Zach Payne (boundpayne) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2022-12-04 18:59:00 |
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Entry tags: | #group scene, #july 2018, jai, toby, zach |
Who: Jai and Toby and Zach
When: midday into night, Wednesday, July 4
Where: the marina
Status: complete
To no one’s surprise, Zach loved the Fourth. He wasn’t terribly patriotic or anything -- it was hard to be so in a country that so often openly hated people like him -- but everything that went along with the holiday was right up his alley. There was good junk food, lots of excitement, fireworks, drinking was encouraged, there was always a parade ... it was all the best things about summer rolled up into one day, and he loved it.
This particular Fourth, he was kind of nervous on top of all the other excitement. Toby miraculously had the day off, and it had seemed like the perfect opportunity for Zach to hang out with him and Jai together. He felt like that needed to happen even more now, so Jai could get to know Toby better and maybe trust him more with their secrets that the carnival had forced out of Zach. Even beside that, if Jai truly didn’t like his boyfriend ... Zach wasn’t sure it could last. And he wanted it to last, because he sure as hell liked Toby. Having an event to attend together was far less pressure than all of them just kicking it around the apartment, so Zach had high, anxious hopes that this would ease them into being friends.
They’d arranged to meet at a particular spot to watch the parade, then they could do some hanging out until it was time for dinner and fireworks, and he told himself it would all be fine and great and peachy keen. Zach had smoked some weed before he and his brother left the house anyway, just to take the edge off, but he was still kind of bouncy as he stood on the sidewalk with Jai and looked around for Toby.
“I’m already craving like, the biggest hot dog,” Zach said idly, glancing over at Jai with a little grin.
Jai didn't mind the Fourth but he didn't go out of his way to celebrate it. It was just a fun time to hang out with people and drink and eat. Which, really, he could do that any day of the week, but this way he got an entire paid day off. Jai knew how important today was for Zach though, not because of the holiday but because Toby would be hanging out with them. Jai was still uneasy about Toby knowing his deepest secrets but what was done was done, so now he just had to try and make the best of it... and hope Toby didn't fuck them over.
"Big hot dogs, huh?" Jai smirked a bit and took a sip of the soda he'd already bought himself. "Is this where I say that's what she said? I'm gonna get some of that fried stuff. I don't even care what it is, as long as it's fried."
“Yeah, big fat hot dogs to shove down my throat, that’s what I said,” Zach countered with a laugh and an eye roll. He never minded Jai reading innuendos into what he said, because he usually meant them to be suggestive anyway, it was part of how they’d always flirted with each other. Was it going to be weird to flirt with him with Toby around? Or vice versa? God, his stomach was in weird scared-happy knots about this, he hoped it went well and they didn’t hate each other. Zach’s roaming gaze spotted Toby’s dark curls coming through the crowd and his insides gave an excited somersault as he lifted his arm to catch Toby’s attention.
Jai laughed and brought his cup back up to his lips to take a drink. He had zero idea what the dynamic would be now that Toby knew everything, but Jai had a feeling he'd probably shift inward and be a brother like he usually was in public. It was just so engrained within him to keep things casual and laidback when they were around other people that he wasn't sure that would change. Or maybe it would be worse and he would feel still and uncomfortable. When Zach lifted his arm, Jai turned to see Toby heading towards them. "Well," he murmured, "here we go."
As casual as this was meant to be, Toby was nervous, even more than he’d been meeting Jai the first time. Nothing had changed, but the context was different. His understanding of the relationship he was in had changed drastically. And he knew that winning over Jai was key to keeping Zach happy. He had no idea how to do it though. He’d clicked with Zach instantly, but Jai seemed so very different, almost a foil to Zach. His nerves were enough that he considered getting high first, but he didn’t want to show up completely stoned, so instead he’d taken a healthy shot of whiskey, chased it with a coke, and hoped for the best. His eyes scanned the crowd as he neared the spot he was supposed to meet Zach and Jai and grinned when he saw them, waving back.
Act normal, Toby reminded himself as he joined them, and did what he would have done before things got complicated—He slid a hand to Zach’s waist and kissed him hello. “Hey there,” he grinned, then turned a smile towards Jai and offered his hand as he put a bit of space back between him and Zach. “Good to see you again.”
