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[Archie's brain takes a second to catch up, study burnout and all (also he's... Archie...), and while he doesn't shrug off Reggie's arm around his shoulder he does grab for the wrist by his now-unbuckled belt.]
Wait, I thought we weren't— [Dating? Involved? Anything while sober and/or not accompanied by ultra hot rockstars? All better options than the actual one: than dalliance. Archie remembers the word because he remembers the conversation because he thinks about it maybe more than he should. Like, too much. But he shouldn't remember it because he's dumb and he doesn't use big words and if he says it Reggie's going to know he remembers it and think he's clingy and desperate and that's not a good look but,] You know, having a dalliance.
Wait, I thought we weren't— [Dating? Involved? Anything while sober and/or not accompanied by ultra hot rockstars? All better options than the actual one: than dalliance. Archie remembers the word because he remembers the conversation because he thinks about it maybe more than he should. Like, too much. But he shouldn't remember it because he's dumb and he doesn't use big words and if he says it Reggie's going to know he remembers it and think he's clingy and desperate and that's not a good look but,] You know, having a dalliance.
[ Reggie looks up at Archie with a mixture of impatience and wariness, ready to question why he's being held back until Archie elaborates. Then Reggie's expression is almost that of someone who's just been slapped; surprised, defensive, and maybe even slightly stung.
He glances away briefly, brows furrowed. Yeah, he recognizes that word, but he'd been hoping Archie had forgotten about it, or at least that he'd put whatever concerns he'd had at the time to rest since then. But Reggie's concerns aren't what Archie might fear they are, either, nothing to do with clinginess and everything to do with Reggie's own uncertainty about putting a name to any of this-- the things they've been doing, and the fact that he's wanted to do them for even longer than they've both been here. ]
Uh. [ Reggie begins, trying to find the right answer, then: ] Look, don't worry about it. What's the big deal?
He glances away briefly, brows furrowed. Yeah, he recognizes that word, but he'd been hoping Archie had forgotten about it, or at least that he'd put whatever concerns he'd had at the time to rest since then. But Reggie's concerns aren't what Archie might fear they are, either, nothing to do with clinginess and everything to do with Reggie's own uncertainty about putting a name to any of this-- the things they've been doing, and the fact that he's wanted to do them for even longer than they've both been here. ]
Uh. [ Reggie begins, trying to find the right answer, then: ] Look, don't worry about it. What's the big deal?
[Archie frowns, looking down at their hands. He feels dumb (which is usual), but also...]
I don't know. I— [He's been down this road before? Sorta. But when it was Ronnie, that was-- different. It's not like he and Reggie are worried about hurting a mutual friend's feelings, and it's definitely not like they're gonna go to jail if they're found out so it feels (just hook-up ADJACENT) ...bad, man.] You don't want anyone to know about... I don't know. [Say "I don't know" one more time, Archie.] Us?
I don't know. I— [He's been down this road before? Sorta. But when it was Ronnie, that was-- different. It's not like he and Reggie are worried about hurting a mutual friend's feelings, and it's definitely not like they're gonna go to jail if they're found out so it feels (just hook-up ADJACENT) ...bad, man.] You don't want anyone to know about... I don't know. [Say "I don't know" one more time, Archie.] Us?
i've never have a conversation with that guy about anything except drinking, football, or how dumb he thinks i am, so yeah, i can see that.
i just started working at that imPort gym, maybe you could talk to the owner? about like, how to get an all imPort team going.
i just started working at that imPort gym, maybe you could talk to the owner? about like, how to get an all imPort team going.
he probably does. but at the end of the day i can ask alex to put him in a headlock if he gets too out of hand, so, i'm not worried. she's got an amazing headlock.
i dunno, i mostly chill in the lobby office and wait for dudes to tear their groins trying to impress the women on the ellipticals. but the owner is a crazy nice dude. he's actually like an adult version of you, weird old timey name and everything. his name's major lilywhite.
i dunno, i mostly chill in the lobby office and wait for dudes to tear their groins trying to impress the women on the ellipticals. but the owner is a crazy nice dude. he's actually like an adult version of you, weird old timey name and everything. his name's major lilywhite.
[ You don't want anyone to know about... I don't know, us? Reggie opens his mouth, then closes it, caught in a rare moment of speechlessness. That was somehow not at all what he expected Archie to say, though he doesn't know what he did expect, either.
Shit, shit. Goddamn-- fuck. Reggie rubs his mouth, which feels far too dry. ]
No, I... look, it's not-- [ His lips purse tightly closed for a moment, then his teeth catch on one corner to bite down in thought. Is it that? And why or why not? ] I just don't want people getting the wrong idea, all right?
[ It's not a lie, but Reggie doesn't bother to consider what that statement really means, either. The wrong idea being... what? That we're an us is one thought that floats briefly to the front of his mind before he dismisses it and shakes his head. ]
I mean, if you need us to be drunk first then that's easy enough to fix... so can't we just-- [ The arm that's around Archie's shoulder tenses slightly, Reggie's hand loosely gripping at Archie's shirt. Helplessly, he can't help but blurt: ] Us?
Shit, shit. Goddamn-- fuck. Reggie rubs his mouth, which feels far too dry. ]
No, I... look, it's not-- [ His lips purse tightly closed for a moment, then his teeth catch on one corner to bite down in thought. Is it that? And why or why not? ] I just don't want people getting the wrong idea, all right?
