[ The communion from Gen starts as it usually does, when he's involved -- abruptly, brusquely, and with zero fanfare. ]
Gray. [ She'd just received the equivalent of a sharp rap at her window, a hard poke demanding her attention, and the moment she permits the connection to open, Gen speaks up flatly. ] Have something to give you. Come outside.
[ Then he cuts the connection. Such grace, such impeccable manners!
And while Gray might wonder about the very legitimate question of why he didn't just ring the doorbell instead of making her have to come out at this time in the evening, if he's just waiting outside ... the truth of the matter is that he's not really in the mood to be seen by anyone right now. Especially not Eustace (or, god forbid, that fucker Dokja). Gray's the only one he feels like tolerating, and only because he knows this is something that'd be better dealt with sooner rather than later.
Gen's loitering on a bench just across the street from the Gray found family's cozy little abode by the time she exits, leaning on the armrest and nursing a cigarette. And the moment he sees her approaching, hopefully before she can take note of the shitty, exhausted state he seems to be in, he retrieves something from the leather pouch at his belt and tosses it over -- a little metal something in a fabric bag. The shape and weight of it must be so familiar to her, even through the fabric.
[ Gray permits the connection straightaway because it's Gen. If his refusal to ring the doorbell seems strange, she figures it must be an urgent situation, or one which requires tact. She flips her hood on and hurries to the front door.
She spots him across the street right away, and notices his more-disheveled-than-usual look. But his distraction tactic is successful; as she trots over, the intrigue of the leather bag tossed her way takes precedence. As she catches it, the shape, weight, and solidity of the cube inside strikes her with lightning-like familiarity. ]
This is...
[ She dares to hope. Her heart is squeezed to stillness as she quickly opens the pouch and upends the contents (content?) into her hand. ]
[ It sure is Add. In the time he'd been lounging around as a trophy, he would have remained "asleep," his many faces dormant as if he were no more than a weird paperweight. Finally the eyes of one face shoot open, and he hops to turn that face to Gen. He keeps on hopping with indignation, steam coming out of his nonexistent ears. ]
Oi, oi, oi! What's the idea, stuffing me in that— oof.
[ Add shuts up as Gray smothers him to her collar in a two-handed hug both gentle and close, her whole upper body seeming to cradle him, tears already running down her face. Add's little eyes are buggy round with surprise through her fingers, but he remains silent.
Her eyes still closed with helpless tears, she continues to hug Add for a while longer as she finally addresses Gen weakly. ]
[ He's quiet and -- gasp -- almost tactful for once as Gray has her little cry. Gen simply gazes the other way as he continues nursing his cigarette, tossing the stub on the ground when he reaches the filter and stomping out the little ember, before fishing a fresh cigarette out of his pocket to light up. He's just clinked the lighter shut when Gray speaks up again, and Gen looks over with a low grunt. ]
... mn. [ A small shrug as he tucks the lighter away once more. ] I had some business with him. So.
[ A gross oversimplification of what had actually happened, of course. But -- the details don't feel really relevant to her, anyway. None of it's anything she needs to worry herself about. The ember at the tip of his cigarette burns bright as Gen takes a long drag, and he savors the smoke for a moment, willing it to calm his still-bristling nerves before slowly exhaling. ]
Your little buddy there was all I managed to grab.
[ 'I didn't manage to kill Silco,' in other words. He doesn't want to say that to her, not exactly, but for him, the discomforting sense that he hasn't done enough lingers. The only way he can think to lessen it is by confirming Gray, at least, is satisfied with this outcome. ]
[ Silco could've taken everything else she had at the time and she wouldn't have cared. She finally wipes her eyes on the back of her wrist and holds Add in her other palm, making a platform for him to join her in looking at Gen.
A swell of gratitude rises in her for this scruffy teen, whose friendship feels rare and precious. Though he clearly intends to skimp on the details of how he retrieved Add, she wonders dearly what trouble he may have gotten himself into, what enemies he may have made as a result, what consequences he may face later. She can't help worrying about him and it probably shows in her face, but she knows he won't care to be worried over. ]
Thank you, Gen.
[ She tries to put feeling into those words, which sound too common to her ears. Add also pipes up cheerfully now, ]
Yeah, thanks, man!
