it’s almost a game now, how easy he can launch the man into a stuttering fit. he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t having any fun, especially with the comments that somewhat came out of laurence’s mouth. the grin keeps to his lips and he chuckles, reaching up to pry one of his hands away from his face.
❝ i’ve been told that once or twice. i’ve also been told that it’s an endearing aspect when it doesn’t border on irritating. which way do you lean? ❞ was that meant to be taken suggestively as well? maybe.
fingers curl around his, pulling one had away from his face. he doesn’t put up much resistance, just glances up at lucius and tries to shove down the absolute MORTIFICATION welling in his chest. goddamn it.
he isn’t sure if lucius is throwing him a line or hitting on him AGAIN. his other hand dropped ( though he notably doesn’t let go of lucius’ hand. or– not notably. because he doesn’t notice. at all. definitely doesn’t realize after enough time has passed that pulling away would make it weird. )
❛ en–dearing?? ❜ it comes out as a question though he realizes it’s true. despite the ceaseless embarrassment, it’s not actually too bad. ❛ i lean toward endearing. ❜ and leans forward, apparently.
hands sink into thick white fur and laurence laughs as his dog tries to barrel him over. a wet tongue drags over his face and he pushes at the dog, wrinkling his nose in mock disgust.
❛ ugh, chase, stop!! ❜ his protests go unheard as a tail starts wagging. ❛ gross. you’re the worst. ❜ he ruffles chase’s fur and grins at him, putting on a happy tone ❛ who’s the worst boy?? who’s just the WORST boy?? ❜ chase barks happily and pulls away to chase his tail excitedly.
a shadow falls over him before he can move to grab his dog and he looks up.
❛ joseph. ❜ his voice stays carefully neutral even as his heart jumps into his throat. ❛ what can i– ❜ it’s then that he notices the look of PANIC on joseph’s face.
joseph smiles, because that’s what he’s best at. the breeze touches his face and scalp, and he sighs into it, glad to be outside rather than cramped in his office or stuck at home. he looks over at laurence as they walk, an aficionado at eye contact during conversation.
‘ what was your old neighborhood like? i don’t think you’ve talked about it before. ’
laurence meets joseph’s eyes for a moment before his gaze darts away, not quite comfortable with the sustained eye contact. his fingers twist in his hoodie pocket and he tips his head to the side.
❛ my old neighborhood?? it wasn’t… bad. a little nosier than this one. not as… well maintained. ❜ lips purse, unsure. ❛ a good place, though. it was just– time to move. ❜
“ I mean, maybe a little less bitter and sarcastic, but you’re getting the idea! ” She comes back and sits beside the pouting child her father, holding out the water.
“ C’mon, drink up, ya big baby. ” She says that with love. I promise. “ Not gonna get rid of your alcohol-based death wish overthinking yourself into another headache. ”
he takes the glass of water and downs half of it. brown eyes turn to amanda, full of gratitude. ❛ you are– the absolute best daughter. what did i ever do to deserve such a wonderful, perfect daughter. ❜
oh no. now he’s getting emotional. with a headache. and an entire body ache. not the best time but he can’t help it. amanda is literally the best thing that ever happened to him and he needs her to remember it. always.
perhaps he should ease up a little bit, raising a brow to the complete look of sheer panic on laurence’s features. it’s a bit funny how so little actually got to him, but it almost seemed to be a bit much.
though the man kept responding and lucius was never good at practicing certain forms of self-restraints. ❝ donations are considered to be an act of altruism, so this definitely seems like more of an exchange. and i wouldn’t say shades of grey… more shades of red. you’re adorable when you blush. ❞
laurence makes a sound in the back of his throat, clenches his jaw slightly. okay laurence, it’s just flirting. you can do this. you’re not a terribly awkward person who sticks his foot in his mouth every other sentence.
pep talk done, he meets lucius’ eyes. ❛ really, if you think about it, we’re the ones being altruistic. those brownies are to DIE for and you’re only spending a couple dollars on them. ❜ a coherent sentence, wow. doing good.
❛ i am an adult human male, hardly adorable. handsome, maybe. cute, sure. adorable is for toddlers and puppies. ❜ he nods with certainty. not exactly smooth but it’s better than the stuttering mess from moments ago.
❛ but that’s the problem!! you weren’t here and i wanted barbecue!! what was i supposed to do?? ❜ maybe don’t set the kitchen on fire. actually, laurence should probably be banned from the kitchen until he learns not to commit accidental arson. or slice his thumb open. or pour entire bottles of almond extract into pies. or–
❛ well, ❜ laurence says, a note of amusement creeping into his voice. ❛ i’ve got two of those things down. your job is to figure out WHICH two. ❜ one eyebrow goes up and he does his best to look mysterious. it… probably doesn’t work but he’s doing his BEST.
the slight color change to the man’s ears is enough for lucius to smirk a little more, leaning against the table as he takes another bite of the brownie. it was good, and if laurence wasn’t there, he would tease joseph about putting holy water in with the batter. but he refrained. ❝ he should call in a favor from every time he’s got a bake sale. i think i’d end up stopping by more often. ❞ not that he didn’t before to donate to the church. but the teases could only keep flowing.
oh. oh, it just keeps coming. laurence shoots a ( slightly ) panicked look at joseph, but the man is occupied giving a brownie to a delighted looking child.
❛ ah– i’d like– WE’D like that. you know, for more donations for the church. is it a donation if you’re buying something?? i think that makes it Not A Donation anymore, right?? shades of grey, i suppose. ❜ laurence. laurence WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? please shut up.
❝So – I know you said you helped Jo-boy over there in baking these, but it must have been all you, right? They taste much better than the last time he tried to do it all on his own. ❞ As well as teasing Joseph, seeing he was in earshot, Lucius couldn’t help himself from flirting with Laurence, holding up the brownie he had just bought and started to eat.
laurence jumps slightly when lucius starts talking to him, blinking up at the man like a startled deer. ❛ i– uh– ❜ he stutters, ears burning at the flirtatious tone. ❛ i mean, he helped. but he ended up– wrangling christie most of the time. kids. it’s not– i don’t usually bake but– favors. ❜ he gestures vaguely and tries to hide his wince. will he ever manage to not completely embarrass himself in front of others?? probably not.
“ I’ve played a board game with you before. Trust me, I know. ” She quells the urge to eye roll and pats his knee patronizingly instead.
“ I’m gonna get you some water, and you are gonna think about how you’re going to tell Robert next time. ” Amanda abandons him on the couch to get a glass and fill it with water. Hopefully he doesn’t find something else to bang his head with while she’s gone.
laurence winces, memories of VICIOUS monopoly games flashing through his head. boards were flipped on more than one occasion. he reaches out and flicks her hand when she pats his knee like he’s a pouting child.
❛ what am i supposed to say?? ❜ he protests, leaning his head back against the couch. ❛ i can’t just be like ❛ oh, hey, so as it turns out, whiskey and i hate each other and i feel like i’m gonna die after nights out with you.❜ ❜ he pauses, wrinkles his nose as he realizes that’s EXACTLY what he could say.
