[ Royce isn't an idiot - he knows Alfie invited Gabriel over for dinner because he wants Royce to remember he has friends. Gabriel has only ever been a good friend to him, honestly, and Royce isn't looking to offend him or hurt his feelings, so he goes along with the dinner.
And after, he takes two glasses and a bottle of Montemorcey with him to the living room, glancing at Gabriel. ]
[ Gabriel hasn't let on the reason for his visit, or that he and Alfie talked earlier that day. He's pretty good at pretending nothing's wrong, and honestly? It's not hard when this feels like such a family dinner, this small get-together.
As Royce invites him outside, Gabriel realizes he hasn't even had a chance to talk to him alone yet- understanding flickers across his face and he gets up. The addition of Montemorcey doesn't hurt. ]
Sure.
[ He heads outside, glancing at the autumn wonderland they have before them. ]
I've been getting outside a lot lately. Gonna miss it when the season changes.
[ He flops down onto the small extension of wood flooring that counts as their porch, pouring himself a glass of wine. He offers the other to Gabriel, and then stares out at the Meadous. ]
Yeah. I don't mind autumn, but I won't be going outside during the winter. [ Winter was a bad season for him, last year. ] I've been here a year. More than that. Just occurred to me.
Yeah? The time really flies, here. Feels like it's the right speed again, to me.
[ He's not sure even Royce will understand the significance of that. Having his sense of time messed with in Norfinbury threw him off more than most things. ]
Y'know, if you're not going outside, you won't mind if I visit you, right? I'm gonna try and be proactive about it. No idea if it'll work but I'm giving it a shot.
Time in Norinfbury felt like it was never moving, you're right. [ A sip of wine, and then he glances up at Gabriel again, expression wry. ] I won't mind, but don't force it. You don't have to visit just because Alfie tells you to.
I didn't even come today 'cause Alfie asked me to, y'know? It was more that I didn't realize it was an option. I didn't exactly have an opportunity for a lot of get-togethers back home. I like 'em.
[ He takes a sip of the wine, still smiling a little. ]
Mm. [ He leans against the house, swirling his wine. ] You're welcome here whenever you'd like. Just don't let him bully you. I don't need him to make sure I have friends.
You and Alfie. [ A pause. ] Alfie is - I hesitate to say he's more than a friend if only because people have told me that means something different than I want it to.
Ah. You mean what you want it to mean, but- yeah, I can see why you'd avoid it.
That just reminds me that I think the trolls might've had it worked out a little better. Were you around when Karkat posted his big essay on troll romance? You and Alfie sound like you fit the moirail thing.
I've always thought that as well. [ Royce says, tilting his head back. He's quiet for a good moment, and then, softer: ] I love him, but it has nothing to do with sex. I'm not even sure it's romantic. He's important.
[ By this point, Gabriel's analytical mind had figured out at least the basics of what might've happened. He knows Royce had been spending a lot of time with Renart lately, and that he and Monty had been physically close at the last dinner. He knows a lot of people get stuck on what Alfie means to Royce. And he knows what it's like for misunderstandings to erupt into a flaming pit where one's friendship used to be.
He wants to ask. But he's learned over time that when he wants to ask this badly, he usually shouldn't. So he smiles softly at Royce instead. ]
Then you know I'm always gonna want to come around. And that I'll be here if you want to talk. -or don't want to talk, which I'm guessing is far more likely.
[ Royce appreciates it - he hates being pushed to talk about anything, and honestly, at first? He almost takes Gabriel up on not wanting to talk. A year ago, he probably would've taken that out. Changed the subject. But he knows more than anything now that he can't let stuff like this fester, and he can't talk to Alfie about it. Because - while Alfie knows him better than anybody else, the way he approaches friendship is different than Royce.
But Gabriel? Gabriel knows. So there's a pause, as Royce stares down at his wine, and then: ]
How do you -- thank you. [ He says, interrupting himself, looking back up at Gabriel sincerely. ] For that. I want your opinion on something.
Phil's spells, yeah? The ones that turn people into animals.
If someone were to take one of those spells and use it against you, slip you a potion in your drink that turns you into an animal without you knowing or - consenting, would you be angry?
I would've been angry before Norfinbury, too. [ Royce says, tilting his head back. ] Not as angry as I am now, though. After everything we went through.
Would you be as angry if it didn't happen to you, but to someone very close to you?
[ That makes him feel better, actually. Like he's not crazy. ]
Even if they are ready for it, it doesn't matter. To be turned into an animal without your express permission is too close to being changed into an anomaly. It sounds harmless. A prank. But it isn't. I'm not being dramatic. [ His voice gets a little angrier, less flat. ] I am not wearing my trauma like a badge of honor.
