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Post by Kat on Jun 18, 2006 12:14:17 GMT -5
Ace was glad Chip had realized he wanted to say something and he didn't hesitate to speak the moment Chip looked at him. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. It's just..." Ace wasn't quite sure how much he wanted to say. Should he just say everything that was on his mind? Should he just leave it at an apology and let Chip make up his own mind? No, he owed more to Chip than just an apology. He owed him a real explanation. He stood in front of Chip and took hold of his hands lightly, in a "look at me, I have something important to say" kind of way, and not a playful one.
"I know you're right. It's very hard for me to even admit that to myself, and the majority of the time I won't even try. I've just been pushing myself so hard for six years and as hard as it might be to believe this, you're only the second person who's ever said anything to me about it. The first was Chase, but I totally wouldn't accept anything he had to say on the subject, so he just stopped confronting me about it." He paused for a moment before continuing. "It's strange, sometimes I feel like I want someone to pick up on my obsessive behaviour, but when they do I just automatically snap at them about it. I don't know why. I guess I'm just so used to no one saying anything that I have trouble admitting I have problems."
He looked straight into Chip's eyes and hoped he'd realize how hard it truly was for him to be saying all of this. "I just want you to know that even though it didn't seem like it, and honestly any time you bring it up from now on it probably won't seem like it, I appreciate your worrying and I really, honestly want you to pry every time I do something or say something that worries you. Please don't ever let me block you out, Chip. If I ever try to just hold me and tell me to stop being an idiot, to remember that I trust you and that it's okay to open up to you. That's probably the best thing you could for me. Because even though I'll fight you at first, I know after a while I'll give in. You've got that effect on me, and hardly anyone else does. So I really need you." He badly wanted to sink against Chip and kiss him, but he knew he needed to give Chip a chance to answer him first without feeling like he was being manipulated into believing everything he'd heard.
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Post by Cres on Jun 19, 2006 4:38:16 GMT -5
Chip was happy to notice he didn't need to say anything - that Ace wanted to talk, after all. It all made a lot of sense, what he said, and Chip didn't even think for a moment that Ace might be manipulating him. It was a strange thing, but he wasn't aware of it as he took in the blond's words; he actually trusted Ace on a level he'd never really trusted anyone before. Even Colorado and Dan, his closest friends, were not close enough to be beyond suspicion, as his current row with Dan well proved.
Chip's face remained serious and attentive throughout Ace's explanation, and only when the blond paused did his lips curve a little, to a touched smile even as his eyes spoke of affection. His fingers wrapped around the smaller male's arms, his expression that of importance.
"I won't let you go, Ace," he said, and knew it was a promise bordering on a vow by now. "I won't let you slip away, and I will protect you, and I will be there for you. I promise that." He smiled just a little again and pulled the boy in closer, reaching his head downward a little so that their noses were almost touching. "I've never been as happy as you make me... and I want to make sure you'll be happy with me, too. The few bumps on the road... they'll only make the journey more interesting."
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Post by Kat on Jun 19, 2006 8:46:15 GMT -5
Ace was relieved when Chip appeared to understand, and that he wasn't upset at all. He'd confided so much in Chip now and if anything happened to make the older male leave, it would probably damage any chance Ace had of telling anyone else about his problems. When Chip pulled him closer and promised to keep him close and protect him, Ace believed him. He knew it would still be a little hard for him to always remember that, but he trusted that Chip wouldn't go back on his word.
When Chip finished speaking Ace reached up and kissed him, while wrapping his arms around Chip's torso. "Thanks, Chip. I didn't want to screw up our morning, so I just had to apologize before we go eat. I don't think I'd be able to walk around today and have fun if I thought you were upset with me, so I just wanted to make sure." He smiled and kissed Chip again before pressing his head into Chip's chest, his arms still tightly around his boyfriend. Even though he'd felt amazing the night before after their talk, he felt even better now after this one. Chip understood that he didn't really mean what he said when he had those knee-jerk reactions, and he was willing to work with him to get past them. He knew it would take a lot of work, but he knew they'd get through everything intact. And he was also just a little proud of himself for being able to calm down enough and apologize, something he realized now that he'd need to do when he saw Chase. He'd taken a lot of crap from Ace over the years of their friendship, and now the blond wanted to make sure Chase knew how he actually felt.
