recolle | [CLOSED] oh but don’t go home with your...

[CLOSED] oh but don’t go home with your...

WHO: Lavrenty and Sabo
WHERE: Lavrenty’s shop
WHEN: The first day of no dang colors
WHAT: Sabo has troubles finding his way back to his apartment, and Lavrenty can’t be arsed either, so they’re kipping at his shop.
WARNINGS: Potential for awkward flirting, so age difference?

***

...Anyway, I don’t see that it’s worth it.

[He ushers Sabo inside the shop with expansive, flapping gestures, before turning around and locking the door behind him. Inside, Lavrenty has carefully outlined the aisles, nooks and crannies of his shop with simple strokes, little arrows and to-the-point little labels. He’s also apparently found paint to mix with his own - bright copper - to at least outline the color of his stock somewhat. He’s no painter, though, so he’s left it pretty uncomplicated. It’s the suggesting, flowing strokes of a designer’s hand, not the detail of a true sketch artist.]

Come along, follow me into the back. I’ve got a fold-out sofa, and if you don’t feel like sharing it with me, there’s a spare mattress.

[It’s very clear that Lavrenty had committed to memory every last detail of his shop’s interior, front and back, which at least makes it easy to find things. He’s tried his best to not leave anything without an outline.]

Thank god the wretched stuff dries fast, at least. Tea, my dear?

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Some tea sounds great, thanks. Oh, and some water for Kiwi? I should have a bowl in my backpack, it just needs to be filled. You know, for whenever she decides to come out of hiding. [The small pomeranian had barked and whined until he'd picked her up and had immediately burrowed down under his sweater once he had, shaking like a leaf. Sabo was pretty sure that what had really scared her was all the people around her freaking out and if that was the case she should calm down properly now that they'd gotten out of the street.]

As for sharing I don't really have any problem with it... [He trails off and bites his lip to keep from continuing with something like "but considering how you reacted that time I put my arm around you in public I'm not sure how comfortable you'll feel about it". In the end he settles on:] But I'm not exactly the easiest bedmate to have. I've been told I turn into a very stubborn and wily octopus when I sleep.

Of course. She’s had a rough day, poor thing. There’s water in the pitcher - that is to say, this one.

[He reaches out and touches the outline of a pitcher placed on a small table close to the kitchenette, where he’s bustling around preparing tea.]

Damn, I wasn’t able to write out all the labels yet. [Levering off the lid of an almost-invisible tin, he sniffs it.] How do you feel about roses? This one has a lot of them.

[He’s stalling a bit for time, because for all that he’s not actually very bothered by how he comes off in private, not the way he feels exposed in public, well... Sabo clinging to him as indicated does perhaps sound a little bit too appealing, and he’s not quite sure that their relationship is such that this won’t make things awkward between them.]

Perhaps it’s better if you take the mattress, then. Once we go to sleep, I’ll have to take out my voice prothesis, so I won’t actually be able to tell you if you’re slowly choking the life out of me. [He does accompany this with a wink, so hopefully Sabo won’t take it too seriously.]

Would be a bit awkward waking up next to a corpse. [Sabo does his best to both hide the sting of disappointment he feels at the not unexpected answer, and flashes Lavrenty a teasing grin before turning his attention to his backpack. While he can honestly say that he isn't hurt, or insulted, by Lavrenty not feeling comfortable with prolonged cuddling, he's also a pretty tactile person by nature and sometimes that makes knowing how to interact with Lavrenty a bit... difficult.]

And I like roses. Can't say I've ever eaten any though, so I think I'll just trust your judgment on that one.

[While he talks he's found and unfolded the water bowl. He fills it up and places it on the floor where it's easily accessible but also not obviously in the way. Kiwi is still refusing to come out from under his sweater but since her response to Sabo bending down his head and asking if she wants to drink is to lick him on the nose he still feels reassured that she'll be fine soon enough.

He looks at Lavrenty moving around and it somehow manages to make him feel both at home and out of place at the same time. It's not something he currently feels like dwelling on so he grabs at the first thing he can think of to distract himself from it.]

