dumbshow | highly new, slightly improved open post

[Maybe Lalli likes the forest, Emil. Maybe he's more comfortable out here than he is all cooped up in some strange house! But they can chat about that in the awkward, awkward dream they're sure to share tonight, because as great as kissing one another is, Lalli knows that Emil is going to want to talk about it. ...Even he knows that they should probably talk about it.

So he's (reluctantly) prepared to do that later, when they can easily understand one another, but then Emil decides that he has something to say right now. ...Ah. Well. At least he's still close! And staring at him in that silly way of his, which Lalli decides to tolerate as long as he keeps receiving a small kiss every now and again. It's just, you know, a bit hard to focus on the words he's saying? Lalli doesn't want to pull back at all, but he tilts his head to the side, eyes watching Emil's mouth easily shape these strange words as he tries to decipher as many as he can. I—well, Emil—, um... likes... him...

...That shouldn't be a surprise, considering how they've been locked together for several minutes now, but Lalli still freezes for a moment when he gets the meaning. Likes? Likes very much. Onni likes him, and Tuuri liked him, and yet this is a different type of like, he thinks. Something entirely new! Ah, but as pleased as he is to hear Emil say that, he should probably say something back, shouldn't he—]

I like you, too, [he murmurs, in Finnish, before coming in with a quick, chaste kiss of his very own.] Very much.

[He's never been very good at thinking of things to say, but shamelessly repeating Emil's line in his own language feels like the best thing to do here. And who cares about that, anyway? Because look, Emil—there's a trace of a smile on Lalli's lips as he pulls back, so small that if you blink you might just miss it.]

[Oh, they're going to talk the hell out of it. Emil just assumes this, because they can talk when they're asleep, so surely they're going to-- and then just dream-hold hands in silence, probably. That sounds like par for the course. But he's not thinking about that right now, of course. Lalli is kind of looking at him like this thing he's saying is... news? Brand new information?

And okay, so Emil would probably react the same way if Lalli had said it first, but come on. Luckily the Finn gibberish and sweet little kiss come in time to stop Emil from being a brat and demanding a real response, and he meets Lalli's teeny tiny smile with a huge smile of his own. Who needs dream talking when half-comprehensible mumbling is working out so well??]

Well I'm a find, so of course you do! [emil. okay, he controls himself to be a little more soft--] But, honestly— I'm glad.

["I'm glad" is the only real thing that Lalli understands here, and that, my friend, is a blessing. Oh, the shift in tone was definitely hard to miss, but let's be real: he's too dazzled by the smile to spend too much time wondering what that first was all about. Emil is glad, Emil is smiling, and everything is... almost too much, but in a good way.]

Mmm.

[Or: "I am, too." Lalli squirms a bit, finally releasing Emil's poor, stretched shirt as he settles more comfortably against him. Maybe they'll kiss more! Maybe they'll sit quietly! Maybe they'll trek back to Reynir's house and poke at some weird food!! He has no real plan here, but that's okay, he supposes. Being with Emil is even better now than it was before.

But... hmm. He lifts his newly free hand and taps a finger against Emil's cheek, studying him. Yeah, he's still here!]

Were you worried?

[Like, he was worried, okay? He was very worried, but he doesn't want to just up and say that. Please understand this Finnish...]

[Hi, yes, that's his face? Emil may like him very much but he has a limit for being poked, proceed with care. He probably knows "worried" if only from a troll-hunting context, so he can piece together the rest of this question... Was he worried? Well, duh, of course he was-- Having only one friend and then wanting to kiss him a lot is something anyone would worry about!

Probably. He doesn't really know. So.]

I was more before you started kissing me for no reason! [That was very helpful, in the grand scheme of things!! But also very bad for his tiny, infant heart. Relax. His brow furrows, considering... the Finnish... there's no chance in hell he'll get "I was scared you would think I was weird or something" right, so, plan B.]

I was, uh, distraction. [.......no, that's his best.]

