( it's entirely possible that steve catches the direction of nancy's gaze as she stares at his belt buckle. entirely possible that the corner of his mouth lifts in the tiniest of knowing smiles as he remembers the same conversations about his jeans and the problems they caused. it's not like there was anything he could do about it. they were just jeans. but he'd be lying if he said that, back then, he didn't enjoy the way it drove nancy a little bit wild. he'd be lying if he said that, now, he's not enjoying it all over again. it's nice to know some things haven't changed, in spite of the many dozens of things that have.
when she says she has a confession to make, steve's mouth flattens back into a line. he looks momentarily serious, maybe a little nervous, about what she's going to say next—until she starts off on the lifeguard stuff again, and the little bit of tightness that had pulled across his shoulders melts away. the smile curves his mouth again, though he tries his hardest to keep it down, to better play along with this game of theirs.
but it's hard, when nancy moves closer to him, and looks up at him with that affected guilt. when the façade starts to crack, and she's nearly laughing herself. after she's done speaking, steve's brows inch up, like he can't believe what he's just heard. ) Nancy Wheeler. You lied? About a lifeguarding emergency?
( and then, because if they continue standing this close for another second, he's probably going to be the one to break and kiss her first, he sways away from her and takes a backwards step down the hall. he gives his head a small shake. )
Pretty sure that's a felony. ( he's pretty sure it's not. he tilts his head at her as he takes another step further into the house. ) I might have to call Powell on you.
I know, I know, I know. The shame of it all. [ too bad the way her voice is a little singsongy doesn't exactly convey shame at all ] I won't apologize for being opportunistic.
[ she's not going to read into how she feels a tiny sense of victory when he takes that first step back, but she does, like she won a very low-stakes, unspoken game of chicken. and her somewhat impish smile fades fast when he drops the word 'felony', an exaggerated pout taking its place. but it's mostly just to stop herself from immediately breaking down with the kind of laugh that starts with a goofy "pbffbbbt". she lets him keep the space he's put back between them, but she follows, matching him step for step. ]
Oh, wow. You would really hand me over, just like that? [ there's a very obvious way she could segue this into something much more outwardly flirtatious, and the short pause and the way she's grinning to herself probably makes it clear that she's trying to weigh the pros and cons of it in the moment, but she ultimately lands on- ] I think maybe this could be the part when I tell you that I would do anything to convince you not to turn me in, right? And- I can do that. I would be more than happy to do that. [ as if the shower lifeguard line didn't already make that obvious ] But! First I would like to establish up front that I can also not say it, and that's totally fine too, because I have absolutely no expectations for- anything like that. Because I didn't invite you over just for that. It's not, umm- I wasn't just trying to- You know? [ "booty call". the word(s) she's looking for is "booty call". only she literally doesn't know that there's even a word for it. ] But my point is that we can do... whatever, anything you want. Watch TV, or put in a movie, or- Go for a drive, even! I would love to go for a drive. [ "love to" is a strong way to put it, but it's true, at least??? generally speaking?? her expression turns a little goofy, in a "what is happening what the fuck am i even talking about?" ] ... I'm going to make myself another drink now. Do you want one-? [ a beat ] Unless you actually do want to go for a drive. Then, don't. And I won't either. [ someone put her out of her misery PEASE ]
( his feet carry him to the kitchen, where he rounds the island, pausing momentarily to observe the fridge. lingering on a drawing that's surely holly's. then he comes to a stop, leaning against the edge of the island that faces the kitchen sink. he braces his hands on the island top, and when nancy jokes about this being the part where she tells him she would do anything, he shifts a little. because the idea is more appealing than he'd like to admit, and he has to stop himself from pulling on that thread.
fortunately, he doesn't really get the chance to respond to it one way or the other, because nancy keeps talking. his head tilts a little to the side and he bites his lip to keep from laughing as she rambles. he doesn't remember the last time he saw her this nervous, and part of him would like to think it's his doing, but he's not sure he can take that much credit. he has to remind himself that she's fresh off a break-up with jonathan, and she's had a little bit to drink, and it's probably more to do with either of those things than something like steve's presence. right? )
Nance. Whoa, hey. ( he reaches across the island and lays a hand on her wrist. ) First of all, I know, okay? I know there are no— ( he shakes his head, ) expectations. So, um. You can relax.
