ic inbox.

[heatmetal]

[ his voicemail greeting is just a guitar riff ]

Comments

[heatmetal]

The hair is not the problem.

[ Oh. Oh. His eyes go wide.

On one hand, he really wants to drag Steve back to the hotel and finally show him just what he can do.

On the other he might be going into DND withdrawal. ]

You're gonna see me at my worst, you know.

[retromix]

I've seen it. It's called 3AM snoring.

[ Before Eddie can vanish into the ether of nerds, Steve makes good on his promise outside the shop where a few of the dorks are chatting and smoking, reeling him in to brush Eddie's hair back and kiss him soundly. They get a few whoops; Steve smiles. ]

Let's go buy a bunch of junk.

[heatmetal]

[ it takes getting used to. being able to do this in public. Having people react positively. Eddie breaks away, flushed and wearing a smile too big for his face. ]

Hell yes.

[ this is eddies element, for sure. This fashion gets some comments from the other patrons - as does the ridiculously extensive knowledge he has if the earlier versions of d&d. Poor Steve has to listen to a painfully long conversation about the difference between what eddies used to and the latest edition.

He says he DMs but he's not up to date on any of this shit, Wizards of the Coast didn't even publish the version he plays, some people want to try an old school campaign and he's practically vibrating.

And then he's finally ready to shop. ]

[retromix]

[ Steve absorbs information by proximity, which means he catches snippets (Eddie plays the "old" version, rude) and nerds flock to him for both the prestige that brings and out of eagerness to update him. Meanwhile, Steve's attention wanders to the miniatures he picks up and inspects in their boxes, accepting a little basket when a helpful salesgirl offers it; he puts three little guys in there. A warlock(?) who has long hair and a dramatic pose like a certain someone currently basking in nerdy attention, a fella with guns who could be Billy, and a guy with a sword for himself. He has no intention of painting them but they're kind of neat to look at.

He gets swallowed up in the back room where a bunch of foam larping weapons are hanging up on the wall. Whenever Eddie finds him, Steve is weighting a longsword with a falchion and laughing at how light they both are. ]

[heatmetal]

Not up to your standards?

[ Eddie makes his presence known before he slinks up behind him, glancing st the replica weapons and his little mini haul with a grin. ]

[retromix]

[ As if Steve knows anything about weapons beyond how how hard to hit things with them. He leans back into him, dropping a kiss on Eddie's cheek, and offers him the curved sword. ]

Wanna go one-on-one and find out?

[ Swordfight!!! ]

[heatmetal]

Mmm. Yes. Yes, I think I would.

[ taking it, testing the weight. Dropping into a dramatic fighting pose. ]

Have at you!

[retromix]

[ Arcing the longsword to cut through Eddie, if it was real, from shoulder to hip! HYAAARGHH! ]

[heatmetal]

[ bringing his own sword up to parry!! making LIGHT SABER sound effects!! ]

[retromix]

Are you being the Dark Vader right now?

[ Laughing as he swivels on the spot, he telegraphs an undercut (only just: Eddie has bf privileges). ]

[heatmetal]

[ ohhh going easy on him. and that

earns a big old laugh

eddie dances out of range, twirling gracefully and bowing before going in with a slow-motion overhead swing. ]

How have the kids not A Clockwork Orange'd you?

[retromix]

I watch movies, okay, but not a lot of it sticks when it's the best part of three hours long. I liked the little teddy bear guys from Star Wars! They were cute for a hot second, all,

[ Attacking with some jabs designed to poke at Eddie's legs, he mumbles what is apparently an impression of said bears. Memrmlmlem! ]

And the swords? Super cool. Absolutely. Do I cream myself over them? No.

[heatmetal]

[ this is cheating. cheating because eddie almost loses his footing between the poking and the sound effects, bringing the sword down to make it aside. ]

Ewoks. My man watches Star Wars and remembers Ewoks.

[retromix]

That's the stupidest name for a teddy bear.

[ He scoops aside Eddie's sword and uses the length of his own blade to shove him against the wall, trapping him there unless he wants to get chopped in half. By foam. Mostly it's Steve's weight doing the work. ]

Give up?

[heatmetal]

[ he holds both hands up in surrender. ]

Mercy, Sir Harrington.

[retromix]

[ He leans in, blade bending between them as he whispers by Eddie's ear, trailing his lips there. ]

... No.

[ He steps back to deliver a smack across Eddie's thighs. ]

[heatmetal]

[ Eddie cackles, loud. harder he says with the maddest of grins, chasing him as he steps back with his lips ]

[retromix]

[ He needs something smaller. Eyeing the "weapons" on the walls here and there, he exchanges his longsword for a sizeable dagger, testing its weight with a toss.

Getting all up in Eddie's space again, Steve's lips twitch as he tries to keep a straight face. He rests a hand in the bend of Eddie's spine, hauling him in. The backroom is quiet with all the nerds having settled down to play their games in the main room and Steve looks determined. ]

What did you just say to me?

[ Smack! Right under the curve of Eddie's ass with the flat of the dagger, driving him closer. ]

[heatmetal]

[ oh, a sneak attack. eddie throws his arms around his neck and - presses the point of his foam sword to steve's back. ]

Harder. [ Whispered right in his ear, a playful tap of the sword against Steve's thighs. ] If you dare.

[retromix]

[ Swinging them around into the middle of the room, he walks him backwards, chin up and dagger twirling behind Eddie. ]

Stab me and I'll have to let you go. Then you'll never know how much foam can sting.

[ He takes the dare and puts a lot more force behind the sharp Whack! across Eddie's ass, peering down into those big brown eyes. ]

[heatmetal]

[ Eddie jumps at that one, eyes fluttering. ]

That's the sole purpose of my quest. [ he leans up, licking a hot strip along Steve's throat. ] But I can't risk you running around unchecked.

[retromix]

Jesus, [ his Adam's apple bobs as he swallows, ] there are people right outside, just saying. Casual reminder to behave.

[ The next spank from Steve's dagger lands across the backs of Eddie's thighs, the sting sharp even through denim. ]

[heatmetal]

Who, me?

[ shit, yes. there's a little gasp. he bats those big brown eyes like he's innocent, never heard a seductive word in his life.

but he will go ahead and mime a little stabbing, a little slicing, ghosting the edge of his foam blade along steve's back like a whisper. ]

[retromix]

[ Steve would do anything to hear that gasp again, zoning out the rest of the world he's been so concerned about. With a groan of longing he buries his face in the curve of a neck and bares his teeth, biting down as if to keep Eddie in place that way.

The dagger clatters to the floor as he gives up defending himself against the stroking motions across his back (traitor!) and on impulse he gives Eddie a thwap with his own hand, clapping down hard on a jean-clad cheek. ]

[heatmetal]

[ He's rewarded with a gasp and a low moan, both at the bite and the slap. The fingers of his free hand curl in Steve's hair, giving just a little tug.

He's going to rail this boy tonight. It's - pretty much a given. Unless Steve says no. ]

Now who has to be reminded we're in public? [ his voice goes low and husky. ]