Colbert/Person - PDAssamescenesDecember 18 2010, 11:20:04 UTC
Brad only buys three Christmas gifts every year: his mother, his father, and his sister. It’s only his nephew’s third Christmas, so he figures he’s got a few grace years on that yet. He discourages receiving presents from anyone else because he doesn’t want them to feel slighted when he doesn’t reciprocate.
Every year he writes this on a plain card with no seasonal denomination and sends it to the Espera’s.
Every year he braves the mall on the 23rd of December for the midnight shopping. He makes two stops: the kitchen and homewares store for his father, and the electronics store for his sister. He will make a charitable donation online in his mother’s name, because she’s a bleeding heart who talked his father into adopting two children.
He’s usually in and out within two hours; three if there’s a sale on electric drills.
This year he has Ray.
"You should buy this for your nephew!" Rays says, holding up a miniature Transformers figure. It doesn’t do anything except sparkle, as far as Brad can see.
"You should get this for your mother!" Rays says, holding up an extra large menorah with a silver finish that’s already starting to tarnish. Brad’s pretty sure his mother has got one standing above the fireplace, even though no one remembers to light the candles.
"Walt," Ray says, "We’re definitely getting this for Walt," showing Brad a children’s book with a man on the cover wearing denim overalls and chewing a piece of hay. Ray throws it in the basket - because Brad needs a basket now they’re apparently co-signing presents.
"Dude. Your father," Ray says, holding up a 2-pack of non-stick muffin pans. They’re on special.
Halfway down the aisle of external hard drives in Best Buy, Brad stops. Ray goes past the flash drives and into the toner aisle before he notices.
"Do I have to buy you a present?" Brad asks. He’s trying to figure out how he feels about it. What on earth does he get someone like Ray?
Ray smiles, just a little, the dimple in his right cheek winking in and out. "Don’t freak out," he says, circling Brad’s left wrist with his thumb and forefinger.
"I’m not," Brad says automatically.
"We have to change routines sometimes," Ray continues. His other hand sweeps over Brad’s right hipbone, rubbing it with his thumb like he would calm a nervous mutt. Brad would find it offensive if it weren’t so strangely charming. Brad decides not to mention it; Ray doesn’t seem to realize what he’s doing.
"I am perfectly capable of changing my routine," Brad says instead.
"You’d better," Ray says. "I bought something for you." Then he leans up and presses a kiss to the corner of Brad’s mouth, quick and chaste. He grins once and gives an impish chuckle, before he dodges Brad’s shove and goes to look at the digital cameras.
"Just because you conform to social pressure and feel a need to lavish people with useless trinkets, doesn’t mean I should be expected to do the same," Brad calls belatedly.
When he catches up to Ray, Brad discreetly looks around and slings an arm across Ray’s shoulders. Ray leans in, wrapping his arm across Brad’s lower back, nattering on about shutter speeds. When they step back onto the main aisle, Ray drops his arm, but Brad keeps him close until they get to the register.
Re: Colbert/Person - PDAsmeeks00December 18 2010, 22:51:55 UTC
I loved this so, so much. That was my prompt! And you filled it so perfectly, PLUS with a holiday twist! Brad displaying affection, with Ray's seeming almost inadvertent and so easy in comparison. I love that Brad deliberately made the effort. I love the before and after aspect, with what Brad used to get, and what he (or rather, Ray) got this time around. Ray's enthusiasm was lovely. Aw, and Ray knowing the people in Brad's family enough to help choose presents, or thinking he knew them well enough to choose presents for them, haha!
He will make a charitable donation online in his mother’s name, because she’s a bleeding heart who talked his father into adopting two children. This is so sweet. And Walt's present was so precious. And Ray's dimple!
AND. Finally. When they step back onto the main aisle, Ray drops his arm, but Brad keeps him close until they get to the register. This is wonderful -- Ray let go as if he knew Brad wasn't into such a public display, but Brad held on ANYWAY. My heart. It swells. Thanks for sharing this!
