Closed to toomanyevans

[talentedscavenger]

[You'll be fine. It'll be fine, Rey told herself, taking in a deep breath as she headed into the quaint coffee shop, The Dark Side of the Mug. There was a steam punk vibe to the décor. A way for the shop to stand out among the many independent coffee breweries in Los Angeles. Rey appreciated the unique style of the place, and the puns they placed in their coffee names.

She pushed a strand of chestnut hair away from her face. She was tempted to gather her hair and place it in a messy bun, but that might give the impression was she more uptight. Which, on a given work day, she didn't care how others perceived her. Today though? She wanted to make a good impression on a cute guy from Tinder. So that meant styling her hair a little, wear a good pair of jeans that hugged her hips just right and a sweater that was comfy and cute. Practical, comfy, and it wouldn't send the poor guy running for the hills.

From their text conversations, Buck seemed sweet, and smart given his line of work. They seemed to vibe well in the digital space. Hopefully they would in the real world too.

In an effort to calm her nerves, Rey got in line to grab a small cup of coffee and waited for Buck at a two top table.]

Comments

[talentedscavenger]

[Rey has to blink multiple times because the phrase 'sinking ship' is hardly used in the literal sense. ]

Did...the coast guard help at all in that situation? [He'll have to forgive her for thinking him and his squad somehow commandeered a helicopter to go save their captain. But, yeah this all sounds pretty wild. The craziest thing that's happened at her work place was someone losing this shit, throwing paper everywhere and outright quitting.

A brave soul they were--leaving like that.]

Traveling by plane is nice, but getting through security can be a bit bothersome if you're running late.

[Wow, he's really traveled a lot all by car. Not many people can say they've done that.]

Ahh, I had the same thought. Not with the US Navy but with the Royal Airforce. That was more of a last resort. I might've pursued it if I didn't get into Uni.

[Rey was prepared to stand up and order for them, but Buck was willing to cover it.]

Are you sure? I don't mind. I did invite you out here. [Technically, he suggested they meet up so it's 50/50 at this point. But, she eventually relented.]

Alright...I'll take a croissant if they have any left.

trying not to have spoilers :o

[toomanyevans]

The situation was complicated. The Coast Guard was busy with other things because there was a hurricane hitting the area at the time. So we had to make do with a small crew.

[ He nods, standing up. ] Croissant it is.

[ Buck heads toward the counter and gets her croissant, then adds a salad for himself with chicken and cashews. He'd eaten about an hour before arriving, so he just wants something light. When he has both of their food, he goes back to their table. ]

So you live close to here?

spoil away!

[talentedscavenger]

[Complicated is the understatement of the moment. More questions arose in her mind than anything else, but all she could do was nod along. She'll have to check to see if there were any news articles on a hurricane and a cruise ship sinking--and come to think of it, hasn't LA had some weird natural disasters lately?]

Ah, thank you again. [She watches him get up from the table to the line. She's trying to keep herself level headed. He was as bit as enthusiastic and nice as he had been online. So far this little date was going well.

Rey probably should've ordered something more filling than a croissant, but nerves got the better of her.]

Mmmhmm. Like about twenty minutes away? It's a loft style of an apartment. Managed to turn the downstairs area into a work station. I really like the amenities, and it's not that far from my work. What about you?

Okay!

[toomanyevans]

[ Buck sits down and digs into his salad, listening to Rey as she describes her place. It sounds oddly familiar, and the location tracks too. ] Huh. [ Taking another bite, he arches an eyebrow at her. He asks her if she lives at his address, because it really sounds like his building. ]

Yeah, those places are really nice. Expensive, but nice. [ Buck loves his loft. It's the perfect size for him, and the occasional stray he ends up taking in, and he's sure that Rey feels the same. ] The downstairs would be great as a work station. It took me like, a year, to buy my own couch, so there's definitely room for that.

[talentedscavenger]

Hm? [There was an inquisitive tone to his voice, and the raised eyebrow kind of solidifies that.] I probably described a lot of similar apartment buildings. [A nervous chuckle.] It's a convenient location at least.

[There's a puzzled expression on Rey's face as she confirms she lives around that area.] ...are you my neighbor?

[She ends up breaking apart her croissant and taking a small piece to eat.]

Yeah, it took me a while to buy furniture too. [She wipes her hands on a napkin.] I was fine with spending money on things like, my monitors, my desk, and a nice bed, but when it came to furniture, I just kind of froze.

[Rey ducked her head a little, taking a sip of her coffee.] I knew it was something I had to do, but it was weird. Like I had a mental block of sorts--but, I do have a couch that doubles as a bed if I can't make it upstairs.

