I Am Noman

[plaguedrat]

He's always preferred to own his books, but his refusal to seek out work and forge any real ties to the city have forced him to budget, to compromise. It's what takes him to the public library today. Signing up for a library card is different, he tries to convince himself. It's not as if it requires money, nor does he have to maintain it. It's different.

It's netted him a thick stack of books that he's negotiating into a bag while he sits on the steps. The acetate-bound copy of The Odyssey rests on his knees, the one he plans to read first.

Perhaps he's like Odysseus, trapped for years on an island and prolonging his foolish journey.

Comments

[silenttrainbaby]

A shake of his head; nothing. Grey's gotten more comfortable and Rat has helped that a lot.

But more bread is brought and he reaches for it eagerly.

[plaguedrat]

That may be all, but Rat feels like there's something else happening that Grey won't say. Rather than try and pull it out, he turns back to the bread.

[silenttrainbaby]

Even this relationship is entirely new to the train baby. He grew up around people who knew him. The only new people he ever met were enemies to be killed. Grey doesn't want to hurt Rat, at all. He wants to protect Rat, listen to him read, just being like this.

It's new and intoxicating.

[plaguedrat]

He's similarly fascinated by Grey, his curiosity. How he communicates and how they manage so well without words. It puts an odd warmth in him.

[silenttrainbaby]

Grey holds out a piece of bread, dipped in oil for Rat. Salads are brought, and he eyes it. Green food.

[plaguedrat]

Vegetables are included? And they're fresh? Rat looks around as if someone might fight him for it. "I've never had this much fresh produce in my life," he comments.

[silenttrainbaby]

Neither has Grey, of course. He watches how Rat eats and slowly picks up his fork.

[plaguedrat]

Rat knows Grey is following his lead, but he tries not to make his demonstration showy or obvious, just dresses his salad and eats.

[silenttrainbaby]

So, Grey dresses his salad too and he takes his fork to it. He pierces some lettuce and holds it up, giving it a sniff. Then he takes a bite.

[plaguedrat]

Rat pretends not to watch him, his curiosity about Grey's reaction barely concealed.

[silenttrainbaby]

The tartness of the dressing goes right to Grey's nose: he wrinkles it as he chews slowly. It feels different on his teeth.

It's not awful, but it's not bread.

[plaguedrat]

Rat tries not to laugh at the intensity of Grey's reaction but it's pretty hard not to when it's so visceral.

"Not your favorite?"

[silenttrainbaby]

No; Grey shakes his head. Not his favorite. He pokes with his fork at the red ball of something in the salad bowl. What's this?

[plaguedrat]

"Tomato," he says, reading Grey's expression. "It's also a vegetable. You can cook it too."

[silenttrainbaby]

Poking at it just rolls the thing around his bowl. It doesn't seem to want to be eaten, though. Grey sends Rat a doubtful look.

[plaguedrat]

Grinning, Rat puts his fork aside and just picks it up, eating it like that.

[silenttrainbaby]

It's big and it takes Grey an effort to bite into his. Juice explodes in his mouth and he blinks, surprised, the tang making his mouth water again. It was almost bitter, almost sweet.

So strange.

[plaguedrat]

And yet, Rat likes watching the play of ideas across Grey's face. He makes himself easy to read, for Rat to guess his opinions.

[silenttrainbaby]

There is a lot of chewing involved, a lot of swallowing.

Tomatoes, those were called. Well, they aren't terrible. Grey gives Rat a wry, small smile.

[plaguedrat]

"You don't have to like everything." That is, Rat admits, the beauty of this place, of its abundance.

[silenttrainbaby]

But he shouldn't dismiss things before he tries them. Grey knows that much. He nods and reaches past his salad to get more bread, more of that oil and he sits back in his chair, eyes still on Rat.

[plaguedrat]

"What?" He feels inspected, like Grey's peering into him. Only it's soft, not cruel or analytical.

[silenttrainbaby]

With a shake of his head and a shrug, Grey just keeps looking. He doesn't know why he's looking, but he does, startled when their entrees arrive. The plates are huge and round and steaming.

Oh.

[plaguedrat]

It's bigger than even Rat had expected. His stomach growls but even he might not be able to finish.

At least it takes Grey's gaze off him for a moment.

[silenttrainbaby]

For a moment, yes, until Grey looks to Rat to see how to eat this porridge type thing. A fork? A spoon? (Utensils, of course, still being new.)