#that I get to experience now and a lot of it is mildly dissapointing cause yk I’m not 6 anymore

[ghostickle]

Child me was so right to desperately want a loft bed this is the greatest decision I have ever made

[lachlann-macnab]

At Tiana’s Place Grand Opening

Alternative title: “Totally not a date, we have no idea why anyone would think that” and “Just a couple of dudes being guys”

Dated: November 12- 15, 2020

Lachlann MacNab Lachlann wasn't even sure if he was even welcomed at Tiana's Place after Chippamunka's fiasco and actually wondered if there'd be a moment in which she'd catch a glance of him and then kick his ass out of the place while screaming. That scenario would be completely fair, really, but Lachlann would rather not get kicked around while his side still hurt like a bitch and felt still way too tired  to deal with that too, like, seeing Mister Mac T after dissapearing on him for more than a couple of days was nerve-wrecking enough (and while Lachlann could argue that nothing about that had been something he had any kind of control over, well, he'd rather not tempt fate and have an angry Scott talking his ear off about not doing stupid things). In that moment the only thing that Lachlann wasn't nervous about was the prospect of tasting some of Tiana's food and getting some extras to send Tito and Greg's way later, since that scenario didn't involve someone giving him angry or dissapointed looks. He was slowly passing by the door, just waiting, before he finally spotted the other and gave him a little "hey, Mister Mac T"

Seamus MacTunnag Seamus was...very hesitant to appear at the opening of Tiana's Place but, ultimately, his wanting to show his face and offer his support for the restaurant. Though he'd not personally met her, he thought Tiana had spunk, and he'd heard wonderful things about her from most everyone in town, social media and otherwise. Still, there was still a touch of anxiety behind the appearance, though he did his best to swallow it down and put on a smile. He hadn't heard from Lachlann but that was fine. Despite what had happened shortly before the previous weekend, Seamus had been assured he was still alive thanks to social media (and Louie). It was only mildly shocking when he turned and caught sight of the very man in question, slinking around like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs, offering a nervous little wave and a "hey, Mister MacT," like he hadn't just gone radio silent for days. Seamus just raised a brow, eyes sweeping across to Lachlann's side, noting the thick bandaging beneath the fabric, and said: "Lachlann. Feelin' better, I presume?"

Lachlann MacNab 'Lachlann', he said. And, oh, the former pilot could tell, just with that one word, that the other wasn't happy -and, again, he couldn't blame him a bit. "I feel like sleeping for three more days, actually" he said, trying to joke his way out of any potential trouble as he, tentatively, got a step closer to the other "but I couldn't possibly refuse the oportunity to get some good food or- well, you know" 'To see you again' were words left unspoken, but very much there. "How about you?

Seamus MacTunnag Well, now that that little snitt was out of the way, Seamus let his shoulders fall into a more relaxed position, still eyeing the other man as he edge closer, if ever so slightly. The Scotsman snorted at the joke, which probably wasn't really a joke if the look around his eyes was any indication, and nodded slightly. "Aye, I can imagine, considerin' 'm sure ye pulled yer stitches already." He paused, briefly, to smile at someone walking by whom he recognized, another businessman who was intent on being seen for the opening. When he turned back, there was an air of "kicked puppy dog" hanging around the younger man, and Seamus rolled his eyes. "Ie yer expectin' me tah chew ye out, yer shite outta luck. I ain't yer keeper. Ye disappeared, which I cannae say 'm pleased as punch about, but yer nah dead, so that's somethin'."

Lachlann MacNab As Seamus' shoulders relaxed, so did Lachlann; It just seemed easier to approach the other when there wasn't an imaginary barrier between them (just a fancy-dressed man, but he quickly passed them by so it wasn't a big deal). "Yeah" he admitted just because there was no use in denying something like that (the man had more experience with that kind of things and would realize sooner than later, anyways) "but I'm totally getting those fixed as soon as the hospital isn't full and the doctors aren't exhausted" Swynlakers recovered from trauma considerably faster than normal people, so Lachlann figured it wouldn't take long for things to get back to kind-of-normal. "And I don't mean to get all "it's complicated" on you, so I guess we're even, right?" he joked once more, giving the other a soft pat on the shoulder " 'sides, I'm sure Louie already told you 'bout the chaos. It just...seemed like the right thing to do"

Seamus MacTunnag The corner of his mouth quirked up at the admission, glad he wasn't trying to wave it off. "Mm, ye need someone tah hold yer 'and while they fix 'em," he quipped, a cheeky grin passing over his face. He had heard from Louie, who had done equally as stupid things while the town went to shite, that Lachlann had been saving a man's life. A man who, Seamus had heard through the grapevine, needed his medical bills paid off. So guess what had happened. "Sure, ye didna mean to. But ye did." Seamus shrugged. "An' it was. I did somethin' similar when we had zombies. Drove around on me motorcycle. It was jus' stupid tah do with yer side th' way it was. But...I get it."

