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[outerfringe]

open post for jeff

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[outerfringe]

[Jeff shrugs one shoulder, but it's clear he's being careful not to dislodge David's hands. He likes them right there.]

I'm just saying. Nothing wrong with sending it down the line - I've found a lot of good stuff thrifting.

[hardlydead]

Nah.

[ he's sentimental like that ]

Keepin' them.

[outerfringe]

[Wouldn't it be nice if they escaped and posted each other gifts. Wouldn't it be nice if they had a chance to meet like two normal people who inhabitated a normal world together. Wouldn't it, wouldn't it, wouldn't it.]

Alright, man, sure. I guess I already promised to keep the ugly hats.

[hardlydead]

[ if his smile is anything to go by, david's pretty happy with that response, though a better way to tell is probably the way he leans forward to give jeff a quick kiss. he's doing his best not to think about how it's all hypotheticals that'll never amount to anything, just enjoy the conversation for what it is. the same way he'd get drunk and ramble about stupid ideas that sound great with a friend. it's just fun mental images to fill the time. ]

[outerfringe]

[Jeff lifts a hand to carefully cradle the back of David's head while they kiss, and he does his very best to not be too obviously pleased when he pulls away.]

Guess the beard doesn't bother you.

[hardlydead]

Nah.

[ it's unusual for him, things he has no intention of getting into, but in a weird way when they kiss and he feels it against his skin it almost registers as a relief? he's not gonna think too much about that either. ]

[ even when he parts from the kiss, david lingers close, smile still there in his eyes. ]

Suits you. I like it.

[outerfringe]

You ever seen it when I've done the corpse paint? It's sick.

[What a stupid thing to be saying when you've got someone clutched so intimately close, maybe, but it's clear how much more comfortable Jeff is right here versus the time he spends clustered by the fire with a full group of survivors.]

[hardlydead]

[ ah, the face paint. david nods, he remembers how he'd jump every time he saw jeff somewhere unexpectedly. ]

It's cool.

[ kinda scary at first, but still cool. ]

Like you better without, I can see your face this way.

[outerfringe]

[Jeff's face crumples in a laugh, only because he's not used to being flirted with so brazenly. Few of his previous relationships had much room for this sort of soft tenderness, and it surprises Jeff to find now nice it feels.]

You know, I've bought in.

[He's still grinning very slightly.]

You're not on the hook for any more compliments.

[hardlydead]

That was barely a compliment.

[ david rolls his eyes but it's good natured, amused. ]

[outerfringe]

Please. You're laying it on thick.

[Jeff has come a long way since high school: he likes himself just fine these days. He likes himself fine, but he's also aware of the fact that he's a bit softer in the middle than someone like David, that his most defining feature is a gnarly face scar.

He kisses him again briefly, as if to just remind himself that he can.]

[hardlydead]

"I like being able to see your face," is laying it on thick?

[ he laughs against jeff's lips, simultaneously surprised and not surprised at all. ]

What if I said it's 'cause I think you're a good looking fella? What then?

[outerfringe]

Yes.

[Jeff is laughing in return, catching David's upper arm and smoothing his fingers down the side of it. Simply wanting to touch.]

But I'd say thanks, I guess. So are you.

[hardlydead]

[ still laughing, david lifts his hands to rest along the sides of jeff's jawline to hold him for another quick kiss. ]

Look at us, pair of good looking blokes.

[outerfringe]

[He likes that, and he tries to share this appreciation by resting his hand against the small of David's back. It's the same sort of idle affection as before.]

Keep expecting one of the kids to stumble by us.

[hardlydead]

[ he's had the thought, but still it makes him bristle to hear jeff say it. he's handling his own shit, slowly, but he's doing it. that, uh. it'd be a lot. ]

[ david brushes it off with a snort, focusing in on the feeling of jeff's hand at his back. ]

God, I hope not. Never hear the end of it.

[outerfringe]

[Jeff can feel the bristle more than he can see it. There's a flicker of protectiveness, unbidden.]

No one's- said anything to you, have they?

[hardlydead]

Nah.

[ he shakes his head and lets his hands fall away from jeff's face, a little reluctantly, and looks down at where one of them lands on his chest. ]

You?

[outerfringe]

[Jeff shrugs one shoulder, then shakes his head no.]

Bill did a double take when he heard me talk about a guy I used to date. That's about it.

[Unthinking, he covers the hand on his chest with his own.]

[hardlydead]

[ he's not really sure what he's supposed to do with that information, but david nods anyway. ]

No big deal.

[ s h r u g ]

[outerfringe]

[If you want someone better at navigating awkward small talk you might wanna sit with someone else, David.]

Yeah.

[But small talk is basically all there is out here, huh.]

So like, normal Friday night back in Manchester. What kind of trouble are you in?

[hardlydead]

Average Friday's probably a rumble with whatever fucker thinks they can take me. Few bets on the underdog maybe, but most know better.

[ david narrows his eyes a little, the briefest twitch of a frown flickering on his face with the memories. they're still so vivid, the way it feels to land a punch or how the pub's basement stank of old beer. the roar of blood in his ears, people cheering him on, sore knuckles and a cold pint in his hand. ]

Drinks on me after.

[outerfringe]

[Jeff considers him for a moment, expression curious as he leans to rest a little against the tree trunk.]

You like to fight, or are you just good at it?

[hardlydead]

Loved it.

[ he's an angry man with a lot of shit bottled up, fighting was pretty much his only outlet, and it felt so, so good. being made unable to fight back here, it... sucks is an understatement. ]

There's a reason I never lost.

[ he says it like it's a joke as he moves to lean against the tree next to jeff. ]

[outerfringe]

Cuz you love fighting so much. How do you figure something like that out?

[Jeff can't imagine it.]