Fixing food is going to be an interesting adventure later on, huh? [Look, he's a growing boy! Well, sort of.]

[He’s not quite sure what to make of the way Sabo turns away just a fraction too quickly, as if trying to mask some sort of reaction. Surely he’s not that invested in getting to sleep on a cantankerous and beat-up old sofa, so what then? He hasn’t quite gotten to the point of considering that Sabo might find him attractive other than in a passing fashion, so the whole thing confuses him.

Naturally - though perhaps uncharacteristically - he says nothing about it.

Instead he watches the younger man care for his dog as he waits for the water to boil, smiling at how genuine and invested he obviously is. There is something so charmingly unselfconscious about Sabo in moments like this - although he of course also enjoys the moments when he gets to fluster him as well. He enjoys a great many things about his company, and he hasn’t quite reached the level of insight where warning bells would be expected to go off.]

Oh, I’ve already taken care of that. The grocery store was a bit of adventure, I admit, but it is very hard to mistake a frozen pizza box for something else. Lord knows what kind of toppings I managed to snag, but if you’re alright with living on the edge... well, that’s the plan for now.

[Sabo looks at him, his eyes wide.] Haven't I told you? I'm deadly allergic to pepperoni. [The worried and innocent look only lasts for another couple of seconds before transforming into a wide smile.] Pretty sure they don't get very creative with toppings on frozen pizza, so we should be fine. Besides, I eat pretty much anything.

[He slumps down on one of the chairs next to the table and toes off his shoes, pushing them further under the table. Considering Lavrenty pretty emphatically insisted on Sabo staying with him at his shop instead of trying to find his way up five flights of stairs to his apartment, Sabo doesn't think he's likely to mind him making himself at hime.]

Sounds like you got a handle on pretty much everything. Were you a Boy Scout before becoming a flyboy? [Considering Sabo rarely leaves his house without his backpack containing a foldable water bowl, several homemade treats, and probably a dog toy or five he probably should not be throwing stones at this particular glass house, but then he's always liked living on the edge.] Do you have entertainment planned as well? Just don't suggest we play "I spy" or I might be forced to throw something at you.

[Lavrenty rolls his eyes and shakes his head, though he does so with a smile.]

Well, what's life without a little danger? Though I do agree that playing Russian Roulette with frozen pizza does sound a bit dull.

[He mutters something in Russian under his breath - "And my mother wouldn't like her motherland being associated even vaguely with any kind of frozen food" - before making a grab for his grocery bag. He'd wisely painted an X on it while still at the store.]

I was a Boy Scout, as a matter of fact. My father and my sisters have an unfortunate fondness for hiking. [He grimaces slightly. He's a little bit too much of a city boy to see the charm in trekking around in the wilderness, far from all hallmarks of civilization such as clean bathrooms - any bathrooms - and places to sleep that are never frequented by bears. And espressos.] I mainly won badges associated with ropes and crafting, and when one older boy took offense at this, I left him hogtied behind a privy for two hours.

[He smiles slightly over his shoulder.] As for entertainment, we're going to have to improvise. I've got some board games and card games back here, but... well, you can see the problem.

[The mental picture of a small Lavrenty in a Boy Scout uniform having to camp in the woods is a pretty hilarious one and Sabo doesn't even bother trying to repress his delighted expression. His amusement at a) having been right about Lavrenty being a Boy Scout and b) the face he makes when mentioning hiking is short lived however. While Lavrenty does seem to like purposefully flustering him from time to time Sabo's really isn't sure if this is one of them, and it's entirely possible that he only has himself to blame for where his mind goes as Lavrenty brings up his skill with ropes and knots.

He averts his eyes as he can practically feel the heat of his ears turning red, beginning at the tips and quickly spreading downwards, and ducks his head so that his hair will at least provide some kind of cover as the blush continues to spread to his cheeks because Lavrenty just had to find a way to make it even worse. He wants to glare, but that would mean looking up and that's just not an acceptable option right now.]

You're an ass, you know that? If this is what you mean by improvise I'm gonna... [He trails off as he realizes that he doesn't really have any idea of what to actually threaten with that Lavrenty isn't just going to twist around to make him even more embarrassed.] Well, I'll think of something!

