cadereagratia | PSL/Meme Continuation

[The way Whelk watches Kunimi for that long, long, long moment, a smile playing on his lips and a thoughtful gleam in his eyes, makes him look naked too. Far more naked than removing his clothes did. There's so much softness in his features that Kunimi has to look away, too late to hide the dramatic blush that washes over his face.

It's not just Kunimi. Something really is happening between them.]

Are there any other hot spots I should experience?

[There's a touch of irony in the question because Henrietta's such a sleepy town, but Kunimi doesn't even try to deny that he's also asking to spend more time with Whelk after this.]

[Like Whelk's gazing wasn't lost on Kunimi, Kunimi's blushing isn't lost on Whelk. It's an extremely endearing image, the realization of which again makes Whelk feel more than a little uncomfortable. Even so, the small smile on his face endures.]

In Henrietta? [Whelk's accent is more present on the name of the town than it's ever been. It's a hard word to say without letting the last three syllables roll off the tongue all at once. He looks amused when he leans in over the table and says in a low voice:] Nowhere we won't be assaulted by overly-friendly teenage boys.

[He leans back then and raises his eyebrows just a bit. Kunimi is asking to see him again, or maybe even to continue spending time together after they leave Harry's. It can't be any later than 11:00am now. So Whelk plays a card that will place them together in the evening. What they do between these two periods will be inconsequential. He just wants to make sure that Kunimi will have to stick around for as long as possible.]

There's a bar downtown that has dreadful country karaoke on Saturdays. Truly Henrietta's finest in the flesh. [He sounds dryly sarcastic, though his expression remains amused.] You have to witness firsthand at least once.

Don't worry. The drinks are strong enough to get you most of the way through the secondhand embarrassment.

Ehh... [Kunimi makes a small show of "considering" whether he'd like random teenagers tagging along everywhere they go.] I prefer having you to myself.

[Not like Whelk needs Kunimi to point out how horribly his mood tanked when Gansey barged in, so again, Kunimi massages his words a little to turn the blatantly obvious into a compliment. They can always go somewhere private (read: Whelk's place) and spend some time getting to know each other (read: actually swapping stories and learning more about each other's lives), as long as they don't get distracted (read: bang too hard to make it out that evening.)

At the mention of karaoke, Kunimi has a brief moment of cultural vertigo that leaves him staring at Whelk as if waiting for the punchline. No, drinking isn't the punchline, it's just a fact of karaoke... so that means... Whelk really is telling him...]

American... country music... karaoke... [Like Whelk with the name of his hometown, Kunimi just slips into proper pronunciation naturally on the odd occasions when Japanese loan words come up in their conversation.] It isn't surprising, I just... never considered...

[He's not saying no, Whelk. He's just in shock.]

[The mildly distressed look on Kunimi’s face is enough to push Whelk’s vaguely amused expression over into a soundless laugh. He nods.]

You’re right. Terrible idea. [He looks thoroughly amused now. It’s not his idea of a good time either - maybe it had been a bit sadistic in nature to suggest it - and it’s further confirmation that he and Kunimi are more similar than he had any hopes for finding when he initially entered speed dating. What a grump this guy is. Again, he’s struck by feeling endeared. He’s beginning to get used to the way that makes his stomach flutter.

[He’d very much forgotten what it felt like to actually enjoy someone’s company.]

Screw Henrietta then and come over. I’m sure we’ll find someway to entertain ourselves.

[Kunimi sits back and lets out a sigh of relief when Whelk lets him off the hook. He wouldn't have said it - he's already gotten the impression that Whelk's goodwill has an off switch that tends to stick in that position, making it very hard to regain - but country karaoke sounds to him like a fever dream. Hilarious and strange but not date material.

So once again, they've come to a natural agreement without needing to compromise. It really does sound pleasant to spend some time together with the TV on or music playing, just catching up on what they didn't learn about each other when magnetic sexual attraction took over their first meeting.]

I prefer the sound of that. We can buy some drinks to bring along, maybe some take-out... in case we don't feel like leaving at all later.

[Heh. Heh heh. That's barely innuendo but it leaves just enough unsaid that Kunimi's eyes sparkle with mischief.]

PSL/Meme Continuation

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