[A little bit of column A (publicly embarrass himself, although if nobody knows the whole context, will it even matter) and a little bit of column, uh, wanting to see Charles wearing a tie. It's fine, just like it's fine how he automatically says, immediately negating the point of his whole scheme to dress up Charles in a tie:]
You think I should dress nice? I'm supposed to be the host.
["Dress nice" here meaning "put on a shirt with buttons," but like, dress him up.]
Think you should dress however you want, it's your birthday.
[ the answer comes automatically — but, you know, now that he's giving it a bit of thought... actually, giving it a lot of thought, because he's pretty sure there's multiple ways to "dress nice" that involves absolutely zero ties, and for some reason imagining all the cool outfits he could find junpei for the movie night makes him kind of want to fall through the floor, just a bit.
out loud, he says, ] But I mean, might not hurt? I'm sure we'll figure something out that's nice but doesn't include a tie.
What, like a shirt from a pack of three instead of six?
[That's only kind of a bit, he really doesn't know how to dress nice at all. He had to have help tying that tie, back then.
To wit: he really doesn't know how to picture nice-without-a-tie, is that a suit without a tie? Who can say. He thinks his cool leather jacket, sadly not appropriate for summer, is "nice"...]
I guess we could look around. Maybe they've got those shirts that look like a tux. [sadly this is also not entirely a bit.]
[ charles, in turn, takes a moment to stare to ascertain that junpei isn't, in fact, entirely joking, and then he just lowers his head into his hands very, very slowly. for dramatic effect.
from behind his hands, he mumbles, ] Oh, bloody hell. No, no, absolutely not.
[ then, lifting his head, ] Please promise me you'll take me along when you go clothes shopping. Or let me take you, actually, that's better.
[ he actually gets up, then, picks up the pillow that's still on the floor next to him and starts walking over to the bed, holding up fingers on his free hand. one, ] Well, first off, if you wanna wear a tux, then wear a tux. Second, those shirts are bloody ugly, never seen one that doesn't look like it's made by the same people who make those bare-chest-lots-of-muscles shirts.
[ by now, he's made it to the bed, and with a smirk and a wry tone, he lets the pillow fall down right over junpei's face as he says, third finger lifted, ] And finally, because we need to get you a shirt that has a thread count higher than a 100 and fast fashion is a fucking scourge on the world.
[ look — he may not dress smart, but his clothes were, even when he was alive, always good quality; he either thrifted them, or saved up for them, like his harrington bomber jacket or his fred perry loafers, and by everything holy he's not going to let junpei continue buying shirts that come in three-packs.
... the tux tee, though — he'll try to hold his ground, but he knows all junpei has to do is laugh and he'll fold like a wet paper napkin. ]
[Oh, hey. Junpei looks up at Charles totally unsuspectingly, just listening attentively until he gets a pillow dropped on his face. Then he says hey whoa into the pillow, tugging it down to hug it against his chest.
What is fast fashion, is it like fast food... he won't voice this thought out loud. Instead he reaches up to pinch Charles' sleeve and hum, thoughtfully.]
So I can't get a bare chest muscle shirt either? [This one is completely a bit, he would Not,] My shirts aren't that bad.
[Well, they're shirts. They're serviceable. Not that he dressed any better before his edgy all black era, but that's irrelevant right now. He tugs that sleeve, which he thinks is making a point about thread counts.]
[ the joke gets him an eye roll, because no, charles doesn't believe mr. black clothes only would ever subject himself to that kind of a monstrosity; and then, to the part about his shirts, ] Mm-hm, you keep believing that.
[ well, they look good on him, so that's something, he supposes — but dressed in, say, actual trousers, maybe a pair of slacks, a properly made black tee and an oversized blazer? yeah. that's definitely a look charles could see him in, and a look he'd very much like to see him in, for absolutely no reason at all. he walks round and finds an unoccupied spot on the bed, dropping down to sit there. ]
Sure, mate. You can count on me. But that means if I see any of the Poundland stuff I will actually sneak here and replace them with good quality shirts when you're not looking.
Yeah, like... what's that again, Dollar Tree? [ there wasn't one in port townsend but crystal had talked about one, so. ] Or, uh, Daiso? [ look, niko did mention some things!! he remembers, not least because she's no longer there to tell them anything. anyway —
he does laugh at the part about supermarkets, shaking his head like he can guess it's not entirely just a joke. ]
It was more the sneaking in here part that was supposed to be threatening, not the you getting better shirts part. Which, you will. Not getting out of that, now.