Zach was instantly delighted with Toby’s extremely loud patriotic outfit, and he tittered as he smooched him hello. His stomach was a riot of happy and scared nerves all mixed together, and he looked at his brother’s face as Toby greeted him too. He wasn’t worried this would turn into something really bad, but there was definitely a huge pink elephant in the room, with all of them already knowing everything they shouldn’t know yet. Zach had faith that Jai would be chill, he just hoped that wouldn’t come at great personal cost to his brother.
Jai wasn't really feeling nervous, just apprehensive. He still wasn't sure what to make of Toby, or if he could even trust him, but Jai supposed trust was earned. And if Zach liked Toby, then Jai would like him too, until Toby gave him a reason to feel otherwise. "Hey." He took Toby's hand for a quick shake. "You look celebratory today." Yes, the outfit was pretty loud, but Toby was the kind of guy who could pull it off without making it look like a costume.
“Well, it’s like, I bought these pants because they were just so awesome, but this is pretty much the only day I can wear them and not look like I’m part of a circus,” Toby grinned. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just usually don’t push things that far on, like, a normal basis. But if there’s a party? Hell yeah.” It didn’t even have to be a costume party for Toby to be on board with dressing a bit wild. “So should we hunt down some place to watch the parade?” he asked as he slid his hand into Zach’s. “Or are we looking for something to eat first?”
He kind of loved Toby’s crazy sense of style, how he was every bit as loud as he wanted to be. Zach was still getting to that self confident place himself, but he’d grown leaps and bounds in that direction since coming out, and it was all just getting better. Zach squeezed Toby’s hand, a big dumb smile still stuck on his face. He kind of wanted to grab Jai’s hand too, but they didn’t do that in public in the first place. “Food!” he answered enthusiastically, glancing at his brother. Jai had gotten a soda, but they’d both already been daydreaming about lunch. “Let’s get some junk food and find a good spot to post up.” Eating always improved everybody’s mood. He started to head toward the food vendors, pulling Toby along.
Jai was happy enough to let Toby and Zach make the decisions. He was more or less the third wheel during this endeavor anyway and he followed the other two, sipping his drink and glancing around to see if there was anybody he knew among the crowd. This didn't seem like Neil's cup of tea at all so Jai didn't expect to see him there. Once they got into a short line for food, Jai pulled out his wallet. "I got this. I think they're really missing out on a profitable business opportunity not to have a booth selling weed all day."
“As a nurse, I think that’d be a disaster,” Toby snickered. “Drunks with fireworks is bad enough. But yeah, I think it’d improve things. And there are booths that sell if you know where to look.” It wouldn’t surprise him at all if they had the same hookup and didn’t realize it. Not all places that sold it advertised and Toby didn’t bother to ask why. It would be easy enough to figure out. “That might be fun later, when there’s not oodles of kids around,” he smiled. “Right now I need food.” Maybe later they could venture back to Zach and Jai’s place. Most of their time spent together thus far had been at Toby’s apartment and Toby was curious to see how Zach lived.
Zach tended to think that drunks were more dangerous than stoners, but he wasn’t a nurse and only had his own experience to pull from. Being super high would definitely make this crowd harder to navigate, that was for sure -- Zach was only normal-buzzed from what he’d smoked earlier, a little lightheaded and quick to laugh, more relaxed about potential awkwardness than he would’ve been otherwise. Also hungry, so he was very grateful to have food in his hands once their transaction at the food booth was done. He took a bite of his hot dog before they were even three steps away. They found a place to chill where they could see the parade going by -- easier than Zach expected, people seemed to give Toby’s outfit a wider berth. After a little while of watching and eating, he looked over at his brother and asked, “So what happens if D’Onofrio has like, a tech emergency during all of this? Can he call you in?”
