I have never gotten mad at you for being wrong in 18 months, just to set the statistics, but it's up to you.
Roza gave me a list of music I need to learn, the theater is empty and I still have way too much mulled wine from lockdown. And I can tell you all the people I sent embarrassing pictures to this week and you can laugh at me :)
[ Looking like he hasn't slept in a couple days, bundled up in a thick sweater, scarf, and knit hat with a poofball on the end to try to resist the mistletoe if he does run into it again. Tim walks right in, as is his God-given bestie right. ]
So, the short version is that I ruined things with Harry and Hawk’s new... [ do not say boytoy. do not say boytoy. we are learning and we are not judging. ] lover thinks I'm a psycho.
[koby's in his typical uniform in winter, sweater and slacks and socks, lincoln on his lap. she goes fluttering over when tim enters, "wak"ing impatiently. pay attention to her, tim. koby doesn't stand, but that's mostly because he already has the mulled wine within arms reach.
instead, patting the bed beside him:] Hawk's new lover? And I don't think you ruined things. You don't ruin. Sometimes you "make slightly more complicated".
[then, holding up a notebook filled out (every page, front and back):] I have lots of homework, because I don't understand anything Roza plays. This is just what was on the show, the last few weeks.
[ Tim crouches to pick up Lincoln, and clutches her to his chest, giving her pats, as is owed. ]
Bob. [ Said with no small measure of irritation, as he slips off his shoes and joins Koby on the bed. He crosses his legs and puts the duck down in the opening there, nice and cozy. ] I meant to ask him if he was alright with me and Hawk starting over. It came out more like...putting the weight of that decision on him. He was pretty mad about it.
[ He knows that ruin is too strong a work. Harry has earned total faith from him, that he’ll be loved through his screw ups, that they’ll work it out like they always do. But he’d been hurt by Tim, not just by circumstance or the complications of the mess they’re all in. The guilt penetrates him like so many crucifixion spikes, makes him want to do better. Be better, for Harry and everyone else.
One night to mope about it. He’ll give himself that, and then get to work. ]
None of it? I know you’ve heard the jazz singers because of me.
[lincoln makes contented bird sounds, tucking her head beneath tim’s chin, as befits a beloved friend and companion to her human ward. koby’s eyebrows tick up at bob’s name, the unmistakable expression he makes when his mental stringboard needs some rapid updating.]
Ohhhh, I see. [his own experience with bob had been enjoyable, pleasant, and koby carries genuine affection there, as for any of his entanglements, but – they’re focusing on tim’s relationships, his own tangled threads that defy the simplicity of notes. tim’s opinions don’t need to be logical for koby to hear or understand them – that’s never been a requirement. it’s tim. he doesn’t need to make sense.
so, settling in against tim’s side, resting his cheek on his shoulder:] I know you didn’t mean it that way. And I imagine it was hard enough, asking that, even before he got annoyed. [a raised eyebrow, looking up at tim over the tops of his glasses.] You’re going to have to tell me what you mean by “starting over”, though, or I’ll draw my own conclusions.
[then, while tim finds his response, koby pulls out his phone, queuing up a song at random.] That’s why I told her post-1950s. So they’d be new.
[ ’Oh, I see.’ Code for Koby likes the guy, has probably slept with the guy, and is making the tactful decision to keep that to himself. Tim huffs, but it’s amused moreso than it’s annoyed, because it’s wholly unsurprising, the only real question being who tops. Rock paper scissors, loser has to?
Not that it’s any of his business. ]
I mean, he’s taking me out for dinner. We’re gonna take things slow and not complicate things with sex for a while.
[ Because it turns Tim into an idiot, and he wants to do it right this time. ]
Oh, I know her. Have you heard What’s Love Got To Do With It? It’s a good one.
[koby knows that shift of amusement and curiosity, knocks his shoulder lightly into tim’s in response, deflecting with an eyeroll. they can talk about his exploits later; update tim on the unofficial spreadsheet when they’re done talking.
because the topic is an important one, getting two eyebrows ticked up, high, chin lifting so he can look intently at tim.] So he’s – courting you? Wooing you? [the delight in his voice is unmistakable.]
I haven’t, no. Play that one next. [koby nudges the phone into tim’s hands, tucking his own under the blankets and snuggling closer – he doesn’t like the cold, hasn’t ever, especially not after two long, snowy, miserable winters.]
[ He knows it's probably a relief to Koby, as conflict averse as he is. Tim had never asked him to stop being friends with Hawk or anything so drastic, but he likes things in their place, and he likes people happy. The delight is sweet, and relieving to Tim, too, that he doesn't sigh or roll his eyes. His smile curls at the corner of his mouth, and he reaches for a wine glass. ]
Yeah. That's the idea. Date like normal people. Reconnect emotionally, prove that we can still be good for each other.
[conflict feels heavy, an overcast day, especially on tim’s bright, sunshiney yellow aura – koby’s learning to allow it, as out of his control as clouds, but it aches when he can feel it in his friends. and he wants to believe things can get better, that hawk and tim can navigate the pain and the history they carry, can learn to balance it with the chance they have to be together.
he wants there to be such a thing as happy ever after. koby passes over the glass, taking the other for himself and sipping at it, meditatively.] Dates are fun, too. You get to do fun things and not – you know. [another sip.] Just try to solve murders and stuff like that.
