[Closed] @eidxiety ††

[winterbolt]

u get the small baby bird icon this time

Comments

[eidxiety]

Haha, see! I know good food.

[You know how to over-sweeten food is what you know. Either way, he's back to eating his own frozen yogurt now, keeping to himself, no one's sharing any indirect kisses and dying about that factoid...

Until Ain dips his spoon into Wolfwood's cup and steals another bite, giggling around his spoon. He has done Nothing Wrong.]

I'll take you to eat at a good restaurant some time, since I owe you now.

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood chokes on his froyo. Briefly. Probably not long enough to be a concern but YOU KNOW-]

Take- me? Where, exactly?

[Like there ain't no WAY he's taking someone like him Northside, he'd get devoured by the rich bitches up there...or arrested on sight. Or harassed by the clergy.

But does Ain even know of anywhere else to go?]

[eidxiety]

[Haha. Lol. Lmao.]

Well— there's lots of places we could go! [...yeah he was thinking of telling Wolfwood to come Northside. If Wolfwood was worried about Ain thinking he's in the mafia, he shouldn't be, because Ain has gaslit himself into thinking that Wolfwood actually isn't. You're just a fake mafia-boy so they don't murder you. He gets it.] There's— oh, there's a nice place in midtown, [you know, where the economic divide is less obvious,] you know, near that bus stop you took me to last week. It's seafood.

[Read: It's expensive. Ain was a lobster-raised kid.]

You like seafood, don't you?

[lupusxylem]

[There's a 10% chance he could swing it. If he removed all of his gang insignias and dressed a bit differently...maybe wore a hood or a face mask while he's at it. He's pretty sure that if he didn't lay extremely low though, Ishmael and her ilk would find him. And if they found him alone up there? There's nothing anyone Southside could do for him. They could arrest him or have him jailed or god knows what else, for whatever reasons they pleased. She has the monopoly on everything up there, enough of a stranglehold to do "what is best" for the town.

He just has no idea how close to all of that Ain actually is, personally.

But when Ain says midtown, Wolfwood relaxes a little. Okay, that...that might be better. Maybe.]

Ye...yeah, I do. And I remember.

[He sighs, looking down into his slightly-melty cup.

Does. Ain not realize what he's doing? Like...normal friends, much less guy friends, don't meet up to go to dinners. Sure, maybe on rare occasion, but...

Wolfwood's blushing. Fiercely.]

I'd like that, sometime. Yeah.

[eidxiety]

[Ain has no idea what he's doing. He's so deeply in the closet. He doesn't even know he's in it. He knows he's been having weird dreams, but they don't stop him from wanting to spend time around Wolfwood, because he knows it was just a temporary lapse in judgement. His unconscious brain just made stuff up. That happens.

He's never had friends. He understands that friends go out to lunch together. Dinner has different connotations, but don't work friends meet up after work to grab a bite? Then again, dinner at a little diner like the one from last week is different than dinner at a 4-star restaurant. The latter has connotations. Connotations, which Ain is missing entirely. This is all extremely innocent to him.

So. Why is Wolfwood blushing? Is it because that one person is being rude to— oh they've left. Oh, okay.]

Some time... next week, maybe? Haha, sorry, I'm just trying to plan ahead.

[He's polished off his yogurt by now. It's gone, down the hatch. Now he's just waiting a bit until they head out.]

[lupusxylem]

[This!! Is a date...another date. A fancier one.

Jesus Christ.

Wolfwood takes a couple more bites of yogurt to avoid answering for a moment, mostly because he's pretty sure he'll stumble all over his words when he does.]

Sure, yeah...that'll be fine. I guess we could meet up at the park again? Like before.

[Like the last two times, in fact.]

If...you ain't busy, that is.

[eidxiety]

I'm usually not busy in the evenings. Really, I just go home and read after work. Listen — if you run me by that bus stop again when we're done for the night, I'll point out where the restaurant is. It's near a lake, you know, for that fake east coast feeling.

[The best feeling: eating expensive Maine lobster while sitting next to a lake where the most basic of basic fish live, like bluegill and all that. So fancy.]

It has outdoor seating. It's a lot nicer during the summer, but maybe the weather will be nice?

[This just gets more datelike the longer he goes on, leaning back against his seat. It's not a date to Ain! (It's a date if you have eyes, though.)]

[lupusxylem]

[Ooooh my god it's getting bougier by the second-

Just as Ain is getting comfortable, Wolfwood is starting to stand up. He's not sure how much more of this he can hear before his brain starts racing to unwanted places. At least...unwanted while Ain is sitting right fucking there.]

We'll drive by on the way. C'mon, there's one more place I wanna take you before I let you go for the day.

[He for sure needs it, he thinks as he waves Ain on after him. As they pass, that woman with her child very pointedly has him look the other way.]

[eidxiety]

[Oh no, Gay People™.

Ain doesn't notice. They head outside, throwing their cups away as they go, and he stretches his arms over his head and stands up on his tiptoes and lets out that mmmmmmmmmmmm of a good, full-body stretch. Back to the bike, he takes it, and he yet again has the internal conundrum of "where sit" because no, he hasn't forgotten how it felt to have Wolfwood pressed against him.

