forum Glitches // OxO // Closed

Started November 27, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

"Hmm, yeah. Okay." Jude said slowly, "They're probably installing it as we speak…do you wanna go inside?" He asked, looking down at the pavement beside them. I need a smoke.

Nyx nodded a little. "Yeah. I guess." he replied, letting out a faint sigh. He didn't know what to say, or do. Or…or anything. He ran a hand through his hair again, looking down at his toes for a long moment. After that kiss…and…he was a mistake. He knew that. But…he wished he could be more than that. But he knew he couldn't be.

Jude nodded, rising slowly and picking up his closed laptop.
"Don't worry, they won't judge you. They're really into this type of stuff, and they're pretty chill." He said, looking towards the door, hearing the short hums of a drill and the scraping of metal.

Nyx nodded, and followed Jude inside quietly. He let out a breath, putting his hands in his pockets. He wanted to shut down. He was having a hard time with…with all this. And he didn't know why. It was only a kiss. Just a mistake. That was all. So why couldn't he get it out of his head? Why?

Jude's thoughts came to a pause right before going inside, Once I go inside, this moment will be over. He sighed, wanting to stop and turn around, I won't be able to say anything more on the topic, I have to move on from it. Jude breathed in, really wanting to stay outside for a moment longer and say what he was thinking. I feel things for you, I wanted to kiss you, I want to, again. Let me do it again. It won't happen again. I won't do it. His thought ricocheted off of one another, debating if it was too late to push him back outside. Alas, it was, too late, and he was greeted with bright lights and arguing friends hunched over a plethora of cables against the wall.

Nyx was silent as he followed Jude inside. His eyes flicked to the group by the wall, and he crossed his arms loosely, uncomfortable and not sure what to say or do. He glanced at Jude for help, but then all he could think of was falling and landing on top of him, and that stupid kiss. He had wanted it. Had liked it, and Jude…had pushed him away and essentially told him it was a mistake, it wouldn't happen again. Even if Nyx wanted it to happen again.

Jude cleared his throat, watching as his their arguing stopped and they turned to face them, smiles and excited greetings already in play. He smiled awkwardly; genuinely happy to see them, but still shaken by the whirlwind of emotions he'd gone through. The three men jogged over, all talking over each other loudly, shaking hands and hugging him. Jude laughed and greeted them back, thanking them multiple times, "This is Nyx." He said, gesturing to him, "Nyx, this is Morris, Clive, and Tim."

Nyx gave a hesitant wave with his right hand, a tiny smile flickering across his face. He hesitated, and raked his hand through his hair nervously. He felt dwarfed by all these people, and he shifted slightly, studying each of Jude's friends.

"All's done," Morris said with a nod and a smile. The others chimed in, agreeing as they slowly waved and moved back toward the door, wishing them well and that it was nice to meet Nyx. Jude chuckled, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "High school," He smiled before turning back to face Nyx's pod in the corner of the room.
"D'you think they did okay?"

Nyx frowned a little, and inspected the pod. He nodded a little. "Yeah. It's fine." He replied. "Thank you." He put his hands in his pockets, looking at the pod still, not at Jude. He didn't know what to say, so he settled for nothing.

Jude nodded, "Did you wanna…sleep?" He asked, after all, that is what Nyx wanted, right? To just have a break from Jude and his overwhelmingness. That seemed plausible. "I'll be here tomorrow with a bunch of equipment– so we can get started." He said, looking down, almost feeling guilty. Deep down, he didn't want to start working. Jude knew that once he was finished helping Nyx, he would leave him, to go out and live life–without him. But the better part of him knew that this is what had to be done.

Nyx nodded, and climbed into the pod. "It isn't sleep." He replied after a moment. "Not the way you see sleep as." He shrugged a little, then nodded again. "Alright. Thank you." He wished Jude would kiss him again. But he knew that that wasn't happening anytime soon.

Jude sighed, softly smiling as he walked close to Nyx's pod, resting his arm there and looking at him. What it be so bad if I tried again? He asked himself, glancing at Nyx's mouth, Definitely. Not a good idea. He answered.
"Yeah," Jude said quietly, trying to hide his nervous smile, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Nyx smiled faintly. "Alright. Good night." He replied slowly. He lay down and plugged himself in. Shutdown initiated. His eyes flickered shut. The last thing he thought of was that damn kiss again, and how much he wanted to feel Jude's mouth against his own again.

Jude sighed, running his hand over the edge of the pod, gently, before heading towards the door. As soon as he stepped outside, he groaned. Why do you break everything you touch? Jude asked himself, tugging at a strand of hair as he walked towards his car. "Always, always, always." He muttered to himself angrily.

That night, Jude lay awake in his oversized bed, staring straight at the ceiling fan above, trying to follow a singular blade as it whirred in a circle, catching the moon's glow every time it came around. Maybe if he figured out how to focus on one thing at a time, fewer people would get hurt. The fan–life, it seemed, moved slower if he would just focus.

Nyx lay silently, asleep. Or as close to sleep as he could be, anyways. His breathing was deep and even, as was his heartbeat. But there, alone in that building…he looked small. Small and thin and so very alone.

Morning came and Jude was exhausted; his tired eyes showing so. He had hauled every bit of equipment from 3D printers to biochemical containment units, to rewiring material and waterproof wires, to everything else he could fit into the back seat and trunk of his car. He flicked the light to his 'lab' on and started to unload the boxes.
Jude finally finished, "begin system start-up." He said, really wanting to see Nyx.

The pod slid open, and Nyx sat up, blinking and unplugging himself. He looked over at Jude. A faint smile traced at his mouth for just a moment, and he climbed out of the pod. "Good morning." He said with another little smile.

"Morning," Jude greeted, glad to see him. He sighed and gestured to the boxes scattered by his feet,
"I brought some stuff. Hopefully, by the end of today, you'll have some new touch–or, nerve endings with some artificial skin." He laughed, barely believing what he'd said. "Oh–and I brought my laptop and charger, so you can watch or look stuff up while I work on stuff." Jude smiled, setting them on a desk nearby.

Nyx smiled. "Oh. Thank you." He said softly, looking over at Jude. Is it bad that the only thing I want from you is another kiss? He wondered, biting his lip for a moment. He inhaled, knowing it probably was a bad thing. He shouldn't want that. He couldn't want that. Not when Jude didn't want him like that.

"Yeah, no problem. Take a seat. I'll set up." He nodded, gesturing to a chair near the desk and the equipment. Jude wondered if he was going to want to smile at Nyx the same way, again, after Nyx had discovered something new and beautiful in the world. His expression would be priceless, Jude imagined, thinking of the stories behind all the poems and paintings he would tell him about.

Nyx nodded, and sat down. "Alright." He replied. He was excited for whatever Jude would show him today. Whatever he would learn today. He was smiling already, excited for the day.

"I think today," Jude said, heaving a box onto the desk, "Is a Da Vinci day." He smiled, thinking of the books he still had buried somewhere in his apartment on Art History and Religious Symbology. "Type it up, look at some of his artwork, if you'd like." Jude suggested.

Nyx nodded, and did as Jude had said to. His blue eyes widened a little as he took in the artwork that now covered the screen of the computer. "It's beautiful." he said softly, clicking on them so he could see more. His eyes devoured the images, a grin on his face now.

Jude smirked to himself, sorting through the boxes and trying not to get his hands tangled in the cables and plugs,
"Oh yeah?" He prompted, smiling, "Which one are you looking at? I'll tell you something about it."