[ there's a brief flash of... something. a messy living space. temporary. spartan. home is a truck and his father's things are in the dash, and whatever is in there is what makes him turn into a different person.
[there is a returning thing: it's bedsheets that smell like floral tones and fresh air. a little like sea salt, warm and safe, and then cold, empty and slightly stale. there's the feeling of missing the sea salt, of missing arms around him, of soft singing. these are all Billy's private things - things that are his. he's making a point.
but then Eddie is close, and Billy feels that other kind of warmth. the relief, the fondness. ]
[ California. No wonder Billy wants to return there, it screams of home for him. ]
B, I'm not worried about you seeing my secrets. [ his life has been messy. but it's his.
it's more the... the emotions that could be bad. the loneliness that claws at him. all the years he spent being othered. ] But the ugly bits are pretty ugly.
You're worried about your ugly parts? Eddie, look at who you're talking to.
[he's all ugly parts, more or less: hurt; angry; slightly bitter. ] We'll figure it out, man. Eventually.
[it's so juvenile, how he wants to curl up now. like that's something you do with your friends, put your head in their lap to feel close to them, or wrap your arms around them to feel the anchor of being alive. ]
ABBA’s so fucking depressing dude. Those lyrics? Yeesh.
[this is comfortable. Eddie’s shoulder is a little bony, a little awkward at this angle, but it’s comfortable with him also just there at the edge of his consciousness. a flickering little neighbour that feels like safety.
it’s real fucking novel, if he’s honest. he’s never felt safe before. let’s that one slip out before he can contain it. ]
I bet he’d like the Stones. Or KISS. Something he can dance to.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 03:37 pm (UTC)he drops down onto the bed next to him. ]
I'm pretty much an open book.
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Date: 2022-08-17 03:43 pm (UTC)[there is a returning thing: it's bedsheets that smell like floral tones and fresh air. a little like sea salt, warm and safe, and then cold, empty and slightly stale. there's the feeling of missing the sea salt, of missing arms around him, of soft singing. these are all Billy's private things - things that are his. he's making a point.
but then Eddie is close, and Billy feels that other kind of warmth. the relief, the fondness. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 03:54 pm (UTC)B, I'm not worried about you seeing my secrets. [ his life has been messy. but it's his.
it's more the... the emotions that could be bad. the loneliness that claws at him. all the years he spent being othered. ] But the ugly bits are pretty ugly.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 04:00 pm (UTC)[he's all ugly parts, more or less: hurt; angry; slightly bitter. ] We'll figure it out, man. Eventually.
[it's so juvenile, how he wants to curl up now. like that's something you do with your friends, put your head in their lap to feel close to them, or wrap your arms around them to feel the anchor of being alive. ]
- Thanks. Thanks for - this.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 04:02 pm (UTC)I'm talking to my generous friend who is sometimes a colossal prick. But that is, weirdly, why I love him.
It's no problem, man. You feeling better?
no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 04:08 pm (UTC)Your generous friend sounds exhausting. But he's fine. More or less.
[generous. ha. ] If I start growing tentacles, you promise to take me out?
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Date: 2022-08-17 04:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 04:12 pm (UTC)[that's a relief too. ] I wonder how close I gotta be to be like, in your head.
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Date: 2022-08-17 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 04:15 pm (UTC)[and - okay, yes. a use for it. and if - if it's safe, he wonders if Eddie could just, piggyback off of him to connect with others? hm. ]
I don't know what's worse, though - those goddamn walkie talkies, or having a bunch of us in your head.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 04:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 04:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 06:58 pm (UTC)[ it's a little mean but he says it fondly. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-08-17 11:07 pm (UTC)[this is comfortable. Eddie’s shoulder is a little bony, a little awkward at this angle, but it’s comfortable with him also just there at the edge of his consciousness. a flickering little neighbour that feels like safety.
it’s real fucking novel, if he’s honest. he’s never felt safe before. let’s that one slip out before he can contain it. ]
I bet he’d like the Stones. Or KISS. Something he can dance to.