#ascoap

Adam was well aware New York was the land of 'Go Big or Go Home,' but he hadn't quite realized just what that would mean until he actually set foot in Midtown Comics and whistled. He'd never seen so many comic books in one place, or so many nerd-oriented people perusing the shelves at once.

Sam Evans

Sam was pushing a cart full of various Avenger action figures that he was supposed to hang on the wall, when he spotted Adam out of the corner of his eye. He was still trying to figure the guy out in all honesty, or at least what his motives were. He would be his usual sweet and welcoming self though. Raising a hand, he gave the man a little smile and a wave.

Adam Crawford

Adam smiled broadly, side stepping a table laden with merchandise to speak to Sam. "Hey, was wondering if you might be working today. You've inspired me. All the talk about Doctor Who the other day, and that R2D2, I thought I'd stop by."

Sam Evans

Sam chuckled and nodded as he remembered the conversation. "Yeah, absolutely. It's good to see you. Well, the R2D2's gone obviously, but we got some other huge figures. And plenty of Who stuff, comics included. I can show you to the section if you like," He offered.

Adam Crawford

"Yeah, that'd be great," Adam agreed with a nod, stepping back so Sam could lead the way. "I'm not sure I'm planning to invest in one of the larger figures, but it'd certainly be fun to take a look at them."

Sam Evans

"Yeah, I'd suggest using your money to like... pay your rent for a month," Sam laughed as he set his cart off to the side. He could take care of that later. "But they're cool to look at, and lots'a people take photos with 'em. The artistry's pretty cool."

Adam Crawford

"Do they sell frequently then? I mean, do you usually have a new selection to choose from week by week, or is it the same four figures most of the year?" Adam asked, already more than a little excited to see what figures would be on display.

Sam Evans

"Um... somewhere in between." Sam smiled and shrugged as he lead the way through the rows of comics and people. "We sell, maybe about one a month, depending on the time of year. Sometimes we go a couple months without selling any, but then we'll make up for it around Christmas time. Your average customer can't afford 'em, but New York's got some rich folks too." They finally reached the corner where they were on display. "Right now, we've got a Spiderman, a Storm Trooper, and... Stewie, apparently. I think we've got a new one shipping in soon since we... and by we, I mean I, sold R2."

Adam Crawford

Adam smiled fondly at Sam's exuberance. "Congratulations again for that. Was it a tough sell? Or was the guy already interested just because... well, it's R2?"

Sam Evans

"He was pretty interested, yeah," Sam laughed as he readjusted one of the small informational signs beneath Stewie. "But it's the biggest sale I've made yet, so I'm taking the win. I think it was for a birthday or something. Definitely never got anything like that for my birthday."

Adam Crawford

"Do you want something like that for your birthday?" Adam asked casually, peering at the detail on Spiderman's costume.

Sam Evans

"Probably not so much anymore," Sam admitted. "Wouldn't have anywhere to put it. Unless my roommate moved out. Would've probably killed for one when I was about 12 though." He chuckled, shrugging it off. He wasn't one to complain much about the sacrifices he had to make when he was younger. It was what it was. "Working with 'em is good enough for now though. Maybe if I get rich and famous."

Adam Crawford

"You mean when you get rich and famous, right?" Adam teased, giving Sam a friendly nudge. "And you'll move out of the dorms eventually, maybe you can buy one of these guys to celebrate the occasion." Adam wasn't being terribly serious, though he did look over the various figures with a certain... nostalgia.

Sam Evans

Sam just hummed, still a little skeptical of it himself. He was going to work as hard as he possibly could to take advantage of the chances he'd been given, but he knew how the industry worked too. He was both hopeful and realistic. "Anyway, if you like, I can show you some things normal people can afford," He offered, gesturing toward the Who section of their store, near the photobooth. "Do you actually read comics much, or...?"

Adam Crawford

"I have in the past. Lately, I've been a bit preoccupied. First with school in a new country, and lately with my job; but I might be convinced to take an interest again, now that I'm starting to get used to a regular, consistent routine," Adam offered, gesturing idly as he followed Sam towards the back.

Sam Evans

"Yeah, I get that. My first year of college definitely opened my eyes to how much work they really put you through," Sam agreed. "Thankfully, working here helps me keep up with the comic world, obviously. But if you're into Who, we have a lot of those volumes and they're just extra stories added into what you see on the show, so they're pretty easy to follow. And we got the photobooth, of course, if you wanna check that out."

Adam Crawford

"Can't come by Midtown Comics and not check out the photo booth," Adam chuckled, thinking if Sam thought College was hard, he should wait until he worked full time in the real world. "I've been meaning to check out the audio series for Who, actually. I don't suppose you guys have any of those? I'm told Paul McGann is great in them."

Sam Evans

"Oh, yeah! We do," Sam recalled, scanning the shelves with his eyes. "Here we go. We've got plenty to choose from. And the photobooth is that huge blue thing right there. Um... is there anything else you needed help with?"

