trailblazers | 001 » with my legs up on the dashboard

[ ...Why are his hands full...?

Caelus would swear that he's not that drunk. But he is drunk enough to be sending his regular hookup sloppy texts about how much he likes him and messes him, so he's a little unsteady on his feet as he shuffles towards the door to his room on the Express. He's got the remnants of some canned alcoholic drink in his hand (it's like a lemonade, mind you, but the alcohol content is decently high and he's a bit sloshed) and he's fiddling with the tab as he pulls the door open, and — ]

Why are your —

[ He stops short. Blinks at the sight of Sampo in his doorway, holding... ]

[His hands are full because he's decided not to turn up to this not-actually-a-booty call with gifts. Caelus clearly has a lot of Big Feelings going on and he's a little drunk, so part of the gift is obvious-- he needs snacks, especially those chips that they sell on the Luofu that are kind of a weird flavor, but Caelus likes them. Some sodas and other non-alcoholic drinks, too, because he'll need to drink something that won't give him a hangover the next morning. An assortment of movies and a projector to watch them with, in case Caelus doesn't have one of his own. All the things needed to have a nice night in.]

[A bouquet of roses tucked up in the crook of his arm, in that signature Sampo Koski bright crimson that he prefers.]

[(That isn't something necessary for a nice night in, but it's a little something that he can leave with Caelus as a reminder of why it's a good thing to be good friends with Sampo Koski. If he feels better when Sampo's around, maybe he'll feel better with a little gift from him around, too. And, anyway, who doesn't feel better after getting a bunch of flowers?)]

Because I'm holding things, of course! [Why else would he say that his hands are full?] Can I come in?

[You're still standing in the doorway, Caelus.]

[ Caelus suddenly feels as though he has never seen anything more beautiful in his life.

There's a part of him that would have accepted... less than savory comforts. Not like he only contacts Sampo when he wants sex, but like, most of their relationship is sex anyway, right? So it wouldn't have been surprising if Sampo showed up with a box of condoms or sex toys or something like that instead.

But here he is, with snacks and soda and flowers like he's really a friend and — no, maybe more than that. Caelus doesn't really get gestures from his friends like this. Dan Heng is one of his closest friends, and Dan Heng would never show up to his room with flowers and snacks. Dan Heng shows that he cares by showing up with soup and maybe a sandwich. Not flowers and movies and — and a smile, like this.

Caelus gapes, because he's stunned and he's drunk and he loves this. He also thinks he might cry. ]

Of course you can come in. You can always come in.

[ He kind of half-stumbles out of the doorway to let Sampo in and then half-stumbles to get the door closed. He suddenly feels very unkempt and unlovable and messy; he regrets the amount of hard lemonade he's had, and the fact that he still has the can in his hand, like he's a sloppy mess. But then, the flip side of this is that Sampo's seen him red-faced and crying and has still gladly licked his hole, so maybe Caelus's concerns are very unfounded indeed.

(He's actually pretty cute like this, drunk with messy bedhead and worn-in sweats.) ]

You brought all of that for me?

[ Caelus sounds so full of awe, like it's never occurred to him that anyone could be this nice, or care about him so much. He watches Sampo set everything down on his table, his eyes wide and gold and seemingly swimming a bit with filmy tears. ]

That's so much... you didn't have to. How are you so nice to me...?

[ Alright, so maybe he's a little lost and confused. But he sure seems appreciative! ]

[There's a weird sort of thickness to Caelus' voice when he invites him in, and he's a little unsteady, but both of those could probably be chalked up to the drinking. The door is closed behind him, significantly decreasing the likelihood of any Dan Heng-based misadventures, and Sampo walks over to deposit some of his gifts onto the table to free up his hands. The roses are set down with particular care, so that they don't get crushed; he'll have to find a vase for them. Maybe that navigator lady has one? A classy lady like her would have a vase.]

