Good Morning Who: Tayne and Dhaval Where: Dhaval's room When: Morning
Dhaval's room was on the other side of the hotel from Tayne's, so the sunlight didn't fall in his eyes here to wake him up, the way it did in his room upstairs. So it was a little later than usual, as of late, that Tayne finally clawed his way into wakefulness, and somewhat less effectively than he otherwise might've, too.
First thing he realized was that he was warmer than usual. Unlike Dhaval, he had something of an excess of body heat, which often made him feel a little cold when the temperature around him didn't match how he felt. But apparently even Dhaval's slightly less heat source helped keep him warmer than an empty bed.
The second thing he realized was that his head hurt, and his mouth tasted disgusting. Typical after-effects of too much alcohol, and he did recognize those for what they were, even half-asleep. The third thing he realized was that he couldn't smell anything, his nose stopped up, which actually disturbed him a little somewhere in his mind, as if he'd gotten used to all his new senses already and the lack of one. It was another usual hang-over symptom, though, so he didn't pay it any mind.
The last thing he realized was, finally, that whatever bed he happened to have been in, he wasn't wasn't alone in it. That woke him up the rest of the way, that was for sure, his eyes popping open in the dim room. Startled, he sat up sharply, taking covers with him and getting his arm yanked a little painfully, since his bed-partner happened to have been laying on it. It also made his poor head spin, and he groaned, putting his hands to his temples.
Dhaval had been quite deeply asleep. He hadn't taken even the basic precaution of extra water before he'd gone to sleep, so his head hurt and he had a bad case of cottonmouth, but it wasn't bad enough to penetrate rather pleasant dreams that involved riding a big, black horse over an open grassland. Something about a green cup and a sword and an underground village. Dhaval dreamed in complete narrative, and he usually remembered when he woke up. Not this time, though. Tayne's sudden movement yanked him very surely out of sleep.
That was disorienting, even dizzying, and he felt even flimsier and more languid than one would expect, but after a moment's blinking he remembered who it was weighing down half of the wide hotel bed, on the side against the wall. So that hadn't been a dream. Tayne had kissed him. He blushed slightly (and with the alcohol flushed from his system, so was that strong flush, so the new pink in his cheeks was actually visible) and turned shyly to look up at Tayne. They'd only kissed and cuddled, right? He hadn't forgotten something? He'd heard that happened. But he had a feeling there'd be less clothing and more pain if... And he wasn't thinking about it any further. He sympathetically noted Tayne's hangover and reached up to squeeze his hand in solidarity. "...Morning."
The voice registered as someone he knew-- as Dhaval-- and Tayne dropped his hand from his aching head when Dhaval took it. He didn't necessarily let it go, though. "How th'ell did we end up...? I didn' get you that drunk, did I...?" He knew he'd been pretty far gone, but Dhaval? No... no, he was remembering now. In bits and pieces. The accidental cuddle in the bar, the stuttery confession, the very shortly-worded one back from Dhaval, coming back here, kissing... then being told to stop. "Hell." It was less an annoyed swear and more of an incredulous one.
Dhaval couldn't help but feel like he'd just been slapped. He'd thought Tayne liked him. Stupid. Being stared at like he'd just landed in a flying saucer was worse than Tayne being more concretely upset. He just didn't seem to have anything to make of the situation, as though Dhaval just didn't register as worth considering and the whole thing was an unforeseen nuisance. He tried to hide how upset he was. Irrational, right? He looked away. "I, um, I would, well, hardly call myself, um, drunk at all." And lately he'd almost stopped stammering and hesitating in his speech to Tayne.
"Well, you seemed p-pretty drunk," Tayne said dryly, shutting his eyes so maybe his poor head would stop throbbing. It didn't help. He didn't quite catch onto Dhaval's upset-- emotions weren't his forte, anyway, and his head hurt-- but he hadn't let go of that hand yet, either. "But you must not've been's bad as I was, if told me to stop. Am I r'membering that right...? Things g-got a little fuzzy in there, I think."
Leaving aside arguing about how drunk he'd been (Dhaval had always been one to claim he wasn't feeling it at all), he almost asked whether Tayne had meant a word that had passed between them last night. That was just too over-the-top, though. He would have just turned away, but Tayne was still holding his hand. Did that mean anything, or had he just not noticed it was there? "I, um, I did ask you to stop. Yes. But... Well, I asked you to, uh, come back after you showered, too." He wasn't going to pretend not to have reveled in the night before.
