OPEN | Paint Yourself A New Life

[helpdesk_hero]

Who: David Alleyne helpdesk_hero, Mina Ashido pinkxeno, Harry Osborn nepotis, Bucky Barnes sinistral
What: David Has Many Meetings (Including Open Post)
When: [Forward Dated] April 1st through 5th
Where: Excelsior - Guild Housing #1, Excelsior - Connoisseur Coffee,
Content Warnings: Only in Thread Labeled V - Seeking Comfort: discussion of murder of children, attempted suicide, David's death, hate crimes

I. A Home Of Clashing Styles | Closed to Mina Ashido | Excelsior - Guild Housing #1
David had been living in the guild apartment for a month now, or just a shade over, and all that time he'd been holding his tongue. Beyond introducing himself to Mina when he'd first moved in at the start of March, he had not engaged with the young woman much, and definitely didn't stay long in the public spaces of their shared home. How could he when he was faced with the absolute disaster of the appearance? A living room painted electric green with zebra stripes? Horrid. A kitchen filled with insanely colorful and not always matching touches and appliances? Oh god. Even the small touches of decoration in the public spaces made David try not to wince.

Honestly, he hadn't even invited his boyfriend over because of the state of things. Most days he just came home from work or other things, walked in the door, visibly winced, and went right to his room or attached lab. But today, as he came back from the office in full business wear, vest and long sleeve shirt and tie and all of that. And walking in like that, with his back pack and a bag of groceries for him to cook dinner, he just couldn't take it anymore.

"Just... do it like an adult," he told himself before lifting his voice, hoping it would carry to wherever his housemate was.

"Mina, can we talk for a moment?"


II. Looking At The Moving Pieces | Closed to Bucky | Excelsior - Guild Housing #1
The weekend. David made a hard and fast rule to not go into the office on weekends, which made it the perfect sort of time for outside consultations. Today was one of those instances. After a previously successful first meeting with one Bucky Barnes (because of course David had recognized the man for who he had to be) back in March, today was going to be the first full check over, for the two of them to determine if David would be a good emergency tech for the man.

David waited in the living room for the knock at the door, knowing he'd have to let the former Winter Soldier choose his own pace at being comfortable with his arrival. What what little first hand knowledge that had been shared with him by people back home, he imagined the man would be... nervous. But David couldn't be certain. He'd met people from other versions of his world, and they didn't always line up personality wise.

But he was going to do his best to support the guy, and try and hide that he might have pre-formed opinions based on a whole other man. So he kept himself quiet and patient until he heard the knock at the door. David rose quickly and moved to it, opening the door to meet the other man.

"Mister Barnes, good afternoon. Come on in. Would you like any refreshments before I guide you back to my work room?"

He had no intention of calling it a lab. Not with a man no doubt tormented by his universe's Hydra.


III. The Coffee Conundrum | Closed to Harry Osborn | Excelsior - Connoisseur Coffee
Coffee. It was something that mattered to David, quite a bit actually. Caffeine was part of his diet, perhaps more than it should be. And, until he had the money to properly kit his kitchen out with a good brewing set up, David found a local coffee shop to indulge his needs. The world had blessed him with a great coffee shop between the apartment and his office, and it was here that David appeared multiple times a day. A quick stop in first thing for a coffee on the way to work, a trip in the evening for a cup to take home, and of course this, his lunch break.

David was currently settled in the cafe as he was most afternoons, in a table near a wall that normally wasn't the most desirable area of the care. His back was to the wall, and in front of him on the smaller table was a laptop. The other chair at the table was taken up by a back pack, and taking up the rest of the room on the table was another laptop, sitting closed, which was a weird thing, unless one knew David. Truth was the two laptops were interfaced, and he was using his technopathy to boost the processing of the one he was currently working on.

Thing was most days David did this, and it wasn't a problem. But today? Today there was a convention in town, something David wasn't aware of, and the cafe had packed to almost bursting when David wasn't aware of it. He'd been too engrossed in his current design project, his attention flicking back and forth between his typing and the medical journal at his side, opened to a recent article about a new study on regenerative rates of the nervous system. Truly, he had no idea how rude he was being taking up a table that could be used by others, especially after he'd finished his packed punch and coffee just a few minutes ago.

Perhaps someone should go and shuffle the man out of the space.


IV. Wildcard | Open to all
[OOC: I'm open to anything here, giving David a chance to hang out with his standing CR or meet new people. My only rule is that interactions would happen in Excelsior. If you have an idea that the above open post doesn't allow for, either private message this account or hit me up on plurk at churbooseanon or discord at Churby#4290. OR throw your own starter out in here. I'm happy to do many things.

IF you're looking for things that may be good hooks, David's a technopath, associated with a company that makes prosethetics and assistive technology, an accomplished chef that will be hitting up stores around the city for quality food and cookware/appliances, a technopath that will be around many computer shops, and honestly? He's a hockey nerd so you might find him at sports bars sometimes. Other than that, he'll likely often be out reading books in parks, or even just scientific journals. Guy has a spread of interests and we can talk it out to figure what might best hook a character into paying attention to him or coming over to say hi.]

Comments

[helpdesk_hero]

"There haven't been a lot of people capable of giving me that taste," David admitted with a shrug.

"Do you mind if I stay here today? I know you already offered, but I wanna be sure."

[portolan]

"I would greatly prefer if you stayed here."

