deathoftheauthor | the city

[ It's not really too uncommon to find someone looking like they're deep in thought about something at the diner - and definitely also not uncommon for the thing they are thinking about to not seem particularly great.

And with how much attention Daniel pays to the people around him, it's not that difficult at all for him to realise Louis must be dealing with the latter, judging by how much he's found the other frowning in troubled ways lately.

And ignoring that? That sure isn't something Daniel ever does, not when he's fond of Louis. He doesn't want the other to keep having to look that way.

So even though he doesn't imagine he can definitely help whatever might be troubling the other, the least he can do is hear Louis out, Daniel figures. So he approaches the other at the diner with a small, but warm smile on his face. ]

Hey, Louis. I hope you don't mind me saying this, but.. it sure seems like you've been thinking about something tonight. Do you maybe want to talk about it?

Edited 2024-01-19 19:09 (UTC)

( Despite his preternatural senses being more than sufficient to detect almost anyone sneaking up on him, Louis still looks mildly startled to be pulled so abruptly from the churning depths of his worry. He looks up at Daniel, first wide-eyed and then, after a sigh, a little rueful. He's never been any good at concealing his darker moods, and tonight he's spent the last twenty minutes or so staring down into his full mug of coffee with his hands cupped around it for warmth, hardly moving, his expression pinched into a frown. It couldn't be more obvious. )

Ah... Daniel.

( His expression softens into something vaguely like a smile, and he gestures to the empty booth across from him. )

It's grim, but I've been thinking about how fragile all of this is.

[ .. that is pretty grim.

On the other hand, if anyone is looking thoughtful in this city lately, you can bet there's a good chance all of this is on their mind.. It's been hard for Daniel to think about much of anything else too, ever since they learned so much just the other month.

So even though it'll inevitably lead to a similarly grim discussion, he isn't shying away from it. Especially since he offered for Louis to be able to talk to him about it in the first place.

Daniel moves to sit in the booth as well, staring at Louis over the table. ]

Our situation here in this city, you mean..?

( Louis nods. )

I don't know what to think. If what they say is true, and none of this is real... what does that mean for us? What might await us outside of this city? The danger they're trying to save themselves from? I've tried not to think of it, but now, with the knowledge that this was perhaps always doomed to end, and talk of testing the limits of this place...

( His brows pinch together, a stark furrow forming between them. He hardly understands the concept of a simulation, armed with an eighteenth century mind and the technological prowess of a man who thinks a VCR is cutting edge. But he knows enough to grasp the gravity of the situation. And without the knowledge to theorize further about their circumstances, Louis is left with little but his dread. )

I'm afraid of whatever comes next.

I'm not sure if this answer helps, but.. I'm not really sure of the answers to any of that either.

[ His smile is a little wry as he admits it - knowing that it's not exactly the world's most helpful answer. But Daniel can't help it. Even if it's not helpful, it is the truth, and he wouldn't want to lie to Louis. Especially when the other is being kind enough to trust Daniel with his feelings in this moment.

.. feelings that happen to resemble his own, Daniel realises. ]

I think that the others are just trying anything at this point. Since no one has the answers, so they seem to be looking to find those in any way they can. [ Daniel is definitely thinking about Robby as he says that. He's seen the frustration in the teenage boy's eyes so many times, after all, so tapped into the feelings of the boy he's looking after. ] Even if those ways appear to be.. pretty risky at this point.

[ That much he can agree with Louis on. Easily.

Daniel is so worried about it, especially considering the people involved. ]

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