forum The Artist’s Muse O/O- closed (stalkers will get some nice art)

Started August 28, 2021 by @Tired-but-passionate

tune

Gradually, he calmed himself again. His cheeks hummed with heat, and his legs felt numb and stiff, but his mind was no longer running in wild circles. Jayme took steady breaths, focusing his mind on Néci’s touch and his humming, the gentle sounds in the air.
He now stared shamelessly at his partner, leaning into his touch and getting lost in his eyes. He could not think of anything to say, just stared at the kaleidoscope of colors in Néci’s irises. How could he ever do them justice on canvas? He must paint them one of these days, to see if he could capture the wonders within.
Néci’s lips, however… he could paint them in five strokes. But the colors were intricate even here, and he would have to mix well. Pale reds and oranges, the color of flesh but with subtle variations. Soft curves and points of light. Jayme found himself pressing closer to see.
He managed a smile as his partner laughed. “Then… don’t. I don’t think I want to either.” Letting out a small sigh, he moved his arms from Néci’s waist to brush his back, and soon started rubbing it back and forth.

"Alright," Néci whispered. His thumb calmly brushed against Jayme's bottom lip, but his gaze remained still in his partner's eyes. "I believe to have found myself in the greatest place in the world, and I don't ever want to leave it…Have you ever held anyone like this before?"

He wondered how long they can hold each other like this before they have to stop. Will it be sooner than later? Will they get to do this again today? Or will ever get to hold each other for once more? If so, then he is going to treasure every second of it and hold the memories safe only for Jayme and himself.

While the rest of himself was calm and relaxed, the feeling of something on his back sent shivers down his spine. He looked over his right shoulder just for a second before assuring that all is well. Why wouldn't it be any other way? It is just the two of them; he never knew that he needed something like this and how he could never ask for anything more.

Removing his hand, he let it gravitate up and begin to comb through Jayme's hair. He beamed just as his eyes sparkled with content. In his mind, he can just imagine laying in bed and reaching out to run his fingers through this reddish adorably-messy hair. Oh, how he can only dream of it.

Red bloomed on Jayme’s cheeks at the touch, but he refused to let himself get flustered again. All the same, Néci’s touch still seemed to light something inside him. “I don’t know,” he whispered back, “Maybe once. Or twice.”
His hands in his hair were no different, but this time he wasn’t caught off guard. Welcoming the touch, he leaned into Néci’s hand. It felt so nice, and for a moment he closed his eyes and let himself lay his head on his partner’s chest. The rhythmic movement was soothing and calming. “Keep doing that,” he said softly.
This was actually pretty nice when he didn’t let the guilt and shame weigh him down. He just hoped Néci didn’t mind.
”Mrow.”
His eyes blinked open at the sound, finding the cat looking up at him, pawing his ankles. “Oh, hi Arty,” he cooed. “You want to join in? Or are you just hungry again?”

"I want to hold you like this again." Néci admired the way Jayme's face blossomed with red. Like holding a delicate rose rivals this. His fingers drifted through his partner's hair.

There was nothing he wanted to hear. Humming softly in response, he kept on with the gentle hair brushing. He let his fingers go through over and over again. The weight of Jayme's head resting against his ever beating heart was enough to leave him in a trance.

Almost for a little while though. The little meow snapped him out of it. "Well hello there, doll." He giggled watching the kitty at Jayme's ankles. "You know better than to not interrupt your papa like that. Silly…" Néci laughed incessantly just for a moment or two. The corners of his lips perked up.

“You do?” His voice came out with a soft breath. It took all of his willpower not to melt with sheer fluster and confused glee. “I— I do too.” His arms fell back to Néci’s waist, only to reach down to his hips. He hummed a little too, relaxing into his partner’s touch.
Jayme only let go to give Artemisia a scratch behind her ear, which seemed to please her. It seemed that they were being watched after all. “Ohh, you just wanted attention, is that it?” Putting his arms around Néci again, he chuckled as he watched the cat padded nearer, and decided to perch on top of Jayme’s shoes. “I think she’s interrupting because she’s jealous, I’m afraid.” He laughed with Néci. “She may like you, but her love is indeed conditional.”

