e, j, v, x with reca and i, n, u, w with grady? :3
-> Thank you, my dear[s]!! Happy birthday again, and enjoy <3
-> Cw for brief mentions of addiction and trauma! Potentially OOC Grady too, but we ball nonetheless. 3.6k words, whoops!
-> Currently listening to: In A Sentimental Mood - Ella Fitzgerald
-> Credit to @cafekitsune for the divider <3
Mr. Reca <3
E | Ending: How would they break up with their partner?
-> Ohhhh this is hard. I can't imagine Mr. Reca as the type of man to break up with someone he is [or was] serious about and I doubly have trouble imagining him as the type to fall out of love </3
-> Now there are only a handful of things that I think could cause Reca to break up with you and not vice versa; any great betrayal - such as cheating or revealing his nature as a cremator memokeeper to others, having to choose between you and his art with no other alternative, and then - as unlikely as it may be - Reca falling out of love with you, growing bored of you or the relationship.
-> How the actual breakup happens depends on the reason behind it, however I will say that regardless of the cause Mr. Reca will try to remain as cordial and graceful about it as possible, even if his heart is breaking at the seams because of it. He's not one to want to drag out the pain for either of you, favouring the breakup to be short and to the point - detached on his part but not impersonal. You two not being together anymore doesn't erase the time spent as a couple, so if it's possible Reca will want you both to end on the best terms possible.
-> I will say however, that if you betraying or hurting him is the reason for the breakup the above applies significantly less. Yes, he remains as cordial as possible about it but there is also a noticeable anger to him, a curtness that would not be present otherwise. Reca isn't one to wear his vulnerabilities on his sleeve despite his expressive nature [nor is he one to beg for an explanation or apology] but that doesn't change the fact that it feels like his entire world is crumbling down around him. Honestly, depending on what exactly you did here Mr. Reca may just leave without saying anything at all.
-> Regarding him breaking up with you for the sake of his art it's really quite simple. Reca may adore you but at the end of the day he will always choose his films over his lover, even if only as a last resort and even if it is painful. He's very apologetic during the course of the breakup and is liable to promising that he'll find you again at a better time [should you two be close beforehand, that is].
-> Also I won't go in depth about it here, but I could see Mr. Reca to be the type to breakup with his lover for their own good - probably to protect you from how hectic and at times dangerous his job/livelihood is, to protect you from his own inability to provide what you need as a lover due to it [and his nature as a cremator/memokeeper]. In the case of this being the cause of the break I could see Reca being colder and harsher than you may expect, if only to ensure that you leave without a fight.
J | Jealousy: Do they get jealous? How do they handle insecurity or attention?
-> I think Mr. Reca gets jealous but I do not think he's a particularly jealous lover!
-> Mr. Reca is someone who holds an immense trust in and respect for you, and as such he's not one to question your loyalty towards him [at least not consciously] nor is he someone who gets overly bothered about you getting friendly towards other people - within reason, of course.
-> As we've established before, Reca himself is an affectionate man and as such he sees no need to stop you from being affectionate towards others, especially in the case of cast and crew. He understands that a kiss to the cheek and hug can mean very little [his own affection towards others tends to not mean much of anything], and Reca also knows that you are his. Not theirs.
-> At least, rationally he knows this. While all of what I just said is true, Mr. Reca is also prone to fits of worry and insecurity. As much as he may wish to tell you otherwise.
-> A lot of this is born from Recas' keen awareness of just how different the two of you are, how disconnected he is from your own experiences due to being a memokeeper. There's also his worry of being too much or not enough [due to aforementioned disconnect], mixed with his fears of being unable to properly provide for you as a lover due to how hectic his work is. Subconsciously, Reca worries that you'll find someone else; someone who can make up for what he lacks and that you'll be charmed by them, resulting in Reca getting... antsy when you grow close or sweet with someone else.
-> During moments of jealousy you can expect Mr. Reca to be hovering around you more, finding excuses to talk to you or touch you even when you're away from the object of his ire. There's something fretful about his demeanour, subtle and hard to pick up as it may be and you can expect Reca to try and "woo you" with his charm and intellect. As if asking "can't you see how good I am for you?".
-> Despite all of this, Reca doesn't like admitting he's jealous and will often claim mock offense when you ask what's wrong: "can't a man be sweet on his lover?". He's a master of talking circles around you and most attempts at getting Reca to admit he's jealous or worried will result in the conversation going thirty different places before you hit the mark. He may even try to playfully admit his jealousy while ignoring any of the deeper implications of it, satiating your curiosity while keeping his own vulnerabilities hidden. Please don't let that work.
