❝ spring for flirting but fall for the untamed delicious wild things ❞

[medievalism]

{ an autumn mixer }

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[tappingthevein]

If the physicality bothered him, Laurent makes no indication of it. Indeed, he's been touch-starved for the better part of the last century; so much so he may actually lean into Janus' affections. He gives a subtle nod in agreement to the photos. That's probably the least terrible suggestion for the evening so far.

"Aren't you worried that clinging to me like this is going to ruin your chances for some hook-up?"

[collimation]

"Nah."

Jan pats Laurent's arm with his free hand as he leads the two of them down the street toward the cutouts. A five-dollar bill gets produced from somewhere (probably better not to ask, as evidenced by the photographer's face; it's all a tip, anyway) and Jan sets about perusing the cutouts to pick the right one, dragging Laurent with him all the while.

"Honestly, no one's really struck me as an 'oh, yeah, I want that one' yet, anyway. Oh, how about that one? I'll even be nice and be the big tiddied witch."

[tappingthevein]

Though he may be whining about this entire trip back to Earth, he's still there, allowing himself to be dragged along when he just as easily could have stayed on the ship. It's not as though he hasn't the strength to pull himself free of Janus, but... the fact is he hasn't enjoyed something in ages. Somehow, spending time with Janus and his exuberant lust for life makes him remember a very little what that used to feel like...

Laurent gives him such a look, but makes no effort to protest. "If that's the memory you wish to make."

[collimation]

"That is, in fact, the memory I wish to make. Thank you. Hey!" Jan waves the photographer over with a bright smile, signaling to them that they've picked their standee. He turns to Laurent and starts pushing at him to maneuver him behind the photo stand. Without even bothering to give him the illusion of choice (Laurent would probably make him do it, anyway), he props Laurent into the hole for he reaper before he stands up on his toes so he can get his face into the witch's.

"Feel free to embrace your inner moron for the picture," Jan says, looking toward the photographer as they get into position. Very appropriately, Jan picks the absolutely cringiest fucked-silly face he can muster just in time for the picture to get taken.

[tappingthevein]

Inner moron? Such a thing does not exist! At least not for someone as painfully serious as Laurent.

Janus won't see it until he sees the photo, but Laurent did smile for it. He's not above admitting that Jan's a fun person to be around or that his lust for life is slowly, very slowly, starting to remind Laurent what that once felt like. He's just not about to offer up that information without someone making some effort.

Once the photographer snaps their photo, Laurent lets the smile fall and he sighs, so put upon. "This is ridiculous." But, he secretly wants to see Jan's reaction to their picture.

[collimation]

The second the photographer gives them the thumbs up Jan is scrambling out from behind the standee to go grab their picture. It's a cute little polaroid and he takes a few steps away so he can stare at the little black square and wait for it to develop. His eyes flicker from the polaroid and over to Laurent a few times while he waits, finally letting out a delighted noise when the picture comes into focus.

A small smile spreads across his face as he looks at the picture, his gaze... fond, if nothing else. "You have a cute smile," he finally says, moving over toward Laurent and holding the picture out. "Keep it safe for me, I'm definitely taping it to the console when we get back to the ship."

[tappingthevein]

Laurent follows behind him with less scrambling and more dignity. He's mildly curious how stiff his smile might look, but Jan's reaction is better than he could've hoped for. That happy little sound and the subtle smile. Wonderful! Well worth it.

"I'm not cute," he protests weakly. But he does take the polaroid, pausing to look at the silly photo, before he gently tucks it into the breast pocket of his shirt. He pats his hand over it with a small nod.

"What other memories do you want to make while we're here?"