deadnerve | (no subject)

An invaluable resource.

[Harry glances sideways at Devon.]

Oh, well. I look at the local floral and fauna; anything rare or unusual I note down. I like to watch films, and to listen to music - both things I could not do back home, such fabulous technology didn't exist! Oh, and I like photographing things. People. That's much easier these days, too.

I'm afraid I'm not terribly exciting, Devon.

Oh, right. You're gonna take pics of me soon, yeah?

[And if he gets his way, they'll be nudes.]

I need to get you to play like, Pickleball or something. That sounds lame, actually. I'll let you play The Sims. So we can stay in my tent and hang out.

Yes! If you'll let me.

What on earth is a pickleball? I admit I'm not very athletic, although we did try to get a game of cricket going the other day.

I would enjoy that, I think.

It's like tennis but kinda more pretentious somehow.

[Not a helpful answer.]

Do you like architecture? Half the fun is setting up the houses. I'll set you up, it'll be fun.

Oh, I see. I would try?

I do. I don't know much about it, but I used to enjoy walking in London and looking at the new buildings. [New to him. R.I.P. Harry, you'd have loved the Crystal Palace. Missed it by just a few years.]

I'd like to watch you try.

[Amused.]

Mmm, maybe I'll set you up with a Sims City. Or we can play Civ together...

[Devon: distracted by this, mood +5]

I'll do whatever you like, Devon.

[A smile.]

I'm very fond of you.

Yeah, well. I like you too.

[Nerd.]

You play any instruments, Harry?

I'm afraid not. But the manor apparently had a pianoforte - my mother used to play a bit of that.

Do you play?

I used to play the piano as a kid. I don't know if I'd remember how anymore.

[But he's thinking he might try.]

Well, when the manor is restored we shall go in search of it! Perhaps you'll remember more than you expect.

Oh, up this hill, dear.

[It's a low, sloping hill but it's far enough away from the campsite that the stars above then are brilliantly visible.

When they reach the top of the hill Harry looks up at the sky, obviously enchanted.]

Mmm.

[Noncommittal to the idea but actually kind of into it. Isn't it weird he's been thinking a lot about hobbies lately and how he should get into more that aren't just fucked up sex and anime? He follows Harry to the hill, looking up as well when they're standing at the top. The sky is pretty cool... he'll admit as much.]

Brighter than I thought they'd be.

It's from the lack of lights. Particularly the electrics, I think.

Ah, look... [He points upward.]

Ursa Minor - so that one there at its tail is Polaris. And that means Ursa Major is just... ah. There.

Do you see them?

Mmmnnno. Where?

[He's trying - and he steps closer to Harry, head back to look up, tracking before he's pointing upward.]

That one? It's the scoop, right?

Yes! Bravo!

[This fucking dork.

He gets right next to Devon, cheek to cheek and points.]

There, and the larger scoop is Ursa Major. The Great Bear.

[He shivers once, lightly.]

[Devon's shiver is from something else - and he leans ever so slightly back against Harry.]

Oh, I see. What else is up there?

Well...

[Harry shifts so he's mostly behind Devon. They're nearly the same height so it's easy to put an arm around his waist and his chin on his shoulder. Harry points with his free arm.]

Back to Polaris a moment... it doesn't move. That's why it's so important for navigation. In Ursa Major, the Plough - or as you say, the dipper - is what points toward Polaris even as the constellation appears to move. So you follow the edge there... there! That's the north star. Isn't that amazing?

Mmm. I see it.

[He points, as if to prove it.]

Once you know that one you can figure out where you are, right?

Bravo! And that is correct. Well, provided you understand a little navigation. I certainly wouldn't trust myself to get un-lost in most cases.

[He laughs self-deprecatingly.] Ah. Obviously.

Sometimes I forget which is right and which is left, Harry.

[He's playing up the stupid vibe to empathize, wiggling his thumbs in the air.]

I never did the boy scout thing very well. Moss grows somewhere, yadda yadda.

I know what a boy scout is! Tim was one, so he explained it to me.

[He turns his head and kisses Devon's temple.]

Yeah, he'd probably ace being a troupe leader.

[Not as much of a dig as it could be. Just simple trail-mix carrying fact.

Devon reacts like his namesake, eyes closing tight, before blinking open to turn toward Harry - impulsively reaching up to grab him by the cheek and redirect his lips to his own.]

[Harry doesn't move away. He kisses Devon back, arm moving to curl around his waist.

The world is so fantastic, he thinks. As are the people in it, after all.]

[He presses a little more firmly into the kiss, arm slung around Harry's neck and holding on as he resists pulling back until he needs to. Taking a breath, he sighs.

And then dips back in.]

[Harry kisses Devon as if they've got all the time in the world. He exquisitely aware that they don't, but he's still not to be rushed.]

Are you alright, dear?