For muse_shuffle - September Disc One
Track 01. I live a simple life // unfettered by complex sweets // you think this isn't me? // that's so sweet // I'm so sorry
(REM - ‘The Apologist’)
[Co-written with whywalk | Follows THIS]
It had been three hours since David had been hanging out at the market stalls in Phuket, Thailand. He didn’t know what made him decide to go there, but that’s where he ended up when it was pouring down rain in Sydney again and all he wanted was some sun. That meant it had been three hours since he’d eaten a random chicken and rice dish from one of the vendors. He’d enjoyed it at the time but as he weaved his way through all the stalls, he just started to feel off. Unsteady, hot, maybe sick in the stomach, but he wasn’t going to give in that easily. He put it down to the heat and left as soon as he could to Jump back to his apartment in Sydney.
A long drink of water helped a little, so he decided it was just dehydration and told himself he wouldn’t be going back to Phuket any time soon. But the water didn’t seem to want to help for very long. He couldn’t deny it now; his stomach was upset and it wasn’t just because he’d overheated. His forehead, back and chest were also drenched in perspiration and he felt like he wanted to sleep for a week. A glance at the clock from where he’d curled up in a ball on the sofa told him it was midnight in New York where Leah was. Too late? He thought yes, but a moment later decided to go anyway. At the very least, she could distract him and take his mind off his stomach.
He got up off the sofa unsteadily and wiped at the sweat on his forehead. He hoped he could at least Jump in coordination this time. He tucked his wallet and cell phone into his pocket and closed his eyes to brace himself through the Jump to Leah’s place.
Leah woke with a start, her eyes wide as she tried to work out if the world in her dream had shook, or if it was the apartment. If it was the apartment, there was either an earthquake, or--
She flicked the light on and jumped out of her bed. "David? David, was that you?" She looked around the bedroom, and saw nothing. The framed photo on the wall was tilted somewhat to the left though, so that at least answered the question about whether the vibrations had been in her dream.
Leah walked out of the bedroom and into the main area of the apartment. "David?" she called again as she started to run her palm over the wall as she searched for the light switch.
David was trying to right the bookshelf he'd managed to knock over. Obviously being emotional wasn’t the only thing that sent his Jumping wonky; feeling sick had thrown him off and he made a mess enough of her living room but at least there was no crater. He stood up a little too quickly and was forced to lean against the wall and put his hand over his eyes as he felt woozy. "Did I wake you?" he asked, which was probably the world's most dumbest question. "Sorry about the living room, too. I'll fix it. I just need a minute."
"Don't worry about the living room," she told him as her hand finally hit the switch and the room flooded with light. Leah rushed over to him, and put a hand against his chest. She could see the dampness that covered his face and frowned as her concern for him kicked into overdrive. "Oh, sweetie. What's happened? You're soaked."
"I don't know," David admitted. "I thought I was just dehydrated from being out in the sun, but now I'm not so sure."
He opened his eyes and looked at her as he exhaled deeply to try and quell the nausea. "You know when we were talking about movies? I think I maybe jinxed myself." He put his hand over his mouth with another sharply exhaled breath. His skin felt hot and prickly and his legs just felt weak. He prayed this was it and he wasn't going to get any worse but he started to wonder exactly what might've been in that chicken dish. "Hell..." he cursed.
She hooked her arm around his waist and started to lead him towards the bedroom. She nodded as she listened to him, and a small wave of guilt rolled through her for ever bringing up the Wayne's World quote in the first place. "You really think you jinxed yourself?"
"Maybe it was just a drugged chicken," he suggested weakly. "Or Sod's Law? I heard that can be a bitch. Probably just bad luck." He wished the next minute never had to happen in his entire life, though. One second he realised he'd forgotten to put shoes on... right before he threw up all over his feet... in front of a girl he fancied. Okay, he was going with Wayne's World jinxing.
"Oh, David..." Leah murmured as she rubbed his back and gently lowered him into a chair. "You wait here, okay? I'll clean this up and grab you a bucket. Or bowl... Do you even have a bucket in this place?" She hadn't finished finding out what exactly it was that David did have in this place. None of it seemed very personalised.
