lollipopsandwhisky | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ It's hard to imagine that after thirty years of life, anything would or even could change. The world will keep spinning, day will turn to night, you will sleep next to a woman you married, you will blink, breathe and carry on like the world will never change. Because you know it won't.

Then it kicks you in the arse and throws a spanner in the works

Gabe had lived the same day over, and over for a good thirty years. He woke up to his wife shouting something about work, or a shirt not being ironed or some other benign bullshit. He watched her go, did his chores and headed out. Every day the same.

He went to work for a few hours, driving trains from point A to B like he always did. He said hi to his few friends, giving them a big wave as he left to go to a job he actually loved. He walked through the doors at three pm every day, helping the local shelter care for a feed some stray dogs. They were the closest thing he had to children after all.

Before he could realise it, it was half seven and he was wandering home- every day the fucking same.

But not that day. Either age was getting to him, the moon, or well a lack of variety, Gabe took it upon himself to take some time for himself. Which lead him to some stupid chain coffee shop he'd usually avoid at all costs. He wandered in, letting the smells take him over as he leant on the counter, waiting for someone to- Well, not notice him, he was the size of a house, but get the time to serve him.

Once his order was done, he was sort of excited, tapping his fingers on the side as he waited. Sure it was find of a funny sight seeing a huge man being excited about hot chocolate, but any change from the day to day rigmarole was exciting!]

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[ Gabe rather unabashedly watched the man walk in, half gawking at him for a while before he shook his head to shake it off.

He had to chuckle to himself at the seemingly regular order. So people got stuck in ruts like that too, where most days were the same. Maybe it wasn't something to be sad about if even really fucking handsome guys got into it too.

He was more than glad of the smile, giving the guy a fairly huge grin back, buck-teeth and all before he turned back to watch them preparing everything.

He did keep peeking out the corner of his eye at the man next to him- There was something almost familiar about his face but like hell he'd ever be able to put his finger on it ]

[Generally people looked at him. It wasn't unusual to feel people's eyes on him. Hell, the girls behind the counter were doing their usual whisper-giggle-glance routine.

[It was unusual to feel ... coy about it though.

[Darryn bit his lower lip momentarily, as he decided to probably ignore that. Then proceeded to not ignore it, looking back at the other man.]

Yes? [His tone wasn't accusatory, just confused. And his accent was really not from round there.]

[ He hadn't expected to be caught sneaking glances, but well fuck he sort of jumped when the man spoke. He looked around like the fool he was before he pointed at himself ]

Me? [ Even that one word was heavily Irish- He sort of blustered for a moment, scratching his jaw before giving the guy a smile ] Sorree lad, yer just... Yer luk nice! I didn't mean t'stare at yer!

[ He half bowed as he turned away, feeling a bit of a fool for looking at someone like he was. ]

[Darryn blinked... was that English? Parts of it had sounded like English? Maybe? Gods, why did he try and talk to people without the translators he had born and raised with him?

[He looked back over the counter, less to watch where the girls were in the order and more to try and work out what was just said to him. Trying to translate what he'd just heard into SOMETHING he could work out. Which took more than a minute.

[He thought he finally worked it out as a compliment.]

Thank you. [He looked back and smiled, then as if to explain why he'd just allowed a huge awkward pause he gestured back at himself.] English bad.

[And he could have left it there. Darryn KNEW he could leave it there, but he didn't want to leave this guy with the impression he was an idiot. Or he wanted to at least give him the ability to correct him that it hadn't been a compliment. So he gestured at the other man.] You English... no? [He guessed? Hoping that maybe that accent was SOMETHING he could talk in better than stupid English.]

[ Gabe sort of watched the guy for a long time- he seemed to be having some trouble. He was used to it mind but it was kind of funny everytime.

Once the man found his words, Gabe nodded- Only to frown at the 'english bad'. It took him far to long to realise that wasn't aimed at him. He sort of chuckled as he shook his head ]

Am Irish- D'yer know any Gaelic? An bhfuil a fhios agat a bhfuil mé ag rá anois?

[ He tiled his head barely as he spoke, hoping that a sort of dead language may be better understood. Afterall Gaelic was a fucked up version of Latin ]

(Translation : Do you know what i'm saying now?)