[It's a tap, not a poke! But dang, listen to that amazing attempt at Finnish. Lalli gives him a slightly unimpressed look before lightly patting him on the shoulder, because he didn't need to understand any of that earlier Swedish to know that, yes, Emil was worried. About the same stuff that he i—was worried about? Well, that's still up in the air, but at least he knows that he wasn't completely alone. Maybe worrying about losing your one friend is something that everything goes through!

...Distraction, though. Distraction. He places his hands in his lap, not quite sure what to do with them when they're not kissing, and thinks about the days spent pondering why Emil's smile made his chest feel like it was going to explode. There is but one conclusion to be drawn here:]

...You should have distracted me.

[He knows that Emil is going to get, like, none of that, but he's been tormented for days—weeks!—and it wasn't very fun.]

[Yeah, Emil gets "you" and "me" out of that, and because he is a dingus, and because Lalli is usually making faces at him like that, he can only conclude that the unimpressed look is just standard fare and actually, that Finn gibberish is something very cute. So, assuming that Lalli is just being cute at him, Emil grins and squeezes around his waist again. Let him hug in peace.]

I don't know what exactly that means, but maybe?

[Ha... look, this isn't his fault.]

["Maybe!" Hmph. There's that unimpressed Look again, because aside from the wonderful we-like-one-another-very-much moment, is there any point to talking? There are a handful of other Things they need to (possibly) discuss one of these days, true, but everything was perfectly fine when they weren't saying a single thing a few minutes before; plus he's used to keeping most things to himself, anyway, so! So. Feel free to squeeze him closer like that, Emil, even if he's still not sure what he should be doing. Hugging... back?

He considers this for a moment, seriously mapping this entire thing out in his mind before twisting around to... try to loosen Emil's grip? Which probably isn't the best thing to do with absolutely zero warning, so he forces himself to look back at Emil and try his hand at Swedish:]

Not... [tch!] ...long? Minute.

[Apparently talking does have its advantages, but they need to work on expressing time. Anyway: let him go, please!]

Edited (i can't read) 2018-12-07 05:10 (UTC)

Uh, what-- [Boy, please, let him rock snuggle. It is truly a tragedy for Lalli and only Lalli that Emil is not a twig and his grip remains stalwart with minimal effort in the face of this... struggle. This wiggling around and tugging on him, which takes him a second to parse.]

Oh-- sorry, you don't appreciate that? Um, hmm-- [How can he just not hug!! He compromises by letting go of Lalli with one arm, raising that hand to wiggle his fingers for emphasis that he's Let Go while his other hand lingers vaguely by Lalli's waist. See? Not squeezing! He's cooperating! Please tell him this is what "not long minute" actually meant to convey because he understood the words and that's as far as he got. They need to work on complete sentences, too...]

Like this? What do you want to do?

[The truth... is that Lalli could have formed a simple sentence there if he'd tried, but he's in a hurry! Plus he's already put so much effort forth today, so please, just trust him. Quietly. That is an awful lot of Swedish being hurled his way...]

Pfh!

[But okay, okay. Being held with one arm is not as helpful as being cut loose, but Lalli is flexible enough to make this work; he just has to, you know push himself back, almost to the point of falling, in order to make room for him to sling one leg over and around Emil as he turns to fully face him. It's a tedious, graceless process, but after a bit more maneuvering: there. Now he's straddling instead of sitting side-saddle, which is... something to think about, perhaps, but he focuses on slipping his arms over Emil's shoulders and leaning in once again. Being close is better when he doesn't have to stay all twisted around! Now he can easily return a hug in full.

...Or, like, tilt his head against one arm just to press a quick kiss to the side of Emil's neck? Because after a split-second's consideration, that's what he does.]

[Whoa okay there's a lot of leg stuff happening here all of a sudden!! Emil sputters, half surprised and half wondering if Lalli is going to topple backwards off his lap, and he leans back a little himself to avoid getting, like, kneed in the face or something. It's very delicate, this leg action...

