sixthiterationlogs | [Mingle] The First Official Meeting of the Young Adult Club

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[Mingle] The First Official Meeting of the Young Adult Club

WHO: Nida
WHERE: House 16
WHEN: Evening/Night Monday the 14th
OPEN TO: Mingle: Open too all young adults (22 and younger); Older may show up but expect a testy Nida.
WARNINGS: Young Adults Partying, Possible: Underaged drinking if people bring stuff. If your thread changes ratings, in subject line and DM me so I can update.

The message goes out over the Network Sunday evening.

'Young Adult Club, First Meet-Up/Party Monday night. First house after the Jail/Barn. Bring Snacks If You've Got Them To Spare.'

Invitation sent in general, The rest, now, came down to Nida. Good thing he had someone who knew how parties worked was right there too. Rinoa turned out to be a pretty good resource. He learned there were a few important things to do for a party. Three major things were needed: music, treats and games. Unfortunately they couldn't do much about the former, so instead Nida employed his housemates in trying to make sure the latter two were covered.

The Nibbles

The easiest person to go to about food turned out to be Seifer. Of the three of them the blonde had somehow ended up as the defacto chef of their house when it came to important things like this. What this meant was a variety of easily made food, things like a plate of half-dollar sized pancakes for easy munching or dipping into other things, fried potato edges, even a quiche that Seifer had managed to whip up, not that Nida even recognized what the whole thing was. While it wasn't as impressive a spread as the New Year Eve party had (or perhaps even the forge gathering) it was clear that the three had done the best they could with the skills two mercenaries and a formerly sheltered young woman had between them. Hopefully treats from other people would help with the spread. Personally, Nida was hoping to steal some of the fritatta Seifer had made in their cast iron skillet, but guests came first of course.

The Games

Games. What even were party games? For that one the center spotlight had gone to Rinoa's planning efforts. Nida had scrounged in the inn's shared supplies, borrowing a set of playing cards and a Jenga set. Not that he really knew what the latter was. The cards went to the dining room table with some extra chairs borrowed from an unoccupied house, the Jenga onto the coffee table, and Rinoa's peakitten Julia got shuffled into her room to prevent her from knocking over the wooden blocks yet again. Nida was tired of rebuilding.

Introductions

They're all new here, they don't all know each other, so Nida and Rinoa encourage people upon arrival to start out simple. And all you have to do is say your name and three facts about yourself. Or, if you're feeling mischievous, two truths and a lie. Can people guess the truth of the matter about you? Or do they already know you well?

Quite Spaces

Frankly Nida wasn't sure how he felt about opening their house to so many people, and with the living room, dining room and kitchen all prepped for use, he realized there was one other thing people could need. A place to talk quietly or just have group games. As he was the only one of the three of them that didn't have much in the way of property and could give up the whole concept of privacy for a bit, the back bedroom ended up having a note pinned on it with a kitchen knife.

'Quiet Space for Your Use - Do not have sex in my bed please'

With his staff stored in the basement and his tiny journal and pencils stored out of sight on top of the standing wardrobe, the room was perfect for anyone who just needed to cool down. Or have a private conversation. Good thing the house has electricity because that could be used long into the night.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Really, what it comes down to is that he's been dancing around this all night. Longer than that. Walking the edges of the party, finding conversations, meeting people and making nice. But always, always his eyes came back to Billy. Find him across a room, through doors from rooms away, looking when he didn't think Billy was, or when other people might not notice.

It's a while before he finally finds himself alone at the same time that Billy is, and finally he crosses to his friend. His best friend.

"So this counts as a reason to break out the product?" Nida asks, and yes, there is a bit of appreciation in his gaze. "Or have you been wearing it since I gave it to you?"

Because Nida wouldn't know. He hasn't been around Billy since that sleepover. Since that realization. Even their evening conversations he's steered only toward movies. Because anything more than that would have been overwhelming while he had to think about what was going on with him. And there was a lot to think about, between what happened and the conversations since that he's had with some other people.

Billy's felt those eyes on him over the course of the night. A couple times, he's looked up to find Nida looking his way, or positioned in just the right place that if he did look up, they'd be looking at each other. Other times, he's just been watching the room, only to find his attention caught by a familiar laugh, or to see Nida smiling. He isn't sure why it feels so different, but it does. Makes him more aware of how he looks, how he sounds in a way he hasn't felt in a really long time.