[At first, he's not entirely sure why Sabo grows quieter, and so he cranes his neck to look at him more closely. The body language is pretty easy to read for someone like Lavrenty, who is constantly watching those around him and trying to figure them out. He's flustered. But about what exactly? It's not even like he'd tried to tease him - at least more than his usual patter could be considered teasing.

He bites his lip in thought as he fumbles around a bit for the microwave button, manages to snap it open after some fiddling, and shoves the first pizza in there. Luckily he can set the timer by feeling.]

Hmm, I don't think I'm as bad as all that. [He supposes his words could've come off as somewhat suggestive? Shoot, he hadn't made Sabo uncomfortable, had he? He really doesn't enjoy thinking of himself in the role of a dirty old man.] I do have an ordinary deck of cards in my pocket, but after a threat like that I'm not sure if that will help to appease you. [Will that work? For someone so sensitive to the moods of others, he really isn't always great at navigating more complex feelings.]

Edited 2018-05-31 02:52 (UTC)

[Sabo risks glancing up and Lavrenty's obvious confusion makes him groan and bang his head lightly against the table. Apparently he really didn't have anyone to blame for getting into this situation but himself. That was... potentially not good.

He takes a deep breath and does his best to will his blush away, but without much success, before sitting back up again and properly meeting Lavrenty's eyes. He smiles sheepishly and runs a hand through his hair.]

Sorry. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you're trying to make me flustered or just manage to anyway.

[The bush on his cheeks have receded somewhat but his ears are still bright red and he's really hoping that Lavrenty isn't going to ask what, exactly, had gotten him so very embarrassed in the first place. Though it probably wouldn't be too hard for him to guess it even without Sabo saying a word. Either way it hopefully won't hurt to shift the focus of the conversation just a little bit.]

Cards sounds like it could be fun. But considering I have a sneaking suspicion that there's a high risk you're going to kick my ass in most games we could play, it might not be the best appeasement method ever. You know, in case you ever need to attempt it for real in the future.

[There is a moment of prolonged confusion, as Lavrenty goes over his own words again, and then understanding dawns. Oh dear lord. No wonder he'd embarrassed Sabo, then, if that's how he came across. Then again...]

No, sometimes you're just going to have to blame your own filthy mind, my dear.

[He can't help himself. Consider it punishment for how Sabo can just sit there with the blush fading on his cheeks and smile like that, because good god, that is incredibly distracting. God fucking damn it. He probably is a dirty old man - admittedly not that old, but certainly old enough to know better than to stand around gazing like an idiot at a man half his age.

Right. Cards.]

I'm not sure if you're accusing me of being a cheater or just a really good player, now. In the case of the former, I'll have you know I'm an honest man, and I would never.

[In an impressive show of grace and maturity Sabo sticks his tongue out at him.]

You know, I think I'd still rather blame you.

[The words are muttered under his breath, but still purposefully loud enough for Lavrenty to hear and are accompanied by a pout Sabo would probably deny to the ends of the earth. But his blush had been receding, dammit, and now he just knows it's flaring back up again.]

You know, I actually was mostly referring to that your poker face is probably a lot better than mine, and that if being in Air Force is anything like what I've grown up with you've probably had quite a bit of practice over the years. But now that you've mentioned it, I have to admit that I think that you totally would. Maybe not as a rule but definitely under the right circumstances. Or just because it's fun.

[He tilts his chair back and the grin he sends Lavrenty is almost obnoxiously cocky.]

But don't worry. I'm still willing to take you on.

[He just raises an eyebrow slightly in response to Sabo's muttering, but it feels like perhaps it would be best for the both of them if he lets the subject drop. It seems like that whole area of conversation is currently suffering from some very unstable ground, and he's going to have to consider it carefully before venturing there again.

He's just about to counter with some sort of hyperbolic exclamation of hurt innocence, when suddenly the world around him seems to skip like an old record, and-

"Listen, you whoreson, we all know you cheat at darts."

