seasonsrpg | Dec-Jan catch-all

[ Clearly this needs an aesthetic post - ]

I... [ He never even considered trying to tell any other guy he liked how he felt. For starters, they were all straight. And very into their girlfriends. It was a horrible type to have. Nico runs a hand through his hair, frustrated more at himself than anything else.

It's scary to be honest with people, even now. ]

I wouldn't be here if I didn't like you.

[ It's perhaps good that Nico hasn't heard a whole lot about Lark's best friend, or it may have given the impression that he's already into her instead (which, true, but also not quite).

But once he hears it from Nico, his face flushes and he inwardly scrambles to respond, because he really wasn't expecting this! What do you do when someone likes you back? He suddenly finds himself wanting to hide his face again. He is doing just that, in fact. ]

...For real? [ It's not so much that he doesn't believe Nico as it feels kind of surreal that this conversation is happening. Someone is saying they like him that way? ]

Edited 2024-02-24 16:33 (UTC)

[ If he'd heard more about it he definitely never would have said anything...he knows how that goes, considering Percy and Annabeth. Besides, he'd never, well. Make a move on someone taken? That just seems like something the gods would do and Nico tries to stay away from doing that sort of thing. ]

You - said you did too, so why's it so... [ Surprising? ]

[ It would have been reasonable, even if whatever's going on between Lark and the bestie is Weird, to put it one way. ]

I wasn't expecting it? I mean... [ This is the first time he's had to try and put this into words that someone else is going to hear. Lark sort of gestures with his hands, though it's unclear if it's meant for emphasis or just nervous energy he isn't sure what to do with. ] I'm not astoundingly handsome or beautiful, and... [ He gestures at himself. ] If you asked me what there is about me that'd make someone go, "This is the one," I wouldn't know what to answer.

[ And there are a couple of other things too: the vague, anxious reminder in the back of his head that if he wasn't in this city right now, he wouldn't know if he'd survive the next year or two (or however long it'd take for his life to not feel like it's on some wild ride), and the other part of him that felt he would just be setting himself up for disappointment. But they're such anxious, negative thoughts that he isn't sure he ought to share right now. ]

So...I guess I just didn't think I'd hear anyone say it, let alone you.

[ Let alone you...Nico isn't sure if that's a compliment or not. He's not sure what to think, but honestly, he's kind of gets it, too. He doesn't know if there's anything about him that he'd say was a winning trait. He could name them about Bianca or any of his friends but when it comes to himself...? He sees only his flaws and worst traits. ]

I...never really figured I'd find someone either. I know there's - I know there's a lot of guys with guys here. I just. It was...different back home.

[ It is a compliment; even if Lark would say Nico is awkward, in his eyes he's also someone powerful in many respects, and he ought to be cherished.

Sometimes, Lark has to wonder exactly what kind of place Nico came from that this was something people considered a Problem Worth Taking Issue With, even knowing that he himself comes from a place that could rightfully be called terrible in many aspects. Or most even, depending on who you asked.

Then again, people's capacity for ignorance, stupidity and cruelty seems to be some kind of universal truth, so maybe he shouldn't be so surprised either. ]

So we're in the same boat, sorta. And, uh, it's both our firsts. Let me try this confession thing again, so I can do this properly here and now? [The window to try and be smooth and charismatic has LONG passed, but he also refuses to let his first confession just be some dumb slip of the tongue. ]

...You mean you want a redo?

[ He might be starting to smirk just a little bit. But. If Lark wants to start from scratch... ]

[ Lark stands corrected, he didn't think he'd see Nico make that sort of face, but now that he is it's both charming and mildly infuriating (affectionate). ]

Basically, yeah.

[ Please let him try to make this romantic....... ]

Go for it.

[ He has no idea what romance looks like ANYWAY but... ]

Then...

[ ...Wow Skylark, now that you're actually doing it the teenage embarrassment is catching up and threatening to slam into you at full force, you genius. The moment you overthink this it's going to go to pieces. Shit. ]

[ So he's going to do the tried and true method of saying what he means and meaning what he says and hoping he won't have made a fool of himself in the meantime. That's a problem for (very-immediate-)near-future Lark.

He looks up to make eye contact with Nico. Whether this makes it better or worse is a mystery. ]

I like you a lot, Nico. You're incredibly cool, and you're cute, especially when I manage to tease you. [ Lark. ] Even though you're awkward, I can tell you try to be kind and do your best. Sometimes, you seem kind of lonely, and I'm not sure if I can do much, but...I want to cherish all the things about you, even the ones you probably don't feel are worth it, and I want to give you all the happiness I possibly can.

So...if you'll have me, can I be your boyfriend?

[ Being called cute is. Pretty new. Also stop teasing him! His eyes kind of widen as he takes that in, not sure how to respond in kind. That's so much. It feels like so much. And...he knows it's kind of stupid, when they're from different worlds and someday might be going back to those, but...

...

He hasn't done a lot for himself in his life. Not good things, really. He's made a lot of poor choices. But Nico doesn't think this feels like one. ]

I... [ ... ] I'd like that. I think you're - fun. In a way I don't think I'm ever really going to be. You're warm, and you like people...and you're good with people, although I don't think you think you are...and you're always...reaching out. Ever since that first dance.

I think if I was that good with people, I'd have fewer murder attempts on me. [ Dryly, in a good-natured but very black humor sort of way.

There's a flush to Lark's cheeks, this one less out of embarrassment and more of a joyous warmth. ] But thank you. You're too charming for me to just leave you alone after that first dance, you know?

So... [ He tentatively reaches a hand up, not quite touching Nico's cheek, but asking permission to do so. ]

[ - he has a dumb moment where he almost takes the hand thinking Lark meant he wants another dance...

Then flushes and drops his hand, figuring it out. ]

You're the only person who's ever called me that.

[ Lark would have found it cute if Nico had taken his hand, to be fair. He likes holding hands with him, if the frequent handholding hasn't said anything already.

In fact, he has to try and stop himself from calling Nico cute right now, because what the hell, this is such a cute reaction?]

I've been told I'm a little weird. [ Or very weird, depending. ] But it's true. You're charming in your own way.

[ Since Nico doesn't seem to be objecting, he brushes his fingertips against Nico's cheek, before gently cupping it and leaning in a little closer. ]

Uhm. If you don't like this, just tell me and I'll stop.

[ He's never called Lark weird. ...To his face? Or to other people. Nico isn't sure what to do here anymore than Lark is, though, and tries to keep still.

He's cold to the touch like always. ]

Don't overthink it.

[ Lark meant in general; a life filled with various people from different walks of life agreeing on one thing: that he was a weird kid, especially considering where he was from. So maybe that was why he could call Nico charming like that.

It's a good thing Nico says not to overthink it, since a part of him already is. All he has to work from are glimpses he's caught from his sisters' work and romances he's read in novels, but some corner of his brain can't help worrying. If he messes up here, can't make this first kiss at least pleasant, then maybe Nico will regret agreeing to be his boyfriend, as irrational of a thought it is. So many things boil down to putting on the desired performance when it matters, after all.

...But if Nico says that, then it's okay to not worry about those things, he guesses.

So he leans in to press a kiss to Nico's lips. It's gentle and sweet above all else, though he lingers there for a long time. ]

Dec-Jan catch-all

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