[toomanyevans]

It really does sound like we live in the same building, yeah, [ Buck replies. He lives on one of the upper floors even though he can barely afford it. One of his exes had wanted him to find his own place and well, Buck's not good at saying no when a beautiful woman is trying to convince him to do something. ]

I'm the worst, honestly, the couches I had before belonged to the girlfriends I had at the time. When they moved out, they took their couches with them.

[ It's kind of embarrassing how long it took him to buy his own couch honestly, but he's better at being an adult now. At least, he hopes he is. ]

[talentedscavenger]

Huh. [There's a surprised look on Rey's face. Funny, she's lived there for the past few years and had never bumped into him. Then again, she wasn't one to go out of her way to meet people, not unless there was a reason. Such as a mail mix up, or to ask if a package was misdelivered.] Small world, then. I'm on the upper floor, but towards the back of the building.

[There's a soft wince from her.] Depending on how comfy the couch is, I do not blame them. [Her couch is a life saver some days, when she was exhausted and needed a place to crash. Going up a flight of stairs after a long day of coding only added to the exhaustion.]

But, you have a couch now, and that's not going anywhere. Completely yours. [They can both bond over how long it took them to buy a vital piece of furniture for their homes. It's okay.

There was a question lingering in Rey's mind. Buck seemed like a good, genuine guy. So why was he single? Was it too soon to ask that question?]

I can't say I've had to share furniture before. Never moved in with a boyfriend or partner before. Never had a roommate either. [She ducked her head for a moment, feeling a bit embarrassed. Did that paint her in a bad light?] I have had to borrow movies from friends and those I do try to return in a reasonable amount of time.

[toomanyevans]

Completely mine. [ And it's a nice couch too. Maddie helped him pick it out, and she has good taste. Sometimes he's just too tired after a shift to make it up the stairs, so it's a good alternative. ]

I've lived with most of mine, actually. [ He hadn't exactly lived with Ali, but she stayed with him when she was in LA, and Taylor moved in just before they broke up. Tommy broke up with him when he asked him to move in, so maybe that's the common thread there. ] Except Tommy. I asked him, though. He thought I was moving too fast. [ He has a bad habit of doing that. ]

Oh man, I've had so many roommates! I don't think I've really ever lived alone until now, actually.

[talentedscavenger]

[Rey let out a soft laugh, hearing the pride Buck had in his voice for owning a couch.

She reached forward for her croissant, tearing off another piece. The bread still felt warm to her fingertips.

It was funny, their lives seemed to be completely opposites of one another. He lived with roommates until recently. He had family nearby (one he was born into and one he found) and she...sort of had family nearby. And lived on her own for the majority of her life--no, no, she shouldn't let her mind go down that path.]

I bet it's a weird feeling? Going from having a space with another person and then its just...you. [Rey popped the piece of bread into her mouth, enjoying the buttery flavor.]

I think I have the opposite problem. I didn't realize I was dating someone until weeks later, and then it was off and on--and in the end, we weren't good for each other.

[toomanyevans]

[ Buck bites his lip and gives a slight nod. He's never done that well on his own but he's also made some pretty bad decisions in his romantic life as well. He's trying to do better, and that's why he's here now. ] Yeah, it's a little weird. I miss like, having someone there when I get home even just to talk about my day. And their day.

[ He cocks his head to the side and a small smile plays on his mouth. ] You didn't know you were dating? How?

[ Buck's been with a lot of people, but he's only dated a few. Those few had definitely known that they were dating him, and the others knew that they were just having fun. He doesn't like leading people on and he doesn't like for there to be questions. ]

[talentedscavenger]

[Rey listened, nodding her head at Buck’s words. Her heart ached for him then, having shared in the same feeling more times than she could count. ]

Yeah, I get and it’s something that’s so natural—wanting to share with someone a few moments to connect and talk. Hard to do when you’re by yourself and you don’t want to call friends because you don’t want to bug them…

[Or inconvenience them. That was always something that lingered in the back of Rey’s mind. If she was being a bother to the people she held close to her. Of course, they would tell her that she wasn’t, but that was still a concern.]

Or, at least that’s what I worry about. I didn’t realize how much I’d want something like that until I moved for Uni. Wanting someone to talk to—especially when I was in new country.