She leaned down and ran her fingers through his hair before pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You're really not well, are you? Good thing you got me."
David put the back of his hand to his mouth as he groaned. If he wasn't already bright red from the fever, he'd be blushing in mortification right now. "I can't remember what's here," he admitted. "I'm so sorry. This is probably the last thing you wanted to wake up to. I was just feeling sorry for myself and remembered what you said. I'm never going to Thailand again." He leaned over to clutch at his stomach, his other hand trying to stop anything else coming out of his mouth.
Leah disappeared into the kitchen area, and pulled out a mixing bowl and grabbed some paper towel. She set the mixing bowl into David's hands and got down onto her knees to start cleaning up his vomit. "It's fine, Renaissance Man, really. It would be worse if you were all the way back in Sydney and dealing with this alone. Sure, I can think of other things I'd rather be doing with you right now, but--" she shrugged as she smiled up at him, "--you're here. I like it when you're here, no matter what the reason. And Thailand? You didn't... street vendor?"
David nodded miserably. "It tasted nice at the time." He hugged the bowl as he gave in to another wave of retching. His stomach just seemed to feel worse afterwards, not better. "Not so much now."
"I can help with that. Oh god, this is crap. This is so crap it hurts my head to think about. Why is this happening? This is completely killing my image."
"Always does." She watched him closely, worried that he might pass out. Not that she wouldn't know what to do, just that she didn't want him to get any worse. She put a hand on his knee and squeezed gently. "If you had hair to hold back, I'd do that for you."
"I thought you would have realised I'm good at keeping secrets?" she asked him softly. "I don't even remember you being uncool and tipsy. You were completely suave and dead sexy."
David managed a small laugh. "Oh yeah? That was totally the Superman t-shirt," he joked, trying to swallow away the sick feeling. "This is nice, you know. Probably not for you, but it just is... thank you."
"Yeah. You're actually pretty sexy in the Superman t-shirt," she admitted with a cheeky smile. "I know what you mean, and you're right."
She mopped up some more of the vomit before getting to her feet and walking a short distance into the bathroom to flush the paper towel away. She grabbed some shampoo, a towel and spray bottle so she could clean the carpet. It wouldn't be perfect, but at least it would take care of the smell. "You want to stay here until you're better? I don't like the idea of you Jumping when you're like this."
David realised he must look like shit if how he felt was anything to go by. He felt like he wanted to shower to get rid of the sweat and just lie down in a ball until his stomach stopped cramping. And he didn't really want to do that alone. The only person he'd ever really had an interest in before was Millie but this was different... the thing with Millie wasn't even close to what this was.
"Sure you want me hanging around like this? I can't promise I'll be much fun. I can't promise I won't need to camp out on the bathroom floor all night, either."
Leah wasn't even thinking about how he looked. As she scrubbed at the carpet she found herself surprised by just how much she was worried about his wellbeing. She hadn't found herself caring about someone this much in a long while.
"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure, Renaissance Man. I don't need fun, just think of it as you doing me a favour. I'll just wind up worrying about you all night otherwise. No sleep for me, and then I'll look all washed out with gigantic bags under my eyes." She pretended to pout as she peered up at him. "You don't want that, do you?"
David wanted the conversation to continue. He wasn't opposed to deep-n-meaningful if it ever fell into his lap, which was rarely. His initial answer, though, was to start throwing up all over again. He wanted the apartment floor to open up and swallow him then return him a few minutes later perfectly fine so he could just talk to her without needing to stick his head in the bowl. Great form, David. An opening to compliment someone you really like and you just puke. Lovely. This was kind of turning him off chicken forever, too.
He balanced the bowl on his lap and managed to steal some of her paper towel to wipe his mouth, trying to ignore the trickle of sweat slipping down his temple and cheek. "You'd still be beautiful," he said, out of breath from the heaving. "I just don't want you to worry about me."
Leah rose up on her knees and shuffled forward to rub his back, and wipe at the sweat on his brow. She wanted the conversation to continue as well, and not because she was looking for a compliment. She liked talking to him, and being around him. His voice sent little jolts of pleasure down her spine, and when he smiled she felt her heart skip a beat.