Lachlann MacNab Oh, how had Lachlann missed the man -just a couple of minutes and he was laughing once more and things just seemed to be way, way easier to deal with. "My what noble offer, Mister Mac T" he joked back, letting his palm rest on the other's shoulder for a second before moving it to his upper arm "I'll keep it mind" He'd made the previous pain more bearable, so it wasn't just a joke. "...zombies" he echoed with a confused look "that sounds like...something. A little bit better than people attacking others and people burning buildings, I guess" At least zombies weren't people. " 's Donnie ok? I imagine he was worried out of him mind 'bout Louie playing the hero, even if he looked cool while doing so"

Seamus MacTunnag "Aye?" The smile that cracked across his face was both a flash mischievous and that normal cheek. "Good." Nodding, Seamus shrugged again, confirming. "Zombies, yes. And it...was, to a degree, but it was...a lot. Running 'em over was fun though." Placing a hand at the small of Lachlann's back, Seamus steered them around another few people as they entered the entrance of the establishment, considering what the other man had asked of him. "Far as I know, yes. 'M sure he was worried. I know I was. An' I hope he chews his arse out, but I wasna gonna stop 'im."

Lachlann MacNab Lachlann was very, very aware that laughing about running anything over while being an Uber driver was the biggest possible faux pas -but he couldn't help but chuckle anyways at the mere idea of Mister Mac T enjoying himself in such a way. Granted, he was also happy about the physical contact, even leaning a little into the other as he guided him around. " 's a very Donnie thing to do- worrying about 'em, I mean" and he wasn't complaining about it, just pointing it out. Saying the man loved his nephews was like pointing out that water was wet, it was just... natural "and a very Louie thing to do to do whatever he wants anyways" He paused for a second, suddenly feeling as if he was being watched, then shrugging that feeling off. "He kind of takes after you" he added, fondly, almost in a whisper

Seamus MacTunnag It was nice to hear the other man laugh, even if it wasn't the, uh, best topic to laugh about. It was just good. Good to hear and good to cause. When Lachlann tilted into the arm that was curved at his back and waist, Seamus his the smile that came with that, too. A bark of laughter escaped him at the thought of Louie doing what he wanted (because it was true) and Donald being a worry wart over things he couldn't necessarily control. It was the Mallard way and the MacTunnag creed, as it were. "Which one? The worry wart or th' reckless one?"

Lachlann MacNab That was a valid question, but the answer was so very, very simple. "Both" he said, not even stopping to think it over "Louie trying to save people while driving a moped is like a lighter version of you running zombies over" (And it was. and actually quite funny to think about) "And Donnie worrying about things that will be just fine" he added, just stopping on his tracks to carefully avoid bumping into someone, then getting a little bit closer to the other "of...what is kind of certain, I guess? I mean, the boys will cause some trouble for a while but will always come back and won't love him any less even if he was being a big worrywart" 'Just like me, I guess' "Unrelated, but...do you fancy southern food? I've heard wonderful things about Tiana's cooking

Seamus MacTunnag Well that wasn't entirely accurate at all. "Both, huh?" Seamus scratched the side of his neck, behind his ear, with his free hand, the other one hooked somewhere near the closest loop on Lachlann's pants, thumb toying with the material as they waited for someone else to pass them by. "Fast answer. Ye sound pretty confident, Lachie," he said, a touch teasing, but let it be. It was unflinchingly true. And Seamus hadn't really thought about it, how much parts of himself could be reflected in his nephews, until someone else mentioned it. Still, something certain was that Seamus couldn't help worrying, and he said as much, quietly, as they maneuvered through the crowd. The other question was a distraction, and a welcome one, and Seamus answered it easily. "Absolutely. Someone I was very close to, before everythin', used tah cook it often. If 's anythin'  like th' food from her hometown, 'm sure it'll be good." It also helped he had heard good things about Tiana herself.

Lachlann MacNab How long had it been since Lachlann had enjoyed himself that much? The recent events had made the days feel like a blur and- well, there hadn't been much to feel good about, anyways. Things without the other just seemed boring and thinking about it made Lachlann's head spin (because it seemed so silly, right? It had only been a couple of months since he'd arrived to Swynlake so saying something sentimental like "he makes my days worthwhile" seemed way too out there -true is it all might be-) "I'm glad to hear that" he said with a nod "I'm sure that if anyone can capture the magic of that kind of cuisine, it's Tiana" That was another thing that seemed so very natural -her posts were always so enthusiastic about that, she had a passion for what she did and he knew that would show on her food. "I just hope she isn't mad at me. But maybe if we have a lot of food she'll forgive me, right?"

Seamus MacTunnag There was a lot about the past few days that Seamus had realized had been...off, and he had just now recognized that it was because Lachlann had shown up, however many months ago that it was now, and hadn't left. Save for the times he was away crashing through town as an Uber driver and crashing at the apartment that needed to be condemned in Benbow, he was at the house in Besydus. It had been strange not to have the younger man crashing through the front door with some story or another about his adventures in town, the people he's met, the "friends" he may or may not have made. It had become something very much like a routine, a constant, and it was weird when it wasn't around. More than weird, in fact, though Seamus had no idea how to address it. "'M sure she can though that's nah what 'm interested in." Seamus turned to look at him from the corner of his eye. "What'd ye do?"

