highly new, slightly improved open post

[appliances]

assorted morons

☆ @ the muselist

optional prompts/ideas

☆ caught in the rain meme ☆ little steps meme ☆ affectionate physical contact meme ☆ picture prompt also acceptable but link them so it's tidy ☆ AU ideas: soulmates AU, reincarnation AU, Bad End AU, canon divergent/roleswap AU, dorky college AU, crossover AU, super indulgent high fantasy AU ☆ melodrama is ultimate tier ★ SHIPPING AND FUCC: ☆ non-fluffy relationship types I'm down for: codependent, master/servant power imbalance type ships, "we're bad for each other but worse for anyone else," other things I am failing to think of tbh ☆ things I am not into: noncon (includes "dubcon"), incest, tsundere shit if your tsundere is just verbally abusive, gratuitous torture porn, you'll probably have to ask me about harder kinks and they will vary by character ☆ I don't have a kink list so pitch me an idea if u thirsty ☆ if you would prefer a locked post I can also make that happen

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[ilves]

[Love him as he is, embrace him for his weirdness, etc, etc. And watch him screw up his face a bit as he considers this, because apple and vanilla? ...Huh. He's more of a plain juice kind of guy, but, well... it could be worse. Plus Emil must like it, so—]

No? I'll drink mine.

[He's just not super excited about it, but details, details. He's going to sink back into this couch, continue monching on this cookie, and glance over at the television before looking back over at Emil. Should he, like... start the show? Do normal people chat a bit before jumping right into it? What's the protocol here... at least moving all around Ikea saved him from this level of awkwardness...]

Are you... ready?

[Again: love him as he is, embrace him for his weirdness, etc, etc.]

[illequipped]

[Appreciate his juice, which he also paid for but not for this occasion specifically. Emil also doesn't know how this kind of thing is supposed to work, to be fair— he imagined there was more talking before the part where he's tortured for six hours watching Lalli's weird show- whatever it is- but apparently not?

He was just going to sip his juice and continue chattering about juice. Is that not on the agenda now? He blinks at Lalli, then glances over at the TV. Uh!]

Oh- right. Sure. [Does he reach right over Lalli to grab the remote from the other end of the couch? Yes. Could he have just waited for Lalli to notice it and pick it up? Also yes, but that's another ten minutes of sipping juice and staring. Here, accept this, and accept his lack of personal space, conceptually.] Here.

[Ready... thrill him.]

What is your show about, anyway?

[ilves]

[Two awkward idiots, doing their best ("best") and inadvertently making things even more awkward. Or maybe that's just Lalli, even though Emil leaning over him like this sure is... a thing. Huh. Generally he does not appreciate people crashing through his personal bubble, but instead of, like, trying to disappear entirely into this couch, he finds himself just, you know. Casually watching Emil's hair swing forward as he reaches for the remote. Is it soft? It looks soft. He wonders...

Hmm, yes, it's definitely Lalli making things more awkward than they have any right to be. He plucks the remote out of Emil's hand, busying himself with studying the buttons instead of anything else. His show, his show... focus on the show...]

Ah— [Uh.] There's a small town, and children... disappear. People blame each other? It's...

[DEPRESSING. Yeah! He's doing an excellent job here, which is why he shifts a bit.]

It's hard to explain. [Somewhere, somehow, Tuuri knows to smack her forehead at this very moment, but as Lalli continues fiddling with this remote:] But we don't... have to watch it. There are movies, too? Good ones.

[Do you want to watch... the extended cut... of The Fellowship of the Ring? Because you know what! Nordic Netflix has it and Lalli KNOWS IT! Suddenly he's less concerned with his artsy show and more concerned about not ruining the mood any more than he kind of has...]

[illequipped]

[No, please no extended Lord of the Rings cuts, that will actually reach through the screen and kill Emil like a real horror movie. He just wants to eat snacks and enjoy sitting around with Lalli! Which seems like an odd plan for the day now that he thinks about it, but Lalli let him take him to Ikea, so honestly, he's improved. This is better than the first attempt.