[Darryn gave a sigh of relief and smiled, very happy to switch to Gaelic. English remained the bane of his life.] //Yes, that I understand. Thank you.//

//And to be clear, you complimented me, not insulted me a second ago, right?//

[ Gabes face lit up like a kid on Christmas when he was spoken to in his home tongue- That was a huge rarity to him those days ] // I can't believe you know Gaelic? Do you know how rare that is these days?//

[ He sort of held his hands together under his chin, looking at the blonde like he was looking at the sun for the first time. It was mostly excitement.... mostly ] // Oh god yeah, i wasn't insulting you! I meant you look like a nice guy!//

[Darryn can't help but smile at how happy that small gesture has made this guy. Plus its nice to not have to sound like an idiot for a moment.] //Well, I like learning languages... English aside.//

//Okay, I thought you were. But if you had insulted me I probably would have had to fight you... and the girls don't like when you fight in here. I assume.// [He shrugged and then offered his hand.] //I'm Darryn, by the way.//

[ Small things in a boring life- that's what made him so happy then ]//I tried other languages, but yeah- English is hard enough//

//Please don't fight me// [ He held his hands up, trying to show he meant peace. He was a pacifist by nature, he didn't even think he could fight ] // All I meant was you were the nicest looking person I've seen in a long while!//

[ When it seemed they broke peace, he very happily shook Darryn's hand, sort of shaking it with both of his //I'm Gabe, it's nice to meet you Darryn!//

//English is pretty much the worst. And if you don't speak it right, everyone looks at you like you're a moron.// [Which given Gabe's heavy accent, Darryn assumes he gets as badly as him.

[Darryn has to actually take pause when Gabe takes his hand, because... something. He doesn't get WHAT but something. Maybe its another not-human thing? Maybe its de-ja-vu? He... doesn't get it? But there's something. But he can smile and recover.]

//Well thanks. Nice looking I'll take, even if I looked at least a lot cleaner before I got... all this.// [He gestures to the tattoos that are at least visible on hands and forehead.]

//Welcome to my life, everyone looks at me like i have seven heads or no face when i speak normally!// [ He chuckled, glad someone else understands it all

Though he took a moment to realise he hadn't let go of Daryrn's hands, which caused a rather deep blush to creep over his face as he let go. Why did he stand there holding a stranger's hand, and why was he perfectly fine doing that ]//Sorry about that-

//You are nice looking! All of your marks included, if anything they make you look kind of more beautiful? I like it anyway!// [ He chuckled, scratching his jaw again. Why was he talking like that at someone he didn't even know- He needed to shut up and he knew it ]

//Hey, I'll take beautiful too. Thank you.// [Darryn smiled as he accepted the comment but again. Coyness. As if he didn't always get complimented.

[At least the drinks they had both been waiting for were done now, and his cakes bagged up. He smiled at the girls behind the counter, picking up his boxes and drink before looking back at Gabe.]

//... Which way are you walking?// [... No Darryn, you were going to say 'bye now'? Eh. It had been a while since he'd made a friend he supposed.]

[ Gabe sort of chuckled, watching the guy for a while as he collected his own drink. He wanted to ask about the cake, he wanted to hope it was for the guys wife and that he was heading home, he wanted to hope that would be it and he wouldn't ever deal with the feeling of his heart hammering in his chest like that- But he couldn't. He needed that hope that maybe the guy was one his own, just for a little bit longer.

He hummed as he looked around, trying to get his bearings straight as he pointed down the road towards his home ] //That way, What about you?//

[ Please please don't say you have someone waiting for you- let him live in that fantasy just a few seconds longer ]

Edited 2016-10-13 21:34 (UTC)

//Do you mind if I walk with you?// [Darryn didn't really have ANY way to go except by light, so it was acceptable enough for him to go that way. Be chatty longer that way. Try and work out what was happening right now that way.

[Best way to work things out was to be honest, that was usually his method.] //Its just I feel like I met you before maybe? But I don't remember doing it?// [Which was weird. He'd married a Memory Keeper, his memories were pretty good.]

//Please do! It's nice talking to someone new!// [ He chuckled a little before he walked along, not really expecting to be walking home with someone. It was nice, though, sort of exciting too.

He hummed at Darryn's questions, nodding to himself for a moment ]//I feel like I've met you before too- I don't know where or when but you seem so familiar?// [ He was glad it wasn't just him, though, for a moment he thought he was weirder than normal ]

//Maybe I have one of those faces. I'm one of those typical blondes with too much hair and too many tattoos you usually see around.// [Darryn shrugged, smiling with the joke. Though to be honest... There WERE people who looked like him.] //Unless you saw one of my kids.//

[He held up the boxes by way of some explanation.] //They really like cake.//

[ Gabe snorted, shaking his head before he motioned to Darryn's face ]//You're far too handsome to just be 'one of those faces'. Maybe i saw you in work or something? Do you get the train at all?// [ it made sense to him- Though he sort of stopped for barely a second when Darryn said about kids.

