altimit | (no subject)

Wow, even teasing.

[He nods at that - of course, being a shut-in with access to the internet means you get to see a lot of things. Tons of movies included.]

You're right. I always liked imagining myself in one. I guess I can imagine myself in one right now.

[He seems to pick it up rather easily, but there's a noticeable blank expression if he mentions amount of steps at any point. He's noooooot going to count, thank you.]

I won't. [A little twirl - he's getting the hand of this, even if his moves are a bit clunky.] Can't allow that, can we? Especially not in the arms of a handsome guy, haha!

Shut up. I'm not teasing.

[He huffs and rolls his eyes, but - he's not horrible. Clunky is too be expected, after all, and seeing the blank expression once is enough to get Owen to avoid numbering the steps. It's something he notes, certainly, but it's not like they need numbers right now.

Shame they don't have their choice of music. That would make this a lot easier.]

If you're going to say things like that, you're going to make me think you're picturing this as a romance movie.

[Handsome? Owen? Seriously? It's not that he's unaware of his appearance, but it's a better descriptor for someone taller and broader, like Anaido.

Even if Anaido is still a bit noodly...]

Okay. What should I call it, then?

[He almost wants to continue, his lips pursing with a new sense of mischievousness glimmering in those dead yellow eyes as they move. It would be better with music. Maybe they have to rely on the background music...good old BGM track....]

There's an idea. [Admittedly, the thought had come to mind, if briefly. His mouth edges up in a little fox-like smile.] Would you like it to be one?

Anything else.

[Well, he sure did play himself with that, didn’t he. He goes still for a moment, as if he’s so surprised by the question his brain just shut off for a moment.

Then he looks away, as he starts dancing again.]

I… don’t think you want a love story with me.

[Not a yes or no, because ultimately it’s not like what Owen wants matters. Anyone who thinks they could love him just hasn’t gotten to know him yet.

Anaido would regret it, if he were serious, so it’s best to just keep it as a joke.]

...

[He chases that glance instinctively, tilting his head as they twirl around. He's still making sure not to step on him even as he moves, but his attention is still mostly focused on him, and him alone.]

...I would say the same thing about me. [He says, after a moment - his voice comes in a whisper. For Owen, and Owen alone. What a special thing, to be seen.] But what did you say earlier? That even if this isn't the real world, it can be a complete connection.

[He leans in, not being able to help himself, to rest his chin against the other's shoulder, a little huff against the man's ear.]

Perhaps not a love story. But I'd like a connection with you.

[He doesn’t want to see his face, so it’s a bit of a relief when Anaido rests his chin on Owen’s shoulder, even if it means Anaido is incredibly, incredibly close.

He’s stubborn. Owen’s not sure if he hates that about him or not, because at least in this moment he’s sincere, too.]

It’s not fair when you use my own words against me.

[He sighs, giving up. Should have expected this, but he was expecting Anaido to be as wary and dismissive as everyone else. He couldn’t account for how much Anaido sees right through him.]

I can do a connection. I’ll take a rain check on a love story.

[Please don’t look at him because he feels so flustered it makes him feel like a moron.]

I think I'm playing quite fair, actually. Tit for tat, as it were.

[They wander into each other's worlds a little, it's only necessary for them to trade things as easy as this. It couldn't have been done if they didn't bear a little vulnerability, even if in Anaido's case it was something cast upon him instead of done on purpose.]

[But he's happy for the answer anyways. After all, it's not a no. Far from it.]

A rain check it is. [He almost swears he can feel the heat coming from the man's face, but maybe its just his imagination. Ah, the wonders of technology.] I'll make sure you get the most of it, wherever it goes.

[A little closer, to his ear.]

Like a seed that could grow a beautiful flower.

[He's too close. He's way, way too close - not just physically, but he's too close to Owen himself. He understands him too well, at least in instances like this. He's sure there are things they won't see eye to eye on, or things about Owen he'll find absolutely repulsive, but...

There's something tempting about the idea, of something beautiful growing for this. It's been a while since Owen has found someone he could connect with, even if he's still certain this won't become anything close to love. It's all just fancy words and meaningless fluff, but he can give in to the idea of something blooming.

It won't be anything serious. It will just be what it is.]

The most of it? Even if I'm unreasonably demanding?

[He's gotta know what he's getting into.]

Though I doubt that will turn you off.

[After all, they've gotten this far already.]

But I hope you won't get tired of that.

[Or tired of him, in general, but he's not going to hold his breath.]

Unreasonably demanding? Especially if you are. I'm a lazy guy, after all.

[Never leaving the house, and all that. Sometimes it is easier to give up. Sometimes it is easy to give in. But its just as easy to take one step, and maybe that's all you need.]

