onegreeneye | LIFEAFTR INBOX

[Probably not what Ginko expected to be doing tonight. Maybe he needs better friends. Sensible ones who don't need babysitting.]

Too late to stop you?

You called me to ramble drunkenly about things I haven't told you but you won't ask about. Of course it's too late.

[Come on, Hector, what did you expect!!]

Almost there.

I can't ask, you know how you get. You're going to be all embarrassed about it. Which is a little bit funny since it's you, but you... you know. I ought to be nice.

[Ginko's very first crush!! Maybe??]

What do you mean how I get?

[Jeez Hector you can't just SAY that. The next thing he says won't come over the stone, as he steps inside in person.]

You sure seem to think I know a lot here, given that I'm still not even sure what you're talking about.

[He's sprawled out on the floor with a completely empty bottle of Muffet's blackberry wine. Not his fault, it's the first thing he's ate or drank in... months?

It was delicious.]

You and Epsilon!

[Alright, the first thing he notices is the completely empty bottle, and he's just about to ask if Hector actually drank that whole thing himself when he catches up to what he's actually hearing.]

--What?

You two. [Still not obvious enough? Yeesh. He folds his hands over his ribcage and smiles at the ceiling.] I think it's sweet.

[Oh. Okay. OKAY.

He hopes it's dark enough that Hector can't see the warmth he can feel in his face. It's hard to remember how much light most people need to see things like that.

His voice, however, is just as dry as before.] Is that really what this was all about?

[Unfortunately, he never had gotten around to getting much lighting for his home. Just the lights on a string outside, that's it.]

Of course it was!

Don't of course me, how was I supposed to know?

[He's just gonna go sit down next to this bony jackass.] When people start yelling at me in the middle of the night about how sneaky I am, I'm not going to assume it's about my-- my personal relationships.

Sneaky? [Oh. He did say that. He's wincing...] That! That was the wrong word, I apologize. I meant... I don't know what I meant.

I'd make you a nice dinner and you could pretend you're in a restaurant, on a real date, it'd be so nice. Wouldn't it? But you don't talk about things!

[Ginko snorts quietly.] I appreciate it, but I don't know if that's necessary... anyway, it's not like it ever came up. I didn't know this was even something you were so invested in.

It's not about being necessary. It's about doing something normal for once. [As people do!!]

...Why wouldn't I be? Had to watch you two making eyes at each other for months and, hah, I remember what that's like, I did the same thing with Imelda when we were kids. It's awful!

...I don't know how normal it would actually be. For me, anyway; I can't speak for you or Epsilon.

[Eating at a restaurant. Going on a "real" date. Hell, not even being in a relationship to begin with is normal for him.]

But it might be nice.

[He makes a quiet, affronted rumbling sound.] We weren't making eyes at each other.

For me, then! My normal. I like to cook and... and I can't even eat it. I miss eating food.

[He looks sad for roughly half a second, then he's cracking up.] You were! You absolutely were. Probably not as bad as I get, but still! Don't deny it!

Well, if we get a chance, and you want to do that... I wouldn't object, and I doubt Epsilon would either.

[There's no harm in it, and it might be fun. Besides, giving Hector the chance to do something he'll feel good about seems worth it in itself.

Also, though: WOW. Wow!! He can't believe he's being slandered like this.] I don't know where you're getting that! Yeah, we were already friends, but I think you might be reading too much into it in retrospect.

I am not! You think I've never seen people in denial before? I'm an old guy, I've seen a lot of people!

[Mountains... of people...? Excuse him, he's not at his best. Which is pretty lousy anyhow.]

I'm not in denial.

[He's been open about the fact that they're in a relationship, now that it came up, hasn't he?]

You were for a whole year. It were killing me, I thought it'd never end.

[He sits up, snickering, ribs rattling a little.] You had a crush.

No, I wasn't. [Make no mistake, Hector: He knew.] You didn't know me yet when I was in denial.

[Or the closest he's been. More accurately, when he had no idea how to identify his own emotions.]

Shy then! Shy. About feelings. You and him. [Words are slippery.]

And now it's better. Isn't it?

Shy isn't the word I would use, either.

[He huffs quietly and sits back, tail thumping on the floor.] ...I guess so.

Secretive?? [C'mon man just tell him the word before he hurts himself.

A suspicious frown...] You guess? You're not happier?

[Ginko hesitates, because - well, he's not exactly eager to say this out loud.

But, if he doesn't, Hector is just going to keep guessing.]

I was scared.

I still am. --I'm happy, too, of course I am, but I can't... pull a complete turnaround, just like that.

Scared? [Happy bubble burst. He fumbles around in the dark for the bottle only to find it's still empty. Bah.]

Scared it'll go wrong?

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