misunderstanding | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ it's maybe ten PM at the latest, and most bars in NYC are barely just starting to get crowded - but, in ryo's defense, he doesn't typically spend a lot of time in that scene.

so he'll text, which is maybe slightly anachronistic, but shhh. ]

Hey

[ which is maybe the only text he's ever sent without punctuation, but hey, cut him some slack here. he's trying Really Hard. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

First of all, what are you talking about? Haven't you ever gone to see Star Wars?

[Focus, Dee, focus. He is getting somewhere, he can be exasperated over lack of special movies later.]

Your birthday is pretty special. And, yanno, I am too.

My birthday isn't for weeks.

[ pointedly. he rubs at his face, not sure which way he should approach this from. his face is slowing growing pinker. ]

And you're special, but I see you every day.

[ HE HONESTLY JUST DOESN'T GET IT. ]

Yeah, you do.

[He has his elbows on the table and his arms folded.

This is serious business, in case Ryo's not getting that.]

Do you ever treat me like I'm special?

Edited 2016-07-17 19:46 (UTC)

[ he glances over his shoulder again, as if to just make sure that the entire office isn't currently eavesdropping on them. ]

I don't know-

[ how. how is he supposed to do that? ]

Just tell me what you want me to do, Dee.

Edited 2016-07-17 21:37 (UTC)

...yanno what I want you to do.

[He supposes he could get it embroidered somewhere, but that's about the only way he can think of that could make this more obvious.]

But mostly I want you to want it.

[This time it is him dropping his voice, but his eyes keep staring right at him.]

Want me.

[ the way his eyes keep looking at him like that is even worse than the words. it's like his gaze burns into him, it's something he can feel on him.

it's not easy, but he meets that gaze, tries not to flinch back from it. ]

I already do.

Hard to believe when you don't live it.

[Hard-hitting today, but he can't pull back now. Dee never really does. Direct, honest and absolutely open, even if it leaves him vulnerable.]

[ ryo can't do it, can't maintain eye contact like that. so he cuts his eyes down, exhaling hard. he's quiet when he speaks. ]

Fine. Then - forget the movie, and just come to my place after work.

[ he'll prove it, if he has to. ]

Yeah?

[There's a hopeful spark in his eyes, but it quickly dims to a suspicious glint.]

Wait. Where's the little shrimp gonna be at?

[Because he knows all about Bicky's cockblocking prowess.]

I told you: Bikky's going to a friend's for dinner.

[ which means if they skip the movie, they'll be alone. he takes a breath to steady himself. ]

Yeeeeah.

[Read: He'll believe that when he sees it, he's been hurt before. By Bikky. Mostly by Bikky's misguided attempt of protecting Ryo's virtue. Also his inferior taste in basketball teams.]

Want me to bring something?

[ he's already so nervous that he's just staring down at his desk again, shuffling paperwork to try to look busy. ]

You could bring a salad, if you want to eat dinner.

[ but that's a big if, in his mind. he's assuming that dee will just want to, er- jump in on things immediately. ]

...why, what do you want to do?

[One of these days, Ryo will not misunderstand him. Possibly. Hopefully.]

I ain't just gonna jump your bones. Unless you want that.

[ one of these days. possibly. maybe. either way, ryo looks slightly uneasy, like he's afraid of giving the wrong answer by accident, of upsetting dee without meaning to. ]

I wanted to see a movie.

So we can go to the movies or watch something at your place.

[Dee really wants to make Ryo feel at ease, but it's the challenge of a lifetime.]

And eat salad, if you're afraid of real food.

--salad isn't dinner, Dee, it just goes with the pasta I was going to make.

[ he rubs the back of his neck, desperately scrambling for compromise. ]

But- yeah. I'll rent something on the way home.

Ooh, I love pasta.

[They are talking dinner and a movie, how is this such a nerve-racking affair for Ryo? Not that Dee is surprised any more. He knows him, so he just smiles.]

Relax, yeah?

[ it's the implications - expectations? - that make this so difficult for him. he's nervous, which is why he'll sigh: ]

Easy for you to say.

Yeah? Why's that? Cause from where I'm standing, I'm the one likely to strike out.

I've never- with a guy...

[ he rubs his hand against his face, groaning quietly into it. ]

It's kind of a lot to come to terms with, okay?

You don't have to. Though it's normal to be worried.

But if you're thinking I'd pressure you when you look like you're afraid, we got bigger problems.

[ he shakes his head, holding his hand up as if to silence dee. ] No- I just- I mean- I'm going to prove that I want this, too.

[ not easy for him to say, but he's doing his best. ]

...I just meant dating, Ryo. So dinner and movie's fine.

[How.]

[ because ryo has a very special way of making literally everything involving his own personal life way more complicated than it needs to be. ]

You were just telling me that it's not enough, that you don't believe that I want you--

[ he's flustered, hungover, and scrambling for purchase on the situation there. and then, just because he doesn't know what else to do, he abruptly pushes his chair back and stands, striding over to dee's desk, and -before he loses every ounce of nerve he has - he leans down and kisses him right there, in the middle of the station. ]

I want to believe that you want to--

[Before Dee can explain, he gets kissed. No, he hasn't been expecting this and his eyes are wide. He sinks into it pretty quickly though and when he reaches out to cup the back of Ryo's head, it's not because he wants to make a show of it, it's because he's not really thinking, he just wants to kiss Ryo and he wants to run his fingers through his hair.]