Néci eagerly nodded. If he doesn't sound like a madman, he wants to Jayme again and again and again till his arms give out. He hope that he wasn't coming off as being odd when he spoke. Surely he has been doing a lot of hoping. The tone of his blush had only darkened. He giggled a little bit. Peeking over his shoulder, he look down at where Jayme's arms were now. With a gentle exhale, the pounding in his chest had only become heavier.

Watching Jayme with Artemisia made him laugh. "How adorable. I see she takes after her father," He sighed while looking back at his partner. Lowering his chin, Néci took another look at the kitty. "Oh, I am very sorry, dearie. I wasn't intending on to make you feel jealous, poor thing."

Carefully, he let go of Jayme and went to pick up the kitty. Like before, he held her like a baby. Turning a little in Jayme's direction, he sighed. "I understand, but we both care for the same man, yes?" Néci gently took one of Artemisia's paws, holding it up to make it look like she's waving.

He placed her back down. "Let's work together too, okay?" After scratching the top of her head, he went back to holding Jayme. "I can guarantee that my love will be unconditional, and that goes to the lovely kitty too."

Surely the red would stain his cheeks forever. Jayme had managed to calm himself again, but everything Néci did or said threatened to make him strange and incoherent. Surely his partner was determined to make his entire face rosy as well as his vision.
“Pfft, she does?” He looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “How so?” He watched, endlessly grinning, as Néci picked the cat up, the little thing meowing in protest. She had a disapproving look in her greenish eyes, but reluctantly let Néci have his way with her. Jayme watched, giggling uncontrollably. When she was placed on the ground, she quickly padded away. Apparently it was too much attention for her.
“Poor thing,” Jayme sighed. He leaned into Néci’s arms, a little surprised by his words. “Unconditional… love?” The words were strong. Surely his partner didn’t really mean it.

"You both are quite adorable….warm…and perfect to love and cuddle," He giggled. Whether or not it was actually funny, Néci found himself to be laughing. It only persisted when the poor kitty cat went away. He wasn't the only one to be laughing at this of course. And the other laughter had a more deep reaction within him. It rumbled in his heart like an earthquake. "Ah, and another thing to add, the two of you are quite funny as well."

"Oh…." Unconditional love, is it too soon to utter such words? He does not want to rush things at the expense of Jayme. "That is a hard phrase for me to say believe it or not," He tried to joke. Néci gazed down at Jayme. "I mean….I do care about you…I do not know if love at first sight is real, but you have already left such an impact on me that'd take a lifetime for others to do…Just like with the embracing, I want to love you if you'll let me."

Jayme put a hand to his cheek, surprising himself with its heat. “Ohh, stop it.” He shook his head, but kept grinning. “It cannot be true. I’m not…” he trailed off, chuckling a little. Oh, how was this even happening?
And now his heart was stuck in his throat. He could see the look on his partner’s face and knew that they had brushed upon the surface of something. “Néci… I…” Jayme suddenly found himself very stiff, afraid to move. “Love..?”
And just like that, the shame, the self-loathing, it all came back. He had given into his perverse desires and now he had somehow deceived Néci into this too. He remembered the moment he first saw his partner on the doorsteps, the thoughts he had. Slowly, he moved away, afraid of himself.
“Néci… I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I must have… seduced you somehow. It… it is good to know that— that you care about me, but I… loving me— loving me would be a mistake. Of course, I love h— holding you, and— and I—“ What was he saying? What was he saying? “I love being with you, but I do not think I— I can’t. I can’t return your feelings because what I feel—“ he took a breath— “What I feel for you is not love, it is— it is lust. Lust a— and infatuation, not love. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
He looked away from him, ashamed and quivering. Everything had spilled over, and he did not know how to clean it up. Maybe they should just go back to work and forget about all this. Jayme tried to quiet his thumping heart, breathing shakily.

The sudden change of course went in a blink of an eye. Néci went from smiling and laughing to standing still, looking in worry. The change was more swift in Jayme. It wasn't until the look on his partner's face did alarms go off in his mind. The stepping away sent tiny cracks appearing in his heart. Did he cause this? Was it the word, love? What is he to do now?