"Right, right. Which'd be why I'm in here, and not upstairs." And without his watch, too, so he really had no idea what time it was, aside from "not noon yet" because the window was still in shadow. Which was good, since he had places to be at noon. At that thought, he flopped back into the pillows with a tired groan. "An' I'm s'pposed to go out with some of th'girls to get shit today, too. Reeeeeally shouldn't've drank that much." He rolled over onto his side again, to where Dhaval was laying, and tossed his arm around him again, not wanting to get up yet. "Hope I didn' snore."
Dhaval relaxed a little. He couldn't read Tayne at all right now. Staring at him in total confusion while waking up had been on the nastier end of unflattering, but now there were apparently more hugs to be had. Dhaval closed his eyes and snuggled against him. Might as well try and see where they stood. Dhaval ruffled Tayne's hair, which seemed like the easiest way to make him smile. "If you did, um, I didn't notice." He'd been pretty deeply asleep. Odd for him, but the beer had done its job. Even now he didn’t really want to move too much. "I can get you water if you like." Would it be easier for the dreadfully hung-over guy to head to the kitchen than the moderately hung-over one in the wheel chair? Yes, but he didn't mind.
"Only if y'got some in here," Tayne mumbled, wondering if he could manage to fall asleep again. Probably not. Even half asleep and hungover, he wasn't going to make Dhaval move for something that would be not only one hell of a pain for him to get, but that he'd probably not be using himself. So what he said, ducking his head under Dhaval's chin in a rather cat-like motion in a kind of silent encouragement to mess with his hair some more, was, "No moving yet."
Dhaval shivered pleasantly, finding he was a bit ticklish under the chin. Alright, he'd misread a few signals, there. Tayne at least still wanted to snuggle. "Um, actually..." He lifted his head slightly to look. "There are a few bottles of vitamin water." He'd been hoarding it a little, but Tayne could have some. "But no moving. You're right." His fingers slid through Tayne's hair slowly. It was a bit fuller now and sticking out in all sorts of wonderful directions from his going to bed with it wet. Dhaval found that endearing.
"Oh. Good, then." He didn't think about their potentially being hoarded, just that there was water available. Vitamin-enriched water. Useful stuff, that. "I'll have'n in a minute...." Because yeah, no moving while his hair was being finger-combed. It was very tangled, but he had a hard enough head that he didn't mind Dhaval working the tangles out of he didn't yank too hard. "How y'feelin'?" In regards to the hangover problem, he meant, but he was distracted so only the general gist of the question got out.
It was a bit difficult to hear him, cuddled up under Dhaval's chin, but as long as Tayne was going to snuggle up to him like this, he'd enjoy decoding his muffled comments. "Pretty well. ...All things considered." Dhaval pulled back just enough to kiss Tayne's forehead. "Besides my tongue feeling the wrong size for my mouth, I mean... Other than that, good day." Should he even ask what they were doing right now? Maybe he could just allow that to be worked out all on its own? Or ignore the problem for a little longer.
Personally, Tayne's vote was to let it work itself out on its own. He still wasn't wanting to think much beyond the present, and he certainly didn't want any kind of conversation about defining and labeling and whatever. That was one of the (many) things he'd not enjoyed about dating women. They always wanted to put labels on things. "Guess we're in the same boat, there. I won' kiss you, cuz I bet both our breaths're gross." Not that he could smell them. Ugh. He paused, then untucked his head and scooted back so he could see Dhaval's face, frowning faintly. "You have, like, a toothbrush an' shit, right?" It'd never occurred to him to ask, until now. He really had no idea what all Dhaval had, or didn't have, besides books and paper.
Dhaval didn't want a name for what they were. Mostly he was hoping for reassurance that he'd only been stared at like an unwanted surprise because Tayne had been tired. And to know whether Tayne was alright with his shyness and the obvious inherent difficulties to anything they might wind up becoming.
He nodded in response. "I found some at the front desk. Hotels have that stuff. Because people forget them for trips." Not that there'd been much left after that mess, but a mini toothpaste thing and a cheap toothbrush weren't exactly a big deal. "I got a comb, too. That was about it, though." Pity about no kissing for now, though. He wanted to try that sober.
And since Tayne still didn't even realize there had been a problem, no reassurance was likely to be forthcoming. Tayne just settled his head back down with relief and shut his eyes, blocking out the light that, even faint as it was from the frosted window, still stabbed at his head. "Good. Never really thought to ask, t'make sure you've got everythin' you need. Shampoo and soap and toothpaste and stuff...." And painkillers. Which Tayne thought he could down six of, about now. Which reminded him, though this time he didn't move again: "How's th'finger?"
