make cheese, not war // human au, jor

[VALE]

Vale kicked up one foot onto the table, fingers laced together behind zir head. People usually presented their best manners on first dates, but Vale always hated the custom. Why pretend to be someone you’re not, under any circumstance? Authenticity ranked at the top of Vale’s value system, which explained most of Vale’s eccentricities. Like why ze wore heavy chains as necklaces and painted zir nails black, as though this first date took place in an underground punk concert instead of a restaurant.

1970’s. New York City’s Little Italy. Going out at night looking like a posturing peacock. These three facts contributed to the reason why Vale packed a revolver in zir leather jacket, tucked into a custom pocket sown on the inside. The gangster shit Vale’d gotten involved in over the last month only reinforced the need for a firearm.

Tapping a finger, Vale sighed and stretched out onto the chair. Impatience or nervousness? Even Vale couldn’t properly label the emotion. Only after the date’d been setup did Vale figure out who ze’d gotten involved with. Vale grimaced at the memory—a guy in zir gang pointed out the fact, got super huffy about it, and a fight broke out. Something about being a traitor? Someone else saying some shit about an opportunity? Hell, Vale wanted a fuck, not to receive fucking hell.

Vale’s grey eyes flicked off the ceiling. The waiter brought out a plate of raw mozzarella, an uncut roll, per Vale’s odd instructions. Why bother ordering a caprese salad when all Vale wanted was the damned cheese?

“Thanks,” Vale said, already reaching for the cheese. Ze picked it up like an apple and took a mouse-sized bite.

“Are you going to order anything else?” He sounded mildly irritated, but Vale couldn’t figure out why.

“Once my date gets here, probably,” Vale said. Took another minuscule bite, savoring the cheese. “It’s rude to eat while he’s not—goddammit. Jesus, Mom was right. The day I regret my atrocious table manners has finally come.”

The waiter huffed and wandered away while Vale looked at the cheese in zir hand, frowning. Oops? Maybe this is why people bothered to order the appetizers on the menu.

pittian ★ crow shapeshifting into a winged serpent ★ literally chaos

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