[ Gray continues, ]
Can you wait a moment? I want to give you something.
[ Oh. That's cute. The way she so sincerely and earnestly holds Add up in her hands like she's proud to show him off, even when her eyes are still a little puffy and red from crying. It's enough to earn the flick of a pointy ears and --
it feels alright to set aside the gloomy thoughts that had been dominating his mind, at least for a few moments. Sure, his head still feels like a mess of too many tangled thoughts, but it's calming to know at least one thing for sure -- he did the right thing in retrieving Add and returning him to Gray. No doubt about it, when he looks at that grateful, relieved look on her face. ]
... yeah, sure.
[ The bench creaks quietly when Gen heaves himself back onto his feet, slinking forward a step so he can ruffle Gray's head over her hood, as he periodically does. Not hard enough to dislodge her hood, but just hard enough to be obnoxious. ]
Don't have any other plans tonight. But you know it's not like I got him -- [ tilting his head towards Add ] -- back for you just 'cause I wanted anything from you, yeah? [ And finally, he straightens Gray's hood to an approximation of its original position, then pulls his hand away. ] Just didn't want that fucker to think he could mess with you and get away with it so easy.
[ Gray receives her obnoxious head ruffle patiently, though she's starting to wonder if she's getting too old for such things. Even if Gen is overly tall and Gray hasn't grown nearly enough to look just one year his junior, they're essentially peers. At the same time, she'd be sad if he stopped doing it. She wonders if he'll still be doing it when they're both in their twenties. ]
Do you think he'll be angry?
[ She doesn't care about Silco's feelings, but she does care about him trying to retaliate against Gen somehow. ]
[ Gen isn't exactly planning on sticking around in her life long enough for them to reach their twenties. But if that hypothetical situation were to come true, rest assured Gray -- he would definitely still be pulling the same obnoxious shit as his main expression of affection. ]
Nah. [ The lie comes smoothly. Maybe a bit too smoothly, if anything. Gen looks away as he follows it up with a puff at his cigarette, murmuring his followup around it. ] He doesn't know it was me. And he might not even notice I took it -- his place was a mess.
[ This is something he decided to do, so it's not a matter Gray needs to worry about.
And with that, he gives her a rough thump on the back to nudge her back towards her home. ]
[ If Silco really has no clue, then this will have been the best case scenario... but Gray still has to worry if Silco has some kind of security system set up at his place. He seems paranoid and crafty enough for it.
Gen's thump sends Gray trotting back into the house, eager to talk to Add but knowing that any conversation will take more time than the short walk will allow. Instead she returns to Gen in quick time with a picnic basket, which she holds out to him. ]
I've been trying to improve my baking, so we have a lot of practice pies in the house. I've been meaning to give you some, so...
[ She's loaded the basket with a large apple cinnamon pie and an assortment of smaller meaty hand pies. Even if Eustace and Dokja assure her otherwise, she's a bit worried they're getting tired of eating assorted pies, so it's probably for the best that she offloads on Gen. ]
[ He's not exactly sure what he'd expected Gray to come scurrying out of the house with, but 'an adorably cliche basket of pies' sure wasn't on the shortlist of candidates. What is she, little red riding hood.
He can't help raising an eyebrow at her explanation, exhaling a long streamer of smoke through his nose before drawling, ] So you just wanted to dump your leftovers on me, huh?
[ Of course he knows that's not the case; he just can't resist the chance to prod at her a little more. Gen reaches forward even as he makes that shitty quip -- not to take the basket, but to flip off the covering and pick up one of the little hand pies. A quick sniff confirms that it smells good, and Gen manages to eat about half the pie in one large bite. ]
... pretty good.
[ Said with his mouth still mostly full. ]
S'this what you've been spendin' most of your time on lately?
[ Gen can feel proud, because Gray does have to take a little of umbrage with him calling the pies "leftovers"... as if she would ever give him anything so sad-sounding within her own power. But first she watches him take a pie and immediately destroy it by half. As always, his sheer eating potential impresses her as much as his poor manners astound her. (He'll find that even if it isn't warm anymore, the pie's pastry shell is still flaky and buttery, and stuffed liberally with meat.) ]
I don't need to take care of Slow Dancer anymore, so I've had extra time. And someone mentioned that they missed homemade pies, so I thought I could give it a try...