[As for how she didn’t know she was someone, Rey had to shyly duck her head. When she looked up, she saw Buck’s smile on his face. An embarrassed smile tugged on the corners of her mouth. ]

I didn’t date in high school or much in Uni. I was so focused on getting my degree and working that I didn’t realize my ex liked me, and that I liked him. There were subtle hints, but they went over my head until we were arguing with each other—both of us were extremely stubborn—and blurted out to each other that we liked one another and had been “dating” without realizing it. Everyone else picked up on it but us.

[toomanyevans]

[ Buck cocks his head to the side, listening to Rey express the loneliness that he shares as well. Buck is over thirty, and he definitely thought he would have found that someone to settle down with, have a life, have kids even. It feels like he might be starting to run out of time.

The conversation is getting deep now, but Buck doesn't mind. At this point in their lives, they need to be having these types of conversations on the first date. ]

It must have been tough, when you first got here. I mean, I'm American and it was still tough to move away from everything I knew back in PA. It's tough, but I think you're brave for staying, even if it was for a job.

[ Buck can't say that he's ever had that kind of laser focus on anything. He has a history of being distracted b y a pretty face and a willing body, but he's gotten better as he gets older. ]

Can't say that's ever happened to me, but it is funny. Don't worry, if we start dating, I'll be very clear about it.

[ He finishes off his salad and then pulls his coffee back toward himself. ] So. I know we've just met, but... what do you see for your future?

[talentedscavenger]

It was tough at first, setting up a bank account, and finding a place that fit my budget—and trying to figure out the paper work for any job I had.

[Was it brave to have stayed for this long? Maybe.

There a soft chuckle from Rey, opting to finish the last piece of her pastry. ]

Yeah, one of my other friends said I should make it clear to whoever I date next that they really have to let me know.

[A bit of a quirk, albeit an embarrassing one. But, better to be clear and concise than vague. Rey also failed to realize she could’ve teased or flirted with Buck—asking him how he’d tell her or show her they were dating.

She wasn’t kidding when she said some things (like romance) flew over her head. Her mind was going over the new question he posed. ]

That…is a good question.

[It was probably for the best to be up front about what either of them wanted in a relationship. The hard part was, Rey didn’t know exactly what she wanted—a house, a kid, or both or nothing. She was so used to surviving that the idea of thriving was a foreign concept. ]

I want to do well with my job and grow in my career, and I’m more than likely staying in the States unless I have a compelling reason to head back to the UK. Maybe travel—for fun and not for work.

[Another pause as she tucked her hair behind an ear. ]

I’m 27, technically still in my 20s, and I think I have time to figure out what else I’d want in life. [Beat. ] what about you?

[toomanyevans]

Travelling is good, [ Buck agrees. He likes to travel and experience new things. He hasn't gotten the chance for thew last little while but he loves his job, so that's okay. ]

I think that I'd like to take the Lieutenant test sometime soon. There's not at a spot for Lieutenant at the 118, which is why I haven't yet. But I think I want that.

[ He hadn't really pictured it when he started firefighting but now he's sure that this is the career he wants to excel at. ]

And you know, I've had my fun. I've been looking for something more serious for the past few years, it just hasn't worked out. So yeah, marriage, maybe a dog, maybe kids but I'm not sold on that yet.

[talentedscavenger]

It's good to have goals, and realize that over time goals can change. It's not always set in stone.

[If it were, then she would've been stuck in London and barely clinging to her sanity. Thankfully, that was neither here nor there.

The idea of being serious was...a hard thing for her to grasp. It sounded scary, and why did they have to talk about that now? So neither of you are wasting your time. Rey's mind whispered, sending a chill down her spine. The idea of kids though...that made her heart stop and filled her with some anxiety.]

I don't know if I want kids or not. I... [Rey drew in a long breath and slowly released it, trying to calm down her heart.] I never pictured having them, but I also never pictured myself living in the States. Honestly, growing up was more about surviving and getting to a point where I could be on my own.

[Making it to the next day was a victory in itself, at least in her eyes. Plus, there was also the whole thing of being a crappy parent--but now wasn't the time to unload all that baggage, not on a first date.]

I don't know if I'm ready for something serious, but I am willing to see where this goes. Assuming if you want to see where it goes too. [Fuck, was she blowing this?]

[toomanyevans]

Yeah, I was just a kid when I started at the 118. Now things are different, and that's okay.

[ He frowns a little, taking in what Rey is saying. Buck is definitely looking for something serious, and even if it becomes something eventually, he's looking for someone that wants to see if a relationship will work out sooner than 'sometime in the future'. Maybe he and Rey aren't as compatible as he'd originally thought.

He bites his lip and looks at her apologetically. ]

Look, I-I get it, you're still young, and you have time to figure everything out, I just know what I'm looking for. [ He's not sure what else to say about it. ] So if you're not ready, or don't know if you are...

