Kaye glanced down at menu again, flipping through a couple pages with a small hum, though after a couple minutes he had to hold the menu a bit closer to his face. His eyesight wasn't always the best, though it wasn't bad to the point that he needed to wear glasses everywhere. "I think I'll get some…pancakes," He announced, glancing up towards Simon with a lopsided smile.
Simon’s heart jumped at the sight of Kaye’s crooked smile, and he tilted his head to frown down at the traitorous organ. Returning his focus to the man across from him, he cleared his throat and tried to mirror that smile. “The pancakes look good…” He glanced down at the menu. “I might get the eggs and bacon.”
Kaye nodded, his smile tilting the corners of his lips even more to reveal a faint dimple, glad to see that Simon was smiling as well. The other man always seemed to be a little upset or lost in thought, but a small glint of happiness here and there lifted his spirits. "You'll like the food here. The plates are practically bigger than my face," he said, his mood returning to it's usual charismatic one.
Kaye’s cheek dimpled, and for some strange reason, the tiny indentation made Simon’s heart skip a beat. His own smile faltered for a moment, but quickly reappeared. He even let loose a rare, quiet laugh in response. “I’ll dedinitely like that, I think.”
At the sound of Simon's light laugh, a small flash of what seemed like awe crossed Kaye's face. His smile remained as he watched the other man, though it seemed like more of a thoughtful expression. "I like it when you laugh," Kaye finally said after a lengthy pause, the words escaping him, though he wasn't regretful of them this time.
Simon’s eyes widened, his fingers fumbling where they were curled around the edges of the menu. The sheet slipped from his grip, leaving him empty-handed, flushed, and wordless. He wet his parched lips anxiously, scrambling for something to say, but all that came out was a conflicted “Oh.”
Kaye watched Simon, noticing how anxious the other seemed to be after his comment, only answering with a single word. Was what he said wrong? He was about to open his mouth and say something, though a forced, cheery voice cut him off before he was able to. "Welcome to Dina's Diner! What can we get you today?" He glanced up, noticing that the voice belonged to a petite girl with dyed hair and rather dark clothes, who appeared a little out of place in the pastel diner.
Simon’s gaze snapped to the stranger, a smile plastering itself to his face. Grateful for the distraction, he picked up the menu a second time. “Hi— err.. I think I’ll take the bacon and eggs?”
"Of course," the girl exclaimed, her perkiness most likely faked as she glanced over towards Kaye, raising a light brow in question. "And you?"
"And I'll take the pancakes," Kaye answered with a faint hint of a polite smile, handing the waitress his menu before she took Simon's, quickly turning around and making her way back towards where she had come from.
Simon watched her go with a long sigh. His eyes flickered back to Kaye, but he said nothing— what was there to say? Get it together, idiot. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
"She seemed like a ray of sunshine, huh?" Kaye mumbled, though his voice was raised loud enough that the other man could hear them. The girl– Ashley, Ash, whatever her name tag read– hadn't exactly seemed like she enjoyed where she worked, especially with her dark band shirts and piercings. Though, it somehow made the diner a little more interesting.
Simon snorted, staring down at his scarred hands. “Yeah..” he muttered back, though distracted. “Agreed.”
"She kind of reminds me of someone I dated. Laney, I think her name was," Kaye sighed as he ran a hand through his bedhead style hair, his voice almost as if he were speaking out loud to himself. He was never really specific about who he dated, mostly caring about who they were as a person, though he never had a word for it.
Simon took in the information, turning it over in his head as he recalled something Kaye had said back at the bar about a guy— plus the fact that they’d been flirting with eachother. “If you don’t mind me asking— are you bi?”
"Well, not exactly," Kaye started, pausing for a few moments as he thought, seemingly searching for a word. He usually didn't tell many people about his sexuality, though he thought that he could most likely trust Simon with this kind of information. "I forgot what it's called. When you don't mind who it is, boy or girl, etcetera."
Simon pushed a hand through his knotted hair. “Pansexual?” he tried, a small, thoughtful frown on his face. “Is that it?” In all honesty, he was surprised that Kaye had actually responded to such a personal question.
"I think so," Kaye answered with a small shrug, deciding that it didn't matter all that much if he had a word for it or not. Glancing up towards Simon's hair, he liked the way the blond curls appeared to be a little messy, a few stray strands falling across their forehead, before he looked back towards the other man's gaze. "So, do you have any friends or family that live around here?" He asked, attempting to make some small talk.
Simon shook his head, lips twisting into a wry smile. “My family is all closer to the coast. And as far as friends go…” He shrugged, as if he didn’t give the subject much thought. “I don’t really have any. What about you?”
(I might be posting a new rp with a title along the lines of 'Orleans' later if you'd like to join)
"No family here," Kaye said with a shake of his head, before he tilted it to the side, looking towards Simon. "I've got a couple friends at the bar, though no one else beyond that." He explained with a loose shrug as he glanced around the diner for a few moments before settling his gaze back on the other man.
(Yeah sure, what’s it about?)
“I guess we’re both alone, in a way.” The words flew out of his mouth before he had the chance to stop them. “I mean— shit. I didn’t mean to say that.” Simon wanted to fold himself up into a tiny ball and disappear— a feeling which confused him completely.
(It was originally a story idea, though it has to do with a few families– a bit like gangs– that takes place in old New Orleans. I'm going to post it soon, so the description there should make more sense lol)
"Hey, it's okay, Simon," Kaye answered, giving the other man a light, reassuring smile. He had mastered the art of saying things with no filter, so he understood when it happened. "I mean, you're not wrong. You're the first person I've met who hasn't just 'disappeared' right after."
Awesome, can’t wait! Could you post the link here when it’s done?)
Whatever Simon has been expecting in response to his blurted words, it had definitely not been this. He cleared his throat— something he’d been doing an awful lot today— and nodded. “You too. I mean—“
Kaye raised a brow in question, wondering what the 'I mean' part meant, if it did actually mean anything. Though, he was glad that Simon thought of him as a friend…something he thought the other man would never come close to consider.
(It looks awesome!)
Simon inhaled sharply, trying to clear his head. “I mean,” he resumed, keeping his voice calm, “That I don’t really know what…… I can’t really recognize what friends are. But you didn’t disappear, as you said, so.. I don’t know.”
(Also, I’m currently in the process of making an rp based off the Tarot Cards with a Caraval-esque feel [if you’ve ever read the books] with Marla from the witches rp, would you be interested in joining?)
(Thank you! It took so long to write lol)
"Oh," was the only word that Kaye responded with, though it didn't sound offensive or pitying, only thoughtful. He wasn't sure what he could say– maybe tell Simon he wouldn't leave– but no words actually left his mouth after that.
And… you messed up again. Nice. Simon would have slapped himself had Kaye not been watching. “Anyways.” His mind scrambled to find a topic of conversation. “Any plans for the weekend?”
"Plans? Probably sleeping," Kaye answered with a small shrug and undone smile, looking towards Simon as he raised a brow in question. "What about you?"
Simon tried for a chuckle at this response, running this thumb along the edge of their table. “Nothing, really. Work, I guess. Try not to starve.”