[ Slow Dancer could be a handful, but Gray misses the satisfaction of taking care of her; as ornery as the old horse was, Gray was grateful that Slow Dancer even trusted her enough to stay with her.
And just so they're clear on the matter, ]
I'd like to make you food fresh from the oven, but I don't always know where you are.
[ A gentle comment on the surface, but a pointed accusation from Gray. Recently a CERTAIN SOMEONE just disappeared from sight for a couple weeks and she doesn't know why?? ]
[ He's a little distracted licking off a (delectable) crumb of crust off his lips, savoring the flavor of the meat filling as he slowly chews through that enormous mouthful, but Gen does still blink when he hears that subtle barb in Gray's voice. And sure, it'd be easy to dismiss that as just a gentle comment, something Gray's saying solely to refute his prodding, but ... he's always been a little more astute than most people give him credit for. ]
Mn. [ Give him a second to swallow and then give a satisfied little huff. That pie really is good, even if it's cooled. ] Just had some stuff come up for a while.
[ Is he going to elaborate at all? Absolutely not! Gen instead takes another, slightly smaller bite before continuing. ]
Don't worry. S'plenty tasty even if it's not fresh-made. I mostly ate stuff from convenience stores back home, y'know. [ He brushes a stray flake of pastry from the corner of his mouth with his thumb before casually adding, ] But just let me know whenever you wanna kill some more time with cooking, and I'll see if I can head over. You're pretty good, so I'll never say no.
[ Unfortunately for Gray, Gen is a shitty, shitty teenager, so that offhand comment is the closest he'll get to admitting that he really appreciates her consideration. At least the speed with which he's managed to demolish the handpie proves he's being honest about her cooking being excellent. ]
[ As expected, he doesn't elaborate on where he's been — and now that they're in opposing factions, there could very well be legitimate reasons for secrecy. There's plenty she can't discuss with him on her end, after all. In reality, she has no ground to complain on; it's her own worries and frustrations that nag at her.
In Horos they spent plenty of time apart, but it still felt like she had easy access to him. Now it feels like he's moved two towns over — though that fails to capture the vastness of the space that actually exists between their positions now. She wonders if this is something like being homesick, though obviously Gen is not a house.
He says he'll never say no if she calls for him. For food, though she has no doubt he'd come regardless. ]
I'll let you know.
[ If he comes more often, Eustace can see him too. Gray resolves to bake something again soon.
She begins to hold the basket out again for him to take, reconsiders the movement, and then steps forward to wrap him in a one-armed hug soft and warm with feeling. With disregard for his shitty teenager obliqueness, she makes a clumsy bludgeon of her heart. ]
If you're ever hungry... or if you miss eating something, I'll make it for you. But you have to let me know.
[ He's never had much fondness for the concept of homemade food, to be honest.
Gen's attachment to his home had steadily waned after his mother had left, as he'd come to realize just how little his stepmother cared for him; the quick, easy appeal of convenience store foods and nearby family restaurants had easily overpowered whatever lingering attachment he might have had to the concept of 'homemade food.' Food is food, and Gen eats mostly just to sate his appetite, or maybe enjoy something tasty. Who it's made by, or where it's made, doesn't really matter in his opinion.
But Gray's little offer sends a prickle of something soft and longing through his chest, and he's oddly reminded of the time Eustace had cooked a meal for him on his birthday. Vaguely, he wonders if this is what it's like when people say they 'miss home.'
Though Gen says nothing at first as he feels that slender arm wrap around him in a clumsy, lopsided hug, he does sigh after a moment. And instead of pushing Gray away, he gives her an awkward pat to the back. ]
Sure. [ The way his hand lingers on her back afterwards might even count for a reciprocation of the hug, if given some leeway for his usual aversion towards shows of affection. ] Just so long as you don't go getting yourself killed again, alright?
