[Aftermath of this exchange: Discord Link ]
Dwight set his phone down, then sat back on his bed.
Okay... Okay. This was an unexpected development. The rollercoaster of a conversation with Noir had ended with a date. Tomorrow. No strings attached.
Okay.
And Noir wasn't pulling his leg either. Okay.
Dwight laid back on his bed, still parsing the information. The embarassment of waking up hungover with his messaging app still open (he'd deleted his last message before he could send it, but the damage had been already done, especially with that onslaught of emojis and semi-desperate flirting--what had he been thinking? ) and of coming clean of his attempted lie to save face... To a rather pleasant agreement. He turned to his side, set his alarm for tomorrow morning, and turned off the light.
Dwight's eyes remained wide in the darkened room, still deep in thought. This felt so easy it was almost absurd.
He remembered the heated argument that escalated into... Definitely not an argument, and pursed his lips.
"Tomorrow at two," Dwight muttered to himself, before turning over in his bed.
[The next day]
[Text sent to :✨ HAHA I'M IN DANGER ✨ ]
[1:45 PM] Worked a bit in the morning, so I'll need to drop off my tools and change at my place before we go. Wanna go up?
[1:46] on my way, btw
Dwight skidded his longboard to a halt at the lot in front of his building--an old repurposed warehouse--and fiddled with the strap of his shoulder bag. He absently wiped one of his hands on his shirt; his front was dusty and dirty, as he'd had to flatten himself on a concrete floor to access an electrical panel earlier today.
Dwight kept an eye out for the familiar sight of Noir, bouncing his leg to get some nervous energy out of his system.
.... How silly to get nervous, he saw Noir every day. The worst that could happen is that thisdate meeting could end with them annoyed with each other, which was also another common occurrence at work. And that they'd know that even outside of the context of working at a nightclub wrangling the occasional drunk patron they didn't get along. It wasn't a big deal.
... Yeah, he was being dumb. No biggie. This was just a casual meeting, no strings attached.
Dwight set his phone down, then sat back on his bed.
Okay... Okay. This was an unexpected development. The rollercoaster of a conversation with Noir had ended with a date. Tomorrow. No strings attached.
Okay.
And Noir wasn't pulling his leg either. Okay.
Dwight laid back on his bed, still parsing the information. The embarassment of waking up hungover with his messaging app still open (he'd deleted his last message before he could send it, but the damage had been already done, especially with that onslaught of emojis and semi-desperate flirting--what had he been thinking? ) and of coming clean of his attempted lie to save face... To a rather pleasant agreement. He turned to his side, set his alarm for tomorrow morning, and turned off the light.
Dwight's eyes remained wide in the darkened room, still deep in thought. This felt so easy it was almost absurd.
He remembered the heated argument that escalated into... Definitely not an argument, and pursed his lips.
"Tomorrow at two," Dwight muttered to himself, before turning over in his bed.
[The next day]
[Text sent to :✨ HAHA I'M IN DANGER ✨ ]
[1:45 PM] Worked a bit in the morning, so I'll need to drop off my tools and change at my place before we go. Wanna go up?
[1:46] on my way, btw
Dwight skidded his longboard to a halt at the lot in front of his building--an old repurposed warehouse--and fiddled with the strap of his shoulder bag. He absently wiped one of his hands on his shirt; his front was dusty and dirty, as he'd had to flatten himself on a concrete floor to access an electrical panel earlier today.
Dwight kept an eye out for the familiar sight of Noir, bouncing his leg to get some nervous energy out of his system.
.... How silly to get nervous, he saw Noir every day. The worst that could happen is that this
... Yeah, he was being dumb. No biggie. This was just a casual meeting, no strings attached.
After their conversation, Noir put down his phone and went to work without thinking much about it. It was just a date, and no strings attached to boot. Although, he wondered what Dwight thought about it. He hoped he wasn't taking it so seriously. Was it serious? Shit, now he was overthinking it, too.
Noir tossed and turned all night.
The next day, Noir overslept. An unusual occurrence. He woke up with a start and checked his texts, hair missed and makeup smeared. There was a message from Dwight staring him in the face. Sighing, he sent a quick confirmation then dragged himself out of bed to get ready.
