dumbshow | Friends of Trains

What's that? I think... I think I'm falling asleep again, it's already sooo boring... [Jacob leans his head back and shuts his eyes, but his fake sleeping act is already ruined by the fact he can't stop grinning at his own joke. He tries for a whole thirty seconds before he breaks into a laugh.]

So long as you're the one talking about it, I think I'll live. [He'll even be productive by loosening the tie off entirely with one hand. He's so talented.]

[Oh, there goes his tie. Goodbye, tie. Ned has no objections to this, but Jacob is a fool for giving him full permission to speak at length about trains.]

If you fall asleep, I'm eating without you. [Whenever dinner is, whatever dinner is. He'll abandon Jacob and go date this train for the rest of the night instead. Smirking, he reaches up to pat Jacob's cheek.] Not every conversation has to be about what a fine specimen you are.

It doesn't have to be, but I certainly don't tire of it. [Jacob huffs, leaning his head into Ned's hand while he had the opportunity. This boy is starved of affection.]

There's always talking about how fine a specimen you are... Your hair curls at the end, it's adorable.

My... huh. [He's good for doling out the tiny affectionate gestures, but complimenting his appearance kind of takes him by surprise. Idly, his other hand goes to the ends of his hair, like he didn't notice it curled before. He did, but listen, people don't call him adorable every day of the week. He has to decide if he's entirely okay with that.]

You should've seen it back when I cut it myself. Looked like I got in a fight with a pair of hedge clippers. Clumsy ones.

Oh, that must have been a sight. Neddy Wynert, undone and looking a right mess. No one suspects he'll rise to the top, or wind up the most handsome man Jacob Frye's ever met. [Jacob can't help his grin this time, truly. It's not that he's trying to embarrass Ned, really, and more than he's gotten the chance to say it without anyone else around to judge.]

But... I'd probably still like you, hedge clippers or not. I don't think you'd appreciate my beard before I got here, but... I'd hope the same.

You'd have been, what, about twelve back then? That's one hell of a beard. [Just a reminder that Ned is old; this wasn't just a few years ago, literal baby. Calling him the most handsome man ever is way more acceptable than adorable though, so, feel free.]

When'd you get the tattoos?

Iiii... got these tattoos... [Let him drag out these words because he's trying to pretend he has sooo long a lifespan to go off of. He'll even look at his very much still clothed shoulder in consideration, he's so smart.] Me and some... not really mates got particularly sloshed this one night, and... well, that's the one. Pissed off father. Made Evie laugh, when she still did that.

But I'm fond of ravens, [stuffed bird boy,] so that one was with a clear head. Mostly.

[Jacob and some people who weren't his friends got drunk and made bad decisions, is that what Ned is hearing right now... That seems to be the extent of this story. What a child.] Thought we weren't talking about your sister, but never mind that.

[You know what's another cool topic to not bring up? Fathers. Cool, skipping those.]

But really, that's it? You like birds?

Why did you think I named my gang the way I did, Ned? ... I hope you don't actually think I play chess. I'm not all that. [Jacob like, genuinely thinks that everyone thinks of rooks the bird first, it's alright.] We're like... a... flock... of rooks. There's never more than one rook on a board.

[There's two, every game, but it's fine. Pay attention to him leaning back to strip off his coat instead.] You like trains, I like birds.

I can tell you don't play chess. [Jacob?? Ned and his Fancy Upbringing have played enough chess to never want to play chess again, but jesus, at least he knows the rules.

He definitely did not think of the bird rook first, becaaause-] Here I thought you'd want to be a murder of crows.

[These are totes the same bird, right??]

[Jacob just kinda. Looks at him. He's still removing his coat, but it's much slower now, like the wheels are turning to process that Ned cannot distinguish these very similar type of birds from each other.]

Crows... aren't rooks, Ned. There's differences. [He's so serious about this? His voice is so sullen, his expression is so incredulous.] It's a building of rooks, an unkindness of ravens, a... peep of chickens, there's more... [He wrote these down, somewhere,]

[Oh, was he wrong? He's never been less interested in something, but he can pretend. He actually stops to lean his elbow against the back of the couch and Watch Jacob, like maybe if he listens to this bird shit, he'll take his coat off faster...]