Then he looks up one more time, and there Nida is, standing next to him. Billy can't help the smile on his face, or the way he reaches a hand up to brush at his carefully styled hair. "Nah, gotta save it for special occasions, right? Which obviously this is. What do you think?" He poses just a little for Nida, showing off. Dorky? Maybe. But that is Billy.

What does he think? He thinks that the product kept Billy’s hair out of his eyes. Which was good because they were nice eyes. What he says is “Wow, vain or what, Billy? I mean, by all means own the vanity if it makes you feel good. But there is something charming about you fussing with your hair pretty constantly.”

Did it have to do with the fact that it brought Nida’s attention to his face? Maybe.

Vanity? Not really. Billy thinks he looks all right, but not anything special. Still, Nida's words do have an effect, and he looks mildly embarrassed, even though he's still grinning. "I do, don't I? Nervous habit, I guess." Although it's anyone's guess why he'd be nervous around Nida, when he's so often the opposite. "Guess I'm lucky you think it's charming." Hands in the pockets of the jeans he's liberated from storage, Billy gestures with his chin at the rest of the room, warm brown eyes still fixed on Nida.

"Think it's been a pretty successful night. Everyone's having fun. What about you?"

I’m better now that you’re here.

“You have a lot of those,” Nida observed instead, ignoring the tiny voice in his head. “But they make you, you, so I figure it’s okay.”

As for the party... Nida looks around and while he’s tried to hide it from everyone else, he has no concern in letting Billy see he is a touch nervous, even now. He wasn’t used to being around so many people his own age without fights happening.

“I’m shocked by how many of us there are, mystified by Seifer’s growing ability to cook, and really confused by the idea of party games. So, you know, more of less okay.”

"You're right, I do, don't I?" And while normally that acknowledgement would cost him something, with Nida it doesn't. "I'm kind of high-strung, maybe. Or this place brings it out more. You notice more than anyone else I know, though." He pays attention in a way a lot of people don't. It just makes Billy want to pay attention right back, instead of obsessively reexamining his own habits, which means he notices Nida's nervousness, and offers a comforting smile.

"I know what you mean. There's like a dozen of us, at least. More than I expected, I think, if I expected anything. I don't know Seifer well enough to judge, but if he made those pancakes, they were pretty great. And party games are fun. It's a shame we don't have Twister here, I think you'd be into it." And really good at it. And he isn't going to let his thoughts wander that direction, instead letting them haul him off elsewhere.

"Speaking of--I promised you dance lessons, didn't I? And you said you'd give me more staff lessons. We should set something up. I miss you." He doesn't mean for that last part to slip out and immediately tries to course correct, looking surprised and flushing faintly. "I mean--we talk and everything, but I like hanging out with you. And I haven't seen you since you came over last week. So..." So he'd like to. That's all.

“Spy,” Nida reminds him with a smile, “noticing things was literally what I was paid for. And I was well paid. Not everyone is so noble as to hero for free, Wiccan.”

A light tease and Nida smiles all the way through it. Don’t mind him. Coming to terms with himself isn’t easy. But damn if r doesn’t wish he could be more like Billy in that whole noble kindness thing. SeeDs didn’t really go for charity and all of that.

“Are you going to tell me what Twister is and why I would apparently be good at it?” There is nothing he has experienced like that in his world. Well maybe there is but he doesn’t know.

But his smile breaks just a bit at the ‘I miss you’. Fuck, how does he address that? And what in the world could have Billy flushing like that? What, embarrassed because he remembered what all they had talked about that night? No, not that as Billy continues. So something else. If only he knew what.

“Sorry, been a bit busy,” Nida put his smile right back on and this one is a touch more artificial. Even though he promised not to do that to Billy. Well, he never said it to Billy. Just... promised himself he wouldn’t. Hyne this was going so well wasn’t it? “I got hauled to the Forge dinner thing and Danny asked if I would take on more students so I need to make sure there are enough staffs and all that.”