So, it's fine!! It is definitely fine, which is why he sort of sputters after a moment when he finally clues in that this particular brand of Lalli awkwardness is, like, different? Actually awkward, and not just the way he is...]

No! No, no, we can watch your show! I want to watch your show.

[...Kind of. He wants to watch the thing Lalli wanted him to see, for that reason, and since this mysterious show about disappearing children is apparently something that makes Lalli happy. They're both doing really well at this, right now.]

You might just have to explain it to me as we go, that's all. Let's watch.

[Emil: too dumb for artsy television drama, and too dumb to talk to boys.]

[ilves]

[It's nice that Emil is so adamant about watching this Very Good Show? Like, Lalli is pleased about that for sure—far more pleased than he ever is when Onni agrees to watch something with him—but... oh, please don't make him explain anything. Ruining the viewing experience by asking fifty questions is the worst thing! The nightmare scenario!!

But that is something he decides to, you know, keep to himself as he works on getting everything set up here. He has to pull up this knock-off Netflix, search for the title of this show, realize he's fucked up the spelling of this incredibly short title halfway, huffily take a bite of another cookie, erase two whole letters, start all over again...

...In short, it's a process? Almost like he's distracted by something, but eventually he brings up what he's spent the past few minutes looking for and presses play. A dark, spooky forest! A house in the middle of nowhere! Such an excellent start! He places the remote down beside him, far away from Emil, before settling back into the couch and looking over at this boy with the nice hair.]

It's... dark. [As if the whole bit about children disappearing didn't clue him in, but still.] And there are a lot of details you'll miss if you don't pay attention, so...

[So DON'T SPEAK! Just watch... someone die within the first ten minutes? Was it murder? Did he commit suicide? Why did the show suddenly skip to, like, four weeks later, when the man's teenage son returns from a stay at a mental hospital? Lalli can feel the questions coming, which is why he keeps glancing back Emil's way. Eventually:]

...That's not explained until the fourth episode.

[The More You Know.]

[illequipped]

[Somehow, Emil will contain himself. Oh, it's a struggle - he already has no idea what's going on just minutes in, and he's quickly discovering that he isn't much a fan of, like... mysteries? Or confusing things that aren't explained until the fourth episode?

Several hours of this really is going to be torture, but he's resolved to humor Lalli for at least this first episode. He's watching! He's not asking questions! You're welcome.]

Hmm, okay. I'm paying attention.

[You know, in case the vague and mildly distressed look on his face was a point of concern about how much he's focused on the show. Give him time and he'll settle and stop looking so completely baffled by the plot, at least; does that mean he understands? No, not really, but he has an idea of what's going on that he's convinced himself is true.

It is not true. His AU is very interesting. He does admirably at just watching until some moment he makes a comment largely to himself, like perhaps "I thought that character died already," which is clearly blatantly wrong.]

[ilves]

[Um? What? Emil receives more of a side-eye than a glance this time, because the person in question is a very important character who is obviously still alive. Good hair can only make up for so much, apparently...]

No? That was—

[Ah, but he can't reveal that person's true name yet! It's a spoiler! Explaining anything about this show is like walking through a minefield of spoilers, truth be told, and Lalli isn't up for the challenge. Hrmh, hrmh, hrmh.]

...They don't even look alike.

[Is he getting, like. Anything. This episode is halfway through, and the longer Lalli studies Emil's face, the more confused Emil looks.]

[illequipped]

[Honestly, would Emil even absorb spoilers? Would he retain anything Lalli tells him in advance about this show? All parts of his brain dedicated to understanding TV shows are currently running a loop of "children disappear" and "it's dark," so spoilers would simply slide right off.

But oh, he got it wrong. He looks... genuinely surprised to hear this news, for a second. Aha.]

Oh. I thought they did.