[He laughs at the next parts. For the first time in a long while, he feels light. What an odd feeling. Especially since it started out with something so dark. Maybe it won't be love, and maybe this feeling right now isn't love, but its good enough. There's no tight feeling in his chest here. No guilt.]

I'll challenge you at every turn. [And an obvious joking tone.] You should get sick of me first before I get sick of you, hm? I'm quite annoying. Maybe that's your type, though.

A lazy guy playing an MMO? Entirely unprecedented.

[Being challenged wouldn’t be so bad, honestly. He can’t stand people who just let other people walk all over them - if there’s no spine, there’s nothing to be gained. He needs some pushback or he just gets bored.

He’ll have to see just how annoying Anaido is. There’s so much he doesn’t know just yet, and some of those things could be dealbreakers, but… well. He started this conversation and dragged Anaido away on a whim, and that’s how he’ll handle everything that comes next. He’s not one for planning or thinking about the far future.

Surely that will not bamboozle him at all.]

Is it my type? Who knows. It could be.

[But is it possible to be more annoying then him? Probably nkt.]

I work very hard to be very lazy, you know. Maybe I'm the hardest worker there is.

[Sometimes your every waking moment is constant work. Rotten work.]

[Another laugh bubbles out of his chest as he suddenly moves - he dips the man as his hand presses against his back to keep him stable, blue bangs hanging over his eyes as his grin widens, cuts across his face like a mirthful knife.]

Are you my type? Who knows? You could be.

[Like a carnival mirror, repeating those words back to him.]

So, what you’re saying is you never relax.

[Working to do nothing, but never being able to enjoy that nothingness… Seems like a waste.

He tenses for a moment at being dipped, gripping onto Anaido as if he’s fully expecting to be dropped. It’s a surprise when he isn’t, and it shows on his face with how he looks back up at him with wide eyes.]

…Heh.

[He needs to get some control back.]

Looking at me like that makes me think I’m exactly what you’ve been wanting. Like I’m exactly your type.

Perhaps that's true. Isn't that sad?

[Always constantly playing out things in his own head, time and time again. Minute after minute, hour after hour.]

[He shakes his head a little, though he's still obviously teasing. This is fun. This is very, very fun.]

Oh, I don't know! Maybe you're not. I have to get to know you better to find out, right?

[A pause, and then a little urge - a little peck of a kiss on the other's nose as he hoists him up to standing.]

Would it be bad if you were?

Depends on your definition of sad.

[He doesn’t think it’s pathetic, but there is something sad about never being able to enjoy peace and quiet. Living life constantly on the edge is exhausting, without any peace and quiet.

It’s not sustainable. That’s what pushes you closer and closer to doing something stupid - but it could also be something you can learn to circumvent. Owen’s not going to make that assumption, though, because he doesn’t know what Anaido deals with every day.

Not yet, but he may never know, either.]

It might be bad for you. It might not be, but we’ll see how it goes. Though, I do have one piece of advice…

[He leans in, smirking.]

If you’re going to kiss me, do it properly.

It does depend on it. But a lot of definitions still would agree on some things.

[Like the fact that the man who labels himself as Anaido is very sad. A sad man in a sad world, doing sad things like playing a video game in order to find connection.]

[Living on the edge, perhaps. But maybe he's trying to find that silver spider's web to pull him out of hell, too.]

[He cocks his head a little at the word "advice" - but then the man is coming closer. So close, now. He exhales, eyes flitting to the other's mouth, before a smirk of his own graces his lips.]

...I wouldn't want to do it improperly. I'm quite sorry. I have to fix that, then.

[He wouldn't want to disappoint, after all.]

[A little laugh, a little tightening of his grip to keep him close, and he crosses the distance, lips against lips. Not restrained, but not too overboard. A simple kiss, in a virtual world.]

[It feels so real.]

Maybe so, but that still doesn't mean that it's a dealbreaker.

[Everyone is a little bit sad, a little bit broken. Some more then others, even if it's not always obvious, but sadness isn't something that can't be changed.

Sometimes all it takes is doing something you normally wouldn't, like kiss a stranger in the middle of a PVP arena in an MMO.

Even if Owen isn't expecting Anaido to kiss him again, much less after apologizing for not doing properly. It's sweet, too, in how a kiss is just a kiss and he's not pushing for more.

(Though, if he did, Owen wouldn't say no. It's easier to ignore how empty he feels inside when the men he usually kisses have ulterior motives.)

He pulls back with a laugh, though he doesn't entirely separate himself from Anaido. This is pathetic of him, honestly.]

Yes, like that. That's much better.

[He has to admit, his heart does a little bit of a flip at that. That doesn't mean it's a dealbreaker.]

