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 Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 9:26 am
December jumped right out of his place in the kitchen when called, and tried not to seem far too excited when returning to the bedroom.
He said nothing at first, not realizing that the balcony door was open, until he came in a little bit further to see the extremely cozy scene before him. The smile on his face grew, the shimmering lights from the candles reflected in his big, lavender eyes which were wide with awe.
"I love this." It was simply said, though his voice remained soft, as if the effort Nataniel put forth in coming up with the most perfectly comfortable scene would be all ruined.
Each step forward was carefully placed, avoiding anything that might have made him a fool out of himself, and then he gently sat down the food on the little table. With everything settled, he wrapped his arms around Nataneil's waist, pressing a kiss to his cheek while holding him tight.
"Thank you..."
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 4:43 pm
It was not his norm. Nat's gaze slowly slid from the glowing sunset courtyard view beyond his balcony, down to the table where their food had been set, and then back up to a pair of shining lavender eyes. Nataniel recognized that he had done something nice, and as December stepped in to loop an arm around him, Nat responded in kind by smoothing a palm down the younger man's spine. He'd only done it for December; he wanted his companion to enjoy it. That was the purpose. That was the 'why.'
But his mind kept tripping over what they'd arranged to do that night. They'd selected a movie and had purchased tickets. He'd bought December clothes after they'd argued their way through why they were even together. They'd planned. They'd planned, they'dplanned-
"It pleases me that you like it," Nataniel stated instead, dipping to touch a light kiss to December's forehead before stepping from his hold and moving down to a crouch to survey what had been selected for the night's meal. He fished around in the large paper delivery bag and retrieved the dishes from inside, before setting them on the low table and sliding the bag off to the side. "Drinks," he murmured, flicking his fingers at December in silent demand that he acquire them. "And the deck of cards from the drawer by the fridge."
If they were going to sit out here, they might as well make it interesting.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2020 7:06 pm
With one more squeeze, December loosened his grip for Nataniel to move away, only to scurry off back to the kitchen the moment he was told to do so.
This feeling... It was indescribable! A warmth filled his belly, and his heart felt like it was fit to burst from happiness! Even his face was heated and flushed, a little embarrassed, a lot thrilled at his partner's consideration. As much as they had argued back and forth, it felt like this was exactly what he was craving.
A little sweetness. He could almost cry if it weren't for the fact that Nataniel very much disliked any tears. Besides! There was food to eat!
A few moment's later December returned with the requested items, setting them on the table.
"So what kinda game do you want to play?" Once Nataniel chose his side, he sat opposite of him, gaze traveling out the window to the warm sunlight that streamed in between the balcony's railing. "... I really do love this, Nataniel, I love it so much I could burst, thank you..."
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2020 8:00 am
One of the girls in the building across the courtyard had brought her dog out to tend to its business in the grass, and Nataniel watched it with only mild dissatisfaction as December left him. He supposed that was the trade off for trying to have dinner in a relatively open, populated area. Not everyone used the available space for the same things. Ever since he'd lived away from home, Nat had stayed in an apartment, but maybe one day it might be nice to have a more secluded place of his own... He ran his hands over the rather coarse fabric of the outdoor pillows beneath him.
A place with a real yard or real patio, maybe. It was basic nonsense to think about such things, of course. It wasn't like he spent much time outside, himself, besides to jog in the mornings. He could do that anywhere. He didn't need to spend any additional resources to maintain a larger, more personalized space.
He kept thinking of the off-white walls in his temporary home, devoid of the effort it would take to make them look pleasant. Nataniel didn't like unnecessary trinkets, anyway, he told himself.
He reached for the water December set on the table as soon as the younger man returned, and after screwing off the cap and taking a quick drink, his focus went to the cards. "Is there anything you know how to play?" Nat enjoyed card games and knew how to play a varied handful, but some of them were complicated, and he wasn't as used to playing with only one other person. He somehow doubted December knew more than the most basic games.
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2020 8:13 pm
"Hmm?" He had become distracted by the outside for a moment, but had his attention pulled back when Nat spoke to him again. "Oh, I know games like.. Black Jack, Gin Rummy, Crazy Eights, War, and Egyptian Rat Screw."
An old memory came to mind, where his sisters friends would sometimes come over and invite him downstairs when she was out. They'd gamble for sweets and a few dollars and while he wasn't the best, he could win every now and then.
"Black Jack is quick and fast, I think, easy to play and eat... Ooh, do you wanna bet on it? We can maybe do things like betting dares, or penalties!"
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 2:40 pm
"Mm." A pretty standard set of games, then. Though Nataniel had to admit that he'd expected December to say 'Go Fish' for sure, and he was a little surprised that he hadn't. It was the type of childish, no-consequence game he figured December would enjoy. The tiniest of frowns settled on his lips. He reached for the deck and slipped it out of its cardboard shell before setting to idly shuffle them between his palms. He didn't usually play cards with only two people.
Or sober.
He did love to gamble... though, admittedly, also usually while not sober.
