Thank you. [ He takes his room temperature glass of water and pops a few aspirin before gulping the whole drink down. ] I'll be here if you need be. Trying to collect my dignity.
Nahhh. [ Jeff backs out into the doorway, then holds up his hands, thumbs and index fingers pointed at each other, as if he's framing a shot of Peter on the bed. ] Still got your clothes on. No puke anywhere in sight. You look plenty dignified!
[ Okay, that's enough of that. Time to start the coffee and make a hangover sandwich! Cook up some... bacon... (please don't be cursed. It's not cursed, right, it can't be, because he hasn't seen anyone turn into a pig in months...) fry up a couple of eggs... Slice that avocado... Slap it all on some toast and top that off with some pickles. It's all pretty quick and easy, and Jeff has to stop himself from doing extra, like heating up a can of beans or making pancakes or slicing a bunch of fruit or whatever.
Dad instincts-- which totally don't apply when he's hanging out with a guy who's, like, a peer.
(He's way too used to being around kids.)
Eventually Jeff returns with the breakfast sandwich, and another glass of water. ]
You know, I usually don't make a guy breakfast in bed unless he bought me dinner the night before.
[ Jeff smiles, clearly a little charmed by the invitation to sit-- by the notion that it might be forward, even if it's, like, a totally practical thing on account of the lack of furniture.
Still! It's gentlemanly. ]
It's not too forward. [ At least he's careful not to jostle the mattress much when he sits down. Who knows if sudden movement will turn Peter's stomach inside out. He points at the other man. ]
And I'm holding you to that. [ The dinner thing. ] It's a date.
[ Wait. Jeff's been here too long. That's something to say under normal circumstances, not... to a guy who just found himself in a crazy dream world and drank himself sick in an attempt to wake up. Is he being too presumptuous? Insensitive? Should he laugh his own comment off as a joke or just backtrack and give Peter an out from any awkwardness or what? ] I mean! Or... it's a not-a-date! [ What are those things called again? ] A hangout of peers! No pressure-- unless you want-- Uh. I'm-- I feel like I'm being weird right now. Am I being weird right now?
I'd call it cute, but... [ Peter seamlessly shrug with perfect seriousness. ] I'm also sick from alcohol poisoning, so maybe take it with a grain of salt.
You know how often I get called cute? [ NOT OFTEN ENOUGH, BUDDY. ] I'm taking that as the raw, unfiltered, totally objective truth of a handsome man with exceptional taste.
Me too. About ten years, which is, like, a record for me... [ Ten years since his last bad hangover, that is. ] Hey, if you need somebody to slap a drink out of your hand the next time you think you might get wasted, I'm your guy. [ With a smile, he adds: ] I've got a lot of experience.
Experience being a buzzkill? That's a thankless job right there. [ It's hard to tell whether Peter is actually kidding. Enjoy puzzling out his terrible humor, Jeff. ] But I'll remember that, thanks.
How about instead of knocking a shot out of my hand, could you fill me back up? [ He grabs his empty glass off the bedside table. ]
[ Jeff snorts out a laugh, taking that deadpan remark as the joke it better have been intended as! ]
You're lucky you're good looking. [ Jeff takes that glass, getting up to go get that refil. ] And that I'm taking pity on you in your painfully hungover state!
Good-looking... [ Peter will definitely take that compliment, thank you. He has no leg to stand on here, but Jeff seems to enjoy his sense of humor and play, so he adds, ]
Tell me more about that. After you get me some water.
[ Okay okay hang on, let Jeff go fill that glass back up. ]
I'm a simple man. I like 'em tall, rugged, and good at holding their liquor. [ Teasingly, as he passes the water back to Peter: ] But two out of three isn't bad.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ Ha ha. ]
no subject
[ Okay, that's enough of that. Time to start the coffee and make a hangover sandwich! Cook up some... bacon... (please don't be cursed. It's not cursed, right, it can't be, because he hasn't seen anyone turn into a pig in months...) fry up a couple of eggs... Slice that avocado... Slap it all on some toast and top that off with some pickles. It's all pretty quick and easy, and Jeff has to stop himself from doing extra, like heating up a can of beans or making pancakes or slicing a bunch of fruit or whatever.
Dad instincts-- which totally don't apply when he's hanging out with a guy who's, like, a peer.
(He's way too used to being around kids.)
Eventually Jeff returns with the breakfast sandwich, and another glass of water. ]
You know, I usually don't make a guy breakfast in bed unless he bought me dinner the night before.
no subject
[ He stares at Jeff for a moment, clearly considering something as his lower jaw juts a little to the side. ]
Is it forward to offer you a seat on the bed?
[ There's no other furniture to sit on in here. ]
no subject
Still! It's gentlemanly. ]
It's not too forward. [ At least he's careful not to jostle the mattress much when he sits down. Who knows if sudden movement will turn Peter's stomach inside out. He points at the other man. ]
And I'm holding you to that. [ The dinner thing. ] It's a date.
[ Wait. Jeff's been here too long. That's something to say under normal circumstances, not... to a guy who just found himself in a crazy dream world and drank himself sick in an attempt to wake up. Is he being too presumptuous? Insensitive? Should he laugh his own comment off as a joke or just backtrack and give Peter an out from any awkwardness or what? ] I mean! Or... it's a not-a-date! [ What are those things called again? ] A hangout of peers! No pressure-- unless you want-- Uh. I'm-- I feel like I'm being weird right now. Am I being weird right now?
no subject
no subject
Even if he's sick from alcohol poisoning.
no subject
Thank you, by the way. I'd have been found dead in my sheets after a few days.
no subject
[ Jeff returns the smile, leaning back on his hands. ]
No problem. I've been in your shoes a few times, myself. [ A beat. ] Okay, more than a few times.
[ But that's all behind him now! ]
no subject
no subject
no subject
How about instead of knocking a shot out of my hand, could you fill me back up? [ He grabs his empty glass off the bedside table. ]
no subject
You're lucky you're good looking. [ Jeff takes that glass, getting up to go get that refil. ] And that I'm taking pity on you in your painfully hungover state!
no subject
Tell me more about that. After you get me some water.
no subject
I'm a simple man. I like 'em tall, rugged, and good at holding their liquor. [ Teasingly, as he passes the water back to Peter: ] But two out of three isn't bad.
no subject
Mm, I'm not all that tall. Will you take one out of three?