|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 7:20 pm
Gryphon stood by the thought that there wasn't anything out to get them tonight. It sounded mostly like cicadas and crickets, a lonely owl, maybe some raccoons skittering about near the treeline... And if there were wolves, well, there was an adequate defense mechanism under the backseat. That's all he was saying.
An ominous creak and jarring rattle accompanied Gryphon hefting himself up to perch at the end of the tailgate and at Landry's feet. He twisted where he sat, reaching farther back to grab the sleeping bags he'd tossed from the cab and unrolled them with a flap of his wrist to send one end on down toward the front of the truck while straightening the bottom end with a sweep of his palm. ...He should've brought a pillow. Or snacks. Something it make it feel like a complete adventure. But of course he hadn't. It had been too impromtu for that. He unrolled the second sleeping back atop the first, hoping the added cushion would make the ridges of his flatbed not completely uncomfortable.
"Snnnrk," he snorted softly and shook his head, hauling himself more fully into the bed and flopping down on his back with his arms folded beneath his head. "Just a few. And just by virtue of someone else knowing 'em when we were out." Rather than from a book or from actively seeking the knowledge.
Although... it felt almost like a completely different sky from the one he'd looked at with his mother or grade school teachers. Some of the stars they'd seen weren't even visible here, and anything that was seemed... Far away. Or upside down. Not right, somehow. "I know that one," he said after a moment, pointing unhelpfully upward. "Ursa Major, that big cup everyone knows about. You know you can't even see it all the time from Brisbane?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 7:54 pm
The creak startled him, but as Gryph got comfortable, Landry sat down beside him, not quite lying back like he was.
“Hm.... That’s neat... Though a little elementary... But You do know something.. Ah, but then again, the sky doesn’t look the same in Australia as it does here. So yes, color me impressed.” There was a large front pocket on his hoodie, one he had forgotten about until he heard a crinkle inside.
“Ah, right, here.” Out of seemingly no where, he pulled out a small, neatly wrapped bag of cookies and tossed them at the man, letting them land with a satisfying sound Gryphon’s chest. “I baked them this morning, before class... I did say I would bake more for you, yes? Well here you go. Snickerdoodles.”
The sky was so hard to look away from, and eventually, he smiled. “It’s a shame cameras don’t do night skies so well without a specific lens... It really is beautiful... Thank you for bringing me here...”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 2:01 pm
Elementary. Gryphon's brows pinched together and his lip jutted out. What the heck was that supposed to mean: elementary? And right before Landry launched into... a debate with himself on whether or not the information Gryph had was worthy or something? What had he been expecting Gryphon to say? 'Ah, yes, here I have a detailed chart of the cosmos and the majority of the identifiable constellations from our current longitude matched with the seasonal availability of visible patterns.'
He didn't study stars and didn't know anyone who did more than acknowledge that a certain clump looked like a rose or a whale. Kind of like looking at clouds.
"Didn't know it was a contest I was being judged on, Your Majesty," Gryphon grunted as he squinted back toward the sky. "Please feel free to educate me, if you got the time to spare." It wasn't like he expected Landry to know anymore than he did. Didn't blondie spend almost all of his time inside, anyway?
He blinked at the sack that landed on his chest and sat up just the smallest fraction to better inspect it. It was still dark, barely enough starlight to see what was inside, but maybe that didn't matter. He delicately pinched one of the cookies between two fingers and slid it from the bag, holding it up for inspection. "Yes, snickerdoodles," he hummed in a mocking drawl, turning the thing around back and forth as he stuck his nose up. "How elementary," he said before taking a vigorous chomp.
A cookie was a cookie, no matter what the name, and Lan was an excellent baker all the same. Defecting back to his lower rumble, Gryphon smiled. "It's good, Lan. I'm... pretty touched you remembered that, if I'm being honest."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 2:32 pm
”You’re always being judged, Gryphon. Mostly favorably, currently favorably. Don’t worry about it too much. I couldn’t point much out, except the North Star.” He was teasing. HIs voice was soft, a little afraid to say too much out loud in the chirps and calls of the woods, just Incase there was a predator out there waiting to get them both.
And now he laughed at the false accident, letting himself press his side closer to Gryph.
“Elementary or not, my dear Gryphon, you’re going to eat it and enjoy it. Despite my selfcentered upbringing, I try to keep my promises, especially for those whom I like.You should feel honored.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 6:23 pm
Yyyyyep, 'always being judged' sounded about right, if Gryphon had a moment to think about it. Although he had no idea why whatever judgements Landry passed on him would be any better than those he passed on anyone else he happened to bump into for more than a handful of minutes... It wasn't like Gryphon could imagine he came close to those high standards His Majesty had when everything Gryphon did was 'elementary' to him.
