[open] bright as the day fresh as the moon and stale as the hay

[iustitiae]

i - @ the supermarket
at your favorite tesco (but probably in city of london or enfield), at any time during the month

[look, everyone's gotta shop for groceries. connor's lists have gotten undeniably weirder in the last few months, offering to pick up things for his witch friends ("friends" - friend, in the singular, that's soeki) while here's there. most of this stuff honestly feels like a joke (candles and sage and he's honestly wondering if they're going for eye of newt and toe of frog next), but connor's a good friend and if he's going to be at tesco anyway he can pick up stuff for his buddy.

along with, you know, the usual - good looking produce, the atlantic, condoms, new lightbulb for the broken fixture, cold cereal, pasta, eggs. if you need help reaching something on a shelf, just want random commentary on your life choices, or happen to recognize connor from somewhere (his tinder account? maybe you already know him? the possibilities are endless) this prompt is for you.]

ii - @ the courthouse
city of london, towards the end of the business day.

Shit --

[this is connor, running through a crowd like an asshole, trying not to bump into anyone (but offering "sorry!" if he does, i mean he's not devoid of manners). he's carrying a briefcase with a brief from his boss/professor in it, one that the deadline is approaching, in about thirty minutes, says a quick look at his watch. according to her it was their fault the brief was running so late and despite the wonderful world of the internet, this particular magistrate believed in hard copies, thank you so they'd drawn straws and connor had lost. "good luck with rush hour foot traffic!" yeah, thanks.

he manages to compose himself enough that when he hands the papers off to the clerk (with five minutes to spare!) he doesn't look like a total wreck. mission thusly accomplished has a minute to take a break, relived that he managed to not screw this up and get in her bad graces.

another day, another crisis, right?]

iii - wildcard
[you probably know how this one works! if you want a specific prompt by me let me know that, too.]

Comments

i

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick's groceries primarily consist of pretentious, organic ingredients for home cooked meals along with Annie's favourite snack foods, but every once in a while he finds himself craving something that just screams poor diet, and this is one of those days. One of his guilty pleasure is a name brand cereal which can only boast 300% of your daily intake of processed sugars, and so it's in the cereal aisle that Finnick comes across Connor. He's a human, like just about everyone else in the store, so there's nothing particularly notable about him other than he's standing in front of the cereal that Finnick has been craving all day, which presents him with that awkward opportunity to engage in human contact or just to wait it out.]

[No, he's not waiting it out. He's almost 450 years old goddammit he's waited long enough.]

Excuse me.

[Finnick's voice is smooth as he reaches around Connor to grab a box of the offending breakfast food, leaning into his personal space for just a moment before he withdraws with his prize. See? He can be polite.]

[iustitiae]

[is it lucky charms, finnick? it's okay to admit it.

this is normally the part that he'd be super offended that anyone is cutting into his clearly important breakfast deciding time. there are at least three different kinds of granola with raisins and how do you know which one is acceptable? one is on sale so that's clearly the logical option but the one that's only one pound more is in a very nice looking box, but that one is clearly designed to entice buyers so maybe he should feel bad for giving into judging the box by it's cover and --

right, so this is normally the part where he'd be super offended but as it is finnick's voice is as smooth as that fine gentleman that accompanies it, and he finds himself not being entirely put-out by having his personal space invaded by said cereal aficionado.

if finnick thinks he's not going to be judged for his choice, though, that's another story entirely.]

Cute.

[#nailedit]

[thelittlemerman]

Hm?

[IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE LUCKY CHARMS.]

[Anyway Finnick's doesn't really anticipate that this young human is going to make a comment on his cereal choices, but it's also not like he's totally unaware of the effect he has on people. In any case, he looks down at the box in his hand and then back up at Connor with a slightly mischievous smile and a raised eyebrow.]

Who says they're for me?

[iustitiae]

It's okay, your secret is safe with me.

[if only because he has no one to tell, tbh.]

Everyone wants something sweet now and then, nothing wrong with that.

[amazing, how he manages to sound uncannily like he isn't talking about cereal at all anymore. OR IS HE.]

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick knows that tone. Look at him, of course he does. He lets out a soft laugh and looks down at the ground, like he's bashful. It's really just that humans are ridiculous.]

I suppose that's true.

[He tilts his head at Connor - there's always a part of him that does like to mess with humans just because it's fun and he can. It's not nice, but since when has the world been nice to him anyway right??]

[Anyway he nods at the wall of cereals, directing his gaze over that way for a moment.]

Have you made your decision?

[iustitiae]

[finnick will at least have an easy time with it as far as connor's concerned. not only is he human, but he's very much charmed by finnick's feigned bashfulness and also his general face-area. it's a good face.

connor looks back over at granola decision hell, pretending to contemplate this seriously. (who are we kidding? he's already contemplated this way more seriously than anyone has a right to.)]

I dunno - do you think the ones with the "fruit" in them actually taste like real fruit, or just kind of weird fake-jam reductions?

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick lets out a dry laugh, crossing his arms and considering the question with a smirk.]

I think that depends on whether or not you've ever had actual fruit before.

[And then he gives Connor a look like "someone who had would never ask that question."]

[iustitiae]

So not the fruit. [connor laughs, taking the hit and picks up the non "fruit" box. he looks back over at finnick for a moment, though.] Although this is coming from someone whose cereal is like 110% sugar. Are you sure you've had actual fruit before?

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick smiles because he's been alive for centuries and he was eating fruit before GMOs were even a thing. He doesn't say that, obviously. Instead, he tilts his head like he's about to say something thoughtful.]

I just don't appreciate pale imitations. This - [he holds up his sugary cereal] - is not pretending to be anything.

[iustitiae]

Nice save. I like it.

[cute and smart what a combo!!]

[thelittlemerman]

[He's also immortal and has PTSD!! What a catch.]

[Finnick smiles and gives Connor a nod, gesturing with his box of cereal.]

I should get going.

[iustitiae]

Right, can't keep you from those cute stars and horseshoes. But if you'd ever like to get an adult drink sometime...

[ah yes, insulting someone while asking them out. classic.]

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick gives Connor a knowing smile and almost regrets the fact that he can't take him up on it. He's far too busy to be leading humans along for fun, and ever since he left Annie the joy has come out of it anyway.]

I'll find you in the cereal aisle.

[He almost looks apologetic as he turns to go, tucking his free hand into his pocket and holding the cereal at his side.]

[iustitiae]

[rollinginthedeep.mp3]