Comments | aternatopia: Atonement, of sorts

owingnobody in aternatopia

Atonement, of sorts

Aug 01, 2011 22:36

Who: Nobody Owens, Neil Perry
What: An apology, a thank-you, and a promise kept
Where: ...it's a surprise!
When: Monday evening
Why: ...because?
Status: Sort of illegal, incomplete

( There was a card left on the counter. )

nobody owens, neil perry

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notdead_poet August 2 2011, 03:54:39 UTC

Neil got home from work and set his messenger bag against the wall, as always. He went into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, as always, and figured Bod must not be back yet, as he usually came to greet Neil right away, if he was home first. He hoped Bod was alright. He'd seemed in far higher spirits after coming home from the library and getting his purple thermos full of tea, but Neil was still a little concerned. It just wasn't in Bod's nature to get so angry, especially at people he considered friends.

As he reached for a mug, Neil noticed the note. He'd just finished reading it, eyebrows raising slightly in bemusement, when the familiar little creature appeared. "...Crypt?" he asked, laughing a little. "Um... I suppose you're meant to be taking me somewhere?"

owingnobody August 2 2011, 05:23:07 UTC

The little hamster looked up at him expectantly. Then, it unmistakeably winked at him, and stretched out a tiny paw in his general direction.

notdead_poet August 2 2011, 06:29:06 UTC

"Alright, following the hamster, then," Neil murmured to himself, picking up his bag again as he went. "Some people get yellow brick roads, I get a hamster. A purple hamster."

His spirits were high, though, as he followed. Bod's surprises were never disappointments, much like Bod himself.

owingnobody August 2 2011, 19:44:23 UTC

The hamster got to the end of the counter, then looked at Neil again, as if to say, 'What, you want me to get down all by myself?' But as soon as Neil picked him up to put him on the floor, he got a wicked gleam in his eye, and the room swirled and dissolved around them.

Next thing he knew, Neil was standing in the middle of a darkened room, hamster in hand, between several tables with chairs up on top of them. Behind him came a rustling noise-- it was the tarp that was hanging over the door that still had yet to be replaced. Word was that Ara would be open for business again by the end of the week, but replacing the door had been an issue; the first time they arrived, the glass panes had been broken, the second time, the truck was attacked by giant crabs.

Near the stage was a table where the chairs were down, with the typical votive candle flickering cheerfully at the center of it. The stage lights were on, and somebody seemed to be attempting to figure out the sound system.

The hamster sighed. Boss? Howsabout you actually let me ( ... )

notdead_poet August 3 2011, 03:06:56 UTC

The sudden jolt threw Neil a little off balance, and for a moment he had to grab the closes surface (which happened to be a counter? a bar?) to keep himself steady. He blinked himself out of it and glanced at Crypt. "A little warning would have been much appreciated," he said, regaining his bearings and looking around.

He was startled to realize where he was. Ara. The karaoke bar. "Bod?" he called out. He'd definitely heard his voice. He laughed a little while he listened to his apparent struggle. "What exactly is going on here?"

owingnobody August 3 2011, 05:21:01 UTC

"Bunny!" Bod's head popped up from under the DJ station counter, and he grinned at Neil. "Just a sec, I think I've--"

Crypt appeared behind him, sporting sunglasses, headphones, and his cap on backwards. "Get OUTTA here! I got this." Swatting at him, he managed to finally get Bod out from the station, and onto the stage. A bit self-consciously, Bod turned to face Neil again. "Well, see, I thought, since I promised you I'd sing for you when we went out the other night-- and the evening went rather far awry-- I'd try it again." Eyes wandering, he added, "...with considerably fewer people present."

notdead_poet August 6 2011, 02:00:54 UTC

Neil quirked a brow in amusement, watching Bod shuffle around behind the booth. Then he popped back up and suddenly got a little shy-- and therefore very cute-- and told Neil why they were here. And Neil felt his smile become a grin as he moved to take Bod's hand. "That's really sweet, Bod. You don't have to if you don't want to, though."

owingnobody August 6 2011, 05:47:37 UTC

Bod shook his head. "I want to," he said. "Even before you asked me to, I wanted to sing for you." With a little shrug, he added, "I know you like iit when I sing, so I don't mind doing it for you. But in front of other people? That's another story. I'm not like Kurt or Blaine- I can't get used to having that much attention focused on just me." Bashfully, he said, "I'd only be singing it to you, anyway."

notdead_poet August 8 2011, 02:52:36 UTC

At that, Neil kind of melted a little. He was pretty sure he could literally feel his heart swelling and then turning into a pool at his feet. He lifted Bod's hand and kissed his knuckles, eyes sparkling. "I'd be honored to have you sing for me, Mister Owens."

owingnobody August 8 2011, 05:15:37 UTC

Bod smiled brightly, his nose scrunching in pleased embarrassment. "Not sure if it's an honor-"

"Stop being self-deprecating and sing your song!" came Crypt's voice from the control booth.