[HMM...]

Maybe I'll have it all down by the end of the episode.

[ilves]

[When it comes to quality shows, Lalli is ANTI-SPOILER! People have to watch and absorb things as they happen, Emil, because that's a crucial part of the viewing experience - but Lalli suddenly doubts that Emil is going to have anything down by the end of this episode. Call it... a hunch? An educated guess, brought about by Emil's stupid, stupid expression. Aha.]

...Maybe.

[That's a very doubtful maybe, and yet Lalli still settles back down to continue watching this episode. Here's a new strategy, though: Lalli scoots a bit closer, and every time something meaningful happens on screen, he's going to... gently elbow Emil in the side. Gently. Just to make sure he's paying attention, because surely this will help.

Except that it's probably just going to, you know, make things even more confusing, but this is what Lalli's going to try. Did you see that, Emil? Did you?]

[illequipped]

[This viewing experience just keeps getting better and better. Surely, Emil can do this! He can! He knows he can!! But Lalli clearly doesn't agree, considering all of this elbowing at supposedly significant times. Emil doesn't know what these elbows are supposed to mean, besides the obvious— Lalli has seen the show already! Of course he knows what's important!

So, after he endures a few confusing elbows, Emil puts a hand on Lalli's arm. Please hold still, he is watching, he promises.

...By the end, he's just giving the TV a thoughtful look. Hmm. Hmm!]

Soooo... they're... being kidnapped? Byyy something?

[Eh? Eh?? He bought cookies, forgive his everything and love him.]

[ilves]

[Fine, fine, he'll stop the whole elbow-in-the-side thing... and without any fuss, too, because making sure that Emil was paying attention during those last few critical moments was preventing him from enjoying those last few critical moments. He's fine with once again giving this show his full and undivided attention, which is why he also doesn't move back over to his original spot. Who has time to think about how close they're sitting to someone when there's a very good show playing right in front of them? Gosh!

But when the episode wraps up, Lalli leans over to grab the remote—and pause the shit out of it before auto-play starts the next episode. They're being kidnapped... by something...

...Well, it's not entirely wrong, but he's still sighin'.]

Some of them are.

[But that's not cleared up until, like, episode eight, so Lalli just grabs another cookie for both himself and for Emil. Eat this, dummy, and hush.]

...We can watch something else.

[An offer made out of the goodness of his heart—no, an offer made because he can't take any more questions and/or misunderstandings, but. Were this anyone else, Lalli would probably huff and feel incredibly annoyed, but Emil isn't... so bad. He'd rather give up on this Very Good Show than make Emil watch something he just doesn't like, because that's... friendship, you know? Friendship. Friendship is definitely why he puts the remote down between them this time.]

[illequipped]

[Some of them are! That means Emil did somewhat well, the end. He takes the cookie and bites into it and thinks about Lalli sitting closer to him than before, which reminds him that they really never did clarify how much of a Date this is supposed to be...

Fortunately, there's TV decisions to be made, which save him from having to make social decisions and think about dating. Perfect! He picks up the remote with only a slight twinge of guilt about not being excited by Lalli's show. He did try.]

Your show was... Well, I didn't get it, [duh] but it was still interesting!

[Yes? Be happy about his confused approval while he hastily backspaces in the search menu to type in a new title that now magically exists on Netflix, because you can't go wrong with a televised knife-making competition, right? Right.

He picks an episode where the secret challenge weapon they have to make later on is called a (wind and) fire wheel, because it calls to him. Only when he's about to hit play does he actually look at Lalli to explain what he's done here.]

...It's a show where people make knives out of garbage! It's better than it sounds.

i thought i saw this ep and i was not mistaken

[ilves]

[Does Emil lose, like, one whole point for not getting Lalli's super cool show? Possibly, but calling it "interesting" is... better than nothing. And besides, it's not like that was the only show Lalli likes; as he nibbles on this cookie and watches Emil clicking away with that remote, he's already thinking of other, less, uh, complicated shows for them to watch next time they get together like this. ...Next weekend? Hmm. Despite the less-than-stellar reception his show received, he's not having a bad time - far from it, actually, so maybe that's something he should eventually ask about...

