[Unusually enough, this time, Billy doesn't quite have the right of it. Of course, the conversation is intense enough that the mental components might be a bit much to process simultaneously, but Cliff's hand motions had more or less accurately indicated what he meant. Both. Sex and relationships, in his mind, were intertwined enough that both merited a certain amount of healthy awareness.
Still, that's not the important bit. His eyebrow shoots up as Billy chooses to respond to the joke portion first. (...Well, not a joke, he would absolutely take off his kneecaps.) Whether or not the other boy realizes it, it betrays something of which Cliff is becoming increasingly convinced.
He likes this boy quite a bit.
At the confession, Cliff goes still for a moment, leaving Deathbringer continuing to gnaw off Cliff's arm as the only movement in the room, which he should probably seek medical attention for at a later point. Fortunately, his hoodie is currently in the way.]
...Yeah.
[He sort of figured. He hadn't put two and two together until late last night. But it was hard not to notice that night after the No Good Very Bad Stupid Sex Party, a completely unfamiliar human scent lingering in the upstairs portion of the house. At the time, he had barely cared, after his overall harrowing experience. He certainly hadn't thought to ever ask about it. Billy was allowed to have visitors. But after the conversation at Billy's holiday party...]
OK. You can.
I just don't think you're thinking enough about helping yourself.
The truth is he thinks he does - But it's complicated. What do you do when an intense situation makes everything you feel already more intense? Is it a lie then? He - Doesn't want to think so because he still cares, he still feels. And that's the problem with being Billy - He'll always care even if he doesn't want to.
(Not that he doesn't want to, in this case, but he's doomed to care more than he reasonably should). ]
[ He doesn't look up. He hadn't lied last night, either, he had enjoyed it. He's not ashamed, exactly just - Confused is the word. It'll keep being the word even when he nods his head simply at the 'yeah' Cliff responded with. Of course Cliff would know, he's smarter than he gives himself credit for. ]
[ A small huff of a breath at the 'you can,' that might be near amusement - like a child being given permission by an adult. Then he looks up, smile small and wary. ]
I'm not exactly sure what would be helping myself here. I know ignoring him won't and I know I'll want to help him.
[Because being that intimate also means, by consequence, he knows more than he ordinarily would. ]
I'll be okay. Besides, if something else did happen, at least it might be on our terms.
That's 'cause you're like, a fucking saint. And don't even try to say anything; we're only friends because you're a fucking saint. ...OK, like, all versions of you. I mean, honestly, this version of you, too, who goes 'OK crazy wolf guy someone else made friends with we can keep the same relationship.'
A normal person would want to give a relationship the best chance possible. Like, you know, have cute-ass fucking dates and get to fall in love or whatever, not move the guy in.
[It's not that it was doomed to failure. It just seemed to open the possibility pretty wide.]
...I mean, I think. Not that I've ever done this shit.
Also, let's be real. I live here, too. That's like, a minus 500 penalty to this whole thing.
[What did he say this time? Calling him a saint earns a look. He definitely disagrees because of course he does. He's not a saint - he can't find anything about what he's doing here saintlike. Even that explanation: ]
You also took a chance on me because someone asked you to.
[So who's the real saint? ]
[ The hands at his sides, still balled into fists, loosen as Cliff goes on. He doesn't roll his eyes but he breathes out. ]
It sounds like, to me, you have a lot more hope for something to come out of this than I do. [And he knows Cliff does, there's not much of a joking tone there. Cliff told him the night previously - he wanted Billy to be happy. Maybe this was counterintuitive to that. Maybe he's right and any possible relationship goes out the window, but he doesn't think there was a chance to begin with. ]
It's only a minus 500 penalty if you start harassing him about this. [That much is a joke, at least. ] I wouldn't invite him here if I was worried about you... screwing something up or whatever.
Can you stop a dog from chasing its own tail? No. Can you stop Cliff from interrogating your boyfriend? Also no.
[Cliff shakes his head somberly, knowing full well the heavy burden that is upon him of being Billy's self-assigned wingman/vetman/whatever.]
But I'll go easy. I'll use the abridged questionnaire. [This suggests Cliff has made preparations for this day in advance.] And I'll give him 24 hours to settle in.
[It's odd because this is also behavior guaranteed to alienate a possible relationship but Cliff is a Complex Man with Complex Feelings. Also he's probably teasing. A little.]
Please do not call him that - especially around him. I don't want him to even know I told you.