It's quick, and all he manages to take in of the accuser is a handsome face with cold blue eyes, a mess of long blond hair streaked with blue, a broken nose, gold earrings. A dangerous grin with no warmth behind it. Then he blinks, shakes his head. Sabo has blond hair and blue eyes, and yes, he's handsome, but there all likeness ends.]

...ah. I'm not sure that I will ever get used to having memories dumped on me like that. How do you even cheat at darts? [He offers Sabo a rueful smile, then remembers what they were talking about.]

If I did cheat - and I still admit to no such thing - then I would only do so when strictly necessary. So if you find me stooping so low, you should take it as a compliment.

[Sabo's cocky attitude falters for a moment at Lavrenty's reaction at having been hit by another memory and he winces in sympathy, but it quickly returns in full force once it's clear that he's gotten his bearings enough to keep up his end of their bantering again.]

Why? Because it means I've gotten too good for you to beat me by more honest means? You know, Lavender, I don't think I've ever really seen this competitive side of you before. It's interesting.

[His grin widens.]

And for the record I have no idea how you'd cheat at dart in general. But I might have one or two of how you might. In a manner of speaking.

Exactly, my dear friend. And whenever that happens, you can pride yourself that you have at least bested me with more honest means. Though I imagine I'll have one foot in my grave by then.

[He flashes Sabo a big grin, but he's still a bit unsettled. It's unpleasant to have so little control of when your mind goes wandering off into a completely different world.

There had been another memory, one of in fact playing darts with people he recognized as comrades. The memory hadn't left him any clear sense of who they were apart from that, but maybe one of the faces in the crowd and the face from his memory weren't entirely dissimilar?]

And pray do tell, because I certainly have no idea, and no memory of said cheating either. Just so you know.

...Also, who the hell is Lavender?

Edited 2018-05-31 22:25 (UTC)

[Oh, it's on now! Lavrenty isn't the only one with a competitive streak.]

So it should happen any day now, then. Right, old man?

[He lets his chair tip further back while still maintaining his balance.]

Like you'd admit to it even if you did remember. And keep in mind that I specified 'in a manner of speaking' cause I don't know enough about dart to know if what I'm thinking is technically against the rules or not. Or if our rules even apply for that matter.

Anyway, assuming you're still pretty much you I'd wager you managed to make verbal distraction into a very frustrating art form.

[He's looking rather smug at the end of his conclusion, at least until the realization of his accidental slip earlier finally dawns on him. Then he's looking more like a very red deer caught in headlights and the front legs of his chair hit the floor with an audible thunk.]

Uh. [Not a great start. He clears his throat and tries again.] Well, you. Obviously.

[Lavrenty isn't even going to dignify that with an answer, thank you. No matter how much he might've felt like a dirty old man a moment ago, and no matter how much he plays up his age at times, there are some limits. So there.

Now he taps his lips thoughtfully, grinning.]

Well, I can't see how that could be frustrating, certainly, but cheating? I mean after all, darts is an art form that hinges entirely on having a steady nerve as well as a steady hand and eye, so if a man can't focus while someone else is talking... Well, alas, I'd have to say that he's not a very good player.

[But it's possible that the man in his memory had felt differently. Oh well. And it is rather funny to catch Sabo out like this.]

Is that so? I've had a fair few nicknames in my time, but I admit it's the first time I've been called a flower by someone who wasn't trying to insult me. [Because the only other flower he's ever been called before is "Pansy", so...]

It's not my fault your name sounds like it.

[He's aware of that he's sounding way too defensive about this but unfortunately knowing doesn't seem to in any way translate into being able to do anything about it. He pulls his arms in under his sweater and scratches Kiwi on the top of his head as he wills himself to relax a bit.]

...Do you mind it?

[He's trying his best to keep his facial expression neutral, he really is, but there's no hiding the self-conscious nervousness hiding beneath.]

I suppose it does a bit, at that.

[And since it had been left to other soldiers, his other nicknames hadn't been all that fantastic either. Lav, Lavvy, Renny, Renty, Rent-boy (thanks John)... Compared to all of that, 'Lavender' is positively poetic. So he smiles a bit at the younger man, caught between defensiveness and hesitation, and feels something warm slowly unfold inside him. Dangerous ground, he reminds himself, but he does so rather half-heartedly.]