[ It's not a lie, but Reggie doesn't bother to consider what that statement really means, either. The wrong idea being... what? That we're an us is one thought that floats briefly to the front of his mind before he dismisses it and shakes his head. ]
I mean, if you need us to be drunk first then that's easy enough to fix... so can't we just-- [ The arm that's around Archie's shoulder tenses slightly, Reggie's hand loosely gripping at Archie's shirt. Helplessly, he can't help but blurt: ] Us?
Have you heard from Veronica or Cheryl? I sent them messages and it didn't work... Does that mean their phones are dead or... [ something worse...
also someone is a little desperate to get out of her current living situation.]
also someone is a little desperate to get out of her current living situation.]
Well— yeah, us. [They've fooled around multiple times so like, obviously there's a "them." Archie doesn't really do "casual," is the thing. And he definitely, certainly doesn't do "no strings attached," because he is made of strings and falls in love practically as easily as other people change their clothes. Okay, maybe it's different at parties when he's extremely wasted, but this is Reggie, and he thought—] I don't want to get drunk. [A touch indignant!] What do you mean, the wrong idea? What's the right one? [What are we, Reggie!!!]
That we're having fun-- why does that have to be something we need to talk about? I mean, are a few BJs really such a big deal?
[ Maybe not to Reggie... but even he knows better than to think this is really that simple. He might wish it was, but it probably never could have been between the two of them. ]
I don't wanna just hook up with you, Archie, I want-- [ Wait, "just?" Reggie stops himself, shifting gears: ] What do you want me to say, then? When people come at me first giving me attitude like I haven't already thought about it I should just be like, "Oh that bell's already been rung, so relax about it!"
[ Eyebrows raised like he expects an actual answer. ]
[ Maybe not to Reggie... but even he knows better than to think this is really that simple. He might wish it was, but it probably never could have been between the two of them. ]
I don't wanna just hook up with you, Archie, I want-- [ Wait, "just?" Reggie stops himself, shifting gears: ] What do you want me to say, then? When people come at me first giving me attitude like I haven't already thought about it I should just be like, "Oh that bell's already been rung, so relax about it!"
[ Eyebrows raised like he expects an actual answer. ]
[ It's a good thirty-five minutes before Kyle get to Archie's, but he's got a nice food surprise for his friend. As well as a jacket, which is unusual for him.
He knocks like a good polite person, but then lets himself in. ]
Hey, man!
[ Kyle looks perfectly normal. In fact, without his horns and pale eyes, Archie and Kyle could be mistaken for brothers. ]
He knocks like a good polite person, but then lets himself in. ]
Hey, man!
[ Kyle looks perfectly normal. In fact, without his horns and pale eyes, Archie and Kyle could be mistaken for brothers. ]
I don't know! Maybe not acting like you'd hate it. [So, turns out he'd taken that more personally than even he realized, because he presses his lips together and lets go of Reggie's wrist.] What do you want, Reg? [Because Archie knows what he wants, and he also knows that he always wants too much. Maybe it'd be safer if he made someone else say it first? Yeah.]
[Archie slips out of the kitchen, grinning when Kyle comes through the door. He looks him over, considering.]
Wow! You look great.
[Frankly, Archie thought all the demon stuff looked great (special effects!! in real life!!!), but he knows Kyle didn't exactly find living like that as novel and exciting as he did.]
How's it feel? Better?
Wow! You look great.
[Frankly, Archie thought all the demon stuff looked great (special effects!! in real life!!!), but he knows Kyle didn't exactly find living like that as novel and exciting as he did.]
How's it feel? Better?
I obviously don't h-- Archie, you have to know I don't hate it.
[ Reggie clenches his jaw and narrows his eyes slightly, glancing away in frustration for a moment before he slowly raises his eyes back to meet Archie's. The problem is he doesn't know what he wants, not really; for Reggie's it's always been more abstract than that. He'd never bothered thinking through something like wanting Archie too deeply, because even that at its most vague had always seemed too unrealistic to expect.
And even now with things having changed, it's still hard for him to break that habit. It makes him feel uneasy trying to put a name to what's been going on, and the worst part is that Reggie hasn't even wanted to try and work out why it makes him so uneasy.
So, even knowing -- or at least suspecting -- the general vein of what Archie's asking him now, Reggie answers with: ]
You already know what I want. I thought maybe we could finally bang or something. [ Gesturing with his hands, palms up like a shrug of defeat. ] But since you're obviously in a mood...
[ Reggie clenches his jaw and narrows his eyes slightly, glancing away in frustration for a moment before he slowly raises his eyes back to meet Archie's. The problem is he doesn't know what he wants, not really; for Reggie's it's always been more abstract than that. He'd never bothered thinking through something like wanting Archie too deeply, because even that at its most vague had always seemed too unrealistic to expect.
And even now with things having changed, it's still hard for him to break that habit. It makes him feel uneasy trying to put a name to what's been going on, and the worst part is that Reggie hasn't even wanted to try and work out why it makes him so uneasy.
So, even knowing -- or at least suspecting -- the general vein of what Archie's asking him now, Reggie answers with: ]
You already know what I want. I thought maybe we could finally bang or something. [ Gesturing with his hands, palms up like a shrug of defeat. ] But since you're obviously in a mood...
Thanks! Good. Real good. [ His grin is wide without shame. ] But it nullifies my fire, too, so I get cold now. Which really sucks? I didn't realize it was such a pain to change between your house and, like, outside, and then into a store.
So, sorry, I won't be a good heating blanket tonight. But, plus side, I can drink?
So, sorry, I won't be a good heating blanket tonight. But, plus side, I can drink?
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