He pulled back a little and looked up at Chip, his eyes looking very happy. "So, breakfast now?" He was a little hungry, but in truth he was also a little worried about going to eat. He didn't know what Colorado had made, and even though in the back of his mind he knew he shouldn't let it bother him, he knew he'd have problems if it wasn't something totally healthy. He just hoped he'd be able to control his reaction better than he had this morning.
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Post by Cres on Jun 20, 2006 4:40:24 GMT -5
Chip smiled and nodded, kissing Ace on the forehead lightly. Then he turned and started walking to the door, holding Ace by the hand as he did. It felt nice - holding hands - and he didn't do it nearly enough. He didn't come to think of the potential problem of non-healthy breakfast.
He opened the door and walked through the living room to the kitchen. Colorado was there, seated at the table, his feet up on the counter, reading the newspaper. When he heard the other two approaching, he snatched his feet off the counter and jumped down, throwing the newspaper carelessly off somewhere in the general direction of the counter. There were abundant jam toasts spread out on the table and three plates with pan-fried eggs on them - at any rate, there was no sign of healthy porridge or other such kind of breakfast.
"Well, it's about time," Colorado said, his hands settling on his hips. He was wearing a luxurious silk morning gown, soft pastel pink with lush white pink fluffy fur lining - the perfect image of a housewife. A very rich housewife. "The eggs are getting cold, and I suspect the toast isn't warm anymore, either." He was pouting a little.
Chip smirked at Collie.
"I know you just love being the wife, Col, but you might have waited until we got up ourselves, if you wanted it all to be warm for us." He looked at the table and smiled as he took a seat. "Looks delicious, anyway... aww, and you even made funny-faces into the eggs." He looked at Ace with a smile. "It's a private joke of sorts... Dan always used to look so sour in the mornings, so one day Collie imitated his expression on his eggs like this. It sort of stuck after that."
There was indeed some bread crumbs sprinkled on the intact yellow part of the eggs, forming all kinds of funny expressions.
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Post by Kat on Jun 20, 2006 7:11:23 GMT -5
Ace followed Chip to the kitchen, happily being led around by his boyfriend. He smirked when he saw Colorado's robe, not quite surprised. While his friends often teased him about making a good wife for somebody one day, due to his obsession with cooking and cleaning, Colorado seemed to take it one step further and actually dress like one. But it looked good on him.
When he looked down at breakfast, though, his smile disappeared. While he did eat eggs, he only ate the whites and he didn't fry them. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of oil Collie had used to fry them up. But then if he was frying whole eggs he probably wasn't too concerned about which oils were the least harmful for cooking. And the bread he'd used to make toast certainly wasn't the usual multigrain bread that was the only thing in the bread family he'd eat. And the jams were probably packed with sugar, which might make him sluggish and slow his metabolism even more. He didn't even realize as he was staring at the food that he was squeezing Chip's hand a little harder than usual.
He was torn. He didn't want to offend his new friend by refusing the food he'd made, but he wasn't sure if he'd be able to actually eat it. It would be rude of him to make something else, wouldn't it? Maybe he could just lie and say he was on a strict diet that required him to eat different things every day, and he'd had his eggs and grains the day before? No, he knew Chip would see right through that. But maybe Chip would understand. He knew how hard it was for him to deal with not going for a run this morning, and he had made the comment about his metabolism. So he looked at Chip, trying to convey that he was having a bit of a struggle, hoping that his boyfriend would pick up on his reasons.
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Post by Cres on Jun 20, 2006 8:25:33 GMT -5
Chip realised that there was something the matter with Ace only when he turned to look at him after the comment about the eggs, and at that point he also realised that the blond was squeezing his hand pretty tight. Seeing as the conversation they had just had was still quite fresh in his mind, he realised at once what was wrong when he met Ace's eyes. Obviously the health thing really wasn't restricted only to exercise.
Chip's mind worked fast at that moment - he needed to be quick before Collie got suspicious. He wasn't expecting Ace to jump into doing unhealthier things all in one crash - that would probably really screw up his body anyway, since if he hadn't tasted anything like jam, for instance, for years (of which Chip was at that moment quite certain) a little drop of it might send his body through the roof, metaphorically speaking. He'd seen what happened to a devoted vegetarian who hadn't eaten anything even remotely resembling meat in many, many years, and, upon giving up her strict diet on the grounds of an ideological crisis, had enjoyed a full steak meal. It hadn't killed her, of course, but it had made her severely ill and she had thrown up the whole thing afterwards. Be it purely a psychological reaction or not, he really didn't want the same happening to Ace, as he was certain the blond would freak out so much it might ruin the whole day for him.
Chip squeezed Ace's hand just a little in as soothing a way as he could to tell him that he was on top of the situation, and then turned back to Colorado with a smile. The moment had not taken more than a second or two, and Colorado was still smiling, not having noticed anything being wrong.
"As nice as all this is, Collie, I think it's a little heavy for our young rising soccer star, and not nearly enough for me," he said with a light, even almost playful tone to his voice. He knew Colorado might get hurt if Ace just flatly refused the food, since Colorado didn't always understand these things without a longer and more thorough explanation, and so Chip decided it was best he explained it, as he knew how to do it without raising suspicion. He knew the best way was to appeal to Collie's "maternal" instincts. "Here, I'm starving anyway, I'll take his breakfast, so you can do something fresh for Ace. I know how you like fussing, anyway." He winked to Colorado, then looked at Ace with a smile. "Tell him your preference, Sunlight, so he can fuss all over you."
Colorado snorted a little to Chip's mention of how he liked to fuss, but all in all he looked actually rather pleased. Then he looked at Ace, not looking like he was offended but seeming rather curious.
"So, what do soccer stars eat?" he asked with a bit of an amused smile.
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Post by Kat on Jun 20, 2006 9:09:17 GMT -5
When Chip's eyes met his and he felt his hand squeezed back, Ace knew Chip had understood and planned to help. As he listened to his boyfriend rectify the situation, he just wanted to kiss him and hug him and let him know just how much he appreciated it. But all he did was slip an arm around Chip's waist and lean his head against his shoulder. As hard as it had been to admit everything to Chip, it had definitely been the best thing he could have done for himself.
When Collie asked him what he ate, Ace smiled at him. "Three hard-boiled eggs, whites only though. A bowl of oatmeal, and some fruit. Preferably an apple and an orange, if both are in stock." He squeezed Chip's side as his eyes remained focused on Collie. "And just a glass of water, I don't do coffee or tea." The grin was back on his face as he felt himself completely calmed down, beyond grateful to his boyfriend. He definitely owed Chip for this and he intended to pay him back well. He'd just have to wait until they were alone again.
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Post by Cres on Jun 21, 2006 5:47:54 GMT -5
Chip was most pleased with himself as he listened to Ace give out the order to Colorado, enjoying the blond's head on his shoulder and his arm round his waist. Colorado, too, couldn't help but notice the obvious snuggling, and it made the smile on his face widen to a smirk; he loved Chip to death, but he'd never imagined seeing him cuddling like that, and he was sure to tease him over it - in the most friendly manner, of course.
Colorado nodded to the order though whistled a little.
"Your boy sure knows what he wants, huh," he said to Chip as he turned around and started rummaging around the kitchen to find everything needed. He was sure they had all that somewhere - after all, Chip and Dan both liked to keep to healthy diets and didn't need to worry about money.
Colorado put two kettles on the stove, filling them both with water and adding three eggs to the other while preparing to cook oatmeal in the other. While the water heated up, he rummaged around the fruit selection until he found both an apple and an orange. Smiling victoriously, he brought them and a glass of water to Ace, setting them neatly in front of him, along with a peeling knife.
"Well, if you're not going to eat the yellow stuff, then I will," Colorado said as he then sat down, keeping an eye on the kettles even as he leaned one elbow on the table and crossed one leg over the other in an almost feminine posture. He started to eat his own breakfast, cutting the fried egg with fork and knife and spectacularly delicate gestures. He smiled to Ace. "I just love the yellow, I don't understand how you can live without eating them. You know, Chip, you have to teach this boy the delights of eating better, his healthiness is going to make me faint." Colorado's tone was playful, however, and he waved a hand when Chip was about to speak. "Oh, do you know, you two are the cutest thing together. I absolutely must get to paint a portrait of you, I insist."
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Post by Kat on Jun 21, 2006 7:05:59 GMT -5
Ace grinned as Colorado made his comment, knowing that he was indeed quite picky when it came to his food. But then he usually cooked for himself, so it had never really mattered. Watching as Colorado started forraging around the kitchen to find what he'd asked for, Ace issued a soft thanks as the fruit and water were laid in front of him. When Colorado had mentioned needing to teach him about the finer delicacies, the blonde stuck his tongue out and scrunched his face up, acting as though he thought the idea were absolutely revolting. He didn't really though, after all usually when he went out to dinner with his mother he wouldn't worry so much about what he was eating. But those were also the days when he'd usually work out a little bit harder before going to bed, thus he'd wind up going to sleep a little later than usual.
When Collie mentioned them being cute and wanting to paint them, Ace smiled and kissed Chip's neck. "You totally should paint us, that would be the most gorgeous painting ever." He winked at Collie before looking up at Chip. "What kind of pose would we do for his painting, though?"
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Post by Cres on Jun 21, 2006 7:30:24 GMT -5
Colorado grinned at the remark that the painting would be gorgeous, and threw up his hand dramatically.
"Of course it would be the most gorgeous painting ever," he said with a flourish, "after all, it would be painted by me. Everything I paint turns out fabulous."
Chip stuck out his tongue at Collie.
"Oh stop it, you're starting to sound like me now."
Colorado grinned as he got up to continue finishing making Ace's food as the water was beginning to boil.
"What else do you expect, stuck with you for these past fifteen years?"
Chip chose to ignore that comment and turned to Ace instead, gaining a thoughtful look at the blond's question.
"It would need to be something absolutely fabulous." He glanced at Collie, his tone mimicking that of Collie's a little earlier on - he knew that that particular word was his friend's favourite. Then he seemed to get an idea and looked at Ace. "Ahhh how about a vampire with his victim? Something in the Interview with the Vampire style - I'll give you the kiss of eternity." He winked - oh yes, he had been weaned on Tom Cruise movies; he might not appreciate how the guy had turned out in real life, but he adored the man's works.
[]
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Post by Kat on Jun 21, 2006 8:22:31 GMT -5
Ace smiled at the idea. "Would we get to wear period style clothing too? I bet I'd look pretty damn gorgeous in one of those outfits with my hair tied back in a pretty black ribbon. You wouldn't be able to resist me." He grinned at Chip as he slid his hand up his boyfriend's leg. "Plus, I'd make a good victim. You could manipulate me easily into doing whatever you'd like, given that, as a mortal about to bitten by a vampire, I'd likely be too frightened to say no to anything." He squeezed Chip's leg, his eyes twinkling in a mischievous way.
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Post by Cres on Jun 22, 2006 2:00:21 GMT -5
Chip purred a little as he wrapped his arm round Ace, enjoying his hand on his leg tremendously.
"Indeed," he said. "I shall render you helpless with my vampire powers."
Colorado was looking at them with one raised eyebrow.
"Looks like I'll have to give you two several breaks in the course of painting," he said sardonically while hovering over the kettles.
Chip grinned over to Colorado.
"What, you think I'm as impatient as Dan?"
Colorado laughed to that remark.
"Oh don't remind me of it," he said, still chuckling. He looked at Ace with a grin. "You know I tried painting Dan once, I had got a commission to make a cover to a romance novel, and you know how absolutely hunky he is, so I talked him over modelling for me with a girl in an extremely hot position." He laughed again. "He got so hot in his pants he had to interrupt the sessions all the time and take the girl to the other room for a bit of fun before he could continue." He rolled his eyes. "I very nearly missed my deadline because of him. That man can't keep it to himself, if you know what I mean."
Chip chuckled.
"The girl didn't seem to mind though," he said. "What was her name again? Elaisa?"
"Elise," Colorado said. "Elaisa was after that - the red-head, big eyes."
"Oh, right," Chip nodded. "Wasn't Elise the vegetarian?"
Colorado giggled.
"Yeah that was bound not to last. She insisted Dan stop eating meat and you know how that man loves his steaks."
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Post by Kat on Jun 22, 2006 6:45:36 GMT -5
Ace kissed Chip's neck and glanced over at Collie, smiling at his comment. He was pretty sure now that Chip had never mentioned anything to him about their lack of sexual activity and he wondered why. Too many from Colorado if it ever came up? He was pretty sure from conversations that Chip had taken a lot of partners over the years, so it probably would be questioned by his friends as to why he was content to wait around for Ace. And since Ace didn't exactly want Collie to know about his past, he was content to let the other man think what he wanted to think.
When they mentioned Dan modelling for a cover of a romance novel, Ace couldn't help but laugh. Those portraits were so cheesy, and to know that Colorado had painted one just somehow seemed extremely appropriate. "Don't worry Collie, I'll make sure Chip sits through the painting without too much cause for distraction." He winked at the painter before looking up at Chip, a devious grin on his face.
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Post by Cres on Jun 23, 2006 1:31:54 GMT -5
While the talk turned to sexual matters, Chip made a mental note of pulling Ace aside at some point to ask him what he wanted Chip to tell Colorado, and Dan, for that matter, about their more private things. Obviously, after all the dozens and dozens of one-night stands and casual flings Chip had had, both Collie and Dan had learned to expect that sex was a normal part of any relationship Chip would be in, from the first to the last, and usually actually the only reason for the relationship to exist. This was different, though, and though he knew his friends understood it, he was still unsure if they should have been informed that they were taking it slow. Chip studied Ace quietly for his reaction to the conversation, but it seemed that the blond had no problem with the assumptions Collie was making. Still, he couldn't be sure - Ace was good at hiding those kind of things, and he wanted to be sure.
To the comment he had to smile though.
"Oh but you're quite plenty of distraction just by being you," he noted and kissed Ace on the cheek. "Still, despite the general beliefs," he gave a glare toward Collie, "I have more self-control than Dan does."
Colorado giggled a little as he finished up with the oatmeal and the eggs, and started bringing them to the table along with a plate and everything Ace would need for the breakfast.
"He's a real little bunny-rabbit when given half the chance," he said and then winked. "I'd let him do me anytime though."
Chip smiled, but then the smile dropped again - the comment had reminded him of what was going on with him and Dan at the moment. Dan had seemed on a better mood for the week, but they still didn't talk, actually they had hardly even seen one another. Mostly that was Chip's fault - he had started spending most of his afternoons and evenings at the studio or visiting his father - for which Mario, of course, was overjoyed - just so he didn't need to see Dan. They'd need to talk that day though, before the party, if they were still going to do the little swordplay performance they had planned.
Colorado noticed the change in Chip's expression and quickly chose to change the subject.
"Here's your breakfast, precious," he said as he set the spoon as the last thing on the table before sitting down to continue his own breakfast. "So, what's the plan for the day? I suppose you two will go to school together?"
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Post by Kat on Jun 23, 2006 7:04:56 GMT -5
When Chip made his first comment and kissed him, Ace smiled and understood the real point of what he'd said. Even though only he understood it, it still made him happy to hear. He finally pushed himself away from Chip when Colorado brought his food, but not before squeezing Chip's leg quite high up. He picked up his fork and started on the eggs, not noticing Chip's change in expression since he was currently looking at his food.
When Colorado brought up their plans for the day, Ace frowned a little. "Sadly no, it would look entirely too odd for us to show up together. I have to meet up with my friend anyway so she can do my makeup. But I'm sure I'll need to drop by the IT department at some point before classes start." He glanced at Chip and smiled. It was quite dangerous for him to drop by Chip's office as often as he did, especially since neither of the IT teachers liked him enough to keep his secret. If only Chip's office were in the language hall, where all the teachers adored him. But no, it had to be down the one hallway where all the teachers who didn't like him worked. It just made it that much more exciting, he supposed. But he was still a little sad about having to sneak around while other couples would get to parade around together in their outfits. He supposed he'd actually be doing the same thing with Princess, and Chase to an extent. He wondered if his sadness over being unable to walk around on Chip's arm would push him toward being clingier than usual with Chase. He'd have to mention it to Chip, at any rate. Not that he expected Chip to get jealous or suspicious, just to ready him to see Ace being cuddly with his friends instead of being cuddly with him.
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