"Wet, Natural, Dirty" (DW-kink_bingo fic)
Jun. 15th, 2012 09:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
perfectactorIan never cared about sightseeing really - whether he's been touring or recording, he'd rather spend his idle time during the day somewhere with a room, or a lounge at least - depending on how long he's going to stay; And if he gets any tips on the quickest way to a drinking spot, all the better. Either way, he's likely to stay indoors - and whenever possible he'd lurk under dim lighting at best.
He doesn't care about the green pastures of Wales either or its mountain tops. That one time doing the album cover photo for Porcupine in Reykjavik had proved to him he does not want to repeat the experience. If he ever wanted a lovely scenic view, he'd get a fucking postcard on his way out.
On the other hand, he's come all the way over to Cardiff because the Manic Street Preachers invited him to record a duet, and if there's anything he personally wants to get out of this meeting it's to get to know at least one real live Manic Street Preacher.
On paper it seems like a good idea, but James is acting more like a starstruck fanboy than the leader of them Welsh national treasures, being too shy to speak apart from when he absolutely has to - and then stumbling over his words when he does have to. Ian likes James for that, apart from the fact it makes Ian walk on his proverbial tiptoes in order to not make James more uncomfortable than he already is. Since grinding people's gears is a second nature for Ian, it's a concious effort for him not to do it.
Sean approaches the entire process almost too clinically, he seems to detach from the personal aspect of meeting Ian and working with him, his aim is to use their studio time to get everything together just right, and that is that. Sean's approach reminds Ian of Will, and his hair also does - it's too perfect, which makes Sean's hair faulty for Ian.
Nicky's the mouthpiece for the band, which already makes Ian sympathise with him. He treats Ian like an old friend, something that is uncomfortable for Ian since they've only met each other for the first time, but Ian also feels it would have its benefits. And Nicky's got terrible highlights in his hair and his teeth are the most imperfect hue when he flashes his shark-like grin.
After the session comes to its anticipated conclusion, Ian tumbles through a few words of closure for the lads, then cuts off in mid-sentence and turns his attention to Nicky. "Can I ask you something?" He says in near whisper, his voice indicating he's speaking only to Nicky, and Ian's eyes darting away implicating he'd rather finish this conversation in private. Nicky agrees readily, pulling him aside.
Ian's questions fall in torrents, as he quests to find out about Nicky's plans for later, and then manages to get Nicky to tell him exactly where's this place called 'Home' he's planning to drop off at. He asks Nicky about which hotels are close to Nicky's home, claiming he wasn't going to stay overnight but he had recently changed his mind, and ponders the distance between their destinations. Nicky asks himself whether about a half of Ian's questions are really necessary, but Nicky's after a long and exciting day and his guard is low, so he provides the answers to those questions.
"We should get together," Ian says. His tone suggests matter-of-factliness, but he bows his head down for fear of 'No'. He closes his eyes, but Nicky can't see it behind the prescription shades that don't seem to ever leave Ian's face.
"Haven't we already?" Nicky asks tiredly, tucking his hair behind his ear. Something tells him he's missing a point.
"Um..." Ian restarts, quickly getting Nicky back on track. "No, I mean, just for fun. I thought maybe you'd like to go out, after we've both had a kip."
Nicky chuckles. "Sure, why not." Ian looks closely at Nicky while Nicky grins. "Go out with the band?" Nicky asks, but what he really wants to ask is whether Ian indulges him with this dialogue to familiarize himself to Nicky and get chummy in the studio while making no true commitment to meet outside the studio, or whether he's really asking.
He realises that the idea of Ian McCulloch making some sort of elaborate joke about hanging out with him or the band appears more likely to him than him being sincere about it. On the other hand, Nicky says to himself, Ian's friends with Chris-fucking-Martin, isn't he? It's going to sting, if he's only mocking Nicky. If Ian rates the Manics lower than Coldplay, Nicky will feel betrayed about inviting him into the studio.
"Nah, they'd probably decide I'm too much of a handful." Ian smirks. "Just us, then. You don't mind it'll be just us, do you?"
Nicky struggles to get any coherent words out of his own mouth, and he gets stuck between articulating his answer, and delivering it through a high-pitched yawn, wondering if it's just him or if it IS quite a work to figure Mac out.
