chokedout | (no subject)

Mmm. Alright.

[Theo's reply is soft, near-whisper as he sits forward to haul himself toward the adjacent bathroom. It sucks to detach from Oliver when all he wants to do is stay near him, which is needy as shit and he knows that. But it's hard to care when he doesn't want to think about the feelings bubbling around in his chest. He stretches his arms overhead, looking down again to the new piercing he's toting as he disappears into the bathroom to turn on a hot bath full of soaps.

A few moments later, he pops his head back out, now stripped naked as apparent from his bare shoulders:]

Ready, your Highness.

( theo disappears into the bathroom, so oliver opts to start stripping down--pulls off his shirt over his head to throw it onto the ground first, and drops boxers along with them. it takes. about as long as it takes for theo to start the bath, get the water right, and strip himself for oliver to take off two pieces of clothing, but he gets there.

which is the important part.

he sees theo, and decides that's a good enough marker for oliver to start heading the few steps between the bed and the joined bathroom before theo even opens his mouth. )

Do we still have Grace's bath salts?

Mmm, maybe? What do they look like.

[Theo asks in a half attentive way, because he's lazy and just wants to get into the already sudsy water; he turns around to look at Oliver when he's in the room, beckoning him closer with out stretched arms and a lay of his body against Oliver clearly meant to help steer him toward the tub. Theo's got a bit of glee to the way he nuzzles at his jaw, hunching down to be on the same height, fighting off the temptation to smack his ass. See, caring. He's so caring?]

( he could look for them--oliver's pretty sure they were left in a jar around here somewhere. something dark, that smells lavender-y. but theo's already gotten some shit in there so it's probably fine. he slouches, too. brings himself closer to eye-level with oliver and instead just presses in right against his jaw. it's cute; oliver would appreciate how clingy theo is more if he wasn't busy being an avoidant asshole.

but he is. he still tips his chin up some to give theo better access, even as oliver takes a few steps back towards the edge of the tub, so he can get himself into it. )

We can save those for later.

I'm always up for a good bath.

[At least when in the company of someone else, anyway. Theo kisses at Oliver's neck, grazes his teeth along the cut line of his jaw and only pulls away when they get into the tub so he can slink down into the water; waiting for Oliver to settle, so he can know who is going to drape up against who because neither of them feel the type to stay at opposing sides of the roomy tub.]

I'll wash your hair if you lean on me.

You're as touchy as Nick is.

( but it's. not a complaint. not exactly. oliver likes how clingy nick is with him, misses him touching him, leaning against him, running fingers through his hair.

it's depressing just to think about it, so he drops it quickly enough. climbs into the bathtub in front of theo so he can lean his back in against his chest, back of his head pressing against theo's shoulder.

for cuddling purposes. )

Did you save any of my shampoo?

Enough for tonight.

[He's been using it here and there, allowed or not, but he more or less just has come to like the scent of it for the reminder it is of Oliver. So he's happy to wet his fingers and slip them back over Oliver's brow, brushing back his hair to gently get it wet. Half stroking his fingers through for the sake of it, half on duty.]

I'll get Ragnor to buy more. Anything else for the shopping list?

( oliver's always a sucker for people brushing their fingers through their hair, this is no different. theo's hands feel nice, and he tips his head into it. closes his eyes as he tries to let himself relax. unwind a little. whatever's closest. )

Think I'm out of whoreos. I've got to get that shit from the shop cleaned up too. Maybe CD shelves. God, CDs are so fucking old. I don't think I've even seen a car with a player recently.

You might as well be selling floppy disks, you know.

[What kind of weirdos like cds anymore, or worse yet- cassettes? Sure there's a weird retro vibe to them but how fun is it to purposely limit yourself to a format with zero share-ability? Theo keeps wetting Oliver's hair, slowly introducing a shampoo into the mix; he's light and careful with it, taking his sweet time.]

Remind me later, I was working on a playlist I want your opinion on.

Can you help me go through the cassettes some more, pass them out? There were like three people who made grabby hands for them.

( oliver just wants to get rid of them. like who the fuck would even buy them? aside from those three losers. oliver's already--mostly--digitized them anyway. )

Yeah, sure. I'll wear something spooky and slutty, hand them out to anyone that'll take them.

[Maybe with some weed included, to prompt an actual desire for cheap little pieces of plastic. He's rinsing Oliver's hair slowly, handfuls of water - one hand tilting his head back, so it runs down and away from his face. He could make this easier somehow but hey, any more excuse to lay in warm water is fine by him.]

I'm gonna steal some of the clothes on the back rack though. I like the gross grunge style sometimes.

( he's not going to protest. oliver still has his eyes closed, he's still pressing in close against theo, moves a hand down to press his palm against theo's thigh even. oliver never minds a good bath, doesn't--usually mind pressing up against people. doesn't mind it right now.

because he's decided he is into theo. theo's gained his trust enough that he doesn't--feel like any fucking bloodpacts are going to be necessary from here on out. trusts him enough to bully ragnor into contracting with him, into letting his guard down like this. letting theo pick him off the floor when he needed it. )

I didn't want a stupid shop, you know. I haate responsibility. So you've gotta like, help out.

Mm, I can help.