[it’s not quite been long enough that it doesn’t sting, jabbing somewhere beneath koby’s ribs, and he hooks his free arm through tim’s, someone to hold onto, to center himself with.] I think it’s a good idea. A good – strategy. [soldier to soldier respect.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-12-19 08:30 pm (UTC)Roza gave me a list of music I need to learn, the theater is empty and I still have way too much mulled wine from lockdown. And I can tell you all the people I sent embarrassing pictures to this week and you can laugh at me :)
no subject
Date: 2025-12-19 08:44 pm (UTC)Can I just come over to your place? Snuggle up and listen to some new music. That sounds nice.
[ the mulled wine, too. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-19 09:54 pm (UTC)[but tim watching "hopelessly devoted to you" in his current mental state probably isn't the best idea...]
That sounds nicer. I can show you how I've progressed with armament, too. Turn my arm metal or something.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-19 09:58 pm (UTC)alright I'm coming. that sounds scary, though.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-19 10:22 pm (UTC)It's not, I promise. Not very impressive either, I can only do little portions for very short amounts of time.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-19 10:49 pm (UTC)like a metal finger?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-19 11:52 pm (UTC)More like scales?
It's the focus of energy and willpower to certain parts of the body to harden and firm them.
DO NOT
Make a joke about that, I know how it sounds.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-20 12:23 am (UTC)Alright. I'll be over in a few.
[ Looking like he hasn't slept in a couple days, bundled up in a thick sweater, scarf, and knit hat with a poofball on the end to try to resist the mistletoe if he does run into it again. Tim walks right in, as is his God-given bestie right. ]
So, the short version is that I ruined things with Harry and Hawk’s new... [ do not say boytoy. do not say boytoy. we are learning and we are not judging. ] lover thinks I'm a psycho.
But tell me about your music.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-20 02:30 am (UTC)instead, patting the bed beside him:] Hawk's new lover? And I don't think you ruined things. You don't ruin. Sometimes you "make slightly more complicated".
[then, holding up a notebook filled out (every page, front and back):] I have lots of homework, because I don't understand anything Roza plays. This is just what was on the show, the last few weeks.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-22 06:48 pm (UTC)Bob. [ Said with no small measure of irritation, as he slips off his shoes and joins Koby on the bed. He crosses his legs and puts the duck down in the opening there, nice and cozy. ] I meant to ask him if he was alright with me and Hawk starting over. It came out more like...putting the weight of that decision on him. He was pretty mad about it.
[ He knows that ruin is too strong a work. Harry has earned total faith from him, that he’ll be loved through his screw ups, that they’ll work it out like they always do. But he’d been hurt by Tim, not just by circumstance or the complications of the mess they’re all in. The guilt penetrates him like so many crucifixion spikes, makes him want to do better. Be better, for Harry and everyone else.
One night to mope about it. He’ll give himself that, and then get to work. ]
None of it? I know you’ve heard the jazz singers because of me.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 05:16 am (UTC)Ohhhh, I see. [his own experience with bob had been enjoyable, pleasant, and koby carries genuine affection there, as for any of his entanglements, but – they’re focusing on tim’s relationships, his own tangled threads that defy the simplicity of notes. tim’s opinions don’t need to be logical for koby to hear or understand them – that’s never been a requirement. it’s tim. he doesn’t need to make sense.
so, settling in against tim’s side, resting his cheek on his shoulder:] I know you didn’t mean it that way. And I imagine it was hard enough, asking that, even before he got annoyed. [a raised eyebrow, looking up at tim over the tops of his glasses.] You’re going to have to tell me what you mean by “starting over”, though, or I’ll draw my own conclusions.
[then, while tim finds his response, koby pulls out his phone, queuing up a song at random.] That’s why I told her post-1950s. So they’d be new.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-29 07:22 pm (UTC)Not that it’s any of his business. ]
I mean, he’s taking me out for dinner. We’re gonna take things slow and not complicate things with sex for a while.
[ Because it turns Tim into an idiot, and he wants to do it right this time. ]
Oh, I know her. Have you heard What’s Love Got To Do With It? It’s a good one.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-31 04:24 am (UTC)because the topic is an important one, getting two eyebrows ticked up, high, chin lifting so he can look intently at tim.] So he’s – courting you? Wooing you? [the delight in his voice is unmistakable.]
I haven’t, no. Play that one next. [koby nudges the phone into tim’s hands, tucking his own under the blankets and snuggling closer – he doesn’t like the cold, hasn’t ever, especially not after two long, snowy, miserable winters.]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-31 06:23 am (UTC)Yeah. That's the idea. Date like normal people. Reconnect emotionally, prove that we can still be good for each other.
[ He'll stick it in the queue. ]
It should be good for us. Getting back to basics.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-01 06:19 am (UTC)he wants there to be such a thing as happy ever after. koby passes over the glass, taking the other for himself and sipping at it, meditatively.] Dates are fun, too. You get to do fun things and not – you know. [another sip.] Just try to solve murders and stuff like that.
[it’s not quite been long enough that it doesn’t sting, jabbing somewhere beneath koby’s ribs, and he hooks his free arm through tim’s, someone to hold onto, to center himself with.] I think it’s a good idea. A good – strategy. [soldier to soldier respect.]