David's calm enough now, but Balthier suspects he's exhausted and still emotionally fragile. And if David leaves he's going to be worried about further developments sending him back into a spiral.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well, they would both prefer it which meant that there was no reason he shouldn't do it. But that analysis, even unspoken, wasn't wrong at all. He'd be powerless at home. At least here he was powerless and in possession of a man who would metaphorically sit on him and make him focus elsewhere.

"Okay, thanks. Hope you don't mind if I throw my clothes in the washer? I'll need to take an early morning walk back to my place to get ready for work."

[portolan]

"It's in the basement," he says in way of agreement. Along with a small storage area, a second bathroom, and the door to the garage.

"I can also take you home on the bike if you want to save yourself the walk."

A conversation they had about eventually having a drawer in each other's apartment comes to mind. He's not quite ready to suggest that, but he's seeing the appeal for days like this.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I haven't explored there," David answered. Not that he's in an exploring mood. But it is distracting.

Though the thought of the bike actually earns a smile. An excited one.

"You promise?"

[portolan]

Distraction is on his mind too; he's running a mental catalog of what they could do, because he knows that mental state and he knows chewing on thoughts and replaying conversation is an alluring and cruel temptation.

David's enthusiasm interrupts that calculation. "Dear one, getting to take you flying is one of the few things from my old life I can't actually give you. I absolutely promise."

He still has that photo from their first ride together as his computer background.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Good," David smiled. "I always envied people who could fly. With you I felt like I got a taste of it. It was amazing."

[portolan]

"I certainly understand the thrill -- haven't lost interest in it in a decade. When the weather gets better we'll have to go on a long ride." His stamina is increasing, too.

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh, that sounds lovely. David even smiles.

"Think you could handle carrying us and a packed lunch? Because I would love to do that."

Fly somewhere somewhat isolated and eat with the man he loves.

[portolan]

"That sounds superb. And yes, weight on that scale isn't an issue -- we'll just have to secure it to one of us."

Easy enough. And taking the man he loves exploring, finding something isolated and beautiful -- that's a dream made real.

"We will have to make a plan of it."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Well, I can get a pack for that easy enough," David declared. He'd figure it out. "But going out like that with you would be a dream and a delight."

[portolan]

Balthier bumps affectionately against him. "That's reciprocal. You'd be surprised how few people in my life actually enjoyed adventure and romance." And then add someone he actually loved to that and the list was very short.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I'm not as prone to romance in my life, and adventure tends to find me. But you? You make me eager to find it instead."

[portolan]

"I would say I find it hard to believe you aren't normally romantic or adventure-seeking, but you have brought out pieces of me I have otherwise have kept quiet, so instead I'll be glad that's mutual."

It puts that dreamy smile on his face, the one that's shy and smitten and not guarded at all.

[helpdesk_hero]

Mutual in the best way. EVen if David's still a bit upset from all that happened to him.

"You make me a better version of me. is that so hard to believe? That's what love does. Two people making each other better."

[portolan]

Maybe the most important time to be reminded of love and sweetness.

"You'll have to forgive me any cautiousness or disbelief. I carry my own wounds. But you are forcing me to begin to air and heal them. I quite like this part of love." Even if it terrifies him.

[helpdesk_hero]

Begin to air? Well, he won't push for them out in the air before Balthier is ready. That wouldn't be healthy.

If only he knew how unhealthy it was as well.

"It's called the honeymoon phase in my world. Where everything is sweet and lovely and it seems like nothing could go wrong."

[portolan]

That's what scares him. The honeymoon phase wearing off. That airing things will just speed that up. Not always in an active thinking way, but the thought is there. So today he's telling himself not to share because this is about David, not catching that there's always a reason not to share.

"I will enjoy basking in that as long as it wants to linger," he says instead. And he can almost convince himself that it will indefinitely.

[helpdesk_hero]

No, it's not that simple. David smiles and strokes his love's face. "Basking is nice. But honestly, being honest with you and not having you turn me away was nice too."

Because he feels welcomed.

[portolan]

That makes his heart catch for a moment, especially with the hand on his face accompanying it. That's what he wants David to feel.

His hand comes up to hold David's against his face. "I want all of you, David. I'm not going to turn you away for being open with me. I want you close. I want to see you, all of you, and I want you to feel safe in sharing with me."

He wants to do that too. He just...has no idea how.

[helpdesk_hero]

David wants that too, he wants to be Balthier's shelter, his safety. He doesn't know how to ask.

"I want to feel that. I want to move to the point where I feel that. So thank you."

[portolan]

There's so much he doesn't know how to say or how to do. He just wants David close, always. So he wraps his arms around the other man and closes his eyes and takes a moment to just process that he's here and this is all real. Still happening. Still deepening.

"Thank you for letting me in."

[helpdesk_hero]

David nods. It's the best he can do.

"There's more stories. There are always more stories. But not from me today. I've let out all I can."

[portolan]

"I think I would stop you today. There's a limit to how much hurt the heart can handle before it shuts down. I'm glad you're keeping an eye on that.

"Why don't you go put your laundry in. Then let me read to you, or tell you stories, or we can watch something or take a walk. I want to keep your mind occupied, and I want to keep you in my arms."

I want to keep that darkness at bay.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I'm trying to be different. i'm trying not to shut down," David answered.

But the statement earns a nod and David rises.

"Stories I think. Happy ones. I'm going to head upstairs and fetch the clothes. I hope you're okay with maybe ordering food. I don't think cooking is in my power tonight."