i have cut to the feeling on repeat

[keeptrucking]

[Scene: two losers go to a shopping mall, because Daichi was wandering around looking disappointed in himself yet again and Joe has Better Ideas Than That. Daichi can't remember if he was actually asked if he wanted to be here, or if he was simply dragged along for the ride again and couldn't refuse once they were already at the mall. Joe just happens so much at once, despite all of Daichi's half-hearted complaining, so... here they are.

At the mall. Daichi is, at least, not sulking about whatever he was feeling inadequate about before. Instead:]

Man, my feet hurt... [Here, he affects his best (worst) Joe Voice:] Let's go shopping, Daichi! It'll be fun! —It's been nearly three hours and all we have to show for it is one magazine. C'mon, you could have done this without me.

[This menace... Why is he here, Joe? Why??]

Comments

[keeptrucking]

That doesn't mean you should be shoving stuff in my face.

[You big goddamn dork. And no, no fries, this hand is coming over to Daichi too. So, uh, hug... him? God save Daichi.]

[armanyo]

But it's funny.

[ shameless.

what's also shameless is that he adjusts so that the hug is more comfortable, both arms loosely hugged around daichi. they might as well be spooning at this point. joe's chin comes down to perch on daichi's shoulder. ]

Revenge of the carbohydrates.

[keeptrucking]

[Oh good, now he's in a perfect position for Daichi to whap his now-free-again hand right into his face. Gently. He makes up for it by patting his cheek a little, that's gay. Sigh.]

Revenge of the... [nope, he's got nothing.] You're a real piece of work, you know that?

[But he's still here. Basically spooning. Little spoon lifestyle.]

[armanyo]

Am I a Monet?

[ rude?

joe just laughs again, the noise a mock whine at being hit in the face. the pat is appreciated and before he can even process what he's doing - because that's joe for you - he tilts his head and very mindlessly presses a kiss to daichi's palm.

that's gay.

that's mega gay. ]

[keeptrucking]

More like a crayon drawing.

[That's rude, Daichi.

This movie is still going in the background, meanwhile, and for a whole twenty seconds Daichi pretends like he's actually watching it. He looks at the TV and everything, right up until some crayon drawing dweeb actually puts his actual mouth on his actual, uh, self.

That's real gay. Is that the heart attack slash swooning he's supposed to be on the lookout for? He makes a frankly stupid noise, like there were real words until he tried to say them. Um.]

...Oh. [nailed it.]

[armanyo]

[ ... what in the world kind of reaction is that? oh?

if joe were anyone else, he probably would have reacted poorly. if anything, he would have leaned away or apologized. but it's joe and he's oddly patient despite being the most restless man in the universe. ]

Eh? Oh?

[ but he'll still call him the fuck out. ]

[keeptrucking]

[It's the best he can do on short notice!! Even that tiniest of callouts gets him to wince, now, embarrassed of what a stupid reaction that was...]

Uh... [how does he form words] W-well, I'm not swooning.

[Is this a challenge or a statement of fact?? It's desperation. But he hasn't pulled away.]

[armanyo]

[ that can be misunderstood. that can mean a lot of things, daichi. ]

I can see that.

[ there's a start of a laugh, though, and he's giving daichi a stare out of the corner of his eyes. ]

D'you really think anyone would swoon with just that? [ "just" ]

[keeptrucking]

[Joe, you're dumped? That was so fast.]

Well—maybe...? N-not me, obviously. [He's too cool. Too cool and not looking at Joe, but hmm...]

So, uh... what else?

[he's trying.]

[armanyo]

[ is that an invitation? it sounded like one. ]

Is that a let Uncle Joe explain kind of request, or a hands-on request?

[ joe... he does have the decency to lower his voice to something just above a whisper, the annoying drawl vanishing from it. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Okay, wait. Wait.]

I'm not going to call you Uncle. [Jesus, talk about making it weird. He fumbles blindly for a second before he finds Joe's ear to tug on it. Don't be this weird.

....

any day now—] Since I'm not gonna call you that, it must be the other one.

[armanyo]

Must be.

