ｔｈｅ ｂａｌｃｏｎｙ ｂｅｌｏｗ ｍｅ

[zombles]

Another laugh escaped his lips at their cheesy jokes, Ludwig crossed his arm once Feliciano hopped up on top of the washer. "You don't have to repay me. I have enough money. It was just over a pound." The German shook his head. He didn't care if Feliciano payed him back or not, he would feel bad if the other did though since he was the one to offer to do their laundry.

"That wouldn't be very nice. I just met you," the blond shook his head. He wouldn't like it, if Feliciano died. It felt like he had known him since he was child, not just earlier this morning. He was too cute, especially that he continuously kept moving. Ludwig couldn't help it, he put his hands on Feliciano's shins to keep them in place. Just in time to feel a finger tap against his head, glancing up at it made him go crossed eyed. "Hey! I can't help it. " A small flush covered his cheek. He didn't enjoy smiling. It just didn't feel natural on his lips. But today, it felt like he hadn't smiled this much in his whole life.

[vault]

[ !!! Page 10 !!! ]

Feliciano looked him straight in the eyes. "Ludwig, you're not going to kill me. I trust you! Don't seriously worry about that." Giggling at the other's instinct to keep him from bouncing around, he stilled his legs in compromise. Incidentally, it was just in time to feel his new friend's hands tense up. That wouldn't do, he had to reassure him. This guy was strong, serious, sensible, but everyone needs something, and Lud needed someone to tell him that he mattered. Luckily, Feliciano was great at that sort of thing.

"No, you're fine just the way you are." Reaching both hands out and totally ignoring personal space, he took the German's face in his hands and turned it side to side. "You just look very different when you smile, but it's a good different." He tilted Ludwig's head upward a bit, all business. "Hold that for a second, please." Letting go and humming, he disappeared into thought for a few seconds. "Can I draw you sometime? There's just something about you, I don't know what it is. Drawing clears everything up." Lud was the sort of guy the ancients would sculpt, sharp, strong, and determined. Feliciano wondered if he was up to the task.

[ huehue but what if lud's job puts feli in danger at some point ]

[zombles]

[ holler! ]

At first, Ludwig wasn't sure why the other's hands were reaching for his face before his slender fingers clamped down on both sides of the blond's face. God, he hated blushing. Too bad that Feliciano was the source of his blush. He planned on keeping his friend for a while, now. He grunted in disagreement, letting the other title his head upwards, raising an eyebrow at why he was interested in inspecting his face all of the sudden. I mean, he has a nice jawline, but it wasn't something that usually people he met would ask him to hold that position.

Since this was Feliciano talking, Ludwig reluctantly obeyed the command, standing there and looking like a doofus with his head titled upwards and the brunet just staring into space. At least it was only for a few seconds. Actually, it felt like minutes holding this awkward pose.

Since he was talking again and everything, the German lowered his head. He gave a puzzled look and let go of Feliciano's shins just to pull his arms up to his chest, crisscrossing them. "Why would you want to draw me? But...uh.. I guess? I don't want to smile; I don't want to be naked either." He huffed, still a little skeptical to being painted, drawn, whatever.

[ oh god poor feli but yes muwhah ]

[vault]

Feliciano laughed again at the other's request. "Don't worry, you don't have to smile, and definitely not be naked. That's not what I'm asking." He thought on it, trying to expand. "You could be working or reading. That seems best. You can move around, and you don't even have to pay attention to me at all." Beginning to gesture with his hands again, Feliciano made light arcs as he described what he usually painted. "We always have still models, that's not interesting to me. I like to draw people in action, I think it represents the individuals far better."

He smiled gently, ducking to catch the other's eyes. "Nothing you'd be uncomfortable with. If you want, I don't even have to tell you if I sketch you for a couple of minutes, but I didn't want to sketch you without your consent, either. Usually, though, the people we sketch are all art students—so, grungy or eccentric—or just, need money. But you're so put together, it'd be a different result, I know it. Again, I would never make you do that if you didn't want to. And it's not published art, or anything. Just practice, to make me a better artist." After that speech, Feliciano took a deep breath, having not focused on air for the last minute.

[ poor both of them but I love putting them in compromising situations so ]

[zombles]

Even after all that talking that Feliciano did, Ludwig had to take in a deep breath and close his eyes for a moment to process. "Komm schon." He sighed, offering the other his hand to get him off the machine. "Yes, yes, okay you can draw me. But, you don't have to tell me when you're doing it. I don't want to know. Right now I'm worried about that if you talk too long that you'll run out of oxygen." Ludwig joked lightly before frowning, dearly hoping that it didn't sound mean. He did not intend for it to come off as mean. The blond enjoyed listening to him ramble. He didn't have to lead the conversations, it was nice.

It was probably the time to head upstairs, since their wash would be in there for a little while. This basement may or may not have mold that could quite possibly give them a disease later on in life. Better not put their lives in jeopardy, yet. Ludwig turned his head t met the other's eyes. His expression had return to stoic. He was taking a deep inhale to talk say what he planned on saying. "Feliciano. I've been meaning to ask you.. Have we known each other before... before this apartment? It feels like I've known you for a while.." The blond hesitated.

