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Comments

[laughingandlyric]

Mn, well get back to me when you're made of silk and filled with fluff. Then you can compete.

[...He'd really like to reciprocate that kissing. But he figures he's been creepy enough for one night.

You know what totally does not help, in situations like this? Pointing out that you are not creepy, and aren't that into the other person, in an effort to seem detached.

Because that totally worked when he hadn't wanted to dance, right?

In other words, if they were being celibate due to a difference in moralistic opinion... they might as well gossip.]

Do you know Feuilly? In senior year? Now he, I'm pretty sure, is made of silk and fluff. Completely gorgeous.

[affablecharm]

That's a little weird, but sure thing.

[Jehan's hardly been creepy at all.

But detachment doesn't work on Courfeyrac. He makes a face at bringing up Feuilly. Sure, the guy was nice looking but...]

You should ask my sister... I think she's been trying to get him for a while now.

[.... No, that was not a jealous quip at all.]

[laughingandlyric]

It's metaphor. Please try not to actually get turned into a real pillow, thanks.

[Shifting, and giving him a brief, curious look.]

Has she...?

[Well, he's probably not into guys, but that's a little bit of a frown all the same.]

I don't blame her, really. He might actually be the best looking guy in school. Smart, to boot. Your sister has good taste.

[affablecharm]

I promise I won't go and try to get turned into a pillow.

[And... Okay, so he feels a little bad about mentioning his sister's thing for Feuilly, but...

Wait, no. No he doesn't, not with Jehan going on about how he's the best looking guy in school and smart.]

Yeah, well... He doesn't notice anything outside of schoolwork, so. She has pretty crappy taste.

[laughingandlyric]

Thank you.

[Sitting up a little then and lightly going on the defensive, because hey. That's his taste, too.]

But that's so admirable. It's kind of hot, to be so focused and driven. He's super intelligent... and his good-looks are effortless, he doesn't even try. He's not a flirt about it, either.

He just seems so... you know. Mature. I think your sister has great taste.

[affablecharm]

[He huffs and leans back closer to the headboard.]

Maybe you should be gossiping with her about the knight in shining armor, then. I'm sure you two could just moon over him all night.

[laughingandlyric]

[A slight roll of eyes and fine, all right, making himself comfortable against the real pillow, then, Mr. Shifty.]

Since when don't you like to talk about this sort of thing? I thought you'd agree. And I can't just bring that up to anyone; I don't think your sister would exactly thrill at the opportunity to discuss boys with other boys, Rey.

Fine; if Feuilly is bad taste, then who would you go on a date with, if you could pick anyone? [Either gender implied, he thought.]

[affablecharm]

[Well, when you're sitting up and going on about how attractive other guys were, Jehan... Is he not supposed to shift around?]

She might be. Especially if they share her opinion.

[He pauses, then, taking the chance to really think it over. The thing was, Courfeyrac could have his pick of anyone in the school. For the most part, at least. Except for...]

You.

[laughingandlyric]

[He idly picked at the popcorn while he thought over his answer... then promptly slipped and dropped it in transport from the bowl to his mouth.

What?

He almost, almost complained that it wasn't very nice to make fun of someone like that, before checking himself. Because it wasn't a very nice thing to do, he didn't... quite think Courfeyrac was doing it. Maybe he really meant it.

Stealing a glance at him, bewildered and going steadily red, it took a long moment to find his voice.]

...Me?

[Oh Rey, what is wrong with you.]

...Are those pajama bottoms too tight? Have you lost bloodflow to your brain? [Because he really could have anyone, probably, and that answer was so-- ridiculous.

And flattering.

And it made his chest clench, just a little.]

Anyone would date you, Rey.

[Give him a moment to form better sentences, he's flustered.]

[affablecharm]

[No, he's dead serious... And reaching for that whiskey again. It was the whiskey that got him in this mess, maybe it would save him.

Taking a big swig of it, he set it aside again and glanced back at Jehan.]

You wouldn't.

[And that might be part of why he wants Jehan so much-- just part, though.]

You're intelligent and kind and you don't put up with my shit.

[laughingandlyric]

[Staring, and then with a start, gingerly going to pat at the bottle; indicating maybe he ought not to have anymore? Clearly, it's messing with his ability to... logic, or something. Which worried him, a bit.]

I-- [Wouldn't. It was true. But he wouldn't because Courfeyrac didn't date, right? He was playful, and sweet, and loyal; but none of those things were applicable to romantic relationships, were they.

Frowning a little and biting his lip, he screwed up his brow a little, folding his arms. Trying not to go too flush at the reasoning, there.]

--I might. But you wouldn't. I mean, date. Anyone; much less me, for real. But that's fine, that's okay, it was a hypothetical question, anyway.

...But that was really kind answer, Rey, thank you. I'm really, really flattered.

[affablecharm]

I might.

[He ignored the gesture to the bottle-- His answer would have been the same mentally, whether he was impaired or not. The whiskey simply helped him vocalize it. He pointedly looked anywhere but at Jehan, he could curse the whiskey for making things too heavy.

But really, all of tonight's events seemed to have been leading up to this. He had ditched throngs of people wanting to dance with him to go and dance with Jehan, then sneak back to his house... Make out with him-- a few times despite better judgment. Now he was in his bed, in just pajama pants, drinking whiskey and confessing feelings he hadn't quite come to terms with himself.]

I really might, if it were you.