"It's okay." Unpleasant, but it didn't really bother him if he didn't move it, or move his hand. He smiled softly. "You take pretty good care of me, don't you?" Maybe he was like that toward everyone. Probably. But Dhaval though, whatever Tayne thought of him, at least he was valued to some extent. "If I needed anything, I'd tell you," he promised. He didn't want to put Tayne out of his way for luxuries, but it'd be silly to just go without basic things. ...Like painkillers. Which he was doing. So maybe it was silly, but Tayne wasn't so ill advised for suspecting him of it.
"Somehow I don't think you would," Tayne pointed out with a little grin, that Dhaval probably couldn't see. The guy was so self-effacing that he probably wouldn't say anything even if he didn't have a toothbrush. Just like he hadn't said anything about not being able to properly get into the cot he'd had before. "Maybe I oughta p-poke 'round your room an' see what all you don' have." He was joking, really. Mostly. His tone certainly said he was joking, anyhow. And he said nothing about taking good care of him, because that would just be embarrassing, for one of them if not both of them.
"Hmmph." But he was right. Dhaval felt ort of silly. He wasn't in the habit of complaining, even about the biggest things. It took too much time. Easier to just be sorry for himself and assume nobody else cared. "Feel like a dorm inspection." He tousled Tayne's hair again. "Well, if you want, I can start complaining. I drank too much and feel crummy, it's lonely down here alone, my room is an afterthought, my hand hurts, and if you weren't here I'd probably spend the morning in... silent resentment."
"Aw." Tayne pulled back again, propping himself up on an elbow. "Well, your room being an af-- afterthought sucks, but I bet we could put somethin' together a bit nicer. I still wanna get you plants... soon's we find a spot in here that gets actual light." He looked around critically, then winced at the movement of his head and decided to look later. "Only thing t'do for feelin' crummy, though, s'get some water into you. And me, too." Which meant it was time to get up. He pushed himself further up, sitting again and waiting for the world to stop spinning. It was still disconcerting to not be smelling things the way he had been, lately.
"I'd like plants." Dhaval hugged Tayne as he winced. He clearly needed to be snuggled more. That would fix it. "Mmm... just get it quickly. And come back." Having Tayne beside him was simply delicious. He wasn't ready for it to be morning. He really didn't feel like even sitting up. How long would Tayne consent to just stay with him? He could get out a story to read together or something equally cozy and lazy, something that didn't require him to get up. Funny that he felt so drained. Tayne was warm. He should be feeling better, really, if his past reactions to heat and light were to be trusted.
Tayne crawled around Dhaval, definitely feeling a bit dizzy, and then swung his feet off the bed and onto the floor. The floor was cold and he hissed as his feet hit it. "We gotta get a rug or somethin' for you in here." But he dealt with it and stood up. He paused there, shutting his eyes and waiting for his head to stop pounding, before shuffling over to the corner where, now that he looked, he could see the lined up water bottles. "There we go. You want one, too?"
Dhaval watched through partly lidded eyes as Tayne crossed the room. Not much of an event, of course, but even as peaky and tired as he looked, Dhaval liked just looking. There was something of the tiger in the man's walk, he thought. "Mmm, yeah, a red one." They weren't nearly as tasty warm, but still the best thing in the world to drink. He smiled and rolled onto his side. Crummy as he felt, his good mood persisted. "I don't know. About a rug, I mean. Be one more thing to slip on." He shrugged a little.
Red one. Tayne crouched down to pluck one up, and purposefully picked another color for himself. If Dhaval liked his red, he got to keep his red. At he straightened, he noticed a patch of red skin on his wrist, and he frowned at it. "Well, that's shitty," he muttered, and shuffled back to the bed. "Wonder if I bumped somethin' last night. I got a... scrape or a rash or somethin'." He dropped down to sit on the edge, offering the red-colored one to Dhaval.
Dhaval reluctantly pushed himself up, closing his eyes against dizziness. "Thanks." He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Tayne's cheek. He didn't want to hold back with affection. He liked Tayne too much for that. "I hope you didn't." He looked quizzically at the red mark. "You might have. I don't, um, think you were that coordinated." Dhaval smiled a little. "And I'm glad for it, or how would you have wound up in my lap?" That didn't sound exactly how he wanted it to, ad Dhaval looked slightly unsure.
