Asher and Jude diner scene

Here's a snippet of the writing for next build. Asher bought Jude a new camcorder for the project just before this scene.

A: “Alright, that’s one thing down then. After this, we just help Clay move and we’re done for the day.”

He looks at me. 

A: “Wanna get something to eat?”
J: “Oh, you can get something if you want.”
A: “Not hungry?”

Honestly, I am. My check clears tomorrow, though, and I don’t have enough on me to afford anything right now.

I hear a growl from my stomach. Oh, of all the times it could’ve... 

I hear him chuckle.

A: “My treat, then.”

J: “Y-you don’t have to!”
A: “I know. Anywhere you wanna go?”

I don’t have any clue whether he’s nice or pushy. Probably both. I tell him he should choose, and he picks a diner in the mall. 

We get seated in a booth, and he slides the camera to my side of the table. I take it, and he gives me a polite grin.

A: “Pick anything you want.”

J: “No, no, it’s all right, I’ll get something cheap.”

He gives me a confused look. I guess he did just buy something way more expensive on a whim.

A: “It’s fine. This isn’t gonna make a dent in my finances.”

J: “...R-really?”

…

A: “...Dude, I’m rich.”

I burst into a full laugh. He looks even more confused.

A: “H-huh? Did I say something?”

After a couple more seconds of chuckling, I respond.

J: “It’s just- you’ve been all mister business and professional sounding from the moment I met you, and then-”

I have another laughing fit.

J: “Pfft- ‘Dude, I’m rich’ ahAHAHA.”

[Asher’s POV]

He drops his voice an octave to mimic mine. I cover my face with a menu to hide my embarrassment before letting out a chuckle, which soon breaks into a full laugh, surprising the both of us. 

It feels good to laugh like this. It’s been a while. The waiter comes by and takes our orders.

Shortly, our food arrives. He ordered fries with a mountain of toppings, and I got a burger with a side of fries and pancakes. 

A light drizzle of rain breaks out over the parking lot.

J: “Knew it would start any minute now.”

He gazes out the window to the parking lot.

A: “Oh really? I didn’t see any clouds, what tipped you off?”

J: “You know Clay’s powers? I’ve got one of my own.”

…That’s one way to grab my attention. I shift my weight closer to his side of the booth, leaning in.

J: “I broke my leg as a kid, so now I always know when it’s gonna rain.”

He goes back to shoveling fries into his mouth. I shift back in the booth. 

Can’t say I’m not a little disappointed he doesn’t have an actual merit, but I suppose I should’ve seen that coming. 

It’s legally mandated to reveal that information to an employer up front. 

Not that Clay seemed to mind, though. 

He likely would’ve told me up front either way.

A: “Hm. The umbrella makes sense, then. I assumed you were just the overprepared type.”

J: “Haha, noooo, definitely not me, I end up forgetting or misplacing lots of stuff. I’ve actually been late for a shoot before because I forgot the camcorder, haha.”

A: “As long as you don’t forget it when we head to the Well.”

J: “Hey! I’ll have you know, I’ve only left my camcorder behind once since then.”

He declares, as if it’s an achievement. 

He proceeds to take one of my fries, causing me to shoot him a look.

A: “Bold move, stealing from me.”

J: “Food tastes better when it’s stolen.”

A: “Good to know, I think I’ll test that out.”

I take one of his fries.

J: “H-hey! Mine are more valuable! They have stuff on ‘em!”
A: “That’s why I’m taking it.”

I take a bite.

A: “Yeah, you’re right. Thievery tastes pretty good.”

He ignores me, sulking and looking out the window. I can’t help but chuckle. Who knew he could be such a brat? I slide my fries over to him.

A: “Here, just for you. I’ll go ahead and order more. You feel free to do the same.”

He stares at me in surprise.

J: “R-really?”

A: “You know the drill by now, I don’t care. By the way, do you, uh, always eat so… vigorously?”

J:“Oh, no, I’m just really hungry. I’ve been surviving off candy bars and bread for weeks.”

He says it like it’s no big deal. I haven’t gone hungry since I was a kid. 

I can’t imagine someone going through that regularly. 

[Jude’s POV] 

It goes quiet for a bit after I say that. Maybe I should have just lied. 

My life’s kind of a downer, I don’t blame him for not having any response to that. 

I look inside the bag at my new camera. I can’t believe how nice he was to get this for me. 

I place it on the table, and he looks at it, and then at me. I gesture at the plastic wrapping on the outside.

J: “Well, you’re the one that bought it, I feel like you should do the honors of savoring the peelies.”

He chuckles, shakes his head, and gestures, as if to say, ‘all yours’. 

I smile at him before starting to peel.

After a solid minute of savoring, I take it out of the box. 

I point it at Asher and start recording as he takes a bite of his burger. 

He notices me filming mid-bite, and tries to tell me to stop, but it comes out as a muffled, ‘phftaup!’. 

I chuckle, amazed at the natural range of color this thing catches. 

He tries to look all authoritative, but it doesn’t work when he’s quickly swallowing burger chunks, obviously embarrassed. 

I can’t help but think it’s kind of cute when he gets flustered like that.

J: “Asher! It’s the first-ever recording for the project! Say something important!”

He takes a napkin to his mouth and stammers, clearly put on the spot.

A: “Uh- ah- well, we’ve just begun making preparations,-”

I take a note from Sawyer’s book, crossing my eyes, and lowering the viewfinder until Asher notices. 

A: “-early on in the process, we’re focusing on procurement of- pfft- hahaha, are you fucking serious?”

He bursts into laughter on the other side of the booth, causing me to laugh too.

A: “So unprofessional! Ahahaha!”

He leans across the booth and gives me a friendly push on the shoulder.

A: “I think I’m gonna like working with you, you little weirdo.”

J: “I’m not little!”

A: “Sure, sure.”

[Asher’s POV] 

He cuts the camera back off, looking out the window. 

…

J: “Um, again, thank you Asher. For the camera, for the food, the chance to work on the project, everything. It, uh… really means a lot.”

Honestly, the things he’s thanking me for all cost me next to nothing. 

Sure, the camera’s expensive, but it’s just a tax write-off for me. 

As for the project, well, he was the only director or camera man I could convince to come. I should probably keep all that to myself, though. 

A: “No worries, Jude. I’m happy to.”

Still, I even surprised myself by springing for the more expensive model back there. 

Hm.

Seeing that he’s finished both our piles of fries, I tap on the screen next to me and order more to-go, loaded with everything. 

His check for the signing bonus should clear tomorrow, but I want him to have something to eat when he gets home tonight, too.