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 Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 10:11 pm
Michael snorted softly in amusement as Caspian kept the Santa hat and marched off to pay for the things he’d picked up, although Michael paused to glance back at the glass figurines to make a quiet mental note on all the animals on display there.
He supposed shopping with Caspian wasn’t horrible, although he could do without the crowds. At least this way he could learn a little bit more about the things Caspian liked.
“I just want to be able to hear you over this noise,” Michael corrected as he followed Caspian to the line, quickly leaning down from behind him so he could speak into his ear and not have to shout.
“Besides, you still need to tell me what you want for Christmas,” he said, acting as though he meant to press a kiss against Caspian’s cheek, but pulled back before he could, flashing him a teasing smile instead.
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 7:45 pm
The line was thankfully not too long. Caspian stood with one hand in his pocket, the other arm carrying his things, and felt Michael come to stand behind him, head bent near to his own to be heard over the din of the store. Christmas music blared noisily from the speakers, Caspian shuffling forward a few steps behind the person in front of him.
"Uh huh," he said, unconvinced, and felt a small flutter of happiness as Michael leaned closer - and then felt a sense of distinct let down as Michael pulled away, Caspian's expression one of mock outrage.
"Jerk," he whispered, Caspian lifting his chin. "And I don't want anything. Maybe some cookies. A can of spray paint? A clean criminal record?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 10:48 pm
”The less I know about your criminal record, the better,” Michael said with a frown, hoping that Caspian was just joking but knew he had a penchant for getting into trouble and doing things that weren’t exactly legal.
“You are absolutely not getting cans of spray paint from me,” he added, feeling as though it went well with the subject of Caspian’s supposed criminal record. Why Caspian felt the need to express himself through vandalism, Michael would never understand. But although he didn’t encourage it, he didn’t exactly make that big a deal about discouraging it, either. He just didn’t want Caspian getting into unnecessary trouble.
Michael frowned down at Caspian for a few long moments, as though he was debating with himself before finally coughing lightly to clear his throat and saying, “I was actually going to see if you’d like to come to Boston with me for a weekend. It doesn’t have to be Christmas if you’ve already got plans, or even New Years, but…”
He wondered how random it was for him to ask Caspian something like that, and to expect him not to have plans already.
“If you’d rather not travel, that’s fine. I just wanted to get your opinion on something…”
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 8:11 pm
Caspian just smiled winningly at Michael and said "I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of such a record" before reaching out and snagging a chocolate candy bar to add to his pile of things to buy. He was still peering around the store, making a clucking noise of mock disappointment at the spray paint comment.
"Oh, come on, it'll be fun. I'll teach you had to make flowers in spray paint," Caspian deadpanned, but his gaze had moved back to Michael, Caspian half turning to face him at the sound of him clearing his throat. Dark brows rose at the offer, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Michael Gallo, are you asking me on a daaate?" he drawled, emphasizing a rolling southern accent, a teasing note to his voice. But there was a faint, pink dusting across his cheeks, belying the otherwise relaxed composure.
"I wanna go," said Caspian simply. "I definitely want to go."
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 8:44 pm
”Haven’t I told you before that we’re going to be swapping out your spray paints for chalk? It’s not vandalizing if it washes off,” he said with a shake of his head as he stared at Caspian, trying to decide how likely it was for him to have a criminal record when he said it like that. Not that Michael had a sterling reputation, but he felt as though he wasn’t as reckless.
About certain things, at least.
He did snort softly at the drawl, although he didn’t miss the flush to Caspian’s cheeks. Michael was glad that Caspian at least seemed open to the idea of going with him.
“Yes, I am,” he responded just as simply, trying not to look too stupidly fond of this otherwise obnoxious twenty-year-old in front of him. “Alright, we’ll figure out a good time to go when we get home. I’m warning you now that you’ll have to meet my grandparents while we’re there, but hopefully it won’t be too painful.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 7:20 am
"Chalk is boring," said Caspian airily. He wasn't going to actually say whether he had or didn't have a criminal record; watching Michael be flustered and suspicious over it was endlessly amusing anyway, especially with how straight laced he'd been on their very first meeting.
The idea of going to Boston made him pleased, though, Caspian shuffling forward a few steps in line as it slowly progressed towards the singular bored-looking cashier at the counter. He reached out and added a little ornament of a bird to his growing pile of items and said, "Wait, I have to meet your grandparents? Why?"
A pause, as Caspian added another package of cookies, frowning slightly.
"They're not like your parents, are they?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 1:23 pm
“You'll have to meet them because if you don't, Nana will never let me hear the end of it,” Michael admitted with a grimace. It was bad enough that he hadn't introduced Caspian to his family sooner. Like when things were getting serious between them, but in his defense he didn't exactly have any good chance to. His and Caspian’s relationship was no one's business but their own, although he could understand his family’s desire to support them. As annoying as they could be at times.
“My dad and grandfather are similar. They tend to keep out of the way and let their wives do what they want. In reason. But my mom is nothing like Nana,” he said thoughtfully as he waited for Caspian to finish checking out, grateful that they were hopefully done with the store with its too small aisles and over packed shelves.
“She might seem intimidating, but don't let her fool you. She's surprisingly receptive to things. If you ask Peter, he'll probably say not to trust anything she says ‘because she's full of s**t’ or something like that. I think he's just mad that she tried convincing him for years that she didn't know how to use a cellphone,” he said with a shake of his head in slight exasperation.
“You'll be fine. She probably just wants to harass me about never visiting more than you. And if we could go anywhere other than Boston, I would, but the place I want to take you is only there.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:23 pm
Caspian made a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a laugh or maybe it was a sigh. It wasn't so much that he didn't want to meet Michael's family, it was just that he was...nervous.
Very, very nervous. And very, very self-conscious, in spite of everything. It didn't matter how many times Michael reassured him, Caspian was still trying very hard not to let all of the little differences between the two of them get to him. He was secure in who he was, in who he liked - loved. He was stubborn enough not to let things bother him a good ninety-five percent of the time.
It just so happened that the last five percent was taken up by a series of unavoidable, frustrating self-conscious behaviors that involved being much younger than the man he was going to marry.
Caspian shifted things in his arms, piling them onto the counter as he came closer to it and ignoring the dirty looks he was getting from the person still at the register. It wasn't as though he was trying to force his way through, his arms were just getting tired and he wanted to set them down before he dropped anything. Turning to Michael, he said, "So...okay, I think I might get along with your grandmother if she enjoys teasing Peter as much as I do, is what you're saying."
He let out a breath, digging around in his back pocket for his wallet.
"Well...I mean, I want to go. I do, I promise. I'm just..."
Caspian waved a noncommittal hand.
"Boston it is."
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Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:31 pm
“I’m saying you should give them a chance. They’ll like you,” he promised, waiting patiently while Caspian set his things down and pulled out his wallet, although he kept an eye on the people around them in case the person still at the register decided to say anything.
“Relax, it’ll be okay,” he insisted with a small smile. He knew there were certain things that made Caspian self-conscious, and the thought of those they cared for actually minding that they had a large age gap or whatever else they could not like about them being together was very concerning for Caspian. It was sweet. Because no matter how stubborn he was, he still knew the world was (unfortunately) bigger than just the two of them.
“Boston it is,” Michael repeated, obviously pleased by Caspian’s decision to go with him. Not that he would have been upset had he not wanted to go, but it was always a nice reassurance when he did want to go with him.
“Hurry up and pay so we can get something to eat,” he nodded when the other customer finally finished their transaction and shuffled away from the register.
No matter what happened, he was at least glad for the opportunity they had together.
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