Yeah, well. Guess we'll figure out a way to have a dumb awkward first dance some place.
[Is he kidding? Maybe. Possibly. The idea that Mike would sit with the wallflowers doesn't' seem fair. Then again, adolescence isn't kind to anyone. Frank had two left feet and a pizza face as a teenager. He got some dances at least. Right now they're fixing to have a great Italian spread.
Mushrooms get served up. The plate is set between them. Smells gorgeous.]
Well. Uh. Heh. I never had too much money, so I would try and cook. The way to someone's heart is through their stomach. And I figured if we could get a good meal it'd be the next best thing. I'd gotten pretty good at fixing up dishes. So uh come the holidays or any old time I'd do my part to cook up something for everybody.
[Not really date material. More like sad widower shit. Frank sips his wine again and goes for a mushroom.]
When we--when Maria and I had time we'd go catch a game. She liked doing shit like that. She'd get so mad if I suggested she was humoring me.
[ Mike actually isn't sure. His heartbeat didn't give anything away.
The mushrooms do smell amazing, and it's easy to tell they were freshly made and not just something they got out of a freezer on a whim. A special treat for sure. ]
That sounds really nice.
[ They did their best at St. Agnes, to do something homey for the holidays. It wasn't the same, though. Not like what their dad would try to scrounge up for them no matter what he was bringing in. It never mattered to he and his brother, though. It mattered that they got to spend the time together. All of them.
No, it's not, but it's still a part of Frank. For better or worse. Mike's glad he can be a part of it being shared. ]
I used to listen to the games on the radio with my dad. Always loved the sound the ball made when it was crushed.
Nope. Everyone deserves that feeling. Gotta tell you. It's great in retrospect. At the time it's awkward. You just gotta.
[Though it won't be in a fog machine filled dark room with some top 40 song blaring while he's sweating in a department store suit.
Frank makes a noise of approval as he chews his first bite.]
Mmmhmmm.
[Way, way back when. It was a good time. And he knew it then. Even better knowing what he has been through now. Some people never get to have that.]
Yeah? There's nothing like the sound of it. The way everyone gets up on their feet like they can see where it's gonna land. They can't, it's going too fast and it's too tiny. Still...
All right, well, if you think it's gotta happen, then I guess I'll have to trust you on that. Kicks in the head aside, I'm not really all that much of a dancer.
[ If the story about no awkward dances was enough to go by. He does like the top 40s though. It's nostalgic.
He's still listening, even as he takes a bite of a mushroom. He chuckles at the mention of the game. ]
When I was a kid, before ---before the accident, I couldn't imagine quite how---[ He licks his lips, looking for the word. ]---enormous it sounded. I mean, pictures sure sometimes but that many people all at once. It just seemed a little unreal, I guess.
No! Really? You wanna try and explain that to me? Dancing is just fighting without actually striking somebody. C'mon.
[His thigh nudges Mike's below the table.]
So you need a first dance and then you need a first game. Shit, Murdock. Did they let you do anything at all?
[Need. Yes. In Frank's opinion, Mike needs all of these experiences. It makes for a more rounded perspective in life. Who knows how they'll manage to sneak into a major league game. Not like they're going in to do harm anyway. Just a little finesse.
Just never really got around the dancing, I guess. It just requires a little more closeness than I ever really managed.
[ He huffs and nudges back gently, face heating up just a little, but it doesn't make him feel bad or anything. ]
We didn't have the money for a lot, but ---St. Agnes wasn't exactly equipped to offer more than just the basics for kids like us. Taking on a child with our difficulties was---challenging enough.
[ He doesn't say it with any bitterness. Only truth. He learned to appreciate finer things after the fact.
This time the heat to his cheeks has everything to do with being called out on kissing. ]
Closeness? You know how to do that. Don't go on and bail out on me. Believe me, it's easy as hell. No one has to be good to be able to do it. You just...do it, you know?
[Or maybe he doesn't. Either way the plans are coming into motion. Mike Murdock is going to come out of his shell.]
Yeah. That makes sense. I'd have to save up to go when it was just Maria and I.
[Saying her name here and now, even in passing never feels forbidden. Frank isn't pitting or pairing one relationship to the other. They're beyond comparable. Mike never makes it feel too soon, too weighted. There's so much patience and understanding around his grief. It's driven his character to places Frank had never, ever expected to go. The scraps of heart given to him are so valuable.]
Bet you broke a lotta hearts. Dates or no dates. Kissing the girls and making em cry.
[Or boys. Clearly this is equal opportunity territory.]
It's not the same. If you say it's easy, I'll try it. But if your feet end up stepped on, then I'm not taking the blame for it.
[ It's odd, getting the chance to be his own person. No strings attached. Just him. That's all Frank wants, too. Not the childhood game that morphed into their shared life. ]
If it helps I'm partial to hot dogs in the park with the right vendor.
