|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 6:32 pm
Casey was delighted to be pampered as he was. He hoped he wasn’t making things too awkward for Ariel or Morgan, but he was led easily to the couch and held Ariel’s hands as long as he wanted and helped bundle himself up in a blanket. Oh, but he would have to make sure Ariel joined him since he was probably cold too.
And then his heart fluttered.
He wondered if Ariel meant it like that. He didn’t seem like the type to talk about things like that. And it was probably Casey’s own fantasies going wild to even think that he had a chance--
“Coming home to you and Harrison with Morgan and pizza was definitely the best part,” Casey agreed, trying to ignore the way his cheeks definitely flushed with color. “I always look forward to seeing you. Oh, and Harrison. Sorry girl,” he laughed when she decided to join in the attention by jumping up onto the couch between them.
“I’ll have to figure out some more soup for you to take with you for lunch. Do you like potatoes? I could probably figure out a good potato soup. Or cheddar and broccoli. Ah, they sound kind of generic, but I’ll do my best to make sure they’re not boring,” he insisted. He hadn’t want to stop their conversation but also didn’t want Morgan standing around in the cold.
“And I like holding your hand. It’s very grounding. I hope that’s okay. Too bad it’s so cold. I bet if it was hot, Morgan wouldn’t bother with a shirt. He told me he didn’t even wear a shirt for most of his calendar pictures!”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 6:47 pm
A grateful, relieved smile appeared on Ariel’s face, even if he thought Casey was just being sweet. Of course coming home would be the best part, regardless of who was here. He was free from that horrible job and he could just relax.
Well, as best as anyone could when they had only pizza and darkness.
“Oh! He brought up the calendar again, see! He must be very proud of it.” Or, maybe he’d just noticed how Casey and Ariel both seemed to get flustered every time it came up. “I want to see it,” he muttered, a bit begrudgingly and a bit embarrassed. “For educational purposes.”
No, definitely not. He didn’t even bother trying to make the lie convincing. He flopped against Casey, even at the expense of squishing Harrison a little. He made sure Casey had his pizza first, and then he got a piece of his own. He held it, savoring the warmth.
“I like holding your hand, too.” Casey had already admitted it, what was the shame? “I must have been touch starved before, now I can’t get enough of being around you. I don’t even think I’d mind if you did kick me if it meant I could still sleep next to you.” Was that too much? God, tone it back. Stop. Just, chill.
Soup was a safe topic. He circled back. “Are either of those soups boring? They sound delicious. Should we look for somewhere with a big kitchen when we move?”
…Wait, that wasn’t–that was a horrible segue, he was practically right back to where he started.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 7:44 pm
“I want to see it, too!” Casey laughed, because of course he would enjoy seeing Morgan without his shirt! Oh… well, for educational purposes, as Ariel said. Kinda.
He laughed again when Ariel flopped against him, but made sure to keep his pizza out of the way of both Harrison’s inquisitive nose and mouth, and also out of Ariel’s hair.
Maybe it was too much, but he tipped his head a little to be able to rest his cheek on Ariel’s head. Just for a moment! He said he was touch starved so he wanted to make sure he would never have to worry about that again. Hopefully that meant he would keep sleeping next to him.
“Oh, a big kitchen would be really nice. I was thinking of at least a little yard for Harrison. Oh, I mean, if we managed to get something that wasn’t an apartment.”
It wasn’t weird at all to plan for the future, right? And he was excited about spending his future with Ariel. And maybe even Morgan since they were all friends now.
“Or at least somewhere that we can visit Morgan easily. He mentioned that he asked around for me. For a new job, I mean. So maybe I’ll be able to, uh… do something better.”
Better than being miserable all the time. But he needed the money and couldn’t afford to just quit.
“Hopefully the soup won’t be boring! I’ll have to research how to make the best.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 8:49 pm
“Oh, that’s right,” Ariel said, as if he had the sudden realization that they couldn’t go too far if Casey was going to get a new job. And Morgan was a new friend who had already done a lot for the both of them. Would he understand if they explained the situation?