His hand reached out. Love, yes that's exactly what he feels. He knows that loving another man is not something he should do, but to hell with it! His fingers curled towards his palm before he dropped his hand.

Seduced? No, that can't be. Staring at Jayme, his ears pulled in every single word. They all stared to pile up onto him. A gap between his lips formed until his jaw dropped. Nothing came out. His vision became blurry. The tightness in his chest was just not from his feelings. No, he began to heave, fighting for air and relief.

Everything in his body suddenly became wobbly. He slammed his hand onto the counter before his knees would give up. His body leaned to the side. None of this could be true. Jayme doesn't mean any of this, right? Or maybe this is all a dream and when he does go to his first day of work, it will all be different.

"Please, that is not true," He snivelled. Underneath his breath, he repeated the word "please" over and over again till he stopped to take a deep exhale. Trudging over, he sat down in one of the chairs at the table. His eyes wanted to look over, but he he could not manage to get a glimpse.

"I do not believe that….it…it was lust and…infatuation that light up those eyes. And loving you is not a mistake…" He gulped. "How can it be? You fit so well in my arms….You have looked at me in a way that nobody ever has…I want to love you…I felt comfortable and safe around someone for once….Please Jayme, I can give you everything. I will do everything for you…Just please…."

Néci's head hung low. His hands pressed on his forehead while a few tears rolled down his cheeks.

He couldn’t look at Néci anymore. His vision began to blur with tears anyway as he heard Néci go quiet, then start to heave, saw his body slump and wilt out of the corner of his eye. Jayme’s own body continued to shake and quiver as he held his limbs close, making himself small.
He couldn’t speak. His eyes widened, and he felt himself sink to the floor. Néci doesn’t believe him! The unexpectedness of it took over him for a moment as he listened, but was soon replaced by shame, regret, and pain. He could not understand. He shivered as tears slipped down his cheeks.
“How… how can it not be?” His voice shook. “How… how long has it been since we met? Are we even friends?” He stared at the floor. “I’m sorry Néci… maybe— maybe you can love me, but I want to be able to love you in return. But I—“ a small sob crawled out of his throat. “I don’t think that’s what I’m feeling…”
Or maybe he didn’t actually know what he was feeling. Everything in his mind was all tangled up. His desires, emotions, they could not be distinguished, let alone the words that could describe them.
Finally, Jayme glanced up. Slowly, he got to his feet. He felt… safe around him? That was something he had never heard before. Perhaps that was a feeling he could return. He went over, reaching out to put a hand on his partner’s shoulder, but hesitated and drew back.
“Why?” He croaked. “Why do you want to love me?”

He shouldn't have said anything. If he had known that it would make Jayme upset, it would have been better if he had just went on about how cute Artemisia is. Néci just closed his eyes before hiding his face in his hands. Another tear escaped, but that was it. He just couldn't. His head was pounding as much as his heart was.

They only had met. They held each other for God only knows how long. He removed his hands from his face, but his eyes did not glimpse over at his partner. A lump formed in his throat. Could he say anything to Jayme? Would he even be able to?

What are they? Well, they are partners. Not boss and worker or anything like that. They have only known each other for hours, yet they held each other for some of that time. He feels things for Jayme that he hasn't felt before. Surely he hasn't felt them for anybody aside from….Jayme. Just Jayme.

But he cannot say such things. Jayme says he cannot love him back. To burden his partner with his own feelings…Something is telling him that he should just keep this to himself. They can go back to work, right?

With a lift of his chin, he looked up at Jayme. He just barely missed watching his partner's hand drawing back. He could only stare for so long at his partner before he had to fight the tears. "Why?"

"I feel safe with you, even now. The way you've looked at me….the first time you did….it gives me butterflies in my stomach…" Néci ran his hand through his hair, but it stayed halfway. "When we were in each other's arms, I just wanted to stay there with you. Your gentleness, your voice, the way your hair feels….I love it all…All of it and more makes me want to love you, Jayme."