-> How do you relax his mind during fits of jealousy and worry? It's actually quite simple! A nice bit of tender affection and love works wonders on his psyche, along with reassurance that you're not going to leave him for another. Just make sure you're not coming across as pitying him, as that would cause him to close off! And make sure you're not smothering him in affection only to neglect him when he feels better, either: Reca needs consistent affection like any lover does. You can't be sweet on him and then cold and expect him to feel secure with you.
V | Vision: What is their vision of their shared future? Will the two buy a house and grow old together?
-> Mr. Reca, when serious about you, is a very committed man and he isn't the type to get into a serious relationship without seeing some kind of future together. However, there are... oddities in the future he could have with you that effect the one he envisions.
-> Firstly there's Mr. Recas' work and how that affects the relationship. While I have no doubt that he has an abode [that he will certainly move you into] the main cause for concern is, well, who knows how much longer Reca will be on Penacony for until he hops to another planet to seek inspiration? And who knows how long it'll be before he comes back, if he decides to at all? Yes he may be a Penacony icon, but he certainly doesn't plan to stay there forever and miss out on all the other stories waiting to be told and experienced. Ideally, Reca envisions you coming with him on all his expeditions off planet - he'd love to explore the cosmos with you for the rest of your days.
-> Secondly, Mr. Reca is unable to have children. This is, naturally, due to being a memetic lifeform but it is something that saddens him a little. While he's not sure if his lifestyle would suit kids, Reca has found himself longing for them in the past, longing for a family of his own, so if possible he may want to adopt with you in the future! If you don't want kids that's not a dealbreaker, however. Again, he's not even sure if he'd ever have the time for them, but it is a possibility he'd bring up regardless.
-> Thirdly, Reca can't grow old with you - at least not in the way a fellow human could. This is something that doesn't really affect his vision of your shared future however, more just an oddity. Mr. Reca plans to stay with you until you die, even if he looks the same as he always has.
-> As for marriage, Reca certainly envisions that! But I'll save that for another post.
X | eXes: Do they talk about their past relationships? How do they handle the knowledge of their partners' exes?
-> Mr. Reca doesn't really talk about his past lovers but he's not adverse to it either, at least once you've been together for a while that is.
-> Most of his past lovers have been very short-term [think a few months] and he won't talk about them out of respect for their privacy. Plus, he just doesn't see the need to; yes at the time he cared for them, but they're not important to him anymore.
-> Regarding past long-term lovers, Reca has only ever had a small handful of them. Notably during his human and early memokeeper years, and also notably they did not tend to end particularly well. His silence regarding them is not so much Reca trying to "keep them from you" and more he just needs time to trust you before he opens up about his past and those involved in it.
-> When Reca finally does open up about them, he's half detached and half nostalgic, lamenting them and his perceived failures. It's painful to think back on it all and he'll be awfully somber during it, but Reca is regardless grateful for your listening ear. After this he still won't talk about them much [save for idle or somber musings], as he'd much rather focus on his time with you. Very much a man of the moment.
-> In regard to your exes [should you have any] Mr. Reca is unbothered for the most part. He's not one to spare your exes any thought and he's certainly not one to get jealous over them - with the slightest exception being if you were with them for a long time, but even that isn't really jealousy and is barely worth mentioning. In the case that you were mistreated by a past lover Reca is angered on your behalf, but it stops there. Don't mistake that as apathy, however, just more of a "they no longer concern us" mentality [mixed with his concerning habit of viewing trauma through the lens of spectacle... this may be problematic concerning possible trauma caused by past lovers [or just in general], but trust that it never comes from a malicious place and it can be worked on].
-> If you desire to talk about your past lovers, whether positively or negatively, Mr. Reca is willing to lend his ear and listen to what you have to say. Should you constantly be bringing them up in a positive or nostalgic light Reca will eventually become bothered and maybe even a tad jealous, but apart from that there won't be much complaint and he may even enquire into what your relationship with them was like [whether out of genuine curiosity or memokeeping duties it's hard to say]. Either way, he trusts you when you say you no longer love them.
Grady <3
I | I love you: Who said it first? How often do they say it? Do they show it without words?
-> Grady... takes a while to say "I love you". You'll definitely be the first one to say it and depending on how quick you are about it he may not even respond in kind for a while. Which isn't to say Grady doesn't return your feelings, but more to say that he is cautious [perhaps overly so] about sharing them verbally.
-> He has been through a lot in his life, but one of the main things to affect how quickly he says these three words is his past lover, Asna. Their break was immensely detrimental to his mental health and gravely affected his ability to form close relationships again; specifically, Grady is prone to feeling like he's betraying Asna by being with you - by being happy with you. And saying "I love you" would only ever serve to strengthen that nasty feeling in Gradys' heart.