…Ariel suddenly felt very anxious. He didn’t want to tell Morgan. It was humiliating enough to have told Casey, and he’d still been so vague about everything. It was such a raw wound and his heart skipped a few beats. Casey was safe. He didn’t feel unsafe around Morgan, but Casey was just warm. He had this peaceful, understanding glow about him.
He was just so good.
Ariel had a hard enough time opening up to anyone new, and even if he found himself curious about Morgan, and with a strange, desperate need to be interesting around him, it wasn’t like he could just unlock the barriers he kept up. He didn’t know why Morgan felt so familiar, or why he was so inclined to look after him, or why it was so easy to trust him when he said he could protect them, but–
This was just a turbulent time in his life. Maybe he’d just forgotten what it was like to make new friends, unfettered by the past or other connections.
“I want a place with a good security system. Maybe somewhere not too far from a police station.” He was quiet for a moment. “Or a fire station. But definitely close to your job. Maybe by the time we move, things will have cleared up for me. Or I’ll change my name and get plastic surgery and I can go back to school. I don’t think I’ll be able to save up for that on my current salary. Mm. You’d be a cute park ranger, maybe you could make calendars, too.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 8:30 pm
While Ariel was talking, Casey was quickly shoving as much pizza as he could into his mouth. That way he wouldn’t miss out on talking to Ariel once he was done sorting through his thoughts.
It wasn’t unusual for Ariel to get into… almost like moods… where he seemed to remember something or think deeply about something. Casey didn’t mind, as long as he wasn’t the cause of Ariel’s distress. He just hoped that he could figure out a way to help him get settled.
Carefully, so as not to knock Harrison off the couch, or hit Ariel in the case, Casey unraveled his bundle of blankets so he could place it over Ariel’s shoulders as well.
And, because his arm was there already, Casey kept it over Ariel’s shoulders and gave him a little squeeze.
“A security system would be good. If we can find a place close to a fire station and police station, that would be perfect,” he agreed, and then paused to take another bite of his pizza.
“If you want me to pose for you without my shirt on, I can do that any day,” he teased. “Oh, but you’d probably rather if I kept my shirt on anyway. I don’t look anything like Morgan. I can barely carry Harrison!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 11:31 am
When Casey shared his blanket, Ariel leaned into it instinctively. He’d been moving around a lot before, but now that his panic and worry was slipping, he was more aware of the cold. Casey’s warmth was special. It was more than just something to chase away the chill, it chased away his fear and doubts, too.
“Oh, stop.” His smile was back in place, more relaxed than it had been before. “I wouldn’t know what to do if you started posing for me shirtless. Panic, maybe. Stare. You’re just as handsome as Morgan. You have such a charming smile.”
So cheesy, it was pathetic. Cheese. Cheese...?
Oh, it was melting onto his hand. Poor Harrison was going to think he was teasing her; he quickly held the slice to his lips and took a bite and hoped Casey didn’t think he was pathetic.
All of this felt so new, so strange. So familiar and so different. He wished he’d met Casey fifteen years ago. He wished he’d met him before he’d ever gotten into any other relationship. Maybe that’s not what this was, maybe it was just his heart playing tricks on him. Maybe he was so desperate to fill all the gaps of things he’d lost that he was jumping the gun on this.
Practically speaking, he knew there was something special about Casey. He just didn’t understand himself, or whatever this was between them. If it was friendship, he’d be happy with that. He wasn’t going to risk ruining this. Casey hadn’t gotten awkward with anything he’d said yet, and maybe Ariel was only making it awkward by thinking he was.
He needed to mellow out, he needed to relax.