[He turns at Caelus' incredulous questions. The Trailblazer stands there with his comfy sweatpants and loose shirt, his hair a little fluffy and messy like he'd just been in bed, and his general comfortable appearance is in juxtaposition to the way his eyes are wide and wet like he's going to burst into tears. And apparently it's because Sampo is nice to him? That's not the response that he normally gets from being nice to someone.]

[Caelus must be more drunk that he'd expected. And maudlin.]

Aw, Caelus, pal, don't cry. [He goes over to him and wraps an arm around his shoulders, pulling him into his chest in a hug. His skin and clothes still smell like roses from where the bouquet had been resting.] Why wouldn't I be nice to you?

[He gently takes the can of alcohol lemonade from Caelus and just... sets it aside. They don't need that anymore, Caelus has really probably had enough.]

Come on, why don't you get comfy on your bed and let ol' Sampo get everything set up? We'll have a night in and you'll feel better in the morning.

[Probably. Or he'll feel hungover, which isn't really better but it's probably not worse, either.]

[ He's still sober enough that he knows he shouldn't cry, but he's definitely drunk enough that he can't help but cry anyway. Caelus's eyes film over with glossy tears as he sinks into Sampo's arms without much guiding — all it really takes is for Sampo to get close enough to take his alcohol from him — and then his face is pretty much pressed into Sampo's chest. Hopefully that barely-there shirt of his is good at absorbing tears! ]

You're so nice to me.

[ It's very thickly said, but at least he's not sniffling, or Sampo would have to worry about snot.

Caelus will let himself be gently manhandled over to his bed, though, where he'll be pliant and docile and comfy while Sampo sets them up with a movie and appropriate snacks. He curls up into his pillow once Sampo's chest isn't there to support him, looking for all the world like he needs a teddy bear from March's room to balance himself out. (Sampo should not try to get any of those teddy bears.) ]

Sampooooo... I love you. Really, really love you.

[ He hiccups into his pillow once he's lying down — not in the crying way, more in the drunk way. His cheeks are pretty flushed, but it manages to look cute on him despite everything. Fortunately, it seems that he's already and immediately forgotten about his drink... ]

[Caelus curls up on his bed and really does look like he needs something to cuddle with; lucky for him, Sampo won't need to get a teddy bear from March, he'll be the teddy bear that Caelus can cuddle in a minute. He just has to get the projector set up and a movie going, and he'll be right on that bed with him. It's a thankfully easy process, and Caelus has a decent blank space on the white wall for it to project onto. He picks one of the movies at random; a rom-com, which is fine, it's something funny and brainless.]

[He's just going to turn the lights down when Caelus makes some very sweet and very funny drunken declarations from the bed. Wow, the alcohol is really hitting him hard if he's going around declaring his love for everybody like the last guy in the bar. If it had been Dan Heng in here instead of Sampo, he's pretty sure that Caelus would be telling him that he loves him, too. Or March, or Welt, or Nanook themself.]

[Sampo grabs himself one of the sodas and sits on the edge of Caelus' bed, then leans over to push some of the Trailblazer's messy hair away from his forehead.]

Me too, buddy. [His tone is indulgent. When he exposes a little of Caelus' forehead, he presses a soft, dry kiss to it. He feels warm, but that's probably just the alcohol flush.]

[The bed is big enough for the two of them, and Sampo props himself up on the pillows and lays next to him, extending an arm for Caelus to snuggle against his side. Come here, you drunk mess, there's a conman's chest with your name on it to rest your head on.]

There you go. That's better, isn't it?

[ He's gotta be sloshed. Sampo reassuring him that he loves him too, and brushing his bangs back so carefully — it makes Caelus giggle, sweet and unbearably trusting, as he snuggles closer. The kiss to his forehead, Sampo opening up his big arms

Well, he might be a weepy drunk, but at least it's reasonably easy to make him happy. ]

Uh-huh. Way better. [ He blinks a few times, slow and slightly disoriented, as the movie's introductory scenes start to play, and the Trailblazer seems to settle into the familiar sound of some cheery pop song playing as the film's protagonist starts going about his busy and frazzled life. ] ...You're the best. Really.

