Hellwasp Plot

[makes_the_toys]

[In Milliways: strangeness is most definitely afoot]

Sitting at a table is a man that hardly resembles the usual casual dress and silly smiles of Cisco Ramon. Instead, this man is wearing a three-piece suit and tie, his hair combed straight and pulled back in a tight ponytail.

Sitting bolt upright in his seat, his back is impossibly straight and his shoulders are stiff. Before him is a very neat place setting, a bowl of soup on a plate flanked by polished silverware with a glass of water to the right above the plate. He has a cloth napkin neatly across his lap, and when he spoons up the soup from the bowl he does so with proper care and formality.

When he's done with the soup his next course will be brung along by a wait rat wearing a tiny waistcoat, and will consist of a chicken cutlet and sauteed vegetables; which [Fran]Cisco will eat with the utmost decorum.

Every now and again he idly scratches at the welt on the back of his hand from what had been a rather nasty wasp sting.

[tiny tag: Cisco Ramon]

[ooc: Cisco has lost his argumentative attitude over asinine topics and now has Hawkeye's formality and stiffness.]

Comments

[deadeye_shot]

Is that... Cisco Ramon? What? Hawkeye's shed her stiff uniform jacket and has let her hair down, and it's with a relaxed stance that she approaches. She's still armed to the teeth, but her gait is almost bouncy. Her long, blonde hair certainly bounces against her back. "Hello, Cisco! How are you? Are you hungry? I've made some potato soup if you're interested in another bowl."

[makes_the_toys]

Cisco's head turns in a nearly mechanical action, and the nod of greeting he gives her is short and crisp.

"First Lieutenant Hawkeye, good day to you."

His eyes flick down to his bowl and then return to her, and he declines her offer with a single shake of his head back and forth.

"No thank you, I believe I am well set here."

[deadeye_shot]

"Sure," Hawkeye says, eyeing him. "Mind if I sit? And... What's with the getup? I wouldn't have expected a suit would suit, if you'll pardon the pun."

[makes_the_toys]

Picking his napkin off of his lap, and laying a hand on his chest to keep his tie and suit back from the table, Cisco gets to his feet then gestures at an empty seat.

"Please do."

He'll wait until she's seated before he retakes his own chair and answers her question.

"A little formality just felt in order. Can I ask why you are out of uniform?"

[deadeye_shot]

Hawkeye takes a seat and shrugs. It's a decidedly expressive motion with her slim shoulders. "I dunno, just didn't feel like wearing it. The uniform is made of the scratchiest wool the military could possibly find, so it's really uncomfortable. I don't know why I wear it even when I'm off-duty here."

[makes_the_toys]

"Well, I suppose there is no crime in letting your hair down. Especially at the end of the universe," he determines.

"I would certainly have more than a few alterations to make should it come to me to redesign your military uniform."

[deadeye_shot]

"Oh, yeah?" Hawkeye says, raising a brow. "Like what?"

[makes_the_toys]

"Well, functionality for one," he replies, and although there is some small inflection in his voice to signal thoughtfulness, he doesn't shift his expression or gesture with his hands.

"I understand if it is meant to be a dress uniform, but there is no reason that utility cannot go along with aesthetic."

[deadeye_shot]

Riza leans her elbow on the table and cups her chin in her hand. She smiles at him, clearly amused, her eyes glittering with mischief. "How, pray tell, is my uniform not functional? It's a uniform. It covers what it needs to and signifies that I'm part of the Amestrian military."

[makes_the_toys]

"It is stiff, and scratchy," he says, repeating her previous description. "Would you be comfortable running a mile in it? Or marching for days? Will it deflect a bullet, or guard you from the elements?"

[deadeye_shot]

"Whether I'm comfortable running a mile in it is a moot point; I've done it before, so I know that's doable at the very least," Hawkeye returns volley, gleefully stretching her arguing muscles. "And as far as I know, no fabric deflects bullets. You'd be working with what exists in my world."

[makes_the_toys]

Cisco could argue, but he won't. He doesn't feel the urge and convincing her isn't a priority of his.

"As you said, it serves its purpose," he concedes, inclining his head in a short, crisp nod. "There are modifications that could be made, but if you are satisfied with the uniform as it is, then adjustments would be unnecessary and superfluous."

[deadeye_shot]

Riza's somewhat disappointed; she was having fun talking about a hypothetical--and therefore practically useless--topic. She pokes out her bottom lip, and then shrugs expressively. Then she stretches her arms over her head, leaning back in her chair and curling her toes in her boots. "I don't know if I'm satisfied, but it's the uniform I have, and I must wear it. There's no use in complaining, right?"

[makes_the_toys]

Cisco takes a moment to adjust the cuffs on his jacket, then returns to his stiff sitting position.

"I would not say it is strictly futile, but it can turn unbecoming."

[deadeye_shot]

"Unbecoming. That's a ten cenz word," Riza says, giggling. "Why are you being so formal again? You said it felt in order, but this seems like a drastic change."

[makes_the_toys]

His head cants a few bare degrees to the left as he considers her question.

"I do not know. It just seemed the thing to do today." Although it is a bit odd, isn't it?

Pondering the though, he scratches at the itchy welt on his hand.

[deadeye_shot]

"That's strange," Riza says, this time resting both of her elbows on the table and cupping her chin in both her hands. She leans forward, interested and engaged. "I'm normally formal, like you're being, but now I just couldn't care less."

[makes_the_toys]

"Are you suggesting some sort of transference has occurred?" He asks, intrigue finally breaking the nearly stone set of his features. "A 'Freaky Friday' scenario, if you will."

[deadeye_shot]

"I dunno, it's possible," Riza says, moving her slim shoulders in a rather expressive shrug. "I mean, I've heard of stranger things in Milliways, but I've never dealt with any of them before. 'Freaky Friday'?"

[electro_kinetic]

Wow.

That's a look.

Noriko--who has not been stung by anything, thank you--comes sliding down the stairway banister on her butt, hopping neatly off and headtilting at Cisco. Sure, she's only really talked to him once, but she's never even seen him in something that formal. She herself is in skintight jeans and a spiked choker with her sidecut hair flipped to expose the shaved side.

"You clean up nice."

[makes_the_toys]

His head turns in a crisp motion to look at her, his shoulders not budging at all.

"Thank you for the compliment."

A beat, and he adds a moment later.

"You look very healthy today."

[electro_kinetic]

Noriko snorts, amused.

It's not that she's a famed beauty or anything, and she gets that the punk look may not be everyone's thing (she's heard), but really? Healthy?

"All the adjectives in the universe, and healthy is the best you came up with?"

[makes_the_toys]

Cisco clears his throat, looking startled without any real shift in his expression or bearing.

"Well, I... " The suit has apparently not granted him any sudden suaveness with the ladies.

"I would not want to sound inappropriate."

[electro_kinetic]

"Oh, no danger of that the way you're talking," she chuckles. "So what's the suit and ponytail look for? You need to impress or something?"

Man, if her hair was tied back that tight, she'd already have a headache. She's surpried he doesn't.

[makes_the_toys]

There is a slow building pressure at his temples and the base of his skull, to be sure, but one wouldn't want their hair unruly.

"A little formality just felt in order," he responds.