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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ something about the word gets a barely-there flicker of something that's not anger or disgust, but it's deeper. darker. he's practiced at catching those moments when there's people around though and it fades to a laugh at the question like it was never there in the first place. ]
Nah, not me. [ he shakes his head ] Not to say I wasn't a little shithead, I was, but near everyone in a public school is some kind of twat or other.
[ wait-- ] Private school.
[ he's had that conversation enough times by now. ]
[He notices, but chooses not to say anything. Jeff is curious about David's life because he wants to know him, not because he wants to pry painful secrets out of him.]
Private school. Your family had money?
[He's ready to bail on the line of questioning the second David looks actually uncomfortable. He's just curious, more than he's been about anyone else for a while.]
Just until I open my mouth. [ he's not mad, if anything the way his eyes crinkle give away that he finds it hilarious, but he still licks his lips and nods slowly like that's deeply hurtful. ] Can't disagree with you, but fucking hell.
[ he nudges jeff lightly and then leans a bit against him. david definitely doesn't want to talk about how smart he is or isn't, that feels strange to him and he can't put his finger on why. ]
[ maybe just no more talking about him at all. that sounds good. ]
What about you, huh? What's a usual Friday night for Jeff back home?
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[ 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?
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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.]
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No big deal.
[ s h r u g ]
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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?
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[ 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.
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You like to fight, or are you just good at it?
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[ 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. ]
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[Jeff can't imagine it.]
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[ toxic masculinity does a lot of heavy lifting too but we won't talk about that ]
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You care if I keep asking questions? I can shut up.
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[ he shrugs, smiling at jeff inspecting his hand. ]
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He hopes the 'yes, I find you that interesting' is clearly implicit.]
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Nah, not me. [ he shakes his head ] Not to say I wasn't a little shithead, I was, but near everyone in a public school is some kind of twat or other.
[ wait-- ] Private school.
[ he's had that conversation enough times by now. ]
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Private school. Your family had money?
[He's ready to bail on the line of questioning the second David looks actually uncomfortable. He's just curious, more than he's been about anyone else for a while.]
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Don't seem like it right?
[ he gets that a lot ]
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[Jeff flicks the pad of his thumb over one of David's knuckles, thoughtful.]
What'd you do for fun? When you were a kid.
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Don't really remember.
[ anyway ]
You think I seem educated?
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I mean - yeah? You seem sharp, at least. Maybe just until you open your mouth? Haven't heard you talk enough to figure that out yet.
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[Jeff grins down at his own lap, shaking it off with a laugh.]
No, man, you seem like a smart guy. That's all.
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[ he nudges jeff lightly and then leans a bit against him. david definitely doesn't want to talk about how smart he is or isn't, that feels strange to him and he can't put his finger on why. ]
[ maybe just no more talking about him at all. that sounds good. ]
What about you, huh? What's a usual Friday night for Jeff back home?
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Uh. Drinking beer and watching TV with my dog. Maybe some like, Rocket League or something. Nothing worth writing home about.
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[ enjoy your new jock boyfriend, jeff ]
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Uh, yeah. Five-a-side football with cars, kind of?
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[ he pulls a bit of a face, because he genuinely can't picture it, but video games are bonkers sometimes so why not car football. ]
I... [ hM. ] Am not going to embarrass myself by askin' any questions.
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enabling bad sleep habits
shh i don't know what you're talking about
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