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[waywardshepherd]

[ He hadn't been snooping, really. He'd just been trying to clean up some things; he could see his accumulating mess, and he'd wanted to do something about it. Not that Alex Shepherd didn't snoop, and more than occasionally, just that this isn't the reason he manages to stumble across one of Henry's secrets. It takes him a bit to register what he's looking at, and then he's all grins, unable to help himself as he shuts the drawer and walks into the kitchen with the pack of cards in hand. He stops in the doorway, raising a brow as he holds up his find, a tiny grin already curling his mouth despite his best efforts. ]

And what's this, Mr. Townshend? Got something to share?

Comments

[waywardshepherd]

Hey, no, don't worry about it. [ A reassuring grin at that, and he leans back. ] It's fine.

[ And to put weight to that statement, he's gonna draw his card now, keep the game going. ]

... talk about how you - [ He can't even finish it when he realizes what's on the card, burying his face in his hands. That would be his luck. ]

CACKLE

[21st_sacrament]

...Alex?

[What's wrong. Why are you hiding. Oh god Henry totally ruined the game, he's upset the flow and now all their cards are horrible. That's what's happening isn't it.]

i love it cries

[waywardshepherd]

[ Yes, that's exactly what happened. That's bad and you should feel bad, Henry.

No not really, Alex is blaming his terrible luck more than anything. He doesn't even speak, just. Holds the card out for Henry to take, keeping his face buried in his hands as he does so. ]

[21st_sacrament]

[Taking the card from Alex, Henry reads it to himself.]

Oh.

I guess they're making assumptions with this game.

[Yes, Henry. That is the important part. Of course.]

[waywardshepherd]

[ Henry. Henry please.

Still, Alex is going to take that over the 'embarrass the fuck out of himself' route so. Lifting his head (and his face is not red at all, thanks) to respond. ]

Well, considering what kind of game it is... Kind of a reasonable assumption, I think.

[21st_sacrament]

[Henry hums in agreement.]

Do you want to pick another card?

[waywardshepherd]

No, I... can manage.

[ Damn pride not letting him back down. He takes a breath, drums his fingers on his leg, tries to figure out how to go about this. ]

I mean... I guess it depends on the context of virginity. I messed around a bit when I was a kid, nothing serious, so I guess if it means all the way...

[ And he's back to blushing again. Great. He clears his throat, manages to keep a normal speaking level, even if it means he can't look at Henry when he talks. ]

Well, uh. Telling the story would be redundant, since you were... kinda. There.

[21st_sacrament]

[That quiet little chuckle he does?

Yeah.]

[waywardshepherd]

[ Grumpiest look ever, Townshend. You are getting it. ]

[21st_sacrament]

[Henry just. Hides a smile behind his hand before he picks up his card.]

Share at least three physical features you admire about your partner.

[A pause, eyes going to the ceiling as he thinks.]

Hmm...

Your eyes. Your hips. Your back.

[waywardshepherd]

[ And despite his attempt to keep up the grumpy act, Alex can't help flushing at the words. Compliments like that, no matter how small, still get to him. He breaks the grumpy act to give Henry a smile for that, and then he goes to draw his next card. (Hopefully it's not as embarrassing as the last.) ]

Name one thing you'd like to do with your partner. [ He taps the card against his mouth as he considers the question, brows furrowing, flipping ideas over in his head. The game's obviously more focused on a couple's sex life, but y'know what, Alex is going to ignore that for now. ]

Road trip. Always wanted to go on one, and sharing it with someone I care about would make it better. [ Not even trying to stop the dweeby smile he gets as he says that. ] Besides, sure you could find a lot of photo opportunities that way.

[21st_sacrament]

[Henry doesn't mind, he plans on interpreting his own fair share of questions that way.

Alex's answer and smile (o-oh) get his lip quirking up.]

Yeah? I'd like that.

[The point is to go anywhere you want, stopping at the little spots that catch your own along the way. He can see it all too easily, the bright sky above their heads, Alex's crooked grin matching the sunshine when he catches Henry including him in the shot.

They'll have to talk about that, get time off of work. It's... It's exciting, honestly. Seeing the world. Without having to do it alone.

He takes his next card, reading it over before blinking once, twice. Shyly looking over before he moves, he leans in on his forearm before kissing just above Alex's left pectoral.]

[waywardshepherd]

[ Alex grins in equal parts at Henry's answer, as well as the shy look; it's something he likes seeing, even with how much he teases Henry about it. But the kiss is greeted with surprise, given he's not exactly expecting the move. Thus Alex's expression is all curiosity when Henry pulls back. ]

What was that about? [ A vague motion to the card, since someone forgot to read what was on it before answering. ]

[21st_sacrament]

Oh, the card - uh. It's... kiss your favorite body part on your partner.

It's your heart. [beat.] Is that weird?

[Oh god it is weird isn't it.]

[waywardshepherd]

[ ... and now he's laughing. ]

As long as you're not going to try removing it anytime soon, it's perfectly fine. Relax.

[ And leaning over to give him a quick kiss for extra reassurance, because he knows how Henry overthinks. ]

[21st_sacrament]

[Alex why. Why would you say that and then tell him to relax.

...after staring a few seconds too long Henry will finally blink and nod slowly.]

O-Okay.

[waywardshepherd]

[ Because Alex is really, really bad with jokes, Henry. You should know that.

But Alex knows that look, which gets him blushing out of embarrassment, so he's going to draw his card before it gets any more awkward. ]

... huh. Okay.

[ Alex is going to just. Set the card down. And then gets his hands on Henry's shoulders to kiss the hell out of him, teeth and tongue and all. ]

[21st_sacrament]

Mmph!

[Luckily for Alex, Henry's mouth opened when he felt the hands fall on his shoulders. Making a softer, less surprised noise he remembers to breathe through his nose before kissing back, a hand going to cup the back of Alex's head.

Hello.]

[waywardshepherd]

[ He might be grinning a little into the kiss at that. Might.

After about a minute, he pulls back, nipping at Henry's mouth one last time and smirking as he does so. He holds up the card for Henry to see - Kiss your partner for one minute. ]

[21st_sacrament]

[That nip does very pleasant and horrible things to him. Tease. Henry features are definitely flustered.

Teaaase.

He finally glances at the card, a soft oh falling from his lips.]

That was... yeah.

[waywardshepherd]

[ The essence of Alex Shepherd is tease, and you know this by now, Henry.

He laughs at the response, moving to put the cards with the others they've drawn and discarded. ] Eloquent, Townshend. Guess I should be flattered.

[21st_sacrament]

[His eyebrows raise before he shifts closer to blow in your ear.

Picking up his next cad dodododo.]

What was your first impression of your partner...?

My first impression... Well. I guess, I just thought it was strange.

[Henry's clearly only sharing a partial thought. Oops.]

[waywardshepherd]

[ That gets a yelp and an ineffective swat in return, and he's scowling a bit as he rubs his ear. RUDE.

... and then eyebrow raise at that, because Henry, you're fragmenting your thoughts again. ]

Thought what was strange?

[21st_sacrament]

[A pause, as if debating if he should say it.]

That you'd have such pretty eyes.

[He hadn't expected it. Sure, he'd seen Alex's profile but then he'd bumped into him, gotten to see him up close. Gotten to see the harsher features, the hard line of his chin and then there had been the eyes...

Dual-colored and so pretty.]

[waywardshepherd]

- 'pretty'?

[ Not something Alex expects to hear about him, of all people. He's not offended, just... surprised, really. That Henry could apply that word to him. ]