[ He feels like he's being given something precious when Frank mentions Maria and his kids. They are a part of him that he'll never lose. They'll stay with him forever. The same way Jack does for Matt and Mike. Grief isn't a cut and dry thing. It doesn't suddenly stop one day and never return. It ebbs and flows. ]
Well, maybe a couple.
[ He scoffs gently as he says it. The smile on his face is wry and a little wistful. Yeah, he had his moments. He's not really the type to kiss and tell, though. ]
You're just saying it's not the same now to save face. I get it. I'll try not to shove it in your face when you're wrong.
[As though that's a given. Frank is happily eating away at his portion. The more they settle in, the more natural this feels.]
I'll keep that in mind.
[Gently and sweetly accepting all these ideas and offers. He wants time with Mike. There isn't any more time left in his previous life. And chances are they don't have so much left in their own with the lives they choose to lead.]
No, it's fine. If you want to take the safety of your feet into unknown territory, I hope you've got some steel toes.
[ This kind of banter and playful barbs feels natural. He never imagined something like this, once it started, would feel so effortless at times. Maybe it was because his only experience was Elektra by proxy. ]
You do that.
[ Mike isn't sure how they would manage that. Hot dogs in the park. That's more a daytime activity than late at night. There might still be some vendors out a little late, though. Who knows. ]
No. No I think I'd like to keep you around a while. If that's okay with you.
Y'know I do. And c'mon. You're a feather weight. I'm not gonna suffer too bad if you stomp on me a few dozen times. I'm not a cockroach.
[Just for Mike, just with Mike. No one else involved or of interest. That's what makes this special. The entrees have come out and are piping hot. Frank lets out the most content sigh as he breathes in the combination of their dishes. He picks up his fork and clinks it lightly against Mike's plate.]
Sounds fine to me. I mean, if you're willing to put up with so much.
Featherweight? Tell that to the fractured ribs you ended up from the last time.
[ Not that he really wants that. Not at all. He'd rather just enjoy this. Find these small moments.
Mike sits up a little from where he's leaning against Frank when the food comes. It smells amazing. He gets his own fork, and dinks it lightly against Frank's with a grin. ]
I suppose I am. Guess you're putting up with me just as much, huh?
[He'll give that where that's due for sure. Murdocks hit hard. It's all still light, no actual concern put into what they're talking about.]
It's a fair trade I think. I don't feel put upon at all.
[Frank means it. For all the bullshit they're talking up--and there is plenty--he feels comfortable with Mike. They're in public and pretty affectionate at that. This is what he's aligning himself with.]
[ Another gentle and light tease. It's funny how they've found ways to banter over things most would hold grudges over. ]
Not even a little?
[ Okay, he's cheating. Listening to his heart for confirmation. But it's true. He's telling the truth, and that earns a softer smile that comes over his features. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
calltoaction) wrote2019-09-13 04:07 pm
no subject
[Is he kidding? Maybe. Possibly. The idea that Mike would sit with the wallflowers doesn't' seem fair. Then again, adolescence isn't kind to anyone. Frank had two left feet and a pizza face as a teenager. He got some dances at least. Right now they're fixing to have a great Italian spread.
Mushrooms get served up. The plate is set between them. Smells gorgeous.]
Well. Uh. Heh. I never had too much money, so I would try and cook. The way to someone's heart is through their stomach. And I figured if we could get a good meal it'd be the next best thing. I'd gotten pretty good at fixing up dishes. So uh come the holidays or any old time I'd do my part to cook up something for everybody.
[Not really date material. More like sad widower shit. Frank sips his wine again and goes for a mushroom.]
When we--when Maria and I had time we'd go catch a game. She liked doing shit like that. She'd get so mad if I suggested she was humoring me.
no subject
[ Mike actually isn't sure. His heartbeat didn't give anything away.
The mushrooms do smell amazing, and it's easy to tell they were freshly made and not just something they got out of a freezer on a whim. A special treat for sure. ]
That sounds really nice.
[ They did their best at St. Agnes, to do something homey for the holidays. It wasn't the same, though. Not like what their dad would try to scrounge up for them no matter what he was bringing in. It never mattered to he and his brother, though. It mattered that they got to spend the time together. All of them.
No, it's not, but it's still a part of Frank. For better or worse. Mike's glad he can be a part of it being shared. ]
I used to listen to the games on the radio with my dad. Always loved the sound the ball made when it was crushed.
no subject
[Though it won't be in a fog machine filled dark room with some top 40 song blaring while he's sweating in a department store suit.
Frank makes a noise of approval as he chews his first bite.]
Mmmhmmm.
[Way, way back when. It was a good time. And he knew it then. Even better knowing what he has been through now. Some people never get to have that.]