...Eventually, because whatever it is Emil has found for them to watch is suddenly receiving his full attention. Knives! ...Knives. He looks back Emil's way, just to make sure that this is really what he wants to watch, and then catches that amazing explanation.]

Garbage? [Sounds FAKE, but okay, color him... intrigued. He will respectfully settle in to watch.

Aaaaaaand it's only going to take that first round of lightning-fast introductions to really reel him in. Some of these people look bizarre? They have weird hobbies? He's into it, especially when it turns out their first challenge is making knives out of BIKES.]

Oh! [A clear noise of surprise as he unconsciously leans in. Look at those wide eyes.] They can use the bike rack, too...

[That's all the talking he's going to do as he continues watching this wild shit, but there's a clear hint of wonder in his voice. Clever old man? He's impressed.]

[illequipped]

[Knives!! Emil loves this garbage knife show and he loves that Lalli seems interested in it as well. He's definitely nailing this socializing thing, after he fumbled understanding basic TV drama... Lalli is into Garbage Knives and Emil is thrilled. Now it's his turn to give Lalli a few gentle nudges when something particularly cool is about to happen on the show, and he might make a few comments about tang this and quench that— like he knows something about knives besides what he's learned from watching this show.

He knows nothing about knives besides this. He's got some vocab words, and that counts for something. Please be impressed with his knowledge.

The kill test is obviously the coolest part of the show, so when they get to that, Lalli gets an extra excitable nudge. So cool!!]

Isn't this crazy? They must spend sooo much money on all of these props.

[Continue to be impressed... doing sooo good on this maybe-a-date-not-sure. Is he watching Lalli watch this show more than he's looking at the TV itself? Maybe so.]

[ilves]

[Let him enjoy this stupid show in peace? Gosh! But really, those nudges are unnecessary; Lalli is obviously paying close attention to this show, enthralled with every step in the knife-forging process. It's one of those things he's never given any thought to, but now that he's seeing it? Sold. He could devour a season of this as easily as he devours a season of an intricate, beautifully shot drama, and in both cases... he'll have absolutely no idea what's going on.

Emil, however, seems to easily follow everything now, and that... certainly is impressive? Kind of. Maybe. It's why Lalli sneaks a glance back Emil's way every now and again, usually to find Emil already looking at him like he just knew what was coming. Ah? Weird, but not terrible. He's not... doing something wrong, is he...

...Hmm. He doesn't think so; he still feels, mmm, comfortable, but he also knows that he's a terrible judge of these things.]

Mhm. Probably? But a lot of it is junk.

[They sure do destroy a bunch of stuff on this show! Rad. But looking back at Emil once again reveals that they're both, like, sneaking peeks at one another like absolute idiots, which is why Lalli doesn't immediately turn back toward the television.]

...What?

[Quiet and, uh, a tad awkward. Why do you keep looking at him, Emil? Is there something he SHOULD know?]

[illequipped]

[Emil should... probably have slightly more shame than he does about being caught staring. This is kind of a weird thing that he's doing! And yet, somehow he doesn't have any shame at all... He's too pleased with how this afternoon is going to be embarrassed, what silliness.

Give him time; he'll humiliate himself later by accident and the world will right itself again. Until then, he feels strangely... confident? Everything's coming up Emil.]

Hmm? Oh- nothing, nothing. Just glad you're having a good time! [...] And you've got a hair, here...

[Out of alignment, that is, whatever alignment exists in Lalli's chosen hairstyle. There is a piece out of place and it's Emil's job to remedy this tragedy, so he reaches over to brush that hair back where it belongs. Hmm.]

You are having a good time, right? This is fun?

