[ it only occurs to him after the muffled what? crackles over the line to consider what time exactly it is for her, which feels glaringly self-centered, but he knows he'd be in trouble for misguided guilt the same way she'd be if their places were reversed—as they've so often been—so he shoves that bit of inner turmoil aside. nightmares and tiny crises don't run on a schedule, so they don't tend to either.
besides, she's totally allowed to curse him out. ]
She lives. [ he says while she yawns, rolling onto his back. ] She lives and she’s going straight to penguins fucking, I see how it is. I was talking about love, Bev.
[ Damn right he'd be in trouble if he apologised for calling, but only in the most loving way possible. The clown robbed them of years of being there for each other; they're making up for it now by being a constant presence no matter the distance. It's the only thing that feels right.
Just like Richie teasing her at the asscrack of dawn. ]
Love you too. [ Reflexive, distracted, but still honest. She sighs loudly, eyes closed for a long drowsy moment before finally dragging them open to blink at the first shafts of sunlight piercing the crack in her curtains. After a beat she speaks again, a smile colouring her low voice: ] Morning, honey. Tell me about your G-rated penguin romcom.
[ he reassures himself by deciding he’s definitely a more enjoyable wake up call than the monotone blare of an alarm, even if he is similarly relentless in his pestering tactics. it’s definitely not fair when he himself has been glaringly awake for the last twenty minutes or so, but he’s confident she’ll catch up. ]
G’morning. [ his own voice softening. he takes a moment to appreciate how accommodating she’s being, love you‘s and honey‘s peppered in instinctually, before: ] I think I’d call it a romantic thriller. Y’know— [ cue the movie trailer narration voice ] These two penguins will do anything to be together, anything, including facing off against their greatest enemy: a motherfucking monster of a hungry seal. Seriously. Fuck that guy.
[ a dramatic sigh and a pause. when he speaks, sounding like himself again. ]
[ Richie's voices will always earn a laugh out of her, no matter the time. Maybe when they were kids she'd roll her eyes more often than not (a smile still tugging at her lips, helpless, despite her best efforts to resist) but she's more open with her appreciation nowadays — and he's gotten better. Impressive he can muster pulling it off even at ass o'clock. ]
Fuck that guy, [ she agrees amiably, thinking of uglier, hungrier monsters they've faced in the dark. She knows there's a point, he just needs to wind his way towards it; and after the pause, he does. Sort of. Metaphor or not, Bev hums softly, sympathetic. ] No, I get it, I saw March of the Penguins too. Sounds pretty intense. They make it out okay?
[ there's a certain pride in making bev laugh this early in the so-called morning; not that it's hard, per say, he does have a knack, but— it's just that there are much worse ways to wake up. he takes comfort in the fact that he can ward that shit off.
in a similar way, she's doing the same for him. sometimes indulging him is all it takes. ]
Can we not talk about March of the Penguins right now? I'm already fragile. [ of course, his smile is evident in his voice, but it does seem to fade a little, contemplation getting the better of him. ] I dunno, I woke up before I could be completely scarred.
[ so yeah, okay, maybe he did not just have a nightmare about penguins, but it's entirely possible he's had one in the past. drawing from experience. ]
[ It's not hard to make Bev laugh, no, especially when it's Richie or Eddie. The delight is always within reach, buoyed simply by the connection of their friendship, and it is a nice way to wake up. It'd be nicer if it was later in the morning, but what are Losers for? ]
Okay, okay, [ she relents with a breathy laugh. No more March of the Penguins. ] How about we come up with our own ending, huh? Romcom penguins outfox — out... penguin? — the seal. Worst villain since Ursula.
Outpenguin. Yeah, now you're talking. [ a hitch of his own laughter, a lighter feeling in his chest. ] They left Ur-seal for dead on the ice and sailed off into the arctic sunset. Happy Feet musical number.
[ a pause, considering. then, quieter: ] Suck it, brain.
[ more static in her ear while he readjusts again, shifting to his other side. he's not sure yet, but it already feels like the possibility of sleep is a waning thing. there's a thrum under his skin despite the heaviness of his eyelids. ]
What about you? Should we tell off your brain, too?
Urseala, [ interjected on a soft laugh, then: ] Pixar ain't got nothing on Richie Tozier.
[ Her smile fades but not the warmth that accompanies it when she hears what he says next. Yeah, she thinks, suck it brain. Sounds like whatever it was — not penguins — really did a number, even if he doesn't say as much. Doesn't have to. She's familiar. ]
Not this time, no. [ She doesn't feel guilty for admitting that. She might have, once upon a time. But she's learning how to (re)navigate the generous give and take of the Losers, the support no mater what. ] Likes to keep me on my toes, I guess. Could be in for a double creature feature next time, you never know.
[ A pause, shifting as she sits up. Maybe it's time for coffee. ]
Someday they'll pay me for writing this shit for them.