Adam Crawford

"Hmm." Adam mused, skimming over the racks of Big Finish Audio to choose from before turning to the Tardis booth next to them. "Well... Not precisely... Just... Photobooth pictures by yourself are a bit..." Adam trailed off, with a sardonic grimace. "I know we didn't exactly get off on the right foot, but would you mind joining me? If you won't get in trouble with your superiors that is. I'd like to at least salvage a friendship with you. You seem like a really interesting bloke."

Sam Evans

Sam smiled slowly and looked around. There wasn't anything too pressing going on right now and they weren't packed or anything. The other employees working today should be able to handle things for a few minutes. "Sure," He agreed. "And, um... thanks. I guess I just felt bad that I wasn't... what you were looking for exactly."

Adam Crawford

"You..." Adam sighed, hand raised placating, just short of clasping Sam's shoulder. "You're wonderful, I promise. I very much enjoyed our time together. I just... don't do attachments very well. I never have. As cliche as this line is, it wasn't you. It's me, and it really is me," Adam said awkwardly to the floor.

Sam Evans

Sam couldn't stop the laugh that escaped him. "Wow. That was... really bad." He shook his head, still smiling as he stepped into the photobooth and held the curtain back for Adam to follow him. "I guess we're all looking for our own things. What do you want though?"

Adam Crawford

"I don't know..." Adam shrugged, climbing in after Sam. "The same things everyone is, a connection, friendship, intimacy. What about you, what are you looking for?"

Sam Evans

"Oh, um..." Sam's cheeks blushed slightly as he took a seat on the bench and glanced up at Adam. "Sure, yeah. Those things. Those are good. And... and some other things too."

Adam Crawford

"Such as?" Adam asked curiously, taking his own seat. The photobooth was already quite small, and with two grown men seated side by side, there wasn't a lot of room between them. None at all, in fact. Their sides pressed almost flush together.

Sam Evans

Sam chewed at his bottom lip momentarily. He didn't think Adam was going to be the type to judge exactly; Sam just wasn't good at talking about awkward stuff, especially when he didn't know as much as he wanted to know. "Um you know... things. Have you- ever been to the Sky Lounge?" He glanced up, watching Adam's eyes carefully.

Adam Crawford

Adam blinked, suddenly taking Sam in with a new light. "I have, a few times. Is that... something you're interested in?" He asked casually.

Sam Evans

Sam brushed his palms against his thighs to wipe anyway sweat that might be forming. He just nodded at first as he tried to figure his words out. "I, um... I've only been once, but... I enjoyed it, yes."

Adam Crawford

"Hey, it's alright. Nothing to be ashamed of," Adam soothed. "I'm the same- Well, perhaps not quite the same." He said with a soft chuckle, "But I'm familiar with the lifestyle. I think it's great that you're aware and embracing that part of yourself."

Sam Evans

Sam's smile relaxed a little, and he looked up at Adam a little more properly. "Thanks," He said softly. "But, yeah, I guess I'm looking for someone who... wants... well, wants me around for starters." He gave Adam a look, but laughed all the same.

Adam Crawford

Adam groaned, leaning forward and running a hand over his face. "I do want you around I just..." He sighed. "Have I mentioned I'm not good at this? I promise, if you gave me another chance, I'd do better... I'd make you breakfast and everything- Although... I'm a truly abysmal cook, so unless you want fried green tomatoes for breakfast, you may be better off not staying that long..."

Sam Evans

Sam just laughed again as he considered what Adam was saying. "It's alright if you... aren't into that sorta thing. Maybe... maybe we could go to the club or something. Maybe it would be a... better venue for us," He suggested. "Since we'd... both know where we stood."

Adam Crawford

"If that's what you want..." Adam offered, hand resting gently on Sam's wrist. "I think I'd like that very much though..." His eyes flicked involuntarily to Sam's mouth, considering their night together. It may not have ended as well as it could have, but Adam remembered some very good memories before he'd stupidly decided driving Sam back to his dorm in the middle of the night was in any way a good idea.

Sam Evans

Sam swallowed as he looked down at Adam's hand and then back up into his eyes. "'Though?' Like... 'but' but fancier? Or 'though' like: Sure, that'd be fun?" He hated when he got himself all confused.

Adam Crawford

"'Though' as in, I think it would be a brilliant way to spend an evening." Adam chuckled, giving Sam's arm another squeeze. "Thank you for asking for the clarification."

Sam Evans

Sam's face relaxed once again, and he nodded in understanding --now that he did. "Okay. Cool, sure. I'd like that. I've kinda been craving a night where I wasn't, um... the third brought in for fun.. so to speak. Sorry, I don't mean to keep complaining about you. And it's not just you. I guess I'm starting to question myself too much."

Adam Crawford

A pulse of sympathy and regret shot through Adam at that, and he turned to face Sam more bodily. "I'm so sorry I made you feel that way, even if just in part..." He raised his hand, one crooked finger lifting Sam's chin. "Please, give me the chance to make it better? To show you what I should have done? How you deserve to be treated?"

Sam Evans

Sam smiled a little nervously, but he took a deep breath and he nodded in agreement. "Yes, sure. I'd like that. And I promise, it wasn't just you. It's just, um... the last time --the only time-- I went there, I was with these two people and then they... got together like a few days later, so... I don't know. I'm probably being stupid."

