𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄

  thomas would feel very smug at the idea of being a  *distraction*,  and maybe if he knew that he'd finish his drink a little quicker.  then again,  he was enjoying savouring it for now,  and would hopefully have many many hugs later on.  he was a very lucky man.  "that's great!  good luck.  you can do it!"  he cheered quietly,  leaning his head on his hand to watch the moves calmly.  
            
              /   jon is so cuuuute omfgggg...  it's crazy.  tom is obsessed with him thats his soulmate 

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            Oh, if he did do that... all hopes of getting that plush cat would be lost! He couldn't concentrate with such a beautiful man standing so close to him, way less hugging him! It's not his fault, all right? It was all Tom's! He's irresistible, it's unfair!
            "Thank you, my love," he bowed playfully to him, grinning like the silly man he is. "Your support is all I needed. I feel much more motivated now," he winked to him— taking a deep breath, being all dramatic about it, before going for his 4th attempt.
            
            
            // HAHAHAAH TRUEEE !!!! (':
            YESSSS, OMGGG. I like to think that Jon would *buy* one in their original universe, just to get to play it with the love of his life at home (':

    he took a generous sip of his cocktail,  motivated to finish it half because it was so good,  but also half because he sort of wanted to stand up and hug jon from behind as he played that silly game.   thomas was an optimistic man,  and could really use a closer look at the challenge.  "i'm sorry for even suggesting it,  babe.  i totally believe in you anyway!  i'll even let you take some of my coins to go towards it."  
            
            /   I KNOWWWW  i will always fall for them unfortunately.  thomathan love an arcade game in their aus.  i hate to think how much they've spent on them

  "sorry!"  tom teased,  but conceded on the point purely because jon was the one saying it.  he would have laughed at anyone else,  but his boyfriend always had a point.  he was clever like that.  he smiled and placed his other hand over jon's to sandwich his hand between the midfielder's,  accepting the kiss to his temple with a bright expression. 
            
              "you're right.  yeah,  okay,  you're right.  it's not over!"  she said,  unconvincingly,  with an expression of lighthearted worry.  "it's so stressful.  i hate the talking stage.  i just wanna meet someone and know them and marry them.  or something.  that'd be way easier.  but hey,  whatever,  maybe i'll end up having to ask jane to help me make my tinder profile."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            Look at all the parallels they could trace between their lives... Jane was basically the one 'responsible' for his realization! ...Well, not really. But he liked saying so, for it was funny! He was just a ten years old boy, she was literally half that age. She just wanted to put make up on someone and paint their nails and pretend they were walking down the catwalk! As two very glamorous models. He knew that! She painted his nails, put on silver eye shadow on him... with the expertise of a five years old. But! ...He kinda liked it, all right? It was like she knew it. All along!
            
            "Sshh. I just told her that you're very sweet. That wasn't very sweet of you to say," he playfully reprimanded his boyfriend, before he laughed and shook his head— pressing a kiss to Tom's temple, and then directing himself to Amelia: "I am *sure* that you'll find your *the one*, Amy. Who knows, maybe in this World Cup! ...People from everywhere on this globe... perhaps you haven't found them yet because they're from somewhere you haven't been to, yet! Stay positive, girl!"

   "look at me,  amelia.  look at how sweet i am."  he laughed and let jon take his hand,  squeezing it fondly under his twin sister's outrage.  because no,  she did  *not*  find it sweet at all.  he was an annoying guy,  her brother.  but,  then again,  they grew up together.  and she didn't truly dislike him—  he'd been very open minded about her coming out as trans when they were kids.  in fact,  he was the first person she told!  and now look at them.  she always knew he'd be gay. 
            
              "nope.  you guys are annoying.  i can't believe you found a better boyfriend on your first try than i have in my  *life*.  that's so annoying.  not hot or cute."  she grumbled teasingly,  all whilst tom grinned at the attention he was getting from his boyfriend. 
            
            "maybe *you're* just annoying.  or the fashion industry is just shit.  take your pick.  but i'm glad we're annoying you!  i'm not about to be humble about it."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            Everyone loves Thomas D'Angelo. Of course his dogs wouldn't be an exception! He smiled back to his partner at the kiss he was given to the cheek, then laughed when Rose tried to move away from his chest and onto Tom's. She was stretching her little paw, and Jon held her slightly to prevent her from faceplanting on him. He couldn't believe it... she wanted MORE kisses! ...Actually... he could understand her fairly well...

