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[reargunner]

ᴛᴇxᴛ | ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ | ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ | ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ



Leave a message if you want. I'll get back to you when I pick my comm up.

Or I won't.

Comments

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Abel looks up from the small kitchen when Cain comes in, halfway done with the popcorn. Even from the other side of the room he catches that little braid.]

W-what exactly were you doing with Aerith? [Had she braided his hair while they talked? That's kind of cute...

He walks away from the kitchen a minute, leaning over the arm of the couch to give him a kiss on his cheek.] You look nice...

[He trails off, having just been about to give him a compliment on that flash of red when he realizes his nails are painted. He's not put off by it, but definitely curious.] Did she invite you to a have a spa day?

[reargunner]

[He lets out a little snort, holding up his hand to look at his nails.]

No. She came by to see if I was all right and brought some food over.

[No guesses needed as to why that was.]

Got to talking about my sister, how it was growing up as a little brother with two women in the house. Told her I could braid her hair if she wanted, then the rest happened.

[inthebiblicalsense]

Oh. [Abel inspects them as well, rather neat and tidy.]

That sounds nice. I always wanted my mom to ask me to come with her when she went to go get hers done, but she never did. [He smiles down at those blue nails of his.]

They're cute, did you do hers as well? She's been so stressed out...I'm glad you could just do something fun together. [Uncomplicated, unlike his own bullshit. He's glad they have each other for that.

He'll gently squeeze his arm before heading back into the kitchen, pulling the popcorn from the microwave to finish doctoring the bowl like Maggie had taught him.]

[reargunner]

Yeah, of course I did.

[And not a bad job made of them either.

When Abel moves away he sinks down against the couch and closes his eyes. He wants to ask if he's doing okay, but doesn't want to lift the lid on whatever might come from asking the question.

He doesn't think that he trusts his temper with anything around that topic just now, even in front of Abel, so he rubs at his eye again and pushes himself up straight, looking across the room at a spot on the wall.]

Can do yours some time if you want. Just pick a colour.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Abel's not really wanting to bring it up, but he does look a little better, or at least is starting too. Less fragile. He brings the bowl of popcorn over, a plate of chocolate chip cookies and sets them both on the coffee table.]

Would you? I- [He bites his lip, glancing at the popcorn, the Tv, at Alexei.]

If I went and got a color from the commissary real quick, would you mind? I'll try and be fast.

[reargunner]

[He looks up at the other man sidelong for a moment and then gives a little snort, shaking his head and waving his hand towards the door.]

Had a feeling you'd ask. Go on, I'm not going anywhere.

[And it is cute, how Abel's clearly trying to rein in his excitement.]

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Abel can't help the smile that he's been fighting back as he's given the go ahead, nodding. He's not even wearing shoes but he's going to off to find a polish color he likes if it kills him.]

Have a cookie or four while I'm gone.

[He'd made them for Alexei anyways. And he's out the door, brb.]

[reargunner]

[He doesn't actually touch the cookies while Abel is gone but does get himself something to drink.

By the time the man gets back he's more or less still where he left him, though he has probably acquired a cat.]

[inthebiblicalsense]

[When he comes back he's hiding a bottle of very sparkly nail polish in his fist. He understands that he's going to be wearing it around, but there was something about going and picking it out that made him feel a little self-conscious.

He had expected Alex to find his way into Alexei's lap while he was gone, and sits next to him, setting the bottle on the coffee table.] Thanks for waiting.

Sorry I didn't offer you anything to drink before I left, I...I got a little too excited.

[reargunner]

'S fine, I can take care of myself.

[And then, after gently removing Alex from his lap, he picks up the nail polish and hums softly.

It's more visible than he would have expected. A bold choice.]

Want me to do this while the movie's on?

[inthebiblicalsense]

Well, sure. But I like taking care of you too... [And he hasn't been doing a good job of it lately. Getting him something to drink is a tiny thing, but it still felt better than what he'd been doing.

And despite how self-conscious he felt picking it, he knows he's going to smile every time he catches a glance of his nails.] It honestly can just be background, I mostly just like it for the cars and Paul Walker, but if you wanted to watch it we can wait till after?

[reargunner]

[He does think for a moment, but then he shrugs.]

Honestly never been that good at staying still to watch a movie.

[Just putting that out there to temper any expectations Abel may have had of him being able to sit still for two hours. He passes the nail varnish bottle from one hand to the other.]

Put it on, we can always watch it again.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[He should have figured that, but it was something that Fitz liked to do, and was easy enough.] I can pay attention, and follow along, but I do get kind of bored myself. I almost ate a whole sheet pan of brownies the last time I watched a movie with Maggie cause I wasn't paying attention.

[He will though, just for something in the background before coming back to sit next to him, perhaps a little curious, sitting cross legged so he can be close.]

Is there anything I should do before, or how do you want me?

[reargunner]

Just stay sat there.