But now Lalli is really-for-real straddling his lap, and Emil looks faintly amazed about this reality as he slides his other arm back around Lalli's waist again. Oh. Oh yeah, that's different, that's markedly different from the other position--!! And kissing his neck, god, it's a wonder he hasn't exploded.

Instead he makes a genuinely dumb noise, like "buhh," and tilts his head the other way. Helpfully. You know, in case Lalli wants to do that again with less of Emil's hair all in his face. If he really wants.]

Okay, this is... new. [It's all new, but this is newer. He thinks about it, then trails his fingers from Lalli's lower back up his spine, idly. All the way up... and all the way down. Fun!]

[Next time he gestures for you to let go of him, Emil, maybe you should listen!! It's fine, though; this all worked out just fine, and Lalli is prepared to sit here for a few minutes, half-listening to whatever is said to him as he decides whether or not he enjoys sitting like this.

Answer: Probably, which bumps up to a yes when he hears that dumb noise, and then leaps all the way up to a definitely the very second Emil's fingers begin working their way up his spine. Ah, but that's—it's a surprise that causes him to twitch, to exhale sharply against Emil's exposed neck before instinct propels him to go in for another kiss. And then another? And then another, this one so desperate that he winds up raking his teeth across the skin. Yes, this is very new indeed... and also very sloppy, but hopefully the excitement more than makes up for the lack of finesse. Lalli just wants more! Of everything! Dunk him in a chilly stream.]

[This is no longer a Christian side-hug, damn, Lalli. Or: Emil is so mystified by the simplest act of kissing his neck that of course he makes no move to dunk Lalli anywhere or do much of anything to curb his thirst, as it were. Now who is the messy one...

Ah, but, teeth--]

Hah, Lalli— [watch those chompers!!! This is all from Emil, a vague murmur of Lalli's name while he continues his casual exploration of Lalli's back. He may be skinny, but there are so many places for Emil to put his hands, so here he goes. Every, like, second or third press of Lalli's mouth against his neck kind of makes him fumble like he's forgotten how to move his fingers up and down, but that's Lalli's fault so he should take responsibility.]

[Oh, and there it is—his name. The hands kind-of-sort-of running up and down his back are a nice, shivery sort of distraction, yes, but something about hearing Emil say his name like that makes him feel... proud? Pleased, certainly, and he pauses a moment, lips still pressed to Emil's neck as he hums approvingly once more. It's one of those things he didn't know that he wanted until he did, but now... yes, now he wants to hear his name again, or listen to Emil make more dumb noises. Something. He's figuring this out as it happens.

So back to kissing he goes, trying not to miss a beat as he pulls his arm out from under his head and wonders what, exactly, to do with it. Hand back on the chest? He lays it there for a moment, but... no, no. That's been done before; that won't get the reaction he's hoping for, which is why he slides it down and around to Emil's hip, fingers working their way under the hem until he's able to slip his hand right under the shirt. There! Now he can touch Emil's side just like Emil has been touching his, but instead of feeling a stupid shirt, he gets to press his hand against warm skin. His hand is probably cold? He's not the slightest bit sorry about it.]

[Humming against his neck? That's practically obscene... Emil resists the urge to squirm a little if only because Lalli is sitting in his lap still and he is enjoying all of this new and exciting attention, so. This is the price of making out.

That said, Lalli's hand is quite cold actually thank you, the suddenness of cold hand on skin making him sort of involuntarily sit up straighter and sputter. Hello!! Whoa!!]

Lalli, I just said— [Maybe not "just" but he did say those needy hands were cold, like, a few minutes ago. He's sticking to it, but also, don't... not touch him? Hmm.] Warn me next time!

[Boy... He pauses, figuring this is a thing worth trying to say in Finnish, so:] Next time, say a thing. Go ahead.

