Merciless. Perhaps difficult to describe if you haven't experienced it. I think you'd take a liking to the city, Laurel. I find it hard to imagine you wouldn't adapt.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
It's a while before we hit anything else. We should eat.
no subject
Would it not be more expedient to get drive-through?
no subject
[She smirks and then steps out of the car, throwing a hand over her eyes to block the glare of the afternoon sun.]
You think Oliver knows we're gone by now? [There's a deliberate casualness to the words that does't ring true with the rest of her body language. It's not as though they were running from anything. Her father knew and so did Thea even if they didn't know all the details, but Oliver hadn't been told. Mostly because he would likely have been against it for one bullshit reason or another and Laurel didn't have the patience to get through that conversation.
She was beyond sick of letting Oliver's self-righteous attitude dictate what she could and couldn't do.]
no subject
As always, I fail to see the appeal.
[ She's still getting out of the car. ]
I'd be surprised if the man can see past his own nose.
[ She does not have Laurel's years of knowing him to temper her opinion. Nyssa was against him from day one, and tolerated him for Sara's sake. Now Sara is dead and that fool is taking what should be hers. No, Nyssa sees no need to be charitable to him. ]
no subject
[Thoughtfully.] I used to know him so well. These days it's like I might as well be talking to a wall for all he hears me. [Laurel sighs and opens the door to the rest stop's fast food area, moving to check out the menus.]
no subject
I used to think he loved Sara truly.
[ But even this she can't comprehend as the actions of one in love, or even one who claimed to have felt it once before. It seemed so without passion, and cruel in its turn. She has always shed blood with purpose. This is cruel. ]
no subject
He did love her, even if it didn't start that way. [She reaches up to push her hair away from her eyes and her arms settle across her chest, folding neatly as she tries to focus on the menus and fails completely.]
I just don't think Ollie was ever in love with her. [She's beginning to wonder if he has ever been in love with anyone. She doesn't mean it to be a cruel thought even as she knows it is. It's just that there was so much...Oliver there to really make room for anyone else.
A bright red and white sign catches her eye down the line of "restaurants" and she nudges Nyssa's shoulder with her own to indicate they should move in that direction.]
no subject
Have you been here before?
no subject
This-[And she drops her arms in order to make a dramatic hand flourish in the direction of the counter]-is Kentucky Fried Chicken, and no one's tour of American fast food would be complete without it.
You'll love it, I promise.
no subject
[ so!! dubious!! Yet, she follows Laurel obligingly. ]
All I foresee is more grease and oil.
no subject
[Teasingly.] You say that like it's a bad thing! [With one more good-natured grin she steps forward towards the line, head turned to glance at her friend.]
Want me to order for both of us? [On the bright side, if Nyssa hates it there are plenty of other things to order. Not that she could possibly hate KFC.]
no subject
Something small, please.
[ She can experiment with it later once they're seated and she sees what other people are eating. ]
no subject
It only takes a couple of minutes for their food to be ready, and with drinks in hand they find a seat at one of the outside benches a moment later. Laurel settles herself in and then waits expectantly for Nyssa to try her chicken.]
no subject
The flavour will take getting used to, but it is good.
no subject
It feels good to enjoy a meal in companionship with Nyssa and she finds herself at ease in a way she hasn't been in a long time. Relaxed and content, in spite of the mess that is her life.]
Maybe one day we can go to Pakistan and you can make me try all sorts of things that I've never heard of. True trust is built on letting your friends convince you to eat things you've never tried before after all.
no subject
It's not where I'd go for food. Mumbai, perhaps. Do you mind crowds?
no subject
Not in the least. [And maybe what they're talking about is hypothetical, but it doesn't escape her notice that Nyssa hadn't turned the idea down.]
What's it like?
no subject
Busy. Merciless. Perhaps difficult to describe if you haven't experienced it. I think you'd take a liking to the city, Laurel. I find it hard to imagine you wouldn't adapt.