Bod turned and frowned at him. "You're not allowed to say anything," he said. Crypt shrugged, pressed 'play', and snapped his fingers, vanishing, leaving the two of them alone. Just Neil, Bod, and the song intro, pouring throug the speakers. Nervously, he licked his lips, and gave Neil a shy smile. "Um? Here goes nothing."

notdead_poet August 8 2011, 05:34:34 UTC

Neil was glad for Crypt's comment-- it meant he didn't have to berate Bod himself for the self-criticism. "I'm sure it'll be great." He gave Bod a kiss before stepping back from the performance area and lowering himself into a chair.

owingnobody August 8 2011, 06:30:55 UTC

Clinging to Neil's assurance that he'd be great, Bod wandered back to the mic stand and picked up the microphone, his fingers trembling so hard he almost dropped it. Taking a deep breath, he shoved his free hand into his pocket and looked down, thinking back over the words to the song and remindng himself why he picked it ( ... )

notdead_poet August 8 2011, 07:31:20 UTC

Even before the song had started, Neil couldn't help but think how lovely Bod looked up there in the dim lights, nervous and shaky as he may have been. In fact, if anything, those features only added to his attractiveness. It was part of what Neil had fallen in love with, after all. Shy, sweet, adorably awkward Bod, who could turn around and be outgoing and assertive and self-assured in half a minute flat.

Like now, for instance. When the song started, and Neil met Bod's eyes, it was like he suddenly forgot he was supposed to be performing. Because he wasn't really. He was simply... speaking, talking to Neil, with a stage and music and his soft, lilting voice to say what he was thinking.

Neil blushed listening to the words, but he also smiled, his heart full and his eyes focused on nothing but his wonderful, beautiful boyfriend. Singing about them, about their time together, their time together, and where Neil may have been embarrassed or nervous a year ago, now, the words Bod sang only filled him with images of some of the ( ... )

owingnobody August 8 2011, 16:04:24 UTC

"Your body is a wonderland... Your body is a wonder- I'll use my hands." Bod couldn't help but be pleased. He hadn't been entirely sure what Neil's reaction would be, though he'd gotten Kurt's seal of approval. The look on Neil's face now, though, was exactly what he'd hoped it would be ( ... )

notdead_poet August 9 2011, 03:05:36 UTC

Neil's eyes were still trained on Bod, and as he sang the line that meant so much to him-- and instantly, to Neil-- Bod's figure started to blur at the edges a little. Oh gosh, no, he was not crying. He rubbed the back of his hand along his eyes and took a breath, relieved when no tears escaped. He wasn't even sure what had caused them to gather at all. He was just... overcome, he supposed. He and Bod had been together and comfortable for so long now, it seemed incredible that they could still keep falling like this. And yet, there it was.

He wanted nothing more in that moment to jump up from that chair and onto that stage, capture Bod in his arms and maybe... maybe act out some of the words of this song. But at the same time, he wanted nothing more than to let him finish his performance. He wanted to hear every word, every note until the end. What was more, he wanted to be able to pocket the sound of Bod's voice on the melody so he could listen to it on days he felt down.

owingnobody August 9 2011, 04:06:32 UTC

He was just starting into the pre-chorus again when he saw Neil rub his eyes. His attention sharpened, his eyebrows drawing together just a little, but he relaxed when he saw his Bunny didn't seem to be upset. With a little grin, he finished the chorus, and launched into the bridge. "Damn baby..." With a little shake of his head, he added, "you frus-ter-ate me." He smiled, in the space between words, softening the ones that came before-- he knew what was coming next. "I know you're mine, all mine, all mine... but you look so good it hurts sometimes." And wasn't that the truth. Like... like right now. Why was he up on the stage, and Neil still in his chair? There was nothing but musical interlude for at least twenty seconds-- that was plenty of time ( ... )

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