capeandcowllogs | Time after time you refuse to even listen

Entry tags:

Time after time you refuse to even listen

WHO: Sue, Ben, & Reed
WHERE: A casual dining restaurant
WHEN: Lunch time on Saturday
WARNINGS: N/A?
SUMMARY: The Fantastic ~~Four~~ Three finally meet up for awkward times.
FORMAT: Quick.

[Sue was a little bit unsure about this little get together, but she was optimistic about the outcome. She trusted Ben, and Ben had faith in Reed, and so Sue had to at least try. She felt she owed it to Ben at least.

She arrives at the restaurant they'd picked for lunch, sitting in the corner booth with her eyes on the door as she waits anxiously for the men to arrive.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He's trying not to think about it too much, 'cause God knows his role on this team was never really the thinking bit-- and it's a little too late for second thoughts when he's standing outside the restaurant anyway. He glances around once, takes a breath, pushes the door open, and tries not to dwell too much on how it might be a bad idea for them to all be together in person.

Maybe it'll be okay.

He spots Sue in the corner booth and gives her a short wave and a wry upward quirk of his mouth before heading over, sliding into the seat opposite of her. ]

Hey, Suzie. No sign of him yet?

Not yet.

[She purses her lips into a small smile. She's glad to see Ben, she'd wanted to meet with him regardless, but the whole thing is still kind of awkward.

She glances at her watch and wonders what could be taking Reed so long.]

I thought maybe I'd order an appetizer while we wait.

Sure. Go for it.

[ He smiles back at her, just a little. ]

He'll show up. [ There's a quiet sort of confidence to Ben's voice that comes from years and years of relying on Reed, even if things have seemed off between them lately. With a wry tone, he goes on: ] Maybe he got nervous.

Hopefully not too nervous.

[She lets out a nervous chuckle of her own, ordering some appetizers and drinks once the waiter stops by their table.]

You're not nervous, are you, Ben?

[ He seems mildly surprised by the question, watching her across the table for a long moment before he responds at length: ]

Maybe, I guess. [ A beat, then with that same hint of wryness: ] I mean, it is a little weird, right?

Just a little. I mean, this is the first time we've all sat down together like this.

[But she manages a slightly playful smile.]

But it's not like we're strangers, right?

[ He does pause a little. Inside, he's thinking that, in some ways, they sort of are. But her playful smile does remind him of their Suzie's smile. Sometimes, he even has to remind himself that this Suzie isn't the same person. And anyway, he doesn't want to hurt her by pointing out the difference.

So, out loud: ] Nah. Sometimes I feel I've known ya my whole life.

I sometimes feel that way, too.

[She felt that way a lot more before Johnny'd said all that stuff about Reed, and before Victor literally dived head first off the deep end. But Ben hasn't disappointed her in anyway. He's been the friendliest of any of them, so kind to her no matter that she isn't the woman he loves. He's been better to her than she deserves, and she knows it.]

No matter what, I like to think that we can all work together and maybe try to be friends. There's so much working against us, why make enemies of our allies?

[ He leans to rest his chin in one of his big hands, elbow propped on the table as he listens to her talk. He likes to think that too, honestly, that they can make this Fantastic Four thing work. He isn't sure he belongs anywhere else. When they separated, back home, it was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. They were his family, the people he loved most.

At length, he exhales lightly, replying: ]

I think you, me, and Reed could do alotta good things together, Suzie. If we can get on the same page, y'know?

[ Of course, Reed would take his sweet time to arrive. Social gatherings? Maybe he'd look forward to this pre-awakening, but there's that prevailing bitter note of bonding with a backstabber and, well, a female backstabber that discourages him from even coming. He still does for the sake of appearance and obligation, opening the door and peering for the table, but he takes the pleasure of finishing producing a batch of sarin first.

He gives a little sheepish smile as he slides into the seat, hurriedly interrupting the moment at the end of Ben's words. ]

Er, hey. Sorry I'm late, Susan. Ben. Did I miss anything interesting?

[Sue seems almost surprised when Reed finally does arrive, almost like she wasn't expecting him to even show. But he's here, they're all here, so she may as well make the effort to make this all work.]

Reed, hi. [She musters a polite smile.] We've only just ordered appetizers. It's so good you could make it.

