[ billy is one of the few people marcus knows who can laugh without setting him on edge. willie's laughs are nice, when they're in private, usually delivered after marcus shit talks jean grey and he's about to launch into a big-ass rebuttal on why marcus's taste in comics suck, but out in public, they're derisive, mean and hard to read. saya, maria, petra, viktor, lex - they laugh when they're being judgmental, when they're lying, dancing the manipulative dance that is social interaction among bitter, deadly highschoolers. when billy laughs, he just - laughs, and even here, acid-rain-soaked and as far from home he can be, he sounds happy. the relief in his voice is enough to make marcus feel better, too, and the grip he has on his umbrella lessens just a little bit.
it occurs to marcus, then, that he's encountered a rare shift in their usual dynamic. throughout the entire time billy's known him, marcus has been, of the two of them, the one out of his depth; adjusting to king's, both in terms of classes and social hierarchy, spending their time together in vegas blasted out of his gourd, needing billy to babysit him on the most important roadtrip he'll ever take... he's never had the upper hand, never come across as particularly capable, and it feels good, albeit a little daunting, to be on this side of things. he's not the kind of person who enjoys being relied on, but he is the kind of person who enjoys being needed.
he has a little more power, here in duplicity. they're both still rats, as far as the city is concerned, but marcus has a solid month or two of experience being here, which is something he can use to his advantage. billy asks about home and marcus just shakes his head, moving in closer to try and shoulder-to-shoulder billy beneath his umbrella. it's not the most comfortable position, with marcus trying to give billy space while still kinda-sorta-selfishly trying to keep himself as dry as he can, but it's gotta be better than a trash bag. ]
Uh - they're not here. Neither is Lin - everyone's back home. You're the first friendly face I've seen in a while.
[ the rain isn't letting up, and the elbow of marcus's hoodie is starting to burn away. he pulls his arm in, sighs, and looks up at the sky through the vinyl of his umbrella, then turns to billy with genuine concern on his face. billy doesn't seem... any more ready to whip his dick out in public than he normally is, so that's a plus, but he knows what this city is like, by now. he's gotta get him under shelter before the rain starts really getting to him. marcus tugs on billy's... plastic, and nods his head back towards the awning he was under, silently leading him back that way. good first step. ]
C'mon, we've gotta get you somewhere dry. I'll call a few people I know, see if there's somewhere in the Up we can crash until the storm passes.
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it occurs to marcus, then, that he's encountered a rare shift in their usual dynamic. throughout the entire time billy's known him, marcus has been, of the two of them, the one out of his depth; adjusting to king's, both in terms of classes and social hierarchy, spending their time together in vegas blasted out of his gourd, needing billy to babysit him on the most important roadtrip he'll ever take... he's never had the upper hand, never come across as particularly capable, and it feels good, albeit a little daunting, to be on this side of things. he's not the kind of person who enjoys being relied on, but he is the kind of person who enjoys being needed.
he has a little more power, here in duplicity. they're both still rats, as far as the city is concerned, but marcus has a solid month or two of experience being here, which is something he can use to his advantage. billy asks about home and marcus just shakes his head, moving in closer to try and shoulder-to-shoulder billy beneath his umbrella. it's not the most comfortable position, with marcus trying to give billy space while still kinda-sorta-selfishly trying to keep himself as dry as he can, but it's gotta be better than a trash bag. ]
Uh - they're not here. Neither is Lin - everyone's back home. You're the first friendly face I've seen in a while.
[ the rain isn't letting up, and the elbow of marcus's hoodie is starting to burn away. he pulls his arm in, sighs, and looks up at the sky through the vinyl of his umbrella, then turns to billy with genuine concern on his face. billy doesn't seem... any more ready to whip his dick out in public than he normally is, so that's a plus, but he knows what this city is like, by now. he's gotta get him under shelter before the rain starts really getting to him. marcus tugs on billy's... plastic, and nods his head back towards the awning he was under, silently leading him back that way. good first step. ]
C'mon, we've gotta get you somewhere dry. I'll call a few people I know, see if there's somewhere in the Up we can crash until the storm passes.