[ it so much fun because they're just so vulnerable sometimes ]

[vault]

[ thank you for catering to my "have I met you" trope desperation I am so sorry ]

Excitement that Lud had accepted his proposition turned to pensiveness when he heard the question, the hint of a wistful smile on his mouth. Taking the other's hand to jump down, Feliciano didn't answer right away. When he did, though, it was slow and careful, different from when he usually spoke. "I can't remember anything to suggest that, Ludwig. But It definitely feels like that, doesn't it? I feel like I would definitely remember meeting you, though. Why would I forget that?" Not letting go of Ludwig's hand yet for support, he continued. "Well, we have got plenty of time. We'll figure it out. All I know is that we are going to be good friends." He smiled up at the other, completely meaning that statement. "I knew this building was the right one to move into." They were completely different, but could talk to one another so easily.

Anyway, in the meantime, he'd have to ask Lud thousands of questions, just in case they remembered something. Wow, what a huge sacrifice that would be... and Feliciano was completely willing to take on the challenge.

[zombles]

[ you have a wonderful taste in tropes and AUs ]

By the way Feliciano took his hand and jumped down, it felt like Ludwig wouldn't mind dancing with him one of these days. Ludwig was a big nerd and had an old record player in closet. Hidden at the bottom of the closet in a box was where he kept a bunch of records. All of those records happened to be classical music, ones that his father and grandfather had bought him before his father death. They brought back memories of dancing to them as a child with Gilbert. He wouldn't mind making new memories dancing with Feliciano. If the brunet wouldn't mind. He would love that.

Ludwig didn't bother to detach his hand from the soft one still hanging on. He let a small smile back in response to Feliciano's words. "Good, because I intend on living here for a while." He bent down and grabbed his basket before piling it on top of Feliciano's, just carrying them both with one hand. That would save some time. Though, this nice moment with Feliciano was interrupted as he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Instead of risking of letting go of the shorter man's hand, Ludwig placed the baskets on the chairs and took out his phone.

The screen clearly read: Gilbert. With a sigh, the blond answered the phone and tucked it to his ear. He shot Feliciano an apologetic look before saying, "Hallo? Was hast du?" After a short conversation of German, and besides the loud voice of Gilbert on the other side of the phone, Ludwig hung up and slid it back into his pocket. "Sorry, about that, Feli."

[ i just gonna have luddy have a couple of brothers they were older and move out or something ]

[vault]

[ HOLY COW THAT DANCING THING IS SO CUTE I'M IN TOO DEEP AND I CANNOT ACTUALLY HANDLE LUD NOT LETTING GO HELP ME AND MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS IT'S NOT EXPLICITLY ROMANTIC LIKE MY FRIENDS AND I HOLD HANDS AND WE REALLY DO LOVE EACH OTHER LIKE SIBLINGS BUT THIS IS LUD AND FELI AND AHHHH FRIENDSHIPS HELP ME THIS IS PERFECT ]

Graceful as ever, Feliciano wandered—within arm's length, of course—around Lud in a small circle as he talked to his brother in German. At least, he assumed it was his brother. Loud and German, and Ludwig didn't seem the one to purposely seek out loud friends. But who knows, Feli and Lud were friends now, making that a moot point. At one point in the conversation, Feliciano wandered all the way around him and under his arm to check the baskets before returning to the correct side. He didn't mind having to wait, Ludwig wasn't doing it on purpose, and he still wasn't letting him go, so obviously wasn't ignoring him. At least his wrists were flexible, allowing him free movement—well, fairly free, considering the connection. Not that he minded at all.

When the phone call ended, Feliciano was ready to chat immediately. This, of course, came as a surprise to absolutely no-one, ever. "Everything okay? Do you want me to carry something?" Feliciano would definitely wait for the other man to take the lead. He really hoped he wasn't going to get in the way. Family is important.

[ Also, that sounds good! I almost want to have seborga just because I've never rp'd him but I have literally no clue what to do with that so probably not aha ]

[zombles]

Ludwig rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. "Gilbert wants me to come over to his apartment to help him clean, Apparently my older brothers are coming over to his apartment and then tomorrow they're going to the Hampstead Heath swimming ponds to see who can last the longest before freezing to death." He glanced over at Feliciano, rolling his eyes. God, his older brothers were a giant pain in his rear end. Especially Gilbert, even though Gilbert took care of him over the years the most. If he had to admit it, he was probably the most mature out of them, sadly.

"And no, thank you, I think I can carry it." He gently told the other. He picked up the baskets again, using their hands to pull Feliciano towards the door. He didn't realize that either Feliciano would have to get the door or he would have to let go of their hands.

[ may possibly be half brothers... I dunno.. ]

[vault]

After being lightly tugged for a few steps, Feliciano dashed forward to get the door. Ludwig had his hands full—in more than one way, honestly—and opening doors was something he could do, just to help. He liked being of use. "Well, you should go. Your apartment is pristine, no wonder he wants your help. But didn't you say Gilbert likes to clean, too? You just need it extra-extra clean this time?" He laughed at his own joke. "No, seriously. If you want me to bring the laundry up when it's done, I can do that. You can pick it up at my apartment sometime, if your brother needs you now." Offering that seemed to be the least that he could do. Ludwig had been so kind.

Feliciano was genuinely curious, though. "How are they going to avoid actually freezing to death? It sounds like you have your work cut out for you. That sounds miserable. It's so cold here." He shivered, unable to help being concerned for their health.