The Perk, Thursday afternoon

[stykera]

It was a dreary sort of day today. The sort of day that was probably best spent inside but Stark was trying his best not to stay inside and isolated this winter
, no matter how tempting it was, so he made his way over to the Perk at some point in the afternoon.

Watching the rain through the window was nearly as cozy here as it would be in his own apartment (minus the blankets, of course) and he took a seat with a good view of the outdoors once he'd ordered his pistachio latte.

If nothing else he could watch and listen to the rain along with the usual coffee shop activities. The sound of raindrops was almost soothing.

[library is closed so classes can be in here most of the day so this is verrrry open]

Comments

[stykera]

"Sorry," Stark said quickly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to... I just worry." All the time. About so many things. Like saying the wrong thing, for example!

"I would like to come visit...or you could. Both of you," he clarified with a nod in the dog's direction. "I haven't really seen you since Christmas."

[designateddadfriend]

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." Travis ran his hand through his hair. "I'm surprised you put up with me."

[stykera]

Stark leaned in closer. "I care about you," he said simply. "Sometimes I'm not good at seeing people either. Or talking. Or getting out."

[designateddadfriend]

Travis nodded. "You get it." He smiled softly. "Thanks. You know I care about you too."

You did know that by now, right, Stark? Because he'd said it a few times now and all.

[stykera]

Stark nodded.

"Sometimes it's easier to hide away." Or run off to space.

"I'm glad you're not hiding right now. And I do know. I just... need reminding sometimes."

[designateddadfriend]

"Sometimes?" Travis teased, nudging Stark with the foot not currently serving as a seat for Probie. "You've had a lot of people disappear on you. I get that. I will do my best to warn you if I need to leave, okay?"

[stykera]

"I've left too," Stark admitted. "But I've gone back."

Eventually.

"Thank you."

He was going to just go ahead and reach for Travis's hand now.

"Would you like to...to do something later?"

Later later or in 5 minutes later. Stark wasn't picky.

"One of the nurses told me you're allowed to celebrate your birthday for the whole week."

[designateddadfriend]

Travis laughed. "You're allowed to celebrate it as long as you want," he said. "Yeah, let's . . . hang out."

Had he taught Stark how to "Netflix and chill" yet?

[stykera]

"It's my first birthday," Stark said, flashing a grin now. "I want to make sure I do it correctly."

And no, Stark had not had 'Netflix and Chill' explained to him yet. Someone had been slacking.

[designateddadfriend]

Travis should probably get on that. But -- really, they'd decided not to be exclusive, right? (Wait, had they decided that? How did none of their clarifying conversations ever actually clarify anything?) He wasn't the only one who could be getting on this!

"Well, I can at least give you my perspective on it. Them. How I like to do them. Birthdays. I mean."

He coughed.

"We could watch a movie, maybe."

[stykera]

They hadn't not decided that? They'd mostly agreed they weren't in love and that they were very good friends who sometimes slept together. And nobody else had really expressed an interest.

"I'd like that. I don't know enough about birthdays. And I do like movies. What do you do for yours?"