It was just this storm. It had him so high strung. He was still sorting through his thoughts and feelings, and all this electricity in the air must have been pushing all this wild energy in him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 7:21 pm
“Panic?” Casey laughed, but made sure to take another couple quick bites so he could break Harrison off a piece of the crust. He knew he shouldn’t be giving her too much people food! But she was being such a good girl and not harassing them about it! Probably because he and Ariel had her pinned between them.
“You’re so sweet,” he grinned, trying to ignore his reddened cheeks. At least it was keeping him warm! He didn’t think he had a very charming smile. It was more silly and awkward, but he was happy to know that Ariel thought it was charming.
“I think you’re handsome, too. You’re very, um… elegant. Uh. I don’t know if that’s the right word. But, like. You seem so… cultured? Um… Classy? Posh? Uh… I mean, I know we’re living in this kinda dumpy apartment building, but you don’t seem like you belong here. You seem like you’d fit in better in an upper class setting. Ah, I mean. Not that… well, it’s been a while since I’ve been around people like that but… I don’t know. This pizza is really good, though!”
Oh yes, that was an excellent transition. And he managed to shove another very attractive bite into his mouth to shut himself up. Harrison got another piece of the crust of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:38 pm
“You think so?” Ariel asked, but laughed even with a mouthful of pizza. “It’s not elegance, it’s anxiety.” He laughed again, because it sounded so silly to say, but–wasn’t it? “I grew up trying to be a people-pleaser. I was always afraid of upsetting people that were important to me. I tried to embody everything they wanted me to be. You know, well-behaved, good manners, polite and respectful. I thought if I could be like that, they’d like me. And maybe I could trick them into not seeing through me. It’s complicated.”
What wasn’t? He said it like it was an apology. Morgan was here, so that was a good excuse for why he couldn’t really get into it. “My family has always been very social. My father has his company, my mother–” he shrugged, and wore an amused smile that almost masked the sadness, too. “Oh, you know how it is. But it’s the product of getting into a good school because I thought I had to, and being around important people because my father needed that for his career, and all of that. I do belong somewhere better than this dumpy apartment building. You, too. It’s serving its purpose, but that’s about it. It’s out of the way, it’s a roof over my head. It’s next to you, which is the best part. When I finish school, I’ll design us somewhere nice to live. I always got good marks in school, and my teachers were very supportive. I used to dream of being a big name. Not for me, probably. I just wanted my parents to be proud of me, so when I inevitably disappointed them it might balance out enough that things would still be okay.”
He rolled his head a bit so he could rest it on Casey’s shoulder.
“That didn’t work out, though. And I’ve been too distracted to come up with better dreams. I like your version of things. ‘Elegant’ sounds so much nicer. I wish you and I had met a few years ago. I wasn’t the ‘real me’ back then, but I wasn’t this, either. I don’t know who I was.” He didn’t know who he was going to be.
…But, he liked the idea of finding out. If Casey was there, it didn’t seem like things could be so bad. He said he’d been too distracted to come up with better dreams, but that wasn’t really true, either. He just wasn’t willing to admit what dreams he’d been having lately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:41 pm
When Ariel leaned his head on his shoulder, Casey couldn’t help himself. He kissed atop it before turning his head to rest his cheek against his head.
There was a lot that he wanted to say. A lot that he could say. That he probably shouldn’t say. Not now when Ariel was finally opening up to him more. He didn’t want to scare him off, but… what if Ariel was trying to do the same thing?
“I would like that. With an extra big bedroom to share for when Morgan visits. Uh--” he immediately winced because that sounded weird but… it sounded weird because it sounded right. Right? That was strange… he said it without really thinking about it. More than usual.
“Uh… I mean… I figure since we were both stuck pleasing people all our lives, then why not uh… do things to have fun. Like sleepovers. Those are fun, right? Better than sleeping on the couch. Or… oh, I guess I shouldn’t assume we couldn’t have our own rooms. I’m used to just one bedroom now, so I wasn’t even thinking about multiple bedrooms. And that would cost more, right? Oh, but… sorry, now I’m the one with anxiety,” he laughed, hoping Ariel would just brush it off as him being weird.
