[slaps roof of barn]

[endsjustified]

WHO: lilies
WHERE: lily
WHEN: day 76 postgame

[you can fit SO many crises in here]

Comments

[abandon_hope]

[ Kevin is very specifically avoiding looking at Ananke, in fact, so when their glances occasionally cross he hunches down further into the couch cushions as if the couch might absorb him if he digs far enough. ]

[spinebuddyandme]

[ winces guiltily each time it happens. by the third time the stress has finally built up enough for him to break the silence ]

—Sorry for making it worse.

[abandon_hope]

[ By now he's got his arms around one of the couch cushions and is clinging to it as he stares off the back of the couch. ]

Making what worse?

[spinebuddyandme]

[ Stumbles over his words finding the right phrasing to not out him ]

Uh, the — y'know. How weird it is?

[abandon_hope]

[ this is very good of Ananke. Unfortunately, Kevin is going to take that in the worst way possible. he ducks his head, clinging harder to his pillow. ]

You think it's weird.

[ of course he does! that's the usual response! Lily needed a downside and this is it. he can cope with it. it's fine, it's fine, it's fine. ]

[spinebuddyandme]

[ Straightens to attention so quick he nearly tips off the couch ]

Wh—no! You're the one who said it was weird!

[abandon_hope]

I didn't -

[ can he sink into this couch any further. he might be low key dipping his feet into the shadows. ]

Look, I know I'm not normal. I've never been normal. I can't - do anything about it.

[spinebuddyandme]

No, you did! You started panicking and and were all "It's just weird!", and then I asked if you needed to, y'know, think about something else and you ran away!

[ he's not getting up yet but he is leaning forward like he's ready to sprint across this room ]

I'm not saying you're not normal!

1/2

[abandon_hope]

[ he sees Ananke tense up and instinctively opens a shadow portal again - ]

[abandon_hope]

[ he's out of juice. he gets like. an arm stuck in it. no escape. fINE ]

Then what are you saying?

[spinebuddyandme]

[ does not move another muscle ]

I'm trying to say sorry for making it harder to deal with, but I'm pretty sure I'm messing this up too.

[abandon_hope]

[ there's a long moment as Kevin gulps in breaths. ]

You're sorry?

[spinebuddyandme]

[ relaxes a little bit ]

Yeah. I didn't mean to freak you out.

[abandon_hope]

[ another long moment of quiet from Kevin. ]

I didn't mean to - um -

[ ugh he buries his head in the cushion again. but Ananke gentling first is enough to get the flood started. ]

I'm gay, all right? I don't - know what that means here. If it's a problem or not.

[spinebuddyandme]

[ fully sits back in his seat now that it no longer looks like Kevin's gonna bolt ]

Hey, it's okay. It's pretty much the opposite of a problem here, but I get it. There's assholes back home who give people a hard time over it too.

That won't happen here.

[abandon_hope]

[ Kevin finally lifts his head. ]

Yeah? You're sure?

[spinebuddyandme]

I'm positive. There's a few guy couples here already. And Sonata just went home, but I'm pretty sure she and Lyra were dating while she was here. No one's ever given them any shit.

[abandon_hope]

[ Kevin glances over at Lethe and Charon. ]

What about them?

[ he means "will they care" but. ]

[spinebuddyandme]

[ follows his gaze ]

Charon's into guys, and Lethe at least knows about it. You've got nothing to worry about with them.

[abandon_hope]

[ oh. that's suddenly a huge relief. ]

Really? So - it's not just me on this team...?

[spinebuddyandme]

Yeah, you're not alone.

[abandon_hope]

[ a small nod. He looks a bit better. ]

What do you think Lethe will say?

[spinebuddyandme]

[ hmmmm ]

He might ask if you have any crushes.

[abandon_hope]

-- huh?

[spinebuddyandme]

I mean, I don't know for sure that he will? But it wouldn't surprise me.