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Jackie: Having slept in the spare room in the basement, Tim wakes up earlier than one would expect; he never sleeps too well outside of his own dorm room. He tries for a few moments to lay there and continue to rest, but his back is achey and his body rejects it all, and before he knows it he's at his feet and going back to the main room. Yawning as he lazily swaggers out of the bedroom, he rubs at his eyes tiredly and tries to keep quiet, in case the others are still slumbering.


Jay: There's certainly no evidence of Kellen being awake, but Leech is already up - if parasites require sleep at all, which is worth a little doubt - and moving around in the kitchen, presumably making breakfast. He hears Tim despite his attempts at stealth and leans out of the doorway to ascertain who it is moving around out there. Never at his most sociable first thing in the morning, Leech only gives a brief nod of greeting before going back to his pancake preparations.


Jackie: It takes a while, but Tim starts to register the noises coming from the kitchen and eventually diverts his attention in that direction. Spotting Leech, he nods as well in greeting-- much like the other boy, he isn't sociable in the morning, which works out fairly well with Michael as a room mate. Standing in the door way of the kitchen, he leans against the wall lightly, looking like he's trying to will himself to full consciousness. It takes a moment, but he eventually gets there enough to speak up. "What time's the appointment?"


Jay: Though Leech doesn't watch Tim's movements, he's surely aware of them, and shows no surprise when the boy speaks from behind him. "At ten. That's the regular doctor." He pauses, glancing at the clock on the microwave before going back to the pancakes, sweeping a few off the stove with a spatula and then going to pour more puddles of the batter onto the griddle. Keeping in mind Kellen's odd conversational gambits from last night, Leech is wearing pants, if not much else. Once the to-be-pancakes are sizzling in place, he waves the spatula in offer. "Have some breakfast. Gunna be a long day."


Jackie: Tim leans his head enough to the side to rest it on the wall he's leaning against, and he very nearly settles back into a slumber while standing up. But then Leech's voice bounces off the walls and Tim blinks tiredly at him, taking a moment or two longer to process those words. While he's typically awake well before the start of school, today he's jut exhausted, and even the idea of doing anything seems entirely too taxing. "How many doctors are there gonna be?" Standing up a little straighter, Tim rolls his shoulders back and glances at the finished pancakes. They're tempting, and certainly a treat for Tim, but he doesn't make a move for them quite yet. "I'll wait."


Jay: "Two. Provided they don't find anything wrong with ya and send you to someone else." Deftly moving the newly made cakes onto the pile with the rest, Leech leaves Tim to mull that over while he escapes through the door at the other side of the room, which presumably leads back to his room, and goes to wake Kellen. Judging by the grumbled threats issuing from that open door, Kellen's not pleased with the attention, but Leech is unphased when he emerges again, now pulling on a shirt and bypassing Tim to head for the main room.


Jackie: Tim grumbles a bit for that, since he thinks it's stupid that he has to go at all-- he's a pretty healthy dude, and follows his work out regimen fairly religiously. Mostly because Coach Stax isn't the best person to have yelling in your ear at 6 in the morning. Pushing himself off of that wall, Tim eyes those pancakes some more and eventually gives in. He grabs one of the cakes and bites at it plainly, not bothering with silverware or any kind of syrup, and goes to sit at the foot of one of the chaise lounges. Speaking up when Leech returns, he covers his mouth as he talks and eats. "Good pancakes."


Jay: Leech, now occupied with the laborious business of lacing up his boots, just throws Tim a blank sort of look for the praise. "Yeh, I've had lotsa practice lately." This is explained, sort of, when Kellen emerges with the majority of the pancakes piled on a plate and slathered in butter and syrup, apparently having forgiven Leech for waking him up. And as energetic as ever, in contrast to the other occupants of the room. He settles onto the couch, pointing at Tim with his fork and speaking with his mouth only about half-full. "So what the fuck? You get in trouble, and instead of being punished, you get to escape this hellhole? I call bullshit." To which Leech rolls his eyes, because like hell is Kellen ever punished for anything himself.


Jackie: Perched on that chaise, Tim finishes that pancake in only a few bites, looking up at Kellen and smirking a little bit for his overall presence-- it reminds him of Jesse, with the abundance of food and genuine perkiness. Wiping at his mouth, he moves to his feet as if that one pancake was enough to fill him (which it probably was, since he's not a big breakfast person), and stretches his arms up towards the ceiling. "...you got in trouble, too. And get to enjoy pancakes for breakfast, so." He shrugs a little bit, starting to wake up, and then heads towards the door, snagging his shoes on the way. "I'm gonna go change. I'll meet you down here?" Clearly directed at Leech.


Jay: "Well, yeah, but I'm special." Kellen shakes his head, because that goes without saying. Leech just pays no further attention to this conversation, but nods for Tim's following question on his way back to his room. "Bring stuff fer an overnight stay. Psychiatrist isn't til tomorrow." Whatever indignity Kellen might express for being left behind for an entire night luckily doesn't have time to register, as he disappears promptly.


Jackie: Tim opens the door and rolls his eyes for Kellen's response, opening his own mouth to counter but Leech beats him to it. He wasn't aware that it was an overnight stay, and is about to dispute it all and argue with Leech but the older boy disappears before he gets the chance. Another quiet grumble to himself, and Tim exits to return to his room. He gets a quick shower in and changes before packing a duffel bag with sleep pants, another change of clothes, and his tooth brush, before slipping on his casual chucks and heading back down to the basement. With the duffel bag slipped onto a shoulder, he waits in the hallway for Leech to appear. Finding yet another wall to lean back against, he closes his eyes and attempts for relaxation, although he's getting a bit anxious for the new developments about these appointments.


Jay: Leech does appear shortly, although from the other direction and preceding an embarrassed and cowed-looking freshman, who quickly skitters up the steps when Leech diverts to his own rooms. He briefly opens the door just to snag his jacket and keys, then motions with his head for Tim to follow him. Staying silent through and out of the building, he leads the way to his car, which he starts sleepily, waiting for Tim to be buckled in before heading out. He doesn't exactly seem disinclined towards conversation, just doesn't have much to say at the moment, himself, possibly still half-asleep.


Jackie: Only peeking one eye open when Leech reappears, Tim watches his movements without much focus, and eventually pushes himself away from that wall to follow after him. He hikes that duffel bag strap a little more securely on his shoulder and tosses it carefully into the back of the car before crawling in. Once he's settled, he looks over at Leech and notes his demeanor. He doesn't want to force conversation, but he can't quite gauge if the older boy is annoyed with Tim and having to take care of this. So he shoots for conversation, but doesn't raise his voice more than a calm, sleepy tone. "Didn't know it was two days of testing. You know what they're looking for?" Because clearly, Tim doesn't buy the standard 'this is just a check up' he assumes is being used as an excuse.


