turps | Boxes Snippet

This is another snippet from my Boxes universe, and really nothing but an indulgence to myself as I try to kick start my writing brain. This is un-betaed and done fast for my own enjoyment really. I tend to write these things when I'm struggling with other things as I love to write in this universe so much.

I guess I could call it more Chris and JC on the road *g*

It’s late and elongated shadows stretch across the ground as festival goers chatter and slowly walk past the colourful stalls that line the boardwalk. Bright flags flutter from ornate iron poles and the smell of food mixes with the ocean, creating an atmosphere that Chris could stay in forever.

He smiles at his audience, enjoying their applause and smiles more as coins are dropped in his hat. Crouching, he tips them into his hand, then into his pocket, where he can feel them heavy against his leg, a physical reminder that they’ll eat tonight. With a last smile to the retreating crowd, he pulls a bottle of water from JC’s bag and sits on the low wall, enjoying the heat that radiates from the concrete as he gulps almost half the bottle until his throat doesn’t feel as scratchy and dry after hours of singing.

Carefully tightening the lid on the bottle, Chris pushed it back into the sunflower bag then hooks it over his shoulder before standing on the wall and walking along a few feet. From here he can look down at the sidewalk where JC’s been working without the crowds of people blocking his view like they have done all day.

Only two people surround JC now so Chris can easily see, and he gasps a little as the full impact of the drawing hits. Waves fill the sidewalk, deep blue and sparkling as two dolphins jump through the air, so real that Chris imagines diving from the wall into the cool blue depths before shaking his head at his own imagination.

“You like?”

Looking away from the picture, Chris watches JC who’s kneeling on the ground, carefully shading the edge of a wave before looking up. As usual he’s covered in chalk, blue streaks across his cheek bone and nose, green patches across his yellow t-shirt. His hair is loose today and Chris laughs when he pushes it back behind his ears leaving behind another streak of blue.

“You know I like,” Chris says, and he jumps down next to JC and kneels so he can see the picture up close. “Have you even seen a dolphin?”

JC smiles a little at Chris’ question, then starts to runs his fingers across the biggest dolphin’s back, gently smudging the colours. “I’ve seen them in story books, my mom used to tell me this story about a dolphin looking for his family. He was alone at first but found them in the end. That’s the closest I’ve been, the rest’s imagination.” JC taps his forehead, and Chris has to laugh when he leaves behind a grey spot.

“You’re hopeless,” licking his thumb, Chris rubs at JC’s head, laughing and ignoring any protests until the spot’s gone.

“You suck, Kirkpatrick,” JC says, and he quickly looks around before moving forward and licking a stripe along Chris’ jawbone. “That’s how you clean someone’s face.”

“Really, I’ll have to tell Joey that when we get home,” Chris jokes. He uses the sleeve of his t-shirt to scrub at his skin but knows he’s not hiding how much the touch affected him, especially when JC deliberately licks his own lips with a knowing smile. Trying to distract himself, Chris picks up JC’s hat, happy at the amount of coins it contains. “We’ll have to go soon if we want to eat before finding somewhere to sleep. Because we’re not going back to that field again, not while those cows are there anyway.”

“I liked the cows, they liked you too,” JC laughs as he speaks and Chris glares at him a little before reaching for some chalks.

“I’m sure they did but I don’t like an audience when I’m being fucked, so we’ll move somewhere else tonight.”

“Sure.” JC agrees with a last loud laugh, then stops Chris putting the last chalks in the bag. “I need to finish, five minutes okay?”

Chris looks at the picture again, it looks perfect to him but he knows there’ll be some detail that JC just has to add even though they’ll walk away and never see it again. About to hand over the blue chalk he’s surprised when JC holds up his hand.

“You do it.”

Confused, Chris shakes his head and tries to hand over the chalk again. “JC, I can’t draw, you know that. Plus I’ve no idea what you want doing, I’ll just spoil it.”

“No you won’t,” JC sounds determined, and he grabs Chris’ hand so the chalk’s pressed between both their fingers. “He needs some shading here, under his belly where the water’s darker.” JC moves their hands as he talks, confidently colouring with quick easy movements. “See, it looks good, you won’t spoil anything, you can’t.”

About to make a wisecrack, Chris stops when JC looks at him through narrowed eyes. “Okay, okay, I’m drawing. No need for that look.” JC seems satisfied at the words and loosens his hold a little, then drops Chris’ hand entirely.

“JC…” Chris says worriedly, but he keeps on shading, using precise strokes that leave behind a shadow of blue. The chalk feels good in his hand, warm against his skin but it’s JC’s expression of happiness as he leans forward and whispers See, I knew you could do it , that makes Chris feel so great.

They finally finish as the sun disappears over the horizon and quickly write their names against the darkest blue of the ocean. Standing, they look at the picture that’s taken JC all day to create, then walk away, hip to hip without a backward glance. They know it’ll be gone soon, faded by the rain and ocean spray, but that doesn’t matter. Because it’s there now, evidence of something they finished together, and that’s a memory that can never be washed away.

Current Mood: content

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From:

castalie.livejournal.com

Ohhhh sweetness *happy sigh*

Just came home from the hospital and this is what I find? Perfect - there is such beauty in this little piece [I first wrote 'peace', which should tell you more about how I felt when I read this new installment in your oh so wonderful series *g*] how do you do that, sis?

Wonderfully done, as always, Chris and JC's love literally exudes from the story. It's almost humbling, I don't know... I'm just utterly in love with that pairing. Well... with that Terri!TrickC, I mean *g*

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