A building? [the mirth comes] How many buildings do you have? There's at least one in Southwark that you oh so generously let me know about...

[A BUILDING]

It's-- It's not a building like a... building, it's... shut it, Ned! [Jacob will take off his coat faster because he's mad, but he's not really mad because he's trying oh so desperately not to smile over it.] I have buildings that happen to have... buildings of Rooks inside them.

[But there, his coat is off, and he's not as done up as he usually is For Some Reason. His shirt is nearly halfway unbuttoned? It's fine,] I'm getting off the next stop, just for that.

To go back to your building in a building? [Help... it's so funny. He'll never let this one die.] That's too complicated for me.

[But it's fake, so never mind. They're talking about Jacob's tattoos, so it's totally fine for Ned to casually reach over and undo the next button on his shirt. Why isn't he seeing birds? Tragedy.]

That's... [He was going to stay something along the lines of absurb, but then it clicks that Ned is touching his shirt and honestly? Jacob forgets everything he was going to say.] ... fine. That's alright, that's... I'll tell you more bird facts, later. Later.

[He fumbles a little for the next button, and he doesn't make an effort not to rush, but it can probably be endearing. There it goes, it's going to join his tie.] More show than tell now, yeah?

[Ned sure is touching his shirt, that's a thing he's doing. In generous exchange for Jacob being a good boy and taking it off, Ned will remove... his jacket!

800 layers remain]

And yet you're still talking about it. [But since they're ~courting~ or whatever it's called now, he's allowed to look up and down Jacob's chest in detail, yes? Not that he hasn't done this before at fight clubs, but now it's actually a thing.] I forget what we were arguing about. How about you?

[He's joking, but it's okay that Jacob is a big doofus.]

We were having an argument? I can't recall. [Jacob is a big doofus. However, he is a big shirtless doofus, and that's going to make up for it. He really doesn't know what to do with this now, since the jacket is already a step in some direction, so he'll just sit back with an arm around Ned.]

You... need to dress down more often. You know how maddening it was to see you at the fights like you were at work?

[Pros, cons. Ned doesn't mind leaning against a shirtless Jacob at all. He is, indeed, a genius.

But he still raises a correcting finger, since he's compulsively like this.] I am at work. You think I go to the fights just to see you and wind up with Robbie yapping my ears off? [bless Robert, but shut up,] Only sometimes, Frye.

You're telling me you were actually doing business while I was looking as good as I was? [Jacob is like, actually a little offended like a little baby.] I can't believe this. All this time.

[But like, he's gonna stay put though. Because he's cozy.] Did you do this after we started our little... thing? I know Robbie was jealous.

[He's damn cozy, Ned is taking full advantage of that, tugging Jacob's arm around him a little tighter. Don't complain, actual child.]

Never mind that now. I'd say... seven times out of ten, I went to get a good look at you. Sometimes even in the middle of business.

[It's more like 4, but shh.]

[Jacob looks a little skeptical about this number, but it's enough to stave off his baby jealousy. He'll even lean for this neck straining kissing again, he's good.]

You like a close up view, then? Without any business to distract.

[Okay, this is just another conversation about how hot Jacob is. Again. Why is his boy's ego this fragile, Ned wonders, even as he appreciates this needy kiss. Jacob...]

We could keep talking about how much I like the date, or we could enjoy it properly. What do you say?

That... sounds hard. Might need some convincing. With more kissing, maybe.

[Look at him, he's a real smooth talker. Prime boyfriend material. However, he does see the point, because he is leaning again to steal another kiss. Another would follow, but this sure is a strain on his neck since someone is so small.]

You... are... too travel sized, Ned.

[travel sized]

[Anyway that's the least convincing argument for more kissing ever made, probably. The look Ned gives Jacob may be upside down, but the mild disapproval is there. Dumped.]

We are on a train. [Whine more, babe.]

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