Now that he was standing here, he couldn’t move anymore. He was frozen, his blood slowly slugging along in his veins. His heart was clogged in his throat. If only he could paint that. Maybe then the feeling would dissolve.
Néci’s gaze pierced him like an arrow through ice. He felt pinned to the spot, like he had done something wrong and been caught red-handed. Those clear blue eyes held him fixed, and he hated the thoughts, the images that went through his mind just then. But the man across from him was so, so beautiful, it made him weak and wanting. Jayme looked away, ashamed. How could he have done this to him? How could he have made him upset?
He was still and silent as frost on a leaf, but as he listened he slowly thawed. His pulse quickened, sending blood to his cheeks. “Oh… well…” he took a breath. “I think I do feel similarly… but you give me butterflies all the time.” He reached out again, hesitated for only a moment, and set his hand on Néci’s shoulder. Didn’t he do the same to him, some time ago? “I— um, Néci, I do return those feelings, I want to love you too… I— I’m just afraid something— something will get in the way. That something will go wrong. And I don’t want to treat you as though you are just a pretty face. And I—“ he stopped, grimacing a little. “Is it lust?” He muttered under his breath. “I…"

Néci had to look away even if it was just for a couple of seconds. His fight with the tears was one that he was going to lose. He didn't want to cry. A few tears managed to slide out, yet that was it. Biting down hardly on his bottom lip, he tried not breaking down. Everything in him felt like a raging storm in the middle of the sea. Feelings thrashing back and forth.

The shoulder with Jayme's hand buzzed. It sent shivers down his heart. He sniffled. Just a pretty face? For him, being treated as a pretty face has led him to some interesting places. Of course there was nothing more than lust, but it didn't matter. And to be with Jayme, he doesn't care about those things. They can be together. That's all he wants.

He somewhat made sense of what his partner muttered. His partner….Why is he calling Jayme that in this moment? What is meaning of it right at this very moment? They are not talking to each other in the terms of business and work partners. This is far from it. And lust….Lust is completely different.

"I think I'd find life more bearable if I was treated as a pretty face. It's better than a dirty immigrant." Néci sniffled again. He shook his head. Strands of hair fell out of place. "But I know….I know….I know you wouldn't treat me as so."

"I guess when…we first saw each other, your eyes said a lot to me…like they have so many times already…And I know lust." He didn't just see lust in those brown eyes. No. Despite not being able to put it all into words, he had confidence that there is and was more than just lust and beauty.

He swallowed. "We shouldn't be letting worries getting in the way," He whispered. "Fear will just hold us back. We don't need to know much except that we have feelings and we want to love each other…" Néci tilted his chin, staring up into Jayme's eyes. "Right?"

Jayme soon got lost inside himself. Feelings were so strange. He could never quite put them into words, could never quite control them. He heard Néci sniffle, bringing his attention back to him. There was a pang in his chest at the sight of the tears rolling down his face. I’m horrible. Jayme knelt down to be even with Néci and moved his hand from his shoulder to his cheek. He wiped away some of the tears with his thumb, his breath becoming shaky.
“Oh…” he shook his head as well. “No. My grandparents were immigrants themselves, I could never say anything, even if you are from Hungary. But…” he hesitated. “I don’t think you understand what I mean…”
He stared at Néci, his cheeks still hot. “Ah… was I that obvious?” He sighed shakily, and rubbed the other man’s cheek.
Jayme paused. His lip trembled. Néci’s eyes had pierced him once more. He couldn’t speak for a moment or two. “I’m… I’m sorry, Néci,” he whispered back, blinking back tears. “I have been afraid for so long… I’m sorry it has made me act strange to you. I am still afraid. I don’t know how I could ever stop being afraid.”
He could lose everything. Beyond the goings on of his mind how he is afraid of himself, he could lose everything if it was known he was a deviant. His commissions, his studio, his career… it would all be lost. He had often thought about what he would do if that ever happened. Perhaps move away, to a place where no one knew him.

"No, I do not think I understand." His heart pounding made it difficult to hear. He kept fighting back tears but to no success. People have always seen him one way or another, but Jayme….Oh, he doesn't know how Jayme sees him. All Néci could guess is that those eyes sparkled at him like no other. There has to be a reason why they are together the way they are now.

