paintitrainbows | what comes up when rain comes down?

[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!

Ah--!

[Edward jumps, at that, turning in his chair and... oh.]

....Ivy, I'm going to have a heart attack one of these days.

[Edward'll barely have time to get that out before Ivy's wrapping her arms around his shoulders and giving him a hug]

You're amazing! I just heard what you did--Pengy won't stop talking about it! [she pulls back, eyes bright, keeping her hands on his shoulders] You have to tell me all about it! I want to hear it from you!

I-- Sorry, what?

[The second Ivy releases him, he takes a moment to compose himself. Staring at her a little.]

...I really didn't do that much.

Yeah, sure, except scare Meroni, of all people, into backing off!

...

[He stares at her for a little longer.]

...That was supposed to be hard?

Meroni is, like, the worst kinda person. He's not just stubborn, but he's stupid and stubborn. And you totally got him to back off!

I just told him some random facts about fusion cores and made a nearby bomb explode. That's all.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject