“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.
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.
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?”
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."
“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.”
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.
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."
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.
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."
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.
“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?
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."
"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.
"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."
Fiyero gives a thoughtful hum as he sips his drink, almost having finished this one too now. Kitty's very encouraging, which makes it all seem a little less daunting.
The reassurance makes him raise his eyebrows in more genuine surprise. When has anyone ever said that to him? (Well, occasionally, though it's a bit more fawn-y then.)
And then the bright smile is right back, a mutual reassurance. "Do I look like someone bothered by people criticising me?" he asks, as if you could tell from his looks. His behaviour, probably. (Which is not to say he doesn't care what people think, obviously.)
"Another round?" Kitty takes another sip of his own drink and eats a few more fries, indicating to Fiyero's almost-empty drink with his other hand.
There's something about his smile that does things to Kitty, things he's going to blatantly ignore because Fiyero is engaged and therefore entirely off limits, even if he is trapped in a different world from his bride-to-be and Kitty will not let himself go there, no matter how easy it is to talk to him - at least when he's not trying to brush off actual real things.
"No. But I still want you to know I'm not just criticising you when I point things out. I just wanna give you the best chance you have of surviving here."
He scrunches his nose and vaguely shakes his head at the offer of another drink. He's already pretty loose and he doesn't need to get completely wasted. Besides, his worries have slightly lessened as of this conversation, so he doesn't need it as much.
"Well! I appreciate you trying to guide me through a confusifying new world," Fiyero announces genuinely, unknowingly immediately using another strange word, as he raises his glass in a toast to Kitty before draining the last of it, setting it down with a decisive thud. "Now, I believe I was promised a dance," he says, already getting out of the booth and gently tugging at Kitty's arm, clearly not about to take no for an answer.
"More than happy to be your guide." Kitty says, smiling around a mouthful of fries, ignoring yet another strange Ozian variation of a word. He knows what Fiyero means and makes a mental note to write down the ones he notices with his world's version of it. He can make a little cheat sheet for Fiyero, or something.
Kitty finishes his own drink and the last of the fries before letting out a breath, "I don't recall promising a dance." But he lets Fiyero tug him out of the booth and pull him out onto the dancefloor.
"No, you definitely did," Fiyero counters cheerfully, despite also not remembering Kitty saying those exact words. But it was definitely implied in there somewhere. For sure.
His hand slides down Kitty's arm to find his hand, pulling him along. Now they're not separated by a booth or the formal greeting, it'll become quickly clear that Fiyero is a very casually tactile person, with zero hesitation when it comes to touch - as long as it doesn't seem unwanted.
The song is upbeat, a great dance rhythm, although Fiyero is too unfamiliar with it to do any complicated choreography. Even so, the improvised moves he pulls out makes it clear he's had a lot of practice. Definitely kind of showy (and yes, of course he's showing off), but still leaving enough room for Kitty to do his thing as well.
Kitty gives Fiyero a look because he definitely didn't make any such promise but he's also not upset about it. Fiyero drags him into the middle of the dance floor by his hand and Kitty has to force himself not to focus on the warmth of Fiyero's hand in his own.
For all that he focused on his past ballet career and made no real mention of having any ability to dance in a club setting, Kitty is also not a stranger to this scene. After all, he was a 20 something year old at some point not long ago and Jubilee still liked to party. That doesn't change that whatever dance moves he - and most of the other patrons - have, are anything quite like Fiyero's own. There's a ridiculous grace to his movements and Kitty finds himself watching more than focusing on his own moves.
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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.
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"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.
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“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?”
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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."
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"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.
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"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."
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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.
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"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."
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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.
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Another reason Jubilee likely chose his number.
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"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.
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It is a valid question, when Fiyero doesn't take the time to specify.
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For a baby bird.
“I wish I could meet some of the Animals. I feel like it would be so cool.”
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Fiyero lights up when Kitty mentions wanting to meet the Animals though. "You pronouncified it right!"
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Kitty's only smile brightens at Fiyero's obvious happiness. "We just say 'pronounced' here."
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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.
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Kitty eats a few more fries. "Please don't think I'm criticising you."
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The reassurance makes him raise his eyebrows in more genuine surprise. When has anyone ever said that to him? (Well, occasionally, though it's a bit more fawn-y then.)
And then the bright smile is right back, a mutual reassurance. "Do I look like someone bothered by people criticising me?" he asks, as if you could tell from his looks. His behaviour, probably. (Which is not to say he doesn't care what people think, obviously.)
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There's something about his smile that does things to Kitty, things he's going to blatantly ignore because Fiyero is engaged and therefore entirely off limits, even if he is trapped in a different world from his bride-to-be and Kitty will not let himself go there, no matter how easy it is to talk to him - at least when he's not trying to brush off actual real things.
"No. But I still want you to know I'm not just criticising you when I point things out. I just wanna give you the best chance you have of surviving here."
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"Well! I appreciate you trying to guide me through a confusifying new world," Fiyero announces genuinely, unknowingly immediately using another strange word, as he raises his glass in a toast to Kitty before draining the last of it, setting it down with a decisive thud. "Now, I believe I was promised a dance," he says, already getting out of the booth and gently tugging at Kitty's arm, clearly not about to take no for an answer.
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Kitty finishes his own drink and the last of the fries before letting out a breath, "I don't recall promising a dance." But he lets Fiyero tug him out of the booth and pull him out onto the dancefloor.
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His hand slides down Kitty's arm to find his hand, pulling him along. Now they're not separated by a booth or the formal greeting, it'll become quickly clear that Fiyero is a very casually tactile person, with zero hesitation when it comes to touch - as long as it doesn't seem unwanted.
The song is upbeat, a great dance rhythm, although Fiyero is too unfamiliar with it to do any complicated choreography. Even so, the improvised moves he pulls out makes it clear he's had a lot of practice. Definitely kind of showy (and yes, of course he's showing off), but still leaving enough room for Kitty to do his thing as well.
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For all that he focused on his past ballet career and made no real mention of having any ability to dance in a club setting, Kitty is also not a stranger to this scene. After all, he was a 20 something year old at some point not long ago and Jubilee still liked to party. That doesn't change that whatever dance moves he - and most of the other patrons - have, are anything quite like Fiyero's own. There's a ridiculous grace to his movements and Kitty finds himself watching more than focusing on his own moves.
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of course Kitty wants to know Fiyero's size and preferences-- i mean
😜
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