Lachlann MacNab "Well..." he said after thinking about it for a second and moving his arm so he could link it to the other's, even if the movement was kind of awkward at first thanks to the placement of the other's hand (but they got comfortable after a second and walking around that way seemed way more practical) "Where to begin...?" And suddenly, he realized that he didn't need to give a long talk about it. "Remember the other day when I told you about spending the day with a family? The Polleys?" he'd told him about that fiasco, before (that very same night, actually, since he'd arrived at Besydus with a head full of ketchup and Maeve had been thrilled about him smelling of bacon) "About the baby throwing a piece of bread then some teens starting a food fight in which I valiantly fought for the family's honour? Yeah, it was that. Tiana was the waitress" How curious that he didn't have to elaborate even more. To know the other would understand. "Maybe I can make it up to her by buying a lot of food -some for us, some for the boys, some for Tito and Greg"

Seamus MacTunnag Shifting around a bit so Lachlann could link their arms without straining his shoulder, or Seamus's own, for that matter, the Scotsman hummed in interest. "Aye, I remember. Took ye twenty minutes tah get th' bloody catsup outta yer hair." But, as he listened, Seamus inwardly cringed. That poor woman. "She deserves tah have 'er own place after dealin' with that." A small laugh escaped him and he shrugged, fingers of the hand Lachlann had looped his arm through into the edge of the other man's pants pocket. "Or ye could just apologize, though I figure Mr. Eeyore could do with food that ain't from th' hospital." While he had never met Tito, he seemed like a decent sort, enough to join Lachlann on his quest to make sure Greg survived. "Maybe th' beignets?"

Lachlann MacNab "It takes a special kind of teenage rebellion to start a food fight because of a literal toddler. I only joined in because of that, like...who attacks a family with a baby!?" and, sure, his actions hadn't made things any easier for Tiana and he was sorry for being part of what finally made her snap, but he wouldn't apologize for doing what he thought was the best thing for the Polleys "But...yeah, I guess-" His hand moved, searching for the other's, partly because he needed something to ground himself with and because it seemed a better option that having the man grab him by the pants (not that he'd ever complain or that he, of all people, knew or cared about what was socially acceptable, but, hey) "An apology 's good but it won't...change what happened, I guess? I think actions would be better than words" (which was a very relevant thought during that moment, in many ways) "And I'll have to be extra careful 'bout that, yerp! Tito says Greg 's vegan so we'll have to ask about the ingredients!" He paused for a second. "You remember the beignets!" he said, amazed. They'd seen them at Al's Potluck and had been such a little thing, mentioned in passing and yet...!

Seamus MacTunnag "Teenagers," Seamus responded, voice dry, as he continued listening to the younger man defend his supposed defense of the Polley family who, quite frankly, should not have been where they were at that place and time if it had meant poor Tiana dealing with it as she had. Still, the mental image of teenagers starting a food fight because of a baby was a funny one. And, subtle as Lachlann was not, Seamus couldn't help but find it amusing that he’d joined in a food fight purely because he'd thought it was the thing to do. Also, that the man was now trying to wiggle his hand from his pocket. The Scotsman obliged with a huff, sliding their fingers together with an ease that bellied the actual action itself. "Both, then. An' apology of ye see 'er an' buyin' the food, too. That's why yer here, anyway, ain't it?" It certainly wasn't because Seamus might have shown up or, at least, that was the thought anyway. The amazement that crossed over Lachlann's face at Seamus's memory made him laugh outright, loud and long, and shake his head. "D'ye think I canna remember things, Lachie? 'M nae that feeble minded yet. But, course I did. They were good, fer one, and fer another they're all over social media." Apparently they were one of the best desserts in town.

Lachlann MacNab "Teenagers" Lachlann replied with a nod and a somehow-defeated expression. Thinking about it wouldn't do any difference now to them, the Polleys or Tiana, so he just accepted what had happened and his part on that whole fiasco. Besides, he had more important things to worry about, like the other's laugh. "Ah" he said, suddenly feeling specially stupid for forgetting about the existence of social media (of course! Those posts were nice reminders too!) "I didn't say that or, like, meant to imply it. It was, just, nice that you remembered" He tried to cough the blush away. "And the food's good and I'd like to, like, ask for forgiveness but there's other reasons too-" he shrugged just one shoulder "--you know?"

Seamus MacTunnag Seamus snorted at the other man's defeated expression, the somber tone with which he foretold the destruction wrought by teenagers. It was a sincere understatement. But it was good to see that Lachlann was trying to make ammends for the part he had played in the fiasco. Tweaking the other's hand with his own, Seamus raised a brow at not only the cough, but the red tinge that colored his face and neck, as well. "Saw that," he teased, before smiling slightly, "but, aye, I do. 'M sure she'll appreciate it."

Lachlann MacNab Swynlakers could be scary. Normal teens were scary. Ergo, Swynlake teens... "I think the real surprise 's that you decided to come, Mister Mac T" he said, forgetting about the blush  for a second "'s it because you heard The Robinsons were coming too? Or because of the Tritons? Or are you secretly a Jambalaya afficionado?" (Which was a funny mental image) "I heard Mrs. Robinson is playing some songs!" he added, taking a couple of steps to the right in order to now move away from the bar, knowing the thing might be a complicated topic for the other "you think it would be a faux pas if I were to dance? Like, I mean, my dancing 's almost criminal but I think it'd be fun" Hey, if he was making a fool of himself he might as well go all out, right?