[ And this much, he says without any pretension, his hand squeezing at Gray's shoulder for just a moment before withdrawing\; his tone of voice is serious and firm. It's not even that he wants to avoid the trouble of having to retrieve Add again. -- Gray just deserves better. He'd stake his life on it. ]
[ Gray is aware that Gen isn't a hugging type of person, so in a way this is more for her than him; she isn't adept enough at expressing herself verbally to convey all of her feelings without something extra.
The awkward pats to her back are enough for her to accept that he understands, so she mercifully lets him go. It goes without saying that she isn't looking to die again any time soon, but she still responds with all due solemnity. ]
I won't. I've learned my lesson. And now that I have Add again, I won't lose in a fight.
[ A fair one, anyway. And magic can be pretty cheap, so she can't make promises there. But what's important is the sentiment.
She holds the basket out toward Gen again. She isn't letting him go home without a cute woven basket in hand. ]
[ They both know it's not so simple. Even if Gray has Add back, and even if he knows she could probably wipe the floor with him eight different ways, he still can't help thinking she's always at risk of dying against. Not that he's worried for her or anything. (He is.) But it just hadn't felt right, thinking that Gray was vulnerable, and he doesn't want it to happen again. Ever.
A sentiment that comes across maybe just the slightest in the way he thumps her back once more before quickly pulling his hand away to grab up the basket instead. ]
Mm. I'll drop the basket off when I'm done.
[ It's his way of saying thanks. (???) Also, it's probably only going to take him a few days at most to demolish all these pies. Disgusting. ]
Later, then.
[ And with that unceremonious farewell, he's off. At least Gray can rest easy knowing she'll be keeping him well-fed for a while. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
communion / action | roughly halfway through iqnu
Date: 2023-09-29 03:31 pm (UTC)Gray. [ She'd just received the equivalent of a sharp rap at her window, a hard poke demanding her attention, and the moment she permits the connection to open, Gen speaks up flatly. ] Have something to give you. Come outside.
[ Then he cuts the connection. Such grace, such impeccable manners!
And while Gray might wonder about the very legitimate question of why he didn't just ring the doorbell instead of making her have to come out at this time in the evening, if he's just waiting outside ... the truth of the matter is that he's not really in the mood to be seen by anyone right now. Especially not Eustace (or, god forbid, that fucker Dokja). Gray's the only one he feels like tolerating, and only because he knows this is something that'd be better dealt with sooner rather than later.
Gen's loitering on a bench just across the street from the Gray found family's cozy little abode by the time she exits, leaning on the armrest and nursing a cigarette. And the moment he sees her approaching, hopefully before she can take note of the shitty, exhausted state he seems to be in, he retrieves something from the leather pouch at his belt and tosses it over -- a little metal something in a fabric bag. The shape and weight of it must be so familiar to her, even through the fabric.
It's Add. ]
1/3
Date: 2023-10-03 04:06 am (UTC)She spots him across the street right away, and notices his more-disheveled-than-usual look. But his distraction tactic is successful; as she trots over, the intrigue of the leather bag tossed her way takes precedence. As she catches it, the shape, weight, and solidity of the cube inside strikes her with lightning-like familiarity. ]
This is...
[ She dares to hope. Her heart is squeezed to stillness as she quickly opens the pouch and upends the contents (content?) into her hand. ]
2/3
Date: 2023-10-03 04:06 am (UTC)Oi, oi, oi! What's the idea, stuffing me in that— oof.
3/3
Date: 2023-10-03 04:06 am (UTC)Her eyes still closed with helpless tears, she continues to hug Add for a while longer as she finally addresses Gen weakly. ]
How did you...?
no subject
Date: 2023-10-04 02:39 am (UTC)... mn. [ A small shrug as he tucks the lighter away once more. ] I had some business with him. So.
[ A gross oversimplification of what had actually happened, of course. But -- the details don't feel really relevant to her, anyway. None of it's anything she needs to worry herself about. The ember at the tip of his cigarette burns bright as Gen takes a long drag, and he savors the smoke for a moment, willing it to calm his still-bristling nerves before slowly exhaling. ]
Your little buddy there was all I managed to grab.