-> As such, Grady sticks to showing his love through other means. Handling chores around the house when he has the time, making an effort to include you in his busy schedule, awkward but gentle touches and comfort, listening to any and all things you want to share with him regardless of how interested he actually is; effort made to be someone you can rely on and turn to is how Grady confesses his love to you.
-> Circling back to who confessed first; when you first say "I love you" Grady is simultaneously elated and deeply alarmed. Why would you love him, and do you think he is daft enough to fall for such an obvious lie? And yet in spite of the oh so logical parts of his brain, Grady can't fight back the smile or the pink dusting his cheeks at your confession. Try as he might, his stoic facade shows its cracks [if only for a moment] and that may lead to Grady isolating for a day or two as he tries to fully process what you said and what he felt in response - how he should handle the "situation" from here [holy overthinker batman]. Note that he is noticeably more caring from here on out too, sweeter on you than he usually is.
-> Regarding when Mr. Mallory says it to you for the first time, I think it's something he wants planned out. A nice dinner to get you in a romantic mood followed by a walk around all the nicer yet more isolated parts of Penacony, followed further by a dance and his subsequent confession of love for you. The aim is, again, to get you in a lovey dovey mood but more than anything it's Grady buying time to steel his nerves and [subconsciously] look for a way out.
-> The confession itself isn't all too flowery or "romantic": despite Gradys' nature as a director, he prefers to keep things simple and to the point in his personal life. You could say he's emotionally blunt, but in a way that makes Gradys' confession more believable. It's a simple "I love you" with nothing else but the way he says it entirely certain, like he's sharing an immutable fact.
-> How often does Grady want it said to him? How often does he say it? Well. Grady would like to say that he's the type of man who could go a week without hearing those three words and be totally fine, but in truth he needs to hear it at least once every second day. He gets grumpy otherwise, which is to say mildly anxious. As for saying it, Grady will never be a fully vocal lover but he can adapt. Not only will he return it every time you say it, but he'll take the initiative weekly, and then nightly - if only while you're asleep in his arms.
N | Nicknames: Do they call their partner petnames? What Nicknames (petnames) do they give their partner?
-> Oh Mister Mallory loves petnames and he tends to be fairly casual with them! Honestly Grady might refer to you as his "sweetheart" more than he does your actual name. Blunt and stoic as he may be, Grady is casual and almost flirty with this type of affection.
-> As for the nicknames, "sweetheart" is a big one but there are a few others too. "Kid" [said teasingly], "baby", "doll", "handsome/pretty", maybe even a "loverboy/girl" thrown into the mix to keep you on your toes. His chosen petnames are never particularly goofy or cute nor are they overly elegant and suave, they're simply charming in their own right [if not a little sleazy].
-> That's all in a more casual/casually romantic setting, however. When Grady is feeling intimate or particularly romantic he tends to favour "My Beloved", as a thing. And if he is truly feeling sentimental or vulnerable you may ever be able to get a "my soul" out of him, said with a quiet but steadfast reverence and adoration that he is not prone to sharing openly.
-> As for receiving petnames, Grady isn't all too fussed what you come up. He has a fondness for things such as "darling", "my love" and the like, but in truth Grady prefers you call him by his first name. He has... issues regarding how well received his name is, how little it means to people and so having his beloved say his name so affectionately and sweetly has his heart skipping a beat or two. Especially if you add "my" in front of it: "my darling Grady" or even just "my Grady" has him melting into a puddle.
U | Unwinding: How do they like to relax with their partner? How can their partner help them relax after a hard day?
-> Grady is in constant need of relaxation. He has, again, had a very rough life but even now as a director his life remains stressful. From his penchant to overwork to his constant self-neglect and that's not even mentioning how public perception constantly messes with his self-esteem and the like.
-> Before you, Grady found "comfort and relaxation" in pipes and drink; copious amounts of substances to try and sink into numbness so as to be able to continue with his life and not get swallowed up by his own despair. Often paired with more work, as a thing.
-> And that's not to say that these bad coping mechanisms have disappeared with you of course [though after his rebirth as a memetic entity they have gone down significantly] but more to say that you've helped. He still likes a pipe and drink after a long day, but he's no longer downing bottle after bottle - at least not often.
-> Anyway putting aside the angst, how Grady wants to relax with you depends on his energy levels: sometimes he comes home so tired and stressed that all he wants to do is light a pipe and spend the rest of the night in your arms. Usually on the couch while watching parody horror movies [think Scary Movie or Shaun of the Dead], though he won't so no to a relaxing bath or massage first - run him a nice bath, massage scented oils into his skin, brush his hair and pepper kisses on his face and neck as you help dress him in something comfortable before pulling him to the longue room to cuddle and watch TV. Being near you in general provides comfort, but being taken care of truly warms Gradys' heart. Pamper him a little.