[ if she felt any guilt, it'd be misplaced; there is a weird, inherent comfort in knowing someone else has had the same miserable night, sure, but there's a fuller happiness in hearing she's gotten through one unscathed by memories, real or imagined. it's sometimes hard to wrap his head around the part where they probably won't be haunted by nightmares forever. probably. so he'll take the reminders when they come. ]
Tell your brain thanks from me. Maybe it'll get the picture that its concept of double features is shitty. [ better like this, waking without fear. she's been dealing with that far longer than anyone ever should. ] And if it doesn't, you've got Papa J's number.
[ he loves a good callback. ]
Maybe. [ a considering nnughhh sound. ] Eventually. Right now, I wanna hear about what you're getting Mr. Benjamin Hanscom for the holidays.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-10-13 04:20 am (UTC)besides, she's totally allowed to curse him out. ]
She lives. [ he says while she yawns, rolling onto his back. ] She lives and she’s going straight to penguins fucking, I see how it is. I was talking about love, Bev.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-15 12:38 pm (UTC)Just like Richie teasing her at the asscrack of dawn. ]
Love you too. [ Reflexive, distracted, but still honest. She sighs loudly, eyes closed for a long drowsy moment before finally dragging them open to blink at the first shafts of sunlight piercing the crack in her curtains. After a beat she speaks again, a smile colouring her low voice: ] Morning, honey. Tell me about your G-rated penguin romcom.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-17 04:22 am (UTC)G’morning. [ his own voice softening. he takes a moment to appreciate how accommodating she’s being, love you‘s and honey‘s peppered in instinctually, before: ] I think I’d call it a romantic thriller. Y’know— [ cue the movie trailer narration voice ] These two penguins will do anything to be together, anything, including facing off against their greatest enemy: a motherfucking monster of a hungry seal. Seriously. Fuck that guy.
[ a dramatic sigh and a pause. when he speaks, sounding like himself again. ]
Wish I was joking but I woke up in a cold sweat.
no subject
Date: 2020-11-01 03:42 pm (UTC)Fuck that guy, [ she agrees amiably, thinking of uglier, hungrier monsters they've faced in the dark. She knows there's a point, he just needs to wind his way towards it; and after the pause, he does. Sort of. Metaphor or not, Bev hums softly, sympathetic. ] No, I get it, I saw March of the Penguins too. Sounds pretty intense. They make it out okay?
no subject
Date: 2020-11-02 11:46 pm (UTC)in a similar way, she's doing the same for him. sometimes indulging him is all it takes. ]
Can we not talk about March of the Penguins right now? I'm already fragile. [ of course, his smile is evident in his voice, but it does seem to fade a little, contemplation getting the better of him. ] I dunno, I woke up before I could be completely scarred.
[ so yeah, okay, maybe he did not just have a nightmare about penguins, but it's entirely possible he's had one in the past. drawing from experience. ]
Gonna pretend they fucked that seal up.
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 03:48 pm (UTC)Okay, okay, [ she relents with a breathy laugh. No more March of the Penguins. ] How about we come up with our own ending, huh? Romcom penguins outfox — out... penguin? — the seal. Worst villain since Ursula.
It's your brain, you tell it who's boss.
no subject
Date: 2020-11-17 04:15 am (UTC)[ a pause, considering. then, quieter: ] Suck it, brain.
[ more static in her ear while he readjusts again, shifting to his other side. he's not sure yet, but it already feels like the possibility of sleep is a waning thing. there's a thrum under his skin despite the heaviness of his eyelids. ]
What about you? Should we tell off your brain, too?
no subject
Date: 2020-12-06 02:38 am (UTC)[ Her smile fades but not the warmth that accompanies it when she hears what he says next. Yeah, she thinks, suck it brain. Sounds like whatever it was — not penguins — really did a number, even if he doesn't say as much. Doesn't have to. She's familiar. ]
Not this time, no. [ She doesn't feel guilty for admitting that. She might have, once upon a time. But she's learning how to (re)navigate the generous give and take of the Losers, the support no mater what. ] Likes to keep me on my toes, I guess. Could be in for a double creature feature next time, you never know.
[ A pause, shifting as she sits up. Maybe it's time for coffee. ]
You wanna talk about it?
no subject
Date: 2020-12-10 11:22 pm (UTC)[ if she felt any guilt, it'd be misplaced; there is a weird, inherent comfort in knowing someone else has had the same miserable night, sure, but there's a fuller happiness in hearing she's gotten through one unscathed by memories, real or imagined. it's sometimes hard to wrap his head around the part where they probably won't be haunted by nightmares forever. probably. so he'll take the reminders when they come. ]
Tell your brain thanks from me. Maybe it'll get the picture that its concept of double features is shitty. [ better like this, waking without fear. she's been dealing with that far longer than anyone ever should. ] And if it doesn't, you've got Papa J's number.
[ he loves a good callback. ]
Maybe. [ a considering nnughhh sound. ] Eventually. Right now, I wanna hear about what you're getting Mr. Benjamin Hanscom for the holidays.