[ He's already a little off-balance by the direction the questions have gone, but hearing that last bit makes him freeze in place. The only movement is his eyes narrowing, giving them a cold glint. He at least tries to keep his words mild enough. ]
(no subject)
16/11/18 17:12 (UTC)And after, he takes two glasses and a bottle of Montemorcey with him to the living room, glancing at Gabriel. ]
Come outside with me.
(no subject)
16/11/18 17:26 (UTC)As Royce invites him outside, Gabriel realizes he hasn't even had a chance to talk to him alone yet- understanding flickers across his face and he gets up. The addition of Montemorcey doesn't hurt. ]
Sure.
[ He heads outside, glancing at the autumn wonderland they have before them. ]
I've been getting outside a lot lately. Gonna miss it when the season changes.
(no subject)
16/11/18 17:33 (UTC)Yeah. I don't mind autumn, but I won't be going outside during the winter. [ Winter was a bad season for him, last year. ] I've been here a year. More than that. Just occurred to me.
(no subject)
16/11/18 17:58 (UTC)[ He's not sure even Royce will understand the significance of that. Having his sense of time messed with in Norfinbury threw him off more than most things. ]
Y'know, if you're not going outside, you won't mind if I visit you, right? I'm gonna try and be proactive about it. No idea if it'll work but I'm giving it a shot.
(no subject)
16/11/18 18:00 (UTC)Time in Norinfbury felt like it was never moving, you're right. [ A sip of wine, and then he glances up at Gabriel again, expression wry. ] I won't mind, but don't force it. You don't have to visit just because Alfie tells you to.
(no subject)
16/11/18 18:06 (UTC)I didn't even come today 'cause Alfie asked me to, y'know? It was more that I didn't realize it was an option. I didn't exactly have an opportunity for a lot of get-togethers back home. I like 'em.
[ He takes a sip of the wine, still smiling a little. ]
(no subject)
16/11/18 18:08 (UTC)(no subject)
16/11/18 18:24 (UTC)[ He lets that sit for a moment, staring out from their 'porch' before looking back to Royce. ]
Do you need him to make sure you remember you have friends?
(no subject)
16/11/18 18:52 (UTC)No. I don't. [ Another sip. Snottily: ] Two is enough and far too much, sometimes.
(no subject)
16/11/18 18:56 (UTC)Alfie and me, I hope? Or maybe Alfie counts more as family.
(no subject)
16/11/18 19:03 (UTC)(no subject)
16/11/18 20:00 (UTC)That just reminds me that I think the trolls might've had it worked out a little better. Were you around when Karkat posted his big essay on troll romance? You and Alfie sound like you fit the moirail thing.
(no subject)
16/11/18 20:03 (UTC)[ Sigh. ] Yeah. Moirails. [ Man, he misses Karkat. ]
(no subject)
16/11/18 20:08 (UTC)Well, it just means you both have something unique and special with each other, then. If other people don't understand it, that's on them.
(no subject)
16/11/18 20:09 (UTC)That'd be why we're friends, Gabriel. [ Because you get him, basically. ] Or why I'd consider us such.
(no subject)
16/11/18 20:55 (UTC)He wants to ask. But he's learned over time that when he wants to ask this badly, he usually shouldn't. So he smiles softly at Royce instead. ]
Then you know I'm always gonna want to come around. And that I'll be here if you want to talk. -or don't want to talk, which I'm guessing is far more likely.
(no subject)
16/11/18 21:48 (UTC)But Gabriel? Gabriel knows. So there's a pause, as Royce stares down at his wine, and then: ]
How do you -- thank you. [ He says, interrupting himself, looking back up at Gabriel sincerely. ] For that. I want your opinion on something.
(no subject)
16/11/18 22:05 (UTC)Yeah, sure. What is it?
(no subject)
16/11/18 22:19 (UTC)If someone were to take one of those spells and use it against you, slip you a potion in your drink that turns you into an animal without you knowing or - consenting, would you be angry?
(no subject)
16/11/18 22:48 (UTC)Yeah, I would. But- how long I was angry would depend on the circumstances, probably.
(no subject)
16/11/18 22:50 (UTC)Would you be as angry if it didn't happen to you, but to someone very close to you?
(no subject)
16/11/18 22:57 (UTC)I'd probably be more angry. I'm- used to changing myself, being changed. Even before Norfinbury.
I mean, maybe not on that scale, but still. Other people aren't- they're less ready for it.
(no subject)
16/11/18 23:02 (UTC)Even if they are ready for it, it doesn't matter. To be turned into an animal without your express permission is too close to being changed into an anomaly. It sounds harmless. A prank. But it isn't. I'm not being dramatic. [ His voice gets a little angrier, less flat. ] I am not wearing my trauma like a badge of honor.
(no subject)
16/11/18 23:06 (UTC)Someone said that to you?
(no subject)
16/11/18 23:08 (UTC)Yes. [ He answers tersely. ] They did.
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