[Milliways]: First Gestures

[smallgayjew]

Posner can't believe that it's actually here. He can't believe he's finally leaving home (with Dakin) and moving out (with Dakin) and starting at Oxford (with Dakin). He's got all his essentials packed into a trunk and a suitcase, and it feels like too little to encompass his life so far, but it also feels appropriate to be starting a new life without any of the encumbrances of the old.

On the platform, he kisses his mum and hugs his dad and shakes his uncle's hand, and he tries not to look at the tears his mum is holding back, and he tries not to let his own fall. It isn't sad, not really. It's only...a bit frightening.

So he kisses his mum once more, and he lets her fix his hair, and he hugs his dad again, and then he takes a deep breath and lugs his trunk and his suitcase and his whole life onto the train and moves to find a seat by the window so he can wave them off they can wave him off.

And he doesn't sing Gracie Fields this time, but he wants to.

Comments

[pushtheboatout]

Dakin had a sending-off in much the same way--tears, kisses, hugs, mostly from his mother. His father clapped him on the shoulder and told him to study hard and do them proud, and Dakin said, "You'll see me at holidays," which made his mother wail a little.

But he's on board now, lugging his belongings and looking for a familiar blond head.

Seeing David makes him pause and smile.

He sits without announcing himself, and softly sings, "'Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye...'"

[smallgayjew]

David smiles over at him, blinking back tears he'd deny having. "Hush, you."

[pushtheboatout]

Stuart hushes obligingly and puts and arm around David's shoulders.

"It's not that far from home," he consoles softly.

[smallgayjew]

David sniffs and leans into him just a bit.

"I know. It's exciting, yeah?"

[pushtheboatout]

Stuart gets comfortable in the seat so he can hold David against his chest.

"It's the beginning our real lives. Think of it -- from here on out we get to make our own decisions.

"Very exciting."

He lowers his voice and says, "And whenever it gets to be too much we've got the bar, yeah?"

[smallgayjew]

David pulls away a bit at that, glancing nervously at the other passengers to see if anyone is watching them.

"Very exciting and a bit scary," he adds.

"But there's always the bar," he agrees, offering Stuart a somewhat apologetic smile.

[pushtheboatout]

Stuart removes his arm, remembering they're in public and cuddling's probably not safe here.

"Particularly our room," he says. "Until better arrangements can be made."

[smallgayjew]

David nods, nudging Stuart with his elbow. "I'm sure something can be worked out in Oxford."

[pushtheboatout]

"When we're not freshers anymore."

He looks out the window, but nudges David right back.

[smallgayjew]

David smiles at that, looking down at his hands in his lap. "I reckon you could stay the night once or twice before then..." he says quietly.

[pushtheboatout]

"Gracious of you." Stuart fails at not smirking.

[smallgayjew]

David smirks a bit himself. "I thought so."

[pushtheboatout]

Stuart leans his head on David's shoulder. "We won't be the only ones getting up to shenanigans, either," he says quietly.

[smallgayjew]

David smiles at that, though he bites his lip a bit nervously. "No, I imagine we won't," he admits, though he rather thinks the others will be sneaking girls in, rather than boys.

[pushtheboatout]

"If people ask questions, we can always just say we're pulling all-night revision sessions. Any strange noises they may hear is just their own wicked imaginings."

[smallgayjew]

"Oh, true. We'll have to be careful about that, won't we?"

He's never had to think about keeping the noise level down before.

[pushtheboatout]

"If it's thick old walls, maybe not. The room I stayed in during the interviews wasn't too noisy."

[smallgayjew]

"True, but I very much doubt people were...bunking up during the interviews."

[pushtheboatout]

"If you don't hear the odd bump and thud, you likely won't hear the odd ... other noises."

It's tempting to start moaning in David's ear.

[smallgayjew]

"Sometimes the odd...other noises are louder than the odd bump and thud," David points out.

He's grateful Stuart refrains.

[pushtheboatout]

Stuart smiles at him. "Just have to keep you quiet then, won't I?"

He rubs his lower lip wit his thumb as if he's contemplating all the ways to do so.

Which he is.

[smallgayjew]

David blushes and ducks his head and looks out the window.

He has nothing to say to that that would be appropriate on a train.

[pushtheboatout]

Dakin smirks and knocks their knees together.

[smallgayjew]

David smiles over at him and bumps his shoulder.

[pushtheboatout]

"Don't get too adorable or I might have to snog you."