Jay: And Leech is starting to yawn just when Tim speaks, covering his mouth with the back of a hand and trying, afterwards, to blink himself into a more wakeful state; so it's probably safe to guess that he's not annoyed. He shakes his head for the question, sounding more gravelly than ever when he responds - a usual thing, this early. "Nah, 's jus...routine." He almost stops there, but realizes how dull he's being and forces a more voluble reply. "Since yer the state's responsibility now, they wanna make sure you're healthy, or take care of anything that needs taking care of, so no one can blame them if you suddenly die er whatever. When I was in foster care, I had to go to the doctor once a year, too. And to a psychiatrist a lot more often than that." There's a bit of wryness in the last sentence, almost a bantering sort of tone.


Jackie: Tim keeps his eyes focused out the window, maybe trying to soak up being outside of the school as much as possible. He lets those words soak in, even if he wants nothing to do with them, and settles a little more into his seat. "Guess that makes sense." His own words weigh more than he wishes them to, but he shifts again and turns to look over at Leech, as if that action alone wipes that topic away completely. "Where we staying?"


Jay: Leech isn't reluctant to let the topic pass; it's nothing he much wants to expound upon, himself. The question makes him appear a little confused, though, narrowing one eye as he looks away from the road to Tim. "...I was plannin' on going to my apartment, but if ya'd prefer the Hilton, I can call in a few favors." It shouldn't surprise him that his students never think of him as a person with a life outside of his school-related duties, but it always does, regardless.


Jackie: "...Oh." Tim clears his throat, not having thought that Leech had a place outside of his residence at the school, and probably feels a tinge of stupidity for that fact. "Didn't know you had an apartment." He pauses again, maybe shifts around a little bit and looks back out of the window. He almost prefers the hotel, if only because it promises to be comfortable, but he doesn't verbalize that. "That's cool. You go there often?"


Jay: Maybe a little amused for Tim's, as is typical, awkward response, Leech can't resist picking at him a little more. "As often as I can. You though I maybe flew off to fairy-land all'a last summer?" Not totally improbable, because Leech is definitely something of a fairy.


Jackie: Tim actually grins a little bit for that, but he turns his face entirely away from Leech to hide it. Crossing his arms over his chest, he slouches down in his seat and tries to burrow into himself as much as possible. "Not that far fetched, really." And then there's a quick glance back to Leech, the tiniest bit of a smile tucked somewhere behind his eyes.


Jay: Were that response coming from Kellen, Leech would probably sock him affectionately in the shoulder, but as it's Tim, Leech just makes a noise of exasperation somewhere between a growl and a snort. "Better than staying at that fuckin place, either way." And he certainly seems to be relaxing more, the further they get from the school, shrugging comfortably to resettle his leather on his shoulders before leaning back and predictably going for a cigarette. "Can't fuckin' wait til winter break."


Jackie: Tim gives in and actually laughs a little bit for that, shaking his head in amusement before quipping it to the side and agreeing with Leech. "That's true." Not that he'd really know the feeling, since he's been at St. U's permanently since he was first put there, but he can imagine. Or at least have memories of the beach and a life without a fence surrounding him. Now looking more fully at Leech, and studies his profile, but ceases on full on staring. "Big plans for break?"


Jay: Leech lights his cigarette and rolls down the window to let some of the smoke out, accelerating now that they've reached the interstate. He shakes his head a bit. "Nah. None, actually. The school's just feeling really...confining, at the moment. Guess we'll just hang out at the apartment mostly."


Jackie: Tim nods for that, once again peering out the window and relaxing the faintest amount for the brief freedom he's experiencing at the moment. Even if he knows he has to return, and will be under the watch of Leech almost always, it's better than not getting a tiny taste. And for conversation sake, he tilts his head curiously. "We? You and Kellen?" Since clearly, Tim's starting to catch on to whatever relationship the two have.


Jay: "Yeh..." Leech sounds a little bewildered again, because the question is so unnecessary; who else would go with him? But his brain catches up a minute later and makes the necessary deductions; whatever Kellen might have been sharing with his suitemate, apparently his relation to Leech wasn't part of it. "Oh." And then his eyes widen a little, for Tim's likely suppositions, based on their behavior with each other. "Oh. No, it's not...ahhh..." He trails off, not even sure how to continue without being absurdly presumptuous in all kinds of directions, and even if that didn't matter, not sure how to explain anyway. So he ends up shaking his head, refraining from spluttering while he thinks that whole thing over.


Jackie: Tim probably takes that all as Leech trying to cover for something, but he just shakes his head to dismiss it all. And maybe to let Leech know that he doesn't care about their relationship, mostly because Leech has done quite a few favors for Timothy in recent weeks. "You don't have to explain. I mean, I'm not going to tell anyone." Tim probably thinks he's doing a good thing in saying that, certainly not knowing the truth about Kellen and Leech


Jay: Well, so much for presumptuousness: that response clears away any concern Leech has for that, but he can't help being oddly relieved by it while he's amused at the miscommunication. So much so that he actually laughs, surely not as loud or infectious as Kellen's laughter, but undeniably there, quiet and hoarse-sounding as it is. "I appreciate that. There's enough'a the students - and staffmembers - that hate me; he doesn' need to suffer for it." Taking a restorative drag from his smoke, he sideglances at Tim as he flicks ashes out the window. "He's my brother, Timothy. Not my lover."


Jackie: As the cool air enters the car through that opened window, Tim burrows more into himself, snuggling more into the hood of his sweatshirt and stuffing his hands into the front pocket. Before he can comment on anyone hating Kellen, which he hasn't seen first hand, Leech reveals their relationship and Tim immediately darts his face to look at Leech, eyes wide. "What, really?" There might even be relief in his voice. "You take care of him?"


Jay: The laughter doesn't return, but Leech still looks amused in his secretive way. "Yeh, really. Surprised me, too." Taking a last drag, he tosses the cigarette butt out the window and closes it, sealing out the sound of increasing traffic as they near the city. He nods for the following question. "Remember I said his parents got divorced, last summer? Neither of 'em much wanted to keep him. Nick was talkin' about sending him to military school, so I took him instead."


Jackie: Tim keeps on looking at Leech in surprise, but it subdues after a while and Tim eventually goes back to sitting more relaxed in his seat. Not drawing his eyes away from Leech, he nods vaguely for that explanation and then looks forward, contemplating. "Huh." And he has to think about that for a moment, before looking back over at the other boy. "That explains a lot." Mostly, their affectionate ways towards one another.


Jay: Leech makes a humming noise of agreement. "Guess it would, with what ya were thinking. Fuck. If everyone's thinking that it might almost be better to tell 'em the truth." He narrows his eyes, thinking, automatically taking the exit into Boston nearest his apartment complex.


