OPEN SEASON 2.

[crawly]

1. pick a character.

☛ optional.
☛ character list here.
☛ full list.
☛ specify in the subject line if you want one character in particular.

2. provide a prompt.

☛ image, words, music, whatever you want.
☛ i like to think at least one of my three tumblrs has something interesting. (be warned that all three blogs contain nsfw material, including porn.)

3. gotta go fast.

☛ not actually. this is a permanently open post! tag at your own speed.

previous post here.

Comments

[indeliblestars]

[Fee gives a noncommittal hum, and turns to watch whatever's on. something dramatic is happening, if the music is any cue, but he's not thinking about that.

wait. wait at least until the commercial, before he turns his head to look at Heine.]

Can I ask you something?

[calm, simple. but he knows if he doesn't say it soon he'll probably explode on Heine's couch, and that's not a great idea.]

[canicide]

[ Heine's not even sure what's going on in this show, except that someone got murdered at some point. When Fee speaks to him he glances over. ]

What is it?

[ He's trying not to let his expectations take over. He's trying. ]

[indeliblestars]

[inhale. exhale. and Fee turns himself so he's more facing Heine. once he starts talking, it's easier.]

I'm not the best at staying subtle about shit, no matter what it is. So I'm just coming out with it - I like you, and I've liked you for a while. Didn't want to make this weird, so I didn't say it, but...I like you. You don't have to feel the same or anything, and if you're not into that, no problem. I'll figure out how to get over it and just be your friend. But I do like you. Is that okay with you?

[canicide]

[ It's sort of what he'd expected. Heine can pick up a hint or two—but he had never planned to act on anything, and when Fee brings it up it's a relief.

Immediately after the relief comes mild panic. Fee likes him? Heine thinks about possible problems, like the fact that people usually don't like him, that he's bad with relationships, and that things can change. Things always change, and Heine has found it sometimes easier to let them pass him by rather than risk trying to grab hold of anything.

But Fee is asking him, and he knows he needs to answer if he wants any chance of holding on. ]

Yeah. [ He looks at Fee's face for all of half a second before glancing down, posture stiff without leaning away. ] It's... I'm okay with that.

What if I do feel the same way?

[indeliblestars]

...Then I'm really glad I told you all this.

[and there's a smile on his face, but it's softer. a little more shy than Fee usually is in any context.]

Whatever happens next, up to you. As long as you don't decide that us sitting here like this is suddenly too weird to deal with.

[he'll adapt. he'll work with Heine. in some aspects Fee is extraordinarily simple, happy to simply be in the same room as someone else that he likes. in others he calculates and meticulously thinks through how best to make sure he doesn't upset whatever balances are there.

so he doesn't reach out to touch him. but he does keep smiling like that, trying to not laugh for pure relief and happiness.]

[canicide]

No, it's, uh. It's fine.

[ Heine only delays looking at Fee for another second or two before resting his eyes on him and the genuine smile he's beaming with. ]

Do you want to do something new?

[indeliblestars]

Something new? Like what?

[man, that's a difficult question. exhaling, he looks away, runs a hand through his hair, and looks back. yep, still awake. still hearing all this.]

[canicide]

[ It's so hard to be direct. God. ]

Like a date. [ Huff. ] Though we already hang out, I guess.

[indeliblestars]

Oh! Yeah. Yeah, a date.

[they're great at this, clearly.]

...If you're not doing anything for New Year's, we could go out.

[canicide]

[ Yes. So good at this. ]

Sure. Yeah, I'm not doing anything. Where do you want to go?

[indeliblestars]

I'm not really sure. But there are supposed to be fireworks pretty close, if you're into that.

[an actual date. a date with Heine. how'd he manage this?]

[canicide]

[ Fireworks are okay. He wouldn't mind going out on New Year's Eve, either, and Fee's presence usually makes him calmer than others'.

What could go wrong! ]

Okay. When do you want to leave?

