selfhelp | [Voice/Written/Action]

Hey out there, Luceti. Are we all more or less ourselves again? Pretty sure we are, uh... here's hoping.

Considering how crazy things have been lately, Teddy and I were talking, and we think it'd be a good time to run this. We all need a break. So courtesy of the LGBTQQA Club - um, I'm tentatively calling it "Alliance", for the sake of minimizing all the abbreviations, better name possibly pending - I'm happy to introduce: Luceti's first-ever (I think) Speed Dating.

If you don't know what speed dating is, it's pretty much exactly how it sounds. The idea is we'd all get together, pair up, you'd talk to someone you might not have talked to before for about ten minutes, and then afterwards decide how you liked it and if you want to see them again. First impressions count for a lot, and sometimes that's all it takes to find your true love or your new best friend.

We're going to run it next weekend - Saturday afternoon, we figure is a good time - and sign-ups are starting now so we'll have time to pair everyone up. Anyone can participate, not just club members or people in the LGBT spectrum, and you're not obligated to do anything if you don't like it. So why not give it a shot? ...And we'll have cookies. Teddy's making them and the recipe looks amazing. Anyone else want to bring some food and stuff? We can have a table for contributions...

Um, anyway. I'll be over by the plaza today, and on the journal network, too, if you've got any questions or if you want to sign up.

[The above message is also written out (albeit less informally). And there's a table with posters and some forms in the plaza, near the school, all day. Billy's just hanging out and drawing the passerbys while he waits, if anyone wants to chat him up about it in person.]

((ooc sign-ups here!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[With so much practice, it would be easy to keep up his serious face. But his first instinct is to smile as Billy moves further against him, and he's learned not to fight first instincts all the time with Billy - in fact, it's easy not to. So he smiles, and he wraps his other arm around him, under Billy's arm and across his chest to lock his own hands together and give Billy a loose embrace.]

Okay, okay, we'll stick with the original plan. You're a lot better at organizing than I am anyway.

[Although with the way they're positioned, it kind of looks like speed dating is one of the furthest things from their minds right now.]

Did you need any help with all of that? [He figures Billy would want to do it all himself, but hey, can't help to offer.]

[By now his bagel's finished, and he's plenty satisfied with lunch, so Billy just focuses on relaxing against his boyfriend, his hands resting over Teddy's, eyes closing and looking like the very picture of contentment.]

As tempting as it is to say yes, I think adding a second person to the mix would actually just complicate things. I won't say no to advice and moral support, though.

[Teddy's sandwich isn't quite done, but it's still set aside, its owner having deemed his boyfriend more important than finishing it off. He lowers his head to take in a whiff of Billy's hair, his smile growing a little when he realizes that it smells like his favorite shampoo that he's found here, though Teddy recognizes it more as a Billy-scent.]

I can definitely provide both of those. [And after a kiss he drops on the top of his head:] Does this count as moral support? I've got plenty of that to give.

...Well. I'll definitely count it.

[And who cares if someone else would disagree? The club really is about defiance of societal norms, just like he'd told Storm. Besides, when they look this happy, who's going to begrudge them their fun?

He shifts his fingers to weave them through Teddy's, giving his hand a little squeeze.]

Unless you think that's not enough, of course.

Well, I could give you more...

[Teddy squeezes his hands in return, thumbs stroking the knuckles closet to them, and nuzzles his nose against Billy's hair. It might be Billy's favorite shampoo, but Teddy's grown to love the smell just for that. Plus, his hair is just nice.]

... But that'd probably require us going back to our place.

[There's a brief shake as Billy lets loose a silent chuckle, tilting his head to indulge in the hair-nuzzle Teddy's giving him; it feels nice when he does that.]

If only we didn't have our very-important club responsibilities. I don't think we should be sneaking away for washroom make-outs this time.

Too bad. That was fun.

[Teddy gives Billy's hair one last nuzzle before he slides his head down, enough to press a lingering, tender kiss against the side of his neck. It's gentle and not meant to be sensual; he does like to think he's at least halfway responsible and all.]

But you're right. We might come back and see a whole line of people wanting to ask questions.

[... ... even though it's easy to sign up without them there and they can just ask over the journal -

At least halfway responsible.]

[...Oof. Even with how relatively chaste that is, Teddy isn't helping his self-restraint any. Billy flops his head back to try and meet Teddy's gaze without moving too much or lifting himself off. He's too cozy to really get out of range, even if it feels like Teddy is testing him.]

Are you even trying to behave?

[Billy can likely feel the smile against his neck before Teddy pulls his head back, the smile gone in favor of a more dubious expression, eyebrow raised.]

You really want to see me when I'm misbehaving?

[Because he could certainly aim for it. But no, he smiles again, and he lifts his head up to nuzzle his nose against Billy's hair again.]

Sorry, sorry... I'll misbehave later.

[Billy murmurs a vague sound of approval, not quite words but more or less implying how he feels about that statement. He tilts his head to kiss the nearest part of Teddy that's accessible - his neck, apparently - and gives his hands another squeeze.]

If you can manage for... two hours? Maybe three? You can misbehave all you want at home.

[Teddy makes a face at that, though he doesn't move out of range either; now who's testing who, huh?]

If you keep kissing me like that, I don't think I can guarantee anything.

[Billy pauses at that, then slides back with a very slight (but exaggerated for effect) pout on his lips, arms crossing.]

You started it, you know. You've got nobody to blame but yourself.

[Though Billy's moved back, Teddy still keeps an arm around his shoulders, now moving his other arm to grab the soda he brought with him.]

Just because I started it doesn't mean you have to finish it. We're sharing equal blame here.

[No worries, Teddy, he's still close enough for cuddles, just not necking. He does occasionally pay attention to limits given.]

But I was goaded on by you. The temptation was just too great.

One kiss and you just can't control yourself around me, huh?

[Teddy sips at his drink, yet he can't help the smile on his lips. Not only is banter fun, but hey. He likes the thought that he can make Billy do something like that.]

Must be those sexy Skrull pheromones.

[Not that he knows anything about those, mind you.]

How do you know it's not the Kree pheromones?

[He apparently got his father's looks and all.]

Do they have those too? Should I be worried about you making me fall in love with you?

If I had pheromones on both sides, I would've had a lot more luck getting guys to date me back at home.

[He doesn't sound bitter about it, at least. Why would he? He's already found the love of his life.]

Thank god you don't, then. I don't think I could handle that kind of competition. ...Not gracefully, anyway.

You'd have to tattoo my forehead in a way that actually makes it stick. "Property of Billy Kaplan". That way they'd know to back off before they even try.

I'm getting deja vu. Have we talked about this before? Obviously that's a sign that I should just go ahead and put it somewhere.

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[action] because I enjoy irony

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