[ She's about to work herself up into a lather about whether or not she'd host orgies on school grounds — it's weirdly nice that Carver said she wouldn't? But she totally could if she wanted to! Which she doesn't, so that's neither here nor there — or whatever stories people bandy about regarding her promiscuity, but then Chris drops a bomb of his own, which is that he knows the rules to D&D.
She pushes herself up a little to see his face more clearly, her eyes wide and shocked. ]
Wait, wait, wait. Hang on. You read the rulebook? You know how to play?
Know how to play? No. No no no, I found the rulebook and I skimmed it because I was curious and the way people talk makes it seem like there's diagrams for different kinds of sacrifices in there, and there's just not.
[He shakes his head] It's all numbers and fairy tale descriptions, honestly it looked like algebra worksheets.
You know more about how to play than the average Joe Schmoe, [ she accuses, a grin starting to form on her face as she settles back against him, their bodies basically touching from shoulder to knee. ]
I'm gonna make you play one day, Chrissy. [ She sounds very sure about that, smirking down at him and drumming her fingertips against his chest.
Her smile dims a little, though, shifting into something softer and more honest, and she sinks a little bit closer to him as some of the tension in her body leeches away. ] Thanks. For not believing them. About all of it, Hellfire, me. It means a lot.
Oh so you're really going to be mean and make me do math outside of class? I see how it is. I do something nice and this is what I get.
[It's obvious that it's not an actual complaint, given as how he's smiling, though he shakes his head a moment later, the arm around her pressing closer for a moment] But seriously, no thanks needed. I just... none of that ever sat right with me, and if I can't trust my gut, what can I trust, you know?
It's time you exercised muscles that aren't in your legs, baby. [ She's joking, clearly, because Chris is on track to graduate the first time he's done senior year unlike her, and also she's just trying to see what she can get away with in the nickname department.
The fact that he doesn't seriously protest that she calls him Chrissy is a miracle.
He squeezes her a little and she melts a little more in response, and now they're definitely cuddling. There's absolutely no other word for it. ] Well, tell your gut I said thank you.
[With her bombshell of a question released and answered, reality does seem to be settling in a little, given as how Chris' next question is a quieter one] This is... alright, right? Like, you don't mind?
[He's pretty sure she wouldn't still be there if she did, he hasn't known her to suffer through things she doesn't like -aside from class- before, but he wants to make sure] Like, I know you're touchy with people, but I'm starting to feel like I'm taking advantage of that.
Mind? [ She's all but slid down enough to curl up into his side, their faces very close even if hers is technically still supported by her hand propped under her cheek. She's about three inches away from setting it on his shoulder or something.
(Or something.) ]
Chris. If I minded, you wouldn't have even made it through the door. I don't hang out with people I don't like, and I don't invite guys into my home if I don't trust them. I definitely don't invite them into my room and make them listen to Jesus music. [ The fact that she doesn't cuddle with them either doesn't need to be said, she thinks. ] I kinda feel like I'm the one taking advantage, here.
Oh is that what you're doing? Guess I shouldn't worry about it then. [It's a shaky attempt at a tease, and he mostly manages to make it sound like one.]
It's nice, though, that you trust me enough to let me in to listen to Jesus music with. [That one's more serious, but only because it's more true, even if he's still trying to make light of it.]
You're good with me taking advantage of you? [ she attempts to tease back, but she's also pretty sure it doesn't quite land successfully, a raw bite of too much honesty sharpening its edges more than she'd like.
She busies herself looking down at her hand on his chest, fiddling with his creased shirt again. ] There's no one I'd rather listen to Jesus music with.
[ Again, a little too honest. There's nothing she can do about that, though. ]
You can argue with me, Chris. I love arguing. [ It's true, she gets a kick out of confrontation, as long as it's verbal and she can get really over the top with her accusations. It's especially fun to argue with people who she actually likes, because she likes seeing them find her funny but still try to keep up the act of them fighting, and she has a feeling Chris would be really bad at hiding his smiles. ]
Also, I don't want you to let me steamroll you. If you have a problem with something I'm doing, you need to tell me.