[Aha! There's his name again, even if the way in which it was said was not exactly ideal. And that reaction... well, as into this as Lalli clearly is, the little jump still causes him to finally break away from Emil's neck and pull back just far enough to see his face. Too much? Ah, wait, he's seen that expression before; it means that he's trying to find the right Finnish words, so—

—so say a thing, apparently. Huh. Lalli's brow furrows for a second, but only for a second; then his face smooths right back over as he pulls his other arm—the one still resting on Emil's shoulder—back between them. If that's how Emil wants this to go, then that's how this is going to go! Almost. Just give him a moment to bring that hand down to Emil's other side, to hover right there by the bottom of his shirt before Lalli offers a very simple:]

Cold.

[Aaaaand then that hand is sliding under the shirt and up to Emil's ribcage! Quickly, too, because hey—he told Lalli to say a thing. Love him.]

[Emil looks at Lalli looking at him and thinks, yes, of course, they've made a breakthrough of understanding here— and it seems like they have enough, because he knows that smug look well enough by now to know that Lalli is going to do something. Cold, he says, ah—]

Wait, hold on— [Just saying "cold" doesn't make his hands less cold!! Emil plucks at the back of Lalli's shirt, like that will help or slow down his greedy hands or something, but it's too late. He does the exact same sputtering jolt thing as a moment ago, this time a little more indignant than surprised.

He manages to be indignant for all of a few seconds before he's somehow super endeared, because that's what Lalli's dumb smug face needs-- encouragement. Emil's sputter ends in a laugh and he slides one hand around to grab Lalli's elbow before he gets cold hands all over. Boy!!]

You know that's not what I meant!

[Yes, he knows, but he also knows that Emil's laugh means that risky move was well worth it. How many people does he want to actually amuse? How many people does he pat and preen and learn stupid Swedish words for, just because he likes to see them smile? Answer: only one, and it just so happens to be the person he's looking at right now. Hmm.

But even though he's feeling disgustingly soft and it possibly shows on his face, he still gives Emil a little shrug—one that clearly means, "Did I know that? Maybe."—before leaning closer to plant a quick peck on Emil's cheek. An apology kiss? A victory kiss? He can take it as he will, but Lalli's hands are staying right where they are. Emil is nice and toasty... getting warm is the real prize.]

[So he's a heater, he sees how it is... Lalli is lucky he's cute and Emil likes him so much, or his bony ice cube hands wouldn't be allowed to stay where they are. Emil squeezes his elbow a little, like, leave this hand where it is... then he slips his arm back around Lalli's waist with a little pat on the back. Yes, dear, you're very clever.]

Yooouuu... are being difficult.

[But in a fun way, sort of? This Swedish babble doesn't seem irritated in the least, so good job, cold hands. He turns his head to give Lalli a cheek kiss of his own with a little hum, satisfied despite the icy groping. Please.]

[Whatever, Emil. Whaaaaatever. Lalli is in an exceptionally good mood, especially now that his hands are warm and he's being kissed on a semi-frequent basis; he is perfectly content to sit here and kiss Emil even more, or simply rest his shoulder on Emil's shoulder as he continues enjoying this closeness. They have time.

Just not, like, too much time. Icelandic food is weird, but they still have to get back to Reynir's home before dinner is set on the table; then they have to, you know, suffer through a very loud meal, and then help clean up because it's the polite thing to do (whatever that means), and then get pulled apart to do various other things. Lalli, of course, winds up spending more time with Onni, sitting in a silence that he used to enjoy, but that now feels... well, not bad? It's just like something is missing. Sure, staring at his feet gives him plenty of time to think about strange feelings and exciting events, and yet it seems as if spending the past few months with normal-ish people has made him appreciate... talking... a bit more than he did before. Maybe. Possibly. ...It's something else to think about.

But when everything is said and done with, it's somewhat of a relief to crawl under his own bed and pull the covers over his head. It was a good day! A great day, even, but with all of the trying, all of the new things... look, he's very, very tired. It's why it takes him no time at all to drift right off to sleep.

And... wake up in his dreamspace? Well, okay—"wake up" is a generous term. He's semi-conscious at best, stretched out in something that's nice and dark and, hmm, slightly familiar, but does he care about where he is at this very moment? Does he care that there's something There beside him? No, because while this venue is new, the person he can hear breathing is someone he fully expected to slide into his dream again. He can safely deal with all of this... in five more minutes...]