I don't mind. If you'd like to call me that, it's fine with me.

[Sabo lets out a relieved breath and hugs Kiwi close. He's a bit surprised by how important that feels, even though he can guess at some of the reasons why. But that's something for him to contemplate some other time.]

Well, that's good. Because honestly, I'm not sure how well I would have been able to prevent it now that's it out.

[He bites his lip and when he smiles it's a pretty good attempt at getting back to their previously teasing atmosphere.]

And just for the record. I still think it likely that you kinda cheat at darts.

Once something is out, it's rather difficult to try to rein it back in again. I should know.

[Luvander winks, and then remembers the pizza he'd shoved in the microwave. Oh right. Maybe he should take that out and put his own in? The pizza in itself is almost invisible in all its whiteness, but it still smells just like any other pizza, so he just transfers it to a plate and passes it onto Sabo.]

Now I've got no point but to prove my innocence to you, I hope you realize that. But I think perhaps playing darts can wait until we can actually see a dartboard again.

[Sabo looks down at his seemingly empty plate and reaches out to feel for where the edges of the pizza are. Having securely located his meal he can't help but giggle.]

This is going to look fucking ridiculous no matter what I do.

[And if that is the case is there even a point to table manners? Not much, so while he'll draw the line at chewing or talking with his mouth open Sabo's just going to tear into that pizza like the savage he is. Besides, he's hungry.]

Alright. I'll grant you a reprieve. Besides, it'll give me time to prove I can whoop you ass at cards first.

Edited 2018-06-01 03:18 (UTC)

[Lavrenty has managed to manhandle another frozen piece of invisible pizza into his microwave in the meanwhile, and turns around just in time to see Sabo try to inhale that pizza. He snorts.]

It does look like you're trying to cram a very oddly-shaped snowball into your mouth. You know you're not actually supposed to breathe pizza, right?

[But then again, he's spent time in the army, and also he's a father, so... he's not too fussy about table manners.

Speaking of eating, however... He takes a moment to fish out his voice prosthesis, which really doesn't need to get pizza grease on the membrane. Then he presses his thumb against the opening in his throat so he can keep talking. It's a bit awkward, his already hoarse voice drops a bit further and the pauses in his speech get even more pronounced, but it works.]

So cocky all of a sudden? I wouldn't have figured you to be a glutton for punishment.

[Sabo gives him a very teenagey 'are you dumb' look. Mostly just to be a little shit about it.]

How else are you supposed to eat it? Me and my friends used to have contest about in school. You know, who could do it quickest? Who could cram the most in? It sounds stupid, and I guess it was, but it was a lot of fun.

[He's not going to say anything about it but privately Sabo admits to himself that there's something rather nice, and maybe a bit shivery, about the new raspiness of Lavrenty's voice.]

I never said you were guaranteed to beat me. Besides I tend to rise to the challenge.

Oh yes, some of the guys used to do that... when we were in training. Who can swallow the most... marshmallows at once, who can swallow... the most hot dogs whole. That kind of thing.

...Come to think of it, I'm surprised... more of them didn't turn out to be gay.

[He smiles a bit wryly. And it would warm his heart to know that Sabo finds his voice in any way attractive like this, since most of the time he feels like he's doing a "Christian Bale in ManBat"-impersonation.]

There is an embarrassing joke in there somehow... I can feel it. Possibly of the, "that's what he said" variety.

Yeah, it does seem to be more of a guy thing doesn't it. [He snorts.] It's a bit funny really. My parents had this big 'oh my god are you GAY!?' freakout once 'cause I dyed my hair pink but somehow me and my guy friends plying chicken with our gag reflexes never seemed to worry them.

[It's possible that all the flustered blushing Sabo's been doing since coming here have left him temporarily embarrassed out, so instead he just grins and winks.]

Eh, depending on which joke you wanna make it might still be true.

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[CLOSED] oh but don’t go home with your...

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