reverb and regret

Starter For: @morenononsense Location: The Whiskey Barrel, Monster Mash Bash

"Question. Do you think I should kick my sister out of my house, or is that like, not a cool thing to do?" Definitely not a cool thing, but the pair of them couldn't be tripping over each other all the time, catching up over her apple pies or the TexMex delivery food Elio ordered most nights. "Because I'm gonna be so honest, I can't keep looking at you being all hot and nerdy and snack-y like this and not be expected to rip your clothes off and roll all over the house with you. We can avoid the dogs. It'll be fine," Elio teased, leaning into him on the dance floor, giving his boyfriend a little kiss. "You doing okay, baby?" It was still new to him, using the term of endearment with Leo again, but he liked it. "I'd ask the DJ to play your band's new song, but I heard y'all play it live, and I don't think it'd fit the party mood," Elio teased. It was a sad, crooning anthem. Not a party vibe. "Proud of you, though. It's really good."

"Elio." Leo barked out a laugh, shaking his head. "Do not kick her out, she'll look at you like a kicked puppy for weeks and worse, that look will bleed onto me. Is that what you want?" He snickered quietly, giving Elio his own version of a puppy dog pout before melting into the kiss. "Mmhmm, I'm good. Next couples costume party we'll go to, I'll rock the exposed nipples. Although I feel like my shirt is unbuttoned enough to at least let some air in? I dunno." He beamed at the compliment, reaching out to lace their fingers together. "Thanks. I can't take all the credit, though." It felt nice, slipping back into a little rhythm after being on the road for a bit, and being back together with Elio was practically the icing on the cake. "You know, we could just get a room for the night. The one under the rooftop bar was pretty spectacular. You wanna?" Leo pulled Elio closer, giving him a slightly longer kiss. He wasn't sure if it was the costume, or the drink he'd downed a little bit ago--some caramel vodka and apple drink--but he did feel a lot less self conscious.

jaylenmiller

"Especially when the van smells like four day old sweat, no matter how many times we've changed our shirts," Jaylen chuckled, scratching at the light stubble on the side of his jaw. The experience of going on tour with a band for a few days had been fun, but he couldn't imagine doing it for weeks or months. He'd missed his own bed, his dog. "I've camped out in the wilderness and made my own shelters out of tree branches and palm fronds, and I think somehow I'd take that over being in a van with a buncha dudes," Jaylen laughed. Corey was definitely one of the dudes.

He smiled as Leo expressed his gratitude for the compliment. There was something gentle about the guy, something that seemed to differ from Key and Corey's more confident, chaotic vibes. He was probably good for them, balanced them out. "Ah, well, I kind of have to say that as Key's plus one, but I really do mean it. I don't experience live music a lot, but it was a blast." Jaylen was more inclined to be out on the hiking trails than at a music venue, but it was good to step outside his comfort zone, to watch Key.

"What's middle child syndrome mean when it comes to the band?" Jaylen asked genuinely. "I'm the youngest in my family, though, so I get it, in a way? If I have anything, it's adopted child syndrome. Is that a thing?" Jaylen had way more issues than that, but not something he was going to get into right now. "I do love a pancake or waffle. But I think I'll go for the omelette today. Good protein," he said with a smile. He appreciated Leo reaching out. "You can get whatever, though, uh… by the weird vibes, do you mean…" He wasn't even sure if Leo knew about Elio and Key, and he didn't want to be the one to deliver the news. "Do you mean 'cause Charlie is dating Corey, and I'm her brother, dating Key? We already talked it out. It's a little weird, but... it's fine. We can't help who we like, right?"