She squeezed his shoulder, and rest her forehead against his temple. "Thank you, but I'd still worry about you. I wouldn't be able to help it."
"I guess it’s a good thing I'm here, then, huh? You can see with your own eyes that I'm just irresponsible with food and I... can keep enjoying your attentions probably far too much than I should," he said with a faint smile as he looked up at her.
"Why too much?" she asked him as she frowned. "You think it's wrong to like being looked after?"
David gave a small shake of his head. He winced a little and hunched forward again as his stomach gave a particularly painful cramp and caused him to clutch it. "No, because one day I think I'm just going to wake up and not want to go again."
Leah rubbed his back again, her hand working circles against his skin through his t-shirt. She kissed his shoulder, as she looked at him. "You don't have to stay here... you could always just take me with you where you want to go. I have to admit just between you and me, that I'm kind of really liking it here. It might have to do with this place being yours, though."
"I've been here more since you moved in that I have collectively since I bought it, I think. I used to have another apartment here in New York, but it kind of got totalled and I didn't feel safe going back," David murmured. "So, I, um... passed the whole Wayne's World thing, did I? There I was swearing to myself I'd never be in that position."
"Well, you've certainly blown chunks and I'm still here, so I'd say you passed. I'm sorry I ever brought up that stupid quote. I always thought it was kind of apt, but then no one ever really threw up in front of me before." She moved her hand up to the back of his neck. "Do you feel safe in this apartment?"
"How romantic," David said, though he was smiling. "So, I'm your first huh? Now I feel like a complete dork. But I'm glad we had the conversation otherwise I probably would've just stayed home and wallowed in my own misery."
He sat up just a little. "Right at this minute? I'm wondering if I'm at risk of dislodging an internal organ, but I do, yeah. It took me a long time to feel safe again anywhere."
"I thought so," she laughed. "Mm... Definitely the first I remember. Most times I guess the guy's usually been sick somewhere away from me. You shouldn't feel like a dork. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Sick happens." She wiped some more sweat from his brow and looked at him. "I'm glad you didn't stay home, really. I like that you could come to me."
She made him hold the paper towel so she could take the bowl and empty it ready for the next bout. At least if he had the towel there was still something to throw up in. "Think you'd be better lying down? You can still nurse the bowl if that helps. And don't worry about the sheets. That's what washing machines are for." She knelt back beside him and rest her hand on his thigh as she leaned down to wipe at his feet to make sure they were clean. "It's good you feel safe here. Makes me feel less guilty for making you come to New York when I want to see you."
David had taken the few moments she was out of the room to rest his head in his hand and indulge in a brief pathetic minute of feeling sorry for himself. He felt so sick. He actually couldn't remember the last time he felt like this. He was usually pretty healthy. He had to wonder if it was just bad chicken or if it was laced with something. Neither scenario in those markets would particularly surprise him.
He started to feel like he was going to be sick again, so he just held the bowl close and tried to breathe through it. "I guess I don't feel completely safe anywhere, but it’s either do what I do or become a recluse. The latter would drive me up the wall. I know there are risks, but I just live with it. I don't think I could stop coming here to see you even if I was in danger." He paused, closing his eyes through the wooziness. "I think I should lie down. I don't think it can make me feel any worse."
"I can't really see you being a hermit, either." She stood up slowly, and combed her fingers through his hair before moving to offer herself for him to lean against as she slipped her arm around his waist. "I like it better with you not being in danger, and I have to be honest. I don't know I'd be so perfect as to ask you to stop seeing me even if you were." She looked at him, her blue eyes searching his. "I've gotten used to you. I like you, David. A lot."
David managed a smile as he met her gaze. "I like you a lot, too," he admitted quietly.
Leah laughed nervously, and ran her hand through her hair. "Good, otherwise, you know... awkward."
"Can't be anymore awkward than spewing on your carpet," he laughed weakly. He brushed his hand up her arm. "Lie down with me?"
Leah eased him down on to the bed as she nodded. She pushed him back gently before climbing in beside him and settling herself beside David. She took his hand in hers, and held it to her chest. "Tell me if you need anything, okay?"
David made sure the bowl was in quick reach and then tried to settle with his head against her shoulder. He curled his fingers around hers. "I've got everything I need right here."