Perhaps Nicky isn't sure why ANY musician would ask him out - the only other musician Nicky'd ever developed some kind of kinship with was Bernard Butler, and THAT was long time ago. And Ian's supposed to be a lot more difficult than he's being now, no? A lot of people probably feel the same way about Nicky, though... Nicky'd never thought it'll be as simple as being asked out. Nicky chuckles again, answering him in a sleepy, giggly way. "Well, I guess it's possible... if that's what -"
"Do you MIND?" Ian repeats, only this time it turns out to be more of a demand than a question.
"No, not at all." Nicky says seriously, feeling a lot more subdued.
"But I'm skint, it would be a better idea not to check into a hotel. Have you got a spare bed?" Ian says a little too quickly, but Nicky's going to comply with everything he says now, so he might as well.
"We probably do, I remember we had one. I should ask my wife, she knows where everything is. I'm more about maintenance, especially the hoover..."
"Hoovering, eh?" Ian looks at him funnily. "Do you take this passion for sucking into other areas?"
Nicky closes his eyes, trying to stop himself from turning his cackling into roaring laughter, or else he'll have to explain it to James and Sean, and this was meant to be a private conversation. He takes a Chupa Chups out of his pocket, giving it to Ian.
"Cheers," Ian smiles at him. He opens the wrapper and puts the sticky lollipop in his mouth, taking a long suck and then leaving it in his hand and asking Nicky "Would you introduce me to yer wife?"
"If you promise to behave," Nicky replies cheekily.
"I'll try." Ian says sweetly, putting the lollipop back into his mouth with a wet pop.
They share the car ride home, Ian noticing some typical Welsh views the closer they get. It seems alright, when glancing through the car window. Living somewhere like this day in day out might drive a person mad. Suddenly the line "There's beauty doing nothing at all" sounds like the shittiest platitude he's ever sung, and it's only been an hour or so since they've finished recording - and he thought he liked it then.
---
They see each other the next day only after they've rejuvenated from a long, deserved rest, both men relieved to find out their definition of 'morning' stretches out a few hours longer than most people's, being somewhere on the borderline between morning and the afternoon. Rumour has it people commonly refer to that elusive time period as "Noon".
They settle in the garden for tea and crumpets and Ian hesitates, making up his mind to leave that house as quickly as possible. "When do we leave?" He utters.
"I don't know, did you plan on going somewhere specific?"
"I'm clueless," Ian shrugs. "I haven't thought of anything, to be honest. Well, I thought you might take me where you like to go."
Nicky smiles, considering Ian's offer quietly for a few moments.
Ian is sure Nicky is up to something, and it's probably some bad idea. Ian followed the Manics' early career in the music press - they definitely had a lot of bad ideas then.
"Alright, I have an idea." Nicky says secretively, disclosing nothing more - but the smile on his face is as good as giving it away, if only Ian had known him well enough to decipher him.
They finished their tea and crumpets, and headed out on the front street.
Ian shoves his hands in the pockets of his own overcoat, looking down and back up at Nicky, and in an afterthought he takes them out, pulling his hoodie over his head before tucking them back in his pockets. He walks close to Nicky, letting him lead the way.
After they'd made a turn, and the noises from the street seemed to fade out behind them, Ian takes his hand out of his pocket and entwines it with Nicky's. Nicky wonder if Ian's thinking no one would ever recognise him in this disguise, even though it's roughly the same look he's been wearing publicly for a few years now. Perhaps he just doesn't care that he's holding hands with Nicky. Nicky doesn't either, and he thinks Ian's hand feels really nice.
They walk further, zig-zagging for a while and taking a few twists and turns. The first atmospheric change Ian takes note of is that they're standing somewhere a lot more shaded. He looks up and sees a tree top. He looks back at Nicky and licks his own lips, because he's not sure what's going to happen next. The second thing he acknowledges is the quiet all around them - there is no one coming in or walking out of the area, for the time being. their hands are still entwined, and they just look at each other for a while.
Nicky has a sudden realisation - Nicky feels sad because he knows himself to be a very romantic person, and he might not share moments like this with Ian again, after Ian goes back to Liverpool.
"Aw, Mac..." Nicky takes the hood off of Ian's head, ruffling the other man's hair - the dream of every boy and every girl in the 80s. It isn't all teased up now - Ian didn't blow-dry it at Nicky's - but there's natural volume so it's still a fluffy, messy little do.
Ian concentrates on Nicky's touch, surprised how tender and light it is. He strokes Nicky's side, smirking. A light jolt through his body shakes him up unexpectedly, and he becomes aware of the strong presence of something tall and hard pressed against him... Which means Nicky had pushed him with his back against the tree trunk - that is still wet from yesterday's rain - holding Ian still by gripping Ian's upper arms over the tree trunk.