Leo blinked, a quiet laugh tumbling from his lips. "No, no--nothing like that exactly." He shook his head quickly, shrugging as he leaned back in his seat. "I just meant general vibes. Van life is not for the weak, apparently." He took a cautious sip of coffee, relieved when it didn't betray him. "Just for the record, though, I think you and Key fit. They seem lighter. It's really nice to see. And honestly? The fact that you're still talking to me after what happened in Michigan, it says a lot. I'm still a little mortified, but it's nothing I won't get over." He let out a deep breath, tilting his head a bit. "I don't know how much you know, but the last time I had a panic attack, it was....it was a much stronger aftershock, I'm not gonna lie. Lost a lot of touch with the connections I'd had in the music world, and it kinda hurt for a minute." Leo laughed softly and maybe a bit on the edge of self deprecating, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Key's one of my best friends. There's no, like, weird history or anything you need to worry about. I love 'em, would go to war for 'em, all that. And Elio...yeah, I know he's a lot. He's real good at getting under people's skin. So...yeah. Definitely weird to find out they were...you know...but I had like, zero reasons to be mad about it. It is what it is, you know? Feelings happen. Can’t help that." He paused and met Jaylen's gaze, smiling gently. "But at the end of the day, I think all of us just want to feel like we're doing good for ourselves, even if the ways we go about it are questionable." Leo's eyes drifted to the menu, and he hummed under his breath. "You know what? Protein would be a very responsible choice. I was gonna go for pancakes, but now I'm rethinking everything. I'm a little picky about huevos rancheros, though."

#c #jaylen

"Oh, it is? You stressing your little head about it? Bowie has the best life. Hanging out with Queso and Brisket, scratching his ears, sleeping on the couch." His lips were curved into his trademark grin, looking just about as golden retriever as a man possibly could as he surveyed Leo with his big, brown eyes. He could feel his boyfriend beginning to calm down, the tension in his body lessening as Elio rubbed his back and shoulders. "I can feed you peanut butter and rub your belly, too," he teased, "see?" Elio moved one of his hands to stroke up and down Leo's stomach, over his shirt.

His dumb smile didn't fade. He seemed to wear it constantly around Leo, and it amazed him how quickly and how happily he had fallen into the comfort of the relationship again. "Mumford and Sons or just a cute little nickname based on your name being Leo? I like it. Little Lion Man." He planted another kiss to Leo's temple, rubbing his shoulders, just trying to reassure him with words and actions.

"I'll be right off to the side, watching you from behind the curtain so I don't take all the attention away from my boy." Then, the other words hit him, and Elio cocked his head sideways, still not beating the golden retriever allegations as he met his eyes curiously. "Hm? You love me?" His smile softened, hands stroking down Leo's arms to squeeze his hands. "I love you too, Leo. And I promise to only buy a reasonable amount of your first record. Jury's out on how many sounds as reasonable, though."

Leo laughed softly. scrunching his nose a bit. "Okay, first of all..." He trailed off as Elio's hand brushed over his stomach. "You realize that's dangerous territory, right? Can't just go offering belly rubs like that right before I go onstage. I'm like, 90% sure I won't ever recover from that." It was easy to lean into the teasing nature of their relationship--it always had been. But Leo's voice softened as he continued. "Also, weaponizing the golden retriever eyes? That's cheating."

He drew a deep breath in through his nose, exhaling slowly as if to ground himself even more in that moment. Maybe he was a little frayed emotionally--the current night's events, plus the stress of successfully executing a mini tour had caught up to him--but Leo didn't feel as afraid anymore. He held Elio's gaze, the rest of the world tuned out. "Yeah. Don't think I ever stopped. Not even when things got rough." Even though he didn't really have any reason to be nervous, he could still feel the jitters tugging at his heart a little. '

So, when Elio squeezed his hands, Leo held on. He didn't really know how he felt about signs or the universe, none of that. But he was a pretty good judge of knowing when things felt right or wrong. The second Elio said it back, Leo let his shoulders drop completely. "I..." He trailed off, laughing a little at himself. "I didn't plan to just...blurt it out like that. But I wanted--no, needed--for you to know. I don't even know what's considered too soon anymore, but I do know life's way too short. So I'll say it as much as you want, even if you do tack on a 'bro' to every other sentence." He nudged Elio's nose with his own, a small grin spreading onto his lips. "You think we're good on time? I've got a boyfriend I really need to make out with. Get the heart rate going for a different reason, you know?"

Leo Moreno as Milo Thatch for the Monster Mash Bash

#blackstoneridgetask

"Nooo, no panic attack," Elio pouted. Sometimes he had the emotional intelligence of a toddler, but he hoped his light and playful demeanor would serve as some kind of distraction, some kind of grounding presence. All he knew was that with Leo, it seemed to work. That was the only thing that mattered. "You can always talk to me, I think you're way smarter than I am about emotions and stuff, but I'll do my best. Always."

