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[That's an interesting take, and one David is going to need to mull over when he's not about to be intoxicated. He gladly focuses on the toast instead, raises his glass halfway with a thoughtful look.]

...Hmm. What about... 'To vintage-urban-jungle vibes'?

[ Matt laughs. ]

Shorter. I like it. [ He hefts his glass. ] To vintage urban jungle vibes.

[Clink! David grins around a mouthful of bubbly and oj, letting it fizz in the back of his mouth for a moment before swallowing.]

I'm so glad that even on another planet they have mimosas. Now all I need is Mariah Carey's discography and I'll be set for life.

[ Matt takes a genteel sip, followed by a much longer swallow once he's confirmed that yes, this is both delicious and drinkable. His lips come off the glass with a soft ah, and he flicks a crooked smile David's way. ]

Unfortunately, that's where my ability to be helpful ends.

[ Is he a bad queer? Matt wonders for the seven thousandth time in his life. ]

But I have faith in you. My ex got a book of family magic from home by ... I think asking Red? So that might be an avenue worth pursuing.

[David, leaning into his trashy queen side, is already halfway into his glass. His curiosity is piqued, though.]

So I could find this Red person and just...ask for shit?

Pay for shit, [ Matt hedges. He takes another luxuriant sip before clarifying, ] Red is kind of a purveyor of hard-to-get items, which is as sketchy as it sounds as far as I can tell. They're the one who sold me the drugs.

Oh. [David rolls his eyes. No shit. Besides, nothing's really free in a place like this.]

Well, duly noted. I still haven't tried that, by the way. Though I have tried the lotion and I have to say, I'm loving the results. Everything feels very...supple.

[ Matt brightens. ]

That's great! [ Fortunately for David, he's nowhere near tipsy enough to try touching his face. ] Please keep me updated on how it goes. You're kind of a scientific trial of one, so not at all scientific ... but still.

Who knows, maybe someday I'll figure out those other effects you wanted.

Of course I will.

[David can't help the smirk that creep across his face again.]

Even if your methods are scientifically dubious.

[ Matt cants a grin back at him. ]

That's actually one of the kinder ways people have characterized my methods. [ Another swig of mimosa. ] So I'll take it.

Well, it helps that you're adorable.

[David says it without thinking, and then blinks a few times and puts food in his mouth in the hopes it'll make him stop saying words. It shouldn't be this hard, they've established a base-level flirtation, but Matt seems genuinely nice. David doesn't want to scare him off, or something. As far as he knows, Matt is just a naive, innocent magic boy, after all.]

[ Matt--both a naive, innocent magic boy and a person whose Noctium Number sits at over two dozen--bursts into bright, pleased laughter.

He thinks adorable is good. Adorable can be sexy, right? He finds plenty of people he wants to sleep with totally adorable. ]

Thanks, [ is where he lands. ] You too. Not that you need help, just--

Yeah.

[David can feel a flush creeping up his neck from beneath his shirt, and he hides it by drinking more alcohol. He swallows, clearing his throat, struggling to form a coherent sentence for a moment.]

I, um, it's. [His eyes press closed for a moment. Focus.]

I'm finding it hard to say real words right now because you're very attractive. So there's that.

[ Matt says, ] Oh.

[ Cool, so is it adorable to be 1000% clueless? Inquiring Matts want to know. He scrubs a hand up his left cheek, rubbing over the hairline scar that sits there, and smiles bashfully. ]

Well ... I think you're really attractive too, if that helps. [ His lips twitch, as he realizes, ] I've never had somebody say it was hard to form words around me before. That's flattering.

[ And way better than "every time I go to see you I tell myself we won't have sex (and then we do)." No offense Simon, he knows you're going through your own stuff. ]

Oh. [David echoes the sound, glancing down at his food for a moment before his gaze darts back up at Matt a few times. He's barely suppressing a smile, which only becomes more difficult as Matt indicates that the feeling is mutual.]