Re: Colbert/Person - PDAssamescenesDecember 19 2010, 02:04:32 UTC
Oh gosh, I've never had such a nice comment for something that's just under 600 words! And Ray with the presents, I know. I don't think Ray's met them officially yet because it's too soon in their relationship (for Brad, anyway, because he hasn't yet made a comprehensive pro and con list), but it won't stop him from meddling!
And I'm so glad you liked the end. I was all, WHAT IF PEOPLE TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY :( but yes. Brad overcoming his fear of PDA is possibly my kink of all kinks.
Re: Colbert/Person - PDAsqueeniegaloreDecember 19 2010, 08:48:21 UTC
Oh my god, this made my heart just SWELL. WITH JOY. Honestly so cute, and one of the things I love best about this pairing - the way Ray always manages to get under Brad's skin. Ugh, so much love <3
Every year he writes this on a plain card with no seasonal denomination and sends it to the Espera’s.
Every year he braves the mall on the 23rd of December for the midnight shopping. He makes two stops: the kitchen and homewares store for his father, and the electronics store for his sister. He will make a charitable donation online in his mother’s name, because she’s a bleeding heart who talked his father into adopting two children.
He’s usually in and out within two hours; three if there’s a sale on electric drills.
This year he has Ray.
"You should buy this for your nephew!" Rays says, holding up a miniature Transformers figure. It doesn’t do anything except sparkle, as far as Brad can see.
"You should get this for your mother!" Rays says, holding up an extra large menorah with a silver finish that’s already starting to tarnish. Brad’s pretty sure his mother has got one standing above the fireplace, even though no one remembers to light the candles.
"Walt," Ray says, "We’re definitely getting this for Walt," showing Brad a children’s book with a man on the cover wearing denim overalls and chewing a piece of hay. Ray throws it in the basket - because Brad needs a basket now they’re apparently co-signing presents.
"Dude. Your father," Ray says, holding up a 2-pack of non-stick muffin pans. They’re on special.
Halfway down the aisle of external hard drives in Best Buy, Brad stops. Ray goes past the flash drives and into the toner aisle before he notices.
"Do I have to buy you a present?" Brad asks. He’s trying to figure out how he feels about it. What on earth does he get someone like Ray?
Ray smiles, just a little, the dimple in his right cheek winking in and out. "Don’t freak out," he says, circling Brad’s left wrist with his thumb and forefinger.
"I’m not," Brad says automatically.
"We have to change routines sometimes," Ray continues. His other hand sweeps over Brad’s right hipbone, rubbing it with his thumb like he would calm a nervous mutt. Brad would find it offensive if it weren’t so strangely charming. Brad decides not to mention it; Ray doesn’t seem to realize what he’s doing.
"I am perfectly capable of changing my routine," Brad says instead.
"You’d better," Ray says. "I bought something for you." Then he leans up and presses a kiss to the corner of Brad’s mouth, quick and chaste. He grins once and gives an impish chuckle, before he dodges Brad’s shove and goes to look at the digital cameras.
"Just because you conform to social pressure and feel a need to lavish people with useless trinkets, doesn’t mean I should be expected to do the same," Brad calls belatedly.
When he catches up to Ray, Brad discreetly looks around and slings an arm across Ray’s shoulders. Ray leans in, wrapping his arm across Brad’s lower back, nattering on about shutter speeds. When they step back onto the main aisle, Ray drops his arm, but Brad keeps him close until they get to the register.
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He will make a charitable donation online in his mother’s name, because she’s a bleeding heart who talked his father into adopting two children. This is so sweet. And Walt's present was so precious. And Ray's dimple!
AND. Finally. When they step back onto the main aisle, Ray drops his arm, but Brad keeps him close until they get to the register. This is wonderful -- Ray let go as if he knew Brad wasn't into such a public display, but Brad held on ANYWAY. My heart. It swells. Thanks for sharing this!
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And I'm so glad you liked the end. I was all, WHAT IF PEOPLE TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY :( but yes. Brad overcoming his fear of PDA is possibly my kink of all kinks.
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