Elio stood, holding Leo in his arms and giving his arms little rubs, hands sliding up and down his body. He leaned his forehead against his hair, taking advantage of their height difference. "I don't know if I'm very good at being a boyfriend," Elio said quietly, kissing Leo's hair. "But you are my babe and my bro. Best of both worlds," Elio chuckled. He hoped things wouldn't be too weird with Key around. Corey had been pretty adamant that the boyfriends would be left on the side of the highway with their luggage if they caused any shit or upset the dynamics.

"You know I would never hurt you like he did, right?" Elio said after a few moments. He didn't know all the details of what Leo's ex had done, but he knew enough to hate the guy's guts. "I'm so fucking proud of you and I can't wait to see you guys perform. The new album is gonna be amazing when it's finished, and I'm going to buy so many copies they accuse me of chart manipulation," he teased, lifting Leo's jaw to give him a little kiss. "It's gonna be okay, little lion man."

"You wanna know something? Being emotionally intelligent is exhausting sometimes. I think about how easy Bowie has it, and wish that was my life. Literally just struts around, licks peanut butter out of a dog toy, and gets on-demand belly rubs. What a life." Leo blew out a little breath, smiling up at Elio. God, he was lucky to get to be with Elio in this new phase of his life. He was excited for all the things coming up--between the band, his day job, and relearning how to be in a healthy, committed relationship, Leo knew there was more to look forward to.

Little by little, the invisible crushing weight on his chest lifted, but Leo still stayed there with Elio. He eagerly accepted the little kiss, quick to return it. "I'm pretty sure that's a Mumford and Sons song, but I'll take the nickname. S'cute." He listened when Elio spoke, ducking his head a little bit. He'd either blocked out or filed away any memory of his ex, but the fact was that he'd always have some kind of residual fear of being put in that position again. The panic attack was proof, even when his ex was nothing but a ghost. "Yeah, I know." Leo said quietly, offering Elio a little smile. "But for the record, you're a lot better than you're giving yourself credit for. You know sometimes all I need--all I want, actually--is to just be with you? I mean, preferably without melting ice cream on the couch, but still."

He exhaled slowly, clinging to Elio like a lifeline. "I'm probably going to be looking for you in the crowd. Just as, like, an anchor or something." He admitted. There was no reason for him to be shy about it--he was pretty sure it was something a lot of musicians did. And, hell, it worked a lot better than picturing everyone in their underwear. Leo pressed another kiss to Elio's lips, laughing softly at the mention of chart manipulation. "God, I really do love you. This your way of telling me to look the other way if you're accused of such a thing?"

jaylenmiller

Jaylen was surprised when Leo had invited him out to breakfast. They'd been on the road together for four days, travelled across Indiana and Michican and Wisconsin, but between the other band members, their partners, and the tiny crew the boys could afford to bring with them, it really hadn't offered them much chance to talk one on one. There was always someone around, and that someone was almost always Elio, someone Jaylen preferred to avoid if at all possible.

Charlie's words played on his mind, her warnings that the group of them had better play nice, make sure there was no tension. Jaylen had no reason to turn down breakfast with Leo, so he went along, curious to see what the other man had to talk to him about. "Anything is better than being cramped in a van. Thank God the drives between shows were short-ish, at least." Four hours, five hours, could've definitely been worse.

One thing he'd grown to appreciate about Leo in the short time they had been together on the trip was how warm and kind he was. The guy always seemed to have a smile on his face. He wondered how he'd ended up with someone like Elio. He seemed so soft, so gentle, whereas Elio seemed out of touch with reality, loud, douchey. "I was surprised you asked me to meet. You didn't get enough on me on our road trip? You guys were great, by the way."

#c #jaylen #gonna be so honest fam i'm still EXHAUSTED #i hope this is ok!!!

Leo laughed softly. "Yeah, I'll definitely take diner coffee and real chairs over van upholstery any day. My back's still paying for whatever those seats are made of." He set the menu down, leaning his arms against the table. "Thanks, by the way." He added, a smile lifting the corner of his mouth. "For saying that about the shows. It felt good to be back on stage again. A little shaky, but it's really nice knowing we've got a solid rhythm."

He hesitated, then let out a small breath as he fiddled with the watch on his wrist. When he spoke again, his tone softened. "Honestly, I just thought it'd be nice to actually talk. Every time I saw you, it felt like there was always someone else there--Key, Elio, a sound tech. I'm not desperate by any means, but I think adults also have a harder time making and keeping friends. Figured it'd be an easier spot to get to know eachother a bit."