Jackie: "I don't think anyone is really thinking that." Not that Tim would know that all too well, since he tends to ignore anyone and everyone minus the ones he rooms with and the few he's befriended on the baseball team. Shifting around a little, Tim looks forward-- at the approaching city scape, and talks while looking out the window. "I only had the idea when he started talking about your underwear."


Jay: Well, that diverts Leech's train of thought pretty completely, and if he were any more expressive, his embarrassment would be obvious. As it is, his eyes widen for a brief second before he gives a long sigh. "Pretty sure he was jus' trying to make you uncomfortable." Leech might point out that Kellen never expressed to him any amusement with what he wears to bed, but that might give the entirely wrong impression again. A few short turnings later, and they're at the building, pulling into the underground parking garage. Luckily, it's early enough that the streets aren't too busy, though late enough for the worker bees to already be in place at their jobs. Parking, Leech explains before nudging the door open: "I jus' need to stop here fer a second, then we can head to yer doctor thing."


Jackie: If Tim were the gloating type, or even the kind of person to enjoy making others uncomfortable (a la Kellen), he would probably smile broadly and smugly and bask in that success. But he's not, so instead he just grins a little, rolling his eyes a little for that first statement and adding on a "Well, yeah' to it. Staying put in the car, he watches as Leech gets out and pauses his hands on the seat belt, piping up curiously. "Want me just to stay here?"


Jay: Leech waves a hand in a sort of agreement; that Kellen delights in making people uncomfortable is beyond question, though it is at least usually done in good fun. "Nah, you might as well drop yer stuff off while we're here." And so he continues on to the elevator, waiting for Tim before riding it up. The apartment complex isn't swanky, but not too run down, and the apartment itself when they reach it is Spartan enough to look like no one lives there. Aside from necessary furniture, not much different than what Leech has in his rooms at school, the only items that look used are a few guitars standing against the walls of the main room, and the stereo. Leaving Tim in the main room, Leech disappears down a short hallway to his own bedroom.


Jackie: Nodding for that, Tim crawls out of the car and grabs his bag, then hefts it onto his shoulder while following Leech to the elevator. He allows for his eyes to wander around the garage, mostly to gauge his surroundings, and he remains quiet through their trek to Leech's apartment. Once inside, he again peers around observantly, placing his bag off to the side and out of the way. Not bothering with small talk, he lets Leech get to what he needs to do without saying anything, and instead goes over to one of those guitars to squat down and inspect it.


Jay: Leech returns after not too long, giving no sign of why he might have needed to come here, merely rejoining Tim in the main room. He looks faintly amused again, this time at the way Tim never seems comfortable anywhere new, and the memory of how instantly comfortable Kellen made himself when first coming here. "Y'ready to go?"


Jackie: Careful not to touch the guitar, since he knows some people get weird about that, Tim instead just brings his face up close to the instrument and inspects it silently. It's enough of a distraction that Tim doesn't even notice when Leech reenters the room, but he isn't startled for that voice. Instead, he just looks up at Leech and nods, readjusting a bit to get back to standing upright and stretching to pop his spine in the process. "Yeah, guess so." And so they head back to the garage and back to Leech's car, where the older boy drives them to the doctor's office that is horrible sterile and unwelcoming. It isn't long before he's taken to a back room, where he's poked and prodded and questioned by the doctor for what seems like forever, and half way through Tim successfully numbs himself out of it. As Tim waits, half naked save for the comfy pants they provided for him to switch in to, the doctor goes to collect some of the immediate results and invites Leech in as well, so that he can explain the results and what needs to change in the overall care of Timothy.


Jay: Though he was pretty bored and irritated, sitting in a blank waiting room for hours with no entertainment offered but a television showing hideous daytime talk shows, Leech isn't very enthused about joining Tim in the doctor's room either. Slinking in behind the white-coated man and looking about as out of place as a rat on a birthday cake, Leech tries to make himself inconspicuous against a wall. Unforunately, the doctor addresses him, with all the dubiousness expected in the question. "You'll be Tim's primary caretaker, I understand?" Leech pauses, flashing a look at Tim to share the discomfort, then answering vaguely. "More er less. Is he dying?" The doctor seems flustered by this in turn, which makes Leech feel marginally better about the whole thing. "Why, no. No, of course not. He is, to most extents, very healthy, but there are certain deficiencies that need be addressed, most notably regarding nutrient intake..." And when the man appears likely to continue in this totally incomprehensible vein, Leech interrupts impatiently: "Speak English, dude. No more than two syllables. Try again."


Jackie: Tim remains seated on the doctor's table, arms folded over his chest because he's half naked and a little cold. He doesn't really greet Leech as he enters, since the dude looks like he wants to be practically anywhere else but here. When the question of care taking comes up, Tim's hand goes to his neck to rub at-- perhaps not very quickly or anxiously, but it's maybe harder than usual. He quickly glances at Leech for an answer, and his words only make Tim inhale deeply and look down at the floor. Like maybe he just wants to melt into a puddle and smear away. The doctor, now looking from his clipboard, to Leech, to Tim, looks at the elder boy in confusion since his words aren't all that complicated, but then tries again patiently. "Mr. Armstrong is a very healthy young man, but we do have a few areas of concern." Glancing down at his clipboard, he continues. "He's informed me that he's vegan, but it doesn't appear he's getting the proper amount of nutrients that come from a typical teenager's diet." Looking at Tim, he continues on, probably scanning over his lean body. "For the amount of physical activity he partakes in, he should have more muscle mass. His iron levels and vitamin D levels are lower than they should be, and he needs to up his caloric intake."


Jay: Leech continues to watch the doctor with that perfect blank stare, but he's acutely aware of Tim looking awkward as hell over there, and he almost wants to go put his leather jacket around the kid's shoulders or something absurd like that, in an effort to comfort him. Once the doctor finishes, Leech remains staring for nearly a full minute before nodding. "That wasn' much better. Yer sayin' he needs to eat more?"


Jackie: The doctors sighs a little bit, but tries his best to hide it, nodding his head and lowering his clip board to rest it against his hip. "Yes. But a balanced diet. If he's to continue with this...vegan diet, then he'll need supplements. He needs to eat more calories than he's burning each day, and with the activities his coach is having him do, he needs to nearly double what he's currently eating." Looking at Leech, the doctor then lifts his clip board back up and starts writing on some script paper. "I'm giving him a script for some supplements that should help with his iron and vitamin D levels. And a few recommendations for protein shakes that he should be consuming after every work out." Jotting it down, he rips off the three mini pieces of paper and hands them to Leech, then heads for the door. "I think I have a few samples I can give you. I'll be right back." Tim, waiting for that door to close, turns a little bit to look at a body parts poster on the wall, steeling his voice away from much emotion aside from annoyance. "This is so stupid."


