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 Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:08 pm
Paris's usual cynical, sardonic attitude softened even more when he felt a hand in his hair, and he nuzzled further against Ladon's shoulder, tempted to wrap his arms around him again and snuggle. He laughed at Ladon's reply, smiling brightly in good humor. "Hey, I'll have you know I was at home, safe in my bed before you texted me," he informed him, as if that made up for all the other times he was away from home, doing things that some would probably consider quite unsafe.
He wasn't offended at all. In fact, Ladon's comment probably had a shred of truth in it, considering Paris pretty much had been laying on a sidewalk the first time Ladon had ever taken him home. Again, his traitorous brain wondered if he might need Ladon more than Ladon needed him, but he told himself now was not the time to worry about such things, and he brushed it off before it could come to much notice.
Paris pulled away when Ladon's voice changed its tone, easily noting the frown on his face. He wasn't sure he liked the way he asked that question, and he responded to him warily. "You say that like you expect me to say 'no,'" he observed, trying to figure out on his own what Ladon might want. He doubted it had anything to do with furnishing the apartment. Ladon wouldn't sound as he did because of something like that.
"I feel like you've just sat me down and said 'we need to talk,'" he said. It was like that in the movies, wasn't it? Certain lines always meant certain unpleasant things. "What is it?" he asked anyway, sighing lightly as he did so. "What do you want me to do that you think I'm not going to like?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:54 pm
It was strange to ask his friend this, especially considering how heated Paris was about him seeing Billy, but he had no other option short of sneaking into Hillworth himself. The last thing he needed was to get caught and have his mother pick him up and then lock him in a car and flooring it to his dad's place. Still, the touchy subject that was Billy was not one he wanted to touch unless he had to and this was one of those times. Too bad it was around the time they almost just called the whole friendship off, and he was very aware how fragile their time together was. Bonding over fixing the apartment would be great, but right now, he had another little test for him. He hoped Paris would understand.
Already his friend rose up and gave him a look that said he was already on guard, and why wouldn't he? Ladon hadn't really giving him a tone that said they would be talking about what floor tile to agree upon in the bathroom. "Well, I changed my phone number and address, but….Billy doesn't know." Before Paris could start with the flat out 'NO', Ladon continued. "…If he called my mother up, she is going to chew him out and he's going to wonder what is going on and why he wasn't told. I don't have any other way to call him since he doesn't have a phone, and I don't want to set him up to be attacked and surprised. Not to mention to have my mother just lay into him that I'm some runaway." He said this part quickly, pleading to Paris his case before he objected.
"I really need someone that can go to him and just give him my phone number and address. Not even that. You can just give him my phone number if you want." Ladon pressed his hands together. "PLEASE can you do this for me? You don't even have to say much of anything. That's all I need." And then he looked at the blonde with a held breath. His love life depended on the one person who didn't even want to see it happen with Billy.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:20 pm
Of course. Billy. It would always be Billy, wouldn't it? At least until Ladon realized there were less douche-y fish in the sea.
Paris couldn't help but frown, nor could he hide his displeasure. He groaned and flopped over onto the floor, lifting his hands up to cover his face. "Ugh, I hate him," he said through his palms, and though he did currently dislike Billy more than any other person in the world -- except, perhaps, his mother -- his voice lacked any real vemon. He wasn't particularly angry about the request; he just didn't like the idea of facing him. "I hate him, I hate him, I hate him," he ranted, and would have started kicking his feet and pounding his fists on the floor in a childish tantrum if he thought he wasn't getting the point across already.
He'd done everything he possibly could to avoid Billy since The Incident, a task that grew easier as he spent more time ditching school. To go up to him even for such a short amount of time as it would take to relay Ladon's message would no doubt leave him enraged. Just thinking of Billy's arrogant face made his blood boil.
"He's just going to get snarky with me, and then give me that smug look of his, like he's soooo much better than I am, like he actually deserves you," Paris said. He didn't think Billy deserved Ladon at all. Ladon was too good for him.
Ladon was too good for the both of them.