Leo reached for his mug of complimentary coffee that a waitress passing by had just filled, swirling in one of the creamer cups. Bringing the mug to his lips, he caught a punch of steam to his face and decided against taking a big gulp. "Not trying to burn my mouth off today." He muttered. His smile turned crooked and a little self deprecating. "I've been told I have 'middle child syndrome' when it comes to the band. And I'm literally the youngest member. If there's even a hint of weird vibes, I can't rest until I check on it. So, I guess I'm kinda peacekeeping? I don't know a lot of people who can say no to pancakes or waffles, though." He shrugged a little, watching the last few wisps of steam evaporate before taking a tentative sip. Eyes meeting Jaylen's again, he offered a small smile. "That cool with you?"

#c #jaylen

starter for: @jaylenmiller location: Peach's diner

Just off the few shows with the band, Leo found it pretty easy to get back into the swing of things. It felt like dipping his toes back into consistent performances. The anxiety still hadn't completely worn off following his embarrassing state of panic in Michigan, but there was definitely a comfort in how much quicker Leo had been in coming back into himself. That didn't necessarily mean he was completely tuned out to everything else, though. After everything at Bleachers, after getting back together with Elio, Leo really just wanted to keep the peace and squash any tension he could. And to be fair, he didn't really have any beef with Jaylen. Jaylen made Key happy, which was the most important thing.

So, Leo took it upon himself to speak with Jaylen before everyone went their separate ways, and made a plan to meet up here at the diner. They'd spoken a few times before that, but hadn't really had the chance to get to know eachother too much outside of minimal conversation here and there. Leo hoped this would change that--he was always erring on the side of optimism, anyway.

Sliding into a booth, Leo scanned over the menu as his fingers drummed lightly against the tabletop while he waited. At just the right moment, he happened to look up, catching sight of Jaylen. He straightened a bit, offering a small but warm smile and a wave. "Sure beats being crammed up in a vehicle, doesn't it?" He joked.

marisoltorrcs

"Damn, what's the rush?" Marisol said with a laugh, but she let Leo lead her to the couch where she was greeted by Bowie. She'd met Leo's dog a couple of times since she got to town, and he was already spoiled with cuddles and kisses from her. "Hi, sweet baby!" she cooed, sitting down with the dog and hugging him. Leo seemed serious, though, so she quieted down as she continued to pet Bowie. She observed Leo with a slightly raised brow, wondering what was making him so nervous. She figured that this was going to be Leo admitting that he needed help to get back with her brother, because they were both hopeless dummies.

So when Leo said that he and Elio were back together, Mari stared at him with wide eyes, unable to believe it at first. "Wait, really?! Oh my god!" she screeched, jumping up from the couch and colliding into him for a hug. "You two aren't hopeless after all, thank god." She laughed. "I'm so freakin' happy for you! And I'm so killing Elio for not being the one to tell me first. Tell me everything! Did he cry? I bet he cried."

#c #marisol #i just think this gif of him is rly cute #look @ that smile

Leo felt his anxiety dissipate as he wanted Bowie interact with Marisol. His shoulders relaxed slightly, but waiting for Marisol's reaction felt a little more intimidating than he'd have liked to admit. The immediate reaction from her was...well, it was just so her. Leo knew she wouldn't be mad--and he was convinced she'd been plotting behind the scenes. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing his eyes shut during the hug almost like he needed that closeness. Marisol was one of his closest friends, after all, and her opinion mattered to him.

Once he was ready to pull back from the hug, he collapsed on the couch. His hands immediately moved to Bowie, who was (as always) within reach. "He didn't cry, come on. That's mean. No, it was actually really cute. I kissed him, and I'm pretty sure his brain bluescreened for a second. But then he asked me out on a date, and we did make it to said date. It was at a rooftop tapas bar. Totally cool vibes." Leo took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to skate across the next part without scarring Marisol for life. "Only I might've unintentionally seduced him a little and convinced him to get food to go so we could do other things that didn't include staring at eachother in public." He reached over and gave Marisol's shoulder a little squeeze. "Don't go killing my man, please. But I do support you talking to him. It makes for good TV." He grinned, leaning down and pressing a smooch to Bowie's head.

