[ The worst thing about this is everything-- which is probably an overly dramatic take on things, but Reggie's feeling it anyway. Pretty much everything he could (should) say right now goes in the face of both how he's used to handling things and how he prefers handling things, even though a lot of his instincts are also, frankly, counter-intuitive to anything he might really want. When it comes to feelings is just about the only time Reggie tries to keep his expectations low, "realistic", especially when friends are involved.
This time is, of course, his bad, and he doesn't like admitting to things like that either. But if anything's clear to him right now it's that he's going to have to make some kind of compromise if he wants to actually put things a little bit right.
Reggie doesn't let go of Archie's wrist, though his other hand moves to pat, then grip, Archie's shoulder. He shakes his head. ]
Think you're just confused, Archie. It's the booze talking or something-- you'll sleep all this off and feel different in the morning.
[ Right...? Except Archie said he'd been thinking about this, and it's been long enough since the party by now that Reggie can't dismiss that as drunk bullshit entirely. Reggie looks at him, gaze dropping to Archie's lips for what is probably a few seconds too long, and then he leans close so that they're forehead-to-forehead.
Still playing it safe, but not that safe. Reggie exhales slowly and says nothing for a moment, trying to figure this out without admitting to anything he's not yet ready to. He wants to say Please don't overthink it but that's probably even more of a mistake. And that train has left the station anyway. ]
Listen, it wasn't just random-- it's not that I wouldn't wanna go through with anything, I just-- I can't really explain it, Arch. I know we're not-- [ Not what... ] But you are like... important to me. Okay?
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This time is, of course, his bad, and he doesn't like admitting to things like that either. But if anything's clear to him right now it's that he's going to have to make some kind of compromise if he wants to actually put things a little bit right.
Reggie doesn't let go of Archie's wrist, though his other hand moves to pat, then grip, Archie's shoulder. He shakes his head. ]
Think you're just confused, Archie. It's the booze talking or something-- you'll sleep all this off and feel different in the morning.
[ Right...? Except Archie said he'd been thinking about this, and it's been long enough since the party by now that Reggie can't dismiss that as drunk bullshit entirely. Reggie looks at him, gaze dropping to Archie's lips for what is probably a few seconds too long, and then he leans close so that they're forehead-to-forehead.
Still playing it safe, but not that safe. Reggie exhales slowly and says nothing for a moment, trying to figure this out without admitting to anything he's not yet ready to. He wants to say Please don't overthink it but that's probably even more of a mistake. And that train has left the station anyway. ]
Listen, it wasn't just random-- it's not that I wouldn't wanna go through with anything, I just-- I can't really explain it, Arch. I know we're not-- [ Not what... ] But you are like... important to me. Okay?