paintitrainbows | what comes up when rain comes down?

Don Meroni. [Oswald's pleased smile widens, just a bit.] It's been a pleasure doing business with you. Until next time~

[and with that, Oswald stands, reaching out to gently brush his fingers across Edward's shoulder, the only indication he should follow, before turning and walking back to his car.]

[Edward looks up at the touch, briefly, and then just follows. He's more than ready to get out of here.]

Butch~ Finish up here and meet us back at the Citadel, won't you?

[Oswald pats Butch's arm in passing, already knowing the answer]

"You got it, boss."

[Butch glances at Edward as he passes, inclining his head again, this time with a quirk to the corner of his mouth. He reaches out and claps Edward on the shoulder, briefly, before moving forward to deal with this as Oswald climbs into the car and starts to buckle in.]

[Edward blinks a little, at that. But then he just joins Oswald in the car, once again.]

[he'll wait until Edward is buckled, as per usual, before turning on the ignition and pulling the car out of there.

At first the drive is quiet--they need to get far enough away, of course, and make sure they aren't being followed before....the car slows to a stop in the shadows of one of the rock formations and Oswald, who has been keeping a relatively pleased-slash-neutral face this entire time, pulls the parking break and turns to Edward, unable to really modulate the volume of his voice as he practically shouts]

What in the world was that?!

[Edward jumps a little at that, leaning away, clearly startled and just... blinking, wide-eyed at Oswald.]

Um. Well, I, ah--

[oh boy]

Should-- Should I not have done that.

No--you, no that was--[Oswald lets himself smile, then, practically giddy with it as he reaches out to grasp Edward's shoulder]--that was amazing! How did you even-- and the look on Meroni's face when you made one of them explode--[he releases Edward, then, so he can burst into delighted laughter, leaning back in his chair]--Oh, I wish I could have recorded that--

[and he's leaning forward again]--the way you played him, the timing--[Oswald is practically grinning, widely, riding high off the thrill of watching that]--Edward, you're brilliant!

[Edward blinks, startled again as Oswald grabs his shoulder and just sort of... staring in shock a little. Until he adjusts his glasses and composes himself again a little.]

...Oh.

[So. He made the right call, then. And then--

Then Oswald calls him brilliant and Edward doesn't quite smile, still too surprised to, but he seems to... brighten. He almost doesn't quite know what to say and he can feel his face heating up, just a little.

No one's called him that before.]

Well, I-- I just noticed an opportunity, while I was going through the nearby network, so I figured...

You figured right, that was just--[and Oswald seems to run out of words, because he just laughs again, leaning back in his seat]

--really, really fantastic. If there's ever the opportunity, you are more than welcome to do that whenever you like.

Oh, well, um... I... Noted, I suppose?

[He ducks his head a little. Enjoying the praise, but not sure... how to respond to it?]

I mean. You weren't wrong in your assessment of him.

Considering he bought that, I mean.

[..............wait]

[Oswald blinks, then, pausing at that--before his eyes go wide]

Oh--you were bluffing! [and then Oswald throws back his head and laughs again, delighted] You absolute menace!

[Now Edward's smiling, amused.]

Well, of course. I mean, he does have those fusion cores underneath his warehouse, that's true enough. But... what, they gave those a network connection? What would the point of that be? Ah, yes, just in case we ever have to send a text message to a fusion core.

Ridiculous.

But there was an abandoned remote charge up on that mountain and that's connected to a network.

So you simply set that off at the right time, and allowed Meroni to come to his own conclusions. [he's got his elbow resting on the steering wheel, chin propped on his hand, looking at Edward with unmasked delight]

Edward Nygma, you are a wonder~

Basically, yes.

[Oh, now he's ducking his head again, blush deepening. Considering he's more used to fading into the background, being ignored - survived by relying on that, really - this is... a lot.

He doesn't... think he dislikes it. The feeling of being acknowledged, being appreciated. It's... It's really nice, actually. Just very new.]

A-Ah, well, um... I'm...

I'm glad it, ah... worked out, I suppose, so...

[It's quite a shift. The insecure mess he is now compared to how confident he was while executing that improvised plan.]

[omg he's blushing that's so adorable Oswald is so charmed. He beams, then, straightening.] I would certainly say it did! More than, in fact!

[He settles, moving to start the car back up, still just looking pleased as punch] What's your favorite meal, Edward?

[Edward's still a little busy screaming internally, clutching his datapad like it's a lifeline at this point and... he blinks, looking up.]

Ah-- What?

Your favorite meal! Or something you like to eat.

Oh, um, I... I don't know, I like... sweet things, I guess...?

[Answered with all the awkwardness of someone who doesn't get asked personal questions that often.

...Really so far it's just been Ivy.]

Sweet things? [the corner of Oswald's mouth quirks at that. Edward just keeps being so charming today] What sort of sweet things?

Like... pastries or chocolate, I guess.

[Guess who's using his datapad as an out to focus on to hide the fact that he's embarrassed?

This guy.]

Hmm...Is that so? Duly noted.

[really. too cute. He puts the car into gear and pulls out from under the formation, speeding off back towards the Citadel.]

[Yeah, Edward's attention is just going to stay focused on his work because this is entirely too much attention on him oh god.]

[That's fine, the ride back to the Citadel is uneventful. They do get there before Butch, and Edward is more than welcome to disappear back to his office if he wants to. ]

[Oh, he absolutely does. And he's quick to dive back into his project, because at least that won't make him blush like he did before.]

[unfortunately, he doesn't get that much reprieve before Ivy's bursting through his door without nary a knock]

Edward!

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