Trying Hard Not To Fall

August Tracy, 21, deaf trans space boy, apt. 11E

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

He’s having a heart attack. No he’s not, August has the most open expression and smile and Peter is a huge sucker. For a moment he’d wished he’d say no so he doesn’t have to live this giant fucking reach of an excuse to see him more, but it’s worth it. Hopefully. “Really?” Time to find an ASL class. “I – thanks. Um. I’ll text you?”

“I’d like that.” He was crossing into flirty territory, but with Peter’s advance, he was feeling confident. “Thank you for tonight, Peter.” It crossed his mind how nice it would to kiss him right now, but at least he was able to resist that urge. He walked backwards down the hallway, still smiling and doing a dumb sort of salute. “See you around.”

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

Immediately he frowns, even he’s definitely joking around, he didn’t like the deprecation. “You know, you’re incredible.” And too far. Way, way too far. What’s worse is he has no idea what he’d stopped him for, so if he wants to avoid becoming one with the Starbucks Holiday Cups he has to think of something. It probably shouldn’t have been the first thing to come to mind. “I um, I’m taking an ASL class next semester,” oh no, “and I was wondering if you could tutor me? If you have time.”

The smile was astoundingly real this time. Peter was such a pure soul it honestly continued to surprise August. It was so weird to him that he managed to meet someone so kind, managed to have him in his life. He knew whatever Peter asked, he would do. “Yeah, I’d be happy to.” It wasn’t just a polite thing to say, he really meant it. He had future plans with Peter, Peter had made them. This could be him taking a step.

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

He’s run out of reasons to keep him there. They’ve cycled through cookies, Christmas specials, Die Hard, and the sun had set long ago. It’s not as if he’s dissatisfied in the slightest; there’s nothing more he can ask for spending a quiet Christmas at home with his brother and dog and August, leaving thing with a slight flush of happiness (despite the weather taking away the possibility of it being cold). Still, he’s leaving, and while he doesn’t jump up from his spot he does run a high risk of tripping when he gets up while he’s almost completely into the hallway. “Hey, um, can I ask you a favor?” 

Where is this going. Oh my God. “Yes, of course.” He forced an easy going smile, forced his hopes to stay down, Peter could be asking him a favor for any number of things. He had to stay realistic, even pessimistic. “After accepting the sad deaf orphan to crash your Christmas? Anything.” Fuck. Overeager. 

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

“Thank you.” After a moment he lets out a snort, suddenly. “I hope you don’t mind cheesy and cliche, because…” Shaking his head, he focuses on August’s shy smile, then pointedly doesn’t and goes to decorate his other cookies. “Alright. I’m done putting you to work, I swear.”

“I don’t mind at all.” He was totally fine with cheesy and cliche, his widening smile proving just that. The rest of the afternoon was spent munching on the cookies and watching David and Peter’s favorite Christmas movies. August felt right at home with them arguing over memories, they made sure not to talk over each other and David didn’t have to be reminded to look at August when he was talking to him. Late into the evening, August decided it was time to head home, and as he was walking out of their apartment, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Peter looking at him, he seemed slightly frantic. 

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

He’s fucked up a couple times, forgetting to face him and now this. It’s like the feeling in his chest tightens right along with August’s smile, but Peter’s quick to recover. “Fuck you,” he says, this apparently being his recovery, “would you make prints?” His words direct him to the ‘less complicated designs,’ zooming in on one or two and admiring the clarity and fine detail, finding the direction of the piece and letting his eyes follow. People’s choice of their own pieces as well as the piece itself said a lot about who they were, even if it wasn’t something private. He’s trying to understand him, now. “I’m serious. It’s beautiful.” 

If Peter was anyone else, August would think he would have just been trying to make him feel better, but August could see the awe and conviction in his eyes. “I’ll see what I can do.” His smile was small, bashful. “And, thank you.” He knew Peter wasn’t just praising him to be polite, he honestly liked them, and that meant a lot.

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

He remembers last time, August saving little things in his phone and him taking a picture of his cookie design almost lets him slip out a thanks. Vaguely, he wonders if he still had whatever he’d said saved – - probably not, if he’s being realistic. Peter takes the phone, tapping on the image so he can look at the details as well as the whole picture, taking in defined lines and intricate patterns that he knows must’ve taken a lot of focus yet come off effortless and clean. Purposeful. “Oh. Fuck. This is – - ” He stops, remembering to face him, pushing aside temporary embarrassment as he realizes he’d forgotten himself looking into the work. Try not to gape, Pete. “Were these your designs?”