Stupid fucking him and his ideas. Of course a cute guy like that had a wife and kids, who was he kidding. He had no idea why he was even playing along with his head then... Jesus, he needed a holiday ]//That's cute, well you must be an amazing Dad to go out your way like that to get them cake all the time. Your partners lucky to have you!//

//Don't get the train, I have my own ways of travel usually.// [Into pools of light and all. Probably best not to mention that aspect.]

//More compliments? Thanks. I tell him he's lucky to have me often enough.// [Darryn drank his first sip of his hot chocolate, savouring it with a small smile that belied just how confused he was. He didn't get it this familiarity, this coyness.. this flirtiness.

[... shit, was he flirting? No. Darryn didn't flirt with other men. But it really felt like it, or like he wanted to.]

//Do you have kids?// [He asked, gesturing to the ring on Gabe's finger. Smooth Darryn. That'll help you not flirt.]

[ Gabe just nodded, still trying to get his heart to behave before his brain ran away again ]//Ah, well maybe i've just seen you in the world before?//

[ He had no idea why that hurt- He didn't know the guy even a bit, why did hearing about his partner make his heart clench in his chest... Maybe he needed to see a doctor about it ]//Tell him more, he is really lucky to have a sunshine like you in his life!//

[ sunshine- Why did that roll off his tongue like he'd said it a million times before.

He glanced down at his ring, looking torn between heartbroken and generally defeated ] //No, sadly. Closest thing i have to children are animals in a shelter and my cat. My wife wanted kids but well... We're too old now//

[Another moment he almost had to pause, his drink at his lips. He wasn't glowing right then right? No... No he wasn't. That was a startlingly apt description. Was this guy super perceptive? Was that what this was?

[No, really wouldn't explain the flirting.] //You're probably not as old as you think; but there's always time to adopt. Or you can take some of my kids.// [He added with a smile to make it a joke.

[His own perceptiveness made him have to tone it back after a moment though, to a more apologetic look.] //Sorry if that was an insensitive question.//

[ Gabe had no idea what possessed him to call the guy sunshine- Was it because he was blonde? He had a sunny demeanor? He was a fucking glowing sod-.... He shook his head off, taking his own drink to shut up his brain for a moment.

He smiled, rolling his eyes ]//I look younger than i am. Not much but it's enough! And Maybe we could, one day//

[ He knew kids with his wife would never happen, after all the last time they slept together was their wedding night...

He shook his head, giving Darryn a small smile ] //No it's fine. I had a feeling you meant no harm with it//

Edited 2016-10-14 00:06 (UTC)

//I don't look my age either.//

//Well, even if I don't mean to cause harm, I'm still sorry when I do.// [Darryn didn't like to cause upset at the best of times. He felt 'sorry' wasn't good enough and searched for a way to make it better.]

//... I'll buy the hot chocolate next time, as apology, okay?// [Flirting, that will fix it. Well done Darryn. What was WRONG with him right now?]

//Well don't worry okay, it's really fine!// [ He chuckled, waving his hand to wave the moment off. The last thing he needed was the guy to feel bad about something that didn't even matter.

He paused again at the offer of hot chocolate. He knew he should have said no- He wanted to say no and have that be a little blip in a moment of his life. Go on their separate ways having met a random human and just go back to life. But his heart wouldn't let him ] //Sounds like a plan, same time next week seem good to you?//

//I won't worry about it, since you'll let me make it up to you.// [Darryn smiled to show he meant to.]

//Sure, maybe a little earlier if you want. We could sit in there without the girls wanting to chase us out.// [Plus extra time to talk to Gabe might help Darryn figure out just where this weird feeling was coming from.]

[ Why in gods name was he so excited to sit and have a hot chocolate with someone... He was going to pin it down to a chance in scene for once- yeah, that sounded good ]

//Sure! What time around? I can be there as early as six really?// [ Work wouldn't mind him ducking out early, he always worked over time after all.

He sort of wavered once they reached the end of his road, almost glaring at his own house when he stopped ]//This is me- Do you have far to go from here or not?//