-> On nights where he insists on returning to work [because he oh so often does], the best way to provide relaxation is by simply being near him or, if possible, dragging him outside for a while. A nice walk around Penacony where it's just the two of you always calms Gradys' mind, so even if he returns to work when you both arrive home it's often with a sense of clarity and calm.
-> Does sex help Grady relax? ........maybe ;)
W | Wholesome habits: What habits did they pick up from you? What habits did you pick up from them?
-> Wholesome habits Grady has picked up from you? Uh yeah, liking himself.
-> No but seriously that is one of the affects you've had on him. Your habit of complimenting him, of believing in him and his works will rub off overtime and result in Grady looking at himself kinder than he ever really has. At least, since Asna anyway. It is something that manifests in smaller ways, but you'll no doubt start to notice how he no longer backs away from your kind words, how he seems to stop berating himself and his name as he so often has in the past. You could even say that Grady starts to believe that he deserves you and the feeling of peace that comes with you.
-> On a smaller scale, Grady will no doubt pick up some of your little habits! He is an ever-observant man with an excellent memory, so it's no surprise that all of your little quirks and habits are noted down by him. Which means that a lot of what Grady picks up is conscious, an attempt to feel closer to you in a way. Things such as how you may put on certain articles of clothing, how you may fiddle with certain things when thinking or bored, and the like. Small, almost unthinking parts of you will become a part of him too - consider it a way he shows his affection and care.
-> As for habits you'll pick up, it will likely be his speech. Like Mr. Reca, Grady has an almost antique lexicon and a habit of referring to things in a very film director way. It is not hard to imagine that these habits of his will rub off on you, resulting in a similarly antique and eccentric speech [if only by a little]. You may also pick up on his habits regarding petnames; as I said earlier he calls a lot of people "sweetheart" specifically and Grady may grow smug when he starts to notice you doing the same - "am I that important to you doll?".
-> Likewise, you may also note Gradys' effortlessly confident demeanour and that too is liable to rub off over time. Especially when paired with his nature as a steadfast lover, who believes in you as much as you do him.
-> On a smaller scale, you may also pick up on some of his habits regarding hygiene! He is a very neat and clean man who makes absolutely certain that everything not only has a place but is clean. This is something you will have to pick up in order to live with him, but it is beneficial. Especially when you adopt his showering habits, of which he has many; you'll never not be smelling like heaven from here on out.
Do you think Grady is a cuddler? I'm betting a solid absolutely 🤔
YES ABSOLUTELY, but not at the start of a relationship I don't think. that's mainly because he doesn't know it though lol
Grady would definitely be the type to go like "ew, affection" at first. then, at some point, after a particularly rough work day, you decide to give him a surprise hug in an attempt to comfort him, and after he parses what exactly you've just done, you can just barely catch him sniffling a bit as he tries his hardest not to start sobbing right there and then.
from that point onwards, he will actively seek out your touch, taking every opportunity he can to hug you, or kiss you, or hold your hand, or whatever else he can think of. i like to call him almost...aggressively affectionate.
whenever you two have the chance to sleep next to each other, Grady will INSIST that you two cuddle, and as soon as his arms wrap around you, it's likely that you won't be seeing him let go for a long while - or at least until morning. but, say you have to get up at any point during the night, and the director will almost instinctively wake up from his sleep, no matter how deep he was into it, and immediately start grumbling about the sudden absence of your warmth. as soon as you get back from whatever you were doing, you will immediately (almost roughly) be pulled back into his arms, except this time, his grip on your waist is very noticeably tighter.
in situations that you are both awake (watching one of his films together, perhaps?), Grady will pull the classic "pretending to stretch only to put your arm around the other person", because his (admittedly strange) love of tropes doesn't just apply to his script writing. if you're receptive to that, though, he'll take that as a go-ahead to bring you closer to him, gently taking hold of your hand and pulling you against his chest.
now, while Grady absolutely loves to give affection, he loves being on the receiving end of it even more. take some time to return some of his advances, and you'll get the added benefit of getting to watch him fold like a cheap suit. take that little movie night scenario in the last paragraph, for example - nuzzle your head into the crook of his neck. and you'll soon have him under your thumb for the rest of the night. bonus points if you give him a few kisses to whatever is exposed of his neck while you're at it.
just make sure he doesn't pass out. his face will be so red and his hands so shaky that you'd think he was on the verge of heatstroke if his expression didn't look like little cartoon hearts were about to start floating from his head.
-> Cw for Grady standard attachment issues. As per usual, this is a pseudo character analysis. Whoopsy daisies.