  "yeah,  yeah.  i'm up for that,  darling."  he squeezed jon's hand and greeted taz with a laugh when he came over—  he's adorable,  and tom gives his fur an energetic ruffle until he decided to move.  he let go of jon's hand for a moment,  rolling over to his side and rest his head on his hand,  using the free hand to say hello to rose where she was sitting on his partner's chest.  "yeah,  'zactly.  we spend too much time pretending in front of everyone else on the pitch,  i can't think of anything worse than having to pretend here too!"  he smiled,  leaning over his boyfriend and pressing a kiss to jon's cheek—  then,  for good measure,  one on the top of rose's head.

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Let's consider this a draw, then?" as he asked it, the 'gang' joined them on the floor (except for good old Mav, that was still sleeping).
            Taz, as Tom's 'number 1 fan' (he would pretend and play along, for his dog's sake— but they all knew *Jon* was Tom's number one fan!) came to him first, giving tiny licks over the midfielder's cheek as an excited 'hi!'
            It was when Jon turned around, then, also laying on his back so he could place tiny Rose over his chest. A hand reaching out for his boyfriend's in the sequence, to keep the contact between them.
            "Obviously... neither of us can win, we're too... charmed by each other for that!"

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            Playing a detective character for so long in a series of four films (even if it's been three years since the last one came out), one of the things he learned from his character was: people tended not to pay attention if they weren't already expecting something to happen. To illustrate it, he could use their very situation as an example: they wouldn't recognize them simply for their voices, for no one really expected them to be there! And although that could be just fiction, he preferred to believe his character was right... otherwise, he would probably panic at the idea of what would happen, given that his boyfriend is totally right: they *are* kinda trapped! Although there was an emergency exit right behind them, he was *against the wall*. He would have to *jump* over the seat, and... *chill out*! Only that very said character did that kind of stuff, and it was literally his boyfriend who filmed those skilled, acrobatic scenes. His reaction timing, plus, the hypothetical jump would take him forever to do, people would definitely get closer before he managed to escape!
            ...Thank goddess, none of that was in his thoughts right now. "Me too! I want to see all of your scenes— and I'll totally want to hear your comments about them."

   it'd been a busy film to work with!  but jon had been very encouraging the whole time,  and his scenes were bound to be even better.  most of them were!  "yep.  i'm excited!"  he whispered,  leaning closer just so he wouldn't raise his voice and accidentally give them away.  they'd practically be trapped!  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Super. You?" he inquired in response, pressing a kiss to his cheek before taking some popcorn with a smile, whispering him a 'Thank you'. He was mostly excited for this film to see the action scenes! The result of all the stunt team and his beautiful boyfriend's hard work. And oh, man, he was happy that this film was full of these scenes! His role being of a mechanic by daylight and driver for hire for the mafia and the underworld at night time.

   she was ridiculous!  nothing jon's mum asked him for would be bothering him,  and he wished she knew that!  then again,  they didn't see each other that often,  so he'd forgive her for being nervous about it.  then he'd sign a million shirts for her or something.  "it's okay,  it was my pleasure.  i love you."  he pressed a lingering kiss to his boyfriend's cheek—  he was about to mention the stuff he left in the kitchen,  but decided to let it be a surprise for him later on.  so birthday celebrations could last all day,  even when he wasn't there!  he'd demand that jon not read the card until he's gone,  indeed so celebrations wouldn't stop without him!  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Totally, or she's gonna kill me," he joked, laughing a little at that. He was only telling Tom, for he was sure she would give up every time she had the chance. She used the words 'I don't want to bother him'. He knew his sweet ma! She was only telling him she would do it later, so he wouldn't comment it with Tom himself. Well, here he is!
            "Will do." he promised, taking a sip of his tea. He smiled to him, then. "I know I've said it already, but allow me to say it again: thank you. For everything. You're unbelievable. This breakfast is delicious."