Despite still sniffling and tearing up, he laughed a little. He shook his head, "Mama says that the eyes tell us what our tongues cannot." Néci sniffled again. He smiled at Jayme while relaxing into his touch.

"No no, it's fine…Please don't…" More tears made his vision blurry. So much is at stake for Jayme. His art and his career, all because Néci brought up loving him and being together. All those things that can put Jayme and his work in danger. The fear weighing down on the both of them cause of it. But if he can protect them from the danger…..if they are close in secret….Maybe they can share the fear.

His hands were shaky, yet they reached out to cup Jayme's face. "Then do not fear alone. I do not want to be afraid by yourself," He sighed. "Jayme, please. Let's be afraid together then, even if it is just in secret. Jayme, please, I will protect you. I will protect us."

What if they are successful? What if he never puts Jayme in danger and no one else ever finds out? "You are not strange…You are beautiful." Néci did his best to wipe away some of the tears rolling down Jayme's face. He shivered. His arms were covered in goosebumps. A few tears fell from his face. His breathing slowed, yet he struggled to keep it steady.

He could feel the heat in his cheeks, the pounding in his heart. He didn’t know if he loved it or hated it. As he reached up and wiped away more of Néci’s tears, his voice went very quiet. “Ah, w— well. Let’s just— let’s just say there have been many times where I have wanted to pin you against the wall. Among other things.” He looked away and coughed once, his face burning.
Jayme panicked a little, wiping away more tears with the back of his hand. “I’m sorry…”When he felt Néci’s hands on his face, he both froze and melted in the span of a second. His cheeks were not cooling down any time soon. He just stared, unable to speak for a moment or two.
“Are you sure?” He whispered. “I— I don’t want to burden you with my fears.” He swallowed. “But I suppose you may have your own anyway. How— how are you going to protect me… us?”
He shivered a little as Néci wiped his tears away, and looked up at him. Despite everything, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Néci, I must be the strangest person I know. You are the beautiful one.” Jayme wiped his tears in turn.

Never did Néci feel so safe crying around someone. Jayme wiping away every single tear that fell from his eyes was as comforting as it was consoling. He was confused. "Other things?" Like what? Despite being a little lost still, his face was completely red. He swallowed. It took him a while to understand what Jayme meant and it was all thanks to thinking about being pinned against the wall by him. A shiver went down his back when he realized. "Oh…oh…" He wouldn't mind it.

His hands gently cupped Jayme's face. They felt the warmth coming from him, but he knew that he was burning up himself. "You are fine," Néci assured. "You are fine."

In a heartbeat, he nodded yes. The hesitation to the second part of the question was what made him unsure. He knows that he can and will protect them, but how can he? No matter what, he knows he can. Is that all that matters? "I don't know…" He shrugged. "I just know that I can…that I want to."

The laugh from Jayme confused him. What he said isn't true. He is quite beautiful too. "You only say such things because you are used to seeing yourself through your eyes, but that doesn't mean you are strange." Néci started to comb his fingers through Jayme's hair for no particular reason other than wanting to. He blinked away the tears. "Jayme, you are beautiful. Or should I say quite charming, like a prince. You are handsome like one."

Néci let a deep breath slip through his lips. Between Jayme's gaze, touch, and the feeling of his hair, it all silenced the worries in his head. His eyes were pretty teary still.

Jayme coughed again, thoroughly embarrassed. “Yes. Perhaps now we can agree that the lust is definitely there.” He felt like a strawberry on fire. Red, freckled, and burning. He just leaned into Néci’s touch and nodded.
There was an uncertain look on Jayme’s face as he watched him. He didn’t know, and that didn’t do much to calm his fears. A slow breath released from him as he kept holding Néci’s warm cheek, slowly moving to trace his lip. “I will protect you too, then,” he whispered.
The strawberry kept burning. As the other man’s fingers drifted to his hair, he melted into the touch, his eyes closing briefly. “W— well, maybe I can be both strange and beautiful, then.” Then he laughed again. “A prince? How? You are telling stories now, Néci.”
Slowly, slowly, he let go of those feelings of shame and self-loathing from earlier. They still lingered, but they no longer controlled him, at least for now. Jayme slowly stood up and sat in the chair next to Néci, then took his hand.

