victory_road | [closed action]

[Riz settles back against the couch cushions, getting comfortable (or as comfortable as he can get when he's been sitting here for hours, with his leg stretched out on a footstool). He clicks back to the main page of the website he's on, the one where Boober will be able to get the main gist rather than whatever more detailed niche thing Riz had been reading before.]

You should just microwave it. It goes a lot quicker!

What, no!

[At first, that's the only response as Boober disappears into the apartment's kitchen, but when he returns with two mugs, he wastes no time picking right back up.]

You cannot be serious, asking me to do less when making food. [He shakes his head, places the mugs down on the coffee table, and takes a seat beside Riz with a huff.] Goodness, it's like you don't know me at all.

[But it's all playful; he even gives a bit of his rusty little laugh as he tucks his legs up underneath himself.]

Now, what is it you wanted to show me?

[Riz snickers at Boober's playful outrage, and for a moment he thinks about putting the trolley dilemma to him Boober-style (what if spending less time on food would mean being able to spend more time on laundry?) but no. He called Boober here to show him something in particular and he shouldn't distract himself.

So instead, he shifts a bit closer to Boober's side, turning his laptop so Boober can also properly see the screen.]

It's about that thing we talked about -- about not wanting to kiss or, you know, do anything else.

Wait, you found something about that stuff?

[Color him surprised. He's very much viewed the whole thing as how it best works for he and Riz, but probably not something normal? Boober leans over to read what's on the screen, and after a moment makes a soft but awed sound.]

There's a word for it...

[Riz's shoulder bumps against Boober's shoulder as he leans in to point at the screen.]

There's a word for it. And a flag and everything. Actually, there's a bunch of words for it, depending on how you feel exactly.

[Admittedly, the whole list is a little intimidating and for some, Riz doesn't even really understand what the difference is, but it is nice that you can be exact. He feels that is a very good thing to be.]

[Boober smiles wide on seeing the flag that's pointed out, monochromatic with just one bar that's truly colorful. It is the kind of color scheme Boober likes best, when thing are plain and neutral but there's a little something that's more vibrant... The innate fraggle-ness in him adores that pop. And seeing that reflected in this symbol for something that fits him, that feels really special.

The list of further terms doesn't get the same reaction from him, the whole thing actually makes his eyes cross a little, overwhelmed. But he, too, appreciates that it can get precise; nice and organized. And he's absolutely planning to look at the least more closely later. For now, he just leans against Riz with a contented sigh.]

If there's that many different words and ways to feel, that means there must be a lot of other people like us, huh?

[It's a lovely thought.]

[Riz also likes the flag colours. Not that there is anything wrong with the much brighter, rainbow-coloured flags Ragh and Kristen pin to their clothes and bags, but they never really felt suited to him. These more understated colours though -- Riz isn't sure if he'd ever wear a pin of them, but at least if he did, they'd fit with the rest of his suits.

Riz leans his head against Boober's, feeling for the first time perhaps some level of... relaxation with this whole business. Sure, it's not all that different from what his dad had told him -- that it was okay if it never happened for him (well, the romance part had happened, but the sex part very much not) -- but there was a difference between hearing words of support from a parent and finding other people who actually felt the exact same way.]

Yeah. It's probably still a small group compared to, you know... everybody else, but it's also not completely weird and unheard of.

[His gaze flicks to Boober's face -- or as much as he can see of it with them leaning this close together -- and he adds:]

Like fraggles with glowing tails.

Oh... Yes! [Boober laughs and scrunches his nose, but not in his usual displeased and judgmental way. He's just laughing and smiling enough to cause that, a rarity for him.] It is like that, isn't it? That's, well, that's pretty nice.

[Riz can't help himself. He catches sight of the scrunched nose --for once a happy scrunch-face and not a judgemental one-- and he has to lean in and kiss Boober right on it.]