[ 'I didn't manage to kill Silco,' in other words. He doesn't want to say that to her, not exactly, but for him, the discomforting sense that he hasn't done enough lingers. The only way he can think to lessen it is by confirming Gray, at least, is satisfied with this outcome. ]
He didn't have anything else of yours, did he?
no subject
Date: 2023-10-06 03:50 am (UTC)[ Silco could've taken everything else she had at the time and she wouldn't have cared. She finally wipes her eyes on the back of her wrist and holds Add in her other palm, making a platform for him to join her in looking at Gen.
A swell of gratitude rises in her for this scruffy teen, whose friendship feels rare and precious. Though he clearly intends to skimp on the details of how he retrieved Add, she wonders dearly what trouble he may have gotten himself into, what enemies he may have made as a result, what consequences he may face later. She can't help worrying about him and it probably shows in her face, but she knows he won't care to be worried over. ]
Thank you, Gen.
[ She tries to put feeling into those words, which sound too common to her ears. Add also pipes up cheerfully now, ]
Yeah, thanks, man!
[ Gray continues, ]
Can you wait a moment? I want to give you something.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-07 03:28 am (UTC)it feels alright to set aside the gloomy thoughts that had been dominating his mind, at least for a few moments. Sure, his head still feels like a mess of too many tangled thoughts, but it's calming to know at least one thing for sure -- he did the right thing in retrieving Add and returning him to Gray. No doubt about it, when he looks at that grateful, relieved look on her face. ]
... yeah, sure.
[ The bench creaks quietly when Gen heaves himself back onto his feet, slinking forward a step so he can ruffle Gray's head over her hood, as he periodically does. Not hard enough to dislodge her hood, but just hard enough to be obnoxious. ]
Don't have any other plans tonight. But you know it's not like I got him -- [ tilting his head towards Add ] -- back for you just 'cause I wanted anything from you, yeah? [ And finally, he straightens Gray's hood to an approximation of its original position, then pulls his hand away. ] Just didn't want that fucker to think he could mess with you and get away with it so easy.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-10 05:52 am (UTC)Do you think he'll be angry?
[ She doesn't care about Silco's feelings, but she does care about him trying to retaliate against Gen somehow. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-10-11 02:16 am (UTC)Nah. [ The lie comes smoothly. Maybe a bit too smoothly, if anything. Gen looks away as he follows it up with a puff at his cigarette, murmuring his followup around it. ] He doesn't know it was me. And he might not even notice I took it -- his place was a mess.
[ This is something he decided to do, so it's not a matter Gray needs to worry about.
And with that, he gives her a rough thump on the back to nudge her back towards her home. ]
C'mon, go fetch your thing.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-13 04:52 am (UTC)Gen's thump sends Gray trotting back into the house, eager to talk to Add but knowing that any conversation will take more time than the short walk will allow. Instead she returns to Gen in quick time with a picnic basket, which she holds out to him. ]
I've been trying to improve my baking, so we have a lot of practice pies in the house. I've been meaning to give you some, so...
[ She's loaded the basket with a large apple cinnamon pie and an assortment of smaller meaty hand pies. Even if Eustace and Dokja assure her otherwise, she's a bit worried they're getting tired of eating assorted pies, so it's probably for the best that she offloads on Gen. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-10-16 01:28 am (UTC)He can't help raising an eyebrow at her explanation, exhaling a long streamer of smoke through his nose before drawling, ] So you just wanted to dump your leftovers on me, huh?
[ Of course he knows that's not the case; he just can't resist the chance to prod at her a little more. Gen reaches forward even as he makes that shitty quip -- not to take the basket, but to flip off the covering and pick up one of the little hand pies. A quick sniff confirms that it smells good, and Gen manages to eat about half the pie in one large bite. ]
... pretty good.
[ Said with his mouth still mostly full. ]
S'this what you've been spendin' most of your time on lately?
no subject
Date: 2023-10-17 09:02 am (UTC)I don't need to take care of Slow Dancer anymore, so I've had extra time. And someone mentioned that they missed homemade pies, so I thought I could give it a try...
[ Slow Dancer could be a handful, but Gray misses the satisfaction of taking care of her; as ornery as the old horse was, Gray was grateful that Slow Dancer even trusted her enough to stay with her.
And just so they're clear on the matter, ]
I'd like to make you food fresh from the oven, but I don't always know where you are.