[On the TV in the background, dramatic forging crises. Fun??]

[ilves]

[Oh, his hair... hmm, indeed, even though it shouldn't be a big deal. It's just like when Emil fixed his hair last weekend, after the helmet made an absolute mess of it, and yet there's something... mmm, rather different about the gesture this time around? Not in a bad way, though; like, Lalli remains perfectly still as Emil reaches out toward him, eyes not leaving Emil's face, but when he feels that hand just barely brush against his forehead—ah. He feels warm for no real reason at all! Pleasantly warm, like he wants to lean into the touch instead of immediately pulling away from it...

But ah, right, that sure is... a question that he's been asked. Watch him blink once, slowly, as he forces himself to think of an answer. He's not been acting like he's having a bad time, has he? Is this why Emil keeps looking his way?]

Yes? [Wait, wait, let him be a bit more emphatic about this—] Yes. It's... a weird show, but I like it. Things happen so fast.

[And he has no idea what most of those things are? He'll need to watch, like, a full season before some of the terms sink in, but he's not worried about that; instead, he studies Emil for another second or two, unconsciously tilting his head the slightest bit. Sorry if that fucks up this hair-fixing attempt, Emil.]

Are you having fun?

[With him? Specifically? This is suddenly very, very important to him, current forging crisis be damned...]

[illequipped]

[Boy, don't move, how will he fix that hair— He's still going to, of course, just following the movement of Lalli's head with his hand, sliding his fingers back into that hair for... fixing. Innocent, friendly hair fixing. Lalli should look his best, you see, for, uh, Emil? That's pretty much what's happening here, but nobody has to say it aloud.

Anyway, hair aside, Lalli is having a good time! Which is great and makes Emil full-force beam at him for a moment.]

Hmm, me? I'm having lots of fun. [Watching some cool shows, indulging in this silly hair thing he's still somehow getting away with... There are even snacks! Truly, this is the weekend of champions.] I'm glad you came over.

[They're doing all kinds of hammering and welding back there on screen, but all of Emil's attention is on Lalli now. It's fine; he's seen this episode before. He has not seen this much Lalli up close before, which is infinitely more interesting. Check out those great cheekbones? Pretty eyes, even if he stares kind of intimidatingly... It's a Good Face, Emil has decided. A good face... that he is is... just staring at a little, this is fine.

Hmm, what if he just, a little bit, moved his hand and touched his cheek... Hmm... Oh too late, he's doing it!!]

Um- so. Dinner? After this episode?

[ilves]

[Emil is having a good time, Emil is happy that he's here, Emil is smiling at him while fussing with his hair—ah, so many things are happening all at once! So many overwhelming things, to be honest, and yet he doesn't feel uncomfortable; there's no urge to, like, scoot over to the far end of the couch, or to shove Emil away, because as strange as it seems, there's something undeniably... nice... about being close like this. Even when that hand drifts down to his cheek...

...Well. This is a much more intentional type of contact, something that causes him to suck in a quick, quiet breath as his eyes flick down toward his cheek. Has anyone ever touched him like this before? No, of course not. Everyone in Lalli's life knows better than to go for anything more than a quick shoulder pat, except, apparently, for Emil, and that is... no, this is—mmph. It's that pleasant warmth somehow kicked up another notch, all while his heart speeds up the very second he looks back into Emil's blue eyes. It's weird? It's worrying? And yet, against all odds, he likes it, which is why he finds himself almost-but-not-quite leaning into that touch.]

Ah—

[His throat is so dry? Damn. He should have been sipping on that weird apple juice this entire time, but alas—give him a second to (stupidly) clear his throat, all while he continues blinking back at Emil.]

Yes. [Listen to this broken record.] It's... almost over.

[He thinks. He's not even glanced back at the television in what feels like ages now, but that's just. Not important, even when it feels like this whatever-it-is is moving into some potentially awkward territory. Should he look away first? Probably, and yet...]