-> Currently listening to: Late Nights & Heartbreak - Hannah Williams & The Affirmations
-> Credit to @cafekitsune for the divider!!
Grady <3
G | Gestures: How do they express their love? What are their love languages?
-> Gradys' love language is first and foremost Acts of Service and this is going to be how he predominantly expresses his love for you - though the how of it changes over the course of the relationship.
-> One of the first things you may notice when starting your relationship with Grady is that he is not particularly a vocal lover nor is he too touchy feely [early on anyway] and so he makes up for this with an almost hypervigilant level of observation.
-> Grady is a director and while he may be scorned as not a particularly good one it does mean that his observation skills are next to none. And when this is paired with his mindset of "well if I can't be loved I can at least be useful/needed" it results in a very... self-negligent sort of care.
-> A mix specifically very fun when you take into account Gradys' attachment issues and how avoidant he can be. Actually, his care for you is a big way this avoidance manifests; Grady takes care of you, bends himself over backwards at the expense of his own health to make sure you're alright and thriving, pays attention to your every mood and need, and as such in his mind he never needs to verbalise his feelings or get close. He doesn't need to risk making it real, so to speak and he doesn't need your concern for his health either.
And it's something Grady may use against you at first, unfortunately - "I take care of you, how dare you question my affection for you?" which is to say, "how could you want to get close to me, don't you know what a mess I am?". No doubt a point of contention early on.
-> Again which isn't to say that this expression of love is disingenuous!! It's more just.... awkward; genuine observations and care laced with a lack of personal depth, so to speak. Which is also incorrect because everything he notices about you, every back breaking act reveals a lot more about Grady and his mindset than he may care to acknowledge. But that's fine; love him like this [though stand up for yourself and what you deserve], give him a sense of security and unconditional love and, with time, Grady will allow himself to get close to you. And as such you'll see this behaviour change.
-> So, how exactly does this change over time? How does Grady express his love for you when the two of you are closer?
-> Namely Grady lets you take care of him as well. Now this may seem weird - how is this him expressing his love? - but as we've established Gradys' care manifests in a very self-negligent way and I'm sure I don't need to drill home his issues with being vulnerable.
-> So for Grady to allow himself to crumble under his own weight, to allow himself to be vulnerable and useless around you, to be taken care of instead of being the carer is, to him, the ultimate way of expressing his love for you. To Grady there is no greater display than allowing you to see him knocked down a peg or two, to see him messy and human.
-> There are other ways that Grady expresses his love for you, of course. Namely he grows more physical over the course of the relationship and he becomes a VERY passionate advocate for falling asleep cuddling and holding hands whenever possible. On a smaller scale, Grady enjoys showing his affection for you with forehead kisses - one every time he says "hello" and "goodbye" regardless of who is around to witness it and also just whenever he feels like it, to be honest.
-> Grady is also very fond of having you just around him; he is someone very picky about who he lets into his personal space and his social battery isn't the best, so having you around and letting you get close to him is another fairly big way Grady shows his love for you. It is also something that translates to his work too - Grady will no doubt want you on set with him if he can, regardless of whether or not you actually work in the film industry [he will also star you in one of his movies even if you don't. Hope you like the idea of becoming a star on the silver screen...].
-> Summary: Mr. Reca says he has a surprise in store for Grady at work, leading to a sweet moment beneath a mistletoe. 3.1k
-> Warnings: Potentially OOC, the words "Grady" "Reca" and "he/him/his" are used one million times. Usage of "-" but, as always, not AI generated I prommy. Other than that, there's no warnings needed; just pure fluff folks!
-> Currently listening to: Gymnopedie No. 1 - Philippe Entremont.
-> Merry Christmas everyone and a special shoutout to my lovely friend @frag-grenade for inspiring this fic! I hope you all enjoy :]
Grady had woken up, albeit reluctantly, to the feeling of his beloveds hand; fingers, slender and deft, running through his white-black tresses. Delicately pulling apart knots that had formed in the night before smoothing the hair over, stopping every now and then to twiddle a lock or two between forefinger and thumb. Occasionally, his love would lean forward, bring the locks to his nose and breath in the scent; old cedar wood with the faintest underlying tinge of smoke – the result of a lifetime of pipe smoking, not that his lover ever seemed to mind [though there were chastises towards this habit, often said when the other man was himself holding a cigarette].
It had gone on for a few minutes, as it always did, before the man beside Grady laughed – something light and playful, reverberating throughout the silence of the bedroom. Still he had not truly woken, eyes having remained shut even when there was the press of a body against his; the sensation of fingers moving from his hair to his shoulder, feather light and tickling the skin as they slipped beneath tar black silk. The hand had come to rest on his chest, lazy caresses of his beloveds thumb trailing over old scars paired with the tickling of hair against his face, the press of soft lips to cheekbone.
