if i get home before daylight

[salamanca]

who: lalo salamanca + you!
what: lalo's log for the month of august, including closed + open threads! ft. lalo's bulletin board post and the re-opening of his restaurant at doe's retreat in lakeside
when: throughout august
where: lalo's restaurant in lakeside (first 2 weeks of august) + all around milton (second two weeks of august)


[ open + closed starters below. ]

Comments

[notarat]

[ He opens his mouth slightly, then closes it again. For a moment he contemplates letting Lalo believe this. Wouldn't it be nice, for once, if someone didn't underestimate him? After all, it's not like you need to be a scientist to be smart, but people tend to more easily believe in your intelligence when you are considered that rather than just a steward, constantly underestimated.

.. then again, the misunderstanding probably wouldn't be worth it in the long term, huh. ]

I am not. [ He therefore clarifies with a slight shake of his head. ] It's just that Mister Heartman taught me.

[ Because Billy is smarter than he looks, and likes learning things more than other people assume. Maybe it's a bit of personal pride that makes him unable to not add: ]

He said I picked it up very quickly.

[salamanca]

[ Lalo is quiet for quite some time. He studies Billy with interest and appraisal. ]

Did he really say that? That's incredible. I didn't know Mr. Heartman well, but if he was able to make these talismans, then I have to trust his judgment.

[ There's a sparkle in Lalo's eyes. ]

You know, I worked with people in a lot of different roles, back home. The best scouts were the ones people didn't notice. Didn't think much of. I want you to keep that in mind. [ ;) ]

[notarat]

[ To be entirely honest, Billy is curious what's going to come out on the other end of Lalo's appraisal.

He's not so sure if he expected those compliments though. Sure, it's agreeing with what Billy himself pointed out and all, but this man certainly isn't used to getting compliments from pretty much anyone. It's the main reason why his instinctive reaction is suspicion. It doesn't even really have anything to do with Lalo in particular - more the compliments themselves.

It's why, after a beat or two passes, he voices: ]

Are you attempting to flatter me?

[ The scepticism isn't as heavy in his tone as it is inside of him, instead keeping his words closer to a polite kind of neutrality. Billy knows better than to express certain things so easily. ]