Jai was happy enough to eat in silence, letting Zach and Toby do their thing. It was the same parade year after year, but he couldn't imagine a town as small as Point Pleasant had a very big budget to mix things up. At least they'd get fireworks. Zach's question drew Jai's attention away from a bunch of girls in colorful, tight attire walking by and he popped another piece of his pretzel into his mouth. "Yeah, but it'd have to be a big emergency. Like none of the computers working or anything and I doubt that guy is at the office right now anyway." Jai paused and lifted a brow at Zach, wondering if his brother was somehow trying to give him a sign to go so he and Toby could be alone. They were bonded well enough mentally that Zach would understand what Jai was asking, at least.
“You work for the D’Onofrios?” Toby asked, looking over at Jai. He knew Jai worked in technology, but for some reason he assumed it was like the IT guy at the hospital, who made sure their computers worked and helped when they locked themselves out of the system. Working for the D’Onofrio family seemed a little more high stress, though he couldn’t know for sure. He knew them only by reputation. “What’s that like? On a normal day, I mean. Not big tech emergency on a holiday type of thing.” Generally, men in power were a lot worse to work with during an emergency, at least in the hospital. Everyone had Google these days and seemed to think that gave them room to argue with a medical professional as a result. Hopefully it wasn’t as bad in other industries, but Toby wouldn’t hold his breath.
Zach could read Jai’s question in his face and through their bond and a tiny frown crossed his face while Toby asked more questions. Of course Zach didn’t want his brother to leave, the whole point of this group outing was for Jai and Toby to get to know each other a bit and get more comfortable -- besides enjoying the Fourth festivities, of course. Zach made that clear through their connection and a small shake of his head. Maybe later they would end up splitting up, like if Jai spotted some of his friends or something, but they’d just gotten started, in Zach’s opinion. He sipped on his drink and glanced silently between the two of them, giving his brother room to answer.
Once he realized Zach wasn't trying to shoo him away, Jai relaxed and focused on what Toby was asking. He didn't find working for the D'Onofrios all that fascinating, or even difficult. They were a means to his paycheck and that was the important thing. "On a normal day? It's a bit boring," he admitted with a grin. "It's not just for their offices, but any business they outright own in town, so I bounce around a lot. If they have an issue, they let me deal with it. Anthony's usually on his phone if I'm in his office, so I'm more or less invisible to him. Caius, though... I like to try and flirt with him. I don't think he's amused by it, but he hasn't fired me yet, so..." Jai waggled his brows before taking another sip of his drink. "It's not bad. I get to work and come home and that's all I really want."
Toby’s eyes flicked briefly between Zach and Jai, sensing something beneath the surface, but shuttering away any attempt to read into it. He already knew more than he probably should and, though he was glad for it, he wanted things to be as equal as possible. He couldn’t help his natural perceptiveness, but he refused to lift thoughts unless they were yelled at him. “Caius is hot, but most definitely straight,” Toby grinned. “I could see him being more annoyed than uncomfortable. If you’re their go-to guy for all their businesses? You’re probably set for life.” It seemed like a good gig, one that wasn’t too stressful unless there was something wild like a lightning storm. Of course, anything was possible. “I like to think I’m tech savvy, but then someone sends me a spreadsheet and I’m lost.”
He’d heard plenty of Jai’s stories about flirting with Caius D’Onofrio, and Zach tittered when Jai mentioned it to Toby too. He’d only seen the man in passing himself, and Caius was definitely pretty, but he looked like he had an icicle shoved up his ass all the time to Zach. Definitely not anybody Jai would have a serious interest in, so any flirting was non-threatening and just for fun. “He does IT for other places too, like the library,” Zach put in. He shot Jai a little smirk. “So he knows Neil.” He wasn’t going to go into just how well Jai knew Neil, especially since all that was so new, but he couldn’t help but sound a bit cheeky about it. “Me though, I fucking love a good spreadsheet. I keep a bunch of them for my businesses,” Zach went on. He was kind of proud of how he handled all the accounting and stuff for himself, both with his game streams and his porn.
He probably was set for life because D'Onofrio owned half the town. He just had to be good at his job and show up and, so far, so good. Flirting with Caius was one of the perks. Thankfully the guy took it in stride. Jai liked to think he was secretly flattered by it, even if he was straight. The mention of Neil brought a small grin to Jai's face, one that he hid with another drink from his cup. "I can't figure out spreadsheets to save my life," he admitted. "Which is kinda funny, considering my job. But that's all formulas and stuff, right? I'd have to google everything to figure it out. Or... just have Zach do it for me." He nudged his brother gently. "He's definitely more tech savvy than I could ever hope to be."