Pouting, Paris looked up at his friend and could tell that he was desperate, that he wouldn't have asked if he thought there was an easier way. He couldn't just say 'no' to that -- even though he really, really wanted to. "Okay, fine," he relented, "I'll do this for you, but that's it. Don't expect me to start being all buddy-buddy with him. I'm not going to be friends with him just because you're dating him. He's got to earn that, he's got to be the one to make the effort. I was your friend first, so..." Billy should be the one working to impress him, not the other way around.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:07 am
The long frown settled when he saw his friend flop to the ground, declaring over and over his hatred for his boyfriend. It wasn’t anything new, but it still brought back the reminder that Ladon could never get these two to be together in the same room. Whatever rosy image he had of them all hanging out was impossible, and he settled in the idea that at least he had both of them and that was all that really mattered. You couldn't make two people like each other and…well, Ladon wasn't too much against it. There was a sort of peace in keeping Paris and Billy separate as having them near each other might just be too awkward to see. To even picture them sitting on the couch made him just cut scene to them making out, and he shook at the thought. Still, a mild tolerance between them would have been nice.
When he felt he would have to scramble for another way to contact Billy – Maybe he could pretend to be a relative and call up Hillworth with some urgent news – but then Paris finally looked at him and agreed. The smile that broke out was wide, and Ladon threw himself on the ground, hugging his friend. "Thanksyou.Thankyou.Thankyou. You're the best, Paris. I don't know what I would do without you." He'd probably be alone and bored in an apartment, that's what. "You don't have to do anything but that. Thank you ssooo much!"
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:54 pm
Mild tolerance might, some day far away, be manageable, but it would probably take a lot to get to that point. Paris couldn't approve of someone who didn't inspire any trust in him, and he couldn't like someone who obviously thought so very little of him. He didn't think being treated or thought of as if he were worthless and insignificant, and so far Billy hadn't done anything to make him believe otherwise. Nor had Billy proven to him that his courtship of Ladon was genuine, and until he did there would always be that skepticism and doubt.
Paris just happened to be protective of his one and only friend, although some people would probably claim that protectiveness to be possessiveness. So what? Why shouldn't he be a little possessive of the one person who'd ever truly given a damn about him? Ladon wasn't just a random classmate he happened to be on good terms with, or some late-night acquaintance who turned out to be a decent time. Paris didn't like thinking of himself as being the third wheel when before he'd thought to be the closest person to Ladon. Maybe that had been delusional. Either way, he didn't want anyone coming to take his place, whether that place was real or imaginary.
He blinked in surprise when Ladon flung himself at him and hugged him, too shocked to really do anything for a moment before he wrapped his arms around his friend to return the hug. "You're welcome... I guess." He reacted rather positively to the praise. It was nice to have people think well of him for a change. "I just can't promise I won't punch him in the face if he says something mean."
For the moment, Paris was satisfied simply to be hugged. He liked being held, and though someone else might look at the situation and think that the position they were currently in was rather awkward or compromising, Paris wouldn't mind it if it lasted a little longer. "Of course you wouldn't know what to do without me," he continued, trying to make himself sound cheerful again. "You love me," he said, half-joking around, more teasing and playful sounding than serious. At the same time, he was half-hopeful that there was some truth in it. He didn't want or need whatever it was Ladon seemed to want with Billy, but he still wanted to be someone important, someone worthy of care and attention
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:02 pm
Ladon rolled over, very glad he at least had most of everything settled. Paris' hug was not unwelcomed, but laying on top of anyone was uncomfortable. Breathing out beside him, he looked up at the ceiling. "Just try not to both get expelled, and I want you two to not to fight. You both look too good to get hurt." He hoped that would be incentive enough for Paris not to get a black eye, seeing as the boy seemed to value his good looks. Of course he didn't see it the other way until he pondered it later in the week.
The comment of love wasn't denied, but just accepted. Ladon loved Paris as a friend loved another friend, in hopes that they kept safe, they stuck around, and they had a good life. If there had been anything else to that, it was also passed off, and Ladon continued to smile and stair up at his ceiling. Things in order and with everything getting late, he was now ready to bed, even though his bed was currently on the floor.
He wondered about Paris going home, and then looked over to him. "Getting late. Want to stay over at my place?" It was the first time he could ever say that to anyone, and he smiled at that sort of ownership and independence. "…or do you want to go home? I can walk you out?" Though…he had hoped for the first. The place was new, but, well, he was very alone here. It was lonely at home, but now he was sure no one else would be there. Just him, and a lot of packed boxes.