[Theo's being agreeable because he's still trying to soothe Oliver, it's true, but it isn't anything he's actually against doing or wouldn't even if he wasn't trying to be charitable. The store has bones in it that could be built up into something cool, and what's the worst they can do? Suck at it and close shop? Oh well.]

Let me paint the walls a bit, will you? We can turn it into something fun. Got any other plans?

I'm turning the back room into a workshop. Once I get there.

( oliver doesn't do a lot of shit often, but he wants to have his own space when he does. )

Mm, update the tech too. Fuck if I know how here, that's something I'll work on figuring out later. Maybe.

( turning his head in to press his lips against the underside of theo's jaw. )

You can paint all you want.

Workshop sounds cute. I get to watch you work at least one day a week. I like your studious faces.

[But he is also hyped to paint - he's been itching to do something creative, but his usual risque art is nothing but ordinary here. He's still working on a come back for that. Cum back? He kisses Oliver back, nuzzling up against him and having their lips barely meet.]

Can I paint you sometime? Your back as a canvas. Your whole body. You can just lay there and look pretty.

You can once we're done in here, if you want.

( oliver likes being fawned over; someone putting a paint brush over his back, leaving behind strokes of color as they line his skin sounds like a great way to spend his time. especially considering he doesn't have to do anything. low expectations with high reward. )

Rinse off the grime, then paint me up. ( lips quirking up at the corner, before he opens his mouth to nip at theo's lower lip. )

Maybe I'll reward you by letting you watch me work.

Mm, I'd like that.

[He's rinsing out a round of fancy shampoo from Oliver's hair, threading his fingers back through the strands and toying his other hand back and forth along Oliver's forearm beneath the water. It's still delightfully warm, he's happy to linger here. If they don't pass out on the bed, he'd be happy to take a second surge of energy and make a painting out of Oliver.]

You let me take some photos afterward and I'll give you an IOU for later. Blowjob, rimjob, foot rub - whatever. Deal?

You don't need to bribe me to get shit out of me, you know.

( eyes opening, so he can look straight up to theo over his shoulder. there's a very slight curl to his lips--a small attempt at a grin that isn't quite growing enough to count as one. )

You can take pics, then after, do whatever you feel like doing with me.

Duly noted.

[He seems pleased with that - although in honesty, he's not sure what to make of it. Things for him have always been exchanges - at least for the longest time in recent memory. It's how he's made and kept friendships, relationships and lovers. He's given to get, and isn't sure how to just... receive without feeling compelled to offer something in return. Why would anyone want to do something for him just because?]

Paint your outside, then paint your inside. Got it.

Don't forget the conditioner.

( because he's pretty sure theo's finished with the shampoo but oliver hasn't smelled the coconut oil conditioner yet, which is vital to hair care and should never be skipped, ever. oliver leans forward so he's not quite laying on theo anymore to give him more room to work with, because. conditioner. )

If my hair's not clean I'm not letting you put paint on me.

Oh my god, you're tiring.

[But - here he is, stretching to reach for the other bottle so that Oliver doesn't go a day without silken locks. Then he's back to working it through Oliver's hair, diligent and quiet until he speaks up a few moments later:]

You should let your hair grow in. You look good with curls.

Did I ever tell you? One of your ex's rules was to let him cut and style my hair, because he wanted it a certain way. I'm guessing to match yours.

( gross really. not that he doesn't enjoy the whole sameface thing he's got going on with theo, it's fun on occasion. oliver slouches back against theo, hums soft under his breath. )

I could grow it.

He liked to do that - yeah.

[To do a lot of what Theo's doing now, he realizes, when it comes to bathing Oliver. But Theo does it with affection, as an excuse to stay close and feel warm. There was some of that with Willem, but most of the time Willem looked at him like a prize. A trophy to be cleaned and kept. He leaned into it, but now he realizes how it really seemed from the outside. He rinses the conditioner slowly, fingers raking through strands of Oliver's shiny hair.]

Up to you. You're hot to me either way.

I know.

( narcissist that theo is, they'd still share a face. or share a face theo used to have and oliver's currently wearing. maybe he should grow it out, if only to give himself a feature that theo didn't share with him. maybe he should just because he's fucking lazy and having william around to cut it at least meant he didn't have to think about it anymore, and it is getting a little unruly as-is. leaning into it might not be a shit idea.

especially if theo's just going to wash it for him anyway. the water's getting cool enough that oliver takes a foot out of it so he can turn the hot tap on again. )

I wouldn't change anything about myself just for you. Or lean into whatever because I think you'll give me crap. I don't need that from you.

Would you do it for a reward?

[Theo knows this isn't that kind of bath but he still teases a tickle of his fingers against Oliver's stomach beneath the level of the water; leaning in to lick a droplet of water off Oliver's neck before he's nuzzling up against it, smelling the sweet scent of the rinsed through shampoo and conditioner. He looks forwar to the tap, and then brings his hand up beneath the surface of the water - as if pressing up against the top crust of ice that isn't there. He concentrates and well, he helps speed up the warming of the water just slightly. But practice is practice?]

Grow it out, I'll give you a bj every time I notice it's longer. Then cut it and rinse, repeat- I'll still blow you any time I can see your curls come in.