But Landry pressed closer to him, and as he did, Gryphon realized that he was actually surprised. Nothing he'd said was meant as an insult, of course, but in retrospect, he did subconsciously expect that Landry might act offended and snap back at him.
But he didn't.
A smooth heat skated up the back of his spine, as if a blanket had been tugged up over him, and with that weird and relatively unearned sense of security, he felt bolder. Gryphon leaned near, brushing his hand against Landry's cheek and slipping lower to curl against the back of his neck to draw him near enough for Gryphon to touch his lips to the curve of the younger man jaw. "I do, Lan, really."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 6:50 pm
Given how Gryph had held him while in the truck, Landry expected him to pull him in closer while they gazed at the stars. And he had been expecting them to be tired, and for him to fall asleep once again.
But then lips met his chin and that hand that cupped his cheek...
He couldn’t sleep from that. His whole body tensed up from the shock of it all.
“Gryphon...?”Landry whispered, turning his head and pulling away from that hand that held him in place.
Was this alright...? Could he... Could they really be this close...?
A light caught his eye, and he looked up briefly, seeing those shooting stars cross the sky, one by one. And what was once dark seemed to glow all around them. And Gryph was the reason why he could even see all of this.
Gryphon was the reason why his shell was slowly coming off, and why he paused to think about what he did more than before...
As another star shot across the sky, a little brighter than the others, and with it, Landry gave in, closing the distance between them and pressing his lips gently against Gryphon’s. And he didn’t move away after a small peck, he remained pressed close to the larger man, making sure to to enjoy what he would consider his first real kiss.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:48 am
During their still rather limited time together, Gryphon had come to accept that the current object of his attention had the tendency to be... moody, to put it kindly. Even if Gryph didn't often think much was out of bounds, Landry certainly did, and he always made sure the older man was very aware when something was amiss. But he couldn't think of a reason why this much wouldn't be okay. It wasn't as if he was being pushy or sticking his hands somewhere he shouldn't-
But Landry tensed, weight shifting to pull away from his touch, and Gryphon thought for sure there would be an accompanying snappish remark to the tune of 'How dare you.' 'I don't like being touched.' 'We aren't that close,' or something along those lines.
His initial response was a sheepish grin, though Landry's attention had diverted to the sky and the bright flicker of shooting starlight overhead. "Sorry, Lan," Gryphon hummed, bright gaze still focused more on his companion than the sky. "Just wanted you to feel appreciated, and-" Without further prompting, Landry leaned back toward him, and Gryph blinked in surprise as the typically prickly blond man touched their lips together.
...He wouldn't have expected as much to come from Landry, who was so reserved and easily agitated and difficult to get close to and defensive, if earlier in the night was anything to go by...
But at least for the moment, none of that seemed worth mentioning. His lids slipped shut, and he reached an arm around the back of Landry's head once again, fingers tousling lightly at wavy strands of blond as he pulled his close.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 12:49 pm
Landry had no idea what to expect when it came to a real kiss. The last time he had something like it, acid was pushed into his mouth and it burned like hell, scalding him all the way down his throat.
This... This was different.
This was warm and amazing and he could smell the clean scent of Gryphon's soap being this close. And then the touches came, those thick fingers touching his hair, the arm about his waist, pulling him closer.
Yes, this was certainly worth leaving the house for.
But eventually, he desired a deep breath, and pulled away from his extended peck, skin a bright, hot red color, thankfully hidden by the darkness around them.
"I do, Gryphon. I do feel appreciated with you... Don't ever question that, understood?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 9:50 am
Gryphon's answer was a low, rolling sound of amusement, rumbling through his chest as he held Landry close to him even after the smaller man pulled back. It had been such a battle to even be here- if not as much this night, then certainly anytime prior- that it would've been strange not to feel at least a little special. He could grouse over how callous Lan could be or how mistrusting, but they were here, sitting in the bed of his truck, pressed close...
He had to wonder what he'd done to deserve this.
But not out loud. Gryphon brushed a hand from the back of Landry's neck down between his shoulder blades and grinned at him. "A'right, Lan. I understand." Still seemed unlikely, but doubt wasn't anything Landry had to know about.
"I'm still a bit surprised, though," he couldn't help admit, skimming fingers lightly along Landry's spine. "S'not like I'm your type."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 12:42 pm
It was so difficult to give into this. Leaning against Gryphon, half laying on top of him and resting his head on the broad man's chest. The unease of it came from all directions. The fear of the dark, the sounds of the woods around them, the occasional sound of an animal nearby.