Words: 2835
(REM - ‘The Apologist’)
[Co-written with whywalk | Follows THIS]
It had been three hours since David had been hanging out at the market stalls in Phuket, Thailand. He didn’t know what made him decide to go there, but that’s where he ended up when it was pouring down rain in Sydney again and all he wanted was some sun. That meant it had been three hours since he’d eaten a random chicken and rice dish from one of the vendors. He’d enjoyed it at the time but as he weaved his way through all the stalls, he just started to feel off. Unsteady, hot, maybe sick in the stomach, but he wasn’t going to give in that easily. He put it down to the heat and left as soon as he could to Jump back to his apartment in Sydney.
A long drink of water helped a little, so he decided it was just dehydration and told himself he wouldn’t be going back to Phuket any time soon. But the water didn’t seem to want to help for very long. He couldn’t deny it now; his stomach was upset and it wasn’t just because he’d overheated. His forehead, back and chest were also drenched in perspiration and he felt like he wanted to sleep for a week. A glance at the clock from where he’d curled up in a ball on the sofa told him it was midnight in New York where Leah was. Too late? He thought yes, but a moment later decided to go anyway. At the very least, she could distract him and take his mind off his stomach.
He got up off the sofa unsteadily and wiped at the sweat on his forehead. He hoped he could at least Jump in coordination this time. He tucked his wallet and cell phone into his pocket and closed his eyes to brace himself through the Jump to Leah’s place.
Leah woke with a start, her eyes wide as she tried to work out if the world in her dream had shook, or if it was the apartment. If it was the apartment, there was either an earthquake, or--
She flicked the light on and jumped out of her bed. "David? David, was that you?" She looked around the bedroom, and saw nothing. The framed photo on the wall was tilted somewhat to the left though, so that at least answered the question about whether the vibrations had been in her dream.
Leah walked out of the bedroom and into the main area of the apartment. "David?" she called again as she started to run her palm over the wall as she searched for the light switch.
David was trying to right the bookshelf he'd managed to knock over. Obviously being emotional wasn’t the only thing that sent his Jumping wonky; feeling sick had thrown him off and he made a mess enough of her living room but at least there was no crater. He stood up a little too quickly and was forced to lean against the wall and put his hand over his eyes as he felt woozy. "Did I wake you?" he asked, which was probably the world's most dumbest question. "Sorry about the living room, too. I'll fix it. I just need a minute."
"Don't worry about the living room," she told him as her hand finally hit the switch and the room flooded with light. Leah rushed over to him, and put a hand against his chest. She could see the dampness that covered his face and frowned as her concern for him kicked into overdrive. "Oh, sweetie. What's happened? You're soaked."
"I don't know," David admitted. "I thought I was just dehydrated from being out in the sun, but now I'm not so sure."
He opened his eyes and looked at her as he exhaled deeply to try and quell the nausea. "You know when we were talking about movies? I think I maybe jinxed myself." He put his hand over his mouth with another sharply exhaled breath. His skin felt hot and prickly and his legs just felt weak. He prayed this was it and he wasn't going to get any worse but he started to wonder exactly what might've been in that chicken dish. "Hell..." he cursed.
She hooked her arm around his waist and started to lead him towards the bedroom. She nodded as she listened to him, and a small wave of guilt rolled through her for ever bringing up the Wayne's World quote in the first place. "You really think you jinxed yourself?"
"Maybe it was just a drugged chicken," he suggested weakly. "Or Sod's Law? I heard that can be a bitch. Probably just bad luck." He wished the next minute never had to happen in his entire life, though. One second he realised he'd forgotten to put shoes on... right before he threw up all over his feet... in front of a girl he fancied. Okay, he was going with Wayne's World jinxing.
"Oh, David..." Leah murmured as she rubbed his back and gently lowered him into a chair. "You wait here, okay? I'll clean this up and grab you a bucket. Or bowl... Do you even have a bucket in this place?" She hadn't finished finding out what exactly it was that David did have in this place. None of it seemed very personalised.
She leaned down and ran her fingers through his hair before pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You're really not well, are you? Good thing you got me."