Yeah? There's nothing like the sound of it. The way everyone gets up on their feet like they can see where it's gonna land. They can't, it's going too fast and it's too tiny. Still...
no subject
[ If the story about no awkward dances was enough to go by. He does like the top 40s though. It's nostalgic.
He's still listening, even as he takes a bite of a mushroom. He chuckles at the mention of the game. ]
When I was a kid, before ---before the accident, I couldn't imagine quite how---[ He licks his lips, looking for the word. ]---enormous it sounded. I mean, pictures sure sometimes but that many people all at once. It just seemed a little unreal, I guess.
Even after, the radio didn't quite do it justice.
no subject
[His thigh nudges Mike's below the table.]
So you need a first dance and then you need a first game. Shit, Murdock. Did they let you do anything at all?
[Need. Yes. In Frank's opinion, Mike needs all of these experiences. It makes for a more rounded perspective in life. Who knows how they'll manage to sneak into a major league game. Not like they're going in to do harm anyway. Just a little finesse.
He goes for another mushroom.]
You kissed before. I can tell.
no subject
[ He huffs and nudges back gently, face heating up just a little, but it doesn't make him feel bad or anything. ]
We didn't have the money for a lot, but ---St. Agnes wasn't exactly equipped to offer more than just the basics for kids like us. Taking on a child with our difficulties was---challenging enough.
[ He doesn't say it with any bitterness. Only truth. He learned to appreciate finer things after the fact.
This time the heat to his cheeks has everything to do with being called out on kissing. ]
Well, yeah. Of course, come on.
no subject
[Or maybe he doesn't. Either way the plans are coming into motion. Mike Murdock is going to come out of his shell.]
Yeah. That makes sense. I'd have to save up to go when it was just Maria and I.
[Saying her name here and now, even in passing never feels forbidden. Frank isn't pitting or pairing one relationship to the other. They're beyond comparable. Mike never makes it feel too soon, too weighted. There's so much patience and understanding around his grief. It's driven his character to places Frank had never, ever expected to go. The scraps of heart given to him are so valuable.]
Bet you broke a lotta hearts. Dates or no dates. Kissing the girls and making em cry.
[Or boys. Clearly this is equal opportunity territory.]
no subject
[ It's odd, getting the chance to be his own person. No strings attached. Just him. That's all Frank wants, too. Not the childhood game that morphed into their shared life. ]
If it helps I'm partial to hot dogs in the park with the right vendor.
[ He feels like he's being given something precious when Frank mentions Maria and his kids. They are a part of him that he'll never lose. They'll stay with him forever. The same way Jack does for Matt and Mike. Grief isn't a cut and dry thing. It doesn't suddenly stop one day and never return. It ebbs and flows. ]
Well, maybe a couple.
[ He scoffs gently as he says it. The smile on his face is wry and a little wistful. Yeah, he had his moments. He's not really the type to kiss and tell, though. ]
no subject
[As though that's a given. Frank is happily eating away at his portion. The more they settle in, the more natural this feels.]
I'll keep that in mind.
[Gently and sweetly accepting all these ideas and offers. He wants time with Mike. There isn't any more time left in his previous life. And chances are they don't have so much left in their own with the lives they choose to lead.]
That what's gonna happen to me, you think?
no subject
[ This kind of banter and playful barbs feels natural. He never imagined something like this, once it started, would feel so effortless at times. Maybe it was because his only experience was Elektra by proxy. ]
You do that.
[ Mike isn't sure how they would manage that. Hot dogs in the park. That's more a daytime activity than late at night. There might still be some vendors out a little late, though. Who knows. ]
No. No I think I'd like to keep you around a while. If that's okay with you.
no subject
[Just for Mike, just with Mike. No one else involved or of interest. That's what makes this special. The entrees have come out and are piping hot. Frank lets out the most content sigh as he breathes in the combination of their dishes. He picks up his fork and clinks it lightly against Mike's plate.]
Sounds fine to me. I mean, if you're willing to put up with so much.
no subject
[ Not that he really wants that. Not at all. He'd rather just enjoy this. Find these small moments.
Mike sits up a little from where he's leaning against Frank when the food comes. It smells amazing. He gets his own fork, and dinks it lightly against Frank's with a grin. ]
I suppose I am. Guess you're putting up with me just as much, huh?
no subject
[He'll give that where that's due for sure. Murdocks hit hard. It's all still light, no actual concern put into what they're talking about.]
It's a fair trade I think. I don't feel put upon at all.
[Frank means it. For all the bullshit they're talking up--and there is plenty--he feels comfortable with Mike. They're in public and pretty affectionate at that. This is what he's aligning himself with.]
no subject
[ Another gentle and light tease. It's funny how they've found ways to banter over things most would hold grudges over. ]
Not even a little?
[ Okay, he's cheating. Listening to his heart for confirmation. But it's true. He's telling the truth, and that earns a softer smile that comes over his features. ]