Seamus MacTunnag "An' why wouldn't I? Figure, 've survived all o' this shite, a restaurant openin' couldna be too bad for me health." He was only mostly kidding, too. There had been far too many things trying to kill him over the years; he'd begun to grow tired of hiding from them, from running. "Heard all th' food's good, nah just the Jambalaya. However, I wouldna say no tah a good helpin' of it." They had somehow made their easy through the crowd by now, meandering through the building as they went. Seamus took the place in with a critical, but friendly, eye. The place looked good, to say the least. He tuned back into the conversation somewhere around his cataloging of their location (the bar, regrettably, though he noted the subtle change in their course and was grateful for it) and nodded his head. "'S prob'ly true, then. I doubt she'd miss this." He doubted Cornelius would, either, particularly if his wife was here. When dancing was brought up, however, Seamus brightened up a bit. He hadn't danced seriously in years but he was still fairly good at it, if he had to say so, but he still glanced the other man over, a smirk on his face. "D'ye 'ave two left feet, MacNab? Or are ye actually worried 'bout yer side?" Or both, which was a distinct possibility, but doubtful.

Lachlann MacNab Well, that was an unexpected reaction. Lachlann had expected for the other to chuckle at the idea of him dancing but he seemed to be legit thrilled by the concept. "A little bit of both" he admitted, now stopping for a second to take a look at the big painting that decorated the place (and that seemed familiar, somehow) "I think it'd be dangerous for the furniture and my side if I were to try and dance. 'sides, the music will probably be jazzy or, like, swing or neo-swing, right?" (And as much of a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy fan he was, he'd rather not cause extra trouble) "I'd probably step on you anyways" the (former) pilot added, bumping the other's hips with the least damaged of his and grabbed the other's hand a little bit tighter (in case he lost his balance).

Seamus MacTunnag Pausing as Lachlann did, Seamus tilted his head to look at the (weirdly familiar?) mural as well, wondering where he'd seen it before. "Yer nae gonna run intah anythin'...well, ye shouldna," he clarified, but nodded his head in agreement. "Thas' what Franny does, aye." And, suddenly, he missed the swing dancing when he was younger, probably around Lachlann's own age, when he'd tossed his younger sister up into the air and heard her laugh aloud. While they certainly wouldn't be doing anything fancy, Seamus figured at least one dance wouldn't hurt. Just the one. "Who said ye couldna? 'S how I taught Adelaide. Yer a mite bit heavier but I think we could make it work," he teased, nudging back. "'Course 's up tae you. Slow 's fine with me, too."

Lachlann MacNab "It may come as a surprise, Mister Mac T, but I have some self-awareness" (just a little, really, but it was way better than nothing at all) "and being as accident prone as I am...that can only end it in tragedy for you and your shoes" And yet, here he was, moving a little from side to side as he held the other's hand, not really minding the lounge-style music in the background at all and instead just moving a little for the sake of it. "And I wouldn't want to ruin your squeaky clean image by doing something silly in front of everyone" (Yup, the squeaky clean part was a joke)

Seamus MacTunnag "Do ye, now?" The grin that crossed his face, then, was bordering on impish, but no one else would ever really see it. "I'd've never guessed ye were accident prone, Lachlann MacNab. Not after how we met." No, he was never going to let him forget that. Even with his words, though, Lachlann was swaying a bit from side-to-side, almost in time with the music but not quite, so Seamus let him, sliding a leg back a bit so he didn't take a tumble if he over corrected. The bark of laughter that escaped when he caught the joke was surprised but, really, he didn't know why he was. He was far from squeaky clean and he shook is head, amused by the insinuation.

Lachlann MacNab "Unbelievable, I know" Lachlann joked back (because at this point there was no use in pretending to be offended or that the other wasn't absolutely right) "but it happens" Besides, his attention was now on the other's movements and laugh; He'd been honest with the 'I can't dance' comment, so even something as easy as swaying implied some effort and concentration he didn't quite have, partly because of his wounds and partly because of his...general self. So he moved his free arm to surround the other's side and use his as a guide, even if the rythm wasn't a slow-dancing one (or anyone else was dancing, but he was ready to ignore the rest of the world for a couple of minutes). " 's this like...one two three, onetwo three? or, like, one. twothree, onetwo. three?"

Seamus MacTunnag "Absolutely unbelievable, mmhmm," he agreed, leaning into the joke for a moment more before he caught Lachlann looking at him and tilted his head, arching a brow in silent question. Lachlann moved his free arm around his waist and, he thought, he had his answer. They continued swaying but now Lachlann was asking questions, too, and...really he must have been desperately hopeless at it all if he was asking about a simple three-step. "'S more one two, three," he said, demonstrating with the side-step left, right, and a small backyard rock on his right heel. "Fer swing anwyay. Yer left foot would rock back, since it'd be th' opposite. But fer a slow dance 's nothin' that complicated." As if to prove his point, Seamus nudged Lachlann around to face him using the arm he'd had slipped around his waist and the one he still clutched as a guide. "Jus' following along 's really all it is. Don' gotta worry about yer feet. Jus' follow."

