Written Wonderland

There was no typing in progress in the thread, so Rav put his phone down again, wondering what he would get up to today. He could certainly go for a walk or play some video games--always appealing. There was a book that a long-time friend had sent him but hadn't started yet. There was a scribble of a story he'd had an idea for a while back he could continue. But everything felt a little... empty. And it would be difficult to get very involved in anything if Nick was going to keep texting him. Eventually, he just decided to lie on his bed, staring up at the ceiling for a while. It was meditative, and Rav let his thoughts go blank as the textures on the ceiling swirled together. He wouldn't stay like that forever, but it was calming in the meantime.

His phone vibrated against his chest, reminding him of Nick's pulsing length underneath him on the couch.

Cuuuuuuuuuute. Maybe I should introduce you to my roomie's cats next time.

And, after a few moments, there was another message.

Iiiiiiiif we were to get together today.... what sounds good? Rav smiled, genuinely happy that hanging out together today was still on the table. But, when he tried to answer the question, Rav drew a blank. He didn't want to feel pressured to talk to Nick for a prolonged period of time, and snuggling or dancing felt a little... fraught. The walk was maybe still too fresh a context. But, eventually, Rav settled on a few options.

-Gestures to a blank-looking rectangle of ground, which emerges on cue to reveal an elaborately lighted doorway with an underground tunnel. Cue impressive music-

This way to the following secret attractions: Parallel Playground, Poppin' Tags, or Portal to Another Dimension. The choice is yours.

Nick set his phone down but continued gazing at it as he nibbled away at more fruit and cheese, contemplating what he wanted out of his day today. Sometimes Kaila would rope him into things--hikes, board games, projects and the like--and, well, it had sounded like Kaila might be down for a board game after her shower, potentially. Sonya might have some fun things to gush about when she got back, too. Maybe Nick would just mill about here, do some laundry or something, maybe get up to some writing or doodling or vidgames between roomie interactions?

Buzz.

Nick shifted his attention immediately back to his phone.

-Gestures to a blank-looking rectangle of ground, which emerges on cue to reveal an elaborately lighted doorway with an underground tunnel. Cue impressive music-

This way to the following secret attractions: Parallel Playground, Poppin' Tags, or Portal to Another Dimension. The choice is yours.

Nick giggled with delight, and briefly weighed his interest in different options. Honestly, maybe this was selfish, but he was really glad he hadn't listed off things to offer Rav; seeing what Rav himself decided to offer was really energizing and exciting.

He thought he probably had his choice picked out.... but he wanted to make an inquiry first.

What can you tell me about this Portal to Another Dimension???

Mercifully, Nick's response didn't take long.

What can you tell me about this Portal to Another Dimension???

Rav started typing back immediately.

Ah yes. Well, there are many alternate dimensions, you see. Most of them consist of animated characters hitting things with swords.

He couldn't help but laugh at himself a little. He was making himself sound like a nerd.

Ah yes. Well, there are many alternate dimensions, you see. Most of them consist of animated characters hitting things with swords.

Nick giggled again, but with a softer contemplation to the sound this time. Sounded like anime or videogames, probably? Well, he thought that gave him enough to officially make his choice.

Intriguing. I would like to sign up for Poppin' Tags!

Intriguing. I would like to sign up for Poppin' Tags!

Rav smiled at his phone as his stomach flipped.

This ride comes with a bonus stop to Coffee Shop, if that's desired. Any favorite thrift store haunts or shall I lead the way?

This ride comes with a bonus stop to Coffee Shop, if that's desired. Any favorite thrift store haunts or shall I lead the way?

Nick was grinning ear to ear as he finished munching his snack plate, and he wiggled excitedly in his seat as he contemplated his reply.

"Gaaaaaay." Kaila droned playfully as she walked past him toward the bathroom, and he giggled with slight embarrassment, holding his phone briefly in front of his face as though it were a tiny shield.

He sighed to try to calm himself down a little once Kaila had closed the door, and he set his mind back to pondering his favorite thrift store haunts, if he had any. He had checked out one or two with his roomies shortly after moving in, but he wasn't sure he actually remembered what they were, or whether he'd call them favorites.

Yes please on bonus Coffee Shop, and Nick stalled out typing for half a moment, unsure how he wanted to word his preference here. He supposed he was worried about sounding selfish or lazy somehow, or maybe he felt a sudden surge of embarrassment about his recently-moved-here status, for whatever reason. He shook it off and finished typing, I'd love to follow your lead.

He hit send quickly, though another bloom of embarrassment hit in the wake of that last bit. It was a warm and gentle feeling, though... hopefully it was fine.

With another sigh, Nick pushed himself to his feet and shook out his hands a little, taking his plate to the kitchen to quickly wash off.

Nick started typing immediately but hesitated before the message sent.

Yes please on bonus Coffee Shop, and I'd love to follow your lead.

Rav grinned and stood up from the bed as he typed his reply.

I can be there in 20 if that works?

Nick was hasty with washing his plate--luckily fruit and cheese slices weren't terribly messy anyway--and he brought the hand towel back to the table with him just to double up the time drying his hands and walking back to his phone. Sure enough, Rav had already replied.

I can be there in 20 if that works?

Nick set the towel down on the table, hands not 100% dry but dry enough to pick up his phone and type.

Yeah! The usual place, then?