It wasn't weird for Leo to be out with the smokers. They were musicians. They practically had cigarettes for breakfast half of the time. Even when Leo didn't smoke, he still just stepped outside with them to chat. Elio was too much of a health nut and athlete to have ever been a smoker. The only thing he really ingulged in was alcohol, so while he was glad the smokers had seemed to vacate the immediate area, he was confused to see Leo still out here. "It's not summer anymore, and it's Michigan. You're gonna get cold," Elio said protectively.

As Leo continued talking, Elio stepped in closer. He didn't want to crowd him if he needed space, but he couldn't help himself. "Hey, it's okay," he said softly. "You have a sec. You got a few of them." Elio watched Leo's eyes carefully, doing his best to try and interpret what he needed in that moment. "Ah, and as always, you're so good at being all honest and vulnerable about it while I just stand here looking like an idiot. C'mere." Elio leaned in to wrap his arms around Leo, giving him a half-cuddle and a kiss on the forehead. "I didn't even do anything. You're calming yourself down. But I like the cuddles."

He stood there for a few moments, lightly stroking his hands up and down Leo's back. The two of them had talked about Leo's ex, Leo always knew Elio was a safe place and would've paid to have the guy buried if Leo asked it of him. "He's not here. It's just me, buddy," he said, giving a low chuckle. "It's not very sexy when I call you bro and buddy, huh? I'm still getting used to this." He meant the terms more generally most of the time anyways, but he still wanted to make Leo feel special. "Do you wanna talk about it? I can listen. I'll look at you with my head cocked to the side, hanging on your every word like a golden retriever waiting for you to throw a ball."

Leo laughed weakly, the sound cracking halfway through. "Oh yeah, real sexy panic attack. Totally the vibe I was going for before the show." He tilted his head back against the wall, daring himself to look at Elio again. It made his heart flip in his chest, seeing Elio's earnest concern. "I'm gonna have to work on my timing if I wanna keep the hot boyfriend illusion alive." He reached up, brushing his fingers along Elio's jaw before poking him lightly in the chest. A slow smile spread across his face. "You know, you always manage to make it better. Even when you call me 'bro' in the same sentence as babe." A soft laugh rippled through him, real this time. "You're so lucky I love you, 'cause a lesser man might've walked away right there."

He let himself be held, snorting loudly when Elio compared himself to a golden retriever. "You mean you don't do that already?" He pressed his palm to his chest, faking surprise. Eventually, he could feel the air circulating normally again; everything felt slightly more normal. But Leo wasn't quite ready to give up being held. "And yeah, I know it's not summer. But it's been pretty mild weather wise, though you know I'll never pass up a chance to have you warm me up."

Leo paused, looking up at Elio. "Wasn't always like that, you know. After everything with my ex happened, I felt like I had a lot to prove. I withdrew, even for a little bit. I mean, you saw it. You...fuck, you welcomed me here when I had so much to work through. You believed in me, and gave me the space I needed to heal. Plus, if I shoved my feelings down and didn't own 'em, I would've never had the guts to tell you how I feel." He scrunched his nose a bit, as if he felt like he was veering a little too close to mushy territory. After a moment, he turned his head and kissed Elio's cheek. "I know you're trying, mi amor. Or, even that you want to try. That alone means everything."

coreyjensen

Starter For: @keygupta @morenononsense Location: Band's Tour Van

Some day maybe they'd be able to have enough money to actually fly to their shows, but today was not that day. Leo's new boyfriend, the rich one, had offered to fly them, and Corey was sure Charlotte would've done the same, but the van and the instruments had to get there anyways, so even if Corey hadn't been too stubborn to accept handouts, someone would've had to drive.

One night in the hotel, and they were ready to hit the road again. Corey had said goodbye to Charlotte, spending an inordinate amount of time kissing her lips before they'd had to leave the room and Charlotte had got in her Uber to the airport. The van was loaded, band mates and all, and Corey had sent Jaylen and Elio out to get breakfast for everyone, trying to keep everything as casual as possible. "Naw, you guys go ahead, I just wanna talk to these guys about something real quick," Corey had insisted, sending the boyfriends on ahead. Corey wanted Charlotte to be able to tell her family herself, and they'd be damned if Elio of all people were going to be one of the first to receive the news.

"Shit, fuck, okay." Corey chuckled slightly, shaking their head as soon as the boys were out of their eyeline. They turned back to their bandmates who were probably confused as hell at Corey's sorry attempt at playing it cool. "I gotta tell you guys something. Don't freak out. I don't know if Charlie has told Jaylen or her family yet." They still couldn't fight their grin from the night before. "I kinda asked Charlie to marry me... and somehow, she said yes."