That's...[words,] ...great. I promise I'm not an idiot, oh my god.

[It doesn't help that he's polished off his first glass of mimosa rather quickly and is rapidly becoming buzzled.]

[ Matt can't help another laugh. It's not at David! Really! It's the whole pleasantly preposterous situation. ]

I know you're not an idiot.

[ But jeez, he's gotta catch up mimosa-wise. Matt takes another swallow, getting down to the last fifth in his glass. ]

Thank you.

[David busies himself refilling his glass from the pitcher, but doesn't take a drink just yet, instead sitting back against the booth seat to fix Matt with an intent gaze.]

So in the spirit of you not thinking I'm an idiot...do you...want to hang out after we're done eating?

[ Matt returns David's regard with a curious smile, one that fades into a more solemn expression as David keeps looking at him.

When the question lands, Matt brightens in surprise. ]

Yeah, I'd love to.

Maybe you could come over and see how my design attempts are going? No consulting unless you want to, of course.

[Okay, the way Matt brightens is reassuring. Newly confident, David leans over the table, chin propped in one hand and the other reaching for his glass.]

Yeah, I'd love to see your place. Get a feel for the space.

[Maybe other things.]

[ Matt beams.

And refills his glass.

Some time (and a number of mimosas) later, they've settled up at the fancy diner and wended their way towards Espera Village. Matt doesn't live in the Village, but he's nearby, and it shows in the shape the townhouses on his block are in. They're handsome buildings, but noticeably shabby; many of them are empty. It's all got the look of a neighborhood in the early-middle stages of gentrification.

Matt stops at the gate of one of them. ]

Here we are.

[ The gate has a physical lock, but Matt seems to open it with an app on his phone. There's a short walkway, a teeny scrap of yard, and a tall door with flourishes carved in. As Matt ushers David along, he stands at the door for a moment with a serious expression. ]

To set expectations, [ he says, ] it's a mess. And a work in progress.

[ With that, he opens the door onto a narrow hallway. There's a set of stairs immediately ahead, a living room to the right, and the kitchen and dining area down the end of the hall. ]

[This is a part of Sumarlok that David’s never been to before, and though he tries to act casual about it, he turns his head to look at the sights often enough that it shows. But when they approach a handsome, if shabby, white townhouse, David turns to Matt in obvious, impressed surprise.]

Consider my expectations managed.

[He’s tipsy, head spinning a little as Matt leads him inside. Immediately, David marches right on ahead to peek into the living room.]

Oh, this house has good bones. Lots of potential.

Ah! That's what's been on the tip of my brain this whole time--ever since I moved in. Good bones.

[ Matt trails behind him to the living room, almost as if David's the one giving the house tour.

This room, too, has good bones, though they're a bit frillier than the entranceway: lots of decorative molding. There's a mossy green rug on the floor, nothing much on the bare gray walls, and some random boxes. Most importantly, there's a soft leather couch. ]

Everything I've put in here is very soft, which I like? And I think it matches. But beyond that, I'm kind of at a loss.

Very good bones. This crown molding, are you kidding me? It's like a pre-war Parisian apartment, god.

[He sits down on the couch because he's a Taurus and instinctively seeks out comfort, and sighs as he feels the buttery-soft leather with his fingertips.]

You've made a very good start, I have to say. It feels...warm.

[The early afternoon light slanting through the windows certainly helps.]

[ Matt smiles, looking down at him. David does look very comfortable--natural, against the warm leather with the light streaming down. The X number of mimosas in Matt are making a compelling argument for just sprawling down next to him and seeing where that goes. ]

Do you wanna stay down there? Or do you want to see the rest?

We can come back at the end, [ Matt offers, graciously. ]

[Unsurprisingly, David is having a very similar series of thoughts, but Matt makes a compelling point; he does want to see the rest. So he closes his eyes for a moment and then gets up.]

Let’s see the rest first. How many floors is this?

[He will continue to pester Matt with occasional questions about the house as they go, because David is nosy.]

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