I know I can, I'm just saying there's not a reason to argue with you right now. [He presses his hand flat against the one she still has on his chest instead of continuing to trace figure-eights against it] Trust me, if I had a problem with something you were doing, you'd be the first to know.
[He shrugs] You're comfortable, I'm comfortable, it's going to be weird as hell going back to the way things normally are at school, but I'm pretty sure we'll both survive that, too.
[ Chris flattens his hand over hers, and she can't help looking down at where they're touching, at the contrast of his skin against hers, the freckles on the back of his hand, the shape of his nailbeds. He doesn't have any ripped cuticles or uneven edges, his fingers clean and neat like he actually takes care of them, and it makes her a little self-conscious about her chipped nail polish and guitar calluses. But if Chris doesn't mind, then she's also not going to mind that they're basically holding hands.
Wiggling a little, she twists to tuck her arm under herself, settling into the crook of the arm he has around her and shifting to set her cheek against his shoulder. ]
This is nice. [ People touch Eddie all the time, but they don't hold her like this. ] I am comfortable.
[He has the sudden, inexplicable urge to kiss the top of her head when she tucks herself against his shoulder. But he doesn't, mostly because he's not sure where the urge came from, but partly because he's pretty sure her hair would bite him if he tried.
Instead he just nods, settling more comfortably himself.] Good, you deserve to be.
[ If he had kissed her hair, she doesn't know how she'd react. Probably blush horrifically, not that she's not done that already. But since he doesn't, and since she can't see his face with the way they're arranged, she doesn't do anything more than rub her thumb over his shirt. ]
I'm surprised you are. Comfortable, I mean. Here. [ In her messy room, with all her posters and paraphernalia stacked on every available surface. She's never seen Chris's room, but she can assume it's neat and tidy, probably pretty bland and without a ton of various knick-knacks to give away anything about its occupant.
But also on her bed, with her tucked against his side. With The Freak. ]
[His brow creases, puzzled by the answer, lifting his head a little so he can look down at her as if he might be able to determine what she'd meant.] Why? We're friends, right? And you invited me in here.
[A twitch of a smile follows, amusement simmering up again, though he mostly manages to keep a lid on it in case the concern is genuine] Should I be worried you had ulterior motives?
[ For some reason, hearing Chris say they're friends makes something inside her twist painfully, which makes no sense because of course they're friends and she should be pleased he agrees.
She huffs against his shirt, rolling her eyes even though he can't see her. ]
Maybe I was intending to mesmerize you with my Satanic rituals. Lure you away from the Lord.
Oh is that what you're doing? [It's asked with a tilt of his head as if he can actually see her face instead of just a mass of hair] Because I have to say, if that's your plan you're doing a really bad job of it. There haven't been any candles or chanting or anything.
I'm doing a long-con. [ She can tell he lifted his head based on how his chest and shoulder move under her cheek, but Eddie keeps hers right where it is. While the idea of looking into Chris's eyes from a scant few inches away isn't exactly a hardship, she's not sure she has the self control not to make it weird. And they're friends. So. She can't ruin that by being weird. ]
If I brought you in here and hit you with the candles and chanting right out of the gate, you'd know what's up. I gotta ease you into it. Boil you like a frog.
[He just nods, settling again, though his smile is still very much in place and probably evident in his tone] Oh, true, that does make sense. But, see, you also messed up by telling me the plan, because now I'll be on alert for it.
[It's definitely a tease, and he's hoping it's an obvious one because he doesn't want to mis-step here, because they are friends, and he doesn't want to say anything that will actually offend her.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
She pushes herself up a little to see his face more clearly, her eyes wide and shocked. ]
Wait, wait, wait. Hang on. You read the rulebook? You know how to play?
no subject
[He shakes his head] It's all numbers and fairy tale descriptions, honestly it looked like algebra worksheets.
no subject
I'm gonna make you play one day, Chrissy. [ She sounds very sure about that, smirking down at him and drumming her fingertips against his chest.