"I think that we can." Néci sheepishly laughed. His fingers delicately breezing through little curls. "But…" He brought his face a little closer towards Jayme. "The lust…I do not mind it, Jayme. I quite like it."

A wave of sensations came crashing down upon him. His heart became lighter than a feather. A fire burning underneath it. Néci breathed, watching as Jayme's finger drifted across his lip. So many thoughts ran through his head. Most of which he was sure they were lust, yet they didn't solely feel like they were just lust.

The way Jayme was underneath his touch…He did not expect to see such beauty. Well, of course, Jayme is beautiful. But to be this intimate and to share such a tender moment, Néci wished he could capture it in more than a memory.

He laughed along with Jayme. "It is true. You are my handsome prince," He sighed. His eyes drifted away as he kept on stroking Jayme's hair. "I only tell stories in bed. Perhaps soon, if you want to, you will see."

Néci smiled, looking over at their hands. "Jayme…I will protect you with these feelings that I have for you…You will be okay, I promise." He sat on the edge of the chair. Leaning over, he sat his other hand on top of Jayme's.

This man is going to kill him one of these days. Or at least, make him stop functioning altogether from sheer desire. Jayme could only let out a soft breath as Néci leaned closer. “Oh… alright then. Perhaps I was worried over nothing.”
He wanted to say something, do something. A lot of things, actually. Yet, it still felt as though he should hold himself back. If only he wasn’t so afraid. He just sighed, letting Néci’s gentle touch comb through his hair.
His smile lingered, though. “I honestly don’t understand where you get that from. You are far more suited to be a prince. You have the looks for it. I could draw and paint you into royalty right now. I’m the pauper, on the contrary— wait, what?” His cheeks burned. “Oh, N— Néci, I… um. Sure. Sure. Later. Perhaps.” He didn’t know what else to say.
Flustered, he looked down at their hands. Jayme took them and entwined their fingers, squeezing a little. “But what about you?” He asked. “I should protect you too, Néci.”

"No, it is alright." His fingers momentarily left Jayme's curls to lightly touch the tip of his nose. Smiling, he returned to combing his partner's hair. "How would you have know otherwise? It is okay to have worried. But sometimes you have to just say what's on your mind, go for it, and then enjoy the weight that's been lifted off your chest."

Néci giggled, shaking his head. "I know where I got it from," He retorted. "You are kind, gentle, smart, artistic, adorable, and handsome just like one…You sure do have the perfect hair. And if you're to draw or paint me as one, you should add yourself too." He laughed softly then gave Jayme a wink.

"Hm?" He didn't know what to say. Sparks must have been flying from their hands as Jayme laced their fingers. There was heat between them. Heat that ran up the back of his neck and to his face. "I can assure you that you are protecting me," He replied. He looked down at their hands, giving Jayme's a little squeeze in return. "You are right now. You are doing well."

A soft chuckle slipped from his lips when Néci touched his nose. “Ah. You’re right. It’s just that I find myself worrying too much about things.”
Jayme’s cheeks could only get hotter and redder from here. Any more of this, and he really just might get a fever. “My hair‘s a mess,” he groaned, but good-naturedly, “and you’re not helping matters.” He sighed, shaking his head a little. “Maybe I will paint you as a prince for one of my commissions…” his eyes drifted, catching Néci’s wink before his soul nearly left his body at the sight.
His commissions… This made him start thinking about work again. How long has it been since they came upstairs? He should at least finish the painting, and then see how the people at Collier’s like it…
After taking a moment to breathe deeply, he calmed, though his cheeks were still warm, especially when Néci squeezed his hands. “Am I? Alright.” His hands itched. He glanced up at his partner, and wanted to do a lot of things, but held himself back. “Is there anything else we should talk about?” He asked. “Or, we should probably go back to work now.” He chuckled sheepishly.

"I find myself in the same place sometimes." He kept on letting his fingers weave through soft locks. "It is okay. I am here for you….and with you too."

