selfhelp | [IC] Appointments Post

[On the flipside, Billy had dressed himself up. He no idea what to expect, and Teddy hadn't mentioned that this would be a particularly fancy date, but it's been so long since they did anything formal rather than just the usual everyday stuff that he'd wanted to look nice. His hair is styled, his face clean-shaven, and he's dressed in a nice pair of black pants and this shirt, his birthday gift from Bulla. It's his first chance to wear it since the initial trying-on, and he can't deny that it looks really good on him. He's hoping Teddy will be pleased to see it, and he's wearing a smile as he steps out of his room to meet in the living room... only for it to fall when he sees what Teddy's wearing, feeling a bit absurd, suddenly.]

Oh god, am I overdressed? I'm totally overdressed. Hang on, let me get some jeans.

[Teddy was in the process of looking over Billy's outfit appreciatively, a smile growing on his face and all, when Billy says that. His own expression falls as well, and he holds his hands up as he heads over to him.]

No! No, no, no, I'm the one who's under-dressed here, I should probably...

[When he reaches Billy, however, his hands fall to his waist, and the thought of their dressing-styles being different and that smile fading from Billy's face doesn't make him fret so much. Instead, he smiles again and lets one hand lift to follow the flow of Billy's styled hair. He always loves it when it's like that.]

I mean... You look great.

[Billy stops his attempt at backpedaling when Teddy touches him like that, the smile creeping back onto his lips, albeit more shy and pleased this time. His hands lift to brush over the material at Teddy's chest, smoothing it down, equally appreciative. Underdressed or not, he has no complaints, here.]

You look great. Which means we both look great together, and- ...let's just go.

[The material of the shirt, at least, is smooth and even somewhat silky, so it's not like he threw on a shirt and went with it. But going overboard when wearing cargo pants would look terrible, and overdressing would probably make him too hot, especially with how nervous he knows he'll get later, and -

Whatever, Billy thinks he looks great, and that's what matters. The smile on Teddy's face quirks up in response, and he leans in to kiss Billy's nose before he leans back enough to take both of his hands.]

Yeah, wouldn't want the whole day wasted just to look more like a matching couple. Come on...

[Holding just one hand now, Teddy leads the way out of the apartment, locking it behind him and idly telling Optimus to guard the place, even though there isn't much need for it.]

We could probably let the whole day go to waste gushing about each other and never even leave the house. Not that I'd mind, really, but... I do kind of want to see what all the fuss is about.

[And he's still working on not letting himself get all holed up like a hermit, even unintentionally, so this is good for them both. Get outside, experience some of the sunshine, breathe in the fresh air...

...Sun and fresh air doesn't mean that it isn't still March, though, and therefore chilly, so he grabs his jacket while they're on the way out. He may or may not wear it, depending on the temperature, but he'd rather have it and not need it than the opposite.]

[Billy's not the only one who grabbed something before he left; Teddy picked up a bag from the table, a bag full of food at that. Can't have a picnic without the food, right?

There's an idle smile as Teddy looks at the jacket, then ahead of them as they go to the elevator and head down. He remembers how much of a battle it was just to get Billy away from the windowsill and out of the clinic months ago. Compared to now, with the two of them walking freely with no hesitation or tension, no doubts and uncertainties, holding each other's hand when even that made them unsure back then...

Yeah. Teddy really, really wants to do this.

But he's kind of leaving Billy hanging, so he tilts his head up before he speaks again.]

There's a botanic garden at Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue that we used to go to. During March and April, the cherry blossoms there would be in bloom, and crowds of people would be there to watch them. Mostly tourists, but hey, can't just limit everything to us. Anyway, they're pretty amazing to see. Really amazing to sit under and talk and eat for a while.

It sounds amazing. [And right up his alley, really.] I'm surprised we never went there... or to this one, actually.

[Back home, it makes sense- they'd been so busy training and still going to school and hiding everything from their families (and then there'd been the whole SRA business...), they'd barely had time for normal evening dates, nevermind a whole-day affair at the park. But here they had no excuse.

Still, he's glad to be going with Teddy now. It made for a nice change, and a new experience, besides.]

[It was never really up Teddy's alley, but his mom loved it, and so would lure Teddy into coming along with her with a basket of his favorite foods. He'd get bored after a while, but the thought of giving his mom a break she so needed as well as seeing her smile was worth it.]