It's just one room... You don't even have to sneak, you can come in whenever.
[Like, what does he do in here besides stare at the wall and drink these beers? Nothing. He honestly isn't in the room that much, so he can avoid going stir-crazy. It's better than, well, wall-staring.]
And Daiso... I haven't been to a Daiso since I was a kid. [ah, nostalgia,] Do you know Don Quijote? Not the same genre of store, but Don Quijote is... the most store.
[He can't think of any other way to describe it. There's just so much in there. You had to be there.]
Oh. [ why does the quick offer make him feel so wrong-footed, all of a sudden? charles fidgets with his hands for a bit, mumbling, ] Thanks.
[ it's probably for the better that junpei is quick to start talking about a store with a weird name, definitely a store charles isn't familiar with — but the explanation makes him chuckle. ]
The most store. [ uh-huh. reaching out, he pats junpei on the head. pat-pat-pat. ] Right. Well, good to see the plan to get you drunk hasn't been a total waste.
[Hey, wow. Junpei reaches up to tug on Charles' sleeve again, then curling his fingers around his wrist to put a stop to patting his poor drunk head like that. But if he doesn't let go, well...
Anyway. Don Quijote!!]
Ask me again when I'm hungover and I'll say the same thing. It's the most store. I'd show you, but... [the obvious. so,] Maybe in five years.
[ he doesn't seem to mind all that much that his wrist is essentially held hostage, shifting to sit a little closer. ]
... yeah. I'll hold you to that.
[ it's a nice thought — one he wants to keep believing in. gently, he reaches over with the non-hostage hand, tugs on the pillow that junpei is still sort of hugging, just so he can move it next to his head. ]
C'mon, [ he says, tapping the pillow against his head to indicate that junpei should lift his so he can slide it under, to spare his poor neck. ]
[Oh, his pillow isn't being confiscated for his Don Quijote crimes, okay. He lifts his head obligingly, which means he actually just smooshes his face into the pillow at first, then lifts his head to let Charles slide it into place. There. Flawless.
He smooths his thumb over the back of Charles' wrist without really thinking about it, fond, and:]
[ there's something strangely sweet in the casual little touch, something that makes charles let out a little exhale, the corners of his mouth tilting up slightly.
a stray strand of hair keeps trying to fall over junpei's eyes, and almost on reflex, charles moves his hand from where it's still resting on the side of the pillow and tucks it behind his ear, absently carding his fingers through his hair. ]
Think it's time for the human to get some rest, yeah? It's pretty late.
[Part of him is ready to insist that he's not going to sleep, it's his birthday, he's not even remotely tired— but the hand in his hair could sway him. Maybe it is time to get some rest.]
I have no idea what time it is.
[Immaterial. He shuts his eyes anyway, leaning into Charles' touch without really thinking about that either. If he thinks about it he'll ask Charles to keep doing it, and even after everything else, that feels way too... vulnerable, perhaps. Too open about wanting that simple affection, when it's much easier to just have that simple affection happen incidentally.
He's too drunk to question his own flimsy logic, so he won't! Easy. Problem solved.]
I guess I could sleep.
Edited (do not observe my weird hour typo correction.......) 2024-08-14 06:21 (UTC)
[ it isn't something he has to think about, to keep running his fingers through junpei's hair — he registers the slight press against his fingertips and quite simply responds, repeating the movement over and over. it's not weird, he reasons, it's simply... soothing. he'd do the same for crystal back home, it's fine!
(the fact that he's never done so, nor has ever considered doing so, not to crystal or edwin or anyone else, well, it doesn't even cross his mind.) ]
You do that, [ he says, voice pitched low. ] You want me to go?
[Oh good, Junpei thinks, he just keeps doing it all on his own. And he just asks that particular question, totally removing Junpei having to bumble his way through and ask for things from the equation. Charles is so nice. So good.
So,] Nah, you can hang out for a while.
[Unless he has a packed schedule starting right now somehow that Junpei didn't know about, what are the odds, ha ha... Well, this is a major key reprise of the Gnos incident, kind of, almost, not really— but close enough, so it's definitely not strange if Charles hangs around to essentially watch him sleep.]