All of which is true. Just not all the truth. “But hey, we’re here now and it doesn’t look like anyone is going to break anything just yet so I’m all yours, however you want me.” Oh Hyne that sounded suggestive. Move on. Please. “I’d appreciate dance lessons though. Or maybe learning about those foraging guides you found. Sort of owe me that, a birthday present, remember?”

Billy grins a little at the mention of his alias, warmth in his eyes as he looks at Nida. He's been using it as a handle here, it probably wouldn't take someone like Nida long to pick up on why. And also, as a sidebar, he sends a quiet prayer of thanks to Past Billy for not using the screenname he's had since he was like 12 instead. 'Wiccan' is so much cooler than 'ActualWizard666.' And Twister, well.

"It's a game. There's a mat that's about five feet square, and it's got twenty-four colored circles on it in red, yellow, blue, and green. And there's a spinner with a color wheel and four body parts on it. One person spins and announces the combination: 'right foot, blue,' or 'left hand, green,' or whatever, and then the people playing it have to put that body part on any empty circle with that color. And you can't lift it until that body part is called again. Usually, you end up super tangled up with other players, since finding empty circles sometimes means reaching under people, and sometimes you do it to throw other people off balance. You're out when your body hits the mat or you break contact with a circle."

Is he rambling? Maybe a little, but if he keeps rambling maybe Nida will stick around for a little while. He does notice the little flicker in his smile, but shrugs off the voice that tells him it's because Nida's getting tired of talking to him, that he should leave. That he's being clingy, and Nida should have room to have other friends, too. It's not fair of him to want to spend all of his time with the same person. And yet, when Nida says what he says, Billy can't help the feeling of warmth that rushes through him and out into the brilliant smile he flashes at Nida. "Good. Because I'd like to keep you for a while." Because he's missed hanging out. Right? "We can do both of those things. You're right, I do owe you a birthday present. I know you're busy, especially with new lessons, but maybe we can meet up for dancing sometime this week? Or going over books, whatever you want to do."

"Oh yeah, I'd love that," Nida grins, because Twister sounds amazing. Mostly because he's flexible as all hell, and strong, and getting to sabotage people would be perfect. Somehow they need to make this game. He will figure out how to do it.

Keep rambling, Billy. Please. The longer Billy talks, the longer he can justify being here. Which he wants, because that smile is the best, and it makes his heart beat faster. And 'keep you for a while' makes him want to move closer, to reach for him. But he can stay still, he's good at this. And he knows Billy doesn't mean it like he finds himself wanting him to mean it.

"Both? Both is good," he says after giving himself a moment to breathe, to let his heart stop pounding. Control yourself, Nida. This isn't professional, and it's not the right way to be a friend.

It's a good answer, and Billy finds himself smiling all the wider for it. "Both is definitely good," he agrees, and the words are a reassurance he holds on to, letting himself be buoyed along by the rush of elation he feels. Both is good. Both means more time with Nida, and he can't figure out any way where that might possibly be a bad thing, honestly. Okay, so he'll definitely make sure he isn't going to monopolize Nida's time, because even if he wants to, he wouldn't be a good friend if he did, but aside from that? He's definitely going to take that to heart.

You know what else good friends do, though? They appreciate the obvious time and effort that went into picking out clothes for special events that aren't ill-fitting cotton scrubs way too light for this weather. "I like the outfit, by the way. You remember red's my favorite color, right?" At least this time he makes sure Nida sees his hand before he reaches out, brushing his fingers lightly against Nida's upper arm. After all, Nida had asked about his hair, right? It's just fair. And Nida does look good. Really good. The henley he'd chosen is close cousin to the one Billy's wearing in black, and that plus the vest shows off Nida's shoulders to a very nice effect. And the rest of him too, honestly.

A touch. Nida swallows at it, and oh dear, that wasn't expected. Hyne, this isn't going to be good, Billy touching him. Not that Nida pulls back. This is the stupidest thing, staying this close, because how do you stop your mind from literally breaking down to have a guy touch you like this? He's slept with people who didn't get his heart pounding this much with such a simple touch. Especially since being touched like this normally put him on edge.

"Thanks," he smiles, and Hyne help him, there is the lightest bit of color to his cheeks now. "A friend mentioned it's a good color with my eyes or something. I can clean up real well and figure out what I'd look in, but colors aren't my thing. I usually go for practical for a fight. The vest... well, it called to me."