Jay: Only reluctantly taking those offered papers, Leech only glances at them before stuffing them into a pocket, glowering at the man's retreating back. Not that he hasn't any real reason to dislike him; Leech is just surly after being in that waiting room for so long. He snorts his agreement to Tim's words. "He makes it sound like a bad diet is worse than cancer." Rolling his eyes a little, Leech goes back to waiting in silence until a nurse returns to load them up cheerfully with samples of various things that should help Tim, informing them that they're free to go. Leech, after stuffing as many of those little boxes into his pockets as possible, makes the familiar jerking motion with his head for Tim to follow him. "Right. See ya next year. Promise I'll feed him up like I'm planning to baste him an' stuff him in an oven." He turns away without waiting for whatever response the nurse might have, and, making sure Tim is in step, escapes into the street with obvious relief.


Jackie: "Seriously. I thought he was going to tell me I had six months to live." When Leech turns his back, Tim gets to his feet and slips back into his black jeans and yanks on his hoodie, then crouches to get his shoes back on. He follows after Leech once they're both ready to leave, taking a few samples himself and stuffing them into the pouch in the front of his sweatshirt. Leech's comment towards the nurse makes him snort in amusement, something that eventually turns into a laugh once they've completely exited the building. Squinting into the sunlight, Tim once again stretches his arms up towards the sky and sighs for the popping he feels in his shoulders and back, and looks over at Leech curiously. "Done with interrogations for the day?" Since undoubtedly, that appointment wasn't that far off from one.


Jay: Once he's reached freedom, Leech pauses to rub at his eyes with the heels of his palms, apparently having to wake up all over again. "Yeh, no more'a that today." Rolling his head around to pop his neck, Leech digs in a pocket - pulling out a couple of those little sample packs in mistake, first - to retrieve his cigarettes, offering the pack to Tim once he's done with his own, and taking a perverse sort of amusement in doing so right outside the windows to the doctor's office. After a few reviving drags of smoke, he looks at Tim with an eye narrowed in query. "What do ya wanna do now?"


Jackie: Tim doesn't even try to muffle the deep sigh of gratitude he lets escape for those words-- certainly, being pricked with needles and questioned all morning isn't easy for Tim to deal with. He grabs for that pack of cigarettes and mumbles out a 'thanks' as he stuffs one of the smokes into his mouth, flicking the offered lighter a few times until it is ignited. When that action is done, he hands the items back to Leech and then peers around curiously, since...he sure as hell has no idea what to do, now. But then his stomach growls and it's enough of an answer, and he chirps a bit of amusement before arching an eyebrow at Leech. "Lunch? You hungry?"


Jay: Stuffing those smokes back into his pocket, Leech starts walking, more to get out of the way of self-important people bustling along the street than to get to any destination. The suggestion makes a bit of a wry smirk form on his face. "What, ya mean yer not starving yourself to get attention after all?" But he nods agreement, and continues walking, bypassing the lot where the car is parked because in the current traffic, it's easier and faster to walk. "There's a sammich shop up this way, towards Harvard Square. Might have something fer even your discerning tastes."


Jackie: Tim scoffs lightly at that, rolling his eyes as he follows after Leech, pulling that cigarette from his mouth to balance between two fingers. "I eat." As if that's the greatest counter attack ever, Tim doesn't elaborate more than that because he knows (or hopes) that Leech is at least partially joking. Dodging a few of those business suits, Tim catches up to Leech's quickened pace but keeps his eyes darting, since he hasn't quite experienced the city before. At least not in the middle of a work day. "And my tastes aren't discerning. If the school provided vegan chilli fries, I'd destroy them, ya know?" Oh, look at that: a little flicker of the real Timothy, with his little California lingo that only really comes out around Jesse.


Jay: Leech is probably joking, but Tim can't be blamed for not knowing that, since there's very little difference between his seriousness and his sarcasm. Not bothering to remove the cigarette from his mouth as he talks, he stuffs his hands in the comparatively empty pockets of his pants and throws Tim a look of confusion. "How the hell do you make chili without meat?" Leech isn't specifically against vegetarian foods, he just never gave much thought to what he eats. Almost absently, he nods at a couple of guys around his age who are loitering/panhandling along the sidewalk, as they continue out of the business-centered district and the lazier area of the square.


Jackie: "Beans. Tofu, probably. Not as far fetched as you'd think." Tim shrugs a little bit, not having really thought much of it, and then takes another drag from his cigarette. As they continue walking, he eyes the way Leech interacts with the loitering men, but decisively doesn't bring it up into conversation. Instead, he just quickens his pace (having fallen a bit behind due to his distraction from the surroundings).


Jay: Leech squints, like he's considering it, then shrugs. "Guess it'd be okay. I've eaten worse, anyway." But that's probably not a good subject for discussion, either. Finally reaching the sought destination, Leech leads the way down a staircase leading underground, as if for the subway, but this one only curves around to a sort of underground shopping area, with a couple of stores and the sandwich shop he mentioned. He holds the door open and waits for Tim to enter before following him, glancing around the mostly-empty interior; luckily, they missed the lunch rush, as it's now nearly two in the afternoon.


Jackie: Tim doesn't argue that, since he's pretty used to having to defend or explain his eating habits to others, and it's never a conversation he necessarily enjoys. Before they wind down that staircase, Tim snubs his cigarette out and tosses the butt into a nearby trash can. He enters the small shop after mumbling a thanks towards Leech, and then peers about for a place to seat. Since it's pretty empty, it isn't hard-- and he makes his way towards a table near the corner. Curling into the booth, he once again goes about inspecting his surroundings wordlessly.


Jay: Leech follows after Tim and crawls into the opposite side of the booth, folding his legs up in front of him like a kid, and reaching automatically for one of the menus tucked away behind the napkin dispenser. The silence seems a little strained, though normally it doesn't bother him, so he speaks as if distracted while he peruses the menu, a useless activity. "Let's jus' hope the psychiatrist is as pointless as the doctor was. Those visits are even less fun."


Jackie: Snagging one of those menus for himself, Tim starts to scan over the items available and is pleasantly surprised to see a few options suitable for his eating habits. He's thankful that Leech decides to squash the silence, but the topic isn't all that great-- so he just nods his head a little bit and grunts out a 'seriously'. He contemplates continuing that conversation, but it seems a little too heavy for the afternoon, so he instead switches back to food. "What's good here?"


Jay: Not seeming to mind his comment being passed over, so long as Tim's speaking anyway, Leech considers for a moment before answering again in that maybe-serious-maybe-sarcastic way. "The cheese-steak is tasty." But there are plenty of vegan-friendly options, which Leech notes as he continues to scan the menu pointlessly until the waiter arrives. Ordering his own recommendation, plus a glass of wine, because Kellen is surely turning him into an alcoholic, Leech folds the menu and leans back, stretching.