"Don't freak out." Leo repeated, an amused smile turning his lips upwards. “Hm, okay. I make no promises.” He was still in a daze--maybe a little bit of a high from the energy of performing, and maybe still reeling from the emotional backlog of having to convince himself nothing bad was going to happen this time around and there would be no unwanted visitors. He'd just rested his head against Key's shoulder, eyes fluttering closed. When Corey spoke again, Leo didn’t lift his head, just opened his eyes and slightly raised an eyebrow at their words.

When Corey said they were engaged to Charlotte, that was about enough to wake him up completely. “Dude! Really? That’s awesome. Seriously.” He glanced over at Key to gauge a reaction, bringing one hand up to rub at his eyes a little morning before slipping it back beneath his hoodie. “You deserve it. Truly. And that means we’re just gonna have to plan a hell of a bachelor party for you.”

His gaze softened as he thought about his band, his brothers—the family he’d gotten so fiercely protective of. Unable to help himself, he reached out and wrapped Corey in a big hug. “How are you feeling about all this? Besides the obvious happiness?” He pulled back, giving Corey a light clap on their shoulder before busying himself with the string on his hoodie.

// @keygupta

#c #corey #key

Starter For: @morenononsense Location: Backstage at a concert venue

Elio had been flattered that Leo invited him to come and see him. Since Leo had initially left the music industry years prior, Elio had made it a point to be a safe space for him, somewhere he could go to get away from all that. They had an understanding; that Elio's lack of asking in-depth questions about it wasn't a sign he didn't care, but that Leo would always be the one in control of how much they talked about it. The two of them talked about soccer, their dogs, video games, hiking.

One of the tech guys had said he'd stepped outside to get some air with Key and Corey. In band terms, that usually meant going outside to smoke, but he'd seen Corey and Key back inside since then. Elio casually wandered outside to look for him, catching sight of him behind the dumpsters. "Indy musicians, so classy," he teased. "Bro, I mean babe," Elio said with a dopey grin as he stepped up towards him. "Look at this picture the pet sitter just sent of Bowie. They got him to sit near the Pumpkin, isn't he adorable?" Elio held up his phone to show it off, but within moments, he knew something was wrong. Leo wasn't even looking at him, and his whole posture was off. "Hey, hey, what's up, what's wrong?"

Leo didn't answer right away. He stood still, back pressed against the cold brick wall while his fingers twitched at his sides. His breathing came too fast and shallow, almost like his chest had forgotten how to move right. "Sorry." He managed to say, though once the word fell from his lips he was stunned by how much his own voice didn't sound like him. The way Elio said 'babe' still echoed in his head--soft and clumsy. Only Elio could make that sound so endearing when he was feeling like this. "I--I just needed a sec, that's all." He admitted finally, voice cracking ever so slightly. "It's--it's not even happening. Just my brain being a fuckin' asshole. Sometimes, when I start to play again, my brain redirects back to that night. What if I freeze, or what if it happens again...what if--" Leo stopped himself, laughing shakily as he pressed the heel of his hand to his chest. "Sorry. I know it's really stupid."

When Elio stepped closer, Leo practically laser focused on the sound of his shoes on the pavement, struggling to think back on the grounding techniques he'd learned.. He blinked hard, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "You don't have to fix it." He rasped, breath hitching as he reached for Elio's wrist--something to ground himself. "Just stay here a minute, okay? I'll go back in soon." His thumb brushed shakily against Elio's pulse, and he managed a weak smile. "You always make it easier to breathe. I got lucky that you weren't a couple hundred miles away this time."

"I'm your kind of ridiculous, though, right?" Elio asked, lopsided grin on his face. He let out a soft sigh of relief at Leo's words. He really didn't deserve him after everything. Hooking up with Key had never been malicious, never something that he had done with the intention of hurting his friend or making things messy, but it had to be a little weird to think about the person you care about hooking up with one of your good friends. The LA gay scene could be pretty entangled among each other, and then they'd come to small town Blackstone, so it made sense they had an overlap or two, but that didn't mean it felt good. "I know, and I trust you too, you know. It's okay. We're just starting fresh, yeah?"