David put the back of his hand to his mouth as he groaned. If he wasn't already bright red from the fever, he'd be blushing in mortification right now. "I can't remember what's here," he admitted. "I'm so sorry. This is probably the last thing you wanted to wake up to. I was just feeling sorry for myself and remembered what you said. I'm never going to Thailand again." He leaned over to clutch at his stomach, his other hand trying to stop anything else coming out of his mouth.
Leah disappeared into the kitchen area, and pulled out a mixing bowl and grabbed some paper towel. She set the mixing bowl into David's hands and got down onto her knees to start cleaning up his vomit. "It's fine, Renaissance Man, really. It would be worse if you were all the way back in Sydney and dealing with this alone. Sure, I can think of other things I'd rather be doing with you right now, but--" she shrugged as she smiled up at him, "--you're here. I like it when you're here, no matter what the reason. And Thailand? You didn't... street vendor?"
David nodded miserably. "It tasted nice at the time." He hugged the bowl as he gave in to another wave of retching. His stomach just seemed to feel worse afterwards, not better. "Not so much now."
"I can help with that. Oh god, this is crap. This is so crap it hurts my head to think about. Why is this happening? This is completely killing my image."
"Always does." She watched him closely, worried that he might pass out. Not that she wouldn't know what to do, just that she didn't want him to get any worse. She put a hand on his knee and squeezed gently. "If you had hair to hold back, I'd do that for you."
"I thought you would have realised I'm good at keeping secrets?" she asked him softly. "I don't even remember you being uncool and tipsy. You were completely suave and dead sexy."
David managed a small laugh. "Oh yeah? That was totally the Superman t-shirt," he joked, trying to swallow away the sick feeling. "This is nice, you know. Probably not for you, but it just is... thank you."
"Yeah. You're actually pretty sexy in the Superman t-shirt," she admitted with a cheeky smile. "I know what you mean, and you're right."
She mopped up some more of the vomit before getting to her feet and walking a short distance into the bathroom to flush the paper towel away. She grabbed some shampoo, a towel and spray bottle so she could clean the carpet. It wouldn't be perfect, but at least it would take care of the smell. "You want to stay here until you're better? I don't like the idea of you Jumping when you're like this."
David realised he must look like shit if how he felt was anything to go by. He felt like he wanted to shower to get rid of the sweat and just lie down in a ball until his stomach stopped cramping. And he didn't really want to do that alone. The only person he'd ever really had an interest in before was Millie but this was different... the thing with Millie wasn't even close to what this was.
"Sure you want me hanging around like this? I can't promise I'll be much fun. I can't promise I won't need to camp out on the bathroom floor all night, either."
Leah wasn't even thinking about how he looked. As she scrubbed at the carpet she found herself surprised by just how much she was worried about his wellbeing. She hadn't found herself caring about someone this much in a long while.
"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure, Renaissance Man. I don't need fun, just think of it as you doing me a favour. I'll just wind up worrying about you all night otherwise. No sleep for me, and then I'll look all washed out with gigantic bags under my eyes." She pretended to pout as she peered up at him. "You don't want that, do you?"
David wanted the conversation to continue. He wasn't opposed to deep-n-meaningful if it ever fell into his lap, which was rarely. His initial answer, though, was to start throwing up all over again. He wanted the apartment floor to open up and swallow him then return him a few minutes later perfectly fine so he could just talk to her without needing to stick his head in the bowl. Great form, David. An opening to compliment someone you really like and you just puke. Lovely. This was kind of turning him off chicken forever, too.
He balanced the bowl on his lap and managed to steal some of her paper towel to wipe his mouth, trying to ignore the trickle of sweat slipping down his temple and cheek. "You'd still be beautiful," he said, out of breath from the heaving. "I just don't want you to worry about me."
Leah rose up on her knees and shuffled forward to rub his back, and wipe at the sweat on his brow. She wanted the conversation to continue as well, and not because she was looking for a compliment. She liked talking to him, and being around him. His voice sent little jolts of pleasure down her spine, and when he smiled she felt her heart skip a beat.
She squeezed his shoulder, and rest her forehead against his temple. "Thank you, but I'd still worry about you. I wouldn't be able to help it."
