Written for LUDO Board 2.
I'm not entirely happy with how this turned out, but it was due today. Have you ever gotten a prompt that you had a brilliant idea for, but when you sat down to write it, you couldn't figure out how to write it? This was one of those. I still hope you like it though!
Theo kept on looking discreetly at the man sitting across from him. He had needed to take the train to Edinburgh for a meeting with a possible client, and Daphne clearly wanted to have a lunch date with Longbottom, the medical student that moved into her apartment building.
Theo was many things, but he wasn't cruel. Daphne had helped him out with many potential boyfriends over the years, so he could return the favor every once in a while. Besides, this might have worked out better for Theo than he intended.
If he hadn't done this for her, he might never have seen . . . the redhead.
He probably should find out his name. The redhead was handsome man, around Theo's age, with the brightest blue eyes Theo had ever seen. He was wearing an oversized gray hoody with various different colors of paint splashed on it, with black skinny jeans and was carrying a sketchbook.
He had been absorbed in the thing since he sat down in the seat across from Theo, concentrating fiercely on what he was drawing, whatever it may be. Theo was trying to get the courage to say something, anything to the man, but he couldn't think of anything.
Daphne would have drawn him effortlessly into conversation, making him laugh with a few pushing the envelope jokes. Theo didn't have that gift.
The only indication the redhead had given to his existence was a nod and a soft smile as he sat down, but Theo really didn't think that was enough to go on. He probably didn't even like him anyway, only did that to be polite.
Daphne would say that he was being ridiculous, but Daphne was always a bit over optimistic about his chances.
Theo was about to get up and find a new spot when the man spoke.
"I'm Ron."
Theo looked at the man in shock. Ron didn't even look up from what he was drawing.
"I-I'm Theo," he stuttered out. Ron gave a small nod at that.
"What are you drawing?" Theo asked, hoping to continue this conversation.
"A lion," Ron said casually. "I like them."
"Oh," Theo said. For a minute, he was silent. "I prefer snakes."
Ron stopped for a minute and looked at Theo. "Snakes?" he said in surprise.
"Yes, snakes!" Theo said, defensive about one of his favorite animals. He and Daphne had bonded in Year 1 for being the only ones willing to hold the snakes. They had earned gazes of awe and fear for doing so.
Ron blinked, and then gave him a smile. "I suppose snakes have some charm. Possibly. Maybe. I'm sure the internet has something to say on the matter."
Theo grinned. "Well, I can think of a few things."
"Tell me," Ron said. "I'm still going to drawing the one of the best animals in the world, but I'm curious as to this hold snakes have over you."
"Well, it's simple," Theo started. "Snakes are so incredibly elegant. Might not be the first thing people say about them, but it's the truth."
"I believe it," Ron said, fake seriousness in his voice. As Theo continued his speech about snakes, Ron took a break from his picture of the lion and flipped to a new page in his sketchbook.
Theo went to his meeting with a huge smile on his face, a picture of a snake, and a number written on the bottom in his pocket.