hideawayparadise | IC Inbox

Yes, he was used to Riley looking a little for a moment when he was pulled away from something creative. It was something he loved about the younger Fae. It was so wonderful that he could get so lost in his pursuits.

"Almost as good."

Dropping to sit beside Riley, Will set the box on his lap and opened it up to reveal a record player.

"It's been a while, but we talked about getting one of these so we could have some music."

"Almost?"

He looked at what Will was holding more closely now. It was bigger than a candy box, he could see that now. Curious, he leaned against him and watched him open it to reveal that it was a record player. Gasping, his mouth fell open.

"It's beautiful! We can start collecting records now. Do you have any to play in it yet?"

"I picked up a couple. I'm not exactly sure what they are, but I thought it would be nice to have something we can listen to."

Maybe some of them would have nice songs they could dance together to.

"Put one on! I want to hear how it sounds!"

Because they always sounded so different. And who knew what it would be like in this world. Which just meant he was already excited.

He leaned over for a quick kiss before getting up to set up their new record player. It only took a few minutes, most of that spent finding a good place and maneuvering around pets. Then he placed one of the records on it. A nice jazz tune filled the room. A smile pulled at Will's lips and he moved back over to the couch to hold a hand out to Riley.

"May I have this dance?"

"Give me just a second. I don't want to wake Shelley."

Which then meant that he very slowly moved his feet out from under her, freezing if she even stirred the tiniest bit. When he was free, he carefully moved around to head over to take Will's hand so he could go dance with him, smiling as he moved right into his arms.

"This is a great surprise. I love this."

Will was patient. It was important not to disturb their precious Shelley! Once Riley was free, Will guided him to the middle of the room and pulled him in close. Will's always been a tactile creature and having Riley close always felt right. The current song was a slower one, so Will happily swayed with his husband in his arms. The beat picked up on the next song so Will was really able to lead him around the room, adding a few spins and dips here and there.

"I want to share everything important to me with you, love. Music is one of those things."

Riley giggled as he was spun around, throwing his head back for dips just because it was fun. He adored that they could do this and he couldn't wait to look for more records for them. That was going to be so much fun to see what was out there. Or maybe he could figure out how to make ice records that wouldn't melt too.

Oh! "Will, stop spinning me for a second, I really want to try something and see if it works." After all, he knew how records were made so he should be able to do this!

Of course he stopped when Riley asked. Tilting his head, he gave the younger Fae a curious look. "You're going to see if you can make a record, aren't you?" What a splendid idea! If Riley would figure out how to do it, they could possibly replicate some of their favorite music from home!

"Yes! I might have to experiment a little but I've read books on record making and music so I think I can do it."

Going over to the record player, he got an idea of the size of it then summoned the ice to his hands in that size. Smoothing it out, he started to picture what the ridges would need to best be able to play the song. To keep it from melting there were snowflakes in the center of it, always a sign that Riley's magic was fused with the ice to keep it in this state for as long as he allowed.

Breathing, he thought of Will's favorite song first, closing his eyes to really hear it in his head. The ice shifted subtly as he did, Riley concentrating as hard as he can to get it just right. When he's sure he might have something, he carefully removed the other record and put this one in its place.

At first it didn't play but he lightly ran his finger over it to adjust his magic and soon he was hearing the song, face lighting up as he realized what he'd succeeded in creating.

Will's face lit up, too. Then the surprise hit as the first few notes played and he recognized what song Riley chose. He stood in the center of the room, watching his husband with adoration. Then he moved over to him, extending a hand so they could continue to dance. And once Riley was back in his arms, Will swayed them gently, quietly singing along. Somehow, the song struck differently now.

Taking his hand, Riley smiled in awe as Will sang along with the song. He'd always known that Will loved this one and he's listened to him sing it before. But hearing him sing along to a vinyl that he'd created for him? That was another magic entirely and he felt like a spell of their own making had been cast around them.

He had to make more of these. An entire collection of their favorite songs.

When the song came to an end, Will held Riley out at arm's length, all smiles and endless happiness. Being able to have this moment was so special.

"That's amazing!" He was almost breathless in his excitement. "I can make a shelf above the record player for the records you make."

Riley was almost bouncing with excitement when the song ended. He was so excited. This had actually worked and he could make them more records to play. And Will could easily make a shelf because of his magic.

"I'm going to have to keep experimenting so I can see how many songs I can fit onto each one too. It'll be like...vinyl mixtapes!"

That earned a happy sigh and Will tugged Riley back into his arms for a quick squeeze.

"I miss mixed tapes. MP3 playlists just aren't the same."

Throwing his arms around his husband, he giggled. This time he was definitely bouncing. He just couldn't keep his joy contained and it was even making his curls bounce too.

"I never really got to experience them but I'm going to make one for you! And then I'm going to surprise you with it so you'll have to listen to the whole thing to find out what songs I put on there!"

"It was a great labor of love, the mix tape." Will sighed happily. "Imagine spending hours trying to think of the right songs to convey what you wanted to express to someone else. Then having to just wait for them to play on the radio, finger at the ready to press record. And then, when it was finished? The nerves of handing it to someone."

Riley stopped bouncing so he could listen. And it was like explaining an ancient world to a child. After all, he'd not seen any of this stuff. He grew up in a digital age. "You really had to do all that? But what if you messed something up?"

"That happened a lot. You'd miss the very beginning of a song or the DJ would still be talking when it began. The little imperfections made them unique. No two mix tapes would ever be the same, even if they had identical track lists."

"Wow." And now he knew exactly how to make Will's mixtape too. He knew just what he wanted for it and he beamed at him as he leaned forward to give him a kiss. "I'm going to make sure yours is very special. Completely unique and only for you."

Can Riley feel the little birds fluttering in Will's stomach? Just the thought that Riley would want to make something like that for him... Music's always been a powerful language for Will. And having someone he loved so dearly make him some equivalent of a mixtape?

Warmth spread over his face and throughout his chest. "I can't wait to listen to it with you."

"I'm going to start experimenting tomorrow because today..."

Riley let his fingers play with Will's hair as he gazed at him so fondly. Flirtatiously really. "I'm on a date with someone breathtaking and I want him to have my full attention."

"What a lucky guy~" Will teased. Even though the music stopped, he kept swaying with Riley, earning him a very judgmental look from George as he padded across the room.

"You know, the only thing this place is missing is a fireplace for us to cuddle up in front of." He's sure they could magic up some fire that would be safe in the building, but it just wasn't the same aesthetically.

"How about some hot cocoa and cuddles instead? And then more dancing."

"You know what we could get that would be safer and just as warm? A kotatsu."

Ah but! "Not right now though. Because you said two of my favorite things to do with you and then followed it up with a third."

Cupping his face, he kissed him deeply before pulling back with a grin. "So you don't have to go out in the cold I'll run to the kitchen to make the cocoa, okay? And see what treats P'Vegas left out for us."

"Check for marshmallows~!" As if he even had to say that.

When Riley was off to get their drinks and treats, Will took a moment to create a small rack beside the record player. All of the records he bought would fit there with room to spare, but he was most concerned with the one Riley created since it didn't have a sleeve to protect it. Once that was done, he put another record on, some soft piano music. Then he flopped onto the couch, quickly joined by the pets, to wait.

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