Gradys’ face scrunched at the sensation, furthered only when those same lips started trailing along warm skin; fleeting and playful, from cheek to jaw to chin before, finally, placing themselves on his lips in a sweet kiss. It was slow, still blanketed by fatigue until his love pulled away with an over dramatic “mwah” and Gradys’ eyes finally fluttered open. Reca had appeared in his view, wearing the same smug look he always did on such mornings, though it never could cover up the love-struck gaze.
It could never get Grady out of bed, either. He had simply returned his lovers gaze for a moment, a scarred hand briefly rising from its rest on silken sheets to brush the hair from the mans face before, with as much strength as the tired limb could muster, pushing him away. Reca had let out an offended gasp, body falling back onto the bed with the flair of a heartbroken damsel as Grady turned away to continue his rest; an already faint mumble of being far too old to get up at such an ungodly hour further muffled by the pillow.
Eyes only properly opened [and stayed as such] when a steaming cup of green tea clinked on the bedside table, followed by another clink and the aroma of freshly toasted fruit loaf.
There had been the lightest tease about a lack of proper work ethic as Reca passed the cup to Grady, his own hands replacing the directors and bringing the brim to his lips. The taste had been refreshing, the warmth seeping into Gradys’ body and earning a huff of approval. For a moment, Grady had closed his eyes and let the feeling linger while his mind kicked into gear, uncaring of the eyes watching him with rapt interest, only really paying Reca mind when the man reached over to pry the cup from his fingers.
Grady had watched as Reca brought the cup to his lips, no doubt stealing a sip to test his own handiwork before passing over the plated toast, telling Grady to hurry up and eat - there would be no time for dawdling today. The sentiment had raised suspicion from Grady, an inquisitive [and apprehensive] look being shot Recas’ way as he took a bite from the food before him but the other man had merely insisted that it was imperative that they arrived at work as soon as possible. Promises of something truly important happening, though he would not elaborate on what said important thing was, nor when it would be happening. But the look on his face told Grady that there was no falsehood to his words; something important [at least to Reca] would be occurring today and the idea had filled him with as much trepidation as it did excitement.
Yes, the day had started off normally, for even these mysterious promises of excitement and surprise were not unusual. Even if Grady, at times, wished they were [at one point, he thinks back to the glitter bomb and a shiver runs down his spine].
It had continued like expected, too, with the filming of Recas’ latest movie; an artsy horror flick bringing back all of Penaconys’ old and forgotten horror tropes with the aims of breathing new life into them. He had labelled it as a love letter to the genre and the genius’ behind it, something that had earned an eye roll from Grady at the time [though thinking back on it always caused the corners of his lips to twitch up in a smile]. The announcement of this project and Gradys’ label of co-director had been one of the best surprises that had come from Reca in the past, and while Grady knew that this one wouldn’t be able to best it he hoped that, at the very least, it too would be joyous.
Not that he had paid it much thought once he was in the [co] directors’ chair, far too focused on the horror story unfurling before him to care for the anticipation that had bubbled in his chest just hours before. He had watched the scene with an analytical calm bordering on obsession, eyes – honed from years upon years of passion and practice alike observing every detail of the set and the actors within it; the line delivery, the lighting, the sound design, every prop and its’ placement – ready to step in as soon as something failed to meet his standards and expectations. A professional yes, but perfectionist would be nearer the mark than any other label. It was a trait that Reca shared, but his had always had a kinder lilt to it.
Thankfully, there had been no need for it. Everything had gone as it was meant to. No mishaps with lines, no blunders with technique or camera work, the cast [usually a rowdy bunch] well behaved and serious – perhaps even professional. Aeons, Grady couldn’t think of a single thing that had gone wrong and, when Recas’ voice sliced through the air in an energetic and jovial “cut!”, he wondered if this was the surprise that had been planned for him. A day without stress, without worry of falling behind deadlines, without a blasted headache from it all.
Naturally, such a thing deserved thanks. So when Reca had finished addressing the cast and crew alike, congratulating them on such a brilliant performance and telling them to take a break – that they would all reconvene in an hour to shoot a different scene, Grady had approached with the intent of showing his appreciation. A hand, garbed in white cotton, had come to rest of Recas’ hip once in front of him, body leaning forward so as to place the quickest kiss to the directors cheek – much to his delighted surprise.
“Thank you.” The look in Gradys’ eyes had conveyed nothing but sincerity.
“Why,” the huff of a laugh, fondness crinkled the lines of Recas’ mouth, “you’re welcome! Though I haven’t a clue what you’re thanking me for, my star.”
