open

[outerfringe]

open post for jeff

Comments

[outerfringe]

[The slow intensity is new, sure, but Jeff is a fan. He's content to match David's speed here, shifting enough to brace his arm across the middle of the other man's back.

He is on extreme alert for the sound of footsteps.]

[hardlydead]

[ david is also on high alert for footsteps (or jake deciding to take his argument on tour) but he's never stumbled on anyone else this far into the trees. who knows when someone's going to decide it's time for a walk though. ]

[ his main focus is jeff though, one hand on the side of his face and the other on his side, a quiet and pleased noise slipping out of him into that kiss. ]

[outerfringe]

[It's tempting to push a little (just a little) further, but Jeff maintains politeness, stroking the small of David's back with gentle sweeps of the thumb. He seems reluctant when it's over, but at least the silence feels comfortable, and he shifts in again as if trying to minimize the space between them. They're allowed a cuddle.]

[hardlydead]

[ david has told himself to follow jeff's lead, the pace he's set, so when it seems they're done he doesn't protest. his gaze flicks down to the little bit of space between them, a tiny smile just barely there tugging at his lips. ]

[ he kind of wants to say something, but he's not sure what, thus is just nice and it still confuses the fuck out of him. ]

[outerfringe]

[Jeff is in the same boat. He's not really sure what to say, but it feels like he's meant to say something here. Social conventions are hard enough when you're not trapped in a fog of hell.

So he'll lapse into silence, idly sort of just... stroking David's arm. Is it romantic? He's not really sure. If nothing else at all, it's a comfortable way to spend some time.]

[hardlydead]

[ on david's side of things, the quiet makes him a little anxious, as if not being occupied means jeff's about to see through him and suddenly realise just how little he wants to do with him. a bit of a weird fear, maybe, considering how long they've been enduring this place and the trials, but they never spoke much before. and most of his talking with anyone largely consisted of david being surly and annoyed. ]

[ it strikes him as a weird thing to care so much about too, after a couple of conversations and some kissing — if somebody else was having these concerns he'd probably laugh, who gets so worried about losing something so chaste — but he's also highly aware of how he's let his guard down already. ]

[ he turns his head to look at jeff's hand on his arm, head tilted just a bit to try and obscure the other man's view of his face while david thinks on the way his touch leaves goosebumps behind it. ]

[outerfringe]

[If Jeff finds himself curious about David's attitude, it's only because it's the surly, annoyed behavior is what he's most used to. People are multifaceted, of course, but he's really never been someone people flock to when they need to open up.

Eventually, the stroking stops, mostly because Jeff can't see his expression.]

Too weird?

[hardlydead]

Hm? Nah. It's nice.

[ he's startled out of his thoughts, but when he looks up at jeff it's to offer him a smile. everything's normal here. ]

Guess I'm just still not used to nice.

[outerfringe]

[It's definitely cliche to be stricken by someone's smile up close like that, but Jeff feels it's a fair reaction to have to someone like David.]

We're decent company, I guess. Nice people.

[hardlydead]

You are.

[ it's a word he comes back to a lot with jeff. nice. sure david wouldn't be here if he didn't also think jeff was easy on the eyes, but the fact that he's just a nice person is deeply alluring to him and he doesn't really understand it. ]

[ he wonders if he should lean into that uncomfortable honesty but dexides against it, raising his eyebrows with a small smirk when he goes on instead. ]

I'm just some bellend you managed to make shut up for a bit.

[outerfringe]

Oh, yeah. You are famously a chatterbox.

[Jeff knows that he's nice; he likes that he's nice. He's also fairly certain that despite a grab bag of fascinating hobbies that he's also the most boring person he knows.

He had really come to like it that way.]

'Bellend,' though. Good word.

[hardlydead]

[ he huffs out a small laugh ]

Cheers. Felt more fitting than 'dickhead.'

[ sure they mean the same thing but 'bellend' is just more evocative okay ]

[outerfringe]

[Jeff gives him an extremely gentle shake with the arm still around him.]

You shared your shitty liquor with me. That was nice.

[hardlydead]

[ pffft ] I was just bored of staring at the fire by myself.

[outerfringe]

Still doesn't mean you had to share. It's a stupid compliment to begin with, you'd better just take it.

[hardlydead]

It's not stupid to me.

[ he frowns when he says it and looks down at where his hand has ended up on jeff's leg. it's a dumb hill to die on but he will. ]

[outerfringe]

Just meant- not stupid. Just that I'm being silly.

[He leans his face briefly against the side of David's head. It's like he's not realizing until right now that he's actually quite touch starved.]

[hardlydead]

[ crazy what years of almost all your physical interaction with others being based around horrible injuries and death will do to a person huh. ]

[ david turns his head to kiss jeff's cheek while he's there ]

I'm still not taking the compliment.

[outerfringe]

[The cheek kiss makes him smile, even if the comment has him using that arm around David to squeeze him into a bear hug, a play grapple.]

No, sorry, can't let you go until you do.

[Meg is going to stumble on them and make fun of them forever.]

[hardlydead]

[ the laugh that bubbles out of him is a mix of surprise and fond amusement, and david slips an arm around jeff in return. ]

That a threat?

[outerfringe]

Seems like. Better just take the compliment.

[Jeff is shifting enough to try to loose David's arm from him, to pin them at his sides. He's clearly going more for 'nuisance' than 'threat,' and honestly - it feels nice to have an excuse to be a dumbass for a few minutes.]

[hardlydead]

[ david's still laughing, letting jeff do pretty much whatever he wants with only the barest excuse for resistance on his part. ]

Nah, don't think I will.

[outerfringe]

-come on, man.

[Jeff has gone from looking quietly amused to laughing abruptly out loud when David simply chooses not to fight back. He squeezes his arms.]

I will throw you into the fire.

[hardlydead]

I'll be takin' you with me if you do.

[ he can't get his arms around jeff without fighting back, so david settles for putting his hands on jeff's sides. ]

Fine, fine, okay. I did a nice thing.

[outerfringe]

See? Not that hard.

[Jeff releases him with another quiet laugh, looking fairly pleased with himself.]

Besides, I don't hang out with assholes, so you must be doing fine.

[This isn't some strange threat, just a matter of fact remark. He's seen David risk himself for people he barely knows in the trials. It's unquestioning.]