[ jeff probably couldn't guess at what david wants to talk about even if he tried, but that doesn't mean he doesn't wonder what's on david's mind. it doesn't mean there isn't a small but immediate spike of anxiety that plucks at the inside of his rib cage. nothing he isn't used to, and nowhere close to overwhelming, but it does put him the slightest bit on edge.
but jeff doesn't rush david, doesn't prompt him or push him to continue. jeff's more than familiar with the struggle to put his thoughts into words, and he recognizes this brief pause as just that fairly easily. he stays quiet, his eyebrows still gently pinched and shaped with concern as he waits david out, and when david finally continues, jeff pays attention.
maybe a little too much, because david's loose, amused attitude feels - off in a way that jeff can't really explain. like it doesn't quite match, even though there's nothing particularly serious about the conversation. or maybe jeff's reading something wrong, maybe it's more serious than it seems and he's just thrown off. his eyebrows never unknit, not until david's nearly finished, and even after david does his best impression of a bobble head, it still takes jeff more than a few seconds to catch his own bearings, so to speak.
his brows relax, then lift slightly. jeff clears his throat quietly, opens his mouth to respond, but it turns out he needs another second. eventually, though, he starts to piece his thoughts together and lay them out. ]
Uh. [ great start, jeffrey. he closes his mouth, and absently lets his hand fall away from his flashlight. tries again, fails again. he exhales. ] Look, I'm not — great. At this part. [ you know. verbalizing his thoughts. talking in general. ] So I'll just—
[ jeff shrugs, makes some kind of aborted gesture with one hand. when in doubt, just - open your mouth and hope what comes out makes a modicum of sense. ]
I... am attracted to you. [ obviously. ] Have been, since before the, uh. The station. If we're being honest. [ he clears his throat, maybe very slightly embarrassed by this admission, but he forces himself to keep going. ] I know we— this, [ he makes another half gesture between the two of them and then abandons it ] Has been a little... quick, I guess. But all I want is what you want.
[ jeff should probably put his hands away so he stops doing weird shit with them, so that's exactly what he does. he shoves his hands into his front pockets, elbows straight for a moment before he forces himself to relax, aware that he's awkward. he teeters back on his heels briefly, then settles. ]
If casual's what works for you, that's fine. If that... doesn't work for you, [ in other words, if you want more than casual. jeff shrugs a little, finding himself trying to match that weird energy david was giving off earlier by offering a faint, lopsided smile. it probably doesn't work as well. ] Then... I'm all right with that too. Whatever you're comfortable with. [ he wets his lips, clears his throat again, quiet, then adds almost as an afterthought: ] Either way... I don't feel smothered.
[ he pauses again, blinks. his eyebrows lift a fraction in concern. ]
no subject
but jeff doesn't rush david, doesn't prompt him or push him to continue. jeff's more than familiar with the struggle to put his thoughts into words, and he recognizes this brief pause as just that fairly easily. he stays quiet, his eyebrows still gently pinched and shaped with concern as he waits david out, and when david finally continues, jeff pays attention.
maybe a little too much, because david's loose, amused attitude feels - off in a way that jeff can't really explain. like it doesn't quite match, even though there's nothing particularly serious about the conversation. or maybe jeff's reading something wrong, maybe it's more serious than it seems and he's just thrown off. his eyebrows never unknit, not until david's nearly finished, and even after david does his best impression of a bobble head, it still takes jeff more than a few seconds to catch his own bearings, so to speak.
his brows relax, then lift slightly. jeff clears his throat quietly, opens his mouth to respond, but it turns out he needs another second. eventually, though, he starts to piece his thoughts together and lay them out. ]
Uh. [ great start, jeffrey. he closes his mouth, and absently lets his hand fall away from his flashlight. tries again, fails again. he exhales. ] Look, I'm not — great. At this part. [ you know. verbalizing his thoughts. talking in general. ] So I'll just—
[ jeff shrugs, makes some kind of aborted gesture with one hand. when in doubt, just - open your mouth and hope what comes out makes a modicum of sense. ]
I... am attracted to you. [ obviously. ] Have been, since before the, uh. The station. If we're being honest. [ he clears his throat, maybe very slightly embarrassed by this admission, but he forces himself to keep going. ] I know we— this, [ he makes another half gesture between the two of them and then abandons it ] Has been a little... quick, I guess. But all I want is what you want.
[ jeff should probably put his hands away so he stops doing weird shit with them, so that's exactly what he does. he shoves his hands into his front pockets, elbows straight for a moment before he forces himself to relax, aware that he's awkward. he teeters back on his heels briefly, then settles. ]
If casual's what works for you, that's fine. If that... doesn't work for you, [ in other words, if you want more than casual. jeff shrugs a little, finding himself trying to match that weird energy david was giving off earlier by offering a faint, lopsided smile. it probably doesn't work as well. ] Then... I'm all right with that too. Whatever you're comfortable with. [ he wets his lips, clears his throat again, quiet, then adds almost as an afterthought: ] Either way... I don't feel smothered.
[ he pauses again, blinks. his eyebrows lift a fraction in concern. ]
... Do you?