[Alexei slides off the couch to sit on the floor instead, kneeling neatly. He uncaps the varnish bottle and puts it to one side, then takes Ethan's hand and nudges his fingers apart with his thumb.]

And don't move around.

[Or something will smudge and they'll have to start over.

While the movie buzzes along in the background, Alexei quickly tucks his hair behind his ears and starts working on the other man's nails. Pinkie first, then his ring finger...

He sticks his tongue slightly between his teeth as he concentrates on getting it right.]

[inthebiblicalsense]

I'll be still.

[He hadn't expected him to get on the floor though, offering him a pillow for his knees before he gets started, but keeping his thoughts in place and pointedly not thinking about Alexei kneeing in front of him.

Occasionally he will glance up, catch Paul Walker or a beautiful car on the screen, but he's more into watching Alexei delicately painting his nails. Once again he's biting his lip to fight a smile as he watches him concentrate. There's also something very nice about watching the color go on, and the intention of every little brush stroke.

He really had wanted to go with his mom whenever she went to the salon, but this feels more special than if she'd ever thought to ask.] Did you sister teach you how to do this, or did she force you to do it and you just learned?

[reargunner]

[He lets out a soft laugh. A little 'hah' on an exhale.]

If you've ever thought I've got a difficult personality, you really should meet my sister some time.

[Ethan's hand gets carefully moved. Middle finger, index finger...]

She's a fucking force of nature. You don't say no to her. [Yet he says it with the utmost fondness. It's clear he loves his sibling very much.] I wouldn't call it forcing, but learning so I could do it when she asked was easier than fighting with her about it. She was bigger than me until I hit my teens.

[inthebiblicalsense]

Oh no, don't tell me that. I'm already intimidated by the thought of meeting her someday.[Not that this would stop him, but it's cute to think that's where he got it from, a stubborn older sister that didn't take any ifs ands or buts.]

You are rather cute in that picture you showed me, and she's older than you...makes sense. Was she protective too? Like 'only I can bully my little brother'?

[He can't really picture it himself since he'd always been alone, but that would be nice. Having a sibling that you adored like he knows Alexei does.]

[reargunner]

[Another of those soft snorts.]

Yeah.

[And then the thumb nail. He checks his handiwork in the light and then holds his hand out for Abel's other one.]

We'd fight all the time, but she always knew when to stop. Never bothered her when I got bigger and stronger than her either. I knew when to stop, too.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Abel pulls his freshly painted hand up to inspect them, offering the other hand. When he shifts the light catches them and the color shifts subtly and he kind of loves it.]

Thank you... [He knows he's not done yet, but he can't not say so.]

You said she got married...what's her partner like? Did you like him?

[reargunner]

[He has to shift position a little to adjust for the other hand, but once he does...]

His name's Simon. He's from one of the inner colonies, nearer to the equator. Some kind of engineer for the geothermal plants up there.

[There's no particular annoyance in Alexei's voice when he talks about him. That's probably a good sign.]

He's okay. Treats my sister good. Makes her happy. Knows I'll be on his doorstep if he doesn't.

[inthebiblicalsense]

That sounds like a good career to have. [Better than factory work anyways, seeing as he's aware it's at the very least dangerous.

He does lean forward just a little, making sure to keep his hand still.] You could be an uncle sometime in the next few years...Did your sister ever talk about having kids?

[reargunner]

[He pauses for a moment, between one fingernail and the next one, then shrugs.]

Not really. Up to her if she has them or not I guess. Mom probably wants to be a grandma.

[Then he sniffs slightly, carrying on his careful painting.]

I wouldn't want me as an uncle.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Ethan considers the last statement for a moment before he lets his foot gently rest on Alexei's bent knee.] I don't see why not.

Can't be any worse of one than Jacob and you're not as gruff as he is. You're sitting here painting my nails just because I asked you to. If you had a niece, or even a nephew you know how delighted they'd be if you did that?

I mean, I would have wanted an uncle like that...And your tall, optimized for shoulder rides. Kids generally aren't that hard to impress anyways when they're young, but I think you'd make a good uncle, especially with how protective you are. You'd still be cool as they got older too, easy.

[reargunner]

Mm, you're forgetting the part where I'm a convicted felon.

[And he's not going to touch the comparison to Jacob because, well, that isn't really fair to either of them.]

It's okay. I'm not— You don't need to worry about how I feel about it. [His nose scrunches a little as he smiles.]

It'll be up to my sister anyway.

[inthebiblicalsense]

You say that like there haven't been millions of convicted felons who also happen to be good uncles throughout history.

[He mentioned Jacob for the simple reason that he was an uncle and never really got to be, which he feels is a shame. He feels like he would have been a good uncle to his niece if he'd been given the opportunity to be.]

It is up to your sister. One would hope she'd make the clearly right decision there since you're obviously not some wild animal just because you were convicted.

[His finished hand goes to run through Alexei's hair to get it out of his eyes but stops just before, frowning.]

A-are these dry? I don't want to ruin it and get nail polish in your hair at the same time.