theattic | MY ROOMMATE, SATAN

Roman will ABSOLUTELY judge a man by his wardrobe because he is a shitty 90s kid.

"Woah..." was all he could really say to that. Mittened hands resting on the counter's edge, he grew solumn and tried to imagine being around when one of those plants went up. He'd read about it. Roman then looked up at the flowerboy again and squinted behind his glasses as though he were searching him over for an extra ear or some other marker of RADIATION.

"That's rough, man."

At the close inspection Zack will avert his gaze. If it weren't so bright in the shop, his eyes might glow from the mako, and he would rather not be recognized by a homeless stranger as a SOLDIER. Mako-bright eyes were a signature of the program, but at least it wasn't so obvious under the shitty light. Too bad contacts wouldn't do a thing to stop the glow.

"It wasn't really home any more anyways, and my parents managed alright. That's all I could ask for." He smiles again, bouncing his knee in a sort of nervous habit he had picked up, wondering when he would shut his mouth, having talked too much already, "I mean, we all lived in huts, it's not like they'll take years to rebuild."

Roman felt a small spark in his chest when Zack looked away. It always made him feel BIG when he managed to make someone do that--though he couldn't hope to know the reason why this guy had done it.

He popped his elbows up onto the counter and dropped his bescarfed chin into them. Wow, this guy was like a fountain! Roman had a good mind to bet he was the first person to come in all day. Some days, you just needed an ear. Roman was homeless. Faceless. He'd disappear into the crowd ever to be seen again. What did Zack have to lose?

"You guys really should have c-cornered the market on those tiny houses they show on television!"

Zack was a horrible liar, his body language was easy to read, but he at least managed to come back around when Roman dropped his inspection. He swallows, finding himself again in the conversation, pulling back his own information and latching on to what Roman had said. He didn't need to share, but he was a social at heart and it was good to talk...made him think of his empty apartment and wonder if perhaps he should put an add out again for another person. Anyone. Even when Cloud had been comatose, he had still talked to him, every single day, without worry that the other man was too sick to say anything else.

This was much healthier though and he snorted at the idea of tiny houses, shrugging. "It's hard to imagine me fitting in one of those now, though most people out there aren't small either. But our huts, they didn't even really have doors. Crude as can be. Can't imagine the privacy problem...I left early enough that it wasn't a problem." He laughs, thinking about it, "Maybe that's why I'm an only child."

"You c-could be onto something!"

Roman shared a laugh--it felt good to laugh. As raring to go as he was to take advantage of people, he had to admit it felt...nice...to be nice. EUGH. If Suur were lurking around, Roman could be sure they were doing that horrible i-told-you-so smirk they always did. Angels. Rats with wings!

"Thanks again for the sandwich. What was in it?"

It wasn't like he'd tasted it at all.

"I don't think I want to follow that trail much longer though. It could get bad real quick." Like when he was conceived, there were still no doors. Were his parents into that? He wasn't going to ask that question, or at the very least, wasn't going to answer it.

He'll glance over at the break room where the rest of his lunch was, an identical sandwich and an apple, wondering if his SOLDIER metabolism could make it to the end of his shift if he gave the rest of it away. That was the problem with the big muscles and enhancements, it needed energy to run proper. "Just your regular old ham and cheese. Got a tomato on there and some lettuce for something green. I've..." He hesitates, swallows and then stands anyways. "I've got another one if you're still hungry?"

You never stop being a hero, no matter how small the task.

From the outside, Roman hadn't had any idea how big or small of an establishment the flower shop was. He easily imagined Zack slapping the sandwich together from the little fridge everyone shared. The hesitation makes it obvious.

That had been his sandwich.

And from the look on Zack's face, Roman could only marvel aloud, "You're not k-kiddin', are you?"

He shook his head. A creature of opportunity, he was. But a fool he wasn't. If he took too much, he might not get anything else in the future.

"Nah, man, I was just c-curious. Thought about makin' my own sometime. Maybe with a fiver for flavor."

Roman flashed Zack a charming, flat-toothed grin.

Edited 2016-07-04 03:37 (UTC)

"I wouldn't offer it just to take it away," He returns, almost looking offended at the suggestion. He had just been about to walk back and get it when Roman turns him down, hand on the doorframe into the small backroom. His hair, being a few inches taller, touched the top of the frame, and he turns, looking back at Roman.

"Well, if you're sure. I wouldn't mind. It's not like I'm going to blow away. You on the other hand, kid?" He smiles right back, "Don't tell me no if you're hungry. It doesn't cost a thing, promise."

Roman took his turn to hesitate. He weighed his options. Tomato.

"If you insist!" He wasn't going to deny food a second time. "I'll take any flowers you're planning to throw out t-too!"

That was only partially a joke.

Zack nodded, walking over to the small fridge and taking his sad little lunch box out, pulling the sandwich out and taking the apple for himself. He was a little hungry and perhaps if he nipped it in the bud, he wouldn't get so grouchy later. He's not sure there are any stock getting ready for a turn over though, and he'll hand the sandwich to Roman when he comes back in, settling behind the counter, "I don't think there is anything out today, but maybe this week. They don't last as long when it's cold like this."

He'll take a big bite of apple and look up as someone walks by the front window, perhaps a little more seriously than any clerk should, but it's just a regular passerby so he continues on with his apple, crossing his legs on the stool again. "Where are you from anyways? I assume not from around here?"

Like a well-seasoned magician, Roman made that sandwich disappear too before speaking up. "There it is. T-tomato. S'perfect."

He'd remember this. He really hoped Suur wasn't watching.

"C-couldn't say."

