The odd thing was that this [i]was[/i] lustful, hanging in the air over their heads. The way Ryan tended to imagine when his mind got away from him and Brendon was particularly passionate on stage or he was unwinding afterward switching from costume to lazy-wear or he was simply laughing, tiny, basic things like that, that were so stupidly attractive on Brendon. So, his thoughts drifted, and never did they result in a scene like the one they lived in now, where there was no arguing or fighting or trying for an upper hand (though he felt the instinct to win one anyway for the briefest moments, occasionally). Things had combined into something better than what his rampant thoughts always conjured up. The less surprising lust factor lingered from the night before, weighing on his bones, settling in the faint scratches in his skin, a reminder every time he caught a glimpse of Brendon in this state he [i]so[/i] was not used to - and this new, unimaginable sweetness, sort of, was more present, overlaying and leaving him unsure what to do with himself. It's not like he could flip a switch and suddenly treat Brendon as fondly as he felt, and he supposed it was pride, or just routine, that prevented him from doing that, but it still left him feeling off, unsettled. Off, but there was something else good, something promising. Maybe they weren't as doomed as he thought. 

[i]I suppose we’ll have to, but let’s see if you’re still willing when you’re sober [/i]and [i]not still enjoying the afterglow.[/i] It was true that anything could happen between this time and the potential next - as unpredictable as they were, hell, it could be something incredible and restoring and relationship-changing, or it could be a massive fight that sends them at each other's throats again - but Ryan still looked at him for a moment, unreadable, thinking of words he'd probably never say. Didn't Brendon realise the afterglow was just [i]him[/i]? Sure, sure, the afterglow he was referring to was part of the cause behind Ryan's current good nature, but he'd sort of deconstructed all of his thoughts about his lead singer in the past twelve-ish hours and therefore considered present company to be the most prevalent reason for his happiness... for once. Or he was right anyway and that was the afterglow talking. Ryan didn't much care. Either way, the person he was with mattered, and Ryan doubted he wouldn't be up for a repeat of this affair when it was Brendon. [b]"You're pretty enough to make me willing,"[/b] he said, like it was simple, not totally contradictory to their entire twisted relationship.

Sort of cruelly, though, Ryan took a little pride in how he'd rendered the band's best performer... unable to perform. Thankfully, it was not the typical 'I win, you lose' opponent scenario type of pride, more just intrigued by what he could do to Brendon that wasn't born from malice. He grinned when Brendon started cracking up, clearly done with him, and watched his face, tried to memorise the way he looked genuinely amused, content. [i]Oh, really? You’re sweet, are you?[/i] Ryan's eyebrows rose, unable to shake the smile. [b]"[i]Well...[/i]"[/b] [i]Could’ve done with that last night, y’know, when I totally didn’t have a huge fuckin’ show the next morning.[/i] He bit the inside of his cheek to stem the grin, now, averting his gaze. [b]"I don't know that I ever used the word 'sweet,' but sure, if that's what you're into... Would've never guessed you preferred it gentle."[/b] Ryan pretended to hesitate, lifted a shoulder in mock ignorance. [b]"Or maybe you're just being a baby."[/b] Ryan beamed at Brendon, nudging his side with his knuckle playfully.

Brendon seemed so caught off-guard by his inquiries that Ryan sort of regretted his bluntness, wished he'd let things flow on naturally and not wondered so naïvely where "they" were headed. He'd had this much luck letting his feet (and his credit card, and a plane ticket) carry him at random, all the way to Seattle, to Brendon's temporary bed, into his sort-of-good-opinion for at least a few hours. May as well not jinx it by starting to plan things now. Ryan always had trouble not overcomplicating things, though, so instead of letting it go entirely alongside Brendon's weird, vague response, he decided to torture himself over it all in his head anyway, try to maintain appearances outwardly. Thankfully the knock at the door saved them both (Ryan from blabbering because he had no way to undo his own dumb talking, Brendon from having to find some other way out of this conversation) and Ryan practically ran for the door. 

For a second, he thought breakfast food alone said all of his apologies for him. Why else would Brendon's disposition shift so dramatically? Ryan sort of laughed under his breath at his expression, settling on the mattress and dipping his head while he sipped at his coffee. [i]Fuck.[/i] Ryan shrugged half-apologetically and watched him intently, a little surprised he didn't jump to pour every topping available on a waffle and call for more whipped cream, or something. [i]Fine. I call everything else.[/i] There's the Brendon he knew. Ryan was still tearing his pancake into bite sizes while Brendon looked him over, suddenly growing self-conscious despite calling attention to the getup himself, until Brendon's gaze drifted downward again to his handful of sugar. [i]A look? You even [/i]sound [i]gay. How did you and Keltie even-[/i] Ryan's reaction, starting vaguely amused, dwindled instantly into a sharp look towards Brendon, not one hundred percent angry but a little mortified, too, as if he wasn't prepared to talk about something he'd spent a night venting over. It lasted for a second, maybe two, before he made a half-assed 'tch' sound, taking a bite of his pancake carelessly. [b]"Hey, I only started talking like that after I met you. Bad influence."[/b]

It took him a beat to catch on to the fact that Brendon looked like he wished he could take his own words out of the air, clearly instantly realizing his mistake in even mentioning Keltie. The corner of Ryan's mouth turned up, somehow forgetting the initial response he'd had towards her, replaced instead with a strange mirth towards Brendon. He raised his eyebrows at Brendon, preparing to tease the hell out of him, clearly past the faux pas already. [b]"You talk about her a lot. Y'know, maybe she's looking for another gay boyfriend, you should get out there."[/b]