[ He sighs contentedly, pressing his cheek into the wonderful pillow that Sampo's tits have made for him. He... hasn't sobered up any, not by a long shot, but he's much calmer now, and he feels reassured. Safe. Warm. ]

You're so, so good to me... s'not fair...

[Caelus is easy to please right now and that just makes everything easier. He cuddles up against Sampo's side nice and sweet, rests his heavy head on his conman paramour's generous chest. Settles in for an evening spent mostly sobering up.]

It's very fair! Time is money, friend, and I wouldn't spend mine doing anything that I don't like.

[So Caelus can rest easy knowing that Sampo's here because he wants to be here. He doesn't spend money unless he's certain that he wants to spend it, so every minute that he's with Caelus is, in his eyes, cash well spent.]

[On the screen, the protagonist is being introduced, some generic everyman for the audience to relate to. The light from the projector casts dancing shadows over Caelus' pretty, flushed face.]

So, are you gonna tell me what brought on today's little overindulgence? [His arm is wrapped around Caelus' waist, and he gently rubs his thumb over his side. Nice and easy, a gentle touch on his warm skin.] You don't usually get tipsy like this.

[ Pillowed over Sampo's broad chest, Caelus's eyes half-close, lidding carefully over his pretty golden irises as his focus drifts away from the movie. It's nice to have as background noise for the moment, but he's not really looking at the generic everyman on the screen in the moment. ]

...Mmm... I was just... feeling crazy.

[ He lets his eyes close for a moment as his attention hones in on the touch of Sampo's thumb against his waist. ]

Sometimes I'm scared of stuff. You know? [ He's talking slow, unhurried. Almost mumbling. ] 'Cause I only started living recently. And when I think about how I'd lose everything if I died... stuff like that...

[ He sighs, slow and unhurried. ]

Then I started thinking about how I'm not scared of things when I'm with you...

[ Stirring, Caelus opens his eyes again, but only so that he can focus them on the slopes and angles of Sampo's handsome features. A little more of his tension seems to ease out of him as he takes in Sampo's pretty face. ]

...You know, I'm mean to you, but you're the only one I'm mean to. Do you know what I mean? Like... 'cause I know you won't hurt me.

[ He closes his eyes again. Nice and sweet and heavy. Away from the booze for now. ]

...Just feel safe when I'm with you. And then I feel crazy about that, too.

[Some of Caelus' worries are the kind of existential crises that probably every young person goes through eventually-- the realization of the finite nature of life and the inevitability of the siren call of the grave, confronting one's own mortality, et cetera. That sort of thing doesn't worry Sampo too much. Everybody has to grapple with their own mortality at some point, Caelus is just apparently doing it now.]

[It's sweet, when he confesses that Sampo makes him feel secure. A lot of people would probably tell him that it's a mistake to feel that way, that Sampo Koski is a rake and a libertine and not at all the kind of man to be trusted. But he's been pretty reliable when it comes to Caelus, hasn't he? He always answers when Caelus texts him. With their little trysts, he stays until morning. He's even sometimes stayed for breakfast, sitting in the Express' parlor car as he drinks coffee with Caelus and pretending that he doesn't notice Dan Heng's eyes staring at him hard enough to bore a hole in the side of his head.]

[Isn't that something?]

When you put it like that, it almost sounds as though you like me!

[What a thing to say. What a thing, and if Sampo wanted to think about it too much, he could read a lot into what Caelus is telling him. What it means that he feels safe with him, and how it drives him crazy. What, exactly, crazy means. But Caelus is just drunk and maudlin, that's all it is, and Sampo shouldn't read anything at all into it.]

Of course you're safe with me. I'm your good pal Sampo, when have I ever steered you wrong?