Lachlann MacNab Lachlann was desperately hopeless and the other's words weren't all that easy to follow anyways, so that was a bizarre situation all around (but at least it was a funny one). "One two. Three" he mumbled, trying to mirror the other's movements and failing by a couple of beats before he tried again -and again and failed again -and again. They were lucky that as silly as the whole thing was, it was also actually quite entertaining to be part of; They were quite literally 'dancing' (though the mileage might vary about the dancing part)  to their own rythm and while Lachlann couldn't tell if the other was as focused as he was... well, at least he seemed to be enjoying himself. 'Jus' follow' the other said. "To the end of the world" the (former) pilot replied "...but dancing wasn't in the contract, Mister Mac T"

Seamus MacTunnag So engrossed was he in simultaneously making sure Lachlann didn't pitch over sideways and that they didn't run into any other people milling around, Seamus almost didn't hear what he said. Almost. Suddenly, he was the one making a misstep, grip tightening on Lachlann's good hip and hand to keep them both upright. He could feel the surprise cross his face, too, and he had no idea what to do about it. "...s'pose it wasna. Ye don' mind alterin' th' contract a mite, do ye? 'Cause yer gonna learn, actually learn. Jus' so ye know what t'expect, an' all."

Lachlann MacNab The sudden misstep almost made Lachlann trip, but he (almost miraculously) managed to regain his footing before he stared at the other, now a little bit closer and even more confused than he already was. Had he said something wrong? "I- buh" he tried to say, then tried again "that sounds like a plan, yerp, and I guess learning something new won't hurt" He didn't know what he'd even needed to learn to dance for, or if that was a relevant talent to have, but whatever the other offered, he'd gladly take. "But, are you ok? Or was that part of the dance? Should we take a seat, Mister Mac T?" (A silly offer from someone that wasn't really planning to let go just yet)

Seamus MacTunnag The confused look that passed over Lachlann's face after Seamus's misstep and recovery and Lachlann's own (miraculous) recovery was remarkably endearing. As was the apparent concern. "Old dogs, new tricks, Lachie, old dogs an' new tricks," Seamus hummed, stepping back and out and giving a twist ofis wrist to (slowly) spin the other in a small circle. When he came back to center, Seamus slid his arm around Lachlann's waist again and just...idled with a small grin on his face. "'m fine. Jus' tripped. But if ye need tah sit we can find a table 'fore everyone else takes 'em."

Lachlann MacNab "You sure? I-" Lachlann began, going so far as letting go from the other's waist with the intention to pat his (good) shoulder to make sure- -but the next thing he knew was that he was being guided into a little spin he couldn't help but whisper a happy "weeee" at. But soon enough he was back to facing the other, returning his grin with a smile of his own as he rested his palm on the older man's shoulder and not doing much for a second save for just watching him. "Yeah, maybe we should stop now" he whispered, unaware that they had already done so.

Seamus MacTunnag "We already 'ave," Seamus said, voice pitched lower so it didn't carry, didn't interrupt anyone else around them (whoever was close enough anyway). There was a slight smile that softened the edges of Seamus's mouth, crinkled the edges of his eyes, caused by the little noise he'd heard the other man make. They stared at one another for a moment before someone cleared their throat behind him and Seamus snapped back to reality. He stepped to the side, an arm still resting around Lachlann's waist, and nodded his head as a man and woman passed. "Come on," he said, using the hand he had curled around Lachlann's hip to nudge him toward the tables. "Find a seat."

Lachlann MacNab The realization of having stopped before and his words being silly because of it didn't really bother Lachlann, nor did the other's words -because both of those things seemed completely irrelevant at the moment. "I-" he whispered still, with the intention of pointing out how much he'd missed the other during the days that were still much of a blur on his mind (because of the fever and how the incident with Greg had shaken him way more than he cared to admit and the fact that without him around things just seemed senseless and so very forgettable). And suddenly he was leaning a little closer to the other's face and- -a couple distracted him -distracted them- because, well, they were still on the way. On a public event. So, yeah, those two being bothered by them being on the way was completely understandable. No biggie, not at all. "Yeah, lets" he finally said, once again following the other.

Seamus MacTunnag He hadn't known, rightfully, what he'd seen staring back at him from Lachlann's face, nor for certain that he'd been leaning in closer, closer than before anyway. That Lachlann'd been saying something and had lost it, had seemed distracted, by the couple. In truth, Seamus had forgotten where they were for a few minutes, drowning out the sounds and focusing on the steps, not having to worry about thinking or doing but just being somewhere. But it was still no reason to feel like a stone had settled at the bottom of his gut at having to move out of the way. Yet, there it was, leaden and heavy. Lachlann moved with him as he maneuvered his way through the oncoming throng of pairs and groupings of people, navigating them easily enough to a smaller table away from the main pathway, a place where Lachlann could stretch out his leg and not have to worry about tripping any one and where Seamus wouldn't feel swallowed in by the oncoming tide of people. The privacy was an added afterthought, if a bonus

Lachlann MacNab Things had just...happened, really (or, rather, hadn't really happened) and Lachlann was, once again, at a loss. Again, he couldn't blame the couple for wanting to make their way around, but they had rained on his parade and- -aaand he was feeling specially stupid for even considering doing that while in public, but with the closeness and the sudden feeling of intimacy it (the dancing and the chat) brought...well, he hadn't really considered anything save the other for a brief moment. That said, he felt very glad when they found an empty table and took a seat, since that brought a sense of stability he hadn't realized he needed. "As I was, eh, trying to say..." he began, after taking a moment to make himself as comfortable as possible "I- wait, is that Huey?!" Waitwait- was Huey really on a date just some tables away?!

