kitty

[winkieprince]

...

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[incorporealkpryde]

“What the heck is linguification?” Kitty pulled a face. “And the Wizard is… I guess the equivalent of our President. Like, head of the government?

“Is Oz a dictatorship?”

[winkieprince]

"Study of words," Fiyero answers, because that one at least is easy.

He nods at the 'head of government', bit, but the next question is a bit trickier. "Dunno. What's a dictatorship?"

[incorporealkpryde]

“Oh, we call that linguistics.” Kitty nods and takes another sip of his drink. Their server walks past then and Kitty flags her down to order another drink and a side of fries, indicating for Fiyero to order another drink as well, while she’s here

“When the political leader has full control over the country and they don’t get elected by the people. As opposed to a democracy, where the people elect an official to lead them.”

[winkieprince]

Fiyero ordered another one of those yummy ice teas he got, which doesn't seem very alcoholic or so he thinks.

"Oh, well, he was chosen. Like, before I was born. He is the only wizard there is," Fiyero answers, sitting up and explaining with his hands again. "But the different countries have different leaders, like, my parents rule Winkie Country, then in the east you've got my school buddy Nessa, she's governor of Munchkinland. And even in the Emerald City, you've got other people under the wizard, like my fiancée, Glinda the Good, she's more of a public figure since the Wizard doesn't really go out much."

[incorporealkpryde]

There is a lot of information that has just been dropped on Kitty all at once but one key point stands out and sticks in his mind because… what the heck Fiyero?? You didn’t think to lead with that?!

“Your what?”

[winkieprince]

Fiyero pauses mid-sip, looking like a cat caught in the middle of some shenanigans, as he parses Kitty's reaction.

"My.. school? Bud-- Oh, my fiancée. Yes. Glinda," he answers, nodding as he realises what Kitty was asking about. And then he takes a big drink, clearly just trying to finish this one off in time for their new drinks to arrive.

[incorporealkpryde]

“You have a fiancée? Didn’t think she was worth mentioning before?” Honestly, what? That feels like a super important piece of information, especially if there’s any flirting taking place at all.

Kitty is all for platonic flirting, he just likes to know that’s what he should be doing. Their new drinks and the fries are dropped off and Kitty downs his current drink, starting straight in on his new one.

[winkieprince]

Fiyero wasn't even really purposefully flirting - that's just his natural charm! And then there's the fact that technically speaking, their engagement is probably broken up. He just didn't have time to sort of... deal with all of that, before ending up here.

"It's... complicated," he answers with a wry expression. "Technically, yes. Maybe. But it's not like..."

His explaining with his hands is now devolving into vague meaningless gesturing as he tries to figure out how to explain it.

[incorporealkpryde]

Okay, so yeah, Kitty can understand that inter-dimensional travel would make things weird and technically neither of them had done anything wrong but Kitty doesn’t wanna be the kinda guy that even remotely hits on someone who is in a relationship so his internal freak out is mostly his own issue. And obviously Fiyero isn’t obligated to tell him anything but he’d also picked a bar notorious for hook ups and, while Kitty has zero expectations of tonight going that way, it did kinda… add that flirty air to it. Or maybe that was Kitty’s own paranoia at potentially being a homewrecker.

“We can try and get you home to her. The Professor, Storm and Jean could try and figure it out. That would… uncomplicate things, right?”

[winkieprince]

Fiyero can hardly be blamed for the bar choice. He doesn't know many, and this one has dancing of slightly higher caliber that most, and that's all he really went on.

He gives an almost hopeless scoff at the question. "Not really," he answers, looking momentarily forlorn, before he quickly rubs at his eyes, straightens up and smiles. "Either way, as long as I'm here, it's not really important. It's all good, don't worry."

[incorporealkpryde]

“Why do you do that?” It’s something that Kitty had picked up on very quickly, the way Fiyero through up a blasé facade whenever he was faced with something that might prompt a deeper emotion and he’d been willing to let it slide before but this seemed… bigger. Whatever was complicated about his engagement was clearly affecting him more than he seemed to want to accept, let alone admit. “You don’t have to tell me the details but I mean it when I say I won’t judge you.”

[winkieprince]

Fiyero stares at him for a couple moments, that smile still on his face but looking maybe a little stiff, a little bit static.

"What makes you think I'm worried about your judgement?" he counters, still with his cheerful facade. It's definitely not remotely about that. And what it is about, well, it's no one's business, certainly not a guy Fiyero just met - however lovely and friendly and helpful he might be.