[ It really has been awkward, in the past. But it's strangely comfortable, too. He's enjoyed the lazy mornings where he gets to sit and spread some cream cheese on a bagel while Sampo sits across from him and drinks coffee while browsing the day's headlines for business news. Even with Dan Heng glaring daggers at Sampo and March 7th whispering behind her hand while glancing at them, long mornings with Sampo had always felt good. He always acted like he belonged with them, even though he so obviously didn't.

It's something, alright. It's something.

The easy way he's dealing with a drunk, maudlin Caelus — that's something, too. ]

I do like you. [ The gray-haired Trailblazer opens his eyes briefly; they're dreamy and gold and a little bit hazy. Then they close again. ] I like you so much. I like you so so so so much.

[ The way he feels so much better now that Sampo's come to comfort him. The way he feels so comfortable and safe in Sampo's arms, and when he takes a deep breath, he can smell the man's cologne, He wants to imbue Sampo's fragrance into his sheets; maybe then he won't miss the man so much when he's gone. ]

But you'd sell me for one corn chip. [ A little laugh, one that hiccups slightly at the end, like he's still crying — though by now the tears have stopped. ] And I'd still like you the same way...

[Caelus' gold eyes are sweet and dreamy, like SoulGlad or supernovae, a brief flash of light and color before they close again and he buries his face against Sampo's chest. He cuddles himself in there like he belongs in Sampo's arms and fits there perfectly, soft and safe.]

[A single corn chip. Sampo makes a little noise in his chest, somewhere between a laugh and a hum, and runs his fingers through Caelus' gray hair. It's a joke, a little meme reference between friends, but there's something to the question. Sampo is the kind of man who knows the value of everything, and that everything has a price-- what's the price of a pretty Trailblazer? He's said before that even though the customer is king, it could be worth his while to betray the king. How much cash-- or something of equal value-- would someone have to come up with to make him think about handing over Caelus?]

[If one of Nanook's emanators was at his doorstep with the Legion at their back, baying for Caelus' blood, what would Sampo Koski do?]

[Hm. Hm.]

Oh, come on. [He says it indulgently, tucking a little stray piece of hair behind Caelus' ear.] It'd be at least two corn chips. Maybe even three.

[ The little laugh that Sampo lets out makes Caelus laugh, too, and it's such a pleasant, lovely thing. To laugh because someone else is laughing. To laugh because someone you love is laughing. His fingers tousle the Trailblazer's hair, soft and fluffy like the fur of some small animal; his body feels, somehow, like the perfect container for Caelus's frame. The young vessel of the Stellaron breathes in deeply; Sampo smells like roses and cologne. ]

Three corn chips. Maybe a soda.

[ He trails his fingers lazily down Sampo's chest, and then quietly draws a heart shape over the fabric of the man's vest. He's not really paying attention to the movie anymore, although in all honesty, neither of them were.

After a slight pause, Caelus straightens just slightly, tipping his face upward in supplication of a kiss. ]

Hey... kiss me? [ Experimentally, he licks at the corner of his lips; he's not crying anymore, and his face is fairly dry, but he pulls a face because his skin still tastes a little salty where the tears soaked in. ] Sorry... I'm all salty. But I really want a kiss...

[ He is still a little drunk. Apparently, Caelus is the type of drunk that likes to be spoiled. ]

[Caelus is the kind of drunk who wants to be spoiled, and he's lucky that he's so cute while he's at it-- tracing little hearts on Sampo's chest, looking up at him with those big gold eyes. Guileless and sweet. It would take a man with a harder heart than Sampo's to say no to him.]

That's all right. You can have kisses even if you're salty. [And as proof, he presses one to Caelus' awaiting lips. He is a little salty, from all those dried tears.] See? Nothing to it.

[Another kiss, then, to one of his cheeks, right where the tear tracks would have run; then to the other. Those are a little saltier to the taste, but what has the galaxy come to if a man can't kiss the tears from his situationship's cheeks? That's a galaxy that Sampo wants no part of.]

Better? Or do you still need more kisses? You're lucky that I don't charge you for them.

001 » with my legs up on the dashboard

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