selfhelp | [IC] Appointments Post

[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.

[Teddy works his lips for a moment, a sort of pondering pout, before he taps Billy's forehead with the flower.]

I got it. Tarzan and Jake.

[And, noticing that Billy's been hanging there for a minute...]

You should probably get down now, or at least get yourself upright again. I don't want you passing out on me on our date.

[Honestly, he probably wouldn't have known about the whole "blood rushing to the head when upside-down too long" thing, or at least why it's bad for that to happen, until he started taking those lessons.]

[Billy laughs quietly, swinging himself back up to grab the branch with both hands, using it as leverage to get his legs unhooked.]

Okay, okay. Think fast, here I come.

[And then he lets go.]

Wha - [alskdfjaskdf JESUS CHRIST KAPLAN

Teddy was kind of expecting Billy to actually climb down, not just let go. Still, he's there to catch him, his brief surprise fading to amused exasperation, tinged with relief, once Billy's in his arms and lowered to sit on Teddy's lap.]

Ha... I didn't know Tarzan got out of trees like that.

[Billy just grins up at Teddy, completely relaxed and looking right at home in his boyfriend's lap. He hadn't had a single doubt that Teddy would catch him, and he knows Teddy likes this kind of thing. ...Although maybe not this particular method of getting it to happen, but Billy has to make it fun sometimes.]

I'm sure he fell out of his share of trees as a kid. I guess I'm lucky that you're "Jake" and not some giant man-eating jungle tiger.

[... ... ...

You know what he's thinking. I could totally change into that. And it sounds pretty awesome.

It's just there in his eyes as he rolls that last sentence over in his head. Giant man-eating jungle tiger...]

[He does know what Teddy's thinking, actually, and it makes Billy sigh in affectionate exasperation and set his hand over Teddy's face for a moment, as if to say no, Teddy as he sits himself up again to get a look at the display that Teddy's set up for the first time.]

Oh, wow. You really went all out, didn't you?

[Teddy ends up laughing when the hand is pressed to his face, and he's already peeling it off with a big grin on his face when Billy speaks up again. If Billy knew of his plans, Teddy would say that yeah, he did, and he had a big reason for going all out. Hell, if he didn't know, it'd be a pretty good opening to ask the big question.

But, again, he doesn't take the opportunity. Instead, he just holds Billy's hand in his own as he tilts his head around to get a good look.]

I thought it'd be cool - like, classic cool, if we did it the old way. Some of your favorites are in there. [Sure, he didn't have the basket to carry it all in. But that's a little too vintage there.]

No complaints here. There's so much that it's making my stomach growl already.

[Billy reaches for the nearest bit of food, something he'd started eyeing as soon as he spotted it, and dives right into the meal. Compared to some of the other meals Teddy's cooked, it's not like a picnic lunch takes a lot of skill, but Billy can definitely see the effort Teddy put into it all. It has him both pleased and intrigued, and he settles in next to Teddy, shoulder to shoulder, expressing his earnest pleasure as he discovers every little thing that his boyfriend thought to bring along.

Yeah, he's definitely going to have to come up with something good for their next date.]

[Teddy practically glows; he's so, so pleased, because nothing makes a cook feel better more than having the person they made everything for try it all and visibly express their approval. Especially for a chronic people-pleaser like him, something he'll likely never be fully cured of. Regardless, most of the dishes he brought along are Billy's favorites, like pierogies, one of the first things he made for him here.

He even brought extra servings of everything, seeing how much he likes to eat. It's enough that by the end, even he's feeling full, and there's still a bit left over. With one arm around Billy's waist, Teddy leans his head back against the trunk of the tree, shuts his eyes and smiles lightly, already feeling the need for sleep kicking in, just like the last few times he did this at home.]

Mm... Good stuff.

Definitely good stuff.

[Billy had filled up much earlier than Teddy, so by now he's settled in to sipping at his drink, nibbling at little bites here and there, and mostly just leaning against his boyfriend to enjoy the scenery and conversation. It's been so perfect, all of it, and he's so happy he ought to be glowing. Every now and then a breeze will knock off a loose cherry blossom, and he's tried catching the ones that get too close to the picnic blanket, so he even has a little collection of them to take home later, though he's not sure what for just yet. The memories alone are plenty reason.

Teddy's posture catches his attention after a moment, and he glances up, prodding the blond in the stomach.]

Hey, no falling asleep. I can't carry you home.

[The prod makes Teddy clench his eyes for a second before he stretches his arms up, arches his back, and gives a half smile as he relaxes again.]

I'd like to see you try.

[... But oh, are they going home already? And he hasn't even - okay, okay, not just yet, they have to gather everything and... Well, it's not finalized or anything, so maybe he has a bit of time still...]

So... Wanna stay out here a bit longer, or...?

I don't mind staying.

[Not at all, actually. The scenery's beautiful, and the company is even better. But the company bit is the part he's kind of stuck on.]

It's just that I didn't bring a book or sketching paper or anything. What am I to do if my only source of entertainment dozes off?

[OH THANK GOD -

Not that. He doesn't want to do it or anything, its just. Really kind of scary, the closer to The Moment he gets, is all.

That statement makes Teddy roll his eyes though, and he lifts a hand to lightly poke the side of Billy's neck.]

Wow, so that's all I am to you? A source of entertainment?

[Billy leans back slightly dramatically, as if the poke had actually wounded him.]

The truth comes out, and it offends him! I'm doomed, doomed.

[Teddy grins as he leans in to sets his hands on either side of Billy's hips, just waiting to lift them up under his shirt for a tickle attack. The situation is just begging for it.]

Come on, I've got to be other things. Like... mouth feeder, massage therapist...

Wow, you want a list now? How about... transporter, dog walker, shopping aid, delivery man, sex toy...

[He half-knows what's coming, but he doesn't squirm away from it, waiting to see what happens. He does shift his knees in a bit, ready to push himself back if he needs to escape fast.]

[Okay, the last one makes Teddy hang his head with a huff of laughter, then shake it with slight disbelief before he lifts it up again.]

Oh my god, you're the worst.

[Aaaaand GOING FOR IT Billy better be ready to escape, because Teddy's decided that's the opportunity to lunge for a full on tickle attack.]

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