Jackie: Tim looks up for that and tries for a glare, but it's funny enough that Tim can't even fight the smile that takes over his face for a brief moment. Kicking under the table (albeit, lightly), Tim goes back to his menu to decide on his lunch. "You're a jackass." But it's said fondly enough that it most definitely can't be taken too seriously. When the waiter arrives, Tim glances up at him for a quick moment before quickly scanning his menu, settling on a veggie roll up. When the orders are taken, Tim also puts his menu away and then sits back, hands going to pick at one of the cuffs on his sweatshirt. "If you want to...do stuff. I mean, without me, or whatever, I promise I won't leave your apartment."


Jay: That kick affects Leech not at all, since he's still folded up like an accordion, but he smirks to himself for the comment. He doesn't have to reply, since the waiter appears, absently drumming on the table as the man leaves. "Oh, that's good. It's furry night at the fetish club down the street, and I hate missin' that." This is probably not to be taken seriously, since Leech shakes his head as he says it, giving Tim a quick look of disbelief. "First ya think I do nothing at all when you're not around, an' now you suppose I got some full, secret life that I'd be ashamed fer you to be witness to. I jus' can't win either way."


Jackie: Tim's eyes snap back up to Leech's face for that comment, but he's quick to realize the joke within those words and gives out a breathy laugh. Still picking at that cuff, tugging a little at an existing hole near where his thumb, Tim shrugs a little bit for the rest of Leech's words, probably looking more like his age than he has in a while. "I didn't mean it like that. Just....you know." Yes, that explains everything, Timothy. He tries again: "Babysitting a seventeen year old probably isn't high on your list of 'things you'd like to do in Boston.'"


Jay: Leech shakes his head again for that explanation, and greets the arrival of his wine with something like relief, barely sniffing at the stuff before taking a drink. "I don' got a list like that. I grew up here; this place is just a backdrop." Another small sip of the wine, and he sets it aside. "And I'm not that much older'n you, y'know. Not exactly babysitting." He doesn't - probably wouldn't - flat out state that he enjoys Tim's company, but this comment is close to the same sentiment.


Jackie: Tim's somewhat comforted by that, enough that he doesn't try to negate what Leech said or get him to explain further. When Leech's wine arrives, so does his water, and Tim's quick to stab a straw into it and take a long drink. With those big blue eyes, he looks over at Leech with genuine curiosity, talking around that straw as he hunches over to drink from his glass. "How old are you?"


Jay: Leech bites at his lower lip to stifle the first instinct of reply; it's too easy to needle Tim and irritate his reticent nature, he can almost see why Kellen takes such joy in making the other boy uncomfortable. It can be fun. But he resists in favor of answering honestly. "I'm twenty-one. Fer a few more months, anyway." Which means, as Tim can probably figure out for himself, that he's been working at the school since he was nineteen, so it's no wonder he has to break bones to make the students take him seriously sometimes.


Jackie: Nodding for that information, Tim eventually pulls away from that straw and sits back in the booth, wiping at his mouth after it's gone slightly numb from the cold drink. "That's cool. So you and Kellen are....five years apart?" It's strange to connect the two together, but Tim can start to piece together the similarities that are definitely more obvious now that Lint knows.


Jay: Caught taking another drink, Leech merely shakes his head, leaving answering aloud until he's set the glass down. "He's only fourteen, it's seven years. Seven years exactly, actually." Spotting the waiter approaching, Leech leans back so the man can set their plates down, shaking his head when asked if he requires anything else.


Jackie: "Oh, really? He's fourteen?" That information surprises him, mostly because Kellen's tall, and he hums a little bit for it. He kind of shakes his head, a little bewildered because the kid is certainly quirky for being so young. As their food arrives, Tim peers down at his plate with nothing more than desire, and he grabs his silverware to unroll a napkin and place on his lap-- an act made out of habit. "And you share a birthday? That's pretty wild."


Jay: "Easy mistake. He's so very mature, after all." Leech rolls his eyes a little, snorting quietly to himself and in contrast, only picking at the food before him. There's a nod for the following question. "Yeh, I imagine Nick's learned to hate the twenty-first of January. Must feel something like Friday the thirteenth to him."


Jackie: "He sure fooled me." Not said all that seriously, of course, Tim reaches down and picks up one half of his wrap, inspecting it for a moment before taking a bite. Decent table etiquette ingrained in his being since he can remember, he waits to swallow before continuing. "So that makes you guys Aquariuses?"


Jay: It takes a moment of thought, spent mostly chewing, before Leech can answer an affirmative. "Yeh, I guess so. Never thought about it much." He takes another bite, but isn't quite so careless as his brother, actually chewing and swallowing before speaking again. "Is that supposed to mean something?"


Jackie: Tim half shrugs for that, going in for another bite before resting his sandwich back down on his plate and taking another sip of water. "I don't know. I mean, some people believe in that stuff. Jess used to read our horoscopes all of the time." Because of course Jesse is one of those that are in to astrology. "I think Aquarians are supposedly...really compassionate, but kind of stuck in their ways. And very eccentric." And then he gives Leech a look that kind of shows he agrees with those descriptions.


Jay: It's lucky Leech isn't chewing when Tim offers that description, because he probably wouldn't be able to help laughing for it even with his mouth full. It's a peculiar laugh, not entirely amused, and even a little bitter. "That, is complete bullshit. However much it might fit me." Or Kellen, for that matter; in a less obvious way, he's probably more suited to it than Leech himself, but it's impossible to fit it to certain other people he knows born in January. At that, he thoughtfully tilts his head. "I don' suppose the signs magically change a few days after the twenty-first?"


Jackie: Tim shrugs that off even though Leech's words kind of make him feel stupid, and he distracts himself by taking another large bite from his sandwich-- finishing off that half while the rest remains on his plate. "Well...no, not really. I think it's Capricorn before Aquarius, but the cut off day is the twentieth. I think." Not that Tim is an expert, but he probably paid more attention to Jesse than he cares to admit. "Aquarius people are also supposedly really tempermental." But with that, Tim doesn't make eye contact, and instead goes to munch on the pickle spear offered on his plate.


Jay: There's a little bit of a grunt for the continuation, like he agrees well enough with that. He falls silent for a moment or two, eating and possibly brooding, and only with an effort forces his attention in a less bitter direction. "An' what do yer oracles tell you about people born in late November?" Apparently done eating, he leans back again, picking up his wineglass to finish it off.


Jackie: Munching on that pickle, Tim never really lowers it back down to his plate, and instead bites at it in between sentences. He can sense the shift in mood his conversation has created, which makes him a little uncomfortable, enough to where he doesn't mind that much talking about himself, if only for the distraction. "Sagittarius? Impatient. Difficult. Their symbol is the centaur...so like, half man, half beast? Which is weird, I think.