Thanks, [ comes his answer, and while the delivery is certainly a bit dry, well — he means it, because he asked and expected the answer to be "yes", and the fact he can be here is... good. somehow.
and yeah, the fact that this isn't the first time charles has stayed with junpei as he sleeps doesn't escape his notice, though this is miles better from the storage room and the cold floor (and the blanket pile that charles kept adding to with every passing day in the faint hopes it'd make things at least a fraction better).
feel free to ditch me, junpei says, and charles thinks no, never, and then promptly decides that that's something he probably shouldn't say out loud. instead, he lifts his hand that still has junpei's fingers curled around the wrist and gives him a crooked smile. ]
Well, I think that'll depend on if you're still holding me hostage, then.
[Oh my god, don't call him out like that, let him sleep in peace—]
You— shut up.
[Just for that, he won't let go, so there. Instead he pulls Charles' wrist back down to where it was, then shuts his eyes in a way that can only be called aggressive. Shut up, he's already asleep, zzz.]
[ oh, so the hostage situation continues! ] Great comeback, [ charles quips back, shoulders shaking slightly with suppressed laughter, very much not shutting up.
except then he does, only humming in response, as if he agrees that it's deserved — or maybe just acknowledges that he's heard the words.
a beat, two, three; charles leans forward and down, taking care to keep his form just this side of tangible, enough that neither of his hands feels any different but he makes no noise, now, moving... and then, once he's close enough to speak right next to junpei's ear, he says with that same low tone, ]
Sweet dreams, Junpei.
[ and yeah, his intention is fully to be a little shit back and startle him with this, but if some warmth sneaks into his voice, a layer of something too sincere for a joke hiding underneath, well! that's entirely an accident and he will never admit to it. ]
—Jesus! [—ah, and yeah, that makes him jump, eyes flying open and free hand immediately coming up to push Charles' whole face while Junpei continues to sputter something indignant at him. Not very hard; he's fundamentally just smushing his hand against Charles' cheek, but it's the thought that counts. Deserved, absolutely deserved—
Now how is he going to sleep. Ugh. A beat later and he's gotten past the initial literal jump scare, giving Charles a sidelong look with a frown.
...Until he has to huff and frown at the wall instead of Charles, leaned in close like that, mmph.]
[ meanwhile, charles nearly doubles over in laughter, not at all deterred by the hand pressing against his cheek; his laughter does have a tinge of apology in it, though, and eventually he does manage to wheeze out, ] Sorry, I'm sorry, couldn't resist.
[ he assumes his most contrite expression, his free hand finding junpei's chin and trying to nudge it a bit, to make him look back at him. ] Hey, look at me, yeah? Promise I'll owe you, whatever you want.
[ his hand slides from his chin to the side of his neck and just sort of. stays there. like he doesn't even contemplate actually moving it away. ]
what's gayer, being gay or whatever they're doing now
[Junpei makes another huffy noise, rolling his eyes, trying his best to maintain his totally righteous indignation and not smile at Charles' burst of laughter. Stop, he's so mad...]
Hey, what— [What's he doing with Junpei's face, hey!! Not that he resists in the slightest, turning to look up at Charles again. He maintains his frown for another few seconds before he cracks and smiles, but like, in a really exasperated way. For sure.]
Well, don't expect that to work a second time. I'm immune now.
[smother him so he'll shut up and sleep—
He doesn't move, though, not to move Charles' hand or to let go of his wrist. This is, well... well maybe he doesn't need to say anything. Sure. And it'll be fine like this.]
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no subject
You think I should dress nice? I'm supposed to be the host.
["Dress nice" here meaning "put on a shirt with buttons," but like, dress him up.]
no subject
[ the answer comes automatically — but, you know, now that he's giving it a bit of thought... actually, giving it a lot of thought, because he's pretty sure there's multiple ways to "dress nice" that involves absolutely zero ties, and for some reason imagining all the cool outfits he could find junpei for the movie night makes him kind of want to fall through the floor, just a bit.
out loud, he says, ] But I mean, might not hurt? I'm sure we'll figure something out that's nice but doesn't include a tie.
no subject
[That's only kind of a bit, he really doesn't know how to dress nice at all. He had to have help tying that tie, back then.
To wit: he really doesn't know how to picture nice-without-a-tie, is that a suit without a tie? Who can say. He thinks his cool leather jacket, sadly not appropriate for summer, is "nice"...]