Her smile dims a little, though, shifting into something softer and more honest, and she sinks a little bit closer to him as some of the tension in her body leeches away. ] Thanks. For not believing them. About all of it, Hellfire, me. It means a lot.
no subject
[It's obvious that it's not an actual complaint, given as how he's smiling, though he shakes his head a moment later, the arm around her pressing closer for a moment] But seriously, no thanks needed. I just... none of that ever sat right with me, and if I can't trust my gut, what can I trust, you know?
no subject
The fact that he doesn't seriously protest that she calls him Chrissy is a miracle.
He squeezes her a little and she melts a little more in response, and now they're definitely cuddling. There's absolutely no other word for it. ] Well, tell your gut I said thank you.
no subject
[With her bombshell of a question released and answered, reality does seem to be settling in a little, given as how Chris' next question is a quieter one] This is... alright, right? Like, you don't mind?
[He's pretty sure she wouldn't still be there if she did, he hasn't known her to suffer through things she doesn't like -aside from class- before, but he wants to make sure] Like, I know you're touchy with people, but I'm starting to feel like I'm taking advantage of that.
no subject
(Or something.) ]
Chris. If I minded, you wouldn't have even made it through the door. I don't hang out with people I don't like, and I don't invite guys into my home if I don't trust them. I definitely don't invite them into my room and make them listen to Jesus music. [ The fact that she doesn't cuddle with them either doesn't need to be said, she thinks. ] I kinda feel like I'm the one taking advantage, here.
no subject
It's nice, though, that you trust me enough to let me in to listen to Jesus music with. [That one's more serious, but only because it's more true, even if he's still trying to make light of it.]
no subject
She busies herself looking down at her hand on his chest, fiddling with his creased shirt again. ] There's no one I'd rather listen to Jesus music with.
[ Again, a little too honest. There's nothing she can do about that, though. ]
no subject
[Is he fine with it because he knows no one will believe her if she says it? Maybe. Mostly he's fine with it because he knows she won't do that.]
no subject
Also, I don't want you to let me steamroll you. If you have a problem with something I'm doing, you need to tell me.
no subject
[He shrugs] You're comfortable, I'm comfortable, it's going to be weird as hell going back to the way things normally are at school, but I'm pretty sure we'll both survive that, too.
no subject
Wiggling a little, she twists to tuck her arm under herself, settling into the crook of the arm he has around her and shifting to set her cheek against his shoulder. ]
This is nice. [ People touch Eddie all the time, but they don't hold her like this. ] I am comfortable.
no subject
Instead he just nods, settling more comfortably himself.] Good, you deserve to be.
no subject
I'm surprised you are. Comfortable, I mean. Here. [ In her messy room, with all her posters and paraphernalia stacked on every available surface. She's never seen Chris's room, but she can assume it's neat and tidy, probably pretty bland and without a ton of various knick-knacks to give away anything about its occupant.
But also on her bed, with her tucked against his side. With The Freak. ]
no subject
[A twitch of a smile follows, amusement simmering up again, though he mostly manages to keep a lid on it in case the concern is genuine] Should I be worried you had ulterior motives?
no subject
She huffs against his shirt, rolling her eyes even though he can't see her. ]
Maybe I was intending to mesmerize you with my Satanic rituals. Lure you away from the Lord.
no subject
no subject
If I brought you in here and hit you with the candles and chanting right out of the gate, you'd know what's up. I gotta ease you into it. Boil you like a frog.
no subject
[It's definitely a tease, and he's hoping it's an obvious one because he doesn't want to mis-step here, because they are friends, and he doesn't want to say anything that will actually offend her.]