Lack of flyers and mail to constantly remind us to go? I'll take you when we get home, too; there's a lot more of them there than here.

[Plus, he's pretty sure Billy would like the rest of it too, not just the cherry blossom part.]

Probably didn't help that we were really busy this time of that year back home.

[He won't go into detail about why; not only does Teddy know already, but it was a grim and depressing time for both of them, and he doesn't need to offer any reminders. Teddy's mom's death, and then the SRA, and then the prison... yeah, no.

Just in case, he gives Teddy's hand a squeeze.]

Thank you. I know you're not so big on nature, so... I really appreciate you thinking of this. And of me.

[Teddy squeezes his hand in return, a pleased smile coming up on his face. He thrives on positive feedback, whether verbal or not, and both just makes it even better. Never mind that he's busy back at home dealing with another Skrull invasion for reasons he doesn't know about yet; right now, he's already made Billy happy, and that's enough for him. Especially considering what Teddy plans on doing...

Once the elevator doors open, Teddy leads the way out the elevator and to the outside world, where it's - a little chilly, yes, but not as bad as it has been.]

It's our first real date in weeks. I had to make it special. [And for other reasons, but he's not about to say them just yet.]

You didn't have to, but I appreciate it nonetheless.

[And- brr, that's a bit of a nip, but it isn't cold enough that he needs to put on his jacket right away. He's reluctant to let go of Teddy's hand just yet.]

I'll have to come up with some way to surprise you, next time.

[If all goes well, and if Teddy doesn't chicken out again, well... Billy's going to have a lot of pressure to surprise Teddy next time.]

Definitely looking forward to it. But right now, let's keep our eyes on this surprise.

[Though they're still a bit a ways from the orchard, and with Billy not teleporting and it being a bit too old (for Billy, anyway) to allow Teddy to fly, it'll take them a little while to get there. Teddy doesn't mind walking, of course, as it gives them more time to walk and talk, and people-watch when there's some quiet time.

Still, he'll be relieved when they get there.]

[It's something of a long walk, but Billy doesn't mind; aside from a brief pause when he finally caves to his body's demands and puts the coat on before he starts shivering, the journey passes quickly, thanks to the easy conversation they always manage to fall into. They're in the middle of discussing something unimportant(random video game trivia that Billy won't even remember later) when the trees come into view, and he trails off of whatever tangent he'd been bringing to the discussion.

All thoughts seem to fly from him at the sight of the trees in full bloom, tiny pink flowers fluttering in the wind. There were only a few of them, in a quiet little circle on a hill, but they were beautiful nonetheless. How had he never come here before?]

...Wow.

[What, how can you not remember that Mario is the most recognizable face of all time

Once Billy sees the trees there, Teddy slows to a stop and just... watches him. That quietly awed look, like how Teddy sometimes gets when he sees a particularly good picture of deep space on one of his random searches for them at home. It's amazing to see on someone else's face, especially someone he loves.]

Yeah. Wow.

[And after another moment, Teddy glances sidelong at his boyfriend, then gives him a light nudge on the shoulder.]

Go on, Disney prince it up. I'll set up the food and stuff.

[Billy looks a bit sheepish at being caught with the expression, but it doesn't stop him from stepping forward anyway, beelining for the grove gladly.]

You'll be really sorry for saying that when I break my neck trying to climb them all, you know.

[And don't think he isn't sorely tempted.]

Like I'd let that happen.

[He says it with a light snort and, once he reaches the largest of the trees (which is impressively huge, really, given the ones he usually sees in the garden), Teddy sets the bag down, spreads out the blanket from within it, and begins setting out the food.]

You'd get in so much trouble if you climbed them at the garden, you know.

That's probably why I'm saying it now. How can I possibly resist this chance?

[Seriously, though, now that he's said it... hmm. He steps thoughtfully over to the nearest one with a low-hanging branch, then glances back at Teddy. He's setting up the food, so he might not be watching...]

[Don't think he can't see you, Billy -

Which means Teddy does glance at him and catch his eye, knowing what he's up to. But he just rolls his eyes with a smile and gets back to work. Go ahead, man, give in to your inner tree hugger.]

[...Yeah, fuck it. With Teddy's back turned, Billy gives in at last and hefts himself up onto a branch that looks sturdy enough, weaving carefully through the twigs and the flowers until he finds a good perch to sit and be quietly surrounded by the cherry blossoms- the petals, the scent of them, the sound of the wind rustling the branches...