Later on, Noir skated up to Dwight. He wore a strappy leather harness under his Dito vest and short-shorts under leather chaps. His eye makeup was even more extravagant than usual, with green glitter accenting the black liner. But of course this wasn't a serious date. Not in the slightest.
"Dwight," Noir greeted, smirking at him. "Looks like you got dirty without me." He pouted and punched his shoulder teasingly. "Let's go up?"
Noir tossed and turned all night.
The next day, Noir overslept. An unusual occurrence. He woke up with a start and checked his texts, hair missed and makeup smeared. There was a message from Dwight staring him in the face. Sighing, he sent a quick confirmation then dragged himself out of bed to get ready.
Later on, Noir skated up to Dwight. He wore a strappy leather harness under his Dito vest and short-shorts under leather chaps. His eye makeup was even more extravagant than usual, with green glitter accenting the black liner. But of course this wasn't a serious date. Not in the slightest.
"Dwight," Noir greeted, smirking at him. "Looks like you got dirty without me." He pouted and punched his shoulder teasingly. "Let's go up?"
Dwight spotted Noir skating up to him, in his strappy harness with his Dito vest, and those chaps, and-- well, at the smirk he couldn't help a smile.
Oh, no, it was the dumbass smile.
"Hey," Dwight replied, letting out a dramatic-on-purpose sigh as Noir pouted and punched his shoulder. "I know, I just couldn't resist crawling and getting dirty."
He paused. No, wait. "I had to go down on the floor and halfway into a crawlspace, it's --uh, yeah, yeah! Let's go up!"
With that out of the way, Dwight motioned at Noir to follow him to the building. As they'd go, he would occasionally glance at the taller man. He did something different with his make-up today, hadn't he?
Oh, he felt a pit in his stomach. It's serious? Wait, no, he is the one who said 'No strings attached' first, and he's always fashionable so I'm just taking it too seriously...
"You look good, by the way," Dwight smiled at Noir as they made it up to the second floor, and he took out his keys.
Dwight's flat was cleaner than usual. A repurposed industrial space with high windows and ceilings, it was a sunlit space divided into a two-bedroom apartment with brick walls, that doubled as a personal workshop.
It was still as cluttered as always; he had a workbench and a desk against the wall, and often brought projects home and tinkered with things on his own time, but even the wires had been sorted by length and color, and the wooden floors were swept.
His bedroom door was wide open, letting light filter in, and the room where he kept his more expensive audio equipment was shut.
Still, this was not a serious date at all.
"Make yourself at home," Dwight smiled, ushering Noir in before opening the fridge.
It wasunusually full, prepared in case they decided to stay at his home and made food there just as full or empty as usual, because this was a casual date with no strings attached whatsoever. Besides, they knew each other, they didn't need to impress one another, right?
"Wanna have a drink while I freshen up a bit? I'll just go get changed, clean my face a bit. It shouldn't be long."
Oh, no, it was the dumbass smile.
"Hey," Dwight replied, letting out a dramatic-on-purpose sigh as Noir pouted and punched his shoulder. "I know, I just couldn't resist crawling and getting dirty."
He paused. No, wait. "I had to go down on the floor and halfway into a crawlspace, it's --uh, yeah, yeah! Let's go up!"
With that out of the way, Dwight motioned at Noir to follow him to the building. As they'd go, he would occasionally glance at the taller man. He did something different with his make-up today, hadn't he?
Oh, he felt a pit in his stomach. It's serious? Wait, no, he is the one who said 'No strings attached' first, and he's always fashionable so I'm just taking it too seriously...
"You look good, by the way," Dwight smiled at Noir as they made it up to the second floor, and he took out his keys.
Dwight's flat was cleaner than usual. A repurposed industrial space with high windows and ceilings, it was a sunlit space divided into a two-bedroom apartment with brick walls, that doubled as a personal workshop.
It was still as cluttered as always; he had a workbench and a desk against the wall, and often brought projects home and tinkered with things on his own time, but even the wires had been sorted by length and color, and the wooden floors were swept.
His bedroom door was wide open, letting light filter in, and the room where he kept his more expensive audio equipment was shut.
Still, this was not a serious date at all.
"Make yourself at home," Dwight smiled, ushering Noir in before opening the fridge.
It was
"Wanna have a drink while I freshen up a bit? I'll just go get changed, clean my face a bit. It shouldn't be long."
"You would," Noir teased, crinkling his nose.
Bending down, Noir took off his skates and walked in his socks behind Dwight. He noticed Dwight kept looking at him. Was his makeup smeared? Did he have something on his face?
He stopped on the stairs when Dwight complimented him, blinking a few times in surprise. That came out of nowhere, but he appreciated it.
"Why, thank you, partner-" Noir drawled, tipping his hat at Dwight with a wink.
As they entered the apartment, Noir glanced around. It looked nice, had a chill aesthetic to it. He'd never been in here before.
"Nice digs," Noir commented, then nodded enthusiastically. "Sure, I'll help myself."
He reached inside the fridge and got a beer. He cracked it open, then shimmied up onto the counter before taking a few big gulps. It was fresh, cold, and went down real smooth. He'd try not to imagine Dwight stripping in the other room.
Bending down, Noir took off his skates and walked in his socks behind Dwight. He noticed Dwight kept looking at him. Was his makeup smeared? Did he have something on his face?
He stopped on the stairs when Dwight complimented him, blinking a few times in surprise. That came out of nowhere, but he appreciated it.
"Why, thank you, partner-" Noir drawled, tipping his hat at Dwight with a wink.
As they entered the apartment, Noir glanced around. It looked nice, had a chill aesthetic to it. He'd never been in here before.
"Nice digs," Noir commented, then nodded enthusiastically. "Sure, I'll help myself."
He reached inside the fridge and got a beer. He cracked it open, then shimmied up onto the counter before taking a few big gulps. It was fresh, cold, and went down real smooth. He'd try not to imagine Dwight stripping in the other room.
Dwight shuffled out of his shoes, and as Noir complimented his flat it was his turn to blink in surprise.
"Thanks," he said and cracked a smile. He'd been lucky finding this place, though back then it had been hidden amongst a block of ruined buildings.
(Mr. Montanari had done a great job with the neighboring buildings, come to think of it.)
As Noir helped himself Dwight went to his room, closing the door behind him, stripped to his underwear, and began rummaging in his closet and the drawers under the bed.
Okay, no pressure, he thought. Just pick something that's not too fancy, but that doesn't make you look like a slob in comparison.
....Okay, I'm overthinking this. Fuck it. I'm grabbing... Whatever--!
A few minutes later, Dwight came out wearing one of his nicer pairs of jeans, a blue-grey dress shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a dark blue vest. He figured his shoes would be what brought a splash of color to his whole outfit.
Oh, and why not add a blue scarf to the whole thing?
Dwight ran quick to splash some water on his face and try to slick back his hair but, as usual, it didn't cooperate. Oh well, he tried. Not too hard, hopefully.
Dwight returned to the kitchen, taking a beer for himself. He looked up at Noir, extended his arms, and said:
"Alright, I'm ready. I hope you didn't wait too long."
And I'm not trying too hard. See? No strings attached.
"So," he piped up, "I see you brought your skates. I could bring my board, and we go on a stroll, pick something on the way?"
"Or," he continued, a ghost of a smirk on his face,"we can make something here, and either eat here or bring it for some picnic or whatever? I know a couple of nice spots with a view, if you don't mind skating into some of the abandoned areas."
"Thanks," he said and cracked a smile. He'd been lucky finding this place, though back then it had been hidden amongst a block of ruined buildings.
(Mr. Montanari had done a great job with the neighboring buildings, come to think of it.)
As Noir helped himself Dwight went to his room, closing the door behind him, stripped to his underwear, and began rummaging in his closet and the drawers under the bed.
Okay, no pressure, he thought. Just pick something that's not too fancy, but that doesn't make you look like a slob in comparison.
....Okay, I'm overthinking this. Fuck it. I'm grabbing... Whatever--!
A few minutes later, Dwight came out wearing one of his nicer pairs of jeans, a blue-grey dress shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a dark blue vest. He figured his shoes would be what brought a splash of color to his whole outfit.
Oh, and why not add a blue scarf to the whole thing?
Dwight ran quick to splash some water on his face and try to slick back his hair but, as usual, it didn't cooperate. Oh well, he tried. Not too hard, hopefully.
Dwight returned to the kitchen, taking a beer for himself. He looked up at Noir, extended his arms, and said:
"Alright, I'm ready. I hope you didn't wait too long."