[talentedscavenger]

[Seeing the frown on Buck's face, it was clear the answer Rey gave wasn't what he wanted to hear. The apologetic look only solidified that--and she swore she felt her heart twist a little in her chest. Rejection should be something she was used to by now. At least she was honest with her feelings and he was being up front with what he wanted.

Was it wrong that she had hoped things could've gone differently? The young woman bowed her head, biting the inside of her cheek and took a breath. Her walls came rushing back up. She looked back at Buck with an understanding expression.]

Yeah, no. I get it. Thank you for being up front with me. [Rey started to get up from her seat, resisting the urge to say 'bye' and run out of the café. There wasn't a point to sticking around anymore, but she had to polite. This guy was her neighbor now--or had been for a while.] And it was nice meeting you. Maybe we'll run into each other at the complex, but, um...I don't want to waste more of your time.

[God knows it felt like she wasted enough of his time with Tinder and meeting him in person. He'll fine someone better. Someone who wasn't broken.

Rey flashed a small smile, kept her head up and managed to walk out of the café with some of her dignity in tact.

From there, it was a blur. Rey made it to her car and drove back to her apartment, grateful for the small pile of snacks she had. Who needed feelings? Why did she even bother with looking for something when clearly, she wasn't meant for another relationship. God knows what she had with Ben was bad, toxic and not something she wanted to experience again. That didn't stop her from breaking down and calling Finn and regaling him with how bad her date with.

Of course...her best friend had to put her on speaker phone with his boyfriend, Poe. Bless his heart, the man was a hot head at times and wanted to find out where Buck was and have a few words, but that wasn't what she needed (although it was very much appreciated).

"Peanut, did you really leave and not let him explain further?" Finn asked, to which Rey scoffed and wiped her tear stained cheeks.

"Think he made it pretty clear, Peanut. There wasn't a reason for me to stay any longer. And I know, I know it's stupid for me to cry about this. I'm stronger than being some weepy girl, but...I like--liked him."

"Ah, you still like him. Don't do that. Look, you were right in telling him you weren't sure about being serious. From his perspective, I don't blame him. He wasn't asking you to marry him--that would be crazy. But, maybe he was wanting something else? If things do serious between the two of you that you won't run away."

Rey was speechless for a moment, letting Finn's words sink...and embarrassment soon washed over. Rey felt like an idiot. She was prepared to tell her best friend that maybe it was still for the best. He wouldn't let her get away with that excuse. He encouraged her to reach out to Buck when she clamed down to apologize for running out and leaving...and ask for a second date.

The encouragement worked. Rey had prepared to send Buck a text, but couldn't bring herself to do it. Texting all of that felt too impersonal. Maybe she could figure out a way to talk to him in person? Dropping by the fire station was out of the question, that might come off as stalker-ish. Nor was she going to try and figure out his schedule. One day gave way into another, and another until fate decided to intervene by having the mail carrier misdeliver a piece of Buck's mail into her mailbox.

Now, she had his apartment number and a good reason to see him.

Swallowing her nerves, the young woman went up to Bucks door with his mail in hand and knocked. Hopefully he wasn't on shift....and not dead asleep.]

[toomanyevans]

Through the next week or so, Buck has a hard time forgetting about Rey. Up until the end of their date when she revealed that she didn't know how ready she was for something serious, it had been going so well. They were on the same page about everything up to that point, but Buck is tired of waiting. He wants that someone to come home to, wants someone to settle down with and have a life with. He gets that she's younger, and she still has time, but ever since Maddie and Chim got together, since they had Jee, Buck's been feeling like he's running out of time.

Still, it would have been nice to get to know her better.

He's sitting on his couch, flipping through channels when he hears the knock. He's not expecting anyone, but people from the 118 drop by unannounced all the time, so it's not really a surprise. Still, he runs a hand through his hair and gets up to answer. When he sees who is on the other side, he really wishes he'd changed out of his sweats, and put a shirt on. Too late for that now.

"Rey?"

[talentedscavenger]

Rey's prayers were answered. Buck was indeed home and--he was not wearing a shirt. That left very little to the imagination, and for a split second she regretted her choice of coming over. Look at him you goofball! She blinked a few times, coming out of her stupor and offered a sheepish smile. He was a guy, a fully grown man and there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

He was relaxing and she looked like she had gotten home from work--a sweater and blouse coupled with dark pants and her hair tied back in a messy bun.

"H-hey," Rey began, thumb moving over the envelope that had Buck's name on it.