“But I like you a lot, especially when you get to come over and hang out like this. Yeah the power being out sucks, but I would rather spend my time with you and people who care about me than on my own. Sorry Harrison, you count too,” he promised as he rubbed her head and scratched behind her ears.
“So uh… I’m proud of you. And… I hope you don’t feel like you have to trick me, because I like you for who you are.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:58 pm
Ariel’s heart skipped a bit. “Stop,” he said again, but there was only fondness in his voice. It wasn’t really a request. Casey was just sweet, like always. “You’ll make me cry. I’m not equipped to handle such kind words. We don’t have enough towels for rain and tears.”
He turned his head just slightly to wipe his eyes on Casey’s shoulders. He wasn’t crying, his eyes weren’t even wet. They just felt sore, suddenly. He wasn’t in a comfortable position, so he knelt down a bit so he could kiss atop Harrison’s head before he finally, almost begrudgingly, sat up again. His shoulder pressed against Casey’s again. He wasn’t willing to sacrifice all connections to him.
He could imagine coming home to Casey. As roommates, sure. If it had to be like that. He could imagine asking about his day, listening to him tell him stories, curling up with Harrison on the couch. Eating homemade meals. He’d try, of course, but he didn’t think he could compete with Casey’s. Even if it was just ‘boring soup’.
They could have their own rooms, sure. But he did like sleeping next to someone, and he felt safe with Casey. And Harrison was there, she wouldn’t let anything happen. She and Casey both didn’t seem to have a mean bone in their body. He’d heard that animals often embodied the most prominent traits of their owners, and he thought he could see that very much in the two of them.
Casey had said he liked him a lot. Of course he was going to dream. He was just easy to be around. It was nice.
It felt like coming home.
“We’ll chase Morgan away like this,” he laughed.
“Not in this weather,” Morgan said, although he wondered if he should have waited to give them another moment together. He just didn’t want to stand in the dark bedroom any longer than he had already. His stomach was going to give him away.
He entered wearing a large sweater, and even though it didn’t cling to him, it did little to hide his form. He wore dark pants, not quite sweats but obviously not jeans. He looked like he was dressed in comfortable clothes that could have doubled as work clothes. They probably did. He still wasn’t sure that he wasn’t needed tonight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:11 pm
“Morgan!” Casey greeted cheerfully, as if there wasn’t a storm outside that took out the power and they all had to huddle together to stay warm. Oh… that actually sounded like a great idea.
“You should come join us under these blankets. Harrison can lay across us and keep our laps warm and crumb free,” he said with a laugh because of course Harrison would eat anything she could.
He wanted to give Ariel more affection and attention that he very obviously needed and deserved, but Casey felt like his heart was overflowing from the kindness of both Ariel and Morgan.
“Whatever you wrapped the pizza in kept it really warm. You should grab some slices before they cool off too much. Here, we can make room,” he offered, scooting over some so that Morgan could sit next to him. Not because he wanted to keep Morgan away from Ariel, but because Ariel seemed to need a little extra tenderness for the moment, and he didn’t want him getting too anxious.
“If you had a dream home, where would you live? And what would you have? Do you like to fish? Would it be on a lake? Maybe Ariel can design you a house too.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:21 pm
Morgan didn’t need to be asked twice; he stopped by the pizza to grab a slice for himself and then settled down by Casey. He took a bite while he considered the answer–and, maybe, gave Ariel a moment to compose himself.
Casey was the perfect barrier between the two. Ariel liked Morgan, in a way he found he could not yet really wrap his head around. He was more aware now, of the way he felt like an old friend. But there was something old about him, in general. Like he was some ancient soul, plucked from some dark corner of the universe. He couldn’t place it. He didn’t need to.
He felt shy around him, but not unsafe. He felt like he could have asked Morgan for anything. He just didn’t want to. There was no reason for him to care so much about what Morgan thought of him, but he did. It was a good thing Casey was here. He had a solid, grounding presence, even when Ariel was getting lost in his thoughts and emotions.