Edited 2018-12-08 07:22 (UTC)

[For all that Emil loves to run his mouth and brag about his accomplishments, and as much as kissing a boy a bunch of times is an accomplishment(!!), well-- he doesn't have anyone around here he'd actually like to share that with. It's not any of their business! So when he and Lalli slink back to Sheep House and he gets dragged, again, into whatever nonsense Sigrun desperately needs him for - well, he's distracted the entire time. It's not his fault; how can he be expected to focus when all he wants to think about is Lalli, and kissing Lalli, and grabby cold hands--

Well it's not a bad evening by any means, but unlike Lalli, Emil is too wired to immediately fall asleep when everyone drifts off to bed. He wants... something; he isn't sure what, maybe just ten seconds alone with Lalli to kiss him goodnight. That would be nice! But there are just too many people in this house, and inevitably he gives up and goes to bed without any smooches. Sad. He's probably sulking a little, but no one has to witness it, so it's not even a productive sulk!! He falls asleep purely because he's bored and needs attention...

...And somehow, he's surprised when he blinks himself "awake" in yet another shared dream, although that could be entirely because they're in a tiny dark space instead of at that perfectly nice dock with the ducks?? What's going on-- aha.]

Oh, come on. I can't possibly be expected to stay in here.

[Whine, whine. Maybe if he shuts his eyes really tight, they'll get bounced into another dream spot... Right? That's how it works? This is what he'll be doing whenever Lalli feels like joining him here in the Conversation Zone.]

[Ugh, but the Conversation Zone requires effort! Lalli is tired... and also fully aware that talking is unavoidable, even if it does take him a solid minute or so to finally crack one eye open. Ah, yes—he definitely remembers this place. What a weird place to wind up? Cozy, though, because as someone who enjoys sleeping under things, he is totally fine with napping in an oversized can so long as there is no danger of being skewered. This is fine. Actually, here—]

It's not that bad.

[Better now than then, anyway. And he almost follows that up with "At least we don't have to hold onto the lid this time," but then he sees that stupid look on Emil's face and he just can't help but to ask:]

...What are you doing?

[Boy, that is a look of intense concentration?? Is he trying to, like, poof back to his own dream...]

[No, it's dirty and it smells. His dream sweater is going to get all gross! Please sympathize with his terrible plight, Lalli. He's still making that stupid face, opening one eye to see if his great plan worked.

Hmm, no.]

I was trying to get back to where we were before, but apparently that's not how it works. [But they've already been over how Lalli doesn't know how the dream stuff works either, so he's not going to press the issue. Hi, Lalli.]

I guess this is it. [Ssssooooo...] Well, hi.

[Aaaand Lalli promptly closes his eye once more, because that's dumb, Emil. That's so dumb. But it's also a very Emil thing to do, which is why, after finally opening both eyes to properly look over at his boy, Lalli reaches up to pat him on the cheek. Poor, poor baby.]

Hi. [And that's all he has!! No, no... just give him a second to yawn, to stretch his legs out as best while he thinks of something to say. "Today was nice?" "I like kissing you?" Ah... hmm...

...Okay, so that one word apparently is all he has. Help...]

[Ah, condolences... that's his boy. Emil looks at him for a long moment after he just says hi, waiting... Alright, cool, so it's still his job. That's fair, he's used to it. He reaches over the extraordinarily short distance to brush some of Lalli's hair behind his ear. What to say that is both about kissing and casual... hmm...]

You ran off to bed before I could say goodnight. [sleepy jerk] Give me a minute next time!

[Sleep: Lalli's one true love. Anyway, tracking Emil down just before bedtime is not a thing he's ever really done before! He wonders, briefly, if this is just something that... friends... are expected to do, then tries to tilt his cheek up into that hand before it slips away. Attention...]

Okay? [Note taken.] But if you needed me for something, you knew where to find me.

[Under his bed? Like, this makes perfect sense to him? He's doing great.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject