The next step - RP for Isaac

[herosponge]

He'd heard the door open but then there'd been no more sound from Isaac. Peter had tried to stay away, taking Lacey for another walk but he was upset and worried and he needed to do something about it

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[opiate_visions]

Isaac had been listening to the thump-thud-skitter, thump-thud-skitter of Lacey being played with.

Then there was a louder thump a crash-bang as his door was crashed open and then there was a dog landing on him at full speed. He yelped as Lacey landed on him, trying to fend off having his face licked all over.

[opiate_visions]

"I haven't put everything in. Some stuff... isn't for sharing."

He hasn't included the overtly weird stuff like painting. He hasn't included his thought processes a lot of the time, just shown distortion and confusion in the pictures, not with words.

"Think it's finished?"

[herosponge]

Peter looked at Isaac. "I don't think that's for me to decide. I think it's a beautiful piece of work and stunning, both mentally and visually. Only you know if it's done though."

[opiate_visions]

"Given a choice, I never consider anything finished." He kept chewing at his thumb for a long moment before dropping his hands. "I'm mailing it in the morning. See if it gets accepted."

[herosponge]

Peter nodded. "I think it's ready then. I think you're ready as well." He paused, thinking things over. "Would you like me to mail it,' he asked.

"Just so you can't back out,' he added, giving a shy, tiny smile.

[opiate_visions]

"In the morning. I want to double check it in the morning for last mistakes I've missed because I'm tired." He rubbed his hands through his hair. "But after that... sure. If you don't mind dropping it at the box on your way to work."

[herosponge]

"I wouldn't mind at all,' he reassured Isaac. "You should get some sleep then. Am I keeping you up? I hadn't meant to. Even with the ball, I mean before I sent her in here and..."

He winced, realizing he was rambling. "Sorry."

[opiate_visions]

"You're not keeping me up. I just can't sleep. I get hot, then cold, then my legs ache again."

He smiled slightly. "S'okay."

[herosponge]

"Still?"

Peter sighed, looking away. "If a massage would help, I'm willing."

[opiate_visions]

"The worst is over in three days. The next lot in a week. It takes three months for the symptoms to stop on a long term user."

Isaac looked away as well. "It's okay. Just restless now, not sore. Thanks."

[herosponge]

"Right. Sorry. I..." He winced, closing his eyes and taking several, slow breaths. "If you need anything, let me know,' he finally managed.

[opiate_visions]

"I don't mean to be a jerk most of the time," Isaac suddenly said. "Just happens."

[herosponge]

"I missed you being a jerk. Recently,' he added, smiling. "It's okay though. You just be you. I mean, you were pretty much a jerk when we met and I kept coming back, didn't I?"

[opiate_visions]

"Like a beaten puppy. Confused the fuck out of me." It was that thing about not caring at all when he was using versus caring, but still being a jerk when he was clean. "You missed me being a jerk?"

[herosponge]

Peter took a deep breath debating honesty over keeping the peace. He couldn't bring himself to lie. "I missed you, jerk and all,' he said softly, already shifting for the door, figuring he'd just fucked it all up again.

"And for the record I keep coming back,' he said, slightly emphasizing the current tense. "Because you're worth it."

[opiate_visions]

He didn't know if Peter meant missed him today, missed him when he went to New York or missed him in that abstract way that he hadn't quite felt himself since he heard Charles was dead.

Or if he wasn't distinguishing.

He pushed his hair back, just letting it fall even further across his face. "I had another friend who spoke like that once," he admitted softly.