Ariel didn’t quite relax, it was too loud outside and he was still too anxious and embarrassed about what Morgan might have overheard. He stayed close to Casey and shoved his mouth full of pizza while he tried to remember how to breathe.
“A cottage in the woods, maybe. I like the peace and quiet. With a big fireplace.” Maybe it sounded simple, but that’s what he wanted. Morgan leaned back into the couch, close to Casey. He didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable or nervous about the position. “I think it would be nice to be by the lake, I like to fish. Do you know any good recipes for fresh fish?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:28 pm
While Morgan got comfortable, Casey worked with his one free hand to tug at one of the other blankets that Ariel had brought over, making sure to drape it around Morgan as well. It was getting chilly! And if he was going to be staying with them, then of course Casey wanted to make sure he was comfortable.
“Oh, I like this. You’re both very warm -- all three of you,” he added as he scratched Harrison’s butt - to her delight and responded with whacking anything in reach with her tail. “Do you think my bed is big enough for all of us?” he asked Ariel, and then laughed awkwardly because wow he really needed to learn how to keep his mouth shut.
“I mean, we don’t have a fireplace! So, cuddling up together is another way to get warm, right?”
Probably not when they were just friends. That was probably weird. Oh, and this is when they would both realize how weird Casey was and want nothing to do with him ugh.
“Um, I don’t know any, but I can definitely learn! It’s been a while since I’ve had any fish. It’s usually not on sale. Or if it is, there are cheaper options,” he explained, but only because he didn’t want Morgan to think he wasn’t willing to try!
He was also trying not to feel too anxious or embarrassed about Morgan liking peace and quiet, because Casey knew he was definitely not quiet… or peaceful… but Morgan hadn’t decided to run back to his car yet, so that was good. Casey just hoped Morgan would tell him if he needed to be quiet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:57 pm
“The bed might only be big enough if we were all stacked up,” Ariel mused. He didn’t sound afraid of the idea, but the only way he could look at it was like if they were building blocks.
Morgan laughed around his pizza and shook his head. “Don’t worry about me. I should sleep on the couch. If I do get called in, I don’t want to disrupt you three when I have to get up. But.” The wind battered the wall with force but aside from a little groan, the structure held strong. “Let’s do a rain check. And if your bed isn’t big enough, you’ll have to come see mine. Or come camping with me.”
He shrugged, but Morgan seemed like he was in a good mood. He’d had a long day and it was weighing on him, but he felt refreshed, now. It was too early to sleep. He was enjoying himself too much.
“If you’re up to it, I’d like to know if there’s any fish recipes you want to do. I can text you a list of what we’ve got in the lake. I’ll bring some over some time. I can get them cleaned up nicely. Best I can do is put them over a campfire, but you’ll find out that I use the same seasoning for everything I cook that way. You could do much better than me.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 9:09 pm
Oh… Oh. A rain check? An offer to see Morgan’s bed? What did that mean? As friends or…?
Oh, now Casey was more than just embarrassed. He was flustered and curious and oh right, awkwardly laughing at how nice of an idea that was. Especially if it was both Morgan and Ariel. Oh and Harrison of course. Because it just felt…
Right? Or… like something he knew but forgot…? He couldn’t explain it, but he knew he would very much like to spend more time with both Ariel and Morgan.
“Oh, that would be nice. I could come up with something if I had what fish you could catch. I’m thinking something pretty simple. Like lemon and jasmine rice. Maybe with a vegetable that you like to go with it,” he hummed, leaning back against the couch as well so that his shoulder was against Morgan’s, and his other arm was still around Ariel’s shoulders.
Yeah… he liked this a lot.
“I don’t know how well I’d do on the ground, though. I might have to sleep on top of someone,” he teased, even as his cheeks flushed because oh wow he wouldn’t mind either of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