Elio couldn't help casually reaching out to take Leo's hand, to touch him in even the most innocent ways at any given opportunity. He felt so lucky to be here with Leo again, on a date with their fingers entwined with one another. "You're the poet, hm? The little sunshine songwriter boy of my dreams." Oh, was that too much? It couldn't be, right? Leo was all about being open and vulnerable. Elio could meet him half way. "Leo, I'm not that great. I'm just a retired soccer player who never lived up to my potential and doesn't know what to do with my life these days. You're like, living your dreams again and stuff." He couldn't contain a grin at the idea of Leo being in his lap. "Hey, I'm trying to be a good boy, but of course, I'd love you all over me, at any time. So, maybe we avoid the fishier stuff and the garlic?" he said with a small laugh. "Hey, aren't you doing some shows soon? Would you want me to actually go?"

"Hey. Stop putting yourself down." Leo raised one eyebrow at Elio, shaking his head, but a soft smile still quirked at the corner of his mouth. "You were there for me in a time when I truly felt the most alone. That matters. More than you know. But yeah, obviously you're my kind of ridiculous." He couldn't help the blush when Elio called him the boy of his dreams, speechless for a moment. "Still? You know...you say shit like that and it makes it impossible for me to focus on anything else." Leo's tongue swiped out across his lower lip, and for a few beats, he debated his next move. Elio's question jolted him from diving too deep into his own brain, and he forced himself to focus long enough to answer the question. "We do have a couple shows coming up, yeah. I know I keep the music separate, but we sound really fucking good. So...yeah. Come with me."

Leo didn't waste another second, getting out of his seat and situating himself in Elio's lap. He didn't even bother asking if it was okay. Judging by Elio's previous statement, he was pretty sure he was in the clear. instead, he looped his arms around Elio's neck and pressed their foreheads together. "No fishy things." He confirmed quietly, eyes fluttering closed as if trying to commit this exact moment to memory. When he opened them again, and his gaze focused on Elio's, he couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. "So here's what I'm thinking. Rather than risk public indecency, we get a few appetizers, go and get a room. 'Cause I gotta be honest, Elio, if I start kissing you right now I don't even think gold speckled tacos would pry me away. I know you wanted to take me somewhere nice, and you did achieve that part." He dragged his finger along the outline of Elio's lips, feeling so hopeful for the first time in a very long time. "You've always been enough for me. Like, looking at you now, I see the same person I've always loved. I never stopped." He paused, a sheepish smile on his face. "But in case it wasn’t clear, I want this. I want us. “

+ starter for: @marisoltorrcs where: leo's place

"Hey, Mare. Thanks for comin'. Glad you're here." Leo ushered Marisol inside, guiding her to his couch to sit down. Being so close to the Torres family, he kind of felt like he had to say something to her--not because she'd been right about his feelings for Elio, but because she had become a part of his found family too. Not saying anything kind of felt like a dick move. Leo pressed his palms together, humming under his breath like that would somehow help him rip the band-aid off. He knew they were the only two people in the room at that moment, but he suddenly felt like he had way more than just one set of eyes on him. This was important, though. Leo loved Marisol like a sister, and he knew she'd be supportive either way. After a long pause, he dropped his hands to his sides and let out a short breath. "So. Elio and I kissed. And we're dating. Part two or whatever. But...I'm really happy, and I'm pretty sure he is too." He rocked back and forth on his heels for a bit, bracing himself for her reaction.

#c #marisol

"I'll kiss you, stinky or not," Elio said with a smirk, hands still clasped around Leo's, holding onto him like an anchor. He cocked his head to the side a little, expression curious. "Uh oh, that sounds ominous," he chuckled, withdrawing his hand to take a sip of his water. "Yeah, go ahead." Elio didn't want there to be anything Leo was afraid to ask him. He settled into his seat, brown eyes remaining on Leo's to show him that he was serious, that he was listening. Hearing Key's name immediately made his sense of humor fade. Would it ruin things? "Oh, yeah…" Elio sighed, lifting a hand to scratch the side of his neck. "Are you upset about it?" Elio asked. It was a fair question, he thought. Finding out your ex and your bandmate had been hooking up right when you were getting back together. "We weren't dating or anything. There was just… a few hook-ups, when we were drunk or letting out our annoyance with each other. He really doesn't like me."