[ A gentle comment on the surface, but a pointed accusation from Gray. Recently a CERTAIN SOMEONE just disappeared from sight for a couple weeks and she doesn't know why?? ]
no subject
Date: 2023-10-18 02:27 am (UTC)Mn. [ Give him a second to swallow and then give a satisfied little huff. That pie really is good, even if it's cooled. ] Just had some stuff come up for a while.
[ Is he going to elaborate at all? Absolutely not! Gen instead takes another, slightly smaller bite before continuing. ]
Don't worry. S'plenty tasty even if it's not fresh-made. I mostly ate stuff from convenience stores back home, y'know. [ He brushes a stray flake of pastry from the corner of his mouth with his thumb before casually adding, ] But just let me know whenever you wanna kill some more time with cooking, and I'll see if I can head over. You're pretty good, so I'll never say no.
[ Unfortunately for Gray, Gen is a shitty, shitty teenager, so that offhand comment is the closest he'll get to admitting that he really appreciates her consideration. At least the speed with which he's managed to demolish the handpie proves he's being honest about her cooking being excellent. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-10-18 06:36 am (UTC)In Horos they spent plenty of time apart, but it still felt like she had easy access to him. Now it feels like he's moved two towns over — though that fails to capture the vastness of the space that actually exists between their positions now. She wonders if this is something like being homesick, though obviously Gen is not a house.
He says he'll never say no if she calls for him. For food, though she has no doubt he'd come regardless. ]
I'll let you know.
[ If he comes more often, Eustace can see him too. Gray resolves to bake something again soon.
She begins to hold the basket out again for him to take, reconsiders the movement, and then steps forward to wrap him in a one-armed hug soft and warm with feeling. With disregard for his shitty teenager obliqueness, she makes a clumsy bludgeon of her heart. ]
If you're ever hungry... or if you miss eating something, I'll make it for you. But you have to let me know.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-21 01:55 am (UTC)Gen's attachment to his home had steadily waned after his mother had left, as he'd come to realize just how little his stepmother cared for him; the quick, easy appeal of convenience store foods and nearby family restaurants had easily overpowered whatever lingering attachment he might have had to the concept of 'homemade food.' Food is food, and Gen eats mostly just to sate his appetite, or maybe enjoy something tasty. Who it's made by, or where it's made, doesn't really matter in his opinion.
But Gray's little offer sends a prickle of something soft and longing through his chest, and he's oddly reminded of the time Eustace had cooked a meal for him on his birthday. Vaguely, he wonders if this is what it's like when people say they 'miss home.'
Though Gen says nothing at first as he feels that slender arm wrap around him in a clumsy, lopsided hug, he does sigh after a moment. And instead of pushing Gray away, he gives her an awkward pat to the back. ]
Sure. [ The way his hand lingers on her back afterwards might even count for a reciprocation of the hug, if given some leeway for his usual aversion towards shows of affection. ] Just so long as you don't go getting yourself killed again, alright?
[ And this much, he says without any pretension, his hand squeezing at Gray's shoulder for just a moment before withdrawing\; his tone of voice is serious and firm. It's not even that he wants to avoid the trouble of having to retrieve Add again. -- Gray just deserves better. He'd stake his life on it. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-10-22 04:46 am (UTC)The awkward pats to her back are enough for her to accept that he understands, so she mercifully lets him go. It goes without saying that she isn't looking to die again any time soon, but she still responds with all due solemnity. ]
I won't. I've learned my lesson. And now that I have Add again, I won't lose in a fight.
[ A fair one, anyway. And magic can be pretty cheap, so she can't make promises there. But what's important is the sentiment.
She holds the basket out toward Gen again. She isn't letting him go home without a cute woven basket in hand. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-10-24 05:27 am (UTC)A sentiment that comes across maybe just the slightest in the way he thumps her back once more before quickly pulling his hand away to grab up the basket instead. ]
Mm. I'll drop the basket off when I'm done.
[ It's his way of saying thanks. (???) Also, it's probably only going to take him a few days at most to demolish all these pies. Disgusting. ]
Later, then.
[ And with that unceremonious farewell, he's off. At least Gray can rest easy knowing she'll be keeping him well-fed for a while. ]