Adam Crawford

"You aren't being stupid. Not at all. I understand completely how that would make you feel..." Adam's hand slid from Sam's chin to cupping his jaw, but he resisted the near overwhelming urge to kiss him. "You are allowed to feel everything you feel. Those are your emotions, you cannot help them, nor are they ever your fault."

Sam Evans

Sam searched Adam's eyes curiously, still trying to figure the other man out. "Have you... turned into a different person?" He asked with a laugh. "I mean... I had a good time last time too. I really did. But this... is new. It's nice."

Adam Crawford

"I believe an accurate description of the situation would be, 'I got my head out of my arse.'" Adam chuckled smiling. "So... if you're okay... I think we maybe should take our pictures now? Because it's either that or I snog you right now, because I very much want to kiss you..."

Sam Evans

Sam blushed again and looked away momentarily with a soft smile on his face. "Pictures sound good," He agreed. "But... if you wanted to... I wouldn't stop you or anything. But I'm gonna need a dollar."

Adam Crawford

Adam blinked slowly in confusion. "You're going to charge me to kiss you?" He asked, though he leaned closer, thumb brushing over Sam's cheek.

Sam Evans

Sam's laugh brightened, and he shook his head. "No. No, the pictures. It costs a dollar to make the booth work, so it'll take your pictures. And I don't have any cash on me during work hours," he explained.

Adam Crawford

"Oh, I see, yeah, sure," Adam said, his hand falling to Sam's shoulder as he fished out his wallet. He managed to pull a single bill out one handed and push his wallet away again before holding it out and turning back to Sam. "Here, go ahead."

Sam Evans

"Thanks." Sam leaned forward and slid the dollar into the slot. "Um... you can pick a background if you want? Inside the Tardis or... Gallifrey skyline. Bunch of daleks or... a circle of Doctors around our heads."

Adam Crawford

"You pick." Adam smiled, his gaze never wavering from Sam's face. "I'd like to see what your choice would be."

Sam Evans

"Are you testing me?" Sam laughed, glancing at Adam over his shoulder. "Um... alright..." He decided on Gallifrey, since he thought it was the prettiest, and sat back on the bench again beside Adam. "Are you gonna look at the light so you know when the picture's happening?"

Adam Crawford

"Not a test," Adam said, glancing forward to check the mentioned light. "But I think there's something I'd like to look at more..." He murmured, looking back at Sam's face from the side.

Sam Evans

Sam rolled his eyes playfully and looked over at Adam. "Nice one," He teased. "You get four pictures, you know? Gonna spend 'em all staring at me?" The first once flashed with them looking at each other and Sam shook his head. "At least one I guess."

Adam Crawford

"No, not all four of them." Adam said, raising his hand. The second picture flashed as Adam smirked, fingers tipping Sam's chin up, gently. But, Adam didn't pay it any mind. Eyes flicking down to Sam's lips only briefly, he leaned in, pressing their mouths together.

Sam Evans

Sam gasped a little against Adam's lips, but he accepted the kiss willingly, happily really. He kissed right back until after the third flash went off and brought him back to reality. "Will you look at the camera, please?" He joked, turning Adam's chin towards the screen, so the last picture could be taken.

Adam Crawford

Adam smiled brightly, throwing an arm over Sam's shoulders and leaning against the other man. Just in time before the final flash went off, taking their picture. As soon as the light cleared from Adam's eyes, he turned back to Sam's face. "Happy?" He asked, fondly.

Sam Evans

"Very. Thank you," Sam agreed, leaning on Adam momentarily as he let out an airy laugh. "I think that was the first time I was ever kissed on another planet. That's pretty momentous."

Adam Crawford

Adam laughed brightly his head falling back as his eyes crinkled up. "And we caught it on film even." He teased, stroking a finger lightly over the pale stubble along Sam's cheek. "I don't know if anyone's ever told you this, but you are utterly adorable when you smile..."

Sam Evans

Which just made Sam smile again, as ridiculous as it was. "I don't know if anyone's ever told you, but you are a very smooth talker. That accent helps too. No wonder you're getting laid so often."

Adam Crawford

Adam chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Thank you. I think... So... Sky Lounge... tonight?" Adam asked, a note of hope in his voice as he licked his lips.

Sam Evans

"Tonight?" Sam hadn't been expecting that quite so soon, but he wasn't working too late and it did sound like a good time. "Sure. Tonight. I do have class in the morning though, so... don't keep me out all night," he teased.

Adam Crawford

"Oh, believe me, I'll make sure you head to bed at a perfectly reasonable hour." Adam promised, leaning in for one more kiss. "Now, if you'll actually be going to sleep... that is another matter entirely."

Sam Evans

"You're something else," Sam laughed. He was still a little nervous, but he supposed Adam did deserve another chance, especially now that Sam had explained himself. If he did it again they'd have words. And no more sex. But one more chance couldn't hurt. "If I fail at taking notes tomorrow, it's on you."

Adam Crawford