Red being Billy's favorite color definitely didn't hurt either.

"What you're wearing definitely goes with your physique. Accentuates your strength, but slims."

"Your friend is right. You look great. I mean, you always look great, but--I mean, this is a nice look on you. You should do it more often." Is that a flush on Nida's cheeks? It could be. Probably just the heat in here, it is pretty warm, and these henleys do a great job at keeping the warmth in. That's why Billy snagged one from the extra clothing storage. Totally not because he wanted to look nicer for this party or anything. Or, well, he did, but not for anyone specifically. Really. Never mind the fact that Nida admitting he'd noticed Billy's efforts in turn makes him flush faintly, too, looking down at his outfit, presumably, as he ducks his head, before lifting it and flicking his hair back from his forehead with an unconscious motion.

"You could just say I look cute, you know." The words are teasing, but he's still not quite looking at Nida. It's just joking, right? He jokes with his friends back home all the time. Nida's his friend. So why do the words he chooses seem to matter so much? Maybe he really is vain.

Why does he have to look so good blushing like that? Worse, the way he looks down, almost makes Nida feel like he's really done something good. Like he's earned that blush, even though he knows it only really seems to take a compliment to get Billy to do that.

The little hair flip, though? That's almost enough to rot his teeth, it looks so sweet on Billy. Hyne just kill him now.

Best friend, he reminds himself. He's your best friend. Friends don't hit on friends. Friends don't make moves on friends. Just... friends.

"I could, but you don't seem to take me seriously when I do," Nida reminds Billy. "Because I seem to remember telling you at the dojo that you look good. And New Year's Eve. In your room. Even complimented your cheekbones, which are standing out really great right now. Maybe our overlords will send us some makeup to help accent those too."

No. Stop. Abort, laying it on too much. Back track. Good excuse? Good excuse.

"I mean, if you ever choose to go back on the market, my job as your, I think the term is 'wingman', will be easier if you're playing to all your assets."

Yes, great excuse. Clearly he's good at this.

"I do take you seriously," Billy disagrees, and pauses abruptly again, because somehow those words sound...not wrong, exactly, just...incorrect? Yes. "I mean, you're a really good friend, I trust your opinion. And you're really cute, so I mean, who wouldn't appreciate a cute boy telling them they're cute? Anyway, if they're sending us something for my supposedly great cheekbones, then they better send us some eyeliner, too, because you'd be super swoonworthy." This isn't getting any better. God, Kaplan, if you keep going, he's going to think you're flirting with him, and not just joking, and that isn't something friends do. Don't screw this up. Better to just dial it back. Keep it light.

The smile he offers is a little self-conscious, his voice maybe a little bit higher. "Wingman, huh? You going to find someone to fix me up with? I'll have you know, I'm pretty picky." He isn't thinking about that. He's been not thinking about a lot of things, especially anything Teddy-adjacent; even before he got here (has it really been two months? god) it had been weeks since he'd heard from Teddy at all, and anything related to what he'd done to what they had was like rubbing salt in an open wound. But this time, maybe, it hurts a little less to think about. Just a little, but it's something, and something surprising.

Clearly Billy doesn't think before he speaks, because Nida sort of focuses so much on that statement. He's cute. Billy thinks he's cute. There are clearly heart conditions that people get from having someone as adorable and sweet as Billy call them cute. There has to be a doctor back on Earth trying to cure this condition.

"I made myself pretty swoon-worthy over the years without," Nida counters with a smirk. "Besides, isn't eyeliner for women?"

What a sad little world Nida lives in to not know how he could make his eyes pop.

"Hey, as your friend I think it's my duty to help you out if you decide you're ready to get back out there. I'll be honor bound to assist you. But give me a bit of time so I can figure out how to do it right?"

Still, he can see the tension, so he reaches out and puts a hand on Billy's shoulder, smiles softly too. Comfort, he's learned how to offer that to Billy. Learned it from Billy comforting him.

"No point in looking that far ahead, right? All things come in their time, and I just want you to know I'll be here to help."

Of course he thinks Nida is cute. You'd have to be blind to not think Nida's cute, honestly, and probably unable to hear him, too, and, well. Listen, he hasn't thought about this a lot, or anything.

