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“—And then when I finally got to the store they told me it wasn’t there. After that whole conversation I had on the phone.”
Frank has been talking about the trials and tribulations of him trying to find a very specific record for exactly thirteen and a half minutes. Not that Ray was counting.
He’s sitting in front of Ray in a shitty fast food joint as they take a break from recording. His hands are moving a mile a minute while he talks, and throughout these thirteen and a half minutes, Ray has had to move every single drink and food item out of the Frank Zone.
“So obviously, I’m pissed as hell! I mean, they just told me they got it back in stock!” Ray nods and dodges a pointed finger that flies way too close to his face. “So I’m telling the guy that I just got off the phone with the manager and he literally said they had just gotten new stock.” Frank slams a hand down on the table repeatedly.
Ray takes a sip of his drink. “That’s stupid,” he agrees.
“Right?! Then the guy tells me ‘Oh he must’ve been wrong, we just ran out this morning’ or whatever the fuck!” He waves his hands around again, emphasizing nearly every word. “So then I go back to the other store which is literally miles away, mind you—“
As Frank’s hand gets a little too close to Ray’s drink, Ray quickly clasps both of his hands around his, holding them together.
Frank blinks. “So I… I had to… So when I got to the…” He seems confused, staring at Ray and his words taking far longer than usual.
“When you got to the store,” Ray provides.
He can feel Frank’s hands jump in his, trying to move again. “Right! Uh— When I got to the store he told me it wasn’t there after I had just—“
“Yeah, you said that. The other store. You said you had to go back to another one after this one told you off?” Ray tilts his head. Interesting. Frank doesn’t seem at all flustered— like he might be embarrassed or nervous at the sudden hand holding —just… Distracted. He can’t seem to get a thought out.
Frank nods, “Right, right. So I… It took forever getting there because it’s miles away and…” Frank looks out the window, blinking. “And the traffic was insane. But then I…” he trails off again.
“You got to the next store,” Ray says, gently unclasping his hands as he refreshes Frank’s memory.
“Yeah!” Hands are flying again. “I got to the next store and it was super weird looking and it took me ages to actually find someone working there. It was so annoying!” He groans.
Ray smiles. He's right back to talking normally. Hm.
“So then I finally find someone working there and I ask them, ‘Hey, are you who I was on the phone with?’” Frank waves his hands yet again. Ray, curiously, grabs them again. “And… So… they said Yeah, and…” Frank pauses and blinks.
“They were the person who you had called earlier,” Ray repeats back to him.
Frank doesn’t say anything. He looks at Ray, then to his hands clasped together, then back to Ray. He stays silent and blinks for what feels like a minute.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Frank furrows his brows at Ray, frowning.
“Experiment.” Ray shrugs, deadpan.
“Wh- Why? What? What is this?” Frank looks back at his hands again.
“You need your hands to be able to talk properly.” Ray smiles.
“I— I do not,” Frank denies.
“I literally just proved so. When your hands are moving you talk as easily as you play guitar but when I grab them you straight up lose the ability to form thoughts,” Ray snickers. Frank stares at him.
“You’re evil,” Frank says after a few moments.
“Nuh uh.” Ray shakes his head. “Scientist.”
“Evil scientist. Mad evil scientist.” Frank gives him a disapproving glare.
“Aww!” Ray grins brightly, “I’m Victor Frankenstein and you’re the Creature!”
“Uh!” Frank’s hands jolt under Ray’s again, “Fuck you—“ he says under his breath, glancing down at his hands, “I am not the creature. If anything I’d be Frankenstein. My name is Frank.”
“Hm. Maybe it’s just short for Frankenstein’s Creature. Ever think about that?” Ray shrugs.
“You are so lucky you’re my favorite guitarist.” Frank rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
“Aw, thanks. You’re mine, Frankie.” Ray smiles big. Then, he raises his eyebrows and lets go of Frank’s hands.
Frank heaves a sigh, “Oh thank God,” he breathes, “Okay, back to what I was saying!” He points a finger at Ray.
Ray laughs wholeheartedly and continues listening.