[it's comforting to be around someone so open to closeness without that natural recoil most have. he doesn't fault people for it, even if he can't help but feel a little hurt when the natural response is to panic, to overthink, to wince away from being too close for fear of being perceived in ways they don't like... it's not their fault no more than his perception is his.
someone like Jim is a bit of a refuge from that sort of apprehensive energy that tends to pervade places.
it's also just nice to be held, you know? he'll indulge in that for a little bit.]
Are those...the kinds of songs you found? The ones you meant to share when you called, I mean.
[ It's like Blue said; it's just not the kind of person he is. He's open with the way he feels, and he cherishes closeness with others. It doesn't mean he would accept this kind of proximity with just anyone, though. But Blue is special to him, closer to him than most others on this station, so there's no move Blue could make that would ever make him recoil or hesitate. ]
Most of them, yes. Some are a little older than these ones, different styles too. I just put together some for you, you can have a listen and see if you like any.
[ He hits play on the list he's set up on his PADD, letting the sounds just flow out from the speaker on his nightstand. ]
[music generated from a machine hits differently than the stuff being played by the living, feeling person at one's side. it's still lovely, of course, but it doesn't have the same mesmerizing feeling that those personal little performances elicited. which is...probably a good thing, lest Blue just be glassy-eyed and enrapt the whole time. like a weirdo.
no, for now he can stay drawn in close against Jim while a few minutes of song plays out, stirring only a little when it transitions to something else entirely.
he lifts his head enough to peer through his bangs:] You compiled these...for me? [just to see if he liked them?]
[it's almost absurd how kind Jim is to him, especially in the face of most...everything else? not that kindness is exclusive to him alone, but rather...it's still something Blue doesn't inherently expect. after all, what has he done in return?]
Thank you. I'm grateful for those those thoughts...and this effort. [after a slight hesitation, he tilts his head so he can gingerly kiss his cheek in something of an echo of the moment before.]
[ Jim certainly hopes he's not the one capable of showing kindness here, that's a seriously depressing thought. But he doesn't do it expecting anything in return, or after getting something in return. Blue has been a friend all this while, has taken interest in him, showed to enjoy spending time with him, and Jim hardly needs a reason beyond that.
He doesn't quite fluster as Blue did at the kiss, though he tips his head and closes his eyes, smiling at the gentle touch of lips to cheek. His hand gives Blue's side a light squeeze. ] You're welcome, Blue. And I'm glad you like them. We can just get comfortable and listen for a while, if you want.
[ The touch is gentle, sweet, and it gets a smile from Jim. Slowly, he guides them so they can both lean back against the pillows on his bed, not quite lying down but not sitting up anymore either. Easier to relax like this. ]
[Blue's spent far too much time laying down for his liking, yet something like this is far from unpleasant. in a way, it reminds him of how he used to rest his head against Physis' lap, absorbed in the quiet comfort of her presence as she ran her fingers through his hair and Alfred's music gently filled the air around them...
he stretches his arm around Jim's middle once he's nestled against him, pale eyelashes grazing the other's cheek as they blink a few times before closing entirely. the little aches throughout his body fade into the background of his mind as Jim's presence and that music takes the forefront of his meditative focus. for a little while, the worry of being so short on returns for all these thoughtful gestures and moments fades, too; all he fears is falling asleep and losing his sense of presence here! but Jim's a strong anchor; keeping hold of him in more than one sense helps a lot.]
[ Jim doesn't mind nearly as much just lying down for a little while, not that he's tired but sometimes it's just nice to get cozy and cuddle with someone special. Seems like the nicest thing to do while they're listening to the music, so they're both more relaxed and not just awkwardly sitting by the edge of the bed.
He sighs, lips curling when Blue's voice echoes in his mind. His hand moves in slow circles on Blue's back, up and down soothingly, gently brushing through his hair as his other hand rests over Blue's arm. ]
[it's a simple and honest sentiment, but it still means a lot to hear. coupled with the stirring feeling that fingers grazing his neck and hair brings, Blue finds himself compelled to shift just a little, to lift his head to catch Jim's eye. such bright blue...]
[ For a moment, Jim is surprised by the question. Not in a bad way, of course, after all he did make it plenty clear that he'd like to kiss Blue again, but he'd kind of left that on his side of the field and hadn't brought it up since.
Blue's question now seems almost sudden, but sweet. He looks down with a soft smile, hand reaching up to brush along Blue's strands, down his cheek and jaw, then he tips his head up slightly to brush his lips against Blue's, the clearest answer he could give. ]
[clear, indeed. Blue's eyes close as his lips meet Jim's, enjoying that warm little thrill that blossoms from the contact. the idle hand at Jim's middle shifts to rest on his chest while he turns a little more into him, fingers splaying out.