"I um, got your mail by mistake and wanted to return it. And well.." She took in a deep breath, once again trying her best to be brave and not chicken out like she did at the cafe.

"I'm sorry for running out the way I did. That was cowardly of me, and you deserved better than that. I, um, was giving it more thought and while I don't know if I want something serious—if this became serious...it wouldn't be a deal breaker." Fuck, was she making any sense right now? If she told him that he would be the exception to her uncertainty would that freak him out?

Maybe it was best if she started to retreat? No, she had to keep going.

"If you want to go out again, it would be my treat. You don't have to answer right now, but the offer stands." She concluded her little speech by handing out the envelope to him, the whole reason why she was out there in the first place.

[toomanyevans]

Buck takes the envelope, wide eyed, as he listens to what Rey is saying. He's still not quite sure he understands though, so instead of letting her turn and leave, he catches her arm. "Wait," he says. "J-just... what?" he asks, trying to understand what she means. "So what you're saying is that you want to try, and you know what I want. And that's okay?"

He just wants to be sure. They'd gotten along very well, and Buck is extremely attracted to Rey, but he needs to make sure that they're both okay if things do get serious. Buck doesn't like getting into things knowing they're going to break up. He hadn't liked it even when he was sleeping his way through LA.

"So, we're going to try, then?"

[talentedscavenger]

Rey was prepared to walk or dash away back to her apartment. Her heart was beating so loud that if Buck said anything, she might’ve missed it. Thankfully, he reached out to keep her from leaving. Was that a spark she felt? Or just her imagination running wild since he was shirtless? Hard to tell.

“Y-yeah. Yes.” She nodded her head at him. “I know what you want and I still want to try.”

Rey had to take a chance. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her head and things felt…nice? Good? Wonderful when they were texting and when they met up. Why not try?

“I know I dropped by unexpectedly and you’re relaxing…” clearly, considering he was shirtless.

“And I don’t want to interrupt your day off further.” Awkward. Her awkward side was showing.

[toomanyevans]

"Yeah?" Buck honestly can't believe it. He'd basically given up, figuring that he'd ruined any chances of them actually trying something out when he'd left the cafe that day. Still, Rey is here and wants to try, so Buck isn't going to say no. They had good chemistry, and that's something to pursue.

Before Rey can leave, Buck says, "I was just watching a documentary. Do you want to come in?" It's not a normal second date, but Buck's not exactly a normal guy. He wants something serious, and he doesn't want to waste either of their time. This way, she can get to know who he is on his off time.

"I mean, if you're not busy."

[talentedscavenger]

Was Rey busy? From a work perspective, no. She had her assignments done and project work in line. She was going to chip away at small tasks, but it wasn’t anything vital. Small busy work because she could never find a good stopping point for the day, unless it was time for bed.

Was she planning to use some of her free time to calm down from asking Buck out? Yes. Her anxiety was still running high—but he wanted her to come inside!! Isn’t this how all true crime shows start? The thought drifts through her mind for a split second. Buck wasn’t a murder…he didn’t give that vibe.

“Are you sure?” She asks, feeling like she was imposing on his time. But, if he was inviting inside…

“I mean, sure. What kind of documentary are you watching?” She asks as she stepped inside his apartment.

[toomanyevans]

Buck shakes his head. "I'm on a seventy-two right now." He doesn't have any real plans before going back to work in a couple of days. He'd put a pause on dating for now since he hasn't been able to get Rey out of his head. She's here now, though. He moves aside to let her in and then leads her over to his couch.

"I'm watching one about black holes. Did you know that they discovered one that was singing? Space is wild." He doesn't settle down right away, instead he moves toward the kitchen. "Can I get you anything? I have beers, some juice... water?" he offers. He'll wait until she decides before deciding himself.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey made sure to take off her shoes at his entrance way, having stepped in mud on her way to work. She didn’t want to track dirt into his clean apartment. The layout was practically the same as hers, but further in the back would’ve been her home office…

And well, a couch that could be converted to a bed.

“Oh that is interesting. I know there are different solar systems aside from our own, thousands of light years away.” She may have to watch the beginning of documentary on her own. It sounded interesting for sure.

“I’m fine for now, thank you. But uhhh…” it was dawning on her that he was shirtless. That she could see how much time and energy he put into his physique.

“Aren’t you cold?” Yes, LA could be hot but—-damn did guys just walk around without a shirt in their own homes? She thought that was something tv shows portrayed for more views.

Then again compared to her with her blouse and sweater, she looked more like the type to get cold easily. Or that the office she came from had freezing AC.