( he lets his hand fall away, sliding back to his side of the island. )
Second of all, we can do whatever you want to do. Watch TV, go for a drive... ( honestly he's just happy to be here. ) But, uh. If you are making another drink, I'll take one, sure.
( because even though he just told her to relax, he's feeling slightly on edge himself. and maybe a drink would help. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
never apologize!
when she says she has a confession to make, steve's mouth flattens back into a line. he looks momentarily serious, maybe a little nervous, about what she's going to say next—until she starts off on the lifeguard stuff again, and the little bit of tightness that had pulled across his shoulders melts away. the smile curves his mouth again, though he tries his hardest to keep it down, to better play along with this game of theirs.
but it's hard, when nancy moves closer to him, and looks up at him with that affected guilt. when the façade starts to crack, and she's nearly laughing herself. after she's done speaking, steve's brows inch up, like he can't believe what he's just heard. ) Nancy Wheeler. You lied? About a lifeguarding emergency?
( and then, because if they continue standing this close for another second, he's probably going to be the one to break and kiss her first, he sways away from her and takes a backwards step down the hall. he gives his head a small shake. )
Pretty sure that's a felony. ( he's pretty sure it's not. he tilts his head at her as he takes another step further into the house. ) I might have to call Powell on you.
no subject
[ she's not going to read into how she feels a tiny sense of victory when he takes that first step back, but she does, like she won a very low-stakes, unspoken game of chicken. and her somewhat impish smile fades fast when he drops the word 'felony', an exaggerated pout taking its place. but it's mostly just to stop herself from immediately breaking down with the kind of laugh that starts with a goofy "pbffbbbt". she lets him keep the space he's put back between them, but she follows, matching him step for step. ]
Oh, wow. You would really hand me over, just like that? [ there's a very obvious way she could segue this into something much more outwardly flirtatious, and the short pause and the way she's grinning to herself probably makes it clear that she's trying to weigh the pros and cons of it in the moment, but she ultimately lands on- ] I think maybe this could be the part when I tell you that I would do anything to convince you not to turn me in, right? And- I can do that. I would be more than happy to do that. [ as if the shower lifeguard line didn't already make that obvious ] But! First I would like to establish up front that I can also not say it, and that's totally fine too, because I have absolutely no expectations for- anything like that. Because I didn't invite you over just for that. It's not, umm- I wasn't just trying to- You know? [ "booty call". the word(s) she's looking for is "booty call". only she literally doesn't know that there's even a word for it. ] But my point is that we can do... whatever, anything you want. Watch TV, or put in a movie, or- Go for a drive, even! I would love to go for a drive. [ "love to" is a strong way to put it, but it's true, at least??? generally speaking?? her expression turns a little goofy, in a "what is happening what the fuck am i even talking about?" ] ... I'm going to make myself another drink now. Do you want one-? [ a beat ] Unless you actually do want to go for a drive. Then, don't. And I won't either. [ someone put her out of her misery PEASE ]
no subject
fortunately, he doesn't really get the chance to respond to it one way or the other, because nancy keeps talking. his head tilts a little to the side and he bites his lip to keep from laughing as she rambles. he doesn't remember the last time he saw her this nervous, and part of him would like to think it's his doing, but he's not sure he can take that much credit. he has to remind himself that she's fresh off a break-up with jonathan, and she's had a little bit to drink, and it's probably more to do with either of those things than something like steve's presence. right? )
Nance. Whoa, hey. ( he reaches across the island and lays a hand on her wrist. ) First of all, I know, okay? I know there are no— ( he shakes his head, ) expectations. So, um. You can relax.
( he lets his hand fall away, sliding back to his side of the island. )
Second of all, we can do whatever you want to do. Watch TV, go for a drive... ( honestly he's just happy to be here. ) But, uh. If you are making another drink, I'll take one, sure.
( because even though he just told her to relax, he's feeling slightly on edge himself. and maybe a drink would help. )