[ About the other stuff. Or that Cliff figured it out, he'd assumed he would. Even making sure clothes were cleaned, he bet Cliff would smell another person in the apartment. Still. He didn't want - ]
Twenty-four hours and you leave all 'why are you good enough for Billy questions' out. [ Look. He has to say it. At least he does know his name! ] ... Coriolanus.
[What is life as Cliff if he doesn't make Billy roll his eyes and want to punch him once a while.]
OK, OK... I was gonna ask him 'why aren't you good enough for Billy,' anyway. Hey, don't stress. Maybe we'll get along so well he'll forget you and totally fall in love with me.
It's not like it hasn't happened before.
[If Billy actually punches him now, he probably deserves it. That said, he's already receiving physical suffering in the form of one increasingly antsy T. Rex, and he starts to edge back towards the door.]
When's he coming? Do I need to act natural. Like look up and be like, 'yo dude I didn't know anyone was coming come and hang chillax.'
...You probably would, too, honestly. See what I mean? [saint]
OK, OK, I'll leave you alone... only because I should probably do something about this guy now. [Deathbringer has now assumed the classic pet pose of latching on to Cliff's arm so tightly that Cliff shakes his arm up and down and the dino manages to hang from it without falling.]
Buuut. Hey, honestly, I hope this goes well.
[Cliff's moments of being unsarcastic are rare enough to be noticeable. They seem to be happening fairly frequently these last two days, which is gross and is definitely giving him some sort of rash because he's allergic to being genuine.]
[ Billy huffs at him and bravely resists the urge to roll his eyes. Mostly because he's now watching Deathbringer practically devour Cliff's arms.
Also mostly because he flushes at Cliff wanting it to go well - because it really is starting to feel like Cliff is overly optimistic in this and Billy's not sure what he's doing exactly. Helping someone, yes, trying to ignore all other possible feelings, also yes.
He breathes out. ]
I was in the middle of doing something [- and want to escape - ] and if someone else might be moving in, I gotta make some adjustments. Try not to get eaten?
[Cliff glances down at the dinosaur hanging off his arm and the multiple bite indentations all over.]
The boat might have sailed on that one.
Oh, but if you make his room nicer than mine, then we'll actually have a problem, 'kay?
[Cliff nods in satisfaction to himself before exiting. Shortly after, Billy will hear a plaintive 'wait deathbringer!!!' and the sounds of roaring becoming increasingly distant along with rapid footsteps]
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no subject
Still, that's not the important bit. His eyebrow shoots up as Billy chooses to respond to the joke portion first. (...Well, not a joke, he would absolutely take off his kneecaps.) Whether or not the other boy realizes it, it betrays something of which Cliff is becoming increasingly convinced.
He likes this boy quite a bit.
At the confession, Cliff goes still for a moment, leaving Deathbringer continuing to gnaw off Cliff's arm as the only movement in the room, which he should probably seek medical attention for at a later point. Fortunately, his hoodie is currently in the way.]
...Yeah.
[He sort of figured. He hadn't put two and two together until late last night. But it was hard not to notice that night after the No Good Very Bad Stupid Sex Party, a completely unfamiliar human scent lingering in the upstairs portion of the house. At the time, he had barely cared, after his overall harrowing experience. He certainly hadn't thought to ever ask about it. Billy was allowed to have visitors. But after the conversation at Billy's holiday party...]
OK. You can.
I just don't think you're thinking enough about helping yourself.
no subject
The truth is he thinks he does - But it's complicated. What do you do when an intense situation makes everything you feel already more intense? Is it a lie then? He - Doesn't want to think so because he still cares, he still feels. And that's the problem with being Billy - He'll always care even if he doesn't want to.
(Not that he doesn't want to, in this case, but he's doomed to care more than he reasonably should). ]
[ He doesn't look up. He hadn't lied last night, either, he had enjoyed it. He's not ashamed, exactly just - Confused is the word. It'll keep being the word even when he nods his head simply at the 'yeah' Cliff responded with. Of course Cliff would know, he's smarter than he gives himself credit for. ]
[ A small huff of a breath at the 'you can,' that might be near amusement - like a child being given permission by an adult. Then he looks up, smile small and wary. ]
I'm not exactly sure what would be helping myself here. I know ignoring him won't and I know I'll want to help him.
[Because being that intimate also means, by consequence, he knows more than he ordinarily would. ]
I'll be okay. Besides, if something else did happen, at least it might be on our terms.
no subject
That's 'cause you're like, a fucking saint. And don't even try to say anything; we're only friends because you're a fucking saint. ...OK, like, all versions of you. I mean, honestly, this version of you, too, who goes 'OK crazy wolf guy someone else made friends with we can keep the same relationship.'