As interesting as it was that Zach could manage spreadsheets and Jai could not, Toby couldn’t skip over the little tidbit about his favorite librarian. Even if he missed the smile Jai was hiding, Zach’s smirk and tone told him that Jai knew Neil in more than just passing. “Wait, backup,” Toby grinned. “You know Neil? Like, you’re actually friends? Or did you just thrust yourself upon him and he can’t figure out how to get rid of you? He’s kinda prickly.” He knew he was prying, probably where he had no right to be, but he wasn’t using his powers. He was just damn curious. If Zach was in any way Jai’s type, Neil felt like the exact opposite. Not that he thought Jai knew him like that, but Zach’s expression made him think there was a possibility, which was too juicy a bit of gossip for Toby to ignore.
He flushed a bit and beamed again at the compliment and the nudge from Jai, but Zach didn’t need to say anything. Talking about people was way more interesting than talking about Excel, so he didn’t mind the diversion of the subject at all. He sipped on his drink and glanced between the two other men, feeling kind of stupidly giddy that they were talking to each other. It was such a simple thing, but it meant so much to him that they were both trying, even with all of the weird, hard stuff prematurely out on the table now. Hell, maybe they would even like each other, they seemed like the types of guys who could’ve been friends if they’d met a different way.
If anyone asked him, Jai would have said he didn't really have a specific type. He just liked people in general and if someone caught his eye in a certain way, sometimes he couldn't help himself. "I don't know that Neil's a friend. He'd probably say we weren't." The guy still looked like a deer in headlights when they hung out. It was cute. "I think he's prickly 'cause he has no idea how to interact with people... and he probably doesn't like them either." Jai laughed a little. "Nah, he's a good guy. We talk about books and stuff like that. I just kinda make him hang out with me. He doesn't protest too strongly."
No, Neil didn’t know how to interact with people, but did any of them? Toby sometimes wondered that, especially now that he’d met more AIR kids as adults. He was pretty sure they all had major psychological issues that he didn’t want to delve into, himself included. Zach had been understanding so far, but he also hadn’t dealt with Toby when he was really worked up. Oddly enough, Neil had. It made for a bizarre little circle. “Good for you. He needs to get out more,” Toby smiled, then looked towards Zach. “Do you know Neil?” Something told him the answer was no, but he wanted to ask, to make the conversation between the three of them.
Zach shook his head with a little smile. “I mean, I’ve seen him, I’ve been to the library,” he said. “But we’ve never like, talked.” Maybe that would change, if this Thing between them -- that Jai said wasn’t really a Thing, but Zach suspected otherwise and his hunches about his brother were usually correct -- continued to develop. He tried to picture the four of them out on a double date or something and it was kind of funny but also seemed like it would be kind of fun. “What’s he like? We should all hang out sometime!” He sounded enthused but a little questioning too, since both Toby and Jai knew Neil better than he did. Jai wouldn’t like anybody who really sucked.
“I’ve never actually hung out with him under, like, normal circumstances, so I’m probably the worst person to ask,” Toby said with a little laugh. “It’s all weird Point Pleasant bullshit, which I think brings out the worst in us. In everyone, probably. Maybe there’s someone out there that deals with the crazy calmly, but it’s not me.” Toby could be chill on a good day, and was excellent at maintaining calm during his job, but under almost any other kind of pressure he knew he was a bit of a nut. It was a side of him Zach hadn’t really seen a lot of, except for their shared word vomit at the carnival. Neil, unfortunately, had seen plenty of that side of Toby. And Toby had seen that side of Neil. Neither one of them were extremely pleasant when stressed. Hopefully Jai had a better frame of reference.
