OOM: workshopping with Charles.

[runningred]

{{from here}}

Jay's workshop is an interesting mess of bike parts and tools. He has a couple of old couches and a cooler full of beer too. "I know it's weird but being down here is almost as private as anywhere in Milliways."

Comments

[balancingminds]

"Fairly well, we're still learning each other but its a pleasure."

[runningred]

"I love that stage. When everything is new and you're learning what makes the other person sigh." Jay smiles wistfully, missing that feeling.

A flash of another woman - pale skinned and lithe as a cat with cropped black hair and laughing eyes. Laughing and dancing in the rain on a rooftop, laughing warmly even as she bend to kiss him, clearly somewhat taller than Jay. Or that Jay was at the time.

[balancingminds]

"Yes, and laugh. Its one of my favorite parts as well. Who's she?"

He likes to learn more of Jay's past, at least what he'll share of it.

[runningred]

"Ah." Jay ducks his head. "Didn't realise I was letting that one through."

He takes a long sip of his beer. "That's Selena. She was... my first. Not sex-wise, I lost my virginity to a John when I was 13 but she was my first adult friend, my first crush and that night in the rain, she was the first one to ever show me what making love should feel like."

[balancingminds]

"That's a nice sort of first to have,"

He wishes the rest were nicer but Jay's life hasn't been a simple or easy one.

[runningred]

"She came up the same as me - on the street. She understood where I was coming from, more than my mentor ever did." He smiles at the memory of the pair of them sitting on a rooftop, talking for hours. "She had a... complicated relationship with my mentor but she never treated me like a child. That night was... her gift for me. One I'll always treasure."

[balancingminds]

"That sort of respect is precious,"

Charles has always been older than his age and not everyone knows what to do with that.

[runningred]

"For all of us." He shoots Charles a smile. He doesn't need to read Charles' mind to know respect it something Charles has had to struggle for. "I hope you get that with your friends too."

[balancingminds]

"We will, because we all have someplace that we fit,"

Belonging is complicated and important.

[runningred]

"I guess that's why I like this place. I fit here. Mostly because no-one fits."

[balancingminds]

"True, I wish there were more places like this in the world."

[runningred]

"You and me both." Jay snorts. I wish I could stay here. But sooner or later, I'll have to go back.

[balancingminds]

Charles shifts forward,

"When you go, you'll be stronger. I promise. You've had a lot of hurt and that's not easily healed over but you can change things."

[runningred]

Jay can't help but cup Charles' cheek. God, I wish I could kiss you.

He leans back and sighs. "There's still poisons that needs cleaning out before some wounds can heal." Things that need to be done. Revenge mostly.

[balancingminds]

"I know and you don't have to face them alone. Be gentle with yourself as there's time here to heal."

[runningred]

Jay laughs softly. "I don't think being gentle with myself is a very good idea." He runs a hand over his belly, he's put on weight here in Milliways. "If anything, I need to get back into shape." Shifting focus much?

[balancingminds]

"That's not what I mean and you know it. I mean emotionally. I'll go jogging with you sometimes if that will make you more comfortable,"

Because Jay is far too good at dodging his feelings.

[runningred]

Jay laughs again, "Yeah, I know what you mean. But it's something I've never been very good at."

[balancingminds]

"That's why I'm here to help you get better at it. So pass me a beer."

[runningred]

Jay smiles and pulls out a beer, passing it to Charles. "So how do I go more gentle on myself?"

[balancingminds]

"Accept that you feel what you feel and that you're not broken or wrong. Then from there, you need to tell me more of what won't leave you alone in the day or the night. Find a way to leave your nightmares so you can face the day."

[runningred]

"So it's not wrong for me to enjoy being used by a vampire. The way I use to be used as a whole. Only on my own terms."

[balancingminds]

"No, I think it could be dangerous but this isn't the time for that conversation,"

Later perhaps when they've gone into why Jay feels drawn into such danger.

[runningred]

Jay nods and shuts down a bit, not talking for a long moment to finish his drink.

[balancingminds]

The shutting down wasn't what he wanted and he drinks his beer before standing up and walking among the bikes,

"Tell me about them. What stories do these tell?"