[slaps roof of barn]

[endsjustified]

WHO: lilies
WHERE: lily
WHEN: day 76 postgame

[you can fit SO many crises in here]

Comments

[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.

[abandon_hope]

[ SQUINTS AT LETHE FROM ACROSS THE ROOM ]

[mykidisthebest]

[Lethe is across the room training a bunny to hop onto his shoulders for no reason at all; he feels someone staring and glances over at Kevin to give him a small nod of his head]

[abandon_hope]

...

[ he. waves a little to Lethe. Then, to Ananke: ]

Yeah. Yeah, I think you're right.

[spinebuddyandme]

I know I am, but he'll prove it himself sooner or later.

[abandon_hope]

Right.

[ Kevin rubs at his face. ]

I guess I'll tell him a little later, then.

[spinebuddyandme]

Later's good. You could use a serious break after all that.

[abandon_hope]

[ he nods at that. ssslowly extracts himself from the shadow he was starting to shove himself into. ]

Everything kind of happened at once.