[Oh! That marks the first time Riz has kissed Boober like that, a nice smooch on the nose. Boober finds it is just as good to receive such a kiss from Riz as it is to give him one. For a moment, his mouth is opened in a surprised little "o," but then a dopey, still pleasantly stunned smile forms in its place. He's just a little speechless right now, but he finds Riz's hand with his own - not hard when they're sitting leaned against one another like this - and gives it a squeeze.]

[Riz returns the squeeze.

Riz is feeling really happy right now. Too happy, maybe? It's not a bad thing, just it makes his chest feel almost overwhelmingly tight and warm, like it's bursting with energy. It makes him want to get up and go for a fucking run around the block to just burn it off, but obviously that is not going to happen.

He needs a moment really. Not necessarily alone (being with Boober is comfortable always) but just. A quiet moment. A chance to return to a more normal baseline.]

Do you wanna watch more of your baking show?

Yes, that sounds good. I need to know who will get sent away next, after Naomi had that bad day in the last one we watched.

[A soft sigh. That poor woman had been doing so well until a point!]

Her cake was real soggy.

[Riz would absolutely deny it if questioned, even on pain of death, but maybe he's really starting to get into the baking show.

He shuts his laptop for now, putting it away (or as away as he can put anything when he is couchstuck) picking up his coffee instead.]

I know, I know. [Boober sounds positively forlorn as he reaches for the remote.] But that bakewell tart she made in the challenge before was just so majestic. It was perfect!

[Riz sips his coffee, getting comfortable against Boober's side.]

You should make one of those. I bet you could.

[And even if he can't, Riz will eat the results anyway.]

Well... I don't like to make sweets too often, but it could be nice to try. Just to see.

It'd be a good way to practise.

[And for Riz to receive sweets to eat.]

Unless you think your cooking skills are not up to the challenge.

[Boober scoffs at the challenge.]

Riz, I know what you're trying to do, and it's not going to...

[He trails off, though. Oh, who is he kidding? He bites his lower lip, fighting a smile, as he nudges Riz's shoulder with his own.]

You're awful.

I'm getting cake is what I am.

[Riz's wide toothy grin quickly softens a little as he returns the nudge.]

You know you don't have to, right? But I really do think you could bake one if you wanted to. You've never made anything bad-tasting.

[Of course, Riz has a very broad understanding of what tastes good, so that might not be as impressive.]

Oh, I know. But I do enjoy a challenge, even if you're wrong about me never making anything bad-tasting. You're just-- [How does Riz put it again?] You're not picky.

I can't complain, it's still a pretty nice feeling when you like what I make. And I'm glad things don't go to waste.

Not being picky is a badge of honour for a goblin.

[Well, maybe not exactly a badge of honour. It was an expected part of being a goblin. Having a refined palate was the thing that you got judged for, not for eating weird trash foods. If Boober ever found himself among a group of goblins, they'd think he was very difficult and picky when it came to food. ]

[Boober gives a small snort, as he's thinking much along the same lines there.]

I think I'd be a pretty sorry goblin, then, huh?

[Not that it's a problem, he's more wryly amused than anything else.]

Oh yeah.

[Very blunt, not even trying to soften it.]

You'd be an absolute weirdo. [He nudges Boober with his elbow.] Good thing I like that, huh?

[Boober ducks his head, a bit of a blush across his face.]

Yeah, it's very good. [He's just going to rest his head against Riz's, and he chuckles a bit as he does so.] You know, that was a pretty cool thing to say there, hon.

[Look, he knows Riz is weird. He likes it; that sentiment goes both ways. And sometimes, Riz can be absolutely hopeless. But Boober stands by the idea that, in his own strange way, Riz is weird and hopeless and cool.]

I've been known to be pretty badass.

[Riz gives Boober a toothy grin, and it's only because of how they are sitting and the fact that his hands are occupied, else he'd have thrown in a finger gun too.]

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soupguy - 2023-09-14 02:16 (UTC) - Expand