[ he's just being a dork! it's fine!

well, there's only so much pussyfooting around it that joe can manage. again, while patient, he's far too restless to not take that opening.

joe chuckles and then tilts his head to the side - given the weird angle and all - before kissing the farthest patch of skin on daichi's jaw. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Daichi has been working under the assumption that he'll deal with Joe's more advanced, uh, advances in one of two ways: totally smoothly, or he'll just straight up burst into flame. A futile hope and a grim reality check, basically.

But neither of these happen, which is a new twist. He can't say he's totally cool about it, the tension in his shoulders threatening to get stuck that way, but he also doesn't actually have a heart attack. Nice!

He's still in the game, though, reaching that ear pulling hand back a little more to slide his fingers into Joe's hair. Hey.]

We're working with totally different definitions of "hands-on", huh?

[daichi,]

[armanyo]

[ there's a joke to be had here about daichi's hands on him, but he doesn't make it. instead, he doesn't call attention to how nice it feels to have a hand actually in his hair. just don't knock off his glasses. ]

Hmm. What's your definition?

[ they could be very similar or very different. he isn't so sure right ow, but he's willing to just patiently sit here and find out.

give daichi enough time to recover and all. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Those glasses are the first victim if Joe makes it weird again, beware. But now they're stopping to talk about something again and, okay, Daichi brought this on himself, but come on... every time he has to stop and blink stupidly about Joe's questions he loses cool points.]

Well, I mean... you know... [you know??] Maaaybe it wasn't that important after all. Aha. Yeah.

[armanyo]

[ you know. ]

Well, if you aren't gonna tell me, maybe I should find out some other way?

[ what? what.

joe cants his head closer again and why yes, it's the shell of daichi's ear. ]

[keeptrucking]

[Hey, that's real gay. Daichi kinda shrugs that shoulder a little, not actually trying to get Joe away from his ear, but—well it's a very new... sensation. I'm not saying it tickles but it's damn close.

Shameful.]

You, uh- you're getting warmer? [oh no now he has to have a goal]

[armanyo]

[ now he has to have a goal. ]

Yeah? [ another chuckle and he whispers, a definite stage-whisper: ]

Do you actually know?

[ he's grinning like a moron. ]

[keeptrucking]

I'm working on it! [The shortest attempt at knowing what he's doing ever—]

C'mon, give me a break, it's not like I've done this before...

[Everyone knew this. People who haven't met Daichi knew this.]

[armanyo]

[ that's actually comical. joe was half-convinced daichi had something specific in mind. ]

Uh-huh. Welllll, you could start by turning around.

[ joe sounds endlessly amused by this entire thing but he hasn't pulled away or let up. so while he's jesting it sounds as if he truly means it. ]

[keeptrucking]

[It's sweet that Joe almost has faith in him. Very.]

I don't think I like your tone, mister.

[He can hear that affectionate mockery?? Still, this is less "now or never" and more "finally grow a spine and do something, Daichi," so after a moment he slides his hand out of Joe's hair and back down to his cheek.

And pinches him for good luck. Seriously. Just a little.]

You have to let go of me first, if you really want that.

[armanyo]

[ he pinched him. what and who the hell is this endearing dork on his couch? ]

Ah. A dilemma at its finest! Thankfully I'm a gambling man, so...

[ with faith daichi actually isn't about to lunge off the couch and barrel out the front door, joe acquiesces and lets go.

there, satisfied? ]

[keeptrucking]

[A gambling man? No, Joe.]

Oh, please... Maybe I should grab my soda clothes and get out of here.

[He says this, but what he's really doing is fidgeting to turn around and face Joe. Making sure he gives him a Look. Sooo.]

[armanyo]

[ what is that look for?! ]

I'd rather you stay, if you don't mind.

[ look, he's being earnest and wearing one of those quality joe smiles. ]

[keeptrucking]

[For being a loser?! But ah, that's actually genuinely sweet. Truly there's never a bad time for a casual reminder that he actually does like this immense dork.]

I'm not. Leaving. Not leaving. I'm not going anywhere. [aces. good one.] Sorry, ignore pretty much... most of that?