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 Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:30 pm
He wanted to focus on the game, he did, but it was hard when he was so close to Xander and it would just be so easy to close his eyes and fall asleep against his shoulder. “Oh, I don’t...I don’t know. I can really pick anything? Um...I was thinking maybe a Ghibli movie...those are nice and relaxing, and since you came here to relax and hide...I thought...I mean. We don’t have to, of course! But...they’re quite nice.”
Nelson hit the button to start the race, not bothering to sit up. He liked being close to Xander far too much to move right now.
“You’re not a train wreck at all.” He said after a moment, maneuvering the blonde baby into first place, pleased that he had a lead for at least a moment or two. “In fact, I think for what you’ve been given, you have things pretty well put together, Xander...and. Um. I like your universe. I’m glad that we’re together in it.”
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:38 pm
“I am -always- here for some Ghibli films.” Xander said enthusiastically. “I mean some are still my favorites, but… always here for some Ghibli. If I ever go to Japan with you, we are absolutely going to the Ghibli museum. I’m taking a picture of you with the catbus, it’s gonna happen.” He grinned and started his ‘chase’ down the track. “…I’m… glad we’re in this together too. I’m glad I know you, I’m glad Jace has Q too, and Holden and…but yeah I… this is awesome to have. I know we both thought of you guys when he suggested I look for a place. That wasn’t without reason so…”
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2020 7:51 pm
“As long as you’re in the picture too, that’s fine with me.” Nelson seemed pleased, calmly getting a powerup, a trail of three bananas following behind his strange high chair like car. He pressed the button to drop all but one of them and laughed softly. “...I’m glad that you both thought of us...I would be a little upset if you didn't! I know that Q really likes your brother...and he’s...really lucky to have two people that think so highly of him but…”
Nelson made a face as the computer controlled Mario sped past him, glowing with a power up. “...But I have you so that just...I think that almost beats having two people...ah...don’t you think? You’re the first and best friend that I’ve ever had and...um…”
The conversation seemed to be getting into almost dangerous territory and Nelson’s hand slipped, the car falling off the edge of a cliff, with Baby Peach making said crying sounds as she was lifted back up by a fishing rod. In last place.
“...I’m just...r-really lucky.”
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:45 am
“So lucky,” grinned Xander as he maneuvered to catch up with the Mario. “I’m the lucky one, I got to be the first best friend because no one else was smart enough! I’m especially lucky that you all put up with me. “Knowing you, and knowing Q, Jace and Holden, makes me believe in the strings of fate. But that’s me being a sentimental sap.” He discreetly steered his own car off the road while talking, just to keep things fair.
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:21 pm
Nelson didn’t notice that Xander had fallen off too until he saw the second screen go black for a moment and he paused. “Ah! Xander! Be more careful, you’ll lose at this rate!”
Quickly, he hit another power up, grinning as he got the blue shell, and then he let it go, pleased that the race was so close, and that Mario was in the lead. This would teach him.
“I’ll avenge us both, Xan. Promise!” He laughed and nuzzled the male’s shoulder slightly, wanting very much to simply lean up and kiss his cheek but...goodness he could never be so bold. “He won’t be able to do any more damage now, we can still finish this thing in first and second place, maybe you’ll get a bullet and whoosh past us all!” Those were Nelson’s favorites. Especially in the more challenging levels. There was something special about having no fear of falling off the edge of a rainbow death trap or Wario’s rickety mine.
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:38 pm
“Avenge me! Yes please! Dang that little Italian plumber!” Xander made a dramatic gesture like he was a fainting southern belle from the movies. “We should go to the carnival when it comes back in town, I want to do some of the roller coasters with you if you’re up for it I mean! I know they aren’t for everyone but… I think it’d be pretty cool.” He was determined to let Nelson win this one and aimed for the middle of the pack. He bit his lower lip, still grinning around it, and cast a side-eye to watch Nelson.