Gradys’ eyebrows had furrowed together, the hand on his cane flexing ever so slightly.
“Hm? Has this not been the surprise you’ve been raving about? A day of peace?”
“Ah I wish it was, my star. But no, everything here has been the work of our spectacular cast and crew [although of course having a director such as I on set no doubt helped]. No, no, your surprise is still coming, though I fear now it won’t surpass what you thought it was,” playfully, Reca had cast his gaze downward, a contemplative shake of his head and shoulders heaving in a sigh before he continued to speak. “A dreadful shame. I suppose you won’t want it anymore…”
Grady had grunted at that, lifting his cane off the pristine floor of the studios to hit his beloveds leg with it.
“Don’t be a fool, Reca. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Perhaps not, my star. You truly know what to say to make my heart flutter.”
At this, Reca had pulled away from Grady with mischief pooling in his eyes and the anticipation in Gradys’ chest only grew. If that was not the surprise, he was unsure what else it could be, mind running along all possible avenues as he watched Reca retreat from him with a hop to his step; only coming to a still when he was by the rooms’ exit. His voice reverberated throughout the mostly empty set.
“Well, are you coming my star? Or do you plan to stand there like a fish out of water for the remainder of the hour?
It was with curious reluctance that Grady had followed after the other director. If Reca managed to ruin his mood with this little surprise, then surely he would kill him.
-
Grady sits now on a leather love seat in Recas’ office, watching as the man scurries about the cramped space with the agility of a mouse, expertly dodging and stepping over objects with a speed that has his head spinning. Grady is certain he would have tripped numerous times if he were in Recas’ shoes, watching with quiet amusement as his beloved darts to and fro, occasionally stopping with the parts to set up an old fashioned tripod camera by his desk.
A vintage lamp sits on the said desks polished surface, illuminating the office space in a warm yellow glow that does wonders for Gradys’ eyes, sensitive to light as he is. Lazily, he looks away from his love, coming to rest his cheek on his hand as he gazes about the room in waiting. It’s cluttered with files and paperwork and needless amounts of equipment and the walls are no better, covered in polaroids and posters and drafts connected by string; decorated further by mounted racks of film reel [although they are thankfully sparring, with most properly shelved]. Despite the outward mess, the space is organised [and, somehow, not a fire hazard. Much to Gradys’ continued bafflement]. Everything in its’ right place, labelled and secure and the delicate items haven’t seen a single scratch nor tear. Grady doubts they ever will; he knows Reca to be a skilled and careful archivist and director as much as he knows him to erratic and reckless.
Even now, when flitting around the room in search of Aeons knows what, Grady can see the careful calm lacing every single one of Recas’ movements; the sharply calculated mind at play, though Grady still has no idea what it is that he’s planning. The camera is worrisome to him, if only because he dislikes being in the limelight. Nervously, Grady taps a finger against his cheek, back to watching Recas’ every movement.
“Just another moment, my star! You patience is very much appreciated.” His love announces, coming to a stop in front of the camera once more to fiddle with loose parts and the like.
His brows knit together in concentration and Grady can’t help but admire how handsome the other man looks when engaging in his livelihood like so. The passion for his craft was infectious; indeed, it had been that passion that had breathed life back into Gradys once lost love for it. A fact he has remained ever grateful for, but especially at times like these, where he is in the midst of it.
Perhaps Reca notices the love struck gaze on Gradys’ face, looking over at him momentarily before turning back to the equipment with a fond, nearly flattered, laugh. With the flick of a switch, Reca steps back and into the cameras’ lens.
“There!” a hand moves up in excitement, fingers snapping together before Reca turns on his heels to face the man on the love seat. “Action, my dear Grady~!”
The smile on Recas’ face is as gorgeous as it is troubling, toothy and wide and in response Grady merely quirks an eyebrow. An attempt to downplay his own growing enthusiasm, although he knows doing so around a memokeeper is pointless.
“Hm? Don’t tell me you’re going to perform for me, sweetheart.”
And Recas’ eyes twinkle at the prospect, a coy laugh leaving him as he approaches the seated man and for a moment Grady thinks that he may just sit down on his lap. A subtle redness washes over his face as Reca stands before him, eyes averting from the directors in a bout of shyness and instead coming to focus on one of the many polaroids lining the walls – a reaction that earns another laugh from his love, paired with a playfully scolding click of his tongue.
“I’m sure you’d love a movie like that, my star,” this earns an eye roll from Grady, “but as tempting as that prospect may be, sweetie pie, I had something else planned for the two of us.”