Elio let out a low chuckle, chewing the inside of his cheek. "I'm sorry I didn't mention it. I didn't know how. I didn't know you two were friends until the night I ran into you two together. I try and stay out of your business with the band because I know it's personal for you, and I like for you to have something just for yourself… but I don't want it to ruin anything with us. He's dating that other guy, I'm dating you, or… at least I'm trying." He offered what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "You're too cute and smart and mature for me, you know that?" Elio reached out to take Leo's hand again, squeezing it firmly. "You could never disappoint me, you goof. I'd be the one disappointing you. I'm trying not to."

Leo gave Elio a small smile, shaking his head. “You’re ridiculous.” He teased, and his grip tightened ever so slightly. Ridiculous or not, Leo knew Elio wasn’t going anywhere. That was comforting, given his past dating history. “You don't owe me an explanation or anything, I’m not upset. I don’t have any reason to be. Just…didn’t wanna feel like I was walking into something blind. And you’ve never not been honest with me, El. I trust you. Completely. You do know that, right?” He paused to take his own drink of water, as if buying himself some more time. He'd done a lot of thinking since his last relationship had blown up in his face. There were a number of reasons why it hadn't worked, and he hadn't been perfect either. It was important to him that Elio didn't feel like he had to be so focused on making everything perfect.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want this—us—to work. You know I’ve always been the optimist, in every single fucking scenario in my head; even when logic wins out and I end up face down in the dirt. I always tried to find some sort of silver lining in anything I did, but especially with you.” He admitted, bringing one hand up to cup Elio’s cheek. “I don't need perfect. You keep calling me smart and mature, but you’re the total package. Athletic, charming, and somehow you carry these incredibly terrible yet endearing puns in your back pocket. Luckily, they're also a weird part of your charm that I don't think you'd be you without." Elio's words made Leo's chest feel a little warm and fluttery. He tapped Elio's nose lightly with his thumb, a grin breaking across his face. "Hmm, you're right. We're definitely dating. Feels really good to say that out loud. And you know what? If I can’t say negative shit, neither can you. You haven’t done a single thing to disappoint me. We’re literally on a freaking rooftop, about to go nuts on some delicious food. Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll get a little tipsy and start being really unbearable. Probably be on your lap by the end of the night.” Leo tilted his head a little, smirking. “But you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

coreyjensen

Full Thread With: @keygupta & @morenononsense Location: Corey's Garage/Studio

Corey adjusted their guitar strap around athletic shoulders, guitar pick hanging out of their mouth, held between their teeth. They held it there as they messed with the tuning. It was tough sometimes to fit in practices when they had jobs and other commitments, but the carnival was coming up, and Corey wasn't ever going to turn down a decent paying gig that would get them in front of a crowd. "Shoot, don't know if the city thought this one through. It's an evening set, right? Not like most of our music is super kid friendly," Corey laughed. The all-trans band with songs about violence, cheating, the queer agenda (pun intended) sure were a choice for the organizers. "I'll consider it a win if they don't throw tomatoes at us. Uh, we probably won't play this one at the festival 'cause it's not super upbeat, but do you wanna give Nobody's a shot? I'm so close to being happy enough with it to get in Jin's studio and try to record."

#corey #key

coreyjensen

"I'll stick with the chicken and rice," Corey huffed. They had protein shakes most days too, partly because of the actual macros, and partly because of the speed and convenience. Corey was fit, but they seemed forever doomed to look like a non-binary Slenderman. "Fish is boujee now? The gal likes salmon. With the skin off. Can you believe that? Skin's the best part. I'm not doing cottage cheese, though. That lumpy stuff... naw." Corey would ultimately just make whatever Charlie wanted, though, even if it meant making two dinners. They were whipped.

"Right person, wrong time, huh," Corey said with a contemplative nod. Nobody could ever really accuse them of being the smartest or most emotionally intelligent person in the room. They had a lot of growing to do themselves, which was part of why they appreciated Charlie's patience. They met in the middle, balanced one another, made each other better. "Sounds to me like you still got a little something-something brewing for the guy." Corey shrugged. "I mean, I get it? Rich, handsome, annoyingly social. Even if he drives my girlfriend crazy wanting to talk sports at a million miles an hour." Corey reached an annoying, long arm around Leo's shoulder, squeezing his shoulder. "How'd I get to be friends with someone so put-together, huh? Get your little disaster pants on like Key and I. Get drunk and kiss him in the back room of the club like you deserve."