Yeah! The usual place, then?

Rav fist-bumped the air with a wild grin on his face, sitting up on the bed.

Yeah, I'll be there.

Rav looked around. He had five minutes to get in the car. He grabbed his leather jacket, put on some socks, and selected some shoes that were easy to take on and off, assuming they would be trying stuff on. Mostly, Rav just needed a few more essentials--pairs of jeans and some undershirts--but the pants, at least, would require a dressing room.

He grabbed a nectarine from the fridge, and when he closed the door, the cat was staring up at him.

"Meow," she said. Rav bent down to pet her head, grabbing one of the treats off her shelf and giving it to her.

"Hang in there, kitten. Rongo will be home tomorrow morning."

And, with that, Rav was out the door.

On the drive over, Rav batted around various thrift shops he knew, contemplated which of them were the right balance of kinda-a-date-but-not-really and contains-stuff-Rav-would-actually-wear. Ultimately, he decided to stick to the larger of the stores he had in mind, figuring it would be more enjoyable to go through more racks with Nick than fewer. Plus, it was Saturday, and it might be too crowded for a small store.

Rav ate his nectarine and put some music on and vibed along to the beat for several songs, almost sad when he needed to start looking for parking, but he told himself he could finish out the song that was playing. He would need at least that much time to stop his stomach from flipping into his throat.

So, he parked and sat in the stall, paying for parking on his phone and preparing to head inside. He was one minute late when he stepped out of the car.

((OOC: I think Rav would go sit down at a table and wait if Nick is not already there.))

Yeah, I'll be there.

Nick smiled pleasantly at the message, savoring the warmth in his chest.

But! He should get going soon to meet Rav on time. With a light sigh, Nick finished drying his hands and slipped his phone into his jacket pocket before returning the towel to the kitchen, his mind pondering what all else he needed to do to get ready. He'd need his wallet for shopping of course, but that was pretty much it. He might be interested in hanging out with Rav more after, though... did he want to bring anything in preparation for that? He could bring a journal or sketchbook or laptop for Parallel Playtime, if they went that direction... but, he couldn't think of anything he'd particularly need if they went for the Portal to Another Dimension instead, so maybe he'd just plan on that. There was often a friction between the sort of safety net of bringing something to entertain himself vs the freedom and openness of leaving the house empty-handed, but maybe the empty-handed trust fall was what he actually needed right now.

So, Nick collected his wallet, donned his shoes, and stood by the front door for a moment, checking in with himself before leaving. Kaila was still in the shower, so he didn't feel the need to turn off lights on her upstairs. He'd checked in with Sonya about the cats and felt freed of any responsibility there. He'd turned off lights downstairs, and couldn't think of anything else he needed to collect from there. He had his phone and wallet in his jacket pockets, which was really all he needed to be self-sufficient in the world. He genuinely had a free day today, and this was genuinely what he wanted to do with it. He felt giddy and warm and excited to see Rav again, and a feeling of serene expansiveness about the plans on the table. He contemplated texting the household chat about his plans, but decided against it, and went ahead and stepped outside.

Nick paused again on the porch, mostly just double-checking that his jacket felt good for the temperature outside. Once content with that, he began his walk to the coffee shop. Small, excited flips danced a little in Nick's stomach as he descended the stairs and remembered how it had felt when he'd invited Rav inside after their walk last night. He'd felt suave and desirable, if enjoyably nervous, and it had been a very good feeling. And then of course he walked past the fence... his path didn't take him fully alongside it, but he did greet the corner of it from across the street, enjoying the warm nervous butterflies in his gut as he imagined Rav's fingers locking into chainlink, pressing his body in. Maybe one day Nick really would find himself between Rav and a chainlink fence like that... it sounded very exciting, but he breathed the excitement out slowly, reminding himself that there was no need to rush into anything.

From there, Nick's path diverged from his walk with Rav last night. The rest of the walk to the coffee shop was riddled with all sorts of other memories, spanning back to when he first moved here and began exploring the area. Rav wasn't the first person Nick had met up with at this coffee shop, though he was by far the most exciting. It had been a nice place to go to just be around people or to get himself a treat. Though his heart sank a little as he thought about moments he had gone there to escape being alone with himself. But maybe it'd make sense to talk about that with Rav today, and they could talk more about Rav's therapist, and the landscape between them in general. That sounded nice, at least as Nick idly daydreamed about it while he walked. Just getting more cards on the table, more things known about one another. And then... shopping!

Nick was quite lighthearted and sort of serenely bouncy as he walked into the coffee shop, just a couple minutes early. His eyes tracked around for Rav, but didn't see him yet. Nervousness did start to seep in now that Nick had arrived at a stopping point, uncertainty rising about what to do next. He stepped to the side of the door to be out of the way as he pondered. He could just wait for Rav, but should he go ahead and order? He didn't want to seem like he was expecting Rav to pay for him, but he also didn't want to seem like he was avoiding Rav paying for him? Should he prepare to offer to pay for Rav to even things out? Nick shook his head a little at himself, closing his eyes and sighing and trying to let go of whatever vigilance was coming up around how he'd be perceived. What did he want to do next?

Finding resolve in his own desire, Nick went ahead and stepped up to look at the baked goods, deciding he wanted to get a treat with his coffee this morning since he'd had a light breakfast.