[Milliways]: Hosing down...or not

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus is just tipsy enough to be maudlin when they get to his room. He almost wishes he'd brought a bottle of something, but that probably wouldn't be a good idea.

There's a pile of broken pottery on the floor in a puddle of water and crushed flowers, and when he opens the door and sees it, he sets his guitar aside and goes to clean it up. "Sorry about this," he says to Steve. "I forgot..."

Comments

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve chuckles. "I wasn't so good at talking to girls, either. Still not, until I get to know them some. But that didn't help any--a girl doesn't take kindly to a guy who has nothing to say."

[golden_lyre]

"Some things never change," Orpheus agrees. "But if I had to guess, I'd say they won't mind so much now if you have something to say or not."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Maybe," Steve says and rests his chin on the top of Orpheus's head. "But I'd rather keep talking with you."

[golden_lyre]

"You sure? Women take to this sort of thing much better."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve is quiet a moment, and then removes his hands from Orpheus's body. "Would you rather I left?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus sighs and takes one of Steve's hands in his. "No. Sorry. I'm not very good at this part anymore."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"And I've never been good at this part ever, so we're on equal ground here, I think."


[ooc: Bedtime.]

[golden_lyre]

"You're doing much better than I am," Orpheus says.

After a moment he adds, "You remember the other night when I said that we used to do this with pretty boys? That's how I'm used to doing this part. With beautiful young men or..." Eurydice "women.

"Not with men. Certainly not with men like you."


[ooc: Goodnight!]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Are you saying I'm not beautiful?" Steve says with a chuckle.

[golden_lyre]

"I'm saying you're neither a pretty boy nor a woman," Orpheus answers with a sigh, pulling away from Steve to sit up.

"I'm trying to explain, Steve..."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Okay, I'm listening."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus is quiet for a moment. "A lot of things have changed since my time. And I've tried to change with them in some ways. But it isn't easy. Some of it is deeply ingrained in me, part of who I am.

"I don't want to be coddled by you. It makes me feel like a child."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Then I don't know what you need me to do."

[golden_lyre]

"I don't know either," Orpheus says, laughing dryly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you into this. I'm not fit for company."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Do you want me to go?"

[golden_lyre]

"No," Orpheus says quietly. "But if you want to, I'll understand."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I don't want to.

"But I still don't know what I can do for you. You don't want sex, you don't want comfort..."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus nods and is quiet a moment.

Eventually he says, "Tell me a story?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles gently and says, "Sure.

"Is there anything in particular you want it to be about?"

[golden_lyre]

"Something from your life," he says, sliding off the bed to find whatever bottle of alcohol he's sure he has stashed in here somewhere.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve watches him, his expression troubled, but he doesn't remark on it.

He crosses his legs at the ankle and tries to think of something good.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus eventually finds a bottle of whiskey and gets a glass from on top of the dresser.

And then another, in case Steve wants any.

He brings them back to the bed and settles next to Steve.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Okay," Steve says when Orpheus is settled in. "You've been to New York, right? You know about Coney Island?"

[golden_lyre]

"Yeah," Orpheus confirms, pouring a glass and offering it to Steve.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve takes the glass with a soft, "Thanks," and has a sip.

"We used to go there as kids whenever we could get the money scraped together. Ride the rides, play the arcade games, swim in the ocean a bit...then one day Bucky had the brilliant idea of getting me on the main roller coaster, the Cyclone."