He must be touch-starved. That's what it has to be. There's nothing else it could be.

Ain decides in the end to sit up front again, because the opportunity to have his hands feel abs is not going to be good for him (his jealousy, obviously, there's nothing else happening).]

Do I get to know? Or is it a surprise?

[lupusxylem]

It's a surprise, let's say. You'll know when we get there.

[He's honestly kindof worried Ain might freak out and demand to be taken back to the bus stop, which he'd understand. He just needs to go someplace a little more...open than a public froyo place.

Also don't mind him staring at Ain as he stretches like that, because the very bottom edge of his top came up enough for him to see his belly. Just barely. Oh my god he has freckles. Oh my god-

It. Does not help that Ain plops himself down in front of Wolfwood, which is dangerous considering the swerves his brain is taking right now. He's thankful that he has to focus on getting his bike unchained and getting his helmet on, because it means he can't be thinking about Other Things. Like that slip of bare skin he's pretty sure Ain would pass out knowing he flashed just now.

Don't think about it don't think about it don't pop a boner don't-

Wolfwood huffs as he drives off quickly from the curb, headed for their next destination. It's not terribly late in the day yet, so they won't have to worry about the place being too busy as they drive the few blocks over to where it sits on a corner. It's lit up inside and people are filtering in and out...either Ain will have no idea what this is, or he'll recognize it instantly from his mother's tales of them being beds of sin and villany.

It is a tavern. A bar. Not a Gay bar, and not even one of the rougher bars Wolfwood might go to. Honestly there probably could be kids here, just not on a weekday usually.]

[eidxiety]

[Ain has no idea about any of this, heyo.

He plops down. Plops the helmet on, makes sure it's secure. Leans against Wolfwood at every stoplight again, totally unconsciously, getting used to the balancing act he has to do on the bike the entire time. People leave them alone. People go about their business, not really sparing them much of a passing glance. They get to a certain side of town and Ain's blood goes cold looking at the tavern.

Yeah, that's a bed of sin and villainy and degeneracy and everyone who drinks at one of these is going to Hell, definitely—

But it seems so... normal. It seems so normal, Ain's impressed how normal it seems. Why is it so normal? There are supposed to be topless women and pantsless men, drunks getting in fights in the streets, murderers, polygamists... Why doesn't he see any of that here? Is it because it's too early in the evening?

Wolfwood is right, because had he not physically brought Ain here, Ain would've been like "no take me home" immediately. He's staring at the building with a lot of nervous hesitation as he takes off the helmet and passes it over, and then he twists around to look at Wolfwood and whispers,]

No one is going to be topless when we walk in, right?

[Honey.......]

[lupusxylem]

[...yeah that's about what he expected.]

Nah. If there were, they'd probably get arrested for public indecency.

[This isn't that kind of bar, Ain. Those DO exist, but...baby steps. The only thing you'll get here are overpriced drinks, bar nuts, and chicken wings. Those are probably sinful too, somehow.

He watches as Ain waffles on the sidewalk, though, and places a hand between his shoulders.]

We don't have to go in if you don't wanna. But it's really nothing much, trust me. If anything it's probably calmer right now than the diner was.

[It's why they're here now, and not when everyone's stopping by after work.]

[eidxiety]

Oh, I'm not trying to be rude! I just... [He's from a very conservative family.] ...I've never been to one of these places, and all I've heard are negative things.

I want to go in. You brought me here, after all.

[The audience "awws" and stuff. Ain's going in, though, he's just... y'know, he's following in Wolfwood's footsteps. You go first. He's right behind you.]

[lupusxylem]

[Don't worry Ain, he'll protect you from the sin. Probably.]

It'll be fine. Trust me.

[Do you trust him, Ain? Because he's walking inside now, pushing open the door to the tune of the bartender calling out his name in greeting. Does Wolfwood come here often...?

Usually he'd plant his ass up at the bar, but since Ain is clearly uncomfortable, he'll sit at one of the tables on the floor instead. Inside, the bar is...not inactive by a long shot, but certainly not as bustling as it would be tonight. There are a few people already stationed at the bar, some others eating at the tables...there's a juke box here as well, alongside a big pool table where some people are already playing, the sound of the balls being split echoing through the place. Other than it being lit a bit darker than Ain is probably used to, it is...surprisingly normal.

A waitress comes by, and Wolfwood orders himself a glass of brandy- yes he is day drinking- while the lady asks Ain if he'll be having anything from their drinks menu, which she points out to him where it's sitting on the table.]

[eidxiety]

[You know when you go to a new place for the first time and you get culture shock? That's Ain right now. Wolfwood being known here is a comfort in some way, at least, but Ain's not sure how to hold himself. At least he isn't dressed super wealthy tonight; anyone could own a plain sweater like this one, and it's not like his cardigan last time that was very clearly both a nerd thing and made of cashmere. He blends in, at least, but he also looks like some loser who's never gone drinking before.