[ Ben seems surprised too, but it's a pleased sort of surprised-- the sort you'd expect a guy to wear on his face when he sees his best friend. You wouldn't guess that they'd been having a rough patch here and there by the way Ben reaches over to clap Reed on the shoulder in greeting, his grin broad. ]

Hey, buddy. We were startin' to wonder if we were gonna see ya. [ With wry affection: ] But I figured it wouldn't be like ya to stand up Sue Storm.

Oh? Well, I'm glad that I managed made it just in the nick after the nick of time. [ He lets himself slump a little in his seat with visible relief, which ends up coming off a little insincere even to him since, well, it's him. ] You know I would have hated to ruin either of your dinners.

[ Crooking his neck in a vain attempt to find an attentive waiter, he eventually gives up with a shrug. Instead, he turns to face Susan, bright grin in check. ]

I don't think I've ever spoken to you about your success with Skrull polymers and tissue scaffolding, but―congratulations, Susan. Anyone who'd give your work a quick look-over really ought to realize your genius. I mean it. [ Expectantly: ] Right, Ben?

[Sue's cheeks go pink, suddenly remembering what it feels like to be praised by Reed. It's a feeling she's nearly forgotten, but it has the effect of making her feel just like an awkward undergrad all over again.]

Thank you, Reed. I'll admit I'm quite proud of what was accomplished. Though I'd be much more pleased with the results if Victor hadn't corrupted my research for his own gain.

[There's always a downside, isn't there. She smiles though, then turns to Ben.]

So what have you two been up to lately? You've been hard at work, no doubt.

[ It's a little off somehow, something about Reed Ben can't place-- and it's been that way for weeks now, this vague nagging off-ness that bothers Ben more because he doesn't understand it than because something might be wrong. This is Reed, after all. The one person Ben thinks he actually knows.

He's distracted enough by it that he misses a good half of their science talk-- probably wouldn't have really understood anyway, never did-- but when the questions get pointed his way, Ben's attention re-enters the present. ]

Right. [ Easy agreement. Sue's smart, nobody would argue that. A pause, before he goes on, trying not to feel too put on the spot: ] Uh-- I guess I ain't been doing anything special. Sorta still adjusting. To here. And to not being the Thing. [ Another half-beat. ] Bet I can figure what Reed's been doing though-- start's with "s" and ends in "-cience."

[ Quickly, and off-handed in a cool but flattering way: ] Yes, well. You can't expect Van Damme not to meddle. Your personal success is in no way any less valid.

[ He props his chin on his hand as he listens, with some exaggerated intent, as Ben fumbles with his words. This is the man, Reed recalls, that his Susan fell in love with. That she left him for. Wonderful.

He clears his throat, feigning a startled gesture to himself. ]

Me? I've been attemping to detect and map this place's adjacent dimensions, but. Something isn't quite right. There must be some sort of weird reality field in place or some local alterations to fundamental laws, because all I'm getting is radio silence and a big red sign which says "we're alone."

['Van Damme'? It takes Susan a second to recall that Victor had a different name in their world. Strange, how these little differences added up to make a reality so removed from her own.

She listens intently to what each of them says, taking a long sip of her water.]

But we already know that we're not alone. We wouldn't all be here if that were the case. [She frowns, pursing her lips.] Maybe the Porter is interfering in some way. That machine seems to be the only native technology capable of accessing other dimensions. Perhaps there's some component of the Porter that gives it a monopoly on making contact.

[She turns her gaze back to Ben. She doesn't want to bore him with all this shop talk.]

Are you looking for work, Ben?

[ After a while, his brain has mostly learned to filter out any scientific words or words greater than three syllables, especially coming from Reed and Susan. Ben accepted his position as the brawn to their brains ages ago. He doesn't seem bored, but he's not listening entirely either, his attention drifting just a little. It visibly gets drawn back when Sue says his name.

He pauses before answering. ]

Sorta, I guess. [ Another half-beat. ] Kinda still gettin' us to not being in the military. And being me-- not orange, rocky me.

[ He rubs the back of his neck. ] And havin' you guys around. Which is totally a good thing. Totally.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Time after time you refuse to even listen

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

AWKWARDLY... BUSTS IN HERE...

sorry this is so late guys ;;

LMFAO WEEPS i forgot to track this thread

LMAO OOPS SO DID I...

it happens c:

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject