selfhelp | [Voice/Written/Action] go go fight for romance

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[Voice/Written/Action] go go fight for romance

[God, okay, enough procrastinating and feeling depressed. He is doing this before something terrible happens again to delay it. Ugh.]

Hey, Luceti. Couple of things.

First, gonna remind everyone that this town has an LGBTQQA+ club that still meets pretty regularly, you know, when circumstance allows. If you don't know what that all means, feel free to ask and I'll expand on it, but the short version is people who identify as a sexuality or gender that goes against what society views as "normal". Meetings aren't required or anything, it's basically a support and discussion group. Consider this an open invite to ask about it or join up if it sounds like something up your alley.

Second point is, uh. The whole Luceti group thing kind of accidentally took over the club name, Alliance. So maybe we should pick a name for ourselves, instead? It was always kind of a throwaway name because we didn't have anything better at the time... just something I've been thinking about.

Thirdly, and more importantly, it was mentioned on the network not that long ago that we ran a speed dating thing last year. I've been meaning to have another one, but the timing was kind of crap last month... anyway, I think it's time! So here goes. The 2nd Annual Luceti Speed Dating.

Short explanation from last year: we get together, pair up, talk to your partner for 5-10 minutes max, just to get a first impression and meet as many new people as you can. Last year we did both romance and friendship options, and I think it worked out pretty well! We had a couple success stories, far as I recall. Anyone want to offer some feedback for it? Testimonials? "Speed dating changed my life"?

Oh, and like last year, this is open to all, not just the club. I'd like to do it this coming Saturday, so if you want to sign up, swing by the plaza any afternoon this week and find me.

[Like last year, the message is also in written format, and all week there'll be a table with some posters and sign-up sheets, and occasionally Billy if you want to swing by to talk about it. Discussion is also welcome and encouraged over the journal network.]

((ooc: and you can sign up here!))

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You know, sometimes people just give stuff to the ones they love. I'd tell you to try it sometime, but you kind of already did, so.

[With his hand now unoccupied, he clasps it together with the other one, props up his elbows, and rests his chin on the knuckles, just behind his ring, though it isn't a terribly obvious hint. He watches Teddy thoughtfully at first, then sighs and leans back, giving the blond a nudge.]

Just open it.

[And if/when Teddy does so, he'll find a ring inside, a familiar design of intricatedly sculpted silver-gold and a trio of chipped sapphire.]

[Teddy shoots Billy a little smirk first, for while he's appreciative of the sarcasm, it kind of makes him want to hold off longer just to be obnoxiously annoying. He succeeds for about three seconds before his curiosity gets the better of him, and he opens up the box.

The smirk fades into awe, then confusion, because he knows that symbol and why - then realization, and awe again.]

... Oh my god. [He turns his head to Billy, though he still keeps his eyes on the ring. It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful, and he has no idea how Billy got this - unless he commissioned it too.] Billy...

[This is the last thing he expected. He knows they're as far from traditional as you get, but he's always been taught that the person who gives the ring usually doesn't get one back, save for on the actual wedding day...]

[Billy fidgets slightly under the scrutiny, lifting his shoulders into a shrug.]

What? I said I was going to give you something. I mean, ignoring the fact that I said it like, four months ago... better late than never, right?

I just - I mean, I didn't think... oh my god.

[It's like Billy's asking him if they want to get married rather than Teddy doing so a few months ago. Only without the word vomit that he did, or the setting that he picked out, but the meaning behind it is still just as special, if not more so. He loves the meaning behind it, the sentimentality, how perfect it is; he absolutely loves it, and god, he loves his boyfriend - his fiancé so, so much.

The awe never leaves his eyes, even as his gape turns into a big, dimpled grin instead, and he shifts in his seat as if he needs to move but isn't sure what he's supposed to do.]

Where did you get this? I can't believe - ha, you remembered the meaning and everything...!

[It takes a moment - he fights it, trying to keep his cool - but with Teddy smiling like that it's impossible to keep a straight face. He cracks a little within seconds, and then he just lets himself smile broadly, leaning in.]

I really liked that game, okay? And I know I can be kind of a crap boyfriend, but I remember what you like most of the time.

"Most of the time", he says...

[Billy really sells himself short a lot of the time. But this is amazing, and Teddy looks from the ring to Billy, then at the ring, then back to Billy before holding the box out for him again.]

You wanna, um... [He holds out his left hand; he feels a little silly, wanting Billy to be the one to slide the ring on, but it's that special, giddy kind of silly.]

[Billy snorts faintly, still smiling, and accepts the box back, tugging the ring free from its simple felt bed. He discards it and holds Teddy's hand up between them so they can both watch as he slides it smoothly onto the ring finger. It's a perfect fit, just as planned.

His smile transforms into a full-on grin; okay, yeah, there's no playing it off now. It's more than a payoff of all his hard work. It's a symbol of their engagement on Teddy's finger the way it's been on his own this whole time.]

...So? How's it feel?

[Teddy's busy staring down at the ring and how it fits perfectly on his finger; he's never worn a ring before, because they'd inevitably break (which he'll have to ask about in a moment), or it just felt weird having something around his finger. But this? He can definitely get used to this, especially with how comfortably snug it is. And the fact that he now clearly has a symbol to show that he's taken, he's engaged...]

... Like it belongs there. Billy, I...

[Rather than try to get words out, as Teddy isn't much of a wordy guy in the first place, he leans forward to kiss him instead, letting how he feels about it all show in the emotion he puts into it. And though he's got his eyes shut, he still tries to find Billy's left hand with his own, wanting to feel both of their rings together. It just... it feels like it'd be perfect.]

[Billy's slightly taken off guard by the kiss, but it's not unexpected, so he's quick to respond to it eagerly. His hand meets Teddy's and their fingers intertwine, The kiss is satisfying enough, sure, but what really gives him a thrill is a tiny, barely perceptible clink of two metal rings tapping together. He never knew how awesomely pleasing such a small thing could be.

Yeah, he's definitely glad he did this.]

[Teddy himself is still absolutely blown away by this. If it wasn't enough to feel the ring around his finger, the tiny little sound of their rings clinking together just sealed it for him. Smiling in the middle of a kiss is both a great feeling and kind of awkward, yet Teddy ends up doing it anyway, which just has him breaking the kiss and letting out an airy chuckle.]

Oh my god, I feel like - I mean, how did - [He shakes his head, trying to get his happily dazed thoughts in order, then gives Billy a big, ridiculous smile.] So... tell me the story, I guess. [Because there's so many questions in his head about the ring, and he's not sure where to start.]

[Billy's smile shifts to a smaller, more shy version of the grin he'd worn a moment ago, his gaze drifting to their rings as his fingers tease gently over Teddy's.]

I don't know if you can call it a story, really... but I thought of it a long time ago, I just didn't know how to do it. I was starting to get back into magic, and you'd... you'd done so much for me. I didn't want to ask anyone else to do it, I didn't want to ask them for it- [He's certain he doesn't have to tell Teddy who they are now.] I... wanted to make it. So I pilfered some silver and sapphires from the shops, and...

[He gestures vaguely to their fingers- to the ring. Obviously it wasn't as simple as that, but he's still very cautious about feeling too much pride in his magical accomplishments. It's what led him to all of his past screw-ups, after all, and experimenting with new spells - without help, at that - hadn't done him much good, either.

It's... hard to imagine this being bad in any way, though. With Teddy smiling like that, with the way the ring shone on his finger. It's hard not to be proud of it, that he'd made Teddy feel that way. So he's kind of desperately hoping that it's okay.]

You made it?

[Teddy stares down at the ring in wonder, because holy... He thought for sure Billy got it commissioned, like he did, not with actual magic. And that... that means so much more, knowing that Billy made this all on his own, with the magic that still scares him.

He lets out a little sigh before he leans in, free hand lifting to hold the back of Billy's head, and touches his forehead against his boyfriend's.]

God, I love you... I love you so much...

Me too... I love you...

[Billy leans in, nuzzling affectionately, equal parts happy for the touch and relieved that Teddy likes it and is glad to have it. It's not like he'd had much doubt, but it's still very reassuring to know for sure.

He really is ridiculously lucky.]

[Teddy remains like that for a while longer, a grin and a blush on his face that he can't possibly control, with his eyes shut to revel in all of the emotions he's feeling. Joy, happiness... love. Absolute love for this man in front of him, this man that he'll marry someday. And now he gets to show it off, too...

It takes some effort to pull away, but this is important. When he does pull back, he looks down at his ring again, still marveled at how wonderful it looks, but also...]

So... what about my shifting? [He's pretty sure Billy thought about it, what with always seeing Teddy rip through clothes when he shifts.]

[Aha. Billy leans back with a secretive smile, crossing his legs up under himself on the couch and turning to fully face Teddy. He'd been hoping that Teddy would ask, but he'd certainly have brought it up otherwise.]

Try shifting. See what it does.

[Visions of the ring breaking around his finger causes Teddy to hesitate, first looking at Billy, then down at the jewelry, then back at Billy again.]

... Are you sure?

One-hundred-percent positive.

[Billy tries his best to look confident; he'd tested it pretty thoroughly, sure, but that was some time ago, and while he's certain that the enchantment hasn't worn off, Teddy's worry is contagious.

Well, at least he can fix it easily enough if it breaks. He's more worried about Teddy hurting his hand on the silver.]

[Okay. Oookay. Going to shift now and see what happens; Billy can always fix it, but still, Teddy would feel terrible if -

He closes his eyes, as if that'll help any, and lets his hand grow big, rough and green. He expects a tiny shattering sound, he expects the cool-turning-warm metal around his finger to fall...

But none of that happens. He's first curious enough to open one eye, then surprised enough to open the other. The ring shifted with him, fitting around his larger finger as if it had been made to fit it.]

... How did...? [He knows, he does, but that's just... amazing.]

[Billy grins immediately and leans in again, reaching out to take Teddy's hand and get a closer look. He looks incredibly pleased - both with the results and himself - to see that it worked just as planned.]

Oh my god, it works even better on you! I was testing it in sims and on sticks... anyway, it's enchanted. It should grow and shrink whenever you do, assuming you don't get too big. So, uh, fair warning in case you're going to turn your hand into a frying pan or something.

[Teddy's surprise fades to enthrallment, and he takes a little scoot forward to look down at the ring himself. Enchanted... no wonder it's working like that. And it's such a thrill, such a thrill to see Billy using his magic for something like this again. Something good, just a little thing to make someone else happy.

But all that aside, now he has the coolest ring in the world.]

Are you serious? Wait, hold on -

[He pulls his hand away so that he can stand up, then change into his Hulkling form. Not entirely, seeing how that would just rip his already straining clothes apart, but enough so that his hand isn't the only large and green part of his body. And sure enough, when he looks down at it again...]

Dude, Billy, this is... Well, look! [He holds his hand out, still fitting perfectly and all.] This is one of the coolest things you've ever done! [He can't help the grin on his face; he's just so, so happy, and so excited about the fact that he can actually wear a ring without being afraid to break it.]

[Billy beams like a total dork, gazing at the ring on Teddy's hand, glittering blue and silver over the familiar green. It really is wonderful to see it finally where it belongs, rather than sitting woefully in a box. And now that he's seen that it fits well even when Teddy's shifted to Hulkling, he can relax properly.]

It's kind of cool, yeah. So I can assume that you like it?

["Kind of" and "like it". Teddy can't help letting out a fond, slightly exasperated sigh and roll his eyes before leaning in, large hands on either side of Billy's thighs, and leans in with a smile on his face.]

I love it. I love you.

[And then he leans in to kiss him, Hulkling form and all, to show just how much he appreciates it. He definitely more than likes it.]

[Admittedly he was trying to be a bit of a sass, but the words always come from somewhere whether intentional or not, so the sigh is at least partly warranted. Billy can sense that much, so he lifts his hands to rub apologetically along Teddy's arms as he tilts up into the kiss and returns it without hesitation. He'll never say no to Hulkling kisses, at least.

And he's happy. He's really, really happy. Teddy loves him, he loves the ring, and it works just as planned. This couldn't have gone better.]

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[Voice/Written/Action] go go fight for romance

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[action] PRETEND HE LOOKS HAPPIER IN THE ICON

[action] I WILL USE MY IMAGINATION

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