He smiled, occasionally glancing over at Nyx's playing and humming encouragingly as the song slowed to its nearing end. It reminded him of the dingy jazz clubs in Harlem; echoing piano at the end of the night mixing with empty chatter into white noise, locking eyes with a stranger across the room and smiling around the rim of his glass. Jude glimpsed at Macy sauntering over to the couch, quietly hopping up and pawing at the green cushions.
Nyx finished the song, and looked at Jude. "Did I do okay?" he asked, a hesitant, shy smile on his face, his dark hair falling into his forehead, his fingers still resting on the keys. He swallowed a little, blue eyes alight and happy.
"Yeah," Jude smiled and nodded, "You did really well. I never really liked using sheet music, but you might find it a little helpful." As a teenager, he thought of the notes over the scales as code, running musical scripts. He tucked a straying lock of hair behind Nyx's ear, leaning towards him to give him the faintest kiss on his cheek. "If you like, you can find some videos online that teach you the basics."
Nyx smiled happily, looking at Jude. He shrugged a little. "Whichever one you think would work better." He replied with a little shrug, just happy that he had Jude now, that they could be together and happy, at least for a little while.
"Hm, I'm not sure," Jude said through a breath, slowly standing up and stretching. "Learning how to read sheet music is kind of annoying, but we could try watching a few videos whenever." He walked a few steps from the piano to the couch, scooping Macy up into his arms and cradling her like a baby.
Nyx watched Jude go, and smiled when he saw Macy. He reached out to pet the kitten in Jude's arms, smiling happily. "Alright." He replied, leaning his head on Jude's shoulder as he continued to pet the kitten.
"Hm," Jude smiled down at her, faintly purring in his hold. "I remember when my neighbor first brought her home," He chuckled, thinking back to the rainy day that brought her wandering down an alleyway. "She was so small, I could hold her in one hand."
(I gtg now, sorry)
Nyx smiled a little. "Oh. Sounds adorable." he agreed softly, still petting Macy.
"Yeah," Jude agreed, gently freeing one hand to feel her soft fur, "The day she was found— she was soaking wet and all alone, but we kept her warm and happy, and it all worked out." He smiled, turning to Nyx, "D'you wanna hold her?"
Nyx nodded, and his eyes lit up at the offer. "Yes please!" He said, holding out his hands to take the kitten from Jude. It was almost adorable how innocent and happy he was about everything.
(Cue me realizing that Nyx has never had "the Talk" and doesn't know what sex is O.O)
Jude chuckled softly at Nyx's happy reply, gently placing Macy into his arms without the slightest protest from her. "God, you're gonna lose your mind when you see other animals–" He smiled, an idea popping into mind as he pet the kitten, "–Why don't we go to the zoo sometime? What do you think?"
( ~_~ –oop. thats gon be a shocker. do you think they should have that conversation?/ when?)
Nyx held Macy, smiling happily as he held her close, petting her. He looked up at Jude with a happy smile. "That would be great!" He bounced on his heels a little bit. He and seen pictures of other animals, yes, but never really seen any up close.
(Yeah lmao. And…I think it probably should wait until either Nyx asks about it, and/or they're actually gonna…do that lmao)
"Mhm," Jude smiled, imagining what a whole day of Nyx smiling would look like. And at the petting zoo… Oh. He pictured the two of them there, holding rabbits and baby goats while Nyx wore an excited smile. "Yeah, we'll make a day of it. You wanna go tomorrow?"
(yep 👍🏽pppfff, i can just imagine them sitting in silence and nyx goes 'where do babies come from?' and jude's like 0_0)
"Yes please!" Nyx said happily, looking at Jude with a bright, sunny smile, still petting Macy and cradling her close. He loved this. Loved being with Jude like this.
(Hahahahhaaa yessss)
Jude grinned at Nyx's enthusiasm and his smile, his smile. A quiet blush spread over his cheeks as he leaned closer to him. "You can't look at me like that," He muttered through his own smile, pressing a quick kiss to Nyx's happy smile and sighing.
Nyx hummed. "Mmm, why not?" He asked, looking up at Jude and pressing a kiss to Jude's cheek. "Besides, I can't help the way I look."
"Well, it's making my own face hurt from smiling." Jude said, gingerly touching the side of his own jaw. He raised his eyebrows, half-hearted sarcasm making itself known, "So I'd appreciate it if you stopped being so damn cute all the time."
Nyx stuck his tongue out in answer, turning back to Macy. "You don't mind if I'm cute, do you, kitty?" He asked Macy in a singsong voice, teasing and light. "Not like grumpy over there."
Macy just stared at him, her eyes like marbles with her ridiculously sweet face, "Grumpy is praying to God that the cutie doesn't leave him for you," Jude said, talking to her like she was a baby, "Because you're so sweet, yes you are. You oughta be named Jolene– you'll take him just because you can. Like Dolly Parton sang, yes."
Nyx grimaced. "I don't know what song grumpy is talking about, but maybe I will." He continued in his own singsong teasing, smiling a little as he petted the kitten.
Jude shook his head, smiling, "Alexa, play Jolene by Dolly Parton." He called out, cupping Macy's precious face in his hands as she replied, "Sure, Jolene by Dolly Parton." Jude tilted his head to the side as he sang along, serenading the cat in Nyx's arms. "I'm beggin' of you, please don't take my man."
Nyx listened to the song and to Jude's singing, a faint smile still twitching at his lips. He kept petting the kitten, his eyes flicking to Jude every now and again.
Jude sang to Macy, getting a little lost in the summery-sounding acoustic guitar, "Your beauty is beyond compare, with flaming locks of auburn hair, with ivory skin and eyes of emerald green," He smiled at her emotionless expression, stealing a glance back at Nyx. "Your smile is like a breath of spring– your voice is soft like summer rain, and I cannot compete with you, Jolene."
Nyx smiled a little at Jude, then petted Macy again, making soft kissy noises at the kitten, feeling her soft fur beneath his fingers. He let out a happy, content sigh.