I guess we could look around. Maybe they've got those shirts that look like a tux. [sadly this is also not entirely a bit.]
no subject
from behind his hands, he mumbles, ] Oh, bloody hell. No, no, absolutely not.
[ then, lifting his head, ] Please promise me you'll take me along when you go clothes shopping. Or let me take you, actually, that's better.
no subject
I mean, if you want, but what's wrong with my shirt idea?
[Chaaaarles. Play with him in this space.]
no subject
[ he actually gets up, then, picks up the pillow that's still on the floor next to him and starts walking over to the bed, holding up fingers on his free hand. one, ] Well, first off, if you wanna wear a tux, then wear a tux. Second, those shirts are bloody ugly, never seen one that doesn't look like it's made by the same people who make those bare-chest-lots-of-muscles shirts.
[ by now, he's made it to the bed, and with a smirk and a wry tone, he lets the pillow fall down right over junpei's face as he says, third finger lifted, ] And finally, because we need to get you a shirt that has a thread count higher than a 100 and fast fashion is a fucking scourge on the world.
[ look — he may not dress smart, but his clothes were, even when he was alive, always good quality; he either thrifted them, or saved up for them, like his harrington bomber jacket or his fred perry loafers, and by everything holy he's not going to let junpei continue buying shirts that come in three-packs.
... the tux tee, though — he'll try to hold his ground, but he knows all junpei has to do is laugh and he'll fold like a wet paper napkin. ]
no subject
What is fast fashion, is it like fast food... he won't voice this thought out loud. Instead he reaches up to pinch Charles' sleeve and hum, thoughtfully.]
So I can't get a bare chest muscle shirt either? [This one is completely a bit, he would Not,] My shirts aren't that bad.
[Well, they're shirts. They're serviceable. Not that he dressed any better before his edgy all black era, but that's irrelevant right now. He tugs that sleeve, which he thinks is making a point about thread counts.]
You'll have to show me the good stuff, then.
no subject
[ well, they look good on him, so that's something, he supposes — but dressed in, say, actual trousers, maybe a pair of slacks, a properly made black tee and an oversized blazer? yeah. that's definitely a look charles could see him in, and a look he'd very much like to see him in, for absolutely no reason at all. he walks round and finds an unoccupied spot on the bed, dropping down to sit there. ]
Sure, mate. You can count on me. But that means if I see any of the Poundland stuff I will actually sneak here and replace them with good quality shirts when you're not looking.
no subject
He turns on his side to face Charles, still hugging the pillow.]
Poundland...? Like, a dollar store? [give him a point for knowing what a pound is,] That's mean. I get my three-packs from the supermarket.
[Pause for laugh track. Okay. He's not not serious, but once that sneaker money is gone, it's Hanes all the way down.]
Anyway, I don't think that's as threatening as you think it is... It sounds like I get better shirts no matter what.
no subject
he does laugh at the part about supermarkets, shaking his head like he can guess it's not entirely just a joke. ]
It was more the sneaking in here part that was supposed to be threatening, not the you getting better shirts part. Which, you will. Not getting out of that, now.
no subject
[Like, what does he do in here besides stare at the wall and drink these beers? Nothing. He honestly isn't in the room that much, so he can avoid going stir-crazy. It's better than, well, wall-staring.]
And Daiso... I haven't been to a Daiso since I was a kid. [ah, nostalgia,] Do you know Don Quijote? Not the same genre of store, but Don Quijote is... the most store.
[He can't think of any other way to describe it. There's just so much in there. You had to be there.]
no subject
[ it's probably for the better that junpei is quick to start talking about a store with a weird name, definitely a store charles isn't familiar with — but the explanation makes him chuckle. ]
The most store. [ uh-huh. reaching out, he pats junpei on the head. pat-pat-pat. ] Right. Well, good to see the plan to get you drunk hasn't been a total waste.
no subject
Anyway. Don Quijote!!]
Ask me again when I'm hungover and I'll say the same thing. It's the most store. I'd show you, but... [the obvious. so,] Maybe in five years.
no subject
... yeah. I'll hold you to that.
[ it's a nice thought — one he wants to keep believing in. gently, he reaches over with the non-hostage hand, tugs on the pillow that junpei is still sort of hugging, just so he can move it next to his head. ]
C'mon, [ he says, tapping the pillow against his head to indicate that junpei should lift his so he can slide it under, to spare his poor neck. ]
no subject
[Oh, his pillow isn't being confiscated for his Don Quijote crimes, okay. He lifts his head obligingly, which means he actually just smooshes his face into the pillow at first, then lifts his head to let Charles slide it into place. There. Flawless.