As he speaks Reca bows forward and extends a hand, motioning for Grady to grab a hold of it with the twitch of his fingertips. Like an invitation to dance, causing another quirk of Gradys’ brows before he, too, reaches to Reca. The feeling of his beloveds hand is welcome, even when the director is pulling him upwards off the loveseat and dragging him to the middle of the office without even giving him time to grab his cane; landing them directly within the heart of the cameras’ view. Grady spares a glance at it once they’ve come to a still and then lets his eyes drag across the room, looking for what could possibly be about to happen. Not once does he look upwards, a fact that causes Reca to smile to himself.
“Is the surprise a dance?”
“Close but no cigar, I fear! Why don’t you try guessing again for me, my star?”
The look in Recas’ eyes is earnest, his spare hand coming to grab Gradys’ with an excited squeeze. Grady returns it in a manner that he hopes comes off as reluctant.
“Aeons, you’ll be the second death of me,” regardless of his words, the hint of a smile crosses his face, “I haven’t a clue, Reca. Can’t you just tell me and be done with all this teasing?”
“Oh but there’s no fun in that, is there? Come now, put that handsome head of yours to use Grady. I know you can do it.”
Again, Grady lets his eyes wander around the room, lips pursing together in thought and, again, there’s nothing. Surely something as built up as this meant extravagance but there was nothing here that matched that. At least, nothing that would count as a surprise for him, unless Reca planned to hand over that pretty new camera of his? The thought causes Grady to release the huff of a laugh; now that would be a surprise.
Eyes - crinkled in barely suppressed amusement - look back at his lover, who has been watching him with bemused interest this entire time.
“Can I at least get a hint, doll?”
The other man merely hums in response, pulling one of his hands from Gradys’ to point upwards at the ceiling, sending a wink to him in the process.
Quizzically, follows the hand upwards and to the ceiling, from which a bundle of mistletoe hangs from red string. For a moment, Grady simply looks at the plant, fingers tapping against in thigh in thought while the pieces slip into place in his mind.
And then it does, and Grady releases an exasperated sigh at the realisation, gaze turning downwards to the man before him who has, invariably, moved closer to his person. Almost chest to chest.
“Mistletoe? Really?” The tone is neither harsh nor disappointed, and is accompanied by colour once more spreading across Gradys’ face.
“Correct, my beloved. What better way to celebrate the holiday season?” The energy from Recas’ voice has been replaced with a calmer lilt, something low and warm that causes butterflies to flutter in Gradys’ chest. A feeling heightened when Reca moves, arms coming to loop around his neck with a smile. Fingers go to play with white-black strands of hair, tousling them around slightly.
Damn this man. Why must I always be reduced to a love struck fool in his presence?
“Hmph. I suppose you’re right,” hesitantly, betraying the attempted steady of his voice, Grady comes to rest his hands on the small of Recas’ waist and moves to pull the director closer to him. In the process, he leans forward, an affectionate press of his nose to the other mans as the colour on his cheeks deepen. “Still, you’re the sappiest man I’ve ever met, sweetheart.”
At this Reca giggles once more, looking at Grady through now lidded eyes.
“And yet I fear I’m not the one blushing, ciel.” Quickly, a glance to Gradys’ lips.
Grady doesn’t say anything in response, simply letting out a grunt as he takes in the sight of the man before him. Reca looks nothing short of statuesque in the light of the lamp and Grady can’t help the appreciative noise he lets out, eyes coming to settle on his supple lips as he leans in closer. For a moment he stays like that, lips hovering above the others before his eyes flutter shut and the distance is closed fully.
The kiss is as tender as it is passionate and Grady can’t help but sink into the sensation fully, his arms coming to wrap around Recas’ waist with a soft tug, pulling the man as close to him as he can get. In turn, Reca tightens his arms around Gradys’ neck, lips twitching into a smile as he goes to deepen the kiss. It remains unhurried, even when one of Recas’ hands thread through Gradys’ hair, the press of the others lips slow and all but brimming with a love that’s returned in full.
When they finally pull away from each other [though barely] Grady can’t stop the smile that spreads across his lips, looking at Reca like he’s the loveliest thing in the cosmos. And Reca returns the gaze, eyes pooling with an affection that causes Gradys’ heart to skip a beat in his chest as he leans back in, lips pressing to Gradys’ in a soft peck before Reca goes to rest his head on the other mans shoulder; a soft nuzzle of his neck and the tickle of his loves hair causes Grady to let out a slight laugh, the hand on Recas’ back moving upwards until it rests between his shoulder blades.
Quietly, Grady goes to speak.
“No better way indeed, my dearest sacimün,” his tone grows quieter still, the next words whispered as if a secret. “Uo ai ciel.”
And in the calm of his office, Reca smiles against Gradys’ skin.
wdym you don't remember him being in saber's keeping up with star rail he was right there he even had an impromptu makeout session with mr reca are you blind