And I'm not trying too hard. See? No strings attached.
"So," he piped up, "I see you brought your skates. I could bring my board, and we go on a stroll, pick something on the way?"
"Or," he continued, a ghost of a smirk on his face,"we can make something here, and either eat here or bring it for some picnic or whatever? I know a couple of nice spots with a view, if you don't mind skating into some of the abandoned areas."
While Dwight was changing, Noir took the liberty of exploring the rest of the flat. He idly sipped his beer as he gravitated to the workbench, where Dwight kept his half-finished projects scattered about. A box sitting on the table top beckoned his curiosity. So, he bit his lip and cracked open the lid.
Two soulless eyes stared back at him.
"Ah! What the fuck!?" Noir gasped, slamming the box shut.
He scurried back to the kitchen just as Dwight emerged from his room. He looked... Good! It almost made Noir forget about the horrors he just witnessed.
"Ok, before we make any decisions," Noir said, stepping closer to Dwight, "Tell me what the hell is in that box!?"
Noir jabbed a claw in it's direction. He needed an explanation before they went any further.
Two soulless eyes stared back at him.
"Ah! What the fuck!?" Noir gasped, slamming the box shut.
He scurried back to the kitchen just as Dwight emerged from his room. He looked... Good! It almost made Noir forget about the horrors he just witnessed.
"Ok, before we make any decisions," Noir said, stepping closer to Dwight, "Tell me what the hell is in that box!?"
Noir jabbed a claw in it's direction. He needed an explanation before they went any further.
As Noir stepped closer, and said the words 'before we make decisions' Dwight's smile faltered. What was wrong? Did he need something?..
But as his eyes followed the claw in the direction of the box, Dwight couldn't help a laugh that was relieved and amused in equal measure. "Been snooping, I see!" He snorted as he walked to the box and opened it.
Sure enough, two soulless eyes stared back at him, but Dwight's eyes were alight with enthusiasm as he showed the monstrosity. Its mouth was agape, and Dwight had removed its fur, showing a tiny plastic skeleton and a tangle of wires "Remember Steppies?"
Who wouldn't forget the 90's robot toys for children that made baby noises and danced in the dead of night and were the stuff of nightmares across the island?
"So, I got a commission," Dwight said, omitting that the commission was from himself, to himself, with some of his tips at the Luxe, "and after I got my hands on a whole crate of these broken toys, I'm making a synthesizer out of them."
His grin was probably the widest smile Noir would have seen on him in.... Probably forever, if one didn't count the time Dwight had gotten the massive tip from the bachelor party last summer.
"And my client," he felt so fancy calling Meow Meow a client,"is going to play that thing on stream! It will be the stuff of nightmares, and it will be great. "
But as his eyes followed the claw in the direction of the box, Dwight couldn't help a laugh that was relieved and amused in equal measure. "Been snooping, I see!" He snorted as he walked to the box and opened it.
Sure enough, two soulless eyes stared back at him, but Dwight's eyes were alight with enthusiasm as he showed the monstrosity. Its mouth was agape, and Dwight had removed its fur, showing a tiny plastic skeleton and a tangle of wires "Remember Steppies?"
Who wouldn't forget the 90's robot toys for children that made baby noises and danced in the dead of night and were the stuff of nightmares across the island?
"So, I got a commission," Dwight said, omitting that the commission was from himself, to himself, with some of his tips at the Luxe, "and after I got my hands on a whole crate of these broken toys, I'm making a synthesizer out of them."
His grin was probably the widest smile Noir would have seen on him in.... Probably forever, if one didn't count the time Dwight had gotten the massive tip from the bachelor party last summer.
"And my client," he felt so fancy calling Meow Meow a client,"is going to play that thing on stream! It will be the stuff of nightmares, and it will be great. "
"I couldn't help myself," Noir said, shrugging. How could he when Dwight had a foul temptress of a workbench over there? "I hope you're not too upset."
Steppies? Oh yeah, Noir was very familiar with those. Adorable, yet full of nightmare fuel. Everyone on the island had one during their peak. He nodded, the corners of his dark lips turining into a frown.
"So, who in their right mind would commission that?" Noir asked, arching a brow at Dwight. "And play it on a stream? They might traumatize their entire viewership."
And it would be great.
Steppies? Oh yeah, Noir was very familiar with those. Adorable, yet full of nightmare fuel. Everyone on the island had one during their peak. He nodded, the corners of his dark lips turining into a frown.
"So, who in their right mind would commission that?" Noir asked, arching a brow at Dwight. "And play it on a stream? They might traumatize their entire viewership."
And it would be great.
"Nah, it's fine," Dwight shrugged back, trying to contain his grin in the 'totally not unnerving' zone, "I like this sort of thing, and I don't mind talking about it."
To his regret he had lost his own Steppy when he'd been evicted from Purple, all those years ago, but holding onto the skeleton of one was the next best thing. At Noir's question, though, Dwight bit his lip. "I dunno if I should say who it is and spoil the surprise, but...Oh, what the heck, I didn't sign anything."
Why would he sign anything? It was him! Dwight's grin turned mischievous. "It's the cartoon cat. He said he wants it for the next Friday the thirteenth, make it a spooky special or something. And it's going to be horrifying."
Dwight walked back to the workbench, placed his skeletal Steppy back in the box.... Before dragging a larger cardboard box from under the workbench and opening it.
Dozens of unseeing eyes were staring back.
His grin wouldn't have looked out of place on one of those potentially offensive depictions of scientists, back in the Purge.
"It's one Steppy per synthesizer key," Dwight beamed, taking out and unrolling a sheet of paper. "I'm going to make a a choir of Steppies, and it will be the worst thing ever to be immortalized on stream. It will be amazing."
To his regret he had lost his own Steppy when he'd been evicted from Purple, all those years ago, but holding onto the skeleton of one was the next best thing. At Noir's question, though, Dwight bit his lip. "I dunno if I should say who it is and spoil the surprise, but...Oh, what the heck, I didn't sign anything."
Why would he sign anything? It was him! Dwight's grin turned mischievous. "It's the cartoon cat. He said he wants it for the next Friday the thirteenth, make it a spooky special or something. And it's going to be horrifying."
Dwight walked back to the workbench, placed his skeletal Steppy back in the box.... Before dragging a larger cardboard box from under the workbench and opening it.
Dozens of unseeing eyes were staring back.
His grin wouldn't have looked out of place on one of those potentially offensive depictions of scientists, back in the Purge.
"It's one Steppy per synthesizer key," Dwight beamed, taking out and unrolling a sheet of paper. "I'm going to make a a choir of Steppies, and it will be the worst thing ever to be immortalized on stream. It will be amazing."
"Holy shit! DJ Meow Meow for real!? That is going to be an epic stream!" Noir gasped, clapping his hands. It was shocking that the musician would reach out to *Dwight* of all people, but hey, good for him! If he had the specific talent he was looking for then why not?
Noir's smile soon faded as he laid eyes on the horrific choir of Steppies. They stared back, emotionless, soulless, beaks agape in a soundless scream. So much agony contained in one box. All the horror junkies on the island would eat this shit up. Noir, however, wanted nothing to do with it! He covered his eyes with one hand and put his palm out against the box.
"Put those things away!" he hollered, peeking through his splayed fingers.
They were definitely going to haunt his dreams tonight.
Noir's smile soon faded as he laid eyes on the horrific choir of Steppies. They stared back, emotionless, soulless, beaks agape in a soundless scream. So much agony contained in one box. All the horror junkies on the island would eat this shit up. Noir, however, wanted nothing to do with it! He covered his eyes with one hand and put his palm out against the box.
"Put those things away!" he hollered, peeking through his splayed fingers.
They were definitely going to haunt his dreams tonight.
Unfortunately for Noir, Dwight was one of those horror junkies. As Noir covered his eyes and pushed the box away with a holler he couldn't help a laugh.
"You're not gonna give them even a goodnight kiss?" Dwight joked, but he did close the lid on the box, tucking it away under the workbench. Goodnight, you terrifying and uncanny little dreamboats.
Speaking of uncanny, it was an odd change of pace to talk with Noir out of the context of serving drinks quickly or wrangling drunks away from the Luxe's stage. It was nice, actually.
"Alright, I put the little guys away," Dwight felt bold enough to pull Noir's hand away from his face, "and I'm ready to go whenever you are."