Ian grins, and they both share a passionate kiss - neither man is sure which one of them is leading, since it feels so synchronised.
Ian enjoys Nicky's arms keeping him in place, he is happy between the tree, and the man leaning over him. Although his mind is interrupted by a simple question, one he thinks needed to be asked a long time ago. "Where are we?"
"Don't you recognise it? The great outdoors!" Nicky enthuses, making Ian feel silly for asking.
"Right... We're in the middle of nowhere." Ian offers his version.
"I know, isn't it great?! I told you."
"The great outdoors..." Ian repeats sarcastically. "The great outdoors bumming in the back-doors."
"You know, I was never a big Doors fan." Nicky says, suddenly being distracted and releasing Ian's arms, worried about saying it to the one from one of the most Doors-influenced British bands. Or at least one of the most-compared to the Doors British bands. He strokes Ian's lower arm gently, to soften the words. Ian gradually slips down, sitting by the tree trunk, with Nicky sitting right in front of him. Their toes are nearly touching, being kept apart only by the pairs of trainers they're both wearing.
"Well, I always said I preferred ABBA to The Doors..." Ian says.
"And they let you get away with it!" Nicky realises. "You're such a man."
"I like you too..." Ian says, and Nicky's so glad Ian's saying it to him out loud.
"Do you think we'll ever finish what we started?" Nicky muses. "Did you consider doing more than just kissing?..." Nicky accepts that the mood they were in fluctuated from intensity to a complete calm, like the flow and ebb of an ocean, like going through the motions inside an Echo & The Bunnymen song...
"We can continue now, if you're in the mood for it."
"I don't want to press you..." Nicky says considerately, and then he remembers he DID press Ian - literally - pressed his hands on Ian's arms and his weight over Ian's body - and it felt good.
"No pressure." Ian says, straddling Nicky over the green grass, stroking his face gently. They go into another heated make-out session. Ian changes positions afterwards, pulling Nicky over him again, and for a few moments their limbs bump and bruise and grind into each other until they find the right balance, laughing together and kissing.
"Do it to me again." Ian says. "What you did to me with the tree. You'll take it further this time..." He said, lowering his own jeans to reveal his boxers, and pulling them down as well. He can take them all the way down, but it'll be a lot more fun to feel Nicky strip him.
He doesn't care about the green pastures of Wales either or its mountain tops. That one time doing the album cover photo for Porcupine in Reykjavik had proved to him he does not want to repeat the experience. If he ever wanted a lovely scenic view, he'd get a fucking postcard on his way out.
On the other hand, he's come all the way over to Cardiff because the Manic Street Preachers invited him to record a duet, and if there's anything he personally wants to get out of this meeting it's to get to know at least one real live Manic Street Preacher.
On paper it seems like a good idea, but James is acting more like a starstruck fanboy than the leader of them Welsh national treasures, being too shy to speak apart from when he absolutely has to - and then stumbling over his words when he does have to. Ian likes James for that, apart from the fact it makes Ian walk on his proverbial tiptoes in order to not make James more uncomfortable than he already is. Since grinding people's gears is a second nature for Ian, it's a concious effort for him not to do it.
Sean approaches the entire process almost too clinically, he seems to detach from the personal aspect of meeting Ian and working with him, his aim is to use their studio time to get everything together just right, and that is that. Sean's approach reminds Ian of Will, and his hair also does - it's too perfect, which makes Sean's hair faulty for Ian.
Nicky's the mouthpiece for the band, which already makes Ian sympathise with him. He treats Ian like an old friend, something that is uncomfortable for Ian since they've only met each other for the first time, but Ian also feels it would have its benefits. And Nicky's got terrible highlights in his hair and his teeth are the most imperfect hue when he flashes his shark-like grin.
After the session comes to its anticipated conclusion, Ian tumbles through a few words of closure for the lads, then cuts off in mid-sentence and turns his attention to Nicky. "Can I ask you something?" He says in near whisper, his voice indicating he's speaking only to Nicky, and Ian's eyes darting away implicating he'd rather finish this conversation in private. Nicky agrees readily, pulling him aside.