He couldn't say he was relaxed but... Landry did feel safe. Safe enough to let his eyes close and enjoy the sensation of those thick fingers against him. Perhaps that was all that mattered tonight. He could let his mind be at ease for one and not let a million and one thoughts about his life plague him.
Gryphon most certainly didn't.
"I don't have a particular type, per se. It's just a feeling... A feeling that I want to see you keep smiling at me and only me. It's selfish but... I don't care. Especially if you want to keep looking at me anyway."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 5:56 am
A bark of laughter erupted out of him, loud against the other muted sounds of the night. But Gryphon couldn't exactly help it, if His Majesty was gonna go on saying things like that. "Oi, ya, that is a bit selfish, Lan," he agreed with a chuckle. But nothing unexpected, Gryphon supposed. If people like Landry didn't have too many others in their lives, of course it made sense they'd want a lot from the ones they did have.
Gryphon shifted to lay on his side, gently repositioning Landry as he moved so that one of his arms was tucked beneath the smaller man's head as support, and the other was draped over his waist, keeping him close and covered and away from whatever things inspired fear in him that night.
"But I can give it my best shot, y'know," he murmured, tone lowering now as he faced Landry.
"Happens I like smiling at you, and it always feels real... unexpected, a treat, whenever you do something like smile at me, or lean against me, or kiss me... And I'm not out here trying to pretend I don't like treats."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 6:08 am
Landry gave a soft sound of displeasure at the laugh, very much tempted to pull away and storm back into the truck's cabin. Why was it that when he found himself being honest, instead of keeping everything, he was laughed at? Unfortunately, with those arms around him and his position, he couldn't exactly pull away like he wanted.
"Don't laugh at me. That feels awful and you're ruining the moment we're having." he muttered, still allowing Gryphon to move him about to rest against his arm. With all these awful feelings coming and going, if he wasn't tired before he most certainly was now. And when he finally calmed down, he could already tell it would be worse.
"If you like me smiling, then stop being such a jerk. Laughing at confessions, teasing me like this. It makes everything feel less genuine. Like this is all some sort game to you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 6:38 am
He was still grinning, even with the more expected moodiness Landry gave him so often. "Not every laugh is at you, Lan," Gryphon retorted. "And I'm not gonna not laugh when something is funny and pleasing. I like you. I like hearing you talk like that. Seems it could only be a good sign if you say something and it makes me happy enough to hear it to make me smile. You don't laugh near enough, mate." Though Gryphon was pretty sure Landry had just a few minutes ago, and that had been startling and pleasing at the time.
He leaned, tipping to touch his forehead to the smaller man's as he settled in to get comfortable too. "Not everything needs to be so serious. It feels good to lighten up a little, I promise."
He didn't think he was being a jerk, besides.
Things ought to be fun. They ought to be easy. They were out here together, alone, in the peace of night. There wasn't anyone here for Landry to need to feel embarrassed or defensive with. Just the two of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 6:51 am
As much as he hated to admit it, Gryphon was right in this case.
If what he was feeling really was affection, then he didn't need to be so wound up. He wasn't like this before. He wasn't so shy, so.. hesitant with his feelings towards Wolframite before. But this was also completely different. Landry wasn't the one to feel something first. And this time he was the one pursued.
It was frightening in itself... What if he did something wrong? Could Affection be so easily smothered out like that?
The moment Gryphon's forehead touched his own, Landry sighed, forcing all those awful worries out of his head to only focus on the man before him. The man who tried so hard to make him happy.
He was right again. It felt amazing to just allow himself to be happy with this.
"Fine... Fine, I believe you... I'll be better about this, I promise, but just have some patience with me, okay? It's all very new..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 8:12 am
"Ey, I'm not mad, Lan," Gryphon promised softly, smoothing his fingers down the curve of the other man's back reassuringly as Landry prompted him to 'have patience.' It was true that he preferred to not be snapped at on the regular, and he certainly didn't appreciate being treated like a suspect for some uncommitted crime by having photos snapped of him by Lan's guardsmen. But that was... just some of how Landry was, wasn't it? Cautious, judgemental, weirdly insecure for reasons Gryphon didn't understand.
But he was willing to be here when Gryphon least expected it. So smart, genteel, innocent, direct and honest with his feelings, typically in a less-than-positive way, but not at the moment... Landry was finicky with his standards, but must have had some degree of patience to be with him even then.
Or desperation, and Gryphon supposed he didn't mind indulging that, either.
Gryph sighed as his pwn posture eased, and a softer smile appeared on his lips. He touched another lighter kiss to the tip of his companion's nose. "Think we could maybe take a break here a few minutes?" He asked quietly. "Promise not to let nothin' get ya without going through me first."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