He smooths his thumb over the back of Charles' wrist without really thinking about it, fond, and:]
Thanks.
no subject
a stray strand of hair keeps trying to fall over junpei's eyes, and almost on reflex, charles moves his hand from where it's still resting on the side of the pillow and tucks it behind his ear, absently carding his fingers through his hair. ]
Think it's time for the human to get some rest, yeah? It's pretty late.
no subject
I have no idea what time it is.
[Immaterial. He shuts his eyes anyway, leaning into Charles' touch without really thinking about that either. If he thinks about it he'll ask Charles to keep doing it, and even after everything else, that feels way too... vulnerable, perhaps. Too open about wanting that simple affection, when it's much easier to just have that simple affection happen incidentally.
He's too drunk to question his own flimsy logic, so he won't! Easy. Problem solved.]
I guess I could sleep.
no subject
(the fact that he's never done so, nor has ever considered doing so, not to crystal or edwin or anyone else, well, it doesn't even cross his mind.) ]
You do that, [ he says, voice pitched low. ] You want me to go?
no subject
So,] Nah, you can hang out for a while.
[Unless he has a packed schedule starting right now somehow that Junpei didn't know about, what are the odds, ha ha... Well, this is a major key reprise of the Gnos incident, kind of, almost, not really— but close enough, so it's definitely not strange if Charles hangs around to essentially watch him sleep.]
Feel free to ditch me if I snore.
no subject
and yeah, the fact that this isn't the first time charles has stayed with junpei as he sleeps doesn't escape his notice, though this is miles better from the storage room and the cold floor (and the blanket pile that charles kept adding to with every passing day in the faint hopes it'd make things at least a fraction better).
feel free to ditch me, junpei says, and charles thinks no, never, and then promptly decides that that's something he probably shouldn't say out loud. instead, he lifts his hand that still has junpei's fingers curled around the wrist and gives him a crooked smile. ]
Well, I think that'll depend on if you're still holding me hostage, then.
no subject
You— shut up.
[Just for that, he won't let go, so there. Instead he pulls Charles' wrist back down to where it was, then shuts his eyes in a way that can only be called aggressive. Shut up, he's already asleep, zzz.]
Maybe if I snore now it's because you deserve it.
no subject
except then he does, only humming in response, as if he agrees that it's deserved — or maybe just acknowledges that he's heard the words.
a beat, two, three; charles leans forward and down, taking care to keep his form just this side of tangible, enough that neither of his hands feels any different but he makes no noise, now, moving... and then, once he's close enough to speak right next to junpei's ear, he says with that same low tone, ]
Sweet dreams, Junpei.
[ and yeah, his intention is fully to be a little shit back and startle him with this, but if some warmth sneaks into his voice, a layer of something too sincere for a joke hiding underneath, well! that's entirely an accident and he will never admit to it. ]
i'm closing my eyes
Now how is he going to sleep. Ugh. A beat later and he's gotten past the initial literal jump scare, giving Charles a sidelong look with a frown.
...Until he has to huff and frown at the wall instead of Charles, leaned in close like that, mmph.]
Now you owe me.
see no evil hear no evil--
[ he assumes his most contrite expression, his free hand finding junpei's chin and trying to nudge it a bit, to make him look back at him. ] Hey, look at me, yeah? Promise I'll owe you, whatever you want.
[ his hand slides from his chin to the side of his neck and just sort of. stays there. like he doesn't even contemplate actually moving it away. ]
what's gayer, being gay or whatever they're doing now
Hey, what— [What's he doing with Junpei's face, hey!! Not that he resists in the slightest, turning to look up at Charles again. He maintains his frown for another few seconds before he cracks and smiles, but like, in a really exasperated way. For sure.]
Well, don't expect that to work a second time. I'm immune now.
[smother him so he'll shut up and sleep—
He doesn't move, though, not to move Charles' hand or to let go of his wrist. This is, well... well maybe he doesn't need to say anything. Sure. And it'll be fine like this.]
Can I sleep now...?
theyre the "homosexuality doesn't even begin to explain the behaviour these men are exhibiting" meme
that & clown to clown communication... 🎀