Jackie: "*


Jay: Leech waves expressively with his wine glass, as if Tim just proved his point. "See? Complete bullshit." Which he probably would have said anyway, no matter what the response was, but he really doesn't think that describes Tim very well. Finishing his wine, he unfolds himself. "I'm gunna go pay while you finish up." And he slides out of the booth to go do just that.








Jackie: When Hawk addresses Tim, he looks over at the bigger man with eyes that show every level of confusion that he's experiencing. Shifting on his feet, he tries for a smile for the introduction, even does a little half wave, but when he lowers his arm he accidentally knocks over one of the shoe displays, which in turn sets off a small domino effect-- two other sets of booties fall over (along with a few boxes housing other sizes), and then a mannequin showcasing some raunchy red and black number falls forward. Into Tim. Which of course makes him automatically grab for it, so as not to hit the floor, but then Tim sees what he's holding and gets a little flustered, tries to speedily get the mannequin and shoes back to their original spots. It takes a few moments, but Tim cleans up well, and he's very obviously worked up when he approaches Leech at that back counter. "...your friends have interesting names."


Jay: It takes a lot of strength, but Leech manages not to laugh at Tim's porn-store faux pas, even if he does have to cover his mouth with a hand to stifle it at one point. He graciously doesn't even mention it when Tim finally joins him. "An' you haven' even met Saint Jimmy or Johnny Two-Bags yet." He leans against the counter, glancing at the back where Hawk can be heard moving around and talking to himself in what is presumably German. "...anything ya need to pick up while we're here? I get a good discount." Again said with that totally straight face. He can't resist taunting just a little.


Jackie: When he gets to that counter, he tries to act completely unaffected, like that all just didn't happen. But he's not very skilled at covering up that well, and it's still dreadfully apparent that Tim is horribly uncomfortable. He gives Leech a little look for those names, but doesn't comment on it-- instead, he gets distracted by the blow up dolls on display across the room. He squints a little bit, as if he doesn't believe that there's really a blonde haired, red lipped inflatable sex toy mere yards away from him, and then shakes his head to dismiss it all. Looking back at Leech, he has a small sense that he's being fucked with, but he can't not be flustered at the moment. "What? No. No." And then one of those blow up toys makes some obscene moaning noise, and Tim's shoulders hitch up a little bit. "I think I'm okay."


Jay: Leech coughs a bit of a laugh at Tim's spluttering response, turning around fully to motion towards the dolls. "Ya see the sheep, yet?" And sure enough, there is a blow up sheep included with the others. Thankfully, before Leech can go on, Hawk returns beaming, holding out a pair of wide leather cuffs, pierced with a couple of D-rings and secured by small padlocks. Leech takes them without comment, though he shakes his head some for the fancy silver chasing along the outside seams. He looks them over, unlocking one of them to lay it out flat on the counter.


Jackie: Tim lowers his eyes for all of that, because he feels embarrassed even standing in the store; not so much because he thinks this stuff if wrong, just totally out of his element. Voice and eyes lowered, Tim fidgets his hands a little bit on the glass of the counter top. "What're we doing here?" But before he can get a response, Hawk is back, offering out those cuffs and seeming all too pleased to have Leech around. Also leaning against the counter, he looks down at the cuffs and, in that thick accent, speaks up. "They're what you wanted, yeah?"


Jay: Leech continues his intent perusal of the manacles for a moment or two more, but flashes his gaze up to Hawk from where he's bent over the counter. "Smug bastard. Yeh, they're what I wanted. A little fancier than what I asked for, if I remember right, but they'll do." He sounds tolerable, clearly used to Hawk showing off his skill even when it's unnecessary. Straightening up, he takes the previously opened cuff and secures it around his own right wrist for the time being, then does the same with the other. Hawk looks not in the least displeased with this response, beaming more broadly. "Mein Dame Lea is having a fair later in the month, you know. Perhaps you bring all your students? Like a...eh, field trip, nein?" That makes Leech laugh again, with genuine amusement. "Nein. Mebbe not all of them, but I'll see if I can make it." The gigantic man grins, if possible, even more widely. "Is gut. Much too long since we've been priveledged to see you perform, mein Herr." And if there's a subject that would make Tim even more uncomfortable, that's probably it, but as it would also be a little awkward for Leech, he ignores the comment and moves on fluidly. "Thanks, man. We done here?" This question is directed to Tim.


Jackie: Tim's ears perk up -- briefly -- for the mention of a field trip, if only because it sounds like something normal. And...not a sex shop. But then he gets a little lost in the items displayed in that glass counter top: cock rings, various jewelry for piercings, and some intricate hand cuffs. Tilting his head a bit to the side, he goes to inspect those items a little bit more, but then Leech is talking to him and Tim looks up with those wide, blue eyes, looking so his age. "What? Yeah. You're the one that took me here." As if that wasn't apparent enough. This alone makes Hawk laugh, a full on hearty laugh, clearly amused with the newbie. "Are you done?" And he says it as if he implies something, maybe even shifting his weight to one hip slightly and looking at Leech for an answer.


Jay: The vaguely challenging tone of Tim's last statement nearly goads Leech into some sort of unacceptable response, but he manages to bite it back, just squinting an eye with mild curiosity. "Jus' thought mebbe you wanted to get a souvinier. Fer yer roommate, or something." He throws a look at Hawk that shares his amusement, then follows the man towards the cash register to pay for the commission.


Jackie: "Why would I get my room mate something from a sex shop?" Mostly a rhetorical question, Tim keeps on perusing the items in the glass counter, stepping in the opposite direction of Leech and then approaching the collar section. Something inside of him wants to prove Leech wrong, or prove something to the older boy, so he inspects the collars available and reaches for one on display; it's simple and black, with little more than clasps and an o-ring dangling in the front. Grabbing it, he's a little surprised by the weight it carries, and then walks back over to the cash register to place it down on the counter to be scanned for purchase by Hawk.


Jay: "'cause yer roommate's a perverted bastard." Leech states this as if it should be obvious. He leans a hip against the counter, placidly listening to Hawk relate some anecdote from a recent club visit and waiting for the guy to finish so he can pay. However, the conversation halts abruptly when Tim returns. In perfect sync, Leech and Hawk both look at the collar, then at each other, and then at Tim. While Leech's expression only displays the usual barely-there query, Hawk's is openly surprised, then deviously amused as he picks up the collar. "Oh-ho. ''Just a student' he says." Chortling to himself, the man adds the collar to the total and hands it off to Leech, who has remained staring at Tim. Not looking away, he finally nods, then looks back to Hawk to offer money. When he sees what the leather worker is offering him, Leech answers quickly, almost with a trace of panic. "Don' give that to me. 's not mine."