It was pretty much impossible for Jai to imagine Neil on a date, let alone a double date. A public one, anyway. And he wouldn't be able to say double date to Neil's face because he was pretty sure the guy would burrow into the ground, never to reappear. He could understand it being a strange sort of situation, dealing with what they were dealing with. Jai still didn't fully understand what the hell all of it was about, only that it sounded bad, and his main concern was still for Zach. "He's not a social person," Jai said with a small grin. "I think he feels awkward around most people, to be honest. When I went to see him at the library after we hooked up, I swear he probably would have hidden behind the desk if I hadn't seen him first. But seriously, he's an interesting person, you just gotta push past all the resistance, you know?"
“Approach with caution, try not to agitate, got it,” Zach summarized, grinning faintly. He didn’t want to mess anything up for Jai, so he wasn’t going to pop down to the library to introduce himself or anything. But if it turned into more than a hookup and Neil ever came around, Zach didn’t want to scare him off. Jai being involved in anything more than a hookup might have other consequences he would rather not think about though, especially not at the moment. It was completely hypocritical, but if Neil was really uptight, he was probably less likely to understand anything about their situation. Toby was different. Hopefully. “And I mean, to be fair to him, a lot of people suck, so awkwardness is totally valid.” Zach wasn’t shy by any means, but some people were just impossible to relax around.
Toby’s eyes lit up the moment Jai confirmed that he and Neil had hooked up. He’d had the feeling that was the case, but he wasn’t going to ask and didn’t want to lift it psychically. That felt like cheating. Jai stating it openly gave him the freedom to know. Not that he was going to hunt Neil down and ask him about it, but maybe he could at their next ‘meeting’. Casually, of course. It didn’t occur to him how weird this all was, that this was his boyfriend’s brother’s love life, the brother who was also involved with his boyfriend. It wasn’t even a love triangle—it was a love square, with a little dotted friendship line between him and Neil. “He’s not a cat or a snake,” Toby grinned. “Though, maybe one of those puffer fish. We should all hang out sometime, unless that would be weird.”
Jai wasn't really thinking ahead in terms of whatever might happen with Neil, but he liked things as they were so far. Everything in his life was a day by day basis. Planning for anything more always seemed like a bad idea. Jai chuckled when Toby compared Neil to a puffer fish. That was probably accurate. "I don't think it would be weird for me, but... again, Neil's skittish. Maybe later, once I know he won't completely ghost me if I bring it up. We've only hung out a couple of times so far. Kinda feels like a slow burn deal, you know?"
All of this was pretty weird if you really thought about it -- or if most people thought about it, at least. None of them were really like most people. Jai was probably the most ‘normal’ one standing in their little group, and he was under a binding curse and was having an incestuous relationship with his trans half-brother. None of that really bothered Zach. They knew who they were and how they felt and what their lives were about, and if he cared about other people’s opinions on anything in his life, he would stay miserable. Maybe Neil would feel more at home with the bunch of weirdos that they were. “Slow burns can be fun,” Zach said with a bright grin. “I mean, I wouldn’t know ‘cause I really suck at them, but I’ve heard!”
“Yeah, I like the idea of a slow burn, but can’t manage it in practice,” Toby grinned, giving Zach’s hand a squeeze. “Luckily, we both suck, so it’s all good. There are worse things in the world than jumping headfirst into a relationship and laying all your baggage at your boyfriend’s feet. Not that one has to go with the other, but that’s where we are.” Neil would think he was crazy. Hell, most people would. Adrian had most definitely been overwhelmed just hearing about it. The list of people who might understand was so small it was practically non-existent, but Toby didn’t really care. People didn’t have to understand, they just had to accept or fucking not know at all. It was no one’s business but theirs. Even if he didn’t say so aloud, he thought that was something all three of them would agree on. “I’m pretty sure we’re the opposite of a slow burn.”
Jai couldn't help but laugh, because Zach was so wonderfully self-aware. He jumped in head first every time. It didn't always work out and Jai was constantly worried his brother would end up hurt, but... this time it looked like maybe it would. Jai was happy for Zach, even if he remained a little wary. This was Point Pleasant, after all, and Point Pleasant liked to fuck with people's happiness. "It's not for everyone," Jai said, of the slow burn. "Sometimes you just click with someone and it works. Sometimes it takes a bit longer. Just depends on if you like the other person enough to wait it out. Or dive in together. Something like that." He glanced into his cup and frowned. "I need another drink, I guess. You guys want another?"
