Mask Or Menace - IC Contact Post

[helpdesk_hero]

This is David Alleyne, I'm not available at the moment.
Please leave your name, contact information, and what this is regarding after the beep.

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[helpdesk_hero]

[He didn't say what he wanted. It's fine. He's fine. There's still tenderness. Still a kiss. He can take that and hold on to it. Not like there's much time anyway, and he'd hate to die with the pain of rejection again.

Too many times. Too many regrets. Better not to regret breaking a good thing.

And that nice, soft kiss, he pulls back and smiles.]

Mind taking me back up there once I climb out? I want to be as efficient about my time as I can be.

[besainted]

Of course.

[ It goes without saying he would, really. He draws back from David with some regret, gathers his feet under him, and rises to go and fetch the bath towel. He holds it ready for David, head tipped as he considers the time passed. ]

Food should be delivered by now. You're sure you don't want anything more substantial, to last you a while?

[helpdesk_hero]

I really don't. It's... I don't know how much I could keep it down if I get really overwhelmed again.

[He smiles warmly at the offered towel and curls it around himself.]

When's the last time someone told you that you're amazing?

[besainted]

[ Fair enough. He casts a quick glance around, ensuring that the pool area is still empty, no one in sight — The coast is clear. ]

I can't say it's something I hear all that often.

[ He steps forward, arms sliding around David's waist (after a brief brush of hand to chest) to push him gently backward. Toward the pool, incidentally — but most importantly, toward the portal back to his room that he's just opened behind David. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Through the portal and into his hotel room and David tries not to laugh at the wonder of it all. His world is ending, THE world is ending. And all he can think about is how this man makes him smile so easily.]

You should hear it more.

[His feet on carpet and dripping. The Carpet will remember it. But he doesn't care right now.]

I'll try and tell you as often as I can before the world ends. And fter.

[besainted]

[ David's damp, and it's making Damian damp. And worse, making him smell like chlorine. But he'll deal with that later, because this is an embrace he'd missed a bit. Or missed in theory, as he'd only been gone a short time. Or ... something like that. Trying to pin down his thoughts regarding David is a bit exhausting.

He opts to push the whole matter away as he steps in closer, resting against David with his chin tipped up to settle onto his wet chest. ]

You might have a tough time doing it after, if the superheroes around here don't pull it off. [ And after a quick sniff: ] Your food's here.

[helpdesk_hero]

We're going to survive, Damian. Because I can't die yet. I'm burdened with the weirdest fucking fate, and it doesn't end here.

[What a beautiful man, and he holds Damian to him for a moment. He'll apologize for the chlorine later. If ever.]

I'll eat, then make the call. You... don't have to stick around.

[besainted]

[ He's not sure of the soundness of that logic, seeing as he doesn't subscribe to fate, but that doesn't sound like a debate he's eager for. He's also not looking ready to facilitate David eating any time soon, as this lean isn't quite finished yet. Whatever, he's got almost an hour. ]

You couldn't pry me out of LA with a crowbar, as long as reality is being shredded over there. But I'm here as long as you're here.

[helpdesk_hero]

I meant you don't have to stick around here, in this room, while I'm eating. Or trying to deal with this.

[He doesn't know how long he can stay in LA like this, but... but he's grateful for the sentiment. And again he can't help but look at the man and want to talk. And not talk.]

[besainted]

[ He shrugs, closes his eyes, and continues to not relocate himself. ]

That's assuming I let you eat.

[ Which he will. Obviously. Just ... in a moment. ]

And as a side note, I don't have your power right now. Looks like you leaving this universe counts as a death for my copying system. [ He cracks an eye open, eyebrows cocked. So, if you want to make any use of that ...

[helpdesk_hero]

What?

[Was that Damian intending to imply they should... Oh. Of course. David offers a soft smile, but it's a bit sad.]

I'd love to, but... Right now, I'm not in a place where I could, Damian. Not mentally. I'm sorry.

[besainted]

[ He grins wryly, because yes that is what he meant, but shrugs. ]

Don't apologize, I don't mind. It's information that works in general, too — we don't have to worry about counting touches in any context, as long as it's on.

[helpdesk_hero]

Will you... ask me this time? Before you copy it?

[He'd let Damian have it, the fact that someone could know and understand him so well was something he had liked. But he knew Damian might well want that power space for something else.]

Thanks for letting me know, though. Once I've got my head on straight, if this is still our status quo, I'd love to explore it with you.

[besainted]

Of course I'll ask.

[ He says it with a quick huff, like it's bewildering David would even have to ask about it. Honestly, it's a novelty not to have to work in the shadows to snag a power, for that alone he'd ask.

He finally leans back, unlocking his arms from around him to give him a little push toward the food on the writing desk. ]

We can talk about that later. I can't imagine I'll be in any real rush to have it back while all of this plays out.

[ Just kidding, there's always a use for information, but he doesn't mind putting it off for a while. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Don't go. Not yet. David pulls Damian back, just for a moment. Just to kiss him.]

Thank you. For what you do for me. I find every day with you to be a wonder.

[Only then does he move away for the food. He really should eat.]

[besainted]

[ Oh. Well. He has no complaints about that, and sets his hands lightly at David's hips to enjoy the kiss. He smiles a little as David finally makes toward the food, but ...

I find every day with you to be a wonder. What a hell of a sentence. Why, he would ask, if he weren't sure that would be the wrong question. It sounds like poetic nonsense, David can't actually mean it. Why would anyone? Even at his most feigned-charming, it's nothing that would apply to Damian. ]

You'd do the same.

[ That's safe enough, seeing as it's certainly true. What's a little easy power usage compared to taking a knife wound for a friend? He slides into one of the two seat at the desk, making himself quickly comfortable. ]

Mm, but you're welcome. You should know by now I'm happy to help if I can.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Of course David would do the same. Of course, he knows he's a self-sacrificing person. He knows that he's a warm man who this comes to a bit easier. And he knows he's smiling to Damian as he uncovers his sandwich and soup.]

I would try. I would say my parents raised me that way, but who knows where it really comes from.