"You're not gonna give them even a goodnight kiss?" Dwight joked, but he did close the lid on the box, tucking it away under the workbench. Goodnight, you terrifying and uncanny little dreamboats.
Speaking of uncanny, it was an odd change of pace to talk with Noir out of the context of serving drinks quickly or wrangling drunks away from the Luxe's stage. It was nice, actually.
"Alright, I put the little guys away," Dwight felt bold enough to pull Noir's hand away from his face, "and I'm ready to go whenever you are."
"Nah, they can kiss my ass though!" Noir grumbled, then furrowed his brows when Dwight touched his hand to pull it away from his face. He felt relief wash over him now that those creepy little fuckers were out of sight. Sighing, he offered a smile, then squeezed Dwight's hand.
"Yeah, let's get going. Did you want to pack a picnic first, or just wing it?" Noir asked, not letting go of Dwight's hand. "And I'm totally willing to skate anywhere in this district. I know it like the back of my hand."
After that beer his appetite started to stir. He hoped Dwight agreed to packing some snacks along for the ride.
"Yeah, let's get going. Did you want to pack a picnic first, or just wing it?" Noir asked, not letting go of Dwight's hand. "And I'm totally willing to skate anywhere in this district. I know it like the back of my hand."
After that beer his appetite started to stir. He hoped Dwight agreed to packing some snacks along for the ride.
Dwight let out an amused snort at Noir's grumbling, although he almost averted his eyes when the latter smiled and squeezed his hand.
No strings attached. Don't get too attached, you doof.
"Yeah," Dwight replied, before catching himself; he hadn't specified whether yeah, he was going to pack a picnic, or yeah, they could wing it. "I mean, we can do a bit of both? I got some cheeses and sausages and--and fruit in the fridge--"
Dwight decided to omit that he'd done a supply run on the Orange side of town before work, and somehow the extent of his preparations, combined with the sudden very sharp awareness that Noir was still holding his hand...
Dwight went silent, feeling the heat gather at the back of his neck. He wasn't trying too hard, was he?
"I just like making little charcuterie boards sometimes," he finished, before adding haltingly, "but if you're hungry for something more we can get something along the way?"
He hadn't let go of Noir's hand yet.
No strings attached. Don't get too attached, you doof.
"Yeah," Dwight replied, before catching himself; he hadn't specified whether yeah, he was going to pack a picnic, or yeah, they could wing it. "I mean, we can do a bit of both? I got some cheeses and sausages and--and fruit in the fridge--"
Dwight decided to omit that he'd done a supply run on the Orange side of town before work, and somehow the extent of his preparations, combined with the sudden very sharp awareness that Noir was still holding his hand...
Dwight went silent, feeling the heat gather at the back of his neck. He wasn't trying too hard, was he?
"I just like making little charcuterie boards sometimes," he finished, before adding haltingly, "but if you're hungry for something more we can get something along the way?"
He hadn't let go of Noir's hand yet.
"Charcuterie? Isn't that some stuck up Funk Majesty shit?" Noir teased smirking. He actually liked that dish, and the snack vendy at the club could make a halfway decent one if you got creative with the ordering.
And he still held onto Dwight's hand. His thumb actually caressed the top of his hand. How lewd!
Noir could tell Dwight was anxious about something and didn't understand why. He wanted to reach over and shake it out of him, but that would be an admission that something was going on. Best to let Dwight speak for himself.
"But yeah. There's always street food. I'm not worried about it."
Finally, he let go of Dwight's hand in favor of picking up his skates.
And he still held onto Dwight's hand. His thumb actually caressed the top of his hand. How lewd!
Noir could tell Dwight was anxious about something and didn't understand why. He wanted to reach over and shake it out of him, but that would be an admission that something was going on. Best to let Dwight speak for himself.
"But yeah. There's always street food. I'm not worried about it."
Finally, he let go of Dwight's hand in favor of picking up his skates.
"It is, isn't it? We'll be eating it pinkies out and everything, won't we?" Dwight smirked up at Noir, though his gaze flicked down to their hands still linked together. A thumb over the top of his hand.
The thoughts 'I'm reading too much into this' and 'I really am trying too hard' ran wild, like mice in an attic. He was relieved that Noir hadn't commented on his nerves, and at his assertion that there was street food to rely on, Dwight smiled.