A normal person would want to give a relationship the best chance possible. Like, you know, have cute-ass fucking dates and get to fall in love or whatever, not move the guy in.
[It's not that it was doomed to failure. It just seemed to open the possibility pretty wide.]
...I mean, I think. Not that I've ever done this shit.
Also, let's be real. I live here, too. That's like, a minus 500 penalty to this whole thing.
no subject
You also took a chance on me because someone asked you to.
[So who's the real saint? ]
[ The hands at his sides, still balled into fists, loosen as Cliff goes on. He doesn't roll his eyes but he breathes out. ]
It sounds like, to me, you have a lot more hope for something to come out of this than I do. [And he knows Cliff does, there's not much of a joking tone there. Cliff told him the night previously - he wanted Billy to be happy. Maybe this was counterintuitive to that. Maybe he's right and any possible relationship goes out the window, but he doesn't think there was a chance to begin with. ]
It's only a minus 500 penalty if you start harassing him about this. [That much is a joke, at least. ] I wouldn't invite him here if I was worried about you... screwing something up or whatever.
no subject
[Cliff shakes his head somberly, knowing full well the heavy burden that is upon him of being Billy's self-assigned wingman/vetman/whatever.]
But I'll go easy. I'll use the abridged questionnaire. [This suggests Cliff has made preparations for this day in advance.] And I'll give him 24 hours to settle in.
[It's odd because this is also behavior guaranteed to alienate a possible relationship but Cliff is a Complex Man with Complex Feelings. Also he's probably teasing. A little.]
What's his name, anyway?
no subject
[ About the other stuff. Or that Cliff figured it out, he'd assumed he would. Even making sure clothes were cleaned, he bet Cliff would smell another person in the apartment. Still. He didn't want - ]
Twenty-four hours and you leave all 'why are you good enough for Billy questions' out. [ Look. He has to say it. At least he does know his name! ] ... Coriolanus.
no subject
[What is life as Cliff if he doesn't make Billy roll his eyes and want to punch him once a while.]
OK, OK... I was gonna ask him 'why aren't you good enough for Billy,' anyway. Hey, don't stress. Maybe we'll get along so well he'll forget you and totally fall in love with me.
It's not like it hasn't happened before.
[If Billy actually punches him now, he probably deserves it. That said, he's already receiving physical suffering in the form of one increasingly antsy T. Rex, and he starts to edge back towards the door.]
When's he coming? Do I need to act natural. Like look up and be like, 'yo dude I didn't know anyone was coming come and hang chillax.'
no subject
[Cliff, please. Stop. ]
[He's trying not to stress and the reality is - he's not exactly, though, and he raises a brow at the suggestion. ]
If you fell in love with each other, then I'd be happy for you.
[ Mostly a joke, partly the truth. He still feels steelly as he watches Cliff fight his new son and frowns a little. ]
... I'll text you when I know, if he does. Do you need help?
[Worry in his tone as he asks it, even if in some way he wants nothing more to be alone right now and bury his face in shame. ]
no subject
...You probably would, too, honestly. See what I mean? [saint]
OK, OK, I'll leave you alone... only because I should probably do something about this guy now. [Deathbringer has now assumed the classic pet pose of latching on to Cliff's arm so tightly that Cliff shakes his arm up and down and the dino manages to hang from it without falling.]
Buuut. Hey, honestly, I hope this goes well.
[Cliff's moments of being unsarcastic are rare enough to be noticeable. They seem to be happening fairly frequently these last two days, which is gross and is definitely giving him some sort of rash because he's allergic to being genuine.]
I'm probably OK. Unless you wanna come help.
no subject
Also mostly because he flushes at Cliff wanting it to go well - because it really is starting to feel like Cliff is overly optimistic in this and Billy's not sure what he's doing exactly. Helping someone, yes, trying to ignore all other possible feelings, also yes.
He breathes out. ]
I was in the middle of doing something [- and want to escape - ] and if someone else might be moving in, I gotta make some adjustments. Try not to get eaten?
no subject
The boat might have sailed on that one.
Oh, but if you make his room nicer than mine, then we'll actually have a problem, 'kay?
[Cliff nods in satisfaction to himself before exiting. Shortly after, Billy will hear a plaintive 'wait deathbringer!!!' and the sounds of roaring becoming increasingly distant along with rapid footsteps]