"I am unsure if you have, or could do anything that interests me," Nataniel replied with a shrug. It wasn't like he had a filthy house that needed cleaning or like December had anything to bet with. Likewise, Nat didn't think there was much else December could ask of him. He'd already bought dinner, movie tickets, and clothes for this boy, and already gave him a place to sleep, as well. "Was there something in particular you had in mind?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2020 9:59 pm
”Something wrong?” Food came before playing, of course, so December had already started to dig in once everything was dished out. Food always seemed to taste better when with someone you cared about, and being here with Nat.... Yes, the food tasted absolutely delicious!
But why was he frowning? He honestly couldn’t think of what he did wrong just now....
“I was thinking maybe... Silly bets. Or dares. Dares ares always fun, as long as you’re willing to try it.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:02 am
"No, there is nothing wrong," Nataniel replied, tone muted and flat. Nothing wrong at all. He just wasn't sure he understood the benefit of December's 'silly bets or dares.' He supposed there wasn't any harm in them, as long as it was nothing too dreadfully embarrassing... Swallowing down the thought, Nat pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and reached to start unpacking his own curry.
The meal was set to the edge of the short table so that the majority of the space could be occupied by the cards. "There are only two of us, so I have trouble imagining that it will take very long." He dealt out the first pair of cards to each of them and set the remaining deck in the middle of the table between them.
"You first."
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 8:34 pm
”Alright, if you say so!” After a quick shuffle of the deck, and a few bites shoveled into his mouth, December dealt out a quick hand to both of them.
“Black jack it is! Winner can dare someone to do something. House rule, you can hold your dares until you feel like using them all.” His fingers almost moved expertly across the cards, and happily took a hit.
“I can promise you, I’m gonna win!”
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:12 am
"Seems an odd thing to make a rule," Nataniel grumbled as he waited for December to pick up his cards before doing the same. He didn't prefer to wait for things to happen, and he wasn't sure he understood the benefit of 'holding dares.' He was more familiar with casino rules of winning something and then having it immediately.
But whatever. It was just a game between the two of them.
And he wasn't completely dissatisfied with his starting pair. "And an odd thing to promise," he added after seeing his cards. It wasn't like blackjack was a game of great skill where knowing how to play well guaranteed a win. It was hard to promise victory with so much luck involved.
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 12:45 pm
"Nah, it's a good rule! You're going to love it! Just watch!" He, too, liked his hand, and after they went through the motions... Well. His luck wasn't that great.
He lost the first hand.
"Booo... Oh well! So, tell me, would you like to hold your Dare, or use it now?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 3:30 pm
Nataniel liked to win. That was the objective, after all. But he still had trouble thinking of anything he wanted from December. They were playing a betting game, but there wasn't anything to gain from it, not like when he played cards at the club with money and booze involved. He slid his used cards back in December's direction so the other boy could shuffle while Nat considered.
There wasn't anything December could do for him that Nat couldn't do for himself, and he didn't gain any particular thrill from seeing people hurt or embarrassed. Neither was there any point in 'holding' the dare, since he didn't see a purpose to it.
"Oh." A thought came to him, and he stood from the patio and went back inside. When he returned, he was carrying a very basic-looking bottle of dark, purply-red soda. "I am not very fond of these, but I try not to waste. I was afraid they would sit in my refrigerator forever, unless I forced them down. Here." He set the bottle before December. "It is supposed to be black cherry soda, but it tastes a bit like guzzling cough medicine. You can drink it, so I do not have to."
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Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 3:40 pm
"Huh... Alright!" Just as he was told, December took the soda, popping it open and took a swig. .. Yup, just like cough syrup. But even when he scrunched up his face and wrinkled his nose, he took another sip, hoping to finish it fast enough that he could drown out the taste with his food.
"Next time, I'll win!" Just as quickly as he did before, he dealt out cards, and went through round and round and round between bites of food. To his surprise... He won several, right in a row.
With the food gone, well... All that was left was to claim the prize of his dares he kept hoarding. "Hehehe.... You ready, Nataniel?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:15 am
If there wasn't any real benefit to winning, there may be more to gain by actually losing. Nataniel tipped his head as he observed his next set of cards. It was a bit of a chore to try and think of anything he could ask December for if he won, but since it had been the younger man's suggestion to play for 'bets and silly dares,' Nat had to wonder if December actually had something in mind...
And if so, what it was.
The game was still one of luck. There wasn't much Nat could do to decide who won or lost, but there the following several hands were not particularly in his favor. He might have been offended, or he might have been mildly curious. It still seemed absurd and unnecessary that 'holding' bets was a rule, but it was what it was at this point.
He tossed his most recent hand into the pile of used cards and leaned back against his arm as he eyed the boy across from him. "What did you have in mind?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 8:35 pm
"I have a few things, buuuut we'll go bit by bit!" December wasn't exactly maniacal when it came to his dares, nor was he good at hiding his intent. Maybe it was a little bit of a clue when he pulled away from the table and started to crawl over to his partner, stopping only when he was just a few inches away.
"First off... I dare you.... To let me sit in your lap." It was a habit, requiring explicit permission to do anything, for fear of some sort of scowl or simply being told no but.. If it was a dare, there was no risk for disappointment! Nataniel had to do it, it was part of the game!
But it also was something he really wanted. Without waiting for a reply, he straddled Nataniel, holding onto his shoulders to steady himself with a grin.
"And for the next one.... I dare you to let me kiss you. Right here, on the balcony."
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