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 Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 9:24 pm
Harland sat on top of a stone wall, legs folded. One day after he'd asked Alistaire on a date, Harland was reading a very worn copy of Romeo and Juliet that he'd found abandoned in a stairwell in the dorms. He came across something that made him smile, and the first person he thought of was Alistaire.
He decided he didn't want to wait another twenty-four hours.
Harland had been planning the date in every detail, but so far he had a bunch of possibilities and he was still trying to narrow it down and make the bookings he wanted. It was all a matter of scheduling, and wow he was really trying to figure out what Alistaire would like the most-- it was hard, he was still learning a lot about what Alistaire liked and didn't like.
Harland hoped he could find out more about him. In fact, maybe texting was exactly the excuse that would let Harland mine for information. Conspicuously. He woke his phone up, sent one text that was just directly copied from the text he was reading. The second was a better greeting.First Text to My Heart O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. Second Text to My Heart It's nice out here. It would be nicer if you were here, too. What are you up to?
He kept reading the same lines, over and over again.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 9:43 pm
Alistaire was, not surprisingly, in his room when his phone went off. Or more specifically, he hadn't actually gotten up yet, in spite of the fact that it was nearing mid-morning.
He rolled over, fumbled for the phone on his bedside table, as well as his glasses, which he slid on over his nose, squinting at the bright screen for several long moments as though he couldn't quite comprehend the words written in the text.
Then the sleepiness began to wear off and the words grew sharper, and of course it was from Harland. Alistaire's stomach twisted a little, which he ignored, and he typed out a quick message in response, rolling to lay on his back.face your demons Text to Harland Leander Belle:Shakespeare in the morning? Coffee's better, and it doesn't rhyme. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:It'll still be nice even if I'm not there. And I was sleeping but a certain someone woke me up. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:How is your day today?
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 10:03 pm
The instant the phone lit up, Harland set his book down and picked the phone back up eagerly. He didn't bother even pretending he wasn't excited, didn't bother to wait a few minutes or tone it down. He read the texts, then opened his book again, scanning that same section. Did it rhyme? He wasn't sure that it did.kuroopu Text to My Heart
I can't text you coffee, where's your sense of literary adventure? Oh, I guess it was asleep, then wink
Quote: Text to My Heart
Maybe you're still asleep. Maybe you're dreaming. Rest well, mo chroi.
Quote: Text to My Heart
Just found someone's abandoned Romeo and Juliet, so the day's starting off pretty promising. About to go for a run. Hey, do you ever take walks?
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 10:16 pm
He snorted.Face your demons Text to Harland Leander Belle:It was asleep along with the rest of me. Though I suppose it's already time to get up, isn't it? Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:Not so fast, Mr. Belle. I'm already awake. And why do you keep calling me that? Is that Irish? Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:Not one of Shakespeare's best, I must admit. Though I give him props for the wherefore art thou Romeo speech. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:I take walks, yes. I've never been a fan of running unless you're running somewhere that has a purpose, otherwise I fail to see the point.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 10:28 pm
The idea of climbing into bed next to Alistaire popped into Harland's head unbidden. It didn't help that it was so vivid, either, so strong an image that if Harland shut his eyes he almost felt like he could reach out and push the dark hair away from Alistaire's eyes from where it fell--
Harland shook his head, as if trying to banish the thoughts. It only half worked.kuroopu Text to My Heart
Well, you missed the time to get up by a long shot, so I guess it'd be an equal wait for it to come back around again in a day.
Quote: Text to My Heart
It is, yeah. When I started to call you that, it was just a whim, didn't mean anything by it.
Quote: Text to My Heart
I'm more of a Pale Blue Dot or a What I Talk About When I Talk About Running kind of guy, all Shakespeare sounds pretty much the same to me. Sorry I picked a bad one, I just thought maybe I could get
Quote: Text to My Heart
Guess I'll take 'long walks on a treadmill' off our date schedule, then. I was really looking forward to the sweating.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 10:40 pm
Harland's teasing words were difficult to ignore and difficult to pretend that they weren't amusing. The corners of Alistaire's lips quirked upwards and he fought a smile as he typed out the response to the next message.face your demons Text to Harland Leander Belle:What a lovely idea. I think I'll just lounge around in bed all day, since I have neither duty shifts nor lessons to attend to until tonight. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:Does it mean anything in particular? Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:Whatever that means. You're an enigma, aren't you Mr. Belle? A strange puzzle. And what did you want to get, your message was deleted at the end. Is there something wrong with your phone that I didn't get the rest of your message? Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:A good idea. Sweating can be very messy.
