ＩＮＢＯＸ.

[dishearten]

text / call / action

Comments

text

[sheriffing]

So, I just ordered a pizza.

(Sounds like a statement, meant to be taken as an invitation.)

video, bc shirtless huntsmans need to have their hands

[dishearten]

( lately Graham has been trying a little too hard to find his own heartbeat, and the best way he can think of on his own time involves running until he can barely breathe. he never manages to hear his heartbeat, but he keeps trying anyway. surely it's there, right?

by the time he makes it back to his flat, though, he needs a shower, and he's just out of one when Emma texts him. it's faster to answer with a video, because he's pulling on a shirt as they speak. )

A pizza. ( he lifts eyebrows before he disappears in cotton. ) Are congratulations in order?

( he knows what she's doing. maybe he wants to tease an actual invite out of her. he could do worse things. )

video

[sheriffing]

[ It's nothing she hasn't seen before, but nothing she's used to seeing, either. She pauses for a moment, looks away and back in time for him to find a shirt. He couldn't have just sent a text? ]

Maybe, it's a pretty big pizza.

[He knows what she's doing, can't he offer to show up already?]

[dishearten]

( nope. because he would have had to wait or drop it on the floor. for a grown man he's kind of close to preteen girl excited to be able to talk to her. )

It'd be good for leftovers. Unless you're not a cold pizza person.

( he'll invite himself over if it comes down to that, he just likes drawing the idea she wants to be around him out of her. In other news, he's made it successfully into a shirt, but his hair barely survived it. )

[sheriffing]

I had something else in mind.

[His hair looks the way it did about a week ago, but he wasn't just out of the shower at the time. It's been a while since they've run into each other; even the elevator's stopped encouraging run-ins.]

[dishearten]

( it has been awhile. he's definitely not avoiding her anymore, they've said hello in passing a few times, but he's still trying to figure out the balance of how much is too much. and what is an acceptable excuse to see her. he's lucky that she thought of one because he's honestly not that good at it. )

Should I bring something?

( hopefully it isn't against the rules of whatever they're doing to seem so pleased by the concept of heading to her apartment to steal some of her pizza. )

[sheriffing]

[It's an excuse, even if it's not a good one. Pizza, really? She'd have turned herself down for that one.]

Just yourself. Maybe pants, if you haven't gotten around to those already.

[dishearten]

( pizza is delicious and better with friends. or maybe he would take just about any excuse to be with her, instead of alone. it's a bit bothersome how much he prefers her company, now, because he knows there are limits to how much they can be together. )

Considering what happened to the last few, I'm going to run out eventually.

( he's kidding, but Emma pants work better when the buttons stay on them. )

I'll be there soon?

( she just ordered it, she might not want him around until it gets there. it's not impossible. )

[sheriffing]

You're telling me? You should see my underwear drawer.

[Or not, but it's going to be empty if he keeps tearing them off of her.]

Alright, soon.

[Sooner, if he wants. He doesn't offer, so she doesn't say so.]

[dishearten]

( he wisely decides not to tell her that he has no interest in her underwear unless it's already on her. it's true ... just probably not something she wants to hear. he can maybe try not to rip it in the future, though.

maybe. )

Five minutes.

( that's about how long he needs to put shoes on and walk to her door. he doesn't see why he needs to put on much more than what he's got on. he usually likes his layers, but today they just seem too time consuming. )

[sheriffing]

See you in five.

[She doesn't like layers. Tearing them off might be a form of accidental revenge - but she's smiling that he agreed to pizza before she even cuts the feed.]

text

[sheriffing]

What are you doing tomorrow?

( aside from her, obviously. )

[dishearten]

not sure.

( he knows he hasn't been overwhelmingly fun the past few weeks, and he's trying to get out of his head, it's just slow going. )

something tells me you have an idea.

[sheriffing]

You could say that. Stop by my apartment after work?

[dishearten]

all right. I might be a little later than usual, but I'll be there.
what are you planning?

[sheriffing]

I'm not telling.

[dishearten]

that's mildly ominous.
I was going to pick up some takeout, should I get enough for two?

( it really isn't too out of the ordinary for them these days, to eat together. so it isn't that strange to plan in advance, is it? )

[sheriffing]

Don't bother, I'm taking care of it.

[dishearten]

is that the plan you couldn't mention?

( this is the most sheriffing he's done in years. )

[sheriffing]

It's only part of it.

[dishearten]

I would have never figured you were a fan of surprises.

[sheriffing]

I'm not a fan of being surprised. Surprising is better.

[dishearten]

I've not been fond of surprises, lately.

( he hopes this will be better. )

I can be out by six. is that too early?

[sheriffing]

It won't be like the surprises you've had lately.

[ if there's one thing she can promise him, it's that. ]

Six is good. I can be ready by six.

[dishearten]

six then.
I'll be there.

( he wishes he were better at padding conversation. there's not much to say after that, is there? )