Raising his eyebrows, Billy gives Nida a look, clearly back on more secure ground. "Excuse me, eyeliner is for anyone with eyes. Or, you know, anyone who just wants to draw on their faces, I'm not going to deny eyeless people any makeup they want. Seriously, a little eyeliner would make your eyes stand out even more." Not that they need the help. Not that he isn't just...standing there, staring into Nida's eyes or anything.

And that right there? That's what helps bring him back, right everything. The hand on his shoulder. Lifting the opposite hand, Billy briefly rests his fingers over Nida's smiling back. It means a lot to him, to know Nida recognizes what he's feeling, to acknowledge his feelings and be so supportive. He appreciates that so, so much. "When I am ready, you'll be the first person to know," he promises, and his heart feels a little lighter just for having said it.

"I have brown eyes," Nida says, and it's repeating himself because he's said that to people before. Brown eyes are unremarkable. They don't stand out now, they'll never stand out. Well, no, Billy's do. His eyes are stunning. And having them there, looking at him? It's just, intense. Almost makes him want to do something more than that hand on his shoulder. And he doesn't. Because he's a good friend. Or wants to be.

"Actually, I think definitionally, you'll be the first person to know," he teases, squeezing Billy's shoulder a bit. Just to give himself an excuse to keep his hand there before he has to remove it from Billy. Nida to be touched back, but this is all difficult enough as it is. "I'll be second, or maybe third. But I'm hoping top five at worst."

"I had noticed," Billy says, and he still doesn't look away. Nida's are darker than his, but they're still brown, and brown is definitely a nice color. "I like your eyes." Wow. Okay, that sounds dumb. Maybe he needs to get something else to eat, if he's standing here saying things like that. His fingers move briefly on the back of Nida's hand, brushing over his knuckles before he rolls his eyes dramatically at Nida's words, finally breaking that eye contact.

"Fine. You'll be the second person to know," he teases back. "Who else would I tell, Tommy? Because trust me, my twin has negative interest in my love life." It's why he hasn't talked to him about everything with Teddy before now. That, and the fact that he's still avoiding all that, as mentioned before.

Before it had been a light blush. You know, something he could probably explain away. But now? With Billy looking so intently into his eyes, complimenting him, touching his hand like that? By the time Billy's rolling his eyes, Nida's gone a far more noticeable red. Is his face radiating heat? Possibly. Fuck.

Fucking Hyne this is so difficult. If this was anyone but Billy he would have kissed them for that. Grabbed them and kissed them like the world was ending. Except it's Billy so he looks down and away, trying to make his face less visible as he runs nervous fingers through his hair and manages to get a nervous laugh out too. Distract with noise and gestures elsewhere. Training, please save him.

"You could tell Wanda," he says. The blush isn't fading so he looks away for a moment, got to compose himself. "I'm hungry. Are you hungry? I could go get us some of those potato wedges Seifer's making."

Oh. Okay, that's...something new. He's never seen Nida blush before, and it's....okay, it's really compelling. It's adorable, is what it is, and so is the way Nida drops his face to try and hide it, the way he runs his fingers through his hair the way Billy knows he only does when he's nervous. Nervous, who would have thought? Here he is, just this totally unsmooth nerd from New York, managing to make Nida, Mr. Professional Spy and Seducer of Men, blush. He can't help but feel a little proud of that fact, even as he feels his stomach do a weird little flip, and he resists the urge to...to what? To reach out, maybe, and tilt Nida's head back up so he can really see that blush. To...he doesn't know. Whatever. It's only fair, right? For how many times Nida's made him blush, paying him all those compliments. But still...it's a heady feeling, and he's going to savor it, even if it feels selfish. Even if he maybe shouldn't.

He's still staring, isn't he? Whoops. At Nida's offer, Billy shakes his head, blinking and looking down, too, his hand finally (reluctantly) sliding off of Nida's. "Uh, yeah." If he sounds a little distracted, it's because he is. "Yeah, that sounds great. I can go steal us a couple of chairs somewhere out of the way, maybe? And we can...plan out a time to hang out again. Just us. For lessons." Lessons, and hanging out. And that's all. Really. God, what is with him tonight?