[ Going about things so carefully is a rather foreign concept to Heine. He wants this to work. ]

[indeliblestars]

A bit after it gets dark? I can check the time and see if the fireworks are still happening, but beyond that...

[there's nothing else he has to do. no time he has to spend doing something else beforehand, and he's pretty sure he's not opening on the day after so time won't be an issue. it all works out.

(if he calls Jakob later and asks him to remind him of the schedule then that's just making absolutely sure nothing's getting in the way of the date. holy shit. a date.)]

You got a preference on that?

[canicide]

We could go and get... dinner. Before the fireworks.

[ That would be nice and pretty normal. ]

[indeliblestars]

Dinner sounds good.

[right. dinner. that's a good idea for a proper date.]

Anything in particular you've been craving?

[because leave it up to him, he'll just end up cooking and bringing it with him.]

[canicide]

[ Heine can't think of anything immediately. Something casual, something that won't make things weird. ]

There's this place that does Italian. My friend works there. It's not fancy or anything, but, uh, it's good.

[ Okay, 'friend' is kind of a stretch. Still. ]

[indeliblestars]

Italian it is.

[sounds good. sounds exactly like first date food. sounds like Heine knows where it is, which means no fumbling for the address. perfect.

for a moment, Fee's quiet, and then he just laughs. just for a second, but it's with pure delight, being happy about all of this. some part of him feels like a teenager again, while the rational part says that he needs to not fuck this up.]

[canicide]

[ The laugh surprises a smile out of Heine. ]

Then I'll see you... on New Year's Eve.

[indeliblestars]

[it's the promised day, and Fee's agreed to meet Heine at a very neutral place between. no expectations for that, nothing beyond showing up. okay, so maybe he makes sure he doesn't look like he just rolled out of the shop for his date with a button down and he tries and fails to make his hair do anything, but that's all normal. low pressure. sure.

but he is looking for Heine once he's there, keeping his eyes sharp for white hair and that familiar face. maybe he looks a little dorky leaning and looking around with his hands tucked in his pockets, and maybe he's looking in the wrong direction, but Fee's trying. he managed being on time, he can manage waiting patiently for him.]

[canicide]

[ Fee does turn out to be looking at the wrong side of the train station when Heine shows up, but Heine announces himself with a short 'hi' as he approaches, so hopefully no one is startled. ]

You ready to go?

[ Heine has a jacket on over a white buttoned shirt only slightly paler than his skin—not out of the ordinary in terms of wardrobe, and his hair is certainly sticking up everywhere like it usually does. These are in fact results of his nerves, in that he's making a concerted effort to not appear overdressed. ]

[indeliblestars]

[turning around, Fee grins, realizing his mistake, and nods.]

I am. And you look nice!

[not that he doesn't look nice regularly, but hey, he can comment on it, tonight of all nights.]

Which...which way are we going? To get there from here.

[canicide]

Uh, thanks. [ Heine jams his hands into his pockets and uses the opportunity to dig out his wallet. ] We're taking the train inbound.

You hungry?

[ C...onversation....... ]

[indeliblestars]

Yeah, actually. You mentioned an Italian place?

[like he didn't know this for fact, like he wouldn't remember that important conversation.]

[canicide]

Yeah. It's close to the South Station stop, so...

[ Ah, good, the train is pulling into the station. Inside it's loud enough that Heine feels all right about not trying to talk. As he'd said, the restaurant is only two blocks from the train station. It's a small, cozy establishment and busy at this time of night, but they manage to get one of the last few empty tables.

Heine just hopes that the amount of customers will keep anyone he knows who might be working tonight from noticing him. ]

[indeliblestars]

[Fee, on his part, seems delighted. admittedly that's a low bar to pass, seeing as how he gets delighted over little things, but still. not talking was fine, just being in Heine's presence qualifies this as a date, and as they take a seat, he finally does speak.]

I've noticed this place, but never actually been in...you come here often, or you just know it's good?

[it doesn't matter, because things smell good, and that's enough for him.]