It was hard not to laugh at Jayme's groan. No really, he thinks that Jayme has the perfect hair. He can only imagine what it would be like to brush through it when laying together then letting his fingertips drift down to his cheek. "I hope so. You can certainly make some money with such a commission."

His eyes grew wide. Right. The commission. They need to get back on it. He shook his head rather rapidly. "No, that is it." Still holding Jayme's hand, he stood up. "We should get back to work. I didn't mean to distract us for this long."

As much as it pained him to do so, he let go of Jayme's hand. His heart did take a little dive once he did, but he told himself that it wouldn't be the last time. "Last one to your studio owes the winner a drink!" Néci laughed then ran out, making his way down the stairs.

Jayme found himself frowning when Néci laughed, raising an eyebrow at him too. His hair was only perfect for him to comb his fingers through. If you just looked at it, it would be clear that it was messy. “Well anyway,” he sighed again. “I could say the same to you, as well as all those other things.”
Standing up with his partner, his frown melted back into a small smile. “Don’t worry Néci,” he said. “I think it was a good distraction, better than I’ve had in a long time.”
He blinked as Néci let go of his hand. “Oh— hey!” For a moment he thought they were going to hold hands all the way down. Who knew Néci would be so excited to work? Jayme rolled his eyes but raced after him, past the sitting area where Artemisia had decided to nap, and down the stairs.

A part of Néci was looking forward to work, but there is another part of him that has excitement for everything surging through his veins. Besides, he loves games, especially when he has a plan in place to go along with it. A game is a game is a game is a game.

He did his best to not look over his shoulder. It was quite tempting to do so. To get a simple swift glimpse of Jayme is awfully tempting, but he has to get to the studio first. He will have the opportunity to gaze at Jayme very soon.

Once he reached the studio, he quickly got in. Néci did not waste anytime hiding behind the door. Like he did in his childhood, he got up against the wall and made sure that he was still enough to not to lose his balance or to make a peep. It is very difficult though as he already had the urge to laugh quietly.

Jayme was mostly thinking about work at this point, and wasn’t so interested in games. As he came downstairs and crossed the hall, his mind became preoccupied with the finishing touches he should add to the painting. He knew he wouldn’t make it anyway, so as he approached the studio, he started slowed down.
“You know, it’s alright,” he said partly to himself and partly to Néci. He pushed the door aside slightly. “I think I want to buy you a drink anyway. I’m not much of a drinker myself, so you couldn’t buy me one.” He chuckled. He turned to where Néci had pressed himself against the wall, and a faint smile showed on his face.
“I see you,” he chuckled. “What are you doing there?”

"Oh…" He did wonder if Jayme was one to enjoy a drink or not. Néci wanted to use this game as a way to take Jayme out something like a date. He is more than fine to pay for a drink or two; he knows someone who owns a speakeasy. On the other hand, he is fine with what Jayme said. Would it still be a date? Is it too soon to ask?

When he saw Jayme in front of him, he bit the inside of his cheek. Anticipation made his heart feel like it was buzzing. He tried to stay hidden, but alas, mission failed. The man was frozen with wide eyes and a rosy face. Well, he had a plan and now he wishes he was more successful in said plan.

His lips puffed out. Néci held his hands in front of himself and began to fidget with his fingers. "I was going to scare you by wrapping my arms around your waist and pretend that I got here last then use the buying you a drink to ask you out." He walked away from the wall before standing in front of Jayme. Néci grinned then laughed softly, "I wanted to take you out for dinner and a drink or two. That's all."

Seeing Néci’s expression, along with his body pressed against the wall like that, made amusement dance in his eyes and lighten his heart. It seemed that he had foiled something.
He came closer to the other man, his hand reaching up to cover the smile growing on his face, and the red blooming on his cheeks. “Oh, Néci… you old chuck,” he grinned, shaking his head softly. He lowered his hand. “That’s sounds really lovely… though I got to say, my brother used to do the same thing when we were boys, though it was only to scare me.” He chuckled faintly. “I think an instinct kicked in, and I knew where you were.” He gently touched his hand to Néci’s arm. “I would… I would love to go out with you. Just name a time and place.”