howdy pardner

In some ways it did feel like a milestone; to Ryan that had cried in his childhood bedroom in Bandee, feeling hopeless against the world being set against him. In other ways, it didn’t feel particularly momentous at all. Ryan was waking up in the very same bed he had for years, and next to the same boy who he’d loved since he was seventeen. His life was good and solid, and what did his age even matter? 𖤓˚࿔ Ryan turns thirty, and starts having dreams that open wounds that he doesn't know how to close.

dogfish - 11k - read on ao3 !!

ryan doesn’t know what a bag is. all the shit’s in his pockets. naim is the only one who brings along totes or crossbody bags for their wallets and keys and lighters. ryan can’t even excuse himself by saying they don’t have the money for it because naim’s friends taught them thrifting. he’s just hopeless & unburdened like that.

ryan gets his other ear pierced and naim makes him put in those micro hoops earrings, the small ones that are 6/8 mm wide and look real cute on his little ears. ryan Is Not Safe afterwards.

naim loves shit-talking. ryan is psyched to hear him rant about school and work and stupid people he has to deal with to the point he grows increasingly unfocused because wow, naim is such a huge cunt. isn’t that hot. dripping with the filthiest sarcasm ever known to mankind. ryan is there to pet his ankle with the most obvious heart-eyes while he yaps nonstop.

naim’s friend invites him to their pottery workshop and he makes a little tray for his and ryan’s jewellery. it’s as much as you would expect from someone who touched clay for the first time in his life, but at least he painted it real good. that plate moves with them from flat to flat; it’s unbreakable & ryan loves it Way Too Much (that was one of the first things that was theirs, that naim not just brought but made for them to use. ryan’s a little sentimental about it).