August to worry when Peter started speaking without looking at him, but luckily he quickly corrected himself, and August couldn’t help but smile, even if it was at something as small as Peter remembering how to talk to him. His smile melted into slight shame at Peter’s question. “Um, no, the really good ones are someone else’s design. I design the simpler ones.” He took his phone back, suddenly feeling exposed and nervous. “I can work from a reference, but I’m not very good at coming up with complicated designs.” August shrugged, knowing he was being dramatic about this and trying to be more calm.

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

The coo brings back some of his pride – - he’d gone for something cute, and the response keeps him happy, sliding the cookie over to August as an offer. He punches him in the arm companionably, a playful glare sent his way. “Oh, please. That looks fantastic and we both know it,” he scolds, emphasis on ‘both.’ “You should show me some of the tattoos you’ve done, if you have those around.”

He pulled his phone out, both to take a picture of Peter’s cookie before he bit into it and to pull up pictures of tattoos he’s done. He handed the phone to Peter without a second thought, he barely knew him but trusted him enough to let him have access to something as personal as his phone. “These are some of my favorites, the studio has full records of all the tattoos we’ve done.”

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

He’s probably cheating, calling on muscle memory as he draws Daisy, tongue lolled out and looking happily up at him in icing form. The holiday theme falls on a Santa hat and a green dotted background, and Peter spends too much time trying to get the right shade of gray for her fur. “I like it,” he says with a shrug, happy smile on his face. “How’s yours?” He cuts himself off, then, while his eyes slide over to August’s cookie. “Okay. I believe you now, this is ridiculous.”

“Aww.” He grinned brightly at the image of Daisy in frosting form, it really said a lot about Peter that he could recreate the image of her without thinking too much about it. “It’s not that good.” He knew what he was doing, self deprecating to get Peter to compliment him more, and he honestly didn’t care that much.

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

The blush and grin combo makes him feel like he’s won something, tucking the look into the back of his mind as the other turns to making the frosting. For now, he scoffs at the jibe, feeling like he’s gonna buzz out of his skin. “Don’t you worry about me.” As soon as the frosting’s done, he probably brushes his fingers against August’s a little too often, swiping his finger through it and tasting it with mischief in mind. Still, he’s focused on his mixing, still trying to impress the other in some way.

August noticed the brushes against his fingers, and as exciting as he found it, he wished it would have been something more direct, he still felt he had to focus on not building up some idea in his about what they were. When his mixing was done, he went to work on making a cookie that looked like a snowy forest. There was a period where he wasn’t even stealing glances at Peter, he got lost in the focus on the cookie. He finished the cookie and finally looked over at Peter. “Well? How did yours turn it?”

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

At that he only hums, looking doubtful. “Sure, you just make permanent art on peoples’ skin that they wear forever. Not gonna bring up the whole ‘human canvas’ thing, but hey. Not that impressive.” He’ll be damned if he lets it go completely, and he wants to lay it on thick, but his paranoia’s got him wondering where is ‘too far.’ Honestly, if he presses, he probably will. August and art is too strong of a combination. “Holiday themed, of course.” He divides the cookies between them, a competitive glint in his eye. “Gotta fit in with the atmosphere.”

He felt his cheeks redden just the slightest bit, the grin on his face was undeniable. Grateful for the distraction, he started opening the ingredients and mixing them together. “I think I can manage that, let’s see how you do.” There was an adventurous look about him, if Peter was going to make this competitive, he could give it right back.

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

He’s shaking his head, regretfully. “I’ve got a good memory for that kind of thing – - ” and, whoops, because that basically confesses that yes, Peter remembers everything from the last time they spoke, “and tattoo artist? Definitely would’ve remembered that.” He smirks a moment, beginning to mix for the frosting. “I’ll take a nicely iced cookie as repayment for not telling me until now.”

Oh God, guess I better really watch what I say around him, Jesus. If he hadn’t been worried enough about the dumb things he said, it was even more knowing Peter didn’t forget anything. “I don’t know, it’s not that impressive.” He was downplaying it, he loved his job and was extremely proud of it. He knew he was just fishing for more praise, if Peter was into the fact that he was a tattoo artist, he was going to milk that for all it was worth. At Peter’s words, he started examining the ingredients they had for frosting to see what he could make out of them. “Any requests?”

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

Eyes lighting up with a few thoughts in mind, he breathes out a laugh and hears his heart in his ears. “I didn’t know that.” He knows. He definitely would’ve remembered. “And now you’re gonna have to impress me, Mr. Tattoo Artist.” The hip check catches him by surprise, and he response with nudging him with his shoulder. “I’m trying to inspire creativity.”