Zach had squeezed Toby’s hand back and beamed a blinding smile back at him. He did tend to dive headfirst into things, but this time it felt like outside forces had thrown both of them straight into the deepest deep end. They were definitely the opposite of a slow burn. Zach had never told any other person he’d dated about his relationship with Jai, or the magic that bound them together. Or his porn work, for most of them. But Toby knew everything now, and he was still there holding Zach’s hand. It kind of made his heart feel like it wanted to flutter out of his chest. The suggestion of more drinks drew Zach’s attention back to his brother, and he grinned all over again. “Hell yeah, another round!” he said with enthusiasm. The parade was going by, but they had a lot of time to kill between now and the fireworks, so they might as well have as much fun as possible while they did it. “You want us to hold the spot, or want me to come with, or ...?”
Toby had never come clean about his past as quickly as he had with Zach, and never at all to anyone he was dating, but thus far he didn’t regret it. It felt good not to hide that part of himself, something he often felt was so small, but made up a good chunk of who he was and how his brain worked. He’d have figured out Zach’s secrets eventually and it was honestly better that they’d put everything on the table the way they had. Even if it had been unintentional, they were able to work through it. Toby still had a lot of different feelings on the matter, but he was still sure he could make this work. It was always going to be complicated if he was involved. “I could use another,” he smiled, taking Jai up on his offer and waiting for Jain to answer Zach’s question. He was flexible either way. “I’ll buy the next round,” he offered.
The only real thought Jai put into Zach's relationship was whether or not Toby would screw them over by breaking Zach's trust. It could happen - getting drunk or going through a bitter breakup. Jai didn't know Toby as well as Zach, but Zach trusted him now so Jai would just have to trust Zach, which he did. Right now they looked pretty damn happy and that was really all Jai wanted for his brother. He grinned and shook his head. "Nah, I got it. Just hold the spot and I'll be right back." He was pretty skilled at carrying multiple cups, after all. "Just don't disappear on me."
“Not a chance!” Zach declared happily, tipping Jai a dorky salute before he walked away from them. It made Jai roll his eyes, but Zach didn’t mind, brothers were made to be embarrassing, right? Zach’s eyes lingered on him for a moment, then he turned his grin back on Toby and squeezed his hand briefly. Things weren’t perfectly comfortable between all of them yet, but it all seemed to be going well from where he was standing, and that was all he could ask for.
The additional booze did its job, and the three of them enjoyed the rest of the parade. There were plenty of vendors and booths to walk around and see after that, friends to run into and chat with, more drinks and junk food. By the time the fireworks started, Zach felt that perfect sort of drunk where everything was spinny and fun, but he didn’t feel like shit yet. That crash tended to be inevitable, but he was carefree until it happened, alternatively hanging on Toby and Jai in almost equal measure, laughing a little too loud at jokes and cracking some bad ones himself. He tried to perch in a couple of precarious places -- on the back of a bench, on the railing of the pier -- until Jai made him stop and keep his feet on the ground.
As the pretty lights in the sky threw their colors everywhere, Zach wrapped both arms around Toby’s waist and gazed up at him more than the fireworks. “Y’should come home with us,” he drawled, his tone openly suggestive.
The more Toby had to drink, the more laid back he became. It was inevitable, but he hadn’t been sure going in, and so it was a relief that all the little things he’d been worried about at the start of the day just faded into the background. He was feeling nice and fuzzy, just a step away from flat out drunk, and was impressed with himself for remaining there. Normally by this point he was rambling and waxing philosophical, usually from some place on the ground. He definitely wouldn’t be driving anywhere, but that he could stand was a good sign. “With both of you?” Toby snickered, teasing of course, but it was too easy with the way Zach had phrased it. “That could be fun.”
