The Cafeteria, early afternoon Thursday

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

After her sparring session with Jen, and a quick shower, the hat ended up back on Dinah's head. Giving up on changing that, she headed for the cafeteria to grab a quick lunch.

[open for all lunch needs]

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[future_sandworm]

Clearly there was some kind of hat obsession today. Not that he was unaccustomed to intricate hat designs, but it mad Leto smile. When he entered the cafeteria and saw Dinah in the same head wear, his smile widened.

"Dinah," he said, walking up to her. "You look beautiful as always."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah paused in the act of chewing her cheeseburger to roll her eyes, then swallow. "I look silly. I'm hoping people will think it's 'fetching', though." She popped a french fry in her mouth to shut herself up, cheeks flaming. "Hi."

[future_sandworm]

"Hello," he said, taking a seat next to her, picking up one of his own fries and frowning a little before putting it in his mouth.

[flashesforinfo.livejournal.com]

This hat business got old, really, really fast, and Angela had taken to carrying hers around rather than actually wearing it. The thing was surprisingly weighty when it was on your head.

She smiled, and waved a greeting at Dinah as she snagged a tray from the stack to go pick up some food.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Better with ketchup," Dinah managed, dipping her fry in the little tiny bucket of it. She chanced a sideways look at him. Stupid bow got in the way, so she had to turn her head. And smile, even though she still felt weird.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Hi! Okay, that's smart," Dinah decided, taking her hat off her head, and trying to hold it in her lap. Hmm. It stayed put for at least the moment. "Do you think we'll have to try to sleep in these?"

[flashesforinfo.livejournal.com]

"I hope not," Angela replied as she made her way over, balancing her tray as she put the hat down on the table and sat down herself. "I'd rather not have to deal with that neck ache tomorrow."

[future_sandworm]

He tried the ketchup. It wasn't too bad. Then he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers, although the hat certainly got in the way. "Dinah, don't be awkward."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"It wasn't so much right after we quit talking," Dinah blurted, leaning back into him, wishing the stupid hat could be guaranteed to come off. "But then I had time to think. And feel dumb."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"They're kind of awesome, all sparkly, but not at all practical," Dinah agreed, patting the top of hers. "Better than what Tuesday did to us, though. Did you get out of it unscathed?"

[future_sandworm]

"Explain to me why?" he pulled away a little, watching her.

[flashesforinfo.livejournal.com]

"I think so?" Angela hazarded. She hadn't really talked to Hannibal for a decent length of time since, so it was difficult to tell exactly what effect it had all had. "I never realised I'd miss the ability to lie so much."

"Did you?" she asked in return, picking up a fork to poke at her pasta.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Just... stuff I should have guessed. Or noticed. About you liking other people." Dinah cleared her throat, determined not to get into her feelings. "And, um. Guessing you'd notice that I don't, I'm not. You." She swallowed. See? There. Done.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Noooo. Edward's not mad at me, though. One down. Too many to go." Dinah made a face, and looked away from her hat a second--

then grimaced as it poofed back onto her head.

"It was kind of exhausting, so I hid in my room after rehearsal. I just wanted a nap after being emotionally naked with everyone I saw."

[future_sandworm]

"No, you're not." Not in any way at all. "And not much of what was said between us was surprising, no. That's why awkwardness should be unnecessary." Leto smiled at her.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Truuuue. To you." She bit her lip, trying to find the flaw in that logic, and couldn't. Dinah took another breath, and grabbed a fry to nibble on. Too much, too confusing, and it all came back to: "Just kind of intense, you know?" And maybe there was a giggle left in her after all, albeit a really small one. "Not used to it."

[future_sandworm]

He laughed softly, picking up some more fries. "Used to what?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Try them with salt. Just as good." Dinah gulped another fry. "Feeling so much." There. And to be honest without forced to: "Or talking about it." She nudged him with an elbow without looking at him. "You know. Why are you asking?"

[future_sandworm]

"Because I enjoy hearing the words you chose," he said, reaching for the salt. "And I don't want to lose your friendship," he added, keeping that sense of loneliness under control.

[flashesforinfo.livejournal.com]

"It is definitely not one I want repeated," Angela said firmly. "I'm all for honesty, but there are certain situations where I really like being able to keep things to myself."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that," Dinah agreed. "No secrets as well as no lies. Bad!" She grinned. "So yeah. Otherwise, yesterday was fine, and ... okay, rehearsal sucked because it's hard to act when you can't lie. But today has sparkly silliness." She took a slurp of her drink. "Anything planned for this weekend?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah's gaze flew to his in protest. "You won't. Even if you explain that stuff you didn't want to have to explain." At least, she didn't think how it could make a difference. "I don't give up on friends unless they give up on me. So we're good." And she realized they were. "And I'm being silly, and not just the hat."

[flashesforinfo.livejournal.com]

Angela shook her head. "I think, that this weekend is going to be one of those I spend relaxing and recovering from how messed up the week itself was," she said with a little laugh.

[future_sandworm]

"I believe silly can be a very important quality at times," he laughed, picking up a few more fries and dipping them in the ketchup.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I like this plan. Maybe more shopping," Dinah speculated. "Would you want to come along? I was thinking I could get a dress for the dance. If it turns out that's kinda dress-up. I was going to try to talk Triela into buying something that's not a suit."