Probably because he is that loser, and he nods and glances at the menu, and he's not sure what to order, so—]

Oh, I'm not super familiar... something sweet?

["A margarita?" she asks, and Ain nods. It is a girly drink, but who's going to judge him for that? The alcohol content in those is through the roof, if he wants to get sloshed on something that won't burn his throat who cares.

This is probably not a good thing to have on your first drinking experience. Ain's had sips of wine from communion before, yeah, but that really doesn't count. Communion wine is not a party drink.

When she's gone, Ain does that anxious thing he does where he starts pulling at the ends of his sleeves.]

It seems very... normal.

[Ain, honey, what do you think goes on at most bars.]

[lupusxylem]

[...Ain. Honey.]

You sure you wanted that? [Wolfwood asks as the waitress leaves, leaving the two of them to chat while they wait for their drinks.] You don't gotta drink just because I am. They've got non-alcoholic stuff too.

[He doesn't even ask. He knows just by the way he's acting that he's never drank, period.]

[eidxiety]

Yeah...? She said it was sweet! I know there are a lot of bitter liquors out there, and I'm sure I won't like those.

[...]

I'll be fine! There's a first time for everything, right?

[More lies he's going to tell his mom later: No that's not alcohol on his breath, no he didn't ride on a motorcycle today, no he wasn't at the southside again, no he did not have sinful dreams about a man.]

[lupusxylem]

Well…only if you’re sure. I don’t wanna pressure you.

[Wolfwood won’t press him if that’s what he really wants. He’s right, there IS a first time for everything, and even a single drink shouldn’t be too much for a lightweight.

Unlike their food from the diner, the drinks come out fast. Wolfwood’s is practically straight liquor, whereas Ain’s is fruity and colorful and came with a little umbrella. Wolfwood immediately grabs his for a swig, thank you he needs this you can’t catch him gay thoughts etc.]

It might be a little strong at first. But the fruity drinks generally ain’t so bad.

[eidxiety]

[Well, compared to brandy, which is a 35-60% alcohol content, but margaritas go from 18-25%, so it might be a little much for Ain's first time having a real drink that's not a sip of wine. They Do Not Drink at his house. Momma was a prohibition supporter. She can't control the flow of liquor through her hoity-toity rich area because rich people love their 100 years aged liquors, but Ain was not raised with the belief of indulgences. Indulgences are sin. Et cetera.

He takes a drink. It's good, and he makes a face like he's surprised that it's good as he licks the sugar off the rim of the glass like a fucking animal. He takes another drink. And then another. It's like drinking juice.

Ain is going to be a little more than tipsy by the end of this.]

It's good! Haha, yours probably burns going down, right?

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood is an experienced drinker. The burn as it goes down is familiar, yet even he can’t help but cough into his elbow afterward, shuddering visibly.]

It’ll put some hair on your chest, that’s for sure. It’s nice to have when it’s cold out like this. Warms you up.

[Ain might start to notice that with his drink too, the deeper in he gets. Not the burn, but the warmth it seems to fill him with.]

I figured you might be too full to eat- [lol] -but you’re welcome to order something if you want. They don’t have much by way of full meals here, though…it’s mostly appetizers.

[eidxiety]

[lol

Ain does start to feel very warm after a bit. It's nice... unfortunately Tipsy Ain has minimal filter, so:]

Mmm, yeah, I don't have any hair on my chest. And I think you have enough, don't you?

[lmao lmao lmao—]

I might order something. [...] Do you have any recommendations? I'm a little out of my element.

[A LITTLE?]

[lupusxylem]

Recs, huh…

[HMMMM]

You ever had nachos?

[eidxiety]

...you're going to laugh at me again. [So that's a no.] But I know what they are!

[Yes, Ain, you knew what the other things were, too, you just didn't have them before then. Sigh.

Either way... nachos. It sounds like he's going to try that for the first time, too, and so he flags down the waitress and places an order, and then he goes back to his drink. He's about halfway through it already. It's only a matter of time before he starts running his mouth. At least the food will help.]

[lupusxylem]

I think you’ll like ‘em. The ones they sell here come loaded too, so it ain’t just chips and cheese.

[Chips, cheese, meat, tomato, guac…it may very well be a full meal in itself to some people. Maybe not Ain, though.

Wolfwood sort of raises a brow as they sit, a little surprised by how much drink he’s already downed. Yeah boy’s gonna be tipsy for sure going that fast.]

…hey, uh. Thanks for comin’ out to see me again. I know this place isn’t what you’re used to, but…you’re pretty fun to hang around.

[eidxiety]

Aww, you don't have to thank me. I wanted to see you again. Besides, I stole your jacket for a week — I had to give it back to you.

[That was just an excuse, though. Ain wanted to see Wolfwood again, and now here he is, seeing Wolfwood again. He wouldn't have made off with the jacket either way, but still.]

You're my first friend. It really wasn't going to be difficult to convince me to come out here. Besides, I... you're showing me a lot of things I never get to experience. I came to the market two weeks ago for a change of pace, and now I'm having more fun than I think I've ever had before. Thanks for... uh, putting up with me, I guess.