Exploring American History, Wednesday, September 18, 2024

[heroic_jawline]

"I know that Washington, DC, might not be particularly exotic for you," Steve began with a smile, "because it's so close to the island, but it is the nation's capital and is therefore filled with historical monuments."

"We'll be taking a break from the Revolutionary War and going with World War I," Tony added. "A brand new sculpture that someone wanted to see."

"I'm excited about all new sculptures that don't feature me," Steve said with a tiny little smile, "but yes, my father died in World War I, so I have a personal interest in seeing that conflict memorialized properly."

"So, let's get there and we'll turn you all loose," Tony replied. "And maybe there will be time for a half-smoke too."

"Just please don't get them from the stands by the Washington Monument," Steve said, sounding disapproving. "They mark the prices up to prey on tourists."

Comments

Re: Sneak off for a half-smoke!

[what_big_teeth]

There did seem to be some very fine splitting of hairs inherent in the question, really.

"Just because it happens all the time," Eleanor countered, although it was sort of a last ditch effort to cover her bases, especially now that her stomach was making it increasingly more difficult to remain standing on some sort of moral ground here, "doesn't mean that's a good thing, but..."

One last look to pick out anything other than certainty in Kamala's face, and then Eleanor grinned a little and leaned in to get in at least one good uncomplicated kiss before she went laced any further ones with verboten influences.

"Well, then, I'll be right back," she said, "and then we'll go get your gyro."

Re: Sneak off for a half-smoke!

[slothbabyproductions]

“I’m fine! I’m fine!” She said gesturing El towards the truck…

After the kiss of course.

She smiled and watched her girlfriend get in line, just happy to be here in a new place with a girl she was crazy about.

Re: Sneak off for a half-smoke!

[what_big_teeth]

There was at least a few times, while she was in line, when Eleanor glanced back over toward where Kamala was as if expecting to catch some form of disapproval or second thoughts, but bolstered herself into accepting that it really was okay after the third time and just then paid attention to balking a little bit over how expensive it was, when she was trying to save as much money as possible right now, but then she reassured herself that modern inflation was staggering and while she was spending way more for it than she might have back home, she was also making a lot more than she ever would have in her current job than she was back home, too.

The soft groan that escaped her once she had the half-smoke in her hands, though, was a good indication that the money was very well spent. And while the temptation to just completely devour a good portion of it almost immediately, she just breathed in deep the aromas and held herself off as she returned over to Kamala and nodded.

"Okay," she said, holding the sandwich or was it technically a taco? up as proof of a successful mission, and nodded, "your turn."

Re: Sneak off for a half-smoke!

[slothbabyproductions]

Kamala smiled the entire time Eleanor was in line and maybe a little more when she looked back at her. “That smells so good!” Kamala said when she came back. “Now I’m really hungry. Let’s find that gyro truck.”

She started off in the direction she saw and fell in step with El. “Hey, is this your first time in DC?”

Re: Sneak off for a half-smoke!

[what_big_teeth]

Eleanor's resolve continued to be tested as she just held onto her food for now, wanting to wait until Kamala had hers before eating it, leaving her somewhat distracted and thinking again all about carrying eggs in your mouth.

She nodded. "It is," she said. "St. Brigid's wasn't exactly big on field trips, and my family's not really big on vacations." She gave Kamala a rueful smile at that. "Have you been here before?"

She wouldn't be surprised, really, if it had even been in a superhero capacity in some way...

Re: Sneak off for a half-smoke!

[slothbabyproductions]

“Yeah, my school did this whole weekend field trip in middle school,” Kamala said with smile and a shrug. “Nakia and I wanted to go to the modern art museum and poor Bruno never got to see the air and space museum because we dragged him along with us. Everyone else went there to see the rockets so it was us three and Mrs. Greeley the art teacher who was just thrilled that someone wanted to go here. We did the other standard stuff though, the monuments, the capital building. It was all really rushed though so we didn’t get to appreciate it. Or get to sneak away and get food.”

Speaking of which, Kamala sighed happily at the sight of the gyro truck she spotted earlier. “Go ahead and dive in,” she urged Eleanor. “It’ll just be a second.”

Re: Sneak off for a half-smoke!

[what_big_teeth]

Well, that was one way to get Eleanor's mind off of her half-smoke, a good classic Kamala ramble about something that she'd clearly enjoyed. And as much as Kamala could go when she really got her momentum going, it always did feel slightly not long enough, because Eleanor was pretty sure she could just listen to her unendingly. It did make her wonder a little bit if Kamala's friends from home would like her, too; she was sure Kamala would say they would, but friends were different than parents. Parents were easy, you just had to be polite and well-behaved, and she had that down in spades, but peers were and always would be a strange and unexpected beast that she would never feel confident in understanding.

And then she shook her head and waved Kamala off toward the truck. "Then I can wait just a second more," she said. "I don't mind. I'd rather eat them together."

Because she was pretty sure if she started now, there was no guarantee there'd be much left by the time Kamala got back from getting hers.

Re: Sneak off for a half-smoke!

[slothbabyproductions]

The line for the gyros was shorter than the half-smoke so not much later, Kamala returned with her gyro and some falafel. “I got falafel!” She said cheerfully. “Have you ever had it before?”

Which probably didn’t smell as good as El’s sandwich.