[ Daniel feels himself holding in his breath without even necessarily meaning to - like he's that unsure of how the other might react to that, or like he's that worried about having turned Jesse away completely by saying all of that, no matter how much Daniel sincerely means it.
.. the reaction is better than expected though. Sure, it'd be easy to misunderstand it with the way Jesse looks away, but Daniel manages to catch a brief glimpse at his expression right before he turned away like that.
He's seen enough young people to know this isn't a bad reaction. Just.. an emotional one. And Jesse doesn't seem like the kind of person who deals with emotions like this easily.
So Daniel won't push it. He's glad for the other's acceptance of the help. That's all he needs. He feels a smile forming on his own face, picking his drink back up, trying to turn this a little more casual again before Jesse feels too embarrassed. ]
Thanks.
[ That's the only thing he says. More isn't needed - not right now.
Instead.. ]
And.. you know, maybe in return you can tell me about what places around here serve good food or something. [ Definitely a de-escalation attempt.. trying to pull this back down to something a little more casual.. It's okay, Jesse, you don't have to think too hard about how he just practically offered you free parental care!! ]
[ The out Daniel's offering is obvious, and Jesse knows he's seen right through him. But that doesn't stop him from being grateful, or from seizing onto that escape hatch to safer subjects with both hands.
It takes him a second, still, to collect himself, but he manages it, even looking back at Daniel with a small smile. ]
Yeah, sure.
Uh, you like, like, kebabs? There's this place a couple blocks from the boarding house. It's fuckin' - I mean, freaking amazing.
[ It's pretty much instinct, the correction. Not like Daniel has any authority to ground his ass the way his own dad had whenever Jesse had dared to drop an f-bomb back home. Not like he would, anyway. But still, it feels like the thing to do. The not-asshole thing.
He shrugs, like it's nothing, like he doesn't care, squashing the way his heart leaps a little in his chest at the thought. Daniel's not his dad, of course he's not. He doesn't want him to be. It's difficult to say what he does want, exactly, other than the promise of seeing him again. Hanging out with him. Myabe seeing Daniel beam at him, hear him say I'm proud of you.
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.. the reaction is better than expected though. Sure, it'd be easy to misunderstand it with the way Jesse looks away, but Daniel manages to catch a brief glimpse at his expression right before he turned away like that.
He's seen enough young people to know this isn't a bad reaction. Just.. an emotional one. And Jesse doesn't seem like the kind of person who deals with emotions like this easily.
So Daniel won't push it. He's glad for the other's acceptance of the help. That's all he needs. He feels a smile forming on his own face, picking his drink back up, trying to turn this a little more casual again before Jesse feels too embarrassed. ]
Thanks.
[ That's the only thing he says. More isn't needed - not right now.
Instead.. ]
And.. you know, maybe in return you can tell me about what places around here serve good food or something. [ Definitely a de-escalation attempt.. trying to pull this back down to something a little more casual.. It's okay, Jesse, you don't have to think too hard about how he just practically offered you free parental care!! ]
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It takes him a second, still, to collect himself, but he manages it, even looking back at Daniel with a small smile. ]
Yeah, sure.
Uh, you like, like, kebabs? There's this place a couple blocks from the boarding house. It's fuckin' - I mean, freaking amazing.
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[ His smile definitely widens a little when he hears Jesse correct his swear.
Such a good kid. Even though he's technically not a kid-- not anymore. But it's hard for Daniel to view him in any other way, even now. ]
Do you maybe want to go there together sometime? [ N-Not that it'd be a father-son activity..!!
(It would kind of be a father-son activity.) ]
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He shrugs, like it's nothing, like he doesn't care, squashing the way his heart leaps a little in his chest at the thought. Daniel's not his dad, of course he's not. He doesn't want him to be. It's difficult to say what he does want, exactly, other than the promise of seeing him again. Hanging out with him. Myabe seeing Daniel beam at him, hear him say I'm proud of you.
He manages to nod, somehow. Nonchalant. ]
Yeah, guess that'd be cool.