   "well.  i tried."  he loved the way jon leaned into his touch like that,  he was utterly distracted from his proper argument and so he just gave up on it.  that smile on jon's face!  it was all too much.  
             "so i should act surprised when she asks me?"  he ruffled the goalkeeper's hair with amusement,  accepting his partner's sweet gesture and smiling at how kind his mother was.  she was so lovely.  suddenly he missed her!  "ughhh.  i wish my game was a little earlier so i could see you all properly.  tell them both i said hi,  yeah?"  

   he couldn't lie,  the way jon looked at him when he explained things like this was enough to distract him from all of it.  not only did it happen when explaining his phone to him,  but also when he explained game controls and the xbox to him,  and this was the simplest part of love!  "we can indeed,  my darling."  he said it like he was being the charming hero of the situation,  indulging jon's admiration of his magical technology skills.  "soon you'll be talk of the town with these settings.  people'll be asking how you did it."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He laughed a little at the tease, recognizing technology was indeed not his forte. Then again, this granted him an 'excuse' to get to listen to his boyfriend speak, while he tried to teach him things... it was a win-win, really. Admittedly, he had a hard time understanding, so he just watched him with a dreamy look in his eyes, as he magically got the right settings for his phone, laptop, tv or whatever else. "Oohhh— could we get the 007 theme as ringtone?" he grinned. "It feels quite dramatic, I think that would be funny."

   thomas had to concede the fact that the physical album was a much better idea than the ones on his phone.  he had to keep the few he had very secure and locked away,  and there weren't nearly as many as he wanted.  but he always got jon to print out and keep his favourites so it was safer.  "you're lucky you're pretty."  thomas teased,  setting it for both and then being kind enough to go and change his ringtone,  too.  "now we get to listen to awful ringtone noises until you can pick one.  or,  if you wanna go crazy,  you can pick a song you like and have your ringtone as that."  

   he was increasingly lucky.  a lot of his friends complained about their roommates,  they had stupidly childish arguments and found any reason to frustrate one another.  tom had known he got away with it since the first day.  if jon asked tom to turn his music down a little,  he'd do it without question.  if tom asked jon to move some of his books and make some space on the table,  they were gone in the next five minutes.  maybe that's what got tom so smitten over him,  he'd never complain about his roommate!  and nobody else was allowed to make fun of him,  either,  and that message had already been sent.  loud and clear.  he laughed at the joke,  taking a moment and getting insanely distracted by how charming his roommate was,  before he actually registered the question.  he looked at the menu.  "how aboutttt....  long island iced tea?"  he already called over the bartender to order it for them,  forcing himself to look away.  it was the mature thing to do.  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            It really is funny, how life always finds a way to put the right people in your path (for better or for worse-- for even the negative experiences aren't in vain if they teach you a lesson, and they usually do. Obviously, meeting Tom is all about the positive experiences, though! He's a lucky person for having him in his life, as someone he could truly call his *friend* and trust and rely on and have so much fun together!)
            He laughed along with him-- just captivated by his roommate. What a beautiful sound that one was. What a beautiful voice he has! And that smile-- and those eyes! ...He swears he could keep on melting over him, but decided to clear his throat and make sure he wasn't being far too obvious! "Likewise, my friend. Best luck to you. And I hope the part time job gods are hearing you!" he chuckled, pointing at the menu once he noticed Tom had finished his drink. "Which one you'd like to try out, now?"

   tom would probably be a little surprised to find out that jon was gay,  but maybe that was something to do with how naive he was to it.  he spent a while pretending that part of himself didn't exist,  especially since coming to university,  because he knew it was a big deal.  it was an undeniable thing,  it was an inevitable thing.  but....  well,  he had to admit that it was so scary.  it's funny that he gravitated towards the other guy who'd understand,  though.  
            "for real!  it's insane!"  he finished off his first drink quickly,  even though he knew it was an awful idea to rush into anything,  and laughed at jon's joke.  employment was stupid,  he wished he could just find a money tree and use that instead.  "well,  good luck on your search.  may this be the year we both get good jobs!"  

   "s'a good point."  he muttered,  smiling at the thought—  they missed out on that with their relationship,  being able to get teased about it by their friends.  it was different for them.  tom was always changing jon's contact name out of paranoia,  there had been recent incidents of homophobia in football which tom heard about and became a little more scared of it all...  he didn't want to linger on it too much.  "pfft.  i love you so much.  you make me so happy."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Although I'd love the text, I'm glad you didn't... or the lads wouldn't stop till they got to see who was it," he laughed; of course, his contact wasn't saved under his name, nor a nickname that people could guess anything out of it. It was saved under 'A.T. Wells' (a reference to H.G. Wells), for the book 'The Wonderful Visit' where the Angel character was named Thomas (hence, Angel Thomas— A.T.! —making it to the top of his contact list!) He's paranoid, all right?! But, also, he needed the contact name to make sense to him! "I have an idea... considering that, seeing you out there also does things to me."