And wouldn't say.

"Farmers choice. Perks of working for a florist in a small town," He winks, feeling himself finally start to relax again. There were some habits that never died, no matter how life got you down and he couldn't help but want to push a little when Roman denied him any information.

He'll lean forward, raise a brow and hit him with those eyes of his that he had forgot he was supposed to be hiding. They were a favorite feature, and again, some habits died hard. "Couldn't? Not even for me? That's too bad..."

Roman found himself leaning back a little, surprised by Zack's sudden interest. Beneath his jacket, he felt his hackles raise. What was with this guy's eyes? They were attractive, sure, but there was something...that made him worry.

And what if he was going to turn him over to the police? Out of the goodness of his own sandwich-bestowing heart no doubt but he was not someone who wanted to deal with uniforms!

"I'm just passing through. Don't want any t-trouble."

Zack can tell his push is taken as a threat and he'll sit back up again, knowing that look, the body language because he's so familiar with it himself now.

"Okay, okay. I was just curious is all." He'll reign it all back in, nodding to the shop door. "Anyways, I figure you can stay in here till close, but I'm not sure about tomorrow. I'm not on shift every day, and I can't have people loitering either, unfortunately." He didn't make up the rules, his boss did, but he figures if it's just for today, he won't get much trouble for it. That and he did tend to bring in customers even during slow periods. Something about his pretty face...He tried not to let it go to his head.

Roman stayed tense for a few more moments before his shoulders fell slack.

"Thanks." It wasn't a smarmy thanks like his previous gratitudes. "Don't worry. I'll probably be on the other end of the city by t-tomorrow. I'll try to let people know what a good shop this is though. Y'know. K-karma 'n all."

In which Roman was an enormous believer. When it suited him.

"It's cool. I know how cold it can get out there." Knew how small men like Roman could be susceptible as well, though at least he isn't visibly sick. He'd have offered to look up shelters in the area if he had seen something physically wrong with him. As it stands though, he's not thinking he wants that kind of help.

Instead he'll finish off his apple, toss it in the trash and stand, moving around the store to water some of the plants he had neglected earlier, fluff up a display or try not to hit his head on the various hanging baskets. "I don't have any honeysuckle in here, but I'll let you take one on your way if you're going to spread the word around."

Roman found his eyes following the apple core into the bin before he could stop himself. DAMN GOAT URGES. He was glad that Zack started to move around though. It gave him something else to focus on. Roman watched in awe as the flowerman navigated his way around the hanging plants.

HOW DID PEOPLE GET TO BE SO TALL? It wasn't fair!

Sure, sure, Roman could easily stretch himself upward, tall enough to meet Zack's eye, but that would take so much effort. Like keeping one muscle clenched all day long. It took enough of his magic reserves to appear human. Or to appear at all.

"By the t-time I get to where I'm going, everyone in town will know about this place."

"Don't wear yourself out though, I'm sure all that energy could be better spent somewhere else." The shop would be fine, though it was nice of Roman to offer. In any case, he'll make his rounds and then sit back on the stool, sighing heavily.

Welp. Not much else to do till close. "What are you going to say when you tell people about the shop?"

Roman watched him make his rounds. His eyes lingered on the various leaves and buds. If he hadn't already developed a liking for this guy, he would make a note to break in later and sample a few. But no. He didn't want stock going missing on Zack's watch.

The young man drew himself up and rattled off his spiel as though he'd already spent hours practicing it. "Only that it's the best florist in t-town--a stunning array of local and exotic blooms all season, any season, with informed and friendly service to boot."

He took a grand, sweeping bow.

Zack stared at Roman a moment, really looked at him, and then laughed. He couldn't say he was informed. Sometimes he had to look at the tags to tell which flower was which, though at least that didn't mean he didn't care. "You should write advertisements. Or yelp reviews."

And while he didn't think he was bad at what he did, the praise wasn't usual. He was more suited to fighting, and yet here he was, getting a shining review on his flower caretaking. "You really know how to make a guy feel like he's doing a good job. Thanks."

Roman stood tall again and beamed, his slyness returning now that he was finally fully relaxed.

"I used to be a t-tutor. A little encouragement can go a long way!"

Some days he lurked around on college campuses and made a few green bills off desperate students just before finals.

Zack smiles a little at his comment, nodding, "Yeah...I used to do that too. Mentoring was pretty fun." He missed it, honestly, but it wasn't like he could waltz back and take over training again. Not that he'd want to. All the young hopefuls, dragged down to the science department after him...it made running like this seem like he was abandoning them, but he had made the decision just the same as they had.

Maybe it would be different for them. And yet...it probably wouldn't. There came the guilt again.

"You have a favorite subject?"

Roman's grin only grew and he went back to propping his elbow on the counter.

"I deal in what many c-consider the worst subject of all..." He let those words hang in the air for a moment. "Advanced mathematics.

Zack was afraid the word 'science' was going to come out of his mouth like some dirty swear. Thankfully it didn't, though he was aware that advanced mathematics did go hand in hand with science, that was okay.

"I don't think I ever got to far in that. Just the basics, you know?" He shrugs, unsure of what all he should say on this, "Did you attend college somewhere?"

"For a while..." Roman trailed off. There was some sadness in that. He missed school. It was expensive and tough, but he'd liked it. Sure he could technically go for free now. Be a ghost in the back of class sponging up all that information but...he couldn't connect with anyone. It felt hollow now.

Besides. He had to make room for street smarts.

"I don't wanna t-take up all your time. I think I'll mosey on over here behind these mums and c-catch some shuteye until you need to kick me out."

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