“I didn’t mention that?” He shrugged, a slightly confused expression on his face. “I thought I did.” Uninhibited grin, he tilted his head to the side, a cocky look on his face. “I will accept that challenge.” Thankfully, Peter didn’t seem to find the hing bump too weird, since he nudged him back. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. 

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

“Pfft, obviously not,” he interjects, popping the last of the cookie in his mouth and nodding to Daisy. “Spoiling Daisy too.” It’s the one thing he has, but he does have food coloring, more for art than cooking but nonetheless. He pulls it down from the cabinet, grinning at August as he sets it out. “I’m gonna get completely carried away with the icing. I’m warning you now, for your own sanity. That being said, if I do end up taking way too long you can, I don’t know. Something.”

He grinned back, a slight challenge in his expression. “I’m a tattoo artist, you really think I don’t get carried away with icing?” His hands grazed all of the icing ingredients, mentally taking inventory but also because he had a tendency to touch things to connect with them. “Very descriptive.” He smirked teasingly and bumped his hip with Peter’s gently. Why did I do that. Fuck. He kept a neutral face, hoped to play it off.

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

Cute, Peter thinks, as he pats at his lap to get Daisy to him, up and away from the hot oven. She isn’t used to it as it’s barely used, and he scratches at her ears again, silently thanking her for being a wingman. Standing, he eventually joins August and takes a bite from one, closing his eyes and nodding. “That’s good. I’m keeping you to bake.” 

“All I’m good for, honestly.” He grinned and took another bite, leaning against the counter. Peter seemed to get so much joy out of the simple things in life, like right then he looked like the cookies (at best, high end mediocre) were the most delicious things he’s ever tasted. August could only hope to one day get to that level of taking life for all it’s worth.

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

August smiles again and he shouldn’t feel like preening, and yet there he is, grinning like the lamest person on the face of the Earth. He isn’t surprised, really. He did find him incredibly badass though, even though he’s pulling off a mixture of hipster-nerd right now with his sweater and glasses. Peter wonders how they slot together in life, in the long run. He really hopes there’s a long run. “Very true. Which is especially why I’m not denying you of it.” He smiles at the two, happy-drunk on the fact that August seemed to adore her practically as much as Peter did. “She’s gonna get so spoiled around you.” 

“Good.” He grinned at Daisy and scratched her behind her ears, feeling happy and at peace. “I don’t have a dog to spoil, I’m as happy about this as she will be.” The timer dinged, and he stood up to take the cookies out. He placed them on a cooling rack and then after a few minutes he picked one up and tried it. He smiled, and handed one to Peter. “What do you think?”

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

“Very true,” Peter says, nodding sagely. “I’m already overwhelmed.” This is starting, or rather started awhile ago, to venture into flirting, and he doesn’t know where to stop. It was just how they talked to each other, because that edging towards oh-shit in his gut is a familiar feeling. “You say that now, but you’ll get a face full of puppy slobber and I’ll probably laugh. Can’t argue with extra Daisy-loving, though.” 

He watched him carefully for a few moments after what he said, a smile had broken on his face, but he didn’t reply. He had to be careful about this, the last time he thought he knew what Peter had wanted from him, he’d ended up really freaking him out. This time, he had to let Peter take charge, if anything was even going to happen. “Face full of puppy slobber is a simple pleasure that should be allowed to everyone.” He felt like he was talking like an idiot, but, with Peter, a simple dreamy outlook on life seemed right.

[arushofaugust]

Joy to the World ;; Peter & August

[arushofaugust]

peterpce:

“Nice of them.” It’s nice, seeing him talk about his family. Just as before he seems so incredibly fond of them, it’s pretty adorable. “Still, I could see you being all badass with your lizards and snakes and motorcycle.” August, he thinks, has a beautiful smile. It’s not the first time he’s thought it, and thankfully won’t be the last. He clears his throat, looking back to Daisy who he has to convince himself that she isn’t judging him. “Warning though, she’s a jumper when she gets really excited. She can knock you down mid-step.” 

“Ah, unfortunately, the two don’t really go together, some people take their dogs in a sidecar on their motorcycle, but I don’t think that would really work with snakes and lizards. One badass thing at a time, I wouldn’t want to overwhelm anyone.” He felt like he was talking a lot, but Peter didn’t seem to mind. “That’s fine with me, I’m a tough guy, I think I could handle it.” He smiled brightly at Daisy, enjoying this moment with her, with Peter.