Snippet #2237505

"Well, see, the thing is, I'm a bit strapped for cash at the moment, but I did just buy a whole lot of groceries. So... if you'd be ok with it... we could go back to my place, and I'll make you something nice. Whatever you want as long as I can make it. I don't mean to brag, but I'm a pretty good cook. So what do you think, does that sound good?" The boy seemed so eager, chuckling a bit with the statement and smiling big.

Valentine was slightly taken aback by this revelation, as well as the other boy's excitement for having company. Wasn't he fearful? He was inviting a stranger to his home without an ounce of apprehension. It was certainly peculiar. Valen wondered if perhaps the boy was just far too eager to be making friends, or was just dumb and didn't have any sense of self conservation. Hadn't he heard about the crime rate in..... well, damn, pretty much any area of the city. Unless you lived in some highly guarded, gated, rich community on high levels, crimes were through the roof, and no one really did a damn thing about it. Why would they, anyway? Its not like it would have helped. Police only ever just pretend to work anyway, and then they go "downstairs" to blow off some steam on the people who cant afford to live on the levels. But hey, that was just how it worked.

He chewed his lip, thinking a bit more on the offer. Perhaps the boy wasn't worried about inviting in dangerous people because he was dangerous himself? Valen was never much good at detecting contractors or other demons. Some demons were pretty obvious, but others blended so well with humans that they were practically human themselves. But Valen certainly wasn't worried about himself, obviously. He wasn't in any danger, nor was he really posing any sort of threat to this other boy. After all, Valentine liked to remain on the defensive unless necessary, and he could protect himself quite easily. He was just a little surprised. This boy had such an odd disposition. First actually caring that he'd bumped into Valen, and then secondly just inviting him into his home on a whim. It just wasn't typical for people now-a-days.

But he wasn't about to turn up the offer, even at how ridiculous it was. He nodded slowly for a while, until realizing the motion would not be noticed, and decided to stop, feeling a bit embarrassed at the action.

"Um, well," He took a deep breath. This situation was not one he was used to being in. "Yes, sure. I'm not really in a position to say no, after all....." He had begun nodding again, and had to stop himself, beginning to follow the other boy as he begun walking back to what was presumably his own apartment.

Valentine followed closely behind, staying no more two strides directly in back of him. He simply found himself staring with wide eyes at the boy in front of him. He stayed quiet for quite some time, unsure what exactly he should have done. This still seemed at least somewhat awkward... He didn't even know the other boy's name.... But he supposed that would be a good start.

"So, aren't you at all a bit reserved about bringing a stranger into your home?" He asked, trying to make a little bit of conversation at least. Not to mention, he was still curious. "You don't even know my name. It's Valentine, by the way.... But seriously, you're letting me come right in. What if I was something bad?"

He regretted his word choice almost as soon as it had come from his mouth. Something. He'd said something bad. Not someone. It was too late to take the word back and replace it. Not without drawing attention to the fumble. He could only hope it would go unnoticed. He tried to keep going, to try and bring the attention of the boy to something else, and make sure the fact that he'd practically addressed himself as a thing, rather than a person, would be ignored. He'd practically run out of any more on the subject, though, and settled for something easier; he'd mentioned his own name, but hadn't asked the boy his.

"So, whats your name, anyway?"