[El's apartment] The subtle differences

[el_maraichi]

Watching over Sands has become far more of a full-time caretaking job since the curse began. It hasn't been all that bad in comparison to other things the agent has gotten himself into, though. In fact, if he'd admit it, some of this has actually been enjoyable for El. The effects of the curse have dulled the sharp edges of Sheldon's personality

Comments

[shooting_blind]

Sands exhales with a soft 'whoosh' when he's given permission to start talking.
"I'm not sure I only go that long in my sleep."
This is untrue because Sands talks in his sleep. A lot.
"But there was a moment there- man, lets just say I know I'm going to Heaven cause I spent my time in Hell."

With the continued petting and kissing Sands snuggles his head closer so his face is near the mariachi's neck.
"The way you smell makes me hungry." Sands licks his neck. "Salty."

Now comes the flood. "I like your room more then mine. It smells like you and it's always warmer somehow. Our apartment was like that before you moved out. And no matter how many times I call and force you to come over it's never warm after you leave. I get tired and hungry when I come over here. It's nice because I'm never hungry and want to sleep but here it's..." He sighs and shrugs, smiling.
"I don't want you to move back in. I just like it here."

"But I like cooking at my place. I should really learn to cook something other then breakfast. I hardly ever make dinner. I just really enjoy doing the eggs and having the toast pop up at the perfect time and everything synchronized. That's a lot of it. I got tired of scrambled eggs years ago."
*Short pause to get breath*

[el_maraichi]

In an attempt at being as courteous as he can, El tries very hard not to laugh at the way the flood gates burst when Sands is quiet for very long. He also does his very best not to fall asleep during the ramble. Some of it actually is interesting to hear...he's just very comfortable and, honestly, fairly fond of Sands' voice.

When there's a pause, he knows very well he has to take the opening while it's good.
"I've never locked you out, you know. And I'm glad you don't need me to move back in. I like having my own space. I'm not just trying to get away from you." It's more a 'getting away from everyone'. "You should make dinner more. Eggs get old after a while, no matter how much I like watching you make them." The silk robe and cigarette while cooking are both ridiculous and endearing.

[shooting_blind]

Sands is a little surprised El opted to join the conversation.
"...Nice to have you with us. Today we're talking about Mexican'ts and the agents who love them. If I came over and said, 'El, after a long day of making you miserable do you think we could lay around naked in the sunlight?' or 'Hey, can I just take a nap on your couch? I just want to be near you. Teehee.' you would give the 'you want me to shoot the cook?' face and then go in your room until I took it upon myself to wander out of your space.
So instead I just... made up reasons for you to come over. If I kept knocking at your door what kind of example would that set for the others?"
The fact that his only other real employee is Murdoc does not fit into his reality.
"I like my space too. I just like my space with you in it." His tone of voice says 'See? Now is that so hard to understand? Silly muscle'.

"You hate my mexican food." He shrugs helplessly sounding bewildered.

[el_maraichi]

Sheldon actually earns himself the 'you want me to shoot the cook?' face right now. It only lasts a moment before El shrugs and goes to staring at the ceiling, curling his free arm under his head.
"Oh. I see. Better that we continue with you making up reasons for me to come over and pretending you don't want me there. That works so well, after all."

He sighs, but it's less annoyance and more 'I have been forced to accept this kind of madness as normal.' The more he learns about what Sands actually means when he says things, the more El has to rethink every moment they've ever spent together. It's like reading a book first and learning the language it's written in after the fact.

"Mexican food? Oh is that what you were trying for?"
He smiles, but the laugh is kept entirely inside.

[shooting_blind]

"It's your fault that never worked." He smiles. "My plan was foolproof! Superior to your 'stop lying' nonsense. Do you realize how much time I devote to thinking up ways to get you over there? It's an art I've spun a magical tapestry from." There are hand motions here that might be him weaving.

Sands blindly stares at him holding in his own laughter. Then he jumps up to straddle El and 'hold him down' pretending it's physically possible.
"I'm sorry? No Habla. Did you say something to me?"
With a grin he pinches El's side.
"I want you to try my pork, El. I want you to take a bite out of my big fat sausage."
Sands emphasizes every other word with either a poke or pinch on any part of torso left undefended.
"I'll cook for you. I'll cook some big hard meat up just for you."

Sands is like those little dogs nipping at a large labrador. They seem to have no idea how much smaller they are or how silly their playing looks to the bigger dog.

[el_maraichi]

The mariachi plays along briefly, and writhes under Sands' poking and pinching assault. The actual words have him laughing, both because it's funny and out of mild embarrassment. This whole 'sex with men' thing is still very weird.

El grins and shakes his head, catching one of Sands' hands in each of his own before bringing them together to wrap one hand around two thin wrists. El's free hand stretches up to pull Sands down to him.
"Sheldon? Shut up."

He grins and kisses that sweet, sarcastic mouth and quiet the agent for just another few moments.

[shooting_blind]

Sands had fooled himself into forgetting how willy the idea was of him holding El down and teasing him. He's not a small guy (though thinner then most). At 5'10 he's average height for an American and taller then a lot of others. But he worked with enormous men hired as body guards and human shields that towered above him. Sheldon was easy to forget when he had sight. Now if his lack of mass was mentioned he would look at the person like they were crazy. The agent has forgotten he's not 10 feet tall.

Unless it's El. When reminded how small he is in this way all Sands can do is give a come hither smile and lean in for the kiss in obedient silence.
As long as his lips are still moving he can work with 'quiet time'.