"Yeah, of course," as Noir let him go, Dwight reached to a large duffle bag he had prepared earlier--it already had a blanket, cutlery, and the charcuterie board in it--and started to pack the cheeses and meats inside. Oh, and why not bring the beers too.
Groove, you're over-prepared, you doofus.
"So," Dwight piped up as he closed the bag and reached for his shoes and board, the self-consciousness warming his cheeks, "I haven't done this in, like, a while."
Better let it out now.
Dwight's smile was a bit sheepish, but he kept his gaze steady. "And, well, you know how I can get when I want things to go well, so. Yeah. And I... really would like us to have a good time today, but if I ever come close to trying too hard feel free to let me know."
This was as close as he'd get to perhaps a confession of sorts, or at least an admission that he was, by all accounts, a wee bit of a control freak at times. Still, Dwight pressed on, putting on his shoes, and his sheepish smile eased into something a bit more confident as he opened the door and gave Noir a little flourish.
"After you," he said.
The thoughts 'I'm reading too much into this' and 'I really am trying too hard' ran wild, like mice in an attic. He was relieved that Noir hadn't commented on his nerves, and at his assertion that there was street food to rely on, Dwight smiled.
"Yeah, of course," as Noir let him go, Dwight reached to a large duffle bag he had prepared earlier--it already had a blanket, cutlery, and the charcuterie board in it--and started to pack the cheeses and meats inside. Oh, and why not bring the beers too.
Groove, you're over-prepared, you doofus.
"So," Dwight piped up as he closed the bag and reached for his shoes and board, the self-consciousness warming his cheeks, "I haven't done this in, like, a while."
Better let it out now.
Dwight's smile was a bit sheepish, but he kept his gaze steady. "And, well, you know how I can get when I want things to go well, so. Yeah. And I... really would like us to have a good time today, but if I ever come close to trying too hard feel free to let me know."
This was as close as he'd get to perhaps a confession of sorts, or at least an admission that he was, by all accounts, a wee bit of a control freak at times. Still, Dwight pressed on, putting on his shoes, and his sheepish smile eased into something a bit more confident as he opened the door and gave Noir a little flourish.
"After you," he said.
Noir watched as Dwight packed up the duffle bag. He wondered how heavy it would be to carry while they skated to their picnic spot. That wasn't his problem.
Then, Noir raised his brows at Dwight's mini confession. Finally, he came out with it! He furrowed his brows a bit, then offered him a warm, encouraging smile.
"You couldn't try to hard for me, darlin'. I appreciate the effort makin' this a good day for us," Noir told Dwight as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
Then, he nodded, and stepped through the door before going down the stairs. Out on the street, he put on his skates, tightening the leather straps. They were modified to look like cowboy boots with a pattern embroidered in green thread on the side. Damn, it took a long time for him to find a Vendy that made thread.
Then, Noir raised his brows at Dwight's mini confession. Finally, he came out with it! He furrowed his brows a bit, then offered him a warm, encouraging smile.
"You couldn't try to hard for me, darlin'. I appreciate the effort makin' this a good day for us," Noir told Dwight as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
Then, he nodded, and stepped through the door before going down the stairs. Out on the street, he put on his skates, tightening the leather straps. They were modified to look like cowboy boots with a pattern embroidered in green thread on the side. Damn, it took a long time for him to find a Vendy that made thread.
At Noir's frown, Dwight had started to tense, until he blinked at the warm smile the pink-haired man gave him, and his tension eased as he felt a warm hand on his shoulder . He appreciated the effort? The barman smiled, more confidently this time, and as he closed and locked the door behind them he seemed to be standing a tad more tall.
Dwight slung the duffle bag over his shoulders without nary a protest; it was less heavy than some of the tool bags he carried, and he knew it would be much lighter by the time they'd get back home. He put on his shoes and went down the stairs, and once they were on the street he waited for Noir to buckle his skates before he hopped on his longboard. "Nice skates," he said, starting to kick up some momentum. "You had them custom-made, right?"
Noir might see that Dwight's demeanor shifted a bit on the board, not unlike how he shifted when talking about the Steppies or when he was busy repairing something at the Luxe; he was more in his element, carving left and right, adjusting his sense of balance to compensate for the bag he was carrying.