Ian's questions fall in torrents, as he quests to find out about Nicky's plans for later, and then manages to get Nicky to tell him exactly where's this place called 'Home' he's planning to drop off at. He asks Nicky about which hotels are close to Nicky's home, claiming he wasn't going to stay overnight but he had recently changed his mind, and ponders the distance between their destinations. Nicky asks himself whether about a half of Ian's questions are really necessary, but Nicky's after a long and exciting day and his guard is low, so he provides the answers to those questions.
"We should get together," Ian says. His tone suggests matter-of-factliness, but he bows his head down for fear of 'No'. He closes his eyes, but Nicky can't see it behind the prescription shades that don't seem to ever leave Ian's face.
"Haven't we already?" Nicky asks tiredly, tucking his hair behind his ear. Something tells him he's missing a point.
"Um..." Ian restarts, quickly getting Nicky back on track. "No, I mean, just for fun. I thought maybe you'd like to go out, after we've both had a kip."
Nicky chuckles. "Sure, why not." Ian looks closely at Nicky while Nicky grins. "Go out with the band?" Nicky asks, but what he really wants to ask is whether Ian indulges him with this dialogue to familiarize himself to Nicky and get chummy in the studio while making no true commitment to meet outside the studio, or whether he's really asking.
He realises that the idea of Ian McCulloch making some sort of elaborate joke about hanging out with him or the band appears more likely to him than him being sincere about it. On the other hand, Nicky says to himself, Ian's friends with Chris-fucking-Martin, isn't he? It's going to sting, if he's only mocking Nicky. If Ian rates the Manics lower than Coldplay, Nicky will feel betrayed about inviting him into the studio.
"Nah, they'd probably decide I'm too much of a handful." Ian smirks. "Just us, then. You don't mind it'll be just us, do you?"
Nicky struggles to get any coherent words out of his own mouth, and he gets stuck between articulating his answer, and delivering it through a high-pitched yawn, wondering if it's just him or if it IS quite a work to figure Mac out.
Perhaps Nicky isn't sure why ANY musician would ask him out - the only other musician Nicky'd ever developed some kind of kinship with was Bernard Butler, and THAT was long time ago. And Ian's supposed to be a lot more difficult than he's being now, no? A lot of people probably feel the same way about Nicky, though... Nicky'd never thought it'll be as simple as being asked out. Nicky chuckles again, answering him in a sleepy, giggly way. "Well, I guess it's possible... if that's what -"
"Do you MIND?" Ian repeats, only this time it turns out to be more of a demand than a question.
"No, not at all." Nicky says seriously, feeling a lot more subdued.
"But I'm skint, it would be a better idea not to check into a hotel. Have you got a spare bed?" Ian says a little too quickly, but Nicky's going to comply with everything he says now, so he might as well.
"We probably do, I remember we had one. I should ask my wife, she knows where everything is. I'm more about maintenance, especially the hoover..."
"Hoovering, eh?" Ian looks at him funnily. "Do you take this passion for sucking into other areas?"
Nicky closes his eyes, trying to stop himself from turning his cackling into roaring laughter, or else he'll have to explain it to James and Sean, and this was meant to be a private conversation. He takes a Chupa Chups out of his pocket, giving it to Ian.
"Cheers," Ian smiles at him. He opens the wrapper and puts the sticky lollipop in his mouth, taking a long suck and then leaving it in his hand and asking Nicky "Would you introduce me to yer wife?"
"If you promise to behave," Nicky replies cheekily.
"I'll try." Ian says sweetly, putting the lollipop back into his mouth with a wet pop.
They share the car ride home, Ian noticing some typical Welsh views the closer they get. It seems alright, when glancing through the car window. Living somewhere like this day in day out might drive a person mad. Suddenly the line "There's beauty doing nothing at all" sounds like the shittiest platitude he's ever sung, and it's only been an hour or so since they've finished recording - and he thought he liked it then.
---
They see each other the next day only after they've rejuvenated from a long, deserved rest, both men relieved to find out their definition of 'morning' stretches out a few hours longer than most people's, being somewhere on the borderline between morning and the afternoon. Rumour has it people commonly refer to that elusive time period as "Noon".
They settle in the garden for tea and crumpets and Ian hesitates, making up his mind to leave that house as quickly as possible. "When do we leave?" He utters.
"I don't know, did you plan on going somewhere specific?"
"I'm clueless," Ian shrugs. "I haven't thought of anything, to be honest. Well, I thought you might take me where you like to go."
Nicky smiles, considering Ian's offer quietly for a few moments.