Seamus MacTunnag Seamus watched the other man out of the corner of his eye as they sat, both to gauge if Lachlann was able to sit without pain and if the almost...discontent he saw was actually there. It was, but Seamus chose not to comment upon it. Rather, he sat in his own chair with a small sigh, glad to be off his feet for a short while. Though he enjoyed dancing, and would have continued if he could, he'd been up on his feet since well before the day had begun and a certain tiredness tugged at his bones now, though it didn't show on his face in the slightest. His head turned to take in the other man, patiently waiting for him to continue before being surprised by his outburst. Straightening and turning to look where Lachlann was, Seamus chuckled quietly. "Aye, so it is." A pause and then a mischievous smile. "Think he'd like tah be told hello?

Lachlann MacNab Oh, what a delightfully devilish idea! Buuut since the other was being the michievious one right now, Lachlann feel the moral obligation of being the voice of reason for now. "Maybe later?" he joked, moving a palm to one of the other's legs, resting it there for a second "it'd be fun to say 'hi' and see what happens but they deserve to have a nice moment first, right?" They, themselves, had been interrupted a second ago and he wouldn't wish that kind of anticlimatic feeling on the teens. " 'sides, I'm having a lot of fun already, Mister Mac T! Maybe we should get something-" he now pointed at one of the menus "-and then, I don't know, maybe continue partying somewhere else?"

Seamus MacTunnag He didn't pout nor did he frown, but there was a furrow between his brows and he sighed, slumping in his chair in mock dejection. "Fine, fine. Yer right, I s'pose." And he was right, at that. Seamus made it a point to let the boys do whatever they thought best, to make their own mistakes and choices and be a voice of reason if Donald asked it of him or he was called to speak to them, but he was not inherently close to them, not truly. But Huey did deserve his date with....who looked to be the youngest Triton lass. So they would stay put for the time being. Dragging his gaze back to the table and the menus Lachlann pointed at, Seamus nodded and pulled one closer, pausing as the end of the thought caught up to him. "'ll keep that in mind. What d'ye reckon ye'll get?" Seamus hadn't had the chance to decide but they had time to, he supposed

Lachlann MacNab Well, Lachlann didn't know much about the Tritons (having only heard of Aquata thanks to the Elections and Alana thanks to Loppy's makeup) and, as such, he couldn't recognize the girl Huey was on a date with as one of them and, instead, just assumed she was the girlfriend he'd mentioned that time at Chapter Three. "Well, I'll have to ask for their vegan options and if they aren't against me taking some food home..." he said, giving the menu a quick look "and, buh, I guess I- we-? should try Tiana's gumbo. I've heard it's a must" Then again, everything Tiana cooked sounded amazing, so there wasn't a bad option. "What do you think?" the (former) pilot trusted the other's tastes, so he wasn't against asking for the same thing as the other.

Seamus MacTunnag Humming as he scanned over the menu himself, Seamus nodded his head absently at the other's words. "Mmhmm gumbo or the jambalaya. Take one home. 'M sure they'll letcha." It was a restaurant, after all. Still, he scanned through the pages and looks everything over, bypassing the drinks and desserts pages, though he knew he'd be taking a container of beignets home for later. "Pick whatcha want an' if there's more than one jus' take th' second one home."

Lachlann MacNab Lachlann blinked a couple of times before he remembered that the other was loaded and, as such, didn't have to go through the whole 'discreetely eyeing the prices and deciding based on them' process everyone else had to. "Ah, yeah" having both was technically, an option "I just don't want to impose or make my part of the tab way more expensive than yours or anythin', Mister Mac T" Ah, the struggles of the non-billionares....! "I guess I'll have Gumbo and ask for some to give Tito, then ask 'bout the vegan options for Greg" but that would had to wait until they were already done eating their parts" he paused before thinking out-loud "...you think we should buy Maeve something?"

Seamus MacTunnag Glancing over at Lachlann, Seamus shook his head at the clear hesitancy to buy what he wanted on the menu versus how much the price was. "I know what yer doin', ye know. Sometimes I think people forget I didna always 'ave money. 'M tellin' ye tah get whatcha want 'cause it don' matter if ye do tah me." And that was the truth. Seamus had worked hard for the money he had, had invested what he had in places that had been lucrative, had been downright lucky at other times, but there had been the times where he'd barely had enough to eat, too. "'S fine by me," he hummed, and answer for the man's entire thought process summed up into a single sentence, closing the menu and sliding it across the table to sit with the other one. He draped his free arm across the back of Lachlann's chair. "Think I saw chicken an' rice we could get 'er"

Lachlann MacNab "I don't know what you're talking about, Mister Mac T" he lied (even if he didn't even bother to make it a convincing lie), taking a moment before nodding and closing his own menu, placing it above the other's "and I'll insist on paying my part. Like, I still have the Gala's money so there's no need for you to worry about it" Hey, Lachlann was kind of dim-witted but he wasn't completely oblivious and was very much aware that some people believed he was around only for the money (Boba's words hurt every now and then) and while he generally tried to not mind other's words a lot... Yeah, he wasn't letting the other pay for his part of the tab. "Can dogs eat rice, though?"  that was a legit question, even if he was distracted with the return of the closeness

Seamus MacTunnag A slight laugh broke out of him as he slanted a smile toward the other man. "Aye, that was very convincin' Lachlann. But if ye insist, I ain't gonna stop ye." See, he knew what people said about anyone he was around for longer than a few days, particularly someone that he'd grown...close to. Seamus had heard it before and he would probably continue to. It didn't help matters that Lachlann was younger than him, too. He could only imagine what people said. If the gossip blog was anything to go by, of which he'd seen plenty thanks to Lachlann, the lads, and a few other random moments of fortune, it wasn't always nice. As though to convince the other about the sincerity of his words, Seamus squeezed the hand that Lachlann had yet to move from his leg and nodding his head. "She can if 's cooked white rice. Good carbohydrates an' protein if ye give 'er meat too. Cannae 'ave it often though."