[He almost has the urge to shake him, to hear it again. Do you mean that? Are you just saying that? If you saw all of me, every aspect of me, would you still utter those words?]

[Perhaps Owen is pathetic. Perhaps they're both pathetic for this, because he's reluctant to pull back. A dog had a taste of a bone after years without a morsel. How could he resist?]

Oh, I'm glad. [He beams, his brightness sincere this time.] I can do a few things right, it seems.

[No more kisses at this moment, but he can't help himself - he leans in to nose along the other's neck, snuggling in. He laughs against his skin.]

But maybe you make me do things better. Like a good luck charm.

[Shaking him would probably set off alarm bells, but we can’t have that just yet.

Though it’s also entirely possible any red flags would get ignored or cause a just as alarming fascination, so perhaps it’s for the best. Unfortunately.]

At least a few.

[He reiterates with a slight huff, managing not to tense when Anaido gets even closer, but only just. It’s dangerous to let him get so close, it’s dangerous to be touched by his sincerity and to be so curious about just how broken and wrong he is. Learning more about him…

Just means that it will sting even more when Anaido sees all the ugly, detestable pieces of him and grows to hate him. Owen knows that if Anaido is smart, he’ll leave. Nothing about him will endear Anaido into wanting to deal with him. That is one of the universal truths of his life, that Owen will always be left behind, but he can’t find it in himself in this moment to push him away as he usually does.

Maybe it’s selfish to just focus on the moment, but he can worry about Anaido leaving him when it happens.]

I don’t know about that. You were the one who decided to listen to my advicd, so maybe it’s more you finally have someone who’s orders you want to follow?

[Can Anaido feel his pulse? It feels like his heart is racing - but does that come across in VR? He doesn’t want to know, but now he’s worried it’s obvious.]

Hehe.

[Just a few, huh.]

[The next statement makes him laugh again - as light as bells. It's funny, to feel so heavy and so light at the same time. If only real life was like this, right? If only things could be so simple.]

Maybe. I do like when a man orders me around. [But now he's tilting his head, giving the man a narrowed little glance - pleased as a fox.] I like having my fun, too. I'm a tricky sort. You have to really focus on setting me on the path you want. Catch me if you can?

[He feels drunk.]

I believe you can.

[Can't believe Anaido is just out here, announcing he likes to be bossed around, to someone like Owen...]

Well, that sounds like a challenge.

[Chasing someone? Better then waiting for someone to care, maybe, like what Owen's been doing for most of his life. Ever since...

Maybe it means Anaido is different, broken in ways Owen doesn't understand, but maybe he won't leave Owen behind or lock him out and up and leave him all alone. It's just another delusion of the moment, that's all it is, but instead of saying that he'd let Anaido slip away, instead of shooting him down, he just shakes his head.]

I don't like losing, and I don't like being disobeyed. Don't get mad at me when you learn that the hard way.

[He says, like he's not going to panic about all of this later.]

Maybe it is one.

[Throwing down the gauntlet, here - but he doesn't care either way how this goes. Of course, it may be quite sad if Owen pushes him aside, but he's the type to live in the moment. Whatever he'll take, he'll get. A starving man will be happy with scraps.]

[But it doesn't mean the starving man doesn't want a buffet, ether.]

I won't be mad. I just want to see if you have bite to your bark. If you don't, then I'll be upset, and you don't want that, do you?

[Neither of them have any idea what they're getting into, do they?]

Challenge accepted, then.

[Against his better judgement, unfortunately.]

We'll see if we can handle each other, and whether or not you're up to handling my bite.

[And then what? Owen has no idea. He's giving Anaido about a month before he forgets about him and moves on, or finds someone less abrasive and cagey to flirt with.]

[He smiles, dead eyes and bright teeth.]

[He doesn't know what he's getting into, but oh, its so fun while it goes on, isn't it?]

[He leans forward, turning to press a light dusting of a kiss against the man's ear. Oh, this is playing with fire. He likes getting burned.]

Bite me, then.

[Well, challenge accepted.]

If you insist.

[He shifts, cupping Anaido’s face with both his hands. He looks into those dead eyes of his, as if to see if there’s any spark at all, but then he’s leaning in for another kiss. Another proper one.

Then he bites down on Anaido’s bottom lip, a laugh catching in the back of his throat.]

[Well, he did ask for it. And even as the pain blossoms (with some surprise, this game really does feel so realistic), he doesn't regret a thing.]

[He lets out a little laugh of his own, bubbling over.]

That's more like it.

[And such a gift deserves something in return. His hand tangles into the other's hair as he also bites over the other's lip, tongue tracing over the outline of that bold gesture as he continues.]

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gazes into the middle distance

also gazes