   the mention of the message made the midfielder hide his smile against jon's shoulder,  swaying them from side to side before finally finding his answer.  "i did.  i almost texted you."  he decided to wait until he could actually see his boyfriend,  but that gesture had absolutely melted his heart.  he was just left smiling brightly at the tv,  like an idiot,  counting down the seconds to see jon.  "it was very sweet,  and you looked gorgeous.  stunning.  does something funny to my heart seeing you out there like that,  y'know?"  

   jon was laughing at them!  thomas was sure that if freddie could speak,  he would be outraged by being found adorable,  and that is also something he got from his owner.  "it's not  *suspicious*!  i'm just that good."  he could see the goalkeeper's grin from the corner of his eyes,  and he nudged him with his elbow after the pinch.  when the final whistle went,  thomas was more happy to give his full attention to his boys over the game and its scoreline.  "you suck at sabotage."  he leaned down,  his hand on the back of jon's head to lift him up a little,  all to kiss his boyfriend's forehead fondly.  "mini-you is shit at football." 

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            The 'resting bitch face' was, definitely, a charm, not a curse! ...Although Jon was really biased to say anything about his boyfriend. It's impossible not to melt over him, about every silly little thing he did or said, okay?! And when he saw Tom wearing *that look*, it only got the keeper to smile and want to kiss him and manage to get a smile from him, too! (And to see the kitten wearing *that face*, it only got the Scouser to chuckle and find it adorable!)
            "Two goals in less than five minutes?! Ref, I'm watching some really suspicious activity, right here!" he said, already grinning for picturing his partner's protests. "Why that sarcastic tone?! We truly did! I don't know what you're on about," he added teasingly, pinching his boyfriend's arm lightly, just to mess with him.

   freddie was cursed with his owner's resting bitch face,  unfortunately,  and the only thing that remotely made him seem encouraging was when it was dinner time.  although tom liked to think he was easier to please than  *that*,  at least,  seeing as he laughed when freddie turned his head away to look at the tv instead of agreeing with jon.  smart cat.  "you need to gather your troops before you do that.  you seem to not be on the same page."  he did a mini celebration when he scored again,  only a few minutes left of the game and he was determined to score as many as he could before that time was up,  and he brushed a hand through jon's hair quickly before the game started up again.  "right,  right.  sure you did."  

   "awww."  he chuckled,  finding jon's silly sentiments very funny and endearing and closing his eyes at the equally as silly kiss.  his perfect boyfriend,  the best goalkeeper in the premier league  *and*  the champions league!  the epitome of defense,  with very good arms and a pretty face,  laying there with little ol' d'angelo.  what a time to be alive!  the idea of this was enough to make him smile stupidly.  "they need knocking down a peg or two,  right?  pleaaase let it be us to do it to them."  he pretended to plead dramatically.  the fact that two rivals were in bed talking about the annoying front-runners of the league was pretty funny,  and it was their perfect secret.

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He couldn't avoid the temptation to ask him where those 'strong feelings' against Olympique came from— as he inwardly supposed it had something to do with the times he had played in France, excited to hear more about it. "If we get a penalty— I'll ask to shoot it, and if I get to do it and score, know that I dedicate it to you when I run to the camera and make a heart shape with my hands," he chuckled, pressing a kiss to the tip of his nose.
            
            He nodded to him in understanding at the whole manager situation, knowing exactly what he meant by choosing to be *optimistic* —running his fingers gently through his hair. "I hope you get them. Someone had to teach them a lesson and show them they haven't yet won the league," he winked at him, playfully. For sure he would be cheering for United, too...
            It could be (another one of) their little secret(s)!

  "is that an away game?  hope you batter 'em.  fuckin' hate that lot."  one of the few times where he'd actively be cheering for liverpool.  listen,  united weren't in the champions league!  so...  as long as liverpool don't actually win the whole thing,  it's fine.  although he does love that tipsy smile on his boyfriend's face when he wins like that.  although the fact that united were only playing in the premier league was a sore point for tom,  seeing as he'd only played the last ten minutes of the fa cup game against brighton.  that was fun.  "we've got arsenal on sunday.  i would really like to beat them on their home ground,  just to shake the league up a bit.  i'm choosing to be...  optimistic about our manager situation.  and the whole ownership shit."