"I guess it’s a good thing I'm here, then, huh? You can see with your own eyes that I'm just irresponsible with food and I... can keep enjoying your attentions probably far too much than I should," he said with a faint smile as he looked up at her.
"Why too much?" she asked him as she frowned. "You think it's wrong to like being looked after?"
David gave a small shake of his head. He winced a little and hunched forward again as his stomach gave a particularly painful cramp and caused him to clutch it. "No, because one day I think I'm just going to wake up and not want to go again."
Leah rubbed his back again, her hand working circles against his skin through his t-shirt. She kissed his shoulder, as she looked at him. "You don't have to stay here... you could always just take me with you where you want to go. I have to admit just between you and me, that I'm kind of really liking it here. It might have to do with this place being yours, though."
"I've been here more since you moved in that I have collectively since I bought it, I think. I used to have another apartment here in New York, but it kind of got totalled and I didn't feel safe going back," David murmured. "So, I, um... passed the whole Wayne's World thing, did I? There I was swearing to myself I'd never be in that position."
"Well, you've certainly blown chunks and I'm still here, so I'd say you passed. I'm sorry I ever brought up that stupid quote. I always thought it was kind of apt, but then no one ever really threw up in front of me before." She moved her hand up to the back of his neck. "Do you feel safe in this apartment?"
"How romantic," David said, though he was smiling. "So, I'm your first huh? Now I feel like a complete dork. But I'm glad we had the conversation otherwise I probably would've just stayed home and wallowed in my own misery."
He sat up just a little. "Right at this minute? I'm wondering if I'm at risk of dislodging an internal organ, but I do, yeah. It took me a long time to feel safe again anywhere."
"I thought so," she laughed. "Mm... Definitely the first I remember. Most times I guess the guy's usually been sick somewhere away from me. You shouldn't feel like a dork. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Sick happens." She wiped some more sweat from his brow and looked at him. "I'm glad you didn't stay home, really. I like that you could come to me."
She made him hold the paper towel so she could take the bowl and empty it ready for the next bout. At least if he had the towel there was still something to throw up in. "Think you'd be better lying down? You can still nurse the bowl if that helps. And don't worry about the sheets. That's what washing machines are for." She knelt back beside him and rest her hand on his thigh as she leaned down to wipe at his feet to make sure they were clean. "It's good you feel safe here. Makes me feel less guilty for making you come to New York when I want to see you."
David had taken the few moments she was out of the room to rest his head in his hand and indulge in a brief pathetic minute of feeling sorry for himself. He felt so sick. He actually couldn't remember the last time he felt like this. He was usually pretty healthy. He had to wonder if it was just bad chicken or if it was laced with something. Neither scenario in those markets would particularly surprise him.
He started to feel like he was going to be sick again, so he just held the bowl close and tried to breathe through it. "I guess I don't feel completely safe anywhere, but it’s either do what I do or become a recluse. The latter would drive me up the wall. I know there are risks, but I just live with it. I don't think I could stop coming here to see you even if I was in danger." He paused, closing his eyes through the wooziness. "I think I should lie down. I don't think it can make me feel any worse."
"I can't really see you being a hermit, either." She stood up slowly, and combed her fingers through his hair before moving to offer herself for him to lean against as she slipped her arm around his waist. "I like it better with you not being in danger, and I have to be honest. I don't know I'd be so perfect as to ask you to stop seeing me even if you were." She looked at him, her blue eyes searching his. "I've gotten used to you. I like you, David. A lot."
David managed a smile as he met her gaze. "I like you a lot, too," he admitted quietly.
Leah laughed nervously, and ran her hand through her hair. "Good, otherwise, you know... awkward."
"Can't be anymore awkward than spewing on your carpet," he laughed weakly. He brushed his hand up her arm. "Lie down with me?"
Leah eased him down on to the bed as she nodded. She pushed him back gently before climbing in beside him and settling herself beside David. She took his hand in hers, and held it to her chest. "Tell me if you need anything, okay?"
David made sure the bowl was in quick reach and then tried to settle with his head against her shoulder. He curled his fingers around hers. "I've got everything I need right here."
Words: 2835