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:21 am
Paris was a little disappointed when the hugging ended, but he didn't show it, nor did he try too hard to prevent the inevitable break in contact. He'd try not to be too clingy for Ladon's sake, though he couldn't deny how good it felt just to be close to someone. Paris would have felt a similar sense of loss with almost anyone had he suddenly been removed from physical contact, but with a friend it was quite a bit stronger.
Sighing and pushing his worries about Billy out of his mind now that the conversation was no longer on him, Paris rolled onto his side to face Ladon, not all that uncomfortable on the floor, though he would admit it wasn't the ideal place to sleep. Even so, he didn't plan on leaving unless Ladon wanted him to. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to go except home, which was lonely with just his dad there, and school, which was frustrating in its oppressive atmosphere.
"Yeah, I'll stay," he said with another small smile. "As long as you don't mind. I assume you don't since you asked, but it's not like you have a lot of room to stretch out without a bed, so I'll go if you'd rather not feel cramped. I just don't want you to feel lonely or whatever. I mean, it's your first night on your own..."
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 5:49 pm
Ladon rested on the ground, but turned over to look at Paris with a small smile. He felt loads better now, and while being alone was still something he had to tackle in all it's entirely when Paris did decide to go, he liked having someone to talk to now. He liked that he could lay on the ground all night and talk to someone without having to worry about his mother and, if he so chose, he could leap out of the window and go out as Wolframite. He had yet to try this, but it was a large perk. Still, he could see cons, but those would come later. Right now, he was a boy with his own place, something that was both exciting and scary – but at least he had a friend.
"If you don't mind sleeping on the floor, I'd be happy to have you stay. I'll even treat you to breakfast in the morning." It was, he hoped, a convincing offer, though a warm bed probably would have been more inviting. Frowning, he looked more pleading to him. "…..I'd appreciate it if you could. I'll even give you the fluffy pillow."
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:19 pm
"Don't worry. You don't need to bribe me. I'll stay," Paris said at Ladon's pleading look. It was adorable, in a way, how Ladon didn't want to be alone -- though Paris could easily understand; he wouldn't have wanted to be alone either. It was encouraging, too, being the first one to see Ladon's new place, being the first one to stay over, being offered a place to stay whenever he wanted. He'd never really had that before, and though he'd always been able to stop by Ladon's house prior to him moving out, it had been different simply due to the potential presence of his mother. Now it was just them.
At least this time. Paris wasn't dumb enough to believe Ladon would never have his boyfriend over, but that was something to be considered and dealt with at a later time.
"I've slept in worse places, so the floor's not going to bother me," he reassured his friend, picking himself up off the floor long enough to help Ladon adjust the blankets and pillows so that they would both be as cozy as possible. Paris didn't bother to worry about pajamas and returned to his spot on the floor as soon as they were done; the shirt and shorts he was already wearing were comfortable enough to sleep in. He laid down so that he was facing Ladon, close enough to touch should he need to give comfort or reassurance, but far enough away so as to not make him feel as if he were being smothered.
"Good night, Lady," he said quietly. He would try to stay in place, but he couldn't be sure that he wouldn't shift closer over night. Having another warm body so close to him was too comforting not to.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:48 pm
He was relieved to know that Paris would stay, and set to work setting up the makeshift bed, using a rolled-up sleeping back to provide an extra layer to soften the floor, already have two other blankets, and throwing his heavy quilt on the pair of them. Like Paris, he didn't bother undressing, not really feeling like going into an empty bedroom to change into PJs, and just snuggled under the covers with his best friend. With two people, it was certainly much warmer, even if they weren't close, and like Paris, he turned to look over at him. It was nice to have a sort of odd slumber party, and he wondered why he wasn't more uncomfortable about all of this. Most people would get strange or uneasy with sleeping with another boy, even if they were your best friend. He guessed he just didn't care about what other people thought about this because he was very comfortable and felt safe. For once, he didn't care what other people thought.
He smiled and rested his head a pillow, and ruffled through the covers to find Elliot, who was hidden somewhere under the blankets, and held him under the covers just so Paris wouldn't see. Like him, he would probably move closer for warmth and comfort, and like him, he wouldn't mind if the other did the same.
"Good night, Paris." He said, and closed his eyes at last. He wasn't as afraid of the future now where he was being kept up at night thinking about all that he had to do and what still needed to be done. He'd get there, and he had a friend to help him along the way. Right now, that was the best thing he could have. His own place didn't seem like such a bad thing after all or a huge burden.
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