Ian is sure Nicky is up to something, and it's probably some bad idea. Ian followed the Manics' early career in the music press - they definitely had a lot of bad ideas then.
"Alright, I have an idea." Nicky says secretively, disclosing nothing more - but the smile on his face is as good as giving it away, if only Ian had known him well enough to decipher him.
They finished their tea and crumpets, and headed out on the front street.
Ian shoves his hands in the pockets of his own overcoat, looking down and back up at Nicky, and in an afterthought he takes them out, pulling his hoodie over his head before tucking them back in his pockets. He walks close to Nicky, letting him lead the way.
After they'd made a turn, and the noises from the street seemed to fade out behind them, Ian takes his hand out of his pocket and entwines it with Nicky's. Nicky wonder if Ian's thinking no one would ever recognise him in this disguise, even though it's roughly the same look he's been wearing publicly for a few years now. Perhaps he just doesn't care that he's holding hands with Nicky. Nicky doesn't either, and he thinks Ian's hand feels really nice.
They walk further, zig-zagging for a while and taking a few twists and turns. The first atmospheric change Ian takes note of is that they're standing somewhere a lot more shaded. He looks up and sees a tree top. He looks back at Nicky and licks his own lips, because he's not sure what's going to happen next. The second thing he acknowledges is the quiet all around them - there is no one coming in or walking out of the area, for the time being. their hands are still entwined, and they just look at each other for a while.
Nicky has a sudden realisation - Nicky feels sad because he knows himself to be a very romantic person, and he might not share moments like this with Ian again, after Ian goes back to Liverpool.
"Aw, Mac..." Nicky takes the hood off of Ian's head, ruffling the other man's hair - the dream of every boy and every girl in the 80s. It isn't all teased up now - Ian didn't blow-dry it at Nicky's - but there's natural volume so it's still a fluffy, messy little do.
Ian concentrates on Nicky's touch, surprised how tender and light it is. He strokes Nicky's side, smirking. A light jolt through his body shakes him up unexpectedly, and he becomes aware of the strong presence of something tall and hard pressed against him... Which means Nicky had pushed him with his back against the tree trunk - that is still wet from yesterday's rain - holding Ian still by gripping Ian's upper arms over the tree trunk.
Ian grins, and they both share a passionate kiss - neither man is sure which one of them is leading, since it feels so synchronised.
Ian enjoys Nicky's arms keeping him in place, he is happy between the tree, and the man leaning over him. Although his mind is interrupted by a simple question, one he thinks needed to be asked a long time ago. "Where are we?"
"Don't you recognise it? The great outdoors!" Nicky enthuses, making Ian feel silly for asking.
"Right... We're in the middle of nowhere." Ian offers his version.
"I know, isn't it great?! I told you."
"The great outdoors..." Ian repeats sarcastically. "The great outdoors bumming in the back-doors."
"You know, I was never a big Doors fan." Nicky says, suddenly being distracted and releasing Ian's arms, worried about saying it to the one from one of the most Doors-influenced British bands. Or at least one of the most-compared to the Doors British bands. He strokes Ian's lower arm gently, to soften the words. Ian gradually slips down, sitting by the tree trunk, with Nicky sitting right in front of him. Their toes are nearly touching, being kept apart only by the pairs of trainers they're both wearing.
"Well, I always said I preferred ABBA to The Doors..." Ian says.
"And they let you get away with it!" Nicky realises. "You're such a man."
"I like you too..." Ian says, and Nicky's so glad Ian's saying it to him out loud.
"Do you think we'll ever finish what we started?" Nicky muses. "Did you consider doing more than just kissing?..." Nicky accepts that the mood they were in fluctuated from intensity to a complete calm, like the flow and ebb of an ocean, like going through the motions inside an Echo & The Bunnymen song...
"We can continue now, if you're in the mood for it."
"I don't want to press you..." Nicky says considerately, and then he remembers he DID press Ian - literally - pressed his hands on Ian's arms and his weight over Ian's body - and it felt good.
"No pressure." Ian says, straddling Nicky over the green grass, stroking his face gently. They go into another heated make-out session. Ian changes positions afterwards, pulling Nicky over him again, and for a few moments their limbs bump and bruise and grind into each other until they find the right balance, laughing together and kissing.
"Do it to me again." Ian says. "What you did to me with the tree. You'll take it further this time..." He said, lowering his own jeans to reveal his boxers, and pulling them down as well. He can take them all the way down, but it'll be a lot more fun to feel Nicky strip him.