...god, it's been forever since he did this, but it takes him right back to a childhood of growing up just down the road from Central Park, of walks with his dad, of camping in the nearest local woods and waking up to the sound of birds chirping above his tent. He closes his eyes, leaning back against the tree trunk, and the smile comes all too easily to his lips. Teddy definitely knows him too well; he knew Billy'd love it here, and he really, really does.

I have the best boyfriend in the world.]

[Teddy does watch Billy out of the corner of his eye, just to make sure he doesn't actually fall and break his neck while he climbs up. Once he's settled, though, Teddy takes his attention away from him to set out the last of the food.

Once he's done with that, Teddy leans back against the trunk of the tree and lets his gaze wander. The blanket should be okay, what with there being rocks at the corners, so it shouldn't go flying away. Thus, Teddy can let his thoughts go through his head, memories of sitting under a tree like this, albeit smaller, and letting his mom set out the food while talking about her day, the future, whatever. They were quiet while eating, though, and afterwards Teddy would usually nap on the blanket while his mother stayed awake and did... whatever mothers do when their kids are sleeping when it's time to go. Idly, he's reminded of his first and only sort-of-girlfriend, and how he thought it'd be a good idea to bring her there when the trees were in bloom. Fortunately for him, they didn't last long as a couple, and so were broken up before the viewing festival started.

Mostly, though, he thinks of Billy, especially when his gaze falls on him and the way he peacefully reminisces on something. Surrounded by the flowers like that, obviously loving it here just as Teddy thought he would - god. Just look at him...

He's all too aware of the weight of the ring box in his pocket, and it takes all his willpower to not pull it out and look at the ring for the umpteenth time. What if Billy were to open his eyes and see him? It'd totally ruin all the plans Teddy has, and - well, now that he's thinking about, he's wondering if his original plan was okay after all. Should he change it up, maybe set it in place and waiting for Billy when he comes down from the tree? Should he put it in the bottom of Billy's cup - oh god, no, what if he swallows it?

In the end, Teddy does nothing. Half because he's stuck and nervous on what to do, half because the smell of the food is getting to him. Screw waiting - he's already nibbling on a loaf of bread.

Later. He'll ask later.]

[If he'd been all on his own, and perhaps if it was a little bit warmer, Billy could have easily stayed up there for hours like that. It's beautiful, and so very tempting. But more tempting is the fact that Teddy's down below waiting for him, and he can't think of anything else he'd rather do than share a meal and an afternoon under the trees with the person he loves. And from the look of things (once he shifts and peers over to check out the situation), it seems that Teddy's ready for him.

Swinging over to the next limb, he shuffles forward on the branch overhanging where Teddy's set up the blanket, hooks his legs over it to get a decent grip, then pitches backwards until he's hanging upside down above his boyfriend, one hand outstretched with a stolen cherry blossom clasped between his fingers.]

So I'm thinking we should move here.

[Teddy blinks when Billy suddenly swings down in front of him, leaving him staring dumbfounded at him, then the blossom, for a moment. When he recovers, he shakes his head with a half smile, but at least indulges Billy by taking the blossom and twirling it a little in his fingers.]

That shouldn't be too hard. All we have to do is learn how to build a house, get all the things we need to do it, actually build it, hope to god that it holds up...

[... Which Teddy could probably do, really. If he weren't so unsure about moving away from people.]

Edited 2014-03-06 12:15 (UTC)

Treehouse. I demand a treehouse. Our neighbours will be birds and we'll take baths in the river. I'm sure the locals won't mind the show.

[Something about the way Teddy looks up at him like that, holding the flower, makes his heart all aflutter. Even upside down, he's still near-unbearably handsome.]

So we're going to be Tarzan and Jane now? [With a wider smile, Teddy taps Billy's nose with the flower.] And since you're one with the trees, you're definitely Tarzan. Guess that makes me Jane. [... He makes a face with that revelation. That didn't quite go as planned.]

Well, why not? It's about time you played the girl in these fictional match-ups of ours.

[Now it's his turn to make a face, though.]

Oh god, I just made us into a stereotype, didn't I. The world really needs more critically acclaimed gay romances.

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th] do you smell dog breath too or was it just me

[Action, March 14th] excuse u that's wolf breath

[Action, March 14th] still smelly

[Action, March 14th] and proud

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]

[Action, March 14th]