Probably says something that Fiyero is willing to alienate his currently only source of guaranteed housing and food, rather than talk openly about emotional stuff.

[incorporealkpryde]

Kitty just stares over the rim of his glass for a long moment before he finally places it down on the bench, resting his elbows on his table and his chin on his hands.

"I don't know how it is in Oz, but I know in this world that a lot of men try to pretend things don't phase them even when it does because other men are less empathetic towards them." He shrugs. "Look, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to but just know that... it's okay if all of this is leaving you feeling... less cheerful and okay than you want me to think. Your situation is really fucked up and you don't have to be okay."

[winkieprince]

This entire turn this conversation has taken is so far outside the realm of what Fiyero is used to, especially for someone he just met, that he has no idea how to parse it, let alone respond to it.

It's not about other people's empathy - then again, maybe a little bit. Certainly, Elphaba was the only one who was really able to draw any kind of vulnerability out of him, because of her empathy and her own vulnerability. A lot of people neither look that close nor have all that much going on to begin with. Kitty... is definitely doing both.

"You're a really strange guy, you know that?" he says finally, after a long silence. His eyes are slightly narrowed, like he's trying to figure Kitty out -- while trying to keep as neutral expression as he can, only partially succeeding.

He has no idea how to address any of the things Kitty just said - so he simply won't.

[incorporealkpryde]

Kitty can tell that's another deflection, but he's made his point and there's no point pushing it. He knows well enough to know that pushing someone as determined to deflect as Fiyero clearly is will only make things worse and it'll just result in the prince shutting him out completely and that leaves him with no option but to keep couch surfing and he doesn't want to put him in that position.

"Yeah, I've been told. Most people call me a mother hen." Kitty shrugs and grabs some fries, nudging the bowl towards Fiyero to indicate he intends to share. "Least I'm cute."

[winkieprince]

There's a tiny release of tension in Fiyero's shoulders when Kitty drops the subject, even if a hint of the emotional intensity still hangs over the conversation (as well as in a slight knot inside Fiyero's chest).

He reaches out and grabs a piece of food, almost like a peace offering. The breaking of bread.

"Yeah, it's a valuable asset. Speaking from experience," he quips. In fact, being cute is what prevents most people from looking deeper.

[incorporealkpryde]

“Being cute and funny are the best two qualities a man can have. Even just one is better than nothing.” At least from a shallow point of view. They were good traits to have to draw people in but still be able to keep them at arms distance. A tactic Kitty was getting the impression Fiyero used often but if that was how he protected himself, who was Kitty to judge?

Another reason Jubilee likely chose his number.

[winkieprince]

There's the question of whether projecting himself like that was doing more harm than good, though. But Fiyero didn't often find people it felt worthwhile to open up to.

"I did actually meet a hen who was both funny and cute - for a hen. Obviously not a man though, cause then she would've been a.. rooster."

He's just gonna have another sip of this drink.

[incorporealkpryde]

“You mean like an actual hen, right? That’s not some Oz word for lady?” Honestly, it was a valid question given what he’d learned of Fiyero’s home.

[winkieprince]

He gets a thoughtful look for a moment. "I suppose it could have been. Some guys call girls chicklets. But I meant an actual hen."

It is a valid question, when Fiyero doesn't take the time to specify.

[incorporealkpryde]

“Chicklets? That kinda sounds like something you’d call a baby bird.” It’s a cute word though.

For a baby bird.

“I wish I could meet some of the Animals. I feel like it would be so cool.”

[winkieprince]

"Like a baby chicken, yes." He's heard at least one guy call the chicks, so hey, don't blame that one on Oz.

Fiyero lights up when Kitty mentions wanting to meet the Animals though. "You pronouncified it right!"

[incorporealkpryde]

"Yeah, exactly that." Well, it was no different to calling women chicks here, he supposed, even if it did somehow sound a little more... childish.

Kitty's only smile brightens at Fiyero's obvious happiness. "We just say 'pronounced' here."

[winkieprince]

"Oh. Huh," Fiyero answers, smile fading into a more gently surprised look at the correction. "You know, there's already so many strange inventions to get used to. Wish the words were at least the same."

He appreciates it, though. And he will make an attempt to remember. Blending in is not exactly his strong suit, but something tells him he should try a little bit, so he needs all the help he can get.

[incorporealkpryde]

"Well, I knew what you meant either way so they're similar enough." Kitty offers a soft smile. "You'll get used to it. And you can just say things however you do back home. At least at the Mansion, people will know why there's a difference."

Kitty eats a few more fries. "Please don't think I'm criticising you."