Jai was more than a little amused at Zach's enjoyment of the day, but he was glad he had stuck around, if only to keep his brother from falling into the ocean. Nothing Toby had done had put Jai off, so that was a plus for the guy as well. Zach seemed truly happy and that in turn made Jai happy. Jai had quit drinking about an hour beforehand, aware that he was going to be driving them home, and he was enjoying the fireworks when he heard Zach invite Toby home. He recognized that tone in his brother's voice because Jai had heard it plenty of times in the past as well. "You shouldn't be driving anyway," he told Toby, shooting Zach a slightly confused look. Was he joking around with Toby or being serious?
Zach was too drunk to even really know the difference anymore, and the thought of having Toby and Jai in bed with him was beyond titillating. That was fantasy stuff that lived in his brain, probably not anything that should see the light of day -- or the light of fireworks? -- but all of his filters were down at the moment. In all reality, as soon as he got horizontal on a bed, he was likely going to pass right out, if he hadn’t already done so in the car, but at the moment it was fun to think about sleeping with his favorite people surrounding him. And more than sleeping. “See? No driving. You gotta,” he said to Toby, as though Jai couldn’t just drop him off at home. Zach squinted one eye as he reached up to boop his nose, but he missed anyway and poked him in the cheek instead, then laughed. He felt like he could feel some hesitant bad feelings from Jai, but everything was so muted and swirly, it was hard to focus on anything.
Toby assumed Zach was joking, but the images that flashed through his head were hot enough to make him blush. Were those his fantasies or Zach’s? The combination of being drunk and having Zach’s hands all over him meant it could go either way. Toby laughed it off, focusing on Jai getting Zach to the car, since he was worse off than even Toby was. “No driving,” he promised, catching his finger and pressing a kiss to the end of it, then giving it a little nip of his teeth. “I’m impressed you can still walk,” he snickered before turning his attention to Jai. “You sure you’re good to drive? We could Uber. Then you could have more, like us. OR! Or you can have a drink when we get home. Unless that’s not your thing? I’ve got some weed somewhere…” He began to pat his pockets, but was pretty sure his stash was in his car. And his car was parked… somewhere else. It didn’t really matter, except that he thought Jai deserved it for being the responsible one of the group.
It wasn't really a shocking proposition, but Zach was also pretty wasted and if Toby wasn't there, Jai might have taken advantage of it later. As it was, it was probably not the right night for it, considering. "I'm fine to drive," Jai said with a small grin. He could hold his liquor pretty well, unlike some people. Still, a drunk Zach was always a fun time. He was even more bouncier than usual. "We'll see what happens when we get back," he added, nodding at Zach. "Because I know this guy well enough to know the crash is coming." It could be as soon as they got through the door... or at three in the morning. But Zach would hit a wall and pass out and hopefully not suffer for it in the morning.
“I’m good!” Zach declared, straightening up to show just how good he was. Nevermind that he swayed a bit on his feet and still needed to grip Toby to keep his balance. He was still on his own feet! And he could kind of see a little bit straight ... but he was in the best company and he had no doubts that his two lovers would get him home safe and sound. And maybe tuck him in and kiss on him and then maybe each other ... ugh, why did being drunk always make him so horny? It made it so much harder to do anything about it. “And weed’s good and we have some too,” he added belatedly, nodding. That was smart of him to remember. Zach grabbed for Toby’s hand and Jai’s too, so they could walk back to the car. Now that they were talking about home, he wanted to be there.
“Yeah, you’re good,” Toby grinned, keeping a hold on Zach so he didn’t fall on his face in his attempts to walk straight. Not that Toby was the best support structure at the moment. He was swaying as well, upright but easily steered whichever way Zach was leaning, and he couldn’t stop giggling quietly. He had no idea where the car was and he assumed that was because he was drunk, forgetting that he’d come separately and had no reason to know where Jai parked. “Do you have snacks? Because snacks would be good. Unless you’re gonna be sick. Then no snacks,” he said, leaning in to kiss Zach’s neck. Zach wasn’t the only horny drunk, but Toby doubted it was going to matter. If Zach passed out, he'd be left to his own devices, which was slightly disappointing, but could always be made up for later. “We should—We should—We should get some fries.” Moxies fries sounded amazing at the moment, but not sitting at Moxies.
