[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

[catphishing]

[He'd planned on helping serve. He had. But Connor's already doing it for both of them. He's just going to get in the way if he tries. So instead he watches him, making small talk once he's swallowed the first bite of his samosa.]

So how was work? Busy?

[iustitiae]

[good for you, oliver.]

It was work. [very noncommittal. nice.] We almost missed a deadline because Annalise was too busy grilling us and not finishing the brief.

[catphishing]

[He winces sympathetically, maybe a little concerned. Connor's job takes up a lot of hours and puts on a lot of stress. Stress he could do without considering he's trying to overcome an addiction.]

Well, that doesn't sound like it would have been your fault. Is that what held you up?

[iustitiae]

Well that and getting the food. I managed to get the papers turned in pretty much right before the clerk was reading to go home.

[catphishing]

And now you're here for more work stuff? Not that I mind, but you could probably use a little more down time.

[iustitiae]

[he sighs] A lawyer's work is never done?

[catphishing]

[He huffs a laugh, mostly because the last thing he wants to do is give him more things to be stressed about, but he's worried and maybe not doing the best job of hiding it.]

I guess at least it helps keep my life getting too boring.

[iustitiae]

[connor's a little surprised for the worry. it's a good thing, really, he could probably use someone worrying about him, but at the same time...

he takes the plate and heads over to the table to sit down. they can at least take a break for dinner.]

That's the spirit! What would you do without me?

[catphishing]

[Oliver snorts as he drops what's left of the samosa onto the plate Connor didn't take, picking it up so he can sit himself opposite.]

Considering the amount of work I do so you can keep your boss happy I kind of feel like that should be my line.

[iustitiae]

And that would be totally fair, really.

[at least he can be honest]

[catphishing]

Lucky for you I actually like doing it.

[Plus tonight at least it's getting him dinner.]

This is pretty good. Where'd you get it?

[iustitiae]

This place near school. The owner was really nice.

[it could get him more than dinner, just putting that out there/]

Have I mentioned lately that you're amazing and talented?

[catphishing]

[Tempting, but Connor's not quite there yet. He remembers where that got him last time.]

You remember I already agreed, right? You don't need to resort to flattery.

[iustitiae]

Maybe I'm just providing further incentive.

[catphishing]

You don't have to. Tonight would have been really boring if you hadn't asked me to help you.

[And boy does he sound lame when he puts it like that.]

Which is probably a sign I need to find better hobbies.

[iustitiae]

You could take up knitting.

[catphishing]

Right. Knitting. That would make me seem really exciting.

[iustitiae]

Goes right along with Thorn Birds.

[catphishing]

Shut up, I told you you couldn't make fun of that.

[He's laughing though. Even if he does look very much like he might want to throw something at him.]

[iustitiae]

I'm not! I'm just suggesting appropriate hobbies that complement it.

[so yeah he's totally making fun of it. but can you blame him? oliver looks cute when he laughs.]

[catphishing]

So basically you're making fun of me instead? I don't remember saying you could do that either.

[It would probably be more convincing if he made at least a token attempt to look offended instead of biting his lip against laughing.]

[iustitiae]

Let me make it up to you, then.

[you know]

[catphishing]

[He falters, fork frozen part way to his mouth. At one time that might have made him stop eating for very doesn't reasons, but much as he might miss those times... Connor hurt him. He's an idiot to be as tempted to fall for that line as he is.]

Connor...

[iustitiae]

It doesn't have to be like that.

[i mean he absolutely meant that, but he'll give oliver the out.]

[catphishing]

It's not that I don't want it to be like that.

[He's so stupid.]