Jackie: Delivering a mildly amused snort, Tim rolls his eyes lightly for that; he's well aware that Leech doesn't care for Mike, and takes every opportunity he gets to blast the dude. Tim would argue against it, if it wouldn't highlight Tim's fondness for the boy, so he instead keeps quiet and turns to the side a little bit to lean his back against the counter top. He doesn't meet the eyes of Hawk or Leech when they notice that collar (instead diverts his own gaze to his shoes) and fights against the warm creep of a blush that threatens to show up for Hawk's words. After Leech's answer, Tim turns to reach for that collar, inspecting it quietly as Hawk darts his eyes between Timothy and Leech. "It's gut to see ya. Don't wait so long, next time." Taking that as a cue to leave, Tim gives a little shy nod to Hawk and then takes the initiative to head towards where they first entered, collar still in hand.


Jay: Leech nods, relieved that Hawk didn't make any further suggestive comments, and backs away after taking his change. "Give yer Mistress my regards." Hawk declares that he most certainly will, and is probably still talking volubly when Leech opens the door to the shop, waving Tim ahead of him. Exiting after the boy, he goes for the stairs and, once reaching street-level again, turns back in the direction of the car park. He digs out another smoke and lights it, glancing around in a would-be casual way, though his slight discomfort may be the tiniest bit obvious to anyone who knows him.


Jackie: Following after Leech, Tim probably doesn't catch on to that discomfort, but he does take note of the silence that comes over the two of them after they leave the shop. Waiting until they're away from the busy street corner, Tim takes a couple quick steps to catch up with Leech, clearing his throat before speaking. "I'll pay you back when I can." And it's meant sincerely, since Tim hates borrowing anything from anyone, but he doesn't elaborate more than that.


Jay: As typical, Leech shakes his head for that offer. "Don' worry about it." But then he pauses, glancing briefly at the collar Tim's still carrying. "...unless that is fer yer roommate. In that case, yer gunna need to pay me interest, too, jus' for making me suffer the terrible mental images." His voice, at least, gives no sign of discomfort, sounding as subtly sardonic as ever. Reaching the parking lot, Leech retrieves his keys to unlock the car.


Jackie: "But no interest payments for any other mental pictures?" Meaning, of course, images of Timothy, but he doesn't have the balls to elaborate on that. And really, he's a little surprised at himself for even saying those words, since they're a little daring and laced with amusement. Rounding the car, Tim waits for it to be unlocked before getting inside, settling into that seat once more and inspecting the collar. He moves forward in conversation, maybe because the prior one would undoubtedly lead him to trouble. "Any more errands you need to run?"


Jay: For that question, Leech only gives a secretively little smirk, not answering verbally. He's not totally ungrateful when Tim changes the subject, and shakes his head as he backs out of the space and turns back onto the road. "Nah. Not right now, anyway; another half-hour an' these roads will be impassible." He flips open the ashtray to ash his cigarette, dragging again before continuing. "There's a pretty rad record store ya might like, but it's closer to the psych place anyway, so we'll go tomorrow. Call in fer dinner, mebbe."


Jackie: Tim keeps toying with the collar, uses one finger to tug on the o-ring and test its strength, and makes some sort of agreeable noise for that suggestion. "That sounds good. I'm kind of tired. Wouldn't mind the night in." Because take out food and comfy pants sound like just about the greatest thing he could do with a night away from the school. "Do you have any movies?"


Jay: Leech nods, not against spending a night being lazy without Kellen's needling, if pleasant, presence for once. "Might even find somethin' you can eat." Though it's mentioned lightly, Leech is already thinking over the places he typically orders from, wondering which might be most likely to have non-animal options. He's diverted only momentarily by the following question. "Yeh, but most of 'em came from Hawk's shop."


Jackie: Wrinkling his nose, Tim puts the collar down in his lap and waves his newly empty hand about. "Don't worry about that. If nothing else, I have enough doctor-issued protein powder to feed a small army." Belatedly buckling up, he shoves the sleeves of his hoodie up his arms, momentarily perking up, thinking that Leech has movies at his place he'd actually want to watch. But that's quickly squashed and Tim actually laughs a real laugh, one that shows off his teeth, and he shakes his head and looks out the window. "...nevermind."


Jay: Leech gives another of those peculiar coughing laughs, finishing his cigarette and snuffing it in the ashtray. "Not really. I think I got a few movies at the flat, but it's mostly music stuff. Mebbe Kellen brought something with him that isn' x-rated, though." Managing to reach the building before the worst of rush-hour traffic hits and his neighbors come home, Leech claims a spot near the elevator for parking and rolls out of the car, locking it. He again takes the elevator up, and holds the door open for Tim after unlocking it. He heads straight for the den area and drops onto the carpet in lieu of the couch or lounge chairs, starting to pile all the sample packs from his jacket and pants on the floor, like a kid going through Halloween candy. "Don't suppose this doctor gave ya anything worth taking?" Which presumably means, something mind-altering.


Jackie: "I was thinking something more like a cheesy slasher film. One of the really bad ones, ya know?" Again he shrugs, not entirely sure where the inspiration for watching a shitty horror film came from, but doesn't bother trying to figure it out en route to Leech's flat. The drive there is mostly in silence, this one more comfortable that ones prior, and by the time Tim is back within the walls of Leech's flat, he's considerably more relaxed than he was in the sex shop. Striding into the den area as well, Tim rolls one shoulder for that question, digs his own hands into his pockets (fidget around the collar he stuffed there) and retrieves a small sample bubble pack of xanax. Tossing it towards Leech, he goes to take a seat on the couch. "All yours."


Jay: Looking up, Leech catches the packet, and looks at it. Then he looks at Tim, squinting one-sided in question, and maybe something like concern. "...I don' remember him sayin anything about you having anxiety problems. Or was I jus' too stupid to translate that part?" It's not exactly accusing, but it is implacable, and seems to demand an answer. Totally forgetting his foraging, Leech sets the xanax down with the rest of the samples.


Jackie: "...you try sharing a room with Michael. Then get back to me." Slumping into the couch more comfortable, Tim tries to keep that together, but can't; he laughs a little to himself, then shakes his head. "The doctor accidentally left that on the counter, when he was taking my blood, and I snagged it." He explains this lightly, like it's not that big of a deal, since he's really not one for prescription drugs, anyways. Although tomorrow's meeting with the psychiatrist may lead to Tim getting more of those types of pills.