The kiss made Tayne grin a bit, and lean just a little into the touch. That was so... weird. And he was starting to realize just how weird it felt, now that he could think a little more clearly. "Guess I'll just put cream on it or somethin' and let it be... hope it goes away." He unscrewed the top of his water bottle and took a sip. The sip turned into a guzzle, because damn, was he thirsty, and the faint taste infused into the water took away a little of the disgusting taste in his mouth. After over a week and a half, now, though, he found it was really weird not to smell it as well as taste it. "Stupid hangovers, stopping up my nose...."
"My head's thick and heavy, too. Just feels full." Dhaval leaned his head back with his eyes closed, which felt luxurious for a moment but then just left him dizzy. He nearly fell back, which wouldn't have been too bad, but would have spilled his water. And he needed it. Even with the sweetness a little too sticky with the drink warm, it was a blessing to his parched throat. Dhaval took another look at the mark on Tayne's hand as he put the half finished bottle aside for a moment. It didn't quite look like a bruise. Whatever it was seemed nasty. "If it doesn't feel better soon, maybe see Zane?" Dhaval was in the habit of hypochondria. So many little things could turn serious for him. it was easier just to be on the lookout.
"I will," Tayne promised. "Though that guy is a real stick in the mud... I guess you really oughta be, if you're a doctor." He downed the rest of the water and sighed. "I gotta get my ass upstairs and get a shower and get breakfast... I'm supposed to take some of th'girls out looking for shit, and if I don't get moving, I'm never gonna be awake and aware in time...." It felt like he needed more time than usual to get awake and aware, today. He reached over and ran his hand through Dhaval's hair, grinning a bit. "See you when I get back, huh? You can help me with the eggs and shit for evening." Dhaval needed his sunlight, after all.
Dhaval leaned into his hand, closing his eyes with a smile. "Aw. Well, sure, I've got you on the eggs and whatever else I can really give you a hand with." Of course Tayne had plenty to keep him busy. Dhaval only wished he did. Maybe he should ask around for any chores that needed doing and could be dropped to the first floor. Did the hotel have laundry chutes? He hadn't looked. "What're you looking for? Just anything useful? Or is it a specific mission?" A lot of questions. He'd worry even more about Tayne now, and not just because of the kisses and the night spent curled up together. The stories shared over beer and the quiet confession the evening before had made whatever their bond was stronger.
"Winter stuff, and stuff to keep the kids busy, I think Jasmine said...." Tayne shook his head. "I don't even care what they're after. I'm goin' with to keep 'em safe, or as safe as I can. I'm the nose and ears and claws, if it comes to that." He paused and sniffed, trying to unstop his nose. "Only minus the nose, right now. Hopefully movin' around and getting food in me and shit will help that." He'd probably pick up anything he thought was useful, along the way, himself. Maybe they'd take the bike. Two of the girls could use it for a quick get-away, at least, and that'd be one more thing to pile up with stuff they found.
"Check the kitchen for something good and spicy. Good for the sinuses. ...Hard on the stomach, though." Dhaval had learned his mother's habit of keeping horseradish about just for stuffy noses, otherwise not much invested in the sharp, fiery root. "Still ears and claws. I'm sure they'll be fine." He tucked a few strands of hair behind Tayne's ear, finding new excuses to touch him with a smile. "You be careful." Of course he'd offered to defend an expedition. But maybe if Dhaval planned it carefully, he could convince Tayne to spend a full morning with him some other time.
Grinning at Dhaval a bit rakishly, on purpose, Tayne said, "I'm always careful." Which was kind of a lie, but he was pretty good at making sure he came out alive. After as long as he'd been throwing himself into dangerous situations since everything went down, he thought he was doing pretty damn good. He pushed himself back up again and shook his head a bit to clear it, wincing at the way his head jabbed with the movement. "A'ight. I'm off. Talk to ya in a while, Dhav."
"Pfft. Don't believe you." He could smile back, even if his head hurt and even if he felt so swimmy he had to lie down again, very carefully setting his water bottle down first. "But you'd better be. I... I'm not a good nurse, and we don't need another, um, invalid." He put his good hand behind his head and lounged shamelessly. He'd get up in a little bit, as soon as the heavy, unsettled sensation in his skull calmed down. "See you soon." Dhaval put his fingers to his mouth and blew a kiss without giving it much thought.
Tayne had to laugh at the blown kiss. That? That was different. The last time anyone had blown him a kiss was his mother, when he was sixteen. But even did what he'd done then: he mimed catching it, and tucking it in his pocket for later. Too cute.
Then he headed for the door to get going. He had shit to get done.