Dwight slung the duffle bag over his shoulders without nary a protest; it was less heavy than some of the tool bags he carried, and he knew it would be much lighter by the time they'd get back home. He put on his shoes and went down the stairs, and once they were on the street he waited for Noir to buckle his skates before he hopped on his longboard. "Nice skates," he said, starting to kick up some momentum. "You had them custom-made, right?"
Noir might see that Dwight's demeanor shifted a bit on the board, not unlike how he shifted when talking about the Steppies or when he was busy repairing something at the Luxe; he was more in his element, carving left and right, adjusting his sense of balance to compensate for the bag he was carrying.
Once he was buckled in, Noir started to skate alongside Dwight. He nodded, pointing down at them with a claw. "Yep, can't just get these off the shelf. The wheels are performance, too. In case I need to make a quick getaway, you know?" he replied, excited to talk about his gear.
Noir noticed a change in Dwight as they traveled together. He seemed loose, confident, maybe even playful in the way he moved down the street on his board. Grinning, Noir started to dance on his skates, building vibe as he went along. Eventually, trails or sparks and red hot asphalt appeared behind him.
"C'mon! Let's dance!" Noir insisted. He brought out his phone and put on some upbeat salsa music. It immediately put him in a mood to dance even harder, and he hoped that feeling would become infectious.
Noir noticed a change in Dwight as they traveled together. He seemed loose, confident, maybe even playful in the way he moved down the street on his board. Grinning, Noir started to dance on his skates, building vibe as he went along. Eventually, trails or sparks and red hot asphalt appeared behind him.
"C'mon! Let's dance!" Noir insisted. He brought out his phone and put on some upbeat salsa music. It immediately put him in a mood to dance even harder, and he hoped that feeling would become infectious.
Dwight let out a low whistle of appreciation at Noir's wheels, though he arched an eyebrow at the mention of needing to make a quick getaway. "You get in trouble that often, huh?" he asked, though the smile on his face showed he intended the remark as teasing.
As Noir skated at his side, then began to dance and leave sparks, Dwight's other eyebrow joined the first, and as the music began to play he let out a chuckle, and he gave his board a few more kicks to gather more speed. He hesitated a moment, just the time to count the beats, and for a moment Dwight seemed to balk at the idea of dancing, but he suddenly kicked and flipped his board, nailing an ollie right on the beat.
(He'll have to remember to open the beers very carefully, once they'll get to his picnic spot.)
"Alright," Dwight grinned as he started to dance on the board, the steel of his board axles letting out sparks along the pavement, "bring it on, pretty boy!"
As Noir skated at his side, then began to dance and leave sparks, Dwight's other eyebrow joined the first, and as the music began to play he let out a chuckle, and he gave his board a few more kicks to gather more speed. He hesitated a moment, just the time to count the beats, and for a moment Dwight seemed to balk at the idea of dancing, but he suddenly kicked and flipped his board, nailing an ollie right on the beat.
(He'll have to remember to open the beers very carefully, once they'll get to his picnic spot.)
"Alright," Dwight grinned as he started to dance on the board, the steel of his board axles letting out sparks along the pavement, "bring it on, pretty boy!"
Noir smirked back at Dwight. "Yep, everyone wants my ass," he replied with a chuckle. Back and forth teasing and banter like this always amused him to no end. Dwight was particularly talented in the subject.
"Woah!"
Dwight pulled off that trick? Holy shit. Respect points shot through the roof. Noir clapped in appreciation as he skated backward in front of him.
Then, as the music intensified, Noir spun around on his skates a few times, sending the sparks flying out in a circle around him. When he straightened out again, he took hold of Dwight's hands and looked him in the eyes.
"Don't be shy, partner. Lemme see your vibe!" Noir urged.
"Woah!"
Dwight pulled off that trick? Holy shit. Respect points shot through the roof. Noir clapped in appreciation as he skated backward in front of him.
Then, as the music intensified, Noir spun around on his skates a few times, sending the sparks flying out in a circle around him. When he straightened out again, he took hold of Dwight's hands and looked him in the eyes.
"Don't be shy, partner. Lemme see your vibe!" Noir urged.
Moderators: AJ_89 Steven (played by Robo-Craig) QnQ Hide Miyagawa (played by Monoclejack) Chroma (played by lewsey)