Blue lets himself get a little lost in the moment of laying gentle little kisses on him, swept along by Jim's intuition and response while taking in more of the moment: heartbeats, the slight shifting of hair, warm hands, everything intermingling with the foreign, beautiful music moving through the air.]
[ Jim doesn't quite press into it as hard as when they were under the mistletoe. That was pretty nice, but he's got a feeling that he did more than Blue could handle.
Besides, the mood's different now, softer and warmer, slower. He likes it like this, getting to just lie down close to Blue, gently brushing through his hair while he presses soft kisses against Blue's lips, lingering every so often but not pushing to deepen the contact this time. His chest rises quietly against Blue's hand, pressing closer, even as his heart beats just a little faster. ]
[all good things come to an end eventually; it's part of why they're so precious. it's rare of late that Blue doesn't feel entirely worn out laying down, and he's certain that has everything to do with Jim, and he can't help but but be grateful that even as the playlist seems to finish, Jim's content to just linger in comfortable quiet together.
a few minutes tick by, resting temple to temple, before Blue lifts his head a little to look Jim over, his hand also lifting so he can gently, affectionately graze his cheek with his thumb.]
Thank you for these gifts, James. It means more than you know.
[ Jim could honestly just fall asleep like this, so relaxed and content he feels, the music still playing in his mind's ear even after it has finished, the feeling of Blue's lips against his own still lingering long after the kiss broke.
He tilts his head when he feels the thumb stroke his cheek, lips curling into a warm smile, his own hand softly brushing through Blue's hair. ]
Thank you for the time you spend with me, too. I'm so glad we've met, here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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someone like Jim is a bit of a refuge from that sort of apprehensive energy that tends to pervade places.
it's also just nice to be held, you know? he'll indulge in that for a little bit.]
Are those...the kinds of songs you found? The ones you meant to share when you called, I mean.
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Most of them, yes. Some are a little older than these ones, different styles too. I just put together some for you, you can have a listen and see if you like any.
[ He hits play on the list he's set up on his PADD, letting the sounds just flow out from the speaker on his nightstand. ]
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no, for now he can stay drawn in close against Jim while a few minutes of song plays out, stirring only a little when it transitions to something else entirely.
he lifts his head enough to peer through his bangs:] You compiled these...for me? [just to see if he liked them?]
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He looks down at Blue's question, smiling with a tilt of his head. ]
Yes. Guess I was just... thinking it would be the kind of music you'd like, when I was making this playlist.
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Thank you. I'm grateful for those those thoughts...and this effort. [after a slight hesitation, he tilts his head so he can gingerly kiss his cheek in something of an echo of the moment before.]
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He doesn't quite fluster as Blue did at the kiss, though he tips his head and closes his eyes, smiling at the gentle touch of lips to cheek. His hand gives Blue's side a light squeeze. ] You're welcome, Blue. And I'm glad you like them. We can just get comfortable and listen for a while, if you want.
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he stretches his arm around Jim's middle once he's nestled against him, pale eyelashes grazing the other's cheek as they blink a few times before closing entirely. the little aches throughout his body fade into the background of his mind as Jim's presence and that music takes the forefront of his meditative focus. for a little while, the worry of being so short on returns for all these thoughtful gestures and moments fades, too; all he fears is falling asleep and losing his sense of presence here! but Jim's a strong anchor; keeping hold of him in more than one sense helps a lot.]
This...
This is nice...
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He sighs, lips curling when Blue's voice echoes in his mind. His hand moves in slow circles on Blue's back, up and down soothingly, gently brushing through his hair as his other hand rests over Blue's arm. ]
It is. I'm glad you came.
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May I kiss you again?
I'll remember to breathe this time.
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Blue's question now seems almost sudden, but sweet. He looks down with a soft smile, hand reaching up to brush along Blue's strands, down his cheek and jaw, then he tips his head up slightly to brush his lips against Blue's, the clearest answer he could give. ]
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Blue lets himself get a little lost in the moment of laying gentle little kisses on him, swept along by Jim's intuition and response while taking in more of the moment: heartbeats, the slight shifting of hair, warm hands, everything intermingling with the foreign, beautiful music moving through the air.]
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Besides, the mood's different now, softer and warmer, slower. He likes it like this, getting to just lie down close to Blue, gently brushing through his hair while he presses soft kisses against Blue's lips, lingering every so often but not pushing to deepen the contact this time. His chest rises quietly against Blue's hand, pressing closer, even as his heart beats just a little faster. ]
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a few minutes tick by, resting temple to temple, before Blue lifts his head a little to look Jim over, his hand also lifting so he can gently, affectionately graze his cheek with his thumb.]
Thank you for these gifts, James. It means more than you know.
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He tilts his head when he feels the thumb stroke his cheek, lips curling into a warm smile, his own hand softly brushing through Blue's hair. ]
Thank you for the time you spend with me, too. I'm so glad we've met, here.