Jay: Leech keeps staring for a moment or two, as if he doesn't entirely believe the kid, but he doesn't outright argue with him. If nothing else, it's plain that he expects Tim has reasons for anxiety issues - even beyond rooming with the mentioned Ness. He waits, then finally nods acceptance of the explanation, and stands up. "Kellen's movies are in the cabinet under the TV, if ya wanna dig through 'em. I gotta take a shower." As he speaks, he's unlatching the new cuffs from around his wrists and tossing them onto the coffee table.


Jackie: Ahhh Leech, always so receptive. Tim might feel a tinge of discomfort for that stare, but he tries his hardest to mask it by instead tugging out the other contents in his pockets and placing them on the nearby coffee table. When the lie is bought, he inwardly sighs, thankful that the discussion is over, and he goes back to sorting out the items given to him from the doctor. Looking up as Leech gets to his feet, he nods a little bit and flicks his eyes over to the TV set. It isn't until Leech is up and away that Tim crawls over to the cabinet to inspect Kellen's mini collection, and to help pass the time, he starts reading the backs of each case for the description.


Jay: Leech heads off, showers, and returns in relatively short order, clothed much more comfortably in a too-large t-shirt and a pair of Kellen's pajama pants, keeping in mind Tim's apparent discomfort with his undergarments. He diverts first into the kitchen, but soon joins Tim in the den with a bottle of merlot and a couple of glasses. Dropping onto the couch, he folds his feet up under himself and pours out a glass of wine to offer to Tim. "Ya find anything worth watchin?" Sparing a glance at the boy to accompany his question, he switches his attention back to the wine afterwards.


Jackie: Tucking his legs under himself, Tim sorts through the handful of movies before picking two out for approval from Leech. The timing works well, because that all happens when Leech emerges from the shower, and Tim notes the other boy's change in clothes and mentally decides he'll change into something more comfortable soon enough. Turning around a bit and moving his legs to an indian style arrangement, he holds both cases up and raises his eyebrows at Leech. "Two choices. The 1973 version of The Exorcist, or...The Blair Witch Project." And for added emphasis, he shakes both DVDs in his hand, waiting for Leech's decision.


Jay: Looking up again from his cautious wine-pouring, Leech flicks his gaze from one video to the next, then snorts. "Poor kid's got no taste, does he?" Setting the wine bottle down, he shrugs. "Do the Exorcist; Blair Witch made me motion-sick when I tried to watch it, all that shitty camera-work." Cupping his own wineglass, he tucks himself into the arm of the couch and sips at it, looking the perfect picture of absolute languish. After a couple of small drinks, he sets the glass down in favor of picking up the cuffs he recently bought and looking them over closely again.


Jackie: Smiling for that, Tim scurries around a little bit to pop the DVD into the player, and flip the TV on. "I was hoping you'd choose that one. The girl's puke always gets me, every time. It looks like pea soup." Once the movie is running, Tim gets to his feet and snags his bag (placed off to the side), retreating to the bathroom so he can change into a nondescript pair of plaid pajama pants and one of his well worn in wife beaters. Reentering the room, he looks at his seating options and stays still for a moment, not entirely sure if he should crawl up onto the other side of that couch or not. To take up some time, he goes to put his duffel back against the wall, and then scratches at the part of his neck where clothing fabric meets skin.


Jay: "I'm pretty sure it is pea soup, actually...." Leech sounds distantly thoughtful about that, looking up at the screen when the movie comes on, holding any further conversation until Tim gets back. When he does, Leech pulls his legs in and tucks into the corner more, leaving the majority of the couch at Tim's disposal. "Y'know, I heard she had some serious psychological problems after filming this. Like, had to get all kindsa therapy and shit." Leaving the manacles in his lap for further inspection, he pauses to retrieve his wine again.


Jackie: Standing there awkwardly, Tim watches as Leech curls more into himself, and takes that as a silent invitation onto the couch. Taking a few steps forward, he once again lowers himself onto the cushions and curls up against the other arm rest, glancing at the television before looking at Leech curiously. "Really?" Humming thoughtfully, he catches the actual movie starting up on the screen, and then adds on: "Explains Jesse's fascination with her, then."


Jay: Leech nods in the affirmative, only halfway watching the movie, which is probably all he's ever done with it. He smirks slightly for the comment about Jesse, shaking his head a little. "Him an' Kellen are gonna get in real trouble one'a these days with their ghost hunting. Bad enough they almost set the chapel on fire the first night they were out." Stretching forward to (pointlessly) replace his glass on the coffee table, he motions towards the other untouched one. "Ya gunna drink that, or does it have some sekret animal parts in it?"


Jackie: "So that was them." Because Tim never got any clear clarification on that, he seems a little pleased in knowing the truth if only because the two boys were so adamant that they didn't set the fire. Redirecting his gaze to the TV, he only half pays attention to what's going on, probably mostly focusing on his peripherals and the movements Leech makes. The question snaps him out of it, and he blinks at Leech before realizing what the other boy is referring to. "Oh, I didn't even notice it." Leaning forward, he grabs the glass but doesn't take a sip until he's relaxed back into the couch. Again, this wine bites at his tongue, but not as harshly as the one he had with Leech before, and he speaks up after swallowing. "This one's good."


Jay: "Yeh, Kellen's not too careful about his smoking, sometimes. He felt pretty bad about you gettin' in trouble for it, though." And probably about Ness getting in trouble for it, but Leech doesn't bother to mention that part. He nods in agreement for the compliment to the wine, but again is involved in inspecting his new toys. Tilting his head a little, he narrows his eyes at something on them, then snorts. "Lookit this." Leaning towards Tim, he points out the barely-visible embossing along the edge of the cuffs, a sort of medieval looking interlaced pattern that isn't even noticeable unless the light catches the leather just the right way. "Fuckin' show-off. He must think I'll be using these fer something more exciting than stringin' up miscreants."


Jackie: Tim can only make a noise into his wine glass for that comment about Kellen, since the punishment wasn't that bad and Jesse spent three days apologizing to him for it. Instead of resting his wine glass back on the coffee table, Tim holds it still on top of one of his bent knees, the other arm wrapping around his shin to keep the leg curled up towards his chest. Rather than untangle, Tim simply leans his entire body forward to look at the cuffs, taking in the detail that Leech points out before looking up at him from that closer vantage point. He waits to say anything for a moment, but then asks with those big blue eyes looking all innocent. "You chould, ya know. Not...not with students, I mean. They just look like a nice pair. Shouldn't waste them on us."


Jay: Neglecting to move away either, Leech meets Tim's gaze when the boy looks up, and one of his own eyes narrows doubtfully for that first comment. Neither does the look go away as Tim continues to qualify the statement. Even one the kid stops talking, Leech continues watching him, just long enough to be semi-unnerving, then finally answers without any change in position or expression. "...given the opportunity, mebbe I will." And then he sits back, once again changing the cuff out for the glass of wine and sipping at it. "Did he put any frippery all over yers?"