Lachlann MacNab "That's really appreciated, Mister Mac T" and it really, really was. The last thing he wanted to do was become yet another thing the other had to worry about (again. The whole Black Annis ordeal was a prime example of what could go wrong if he didn't think things twice) " 's not like I don't, eh, appreciate the idea of you paying but I'd rather pay my part, it's only fair and I really don't mean to impose" Specially when they haven't seen eachother during the last couple of days -he didn't want the other to get the wrong idea. (Gee, maybe he should stop reading The Spill. He loved Boba but they were far from unbiased when it came to some people) "Then she can have some, as a treat" he joked, once again interwining his fingers with the other's, not thinking too much about it -that kind of proximity just...happened, really. "And I'll give her some peanut butter as dessert"

Seamus MacTunnag Seamus nodded his acquiescence and his acknowledgment of what Lachlann said, offering up a small smile as he did. "Ye worry too much, ye know that," he said, voice leaning toward teasing to soften the words as he nudged him with the knuckles of the arm curled around his shoulders. "Startin' tah give me a run fer me money." A moment later he dropped the teasing and became serious, leaning so he made sure Lachlann could see his face. "An' yer nah an imposition, ye ken? Ye can pay if ye wanna, I ain't ever gonna tell ye yah ain’t able tah, but it ain't about fair." Fair was nice, sure, but that's not how anyone else would see it. And Lachlann, for whatever his reasoning, had decided to hitch his horse, so to speak, with Seamus's own for the time being. He wasn't going to make it any harder on the man. The joke was one that hit center mass but all Seamus did was shake his head, thumb idly tapping the top of Lachlann's hand while they waited for the waitress. "She's spoilt, ye know that right?"

Lachlann MacNab There were many ways in which Lachlann felt like replying to that: from the typical "I worry too little, actually" to the "I'm trying to dethrone you, you know?", some options a little bit more playful than the others, some a little more serious- but instead, he decided to be a little more direct about what was on his mind, since he hadn't had the chance to do it some minutes before. "She kind of is" he began, then stirred the phrase into what really was on his mind "and I really missed her" A beat. "I missed you" (and that hadn't been his best segue ever, but at least he finally said the thing) "A lot"

Seamus MacTunnag "An' yer mostly tah blame," he mumbled, knowing that was only half the truth. 60/40 at the very least. But he didn't say that. Instead, he listened to the change in Lachlann's voice, a more serious tone than before. Saying he'd missed the dog and, then, him. That he’d missed him a lot, and something about that twisted a bit in his chest, squirmed around and burrowed in between his ribs, a bit disarming but...not necessarily a bad thing. The corner of his mouth curled upward, the edges of his eyes crinkling. Seamus decided to tell a bit of the truth, too. Fair was fair, after all. "Tah tell ye th' truth, it was...strange. Th' house was quiet fer th' first time in months an' it--" It had been alien, is what it had been, and it suddenly dawned on him how easily it had been to get used to having someone in his space for longer periods of time than a few days every so often. "--aye. I missed ye, too."

Lachlann MacNab Lachlann wasn't sure of what he had expected the other's reaction to be like- -but this was way better than the best of any possible scenarios he could imagine. The other was smiling (genuinely smiling!), didn't answer his words with a comment about him being daft or being the one to blame for the brief separation to begin with and, most importantly, he was smiling. His smile was contagious, and Lachlann was smiling back before he even knew it, all semblance of any previous nervousness completely gone. "I didn't mean to dissapear and-" he paused, trying to get his ideas in order. He was a man of his word (because he'd learned from Darkwing's series, of course) and, as such, couldn't promise to not dissapear on the other ever again because things sometimes happened out of nowhere (just like the whole previous ordeal) "-I'll try to not do it again" He couldn't promise because he couldn't control that sort of thing, but he could promise to do his best. "I wouldn't want you to get too comfortable without me, you know?" he joked.

Seamus MacTunnag Apparently, what he'd said had been the correct thing because Lachlann was smiling back at him, his entire face lighting up. It was nice to see, particularly after the last few days' ordeal, that the last time he'd seen him there had been tears and injuries to tend to. Granted, the tears had been his own, first, but Lachlann had followed suit. Seamus still didn't quite understand why (though he was, maybe, beginning to shape up something like one). Squeezing the hand still curled in his own, Seamus acknowledged what he was saying with a quiet murmur of his thanks, anything else he might have said sticking in his throat. Lachlann couldn't promise he wouldn't leave, just like no one else could, but the fact he had promised to try not to do it again well...that meant something. And that something was good enough for Seamus. Without really thinking about it, or making sure he couldn't, the Scotsman lifted the hand in his and pressed the back of it to his lips, dropping it just as swiftly back to where it had lain and turning to the waitress that came alongside their table with a well-practiced smile.