Jai was grateful he'd stayed mostly sober. Zach was wasted and Toby was... well, not as wasted as Zach, but another drink or two and he'd have been right there. It was nice to hold Zach's hand, but after a moment he carefully pulled from his brother's grip to get a cigarette out. They were still out in public and he kind of had a feeling anyone walking by who knew them would probably do a double take. How many sorta-adult brothers walked around holding hands? Instead, he led the two across the parking lot to his car, grinning slightly. "Do you actually want fries?" he asked, pulling out his keys to unlock the doors. "I'll stop, but only if you're actually going to eat them." Fuck, did he sound like a parent?
He did, and it gave Zach another giggle fit, even if he couldn’t quite explain what was funny. He didn’t have to, he was drunk, so everything could be funny if he wanted it to be. Or if it struck him that way ... was humor a conscious decision? Zach didn’t think so, most of the time. As much as he could think about anything at the moment. “Yes, fries,” he declared as they reached the car. “Mm, loaded ones, ohmygod I’m hungry.” Zach waited for Jai to get the doors open, then tugged one of the back ones open to stumble-climb into it, tittering again. He was at the stage of drunk where he didn’t know if eating was the best idea or the worst idea, but he was willing to find out with some Moxie’s loaded chili cheese fries. As soon as Toby was in the back seat with him, Zach plastered himself against his boyfriend’s side.
“I will pay for the fries, and eat the fries, and share the fries, if you will stop for the fries,” Toby said with far too much drama as he climbed into Jai’s car with Zach. He felt a little like Zach should be up front, so that Jai wasn’t chauffeuring them around, but he also didn’t want to protest at the way Zach was pawing at him because that was nice. He loved himself a handsy boyfriend. “We’ll make it up to you,” he promised Jai, though he had no idea how. The thought occurred to him that he could offer him a blowjob, but that was highly inappropriate and a sure sign that he was drunk. Fries were on the menu for tonight, not Jai’s dick. “We should get water, too. Nurse Toby says so.”
Fries. Well, it was probably better that Zach eat something given how drunk he was now. "Fries and water," Jai said, buckling his seat belt as he glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure Zach and Toby were both inside the car. Yes, it did feel a little bit like he was parenting the two but that was okay, as long as Zach got home safely. At least Toby seemed to still have some clarity, wanting water. Starting the car, Jai began to drive towards Moxie's. "Don't throw up in my car," Jai teased, flashing a quick glance back at Zach. "Or I'll make you sleep outside tonight."
Water did not go best with fries, but Zach could recognize that he was not sober enough for a whole milkshake or probably even a soda. He needed to listen to his nurse boyfriend and drink water. And eat fries, because having something on his stomach was going to help his hangover in the morning, as long as it didn’t make him queasy. He felt fine at the moment, even though the world was kind of spinny. It helped to be sitting down and clinging to Toby and completely trusting in Jai to get them home just fine. With fries, no less. “Yeah yeah,” he said to the threat, grinning a bit as he let his head fall against Toby’s shoulder. “You’d never, I’m too small and cute and you love me too much.”
“Don’t throw up on me either,” Toby snickered, hoping that Zach vomiting was not a real issue. He could tell that he was drunk, drunker than he was, but didn’t think he was that level of wasted. Then again, his senses were dulled and he wasn’t the greatest judge at the moment. He trusted Jai to make all the important decisions and for that he really did owe him. If it weren’t for him, they’d be Ubering home for sure. “You’re right. We love you, so you’d at least get the couch,” he grinned. “With blankets, and a bucket, and a straight shot to the bathroom, just in case.” He didn’t know the layout of Zach and Jai’s apartment, but that was okay. In his head, this was highly plausible.
Jai wasn't sure how responsible he was at the moment, but he knew enough to know Zach would eat and pass out. Jai was doing the big brother thing and getting Zach home safely. "You are small," Jai agreed with a chuckle. "So you'd probably fit just fine out on the porch." Honestly, he was glad Toby was coming home with them. He'd keep an eye on Zach... probably. The morning might be weird, but at least Jai now knew he liked Toby enough that he wouldn't feel as awkward later, when Zach wanted them all to hang out again. To Jai, that was the most important thing. If Zach was happy, Jai was happy. Hopefully it would stay that way.