btaeil.
It’s been a bit awkward. Or at least it was at first. They’d both stood there with their feet pigeon toed, staring at the game booth as if it were the only thing that existed. Taeil, for his part, had been focused on it enough to almost forget the element of competition between them, and the slight tightness of the tension between them that came up the moment they were within proximity of one another. Truths that have been left unsaid for too long seem to constantly be lingering beneath the surface, and in poor form, hurt feelings remain untouched just the same; he often times thinks about it, but he never brings it up. What would be the point in that?
They are out of rings and the game is over now, and they still stand side by side, but Taeil’s posture is a bit looser at least. Surrounded as they are by the liveliness of the carnival and all of their neighbors and friends (along with countless people they don’t know) enjoying themselves, it’s difficult to remain as he was at the start of it. Besides — he won.
Doing all that he can to keep the smugness from his expression, he steals a glance over at Gray next to him and steps closer to the booth, interacting briefly with the person running it as he deliberates on which prize to choose. Two things have caught his eye, both of which are an option to him: a packet of gaudy costume jewelry, and as cliche as it may be, a puppy plushy that’s only a fraction of the size of those giant, over-stuffed bears. He would go for the latter of the choices, but he doesn’t have enough points for it, and that’s fine. He’s gotten to the point he wanted to be at regardless.
More stolen looks and caught breaths tell him everything that he needs to know, and maybe a bit of that smugness leaks through in the slight curve of his lips, the dimple that dents into his cheek; he can’t help it, he’s only human. And he can see it written all over Gray’s face, after all.
Pointing towards the plushy, he speaks in a slightly hurried voice. “That one.”
gray remembers a far away time when he’d have stolen the competition in a game like this. hand-eye coordination and a mean aim came from years of practise and a sports scholarship, but unlike riding a bike, a year or so without it has left him rusty. now he can barely succeed in one or two rings landing right, and it doesn’t particularly help that carnival games are rigged for failure (or at least, that’s what he’d like to tell himself after failing a game before this already). he’s focusing on that as best he can, trying not to let his mind wander to the proximity of a lost companion by his side.
he’d loved him, there’d been no denying it. he’d been deeply, madly, unendingly in love with him, and now they’re practically strangers standing at a random booth together, avoiding looking at each other.
he’s pouting at a plushy as he puts his remaining tokens back into his pocket, admittedly lingering longer and taking more time to do so than necessary. he wants to know what prize taeil decides upon, and whether or not it’s the right decision. there’s only one correct choice, after all, but he knows the plushy isn’t exactly taeil’s style. it deserves a home on gray’s pillow, like a comfort blanket for him to curl up to when the nights are too dark and his room is too empty.
figuring he’s just about run out of time to pretend he’s not eavesdropping, he turns his body outward toward the carnival, eyes scanning the crowds, booths, stalls, figuring out his next stop. he only has pocket change left after purchasing enough tokens to play, but he thinks he could probably scrape enough together for some cotton candy or a corn dog. the former would be easier on his stomach, but it’ll leave him sticky and a little hyper.
that one. he glances out of his peripheral, trying his hardest to see where the booth’s owner goes, which prize he’s collecting for taeil. he’s a little confused when he notices the plushy being offered over the counter, though his heart skips slightly and he finds himself full out pouting right at his ex without realising it. just like old times.