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:53 pm
Nelson was laughing, looking happy and relaxed in a way that he only ever did around Xander, and sometimes his sister. He was free to be himself around them, mostly Xander because Q would always tease him at least a little but…
But it was so nice to be home and have his best friend over, just like old times. At the invitation to the carnival, the male paused and his eyes flickered to Xander, forgetting to keep pressing the button on the controller to make his car continue forward. “...Just the two of us? O-or like...l-like as a group?”
If it were just the two of them...that would be a date, right? But...if they went as a group...Jace could ride all of the roller coasters….Nelson didn’t want to get on one of those death traps, and even though he did...he hated every second of it. It was one thing to go on one at a professional theme park but...when it was a build your own coaster that could fit on the back of a truck…
The thought made him a little queasy.
“...I do like carnival food…”
Mario had passed him again as he daydreamed about a maybe date with his best friend. Oops.
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:59 pm
“The… two of us, we could like, scout it out!” He said thoughtfully. “That way we could warn Jace what booths were good and which were bad and he might, MIGHT have a less stressed out time of it.” He nodded very seriously. “And we could try and do some of the fun rides and see if He’d go with Holden or Q or both, imagine the tunnel of love? I mean…your sister might… well, probably WOULD stab him, or an animatronic, or both…But it’s still fun to imagine right?” He grinned. “AH! Mario is trying to mafia us both! Get him!”
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 8:27 pm
Nelson tried to pull the fluff out of his mind, tried to stop the ringing in his ears. He was quiet for the rest of the course, coming in third, with both Mario and Toad beating him at the last second.
With a sigh, he tossed his controller onto the bed and flopped backwards. “...Xander...did you really want to play spin the bottle? Or were you just joking?”
His eyes were closed, it was easier to talk if he couldn’t see Xander. He didn’t really want to know but...but he did. If it involved Xander wanting to kiss him...then he did want to know. Very much wanted to know.
“Or truth or dare? What made you pick those? I...I’m afraid I don’t have the brain power at this moment to um. Keep Mario Karting...just...give me a minute or so...o-okay?”
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 8:32 pm
Xander’s face went as -red- as his favorite hair tie and his mouth, open for a moment to say something, snapped shut with an audible if familiar ‘caught’ Click of his teeth. “Auurrhmmmmm….” Was the exceptionally articulate answer. “I mean… It, I'm not gonna like… make it weird or anything… so, if it’s just that it’s…weird It's fine I was just… tossing ideas out that might… be… funnnnn?”
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 8:36 pm
The small, reserved smile that was always on his face in situations that were uncomfortable for Nelson was back on his face. It hardly ever showed up when he was alone with Xander, but there was a strange, sinking feeling in his chest and he didn’t like it.
Heartbreak, maybe? That seemed logical, and even reasonable.
“I understand! Maybe when we get the group together again, it might be fun. We can see how uncomfortable your brother gets if he has to kiss Holden or my sister…” Nelson forced a laugh and counted slowly to ten before sitting up again, grabbing the controller. “I’m feeling ready to beat Mario now, if you’re ready for another practice round?”
Heartbreak wasn’t so painful that he couldn’t ignore it.
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 8:39 pm
“Oh…” A small, sad sort of sound, the sound of his heart sinking in his chest. “I…yeah…Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I… I can take the couch tonight. I did make some odd suggestions.” He offered, half-heartedly playing with his controller. “Heh…I…yeah, we should um, we should just get Q and Holden to tag team him for New Years; maybe he’ll catch a clue, eh?” He gave a half-hearted laugh. He hadn’t even realized how much he’d hoped…that… Well, it hardly mattered, did it?
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 8:52 pm
Nelson pushed away the sudden second wave of pain that came from Xander saying he would sleep on the couch and turned his attention fully to the television, willing his suddenly stinging eyes not to start to tear up. “Don’t be silly! This is a s-sleepover. I haven’t gotten to cuddle with my best friend since before I left for Japan...I’m not...not going to miss this chance Xander...unless you want to take the couch ah…”
He nodded at the suggestion about New Years and laughed. “We should...I bet Jace will roar like a bull...it...it’ll be funny...Are we going to spend it together do you think? The five of us?”
Maybe...maybe by then he would have the courage to steal a kiss. Or even just to confess that he was attracted to Xander. But...then again, maybe not.
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