[laughingandlyric]

[Jehan felt badly about it, truth be told. As if he'd only offered to dance because he was standing around alone, and they were friends. He'd coerced him, a little bit, into coming home with him... though he really hadn't intended for things to get quite so serious.

Though of course, he wouldn't have let things get remotely serious if he hadn't really liked him. Not just physically; that didn't work for him. He had to like a person's mind and their heart to really be attracted enough to get excited.

But he hadn't outright thought about it either. Because it was totally impossible.

Humming under his breath for a moment, he'd steal a peek at him after a moment.]

...So. Then, date me.

[affablecharm]

[.... As if it were that easy. He dared to glance back over at Jehan, chewing on his lower lip.]

I'm not Feuilly.

[Noooooooo.... Definitely not jealous.]

[laughingandlyric]

[No, it wasn't that easy. But it felt like it should be, and the words had just come out.

At the gentle reprimand; really, what else had he been expecting?; he looked momentarily glum and a little bit embarrassed, shoulders slumping at an angle and he glanced hastily away again.

Okay, he'd had that coming. ...Granted, the jealousy tactic had hit its mark. Not that he'd been fully aware of it being a tactic; it had been more for stabilization. Or something. He wasn't sure anymore, a little too distracted.]

I know that.

[Sighing and pulling his knees up a little now, brushing that spare popcorn away.]

But maybe Feuilly wasn't the answer I would have given, if you'd asked me the dating question.

[affablecharm]

[He watched Jehan a little more closely, his habit of pulling his knees up... Of how his own biting comment had hit its mark and it didn't feel as satisfying as he'd thought it would.]

Your answer wouldn't have been me.

[Not self deprecating, just assured. Jehan was smarter than that- to answer that he was the one person he'd like to date.]

[laughingandlyric]

[A deep breath, and leaning his chin onto his knees, asking softly, if a little bluntly;]

And so, that's why you'd pick me? Because of the lure of the 'thing you can't have'?

[If he was so sure of it, then that was probably the reason. Why choose to date the one person you felt 100% sure you couldn't, if you felt 100% sure you could date anyone else?]

That makes sense, I guess.

...Let's talk about something else.

[affablecharm]

That's not my reason... You had my reason when I first answered.

[Though he would have been shocked to hear Jehan's answer was him, if that ended up being the case....

That whiskey was looking really good again.]

... What would your answer have been? Really?

[laughingandlyric]

Nevermind. It doesn't matter. It's a silly question; you date who you fall in love with. Or at least, in like with.

[He'd been serious, about the plan of talking about something else. He was pretty sure he'd just asked Courfeyrac out; after being told he was the person he'd like to date.

And had nonetheless gotten a sort-of no. Granted, the sort-of no was appropriately attributed to him not making Rey feel special enough... but a not-yes was still a not-yes, and he was feeling increasingly stupid.

A part of him wanted to say 'I probably would have picked Feuilly' as a childish comeback to Rey's 'I'm not Feuilly', but he couldn't bring himself to be that mean; or possibly dishonest. It didn't feel right.

Sniffing and sitting up again, he went to pull the covers up now.]

Well now I'm tired, I think.

[affablecharm]

[He frowned, his brows furrowing, as Jehan went to pull up the covers and told him he was tired. Sighing, he shifted so he could easier worm his way under the covers, trying to figure out how to fix this...]

I'm in like with you.

[... That sounded pretty fucking stupid.]

I mean to say... We should date-- if you want to. I get it, if you don't. I'm not dateable or whatever...

[laughingandlyric]

[...Hallmark should never, ever make cards that said that.

Granted, Jehan found it pretty adorable; it was an unconventional thing to say, and he certainly hadn't expected to hear that as a follow-up.

Turning his head a little, he paused, before nodding a bit.]

...Well. I only date people I'm in-like with, who are in-like with me too.

[There. They could both sound stellar-idiotic together.]

So I guess that answers your question, since I can only be in-like with one person.

[A beat, before he realized that maybe wasn't clear, and with a small wince and a wrinkle of his nose, clarified:]

As in, you. As in, definitely not Feuilly. Or Mildred Smith.

You're totally, absolutely undatable. It's true. But-- you said you're a fast learner, right?

[affablecharm]

[He was having a hard time following that train of thought, but he did catch on when Jehan clarified. He shifted to face Jehan better, licking his lips, before smiling slowly... Uncertainly.]

I'm a super fast learner... When I put my mind to it. And I've put my mind to you.

[... Is it just the situation that has him sounding so dumb, or was it the whiskey?]

I'll learn if you're willing to teach me....

[laughingandlyric]

[It's a little hard not to laugh, because in fact, when drunkish and in-like? Reynaud Courfeyrac was super not charming. ('I've put my mind to you?' Pffft!)

But somehow, at least to Jehan, being super not charming? Was paradoxically way more charming than usual. It made him a little giddy, really, and he returned he smile suddenly and warmly.]

I would really like that...

So long as you promise to never, ever stop making up those really cheesy one-liners. [he held up his pinky, trying to look solemn.] Promise?

[They didn't need two poets in this relationship, after all.]

[affablecharm]

Cheesy one liners are my forte.

[He hooked his pinky with Jehan's and smiled like a goof.]

So you don't have to worry about me not doing them anymore. Promise.

[laughingandlyric]

[A happy laugh at that, and he kept hold of his pinky and gave him a quick kiss on the mouth.]

So, we're really dating? That's-- actually unbelievable.

[You sure it's not the whiskey and the 'problem', Rey?]