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[Boone just orders the same as Egon, since he has no idea what to choose.]

Still some places back home that don't approve of that kinda thing, but... Vegas is pretty open. Nobody cares who you're dating.

[Not that Boone ever had that trouble, as a man married to a woman. He doesn't know what it's like to be judged for his sexuality.]

At least nobody here cares, right?

There will always be people who don't, I think.

[Egon has seen it get somewhat better at home. It's no longer considered illegal, or a mental disorder, so that's something. Hw nods, glancing away and smiling a little again.]

I've not met anyone who does. It's one of this places few saving graces.

It's gotta have a few, right?

[He'd be trying harder to get home if this place had nothing good about it. As it is, he's... well, not happy, but he's fairly content being here. He's met some people, including Egon, who he'd miss a lot if he went back.]

Think mostly it's the people here making this place easier to deal with.

The people, and there's so much to study-

[He shrugged a little. He missed his friends, as always, ut his life wasn't exactly terrible here. He had a lot of benefits he didn't have before.]

And I'll be honest, I actually like being an angel at times.

Yeah, being a bear isn't so bad.

[He's stronger and has better senses, and even the transformations don't hurt much anymore. There's his weakness to silver, but he rarely comes into contact with that.]

If we didn't have to eat people, I'd say we got a pretty good deal.

[But of course, there always has to be a drawback. It just so happens that this one is pretty awful. Not to mention the shenanigans that happen around here on a regular basis. Masks, carnivals, magic tunnels... honestly, it makes him a little nervous about what could be next.]

[Yeah that's... that's the one thing. Egon does what he has to, but it's still not what he wants. It's only worse that an outside force is causing it. That's what he's trying so desperately to find a way to stop it, by learning everything he can.]

...Exactly, yes.

This is a fascinating place and I've made several good friends.

Yeah.

[Maybe Boone doesn't find everything as fascinating as Egon, since he doesn't study anything. He certainly has a few friends, though.]

Would you leave if you could?

[He adjusts how he's sitting as their food arrives, momentarily distracted by it.]

[Egon looks a little thrown off by the question, eyes on his drink as he takes a cursory sip and thanks the waittress for their meal.]

...I don't know.

I probably would leave, given the chance.

[Boone doesn't blame him, honestly. It's obvious Egon really misses his friends.]

Not sure if I would or not. Nothing really left for me back home anymore.

[He supposes that means that one day, they'll have to say goodbye. That's if one of them doesn't end up disappearing before then.]

[He misses feeling like he could help people, all he can do now is eat humans and write about it. And it hurts deeply, that he's not found a purpose yet. But he does love being here, with Boone, with his friends. With a body that's so beautiful.]

[He wouldn't want to say goodbye to Boone, not anytime soon anyway. He doesn't know how deeply he feels for the younger man yet, but... he does feel.]

Again, I'm sorry.

But- er- how are the dumplings?

[He gives a small, humourless smile at the question. He wasn't trying to make Egon uncomfortable, but sometimes he does have a blunt way of stating things. His situation at home is nothing to be sorry over, it is what it is.]

They're good.

[He busies himself with digging into his sushi, eyes on his plate.]

That's good.

[Egon just eats all his dumplings in a few bites. Now he can stress-eat, too.]

[The sushi roll is a nice one- the usual building blocks, with avocado, cucumber, crab, sea bass, salmon, and tuna. Raw fish and vegetables, as promised.]

[The sushi is delicious, and he eats it maybe a little too fast. Maybe partly because he doesn't know what to say anymore, and the food is easier to focus on than a topic of conversation. He feels bad for bringing the mood down, though. He didn't mean to, but unfortunately it's something he's good at.

Eventually though, with no more food to concentrate on, he glances back up at Egon and gives him a sheepish look.]

Sorry. Didn't mean to make you feel awkward or anything.

[It's good food, it's good to focus on.]

[Egon's ears are laid back, in concentration and in worry. God, he's so fucking sick of worry.]

[Eventually he sighs, laughing without any emotion and putting his face in his hand for a moment.]

It's not your fault. I'm not good at this, and I'm not used to it.

I worry too much, perhaps.

Not really good at this either.

[Which he thinks is obvious, but he'll say it anyway.]

Guess I'm worried, too. Don't wanna mess this up or anything.

[They're having a nice day, he doesn't want to ruin it by... well, being himself.]

I don't either. You're a good man, Craig Boone.

[Even if you don't think so. Egon thumbs out a few bills from his wallet and puts them down as the waiter passes.]

Want to share a dessert?

[It's odd to have someone use his first name, and being told that he's a good man just makes him feel incredibly guilty. He's not. He's done some awful things. But he can't tell Egon that, so he keeps his expression carefully blank and nods.]

Yeah, I'd like that.

[After a moment of fiddling idly with his beard, he speaks again.]

Wanna come back to my place after this?

[As far as Egon knows or has seen, then. He's a little pink in the cheeks- beyond what the lights cast on him- and the demon orders some heart-shaped strawberry mochi because it seems the easiest to share.]

I'd like to. Have a few drinks and see where the night takes us?

Yeah. Sounds nice.

[He's quiet eating the mochi again, but it's a more comfortable silence than before. When they're finished he gets to his feet and holds out a hand for Egon to take.]

Let's get going, then.

[It is nice. The dessert is in a good portion, and he eats it, like everything else, quickly and quietly. As soon as the bill is paid Egon is happy to take his hand again and start towards the lucky 38.]

Lets.

[The walk back to Lucky 38 is a quiet one, but pleasantly so. When they make it back Boone takes Egon up to the suite and finally lets go of him, going into the kitchen to fix up drinks.]

What did you want?

[He has pretty much everything here, so whatever Egon is looking for he can probably make it.]

Know how to make an old fashioned?

[He's always a whiskey guy. The demon lounges himself on one of the bar chairs, watching Boone go over his massive collection of alcohol. It's impressive and, frankly, a little beautiful.]

Sure.

[He mixes up the drink, and makes himself just a plain whiskey before heading back over to the large table, setting Egon's drink down and sitting beside him. He may have a large collection of drinks to choose from, but he always sticks with his favourite. Since the whiskey is still the same type from Boone's home, it glows a warm orange in its glass.]

Thanks for today. It was nice.

[He wasn't expecting it, but it had turned out okay.]

[That's a curious glow. He'd wonder if it was safe to eat, but Boone seems... fine. Fine enough anyway, he made it to twenty-six. The demon just goes on and drinks.]

It was. Spontaneity helps that sometimes.

[Whether is actually counts or not, Egon leans over and punctuates the statement by giving Boone a light kiss.]

[He smiles a little at the kiss, leaning in to return it.]

Yeah, it does.

[He goes back to his drink, but he seems pleased.]

Think I'm getting more used to this.

[Which is a good sign, right? Even if there's a large part of him that insists he shouldn't, he's becoming more comfortable with Egon.]

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