"Sounds great, Billy," Nida says. "Just give me a second. I'll find you."

He doesn't bolt off through the people, mostly because he is a Mr. Professional Spy and Seducer of Men. Just... not professional spy and accidentally perceive your friend being friendly and supportive as seducing you. Man. It doesn't roll of the tongue nearly as well. He does duck into the kitchen for a few minutes to calm down (he might put his head in the fridge), and after only a few minutes he's back with a plate stacked high with potato wedges.

And look, smiling again. Because somehow in the time that it took him to remind himself not to blush and don't fall for your best friend, he's managed to get himself pumped up over the idea of more time alone. With Billy. Just them.

Yes, he's going to kill himself with playing with fire here. He doesn't care. There... there is something amazing and addictive about feeling this way. He feels strangely alive in a way he hasn't in a long time. Like hunting monsters, similar sort of thrill. Is that weird? Definitely weird.

"Back," he announces when he refinds Billy. "I'm going to work you so hard to get all this oil and starch out of your system."

Billy's found a little corner of the dining room for them to occupy, and when Nida gets back he's sitting and looking more than a little contemplative. Thinking? Maybe a little, and maybe about a lot of things, but the reappearance of Nida has him lighting up all over again, offering a brilliant grin.

He doesn't say promise like part of him wants to. He's at least managed to wrangle his tongue enough to stop that, he doesn't want to start that loop all over again, even if he does kind of really want to see if he can make Nida blush like that again. Instead, he snags a potato wedge off the plate and waves it at Nida before popping it in his mouth. "I regret exactly nothing about this. Carbs are love, Nida, it's a fact." He does follow that with an eventual tilt of his head back and forth as he chews and swallows before continuing. "Although I guess I should be grateful for you giving me a workout, otherwise I'd be like fifty pounds heavier from potatoes alone. I seriously can't wait to teach you swing dancing, you're gonna love it. Want to meet up Wednesday?"

"Protein is love," Nida counters. "Carbs are quick access energy good for getting the body working but inefficient for long term burn. Carbs and sugars to start, protein for longer burn, and fats for the longest term. Did I mention that we had mandatory nutrition courses?"

Dancing with Billy? Yes. Don't jump on it too fast, though, he has to remind himself. They are friends. And he's not desperate ~~yes he is~~ so it's okay to play it cool.

"As your combat instructor, it's my job to keep you fighting trim. Wednesday... I may be able to swing that."

He doesn't know what swing dancing is, but he has a feeling Billy is going to appreciate the pun.

"Mm-mm," he says with a shake of his head as he snags another wedge, but he's laughing as he does it. Protein is great, and necessary, and I'm sure you're right about how helpful they all are for working out, but you are definitely wrong. Carbs are love. They are comforting and delicious and great for helping you get over really bad days." Like certain other people maybe sitting here with him right now. Shhhh.

He's right about the rest, though, and Billy laughs again at the pun, reaching out again to brush his hand over Nida's arm. "I guess I waltzed right in to that one. Wow. So as my combat instructor, it's your job to keep me in shape, but as my friend it's your job to murder me with bad puns?" Okay, it's a little bit of a reach, but still. It was a little funny.

Comforting and great for getting you over really bad days? Nida raises a curious eyebrow with that, paired with a tilt of his head. His go to look of confusion, which Billy would have learned from talking about Judiasm. The sort of look that came before a question. Because really, comfort food isn't a concept to him. Which he really needs to have as a concept because he could use some comfort.

"You're... saying food helps you on a bad day? And we're not just talking a bad hair day?"

But as he asks it, Billy reaches out and touches his arm again. Nope, the plate doesn't wobble because Nida is too composed for that. But he definitely plucks up a wedge and shoves it into his mouth because if he's chewing he can't say something stupid about how warm his arm feels now. Hyne save him from charming witches.

"I think we're both aware that instructor Nida and best friend Nida are two different guys," he offered with a smile once he was done with the wedge and calmed down. Maybe Billy isn't wrong about this concept. "The first is a job, the second is a privilege. Though if you really want murdered by puns, Steph is where you need to go. She's talented."

[Mingle] The First Official Meeting of the Young Adult Club

Wild - Let's Face It, Their's is a Decaying Orbit

It's true

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