Lachlann MacNab Ladies and Gentlemen (and those who identify as 'neither'), Lachlann MacNab's brain had just left the building. And the planet. And this side of the galaxy, probably. Lachlann's current state of mind could be described with two memes: 'no thoughts, head empty' and with the blurry images full of colourful hearts -the red on his face (that was almost as dark as the one of his hair) did a good job expressing that last idea without any need for words. His thoughts didn't return when the waitress finally appeared, nor when the older man started ordering food, nor with the casual 'customer service-like' jokes she made every now and then. He had been reduced to a blushing, grinning idiot and he regretted absolutely nothing.

Seamus MacTunnag The waitress was friendly, incredibly so, the small talk she made before taking their orders was casual, friendly, and professional. Seamus was pleased to see that she knew the menu expertly, answering the questions he had about certain dishes. Out of the corner of his eye, Lachlann still hadn't stopped grinning. A self-satisfied smirk curled, briefly, around Seamus's mouth before it fell away, returning to something more pleasant. Their waitress caught it, nevertheless, and hid her own smile behind her notepad. Seamus ordered everything they'd discussed, vegan option included, and merely asked for part of the order to be brought out to-go, along with the dessert (unless their minds were changed about that, later). Then she left and the table had fallen silent again. Seamus turned to Lachlann and chuckled at the red flush that had spread across his face. "Did we lose ye Lachie?"

Lachlann MacNab 'Did we lose ye Lachie?' The answer was, of course, a dazed "buh" before any semblance of coherent thought returned to Lachlann's mind and he became, slowly but surely, capable of articulating words. "Yeah, I- wha-? I- sure?" he obviously hadn't heard the other's words (but, hey, at least he was trying), cleared his throat, then tried again "I'm ok, I just- I- yeah. That was- really cute" He then realized 'cute' wasn't necessarily the best word to convey his idea but at this point the fact that he hadn't fainted (like when he was sufficiently near Jim Starling) was practically a miracle in itself. "Sorry, I just-" he laughed "-sorry, Mister Mac T, you have my attention now" (As if he hadn't before) "Would you believe me if I said that blood loss finally got the better of me? and, eh, thanks for ordering, by the by"

Seamus MacTunnag The brunette waited patiently for the other man to be able to express emotions through words, but it was a bit if an amusing wait, if he was being honest. It was almost like watching a computer reboot, except the computer was Lachlann's brain and it had gone completely off-line. "Cute, huh," he questioned, good-humor coloring his words, still a touch teasing as he shook his head and laughed, quietly, again before nudging a water towards the other man. "Nope. Not in th' slightest." The grin that curled around his mouth was cheeky, now, as he motioned towards Lachlann's face, gently ribbing at him. "Seein' as yer face is th' color o' yer hair, I'd say 's fine. An' if it wasna, well, ye'd probably be goin' tah th' hospital." He was, after all, proclaimed a worrier. Had to keep that intact, even if he was messing about. "But yer welcome. Figured it wouldna hurt."

Lachlann MacNab "You know what I meant" was the best argument Lachlann could offer (and he was sure the other  indeedknew). 'Cute' wasn't the best of words to express the idea but it was close enough. (And, again, the other's smile had disarmed him a long time ago and he regretted absolutely nothing) "Maybe I should go to the hospital, but I'd prefer to get some food first" he joked back, just letting things be "I'm a man of priorities, Mister Mac T!" It was almost surreal to think that he had been nervous at the beginning, specially now that things felt so ...natural, as if no time had passed or the town being in literal flames some days prior hadn't been that big of a deal

Seamus MacTunnag "Do I though," he hummed, one side of his mouth still curled upward. He sipped at his own drink for a moment before Lachlann spoke again. "Food first, then. Go tah th' hospital on a full stomach," he murmured, following along on the thread of the joke as his eyes roved over the other patrons. There were a great number of people clustered near the front still, many more seated at tables and booth seats. Tiana's Place seemed to be doing wonderfully well.

Lachlann MacNab "Food first, everything else can wait" he nodded with a smile still on his face. The atmosphere was really, really enjoyable and they were in no hurry to do...well, anything -the previous interruption had been kind of rude but now that they had decided what to eat and had made themselves comfortable it seemed like such a trivial thing to think about. Maybe they'd give dancing a second try, later, and maybe he'd manage to find Tiana and chat her up, maybe the other would find some of his acquaintances and have a good time with them, too- -but that moment, that little moment, was perfect just like that.

Seamus MacTunnag Nodding his head, Seamus agreed to Lachlann's words wordlessly. Instead, he returned the grin. He found himself continuing to do that. Perhaps any other person would have been angry that Lachlann had disappeared, that he'd gone out and done something idiotic because he thought to help a friend. Perhaps, at one time, he would have been. But Seamus had learned in his irregularly long life not to hold a grudge. At this point, it would probably die with him, and he didn't want to hold grudges against the man next to him. He hadn't promised not to leave again, but he'd said he would try, and trying counted in his book. They could dance later or they could not. They could sit and talk or they could walk back to the car and drive back through Besydus. But whatever they did, Seamus was alright with that. It was the trying that counted, after all