Country roads, take me home

[latersgators]

Who: Steven Grant and open - start your own subthreads and stuff
What: Studio Ghibli movie night
Where: Cabin 135
When: early December
Warnings: none so far

After subjecting Marc and Maeve to Ghibli nights, Steven has widened his circle of suffering to include a few other people. What was going to be 'come over and watch My Neighbour Totoro?' became a proper whole evening at Steven and Marc's cabin. They spent the afternoon tidying up the room, returning a bunch of library books and keeping the rest of his stash in a corner on the other side of the bed. Clean laundry put away, a small load of dirty clothes taken down to the wash. The ankle cuff and bungee cord is stashed away in the cupboard alongside their small emergency hoard of water, snacks and food in case they have to lock themselves in their cabin one day for weeks on end. Bathroom tidied up as well, with extra toilet paper stacked on top of the cistern in anticipation of several guests.

The cabin is still small in spite of their cleanup efforts, and Steven insists on having some snacks available, so for savoury options there's baby carrots and celery sticks with hummus dip, potato skins, kumara fries and cassava chips, and mango sticky rice and pan fried cinnamon bananas for something sweet. It's not exactly going to be the healthiest night in terms of food, but half a dozen people sitting knee to knee in a claustrophobic little cabin crying at children's anime is surely going to make up for that and be healthy for all of them.

The programme for the night is Steven's Studio Ghibli box set, although he only has one DVD player and one television so they need to pick their movies wisely since they'll only be able to watch two or three. They're always welcome to come back next time to watch more. Steven's recommending more Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke, and less Grave of the Fireflies and When Marnie Was There. They don't really want to be crying into their bowl of vegan snacks every 15 minutes...

Comments

[justneedsomehelp]

He can feel his nerves building a little bit because, you know, denial is kind of hard when she's saying that. He can't rationalize that it's one of the many people in their room tonight, or someone out there.

He licks his lips, eyes darting towards her. "Uh-- yeah. Stepping out might be a good idea."

Mostly because there are a lot of ears around them and Marc's shit at talking even one-on-one.

[millay]

She's careful not to disturb the others as they watch the current movie and slips out quietly, letting his hand go as she walks. He has the key to get back in, so...it's probably fine.

There's a part of her that very nearly starts in on promising that he has no reason to feel the same and it would be fine if he didn't. She's not going to hold it against him. Naturally. That would be unfair. But she stops herself.

"I'm not certain where to start here. I hadn't thought ahead that much, really." A beat. "I hadn't even meant to say anything...except Ava said that I should."

[justneedsomehelp]

It's not like-- they haven't danced around it, right? Or that Marc hasn't been trying to build up the nerve to flirt a little more, to be a little less guarded.

As much as he's ever able to be.

But it's-- a surprise still.

He follows Maeve out to the halls, watching her for a moment, listening to her speak. "Ava."

There's a quiet huff, although it's not unkind. But she seems to fall on the topic of Marc and Steven often enough. "So-- me and Steven, huh?"

[millay]

"Sometimes a girl gets asked for advice and her own stuff comes up..." She shrugs. "She said to go for it, so..." So she is.

She looks down at the question and nods. "Yes. I didn't want to assume that was...fine." But here she is anyway. "But...yes. You and Steven. If you're..." A beat. "If that's fine with you, of course."

[justneedsomehelp]

"I mean--" It's all really weird, right? And Marc is a bundle of issues. He's probably not the best guy to date, or to try to share people he likes, but-- he's been trying to work on all that. He really, really has.

It's easy with Maeve anyway. She cares about them both, she's good company to keep, and-- he didn't think another relationship would ever find him like this, let alone someone who doesn't-- mind all the unique circumstances that come with him.

"I don't know if it could work any other way, if I'm being honest. But I also gotta say-- I don't know how this kinda thing works at all, and I haven't been in the dating pool in a long time."

But it's not a no. It's definitely not a no. It's just-- a warning.

[millay]

Maeve nods. "It makes sense." Both of them are used to being in one body together and now they are separated, but that doesn't mean all those years of needing one another go away.

"I've never been in the dating pool," she replies with a hint of amusement. "So I guess I'm new to all of this, too." Technically speaking. The only relationship she's ever had was Hector and that was a different beast altogether.

"I think communication, like with most things, will be important either way." It's the part she's vaguely concerned about with both of them because they might communicate semi-openly with her, but she's not sure how well they do with each other. "Honest communication."

[justneedsomehelp]

"Well, uh. Guess we're learning together, huh?" He shifts his weight a bit, looking for a moment.

"Gotta be honest, then. I don't do that whole... honesty thing real well. It's always just been easier to-- not, in my experience. People see wat I really am, I either end up hurting them or they realize I'm insane and they're better off far away."

[millay]

"Yeah. I guess we are."

There's a soft look from her at this moment of honesty. "Then I guess it's something we'll have to work on. Perhaps back home it would be different and people would be different. But if you can trust anyone on this boat, I'd say Steven and I are reasonable choices." She reaches over for his hand. "If there's something you want from me, from us, just tell me. Emotionally, sexually, whatever. I'll do the same for you." She doesn't say he should do the same with Steven, but it's heavily implied.

[justneedsomehelp]

"... I trust you." He squeezes her hand when she takes it, offering up a smile. There's a huff at the offer and he shifts in a little bit closer.

"Well-- I don't know. Might be a good idea to start with a kiss, right? Or is that a first date only thing?"

[millay]

"As you should, darling." There's no reason for her to be a danger to him anyway.

Maeve feels herself smiling a little at the question. "Well, I hardly know if it is a first date only thing, but if it is, I think I can bend the rules a little. For you."

[justneedsomehelp]

There's no reason, no. Not unless she gets possessed again.

But hopefully that's not happening again anytime soon.

Easier to move in a little bit closer to her though, smiling in return. "C'mon. You're gonna make me think I'm special or something, talking like that."

[millay]

Maeve lets out a soft laugh. "Maybe that's the point." And...well...if he's not going to make the first move, she's far from past the point of just waiting to see what happens next. Don't mind her as she grabs hold of the front of his shirt and pulls him in for a kiss.

[justneedsomehelp]

That is definitely a kiss, isn't it? One he meets easily enough, shifts closer to press a hand to her waist and draw her in a little bit more. Kissing is a hell of a lot easier than talking.