Re: [The Bridge over the River: Patrick/Newt]
Yes, Adrian's rather more feminine than I am. Sue, less so. Don't you think? [Was that not the right dichotomy? Masculinity and femininity?] I prefer to bottom. [Newt left the topic to Patrick's discretion. He'd continue talking on it, but only if Patrick wanted to. He could tell it was beginning to shore up too close to the man's limits.] I see, [was all he said of smoking, and he smiled, catching sight of Patrick's redness and, as he wasn't so mean a man, leaving it be. He just laughed and left it.
Guns were largely inexplicable to Newt. He didn't understand them. He didn't understand the American obsession with them, and he'd no idea why they'd be necessary to tote around. Even the police used batons in England. But, that wasn't the topic they'd landed on, was it? It was Adrian. And how Adrian was toxic for Newt and Newt was toxic for Adrian, and if Newt could've removed himself wholly from this conversation, he'd've done as much. He was obviously and immediately uncomfortable in a way he hadn't been before. Newt was ready to jump out of his skin, and he pulled at the cuffs of his jumper beneath the coat. He didn't look at Patrick. Instead, he looked at his own feet.] I don't know. [The mentions of abusiveness and toxic relationships made Newt feel he'd done something, several somethings, perhaps, he'd not known he'd done.] 'Abusive?' [Newt'd never even gotten so far as to name his parents as abusive.
He shook his head, trying to leave it. He looked up at Patrick, eventually, and confusion was obvious on freckled features.] No. But, I don't know what's all right and what isn't, and if it's not—[Newt sighed.] You said we were talking. It'd be a bit presumptuous to throw myself at you, don't you think?