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Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 6:42 am
Harland never texted anyone, as evidenced by his relative unwillingness to ever reply when he was summoned. He was starting to see, however, how much fun it could be if you actually wanted to be talking to the person you were missing.kuroopu
Text to My Heart
None at all? I couldn't live like that, I'd be alone with my thoughts too much of the day.
Quote:
Text to My Heart
Nevermind, I managed to hit send early. Sweating's not so bad, that's what showers are for. Hey, you're not allergic to anything or petrified of anything obscure, are you? Like stingrays or pedestrians, or rain?
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Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 6:55 am
He was grateful for the fact that he had time to compose a response and that Harland couldn't see his face as he did just that.face your demons Text to Harland Leander Belle:My thoughts are always alone with me, so why should now be any different? This way I can think about you Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:You and your oddities, that is.
Well, no matter. He'd just look it up later. Alistaire tugged a lock of hair and sat up in bed, smoothing down the messy, sleep addled locks.Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:I'm allergic to stupidity. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:And cats. I'm mildly lactose intolerant, but it's not an issue.
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Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 7:16 am
Harland felt pretty giddy, when he saw the first reply. This way I can think about you. He turned bright red, and had all but discarded the Romeo and Juliet by now in indifference. He wasn't even trying to pretend he was reading it, any more. Well, he had been reading it before he texted Alistaire, but post reply that seemed far less interesting than the texts. Giddy had hitherto been a relatively offlimits emotion for Harland, as it was not excessively manly or stable. He would call this feeling dizzy. Yes, dizzy.kuroopu
Text to My Heart
The text that got cut off, by the way? I was going to say I was hoping I could get a kiss out of that passage. There, now we both texted something not embarrassing at all. I think my hands are traitors when I'm thinking of you. Can't seem to keep them steady.
Quote:
Text to My Heart
I must be a thorn in your side, then.
Quote:
Text to My Heart
Not because I'm a cat or lactose, but because I'm stupid.
No weird fears meant he didn't have to worry too much about the date, and that also meant he now had what he suspected was a concrete plan. His heart sped up, just thinking about how many days he'd have to wait until he could take Alistaire out.
Far too many. Why had he put that stupid five day thing on their date? Because at the time he didn't think he'd come up with plans so fast, he wanted to look at every angle and give them both time to prepare... as if dates were some kind of gauntlet.
Harland couldn't possibly imagine taking this date for granted.
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Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 8:11 am
His phone dinged again while Alistaire was slowly sliding his legs over the side of his bed to actually get up. He was still dressed in his sleepwear: a pair of dark green (his only other green item of clothing) flannel pajamas with black trim. Alistaire twisted back around, reaching for the phone and smoothing a thumb over the screen.
His face reddened exponentially, his hands beginning to shake. It took him a few moments to compose something that was not ridiculous.face your demons Text to Harland Leander Belle:I'm not so sure that passages kiss that well. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:I can't promise anything. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:I highly doubt that. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:I need to shower. We can continue this conversation later. Quote: Text to Harland Leander Belle:If you were a thorn in my side, I would have already cut you off.
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Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 3:03 pm
Harland laughed as he read Alistaire's response to the passages. Well, he'd deserved that; hadn't he just made fun of Alistaire for something similar? Harland's smile had easily not left his face, this entire time.
He didn't want or need any promises, no matter what. kuroopu
Text to My Heart
I'd test it on this copy of Romeo and Juliet and let you know, but ... since I found it in the stairwell, I'm going to take a pass and just agree with you.
Quote:
Text to My Heart
Please do. Meet me at 16h00 on the 17th, in case we get too busy to text, okay? Make sure you have lunch before.
Quote:
Text to My Heart
If you cut a thorn away, it'll still be in your skin.
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