(no subject)

[voreaciously]

Who: Jasmine and visitors
When: Day 13, morning
Where: Jasmine and visitors

[80H is in the common area, making food. She's taken off her bandages, and her elbows look entirely fine, like they weren't shot at. The knees might be okay to assume the same of, but they are, naturally, hidden. She hasn't been out much since the trial, or even before it, honestly, but she's been doubling down on her isolated tendencies. She had to talk to one of their newbies but, after that, it was back to being a hermit.

So it is, perhaps, odd to see her out and about making food, and, what's more, it does not seem to be all for her.]

Comments

[crimeson]

[Randy listens intently, clearly taking in every word and weighing their meaning seriously.

then he smiles up at Rufus and offers him a hand, palm up.]

I do want to try. Seriously, and with full context.

Shall we?

[ruinatings]

[He stares at the hand for a beat, hesitating. Taking it means making a huge leap of faith. It means letting himself be more vulnerable than he's ever been. Showing someone not just the ugly mean side of him but the messy and awkward and insecure side, too. This is perhaps the most terrifying moment of his life.

But he already said he wanted to try, and he meant it. So he steps forward and takes Randy's hand, lightly as if steeled to take it back at the least hint of danger.]

...Okay.

[crimeson]

[He kind of wants to tug Rufus onto his bed and ravish him, but. He can tell the man is spooked, and doesn't want to push too hard too fast, so he simply squeezes that hand gently, smile soft and warm.]

Awesome.

[ruinatings]

Awesome.

[Yes, that's a word. A fun, informal commoner word that suits Randy and feels foreign on Rufus' lips. He's definitely nervous as hell but there's a kind of giddiness there too. This is the sort of thing that should be happy, right? So maybe he should let his guard down and just... be happy.

Easier said than done, but he does finally sit down. Then he exhales, slowly, and the tension goes with it. He feels... relieved. He took a leap and didn't fall! Except, he supposes, for falling right into Randy. Which is a bizarre thought but here he is, allowing himself to flop backward onto Randy's bed, still keeping hold of his hand.

It's habit to stay composed but there's that rare genuinely happy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.]

Jusis is going to be so smug.

[crimeson]

[Randy laughs softly and flops down beside Rufus, absolutely content to hold his hand and grin at him adoringly.]

Yeah? He's already given me the threatening little brother talk, for the record.

[ruinatings]

Has he really...

[Jeez. What a troublesome little brother.]

Things have really changed if he's the one trying to protect me. And yet he has the nerve to say I'm getting old.

[crimeson]

'Course he's trying to protect you. You're his precious older brother.

But he called you old, huh? Sounds like you've been bickering.

[ruinatings]

Oh, no. That was us getting along.

[This is just how they are, man.]

But he wasn't wrong. I've been blessed in that department but I'm significantly older than you, you know.

[crimeson]

Sometimes bickering is getting along.

[He rolls his eyes though.]

Please. Our age difference is, what, five years? That's not bad at all.

[ruinatings]

I have known worse...

[Just gonna. Get his confidence together and scoot over to be closer. Randy is large and warm ///]

[crimeson]

Same here. It's no big deal. I'm not some young innocent thing you've tempted with your adult wiles.

[teasing, closing the distance between them so they're pressed side to side]

[ruinatings]

That's true. It's you who did the tempting, I believe.

[And Rufus who has no experience.]

[crimeson]

Caught me. However will I make up for my crimes?

[ruinatings]

Hmmm...

[lifts a hand to gently poke Randy's side]

You could take responsibility and, what's the phrase... "show me the ropes"? I'll defer to your superior knowledge, Instructor.

[crimeson]

Ooooo.

[real mature, Randy.]

Well, that can certainly be arranged.

[ruinatings]

[Somehow, the immaturity is cute.]

One lesson at a time, mind you, or it may not stick.

[crimeson]

Not to worry, we can just plan lots of lessons~

[ruinatings]

As many as we need. For now, you have my undivided attention. May I suggest, as our introductory lesson, you teach me...

[Randy can probably tell Rufus is bracing to move, but it's still very abrupt when he rolls on top of Randy and pinches his face.]

...what you look like from this angle.

[crimeson]

[Randy's laughing, hands going up to rest on Rufus' hips easily. Sticking his tongue out, since his face is being pinched. ]

I can teach you that, no problem.

1/2

[ruinatings]

It's not a bad view.

[Internally he is just buzzing with nerves, but he's determined to be cool and graceful even here, even while his heart's in his throat.

He doesn't know how to be like this. Comfortable. Happy. He's self-conscious, overly aware of every point of contact, unable to throw away a lifetime of perfectionism. But he really likes Randy, and he doesn't want to pass on an opportunity he may never get again. So he's doing his best -- currently, he's letting go of Randy's face and leaning in close, as if for a kiss.]

Now, I want to know--

[ruinatings]

[He was going to say something suave but this is the second time he's ever tried to kiss someone and what actually happens is he comes in at the wrong angle and ends up smacking his forehead into Randy's.]

--Ow!

[crimeson]

[randy is valiantly, VALIANTLY, trying not to laugh at exactly how high quality comedy that is, but he can't help the shit-eating grin as he lifts a hand to adjust the angle of Rufus' head and tug gently, try again,]

[ruinatings]

Don't you dare laugh.

[What a kind teacher. Rufus is flushed with embarrassment, but he lets himself be guided into an actual, real kiss. No magic booze this time. Just slow and cautious and warm.]

[crimeson]

[it'll be harder for him to laugh if he's distracted by kissing! it's a win-win! that doesn't keep the smile from being reaaaal evident in the start of the kiss, but he's softening on that pretty quickly, humming softly and letting Rufus lead now there's less risk of bumping into each other badly.]

[ruinatings]

[He's too clueless to lead, Randy!! It's embarrassing but, Rufus supposes, everyone has things they don't know how to do. In his case it's this, so he pulls back pretty quickly. He's still himself, so he'd rather stop than fumble around. But at least he did it! That's progress.]

...There. The deal is sealed.