003. and in every raindrop... // open post.

[icarusalsoflew]

Take a prompt, take some time, drop in as you like. If you're from Eudio, though, mosey on down here.

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[larue]

[ Snapping to attention now. ]

...W-what?

[ Dangerous? Why on earth-- ]

[icarusalsoflew]

Oh, you know... getting yourself all fucked up and defenseless over kissing a guy, showing up looking like a broken puppy on my doorstep, being honest...

[Chin in hand now. The look he has on his face? Exactly You are so cute, Josh.]

If I was any less of a man, this little conversation between us would have ended in a very different fashion at least several times back now.

[larue]

[ This is a stare. An incredulous one.

One that goes oh, c'mon, man. ]

No.

[icarusalsoflew]

Which I could easily turn into a yes, if I wanted to.

[Hee.]

Not gonna lie to you, Josh. You're very attractive.

[larue]

[ Why you gotta do that, man. ]

Please, no?

[ And yet, at the back of his head, Gabriel's words. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[He can read you like a book, Joshua LaRue.]

And yet, you're thinking about it.

[Leaning back now; his arms were already stretched out across the top of the couch. Now his right hand is moving towards his lips, half-disguising that tiny little smile on his face.]

[larue]

[ And this is Josh's jaw working a little as he turns away to light another cigarette. ]

Now that's just you being a dick about this whole thing.

[icarusalsoflew]

[Chuckling, because nope, he can't deny that.

Seriously, though...]

I'm not going to do anything that you don't want me to. We're friends. [A beat.] And no one's going to know about this. I promise.

[larue]

[ Quiet, unable to look over. And fairly sure the back of his neck is pretty flushed.

When Hikaru comments though, about not breathing a word of this to anyone, Josh's shoulders droop. ]

I don't know what got into me.

[icarusalsoflew]

And there's no way that you'll be able to figure it out in one night.

[Leaning forward, looking at him with genuine concern.]

So don't try.

[Saying that firmly.]

[larue]

[ A nod; taking those.words to heart.

And looking a little lost because-- ]

Bad habit of mine: whenever I find myself in the middle of a problem, it sticks to me until I figure it out. From all possible angles.

[icarusalsoflew]

Don't make me knock you out, Josh. [A beat.] Or kiss you.

[He is dead serious.

Dead. Serious.]

[larue]

[ Internal reaction: Stop that :|

External reaction ( because, recovering )-- ] I've no doubt you can deliver either one, but I'll take the first over the second, thanks.

[ If Hikaru says that he doesn't have to figure things out all at once, then he doesn't need to think too hard on this just yet. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

You could also have both.

[But he's kidding. Really.

Gentler now:]

I can bring you back to your house, or you could crash here. I really think you should rest.

[Then:]

If you stay here, I do solemnly swear that I will not touch you without your permission, good sir.

[larue]

Really. [ Have a long, steady look. ] If that's supposed to be reassuring, Hikaru -- you're not even trying.

[ But he does smile. Better, this time. More relaxed and less freaked and closer to stone cold sober than he is going to be at all tonight.

Josh exhales a breath, kills his cigarette and sinks back into the chair. ] I might bounce. [ Mouth in a thoughtful line again. ] But maybe in a little bit.

[ Hauling himself home now will likely wake him up. And sleep needs to be a thing, especially since he has work at Rhainnon in the "morning". ]

[icarusalsoflew]

All right, but know that my door - and my bed - are always open for you.

[It's nice to see Josh looking better.]

You had me at South Korea.

[larue]

[ Brows furrowing in confusion at first. South Kor--

The long pause before the sudden realization.

And then: laughter, because what the everloving fuck.

You had me at South Korea.

What the hell.

He's shaking his head now, slipping out another cigarette Because he actually has a potential retort on the very tip of his tongue. It likely shows as well, but he fixes Hikaru with a look instead, and then shakes his head again before lighting up.

Another time. Proper recalibration needs space and thought -- and there's no sense cramming all that in tonight. ]