catphishing | IC Contact [ryslig]

[After this so that I'm not spamming someone else's post oops.

Sure enough, Soeki shows up about an hour later, knocking once before letting himself in.]

Hey Ollie, I'm here. So that happened. Want to make plans for Halloween?

[Oliver's on his couch, thumbing through a paper when Soeki shows up. He'd left the door unlocked once he said he was coming, but he's not exactly looking forward to his arrival. There's some reluctance in the way he sets the newspaper aside.]

You have plans. You don't have to ditch them for me.

[If he notices the reluctance, he doesn't say, or give any indication. Soeki moves to sit down by him, shoulders slumping a little.]

I don't have plans, actually. I'm not ditching you on Halloween for Lucius Malfoy. Give me some credit.

[He inches a little closer, feeling a twinge of guilt at the slump. He doesn't care about Lucius' feelings, but he does care it's hurt Soeki.]

You say that like Lucius Malfoy isn't your friend.

[It does hurt, being one of the few people who hold Halloween as culturally significant beyond the costumes and candy and seemingly being frozen out of the party planning. But he'll just do what he always does, pretend he doesn't care until he doesn't care. It wouldn't have been a fun party without Oliver anyway.]

You're my boyfriend. Lucius is- an acquaintance, I guess. We had a couple things in common. Not enough that I want to go hang out with somebody who- I'm guessing he said something homophobic and now he's pissed that you called him out?

That doesn't mean you have to prioritize me all the time.

[He sighs, rolling his eyes almost subconsciously.]

He's just... he doesn't even get how backwards his ideas are. He thinks they're fine , or that not being used to people who aren't like him is an excuse.

Wanting to be with you for Halloween is not prioritizing you all the time. [He nearly does roll his eyes, but manages restraint, and reaches over to lay a hand idly on his knee instead.]

Yeah, that's no excuse. It's not like anybody wants to hear how unacceptable their lives would be where he comes from. And it's crap that he's giving me the brush-off now anyway.

I just want you to have a good time. It's not your fault I got mad.

[He does relax a little at the touch though.]

It isn't fair he's acting like he's going to shut you out of this.

You had every right to get mad. [He points out, thumbing circles against his knee, giving him a little smile.] I wouldn't have a good time without you.

I shouldn't be surprised. I guess old-school magic aristocracy types are super petty.

[He nods absently, making a small sound of appreciation at the touch.]

You should talk to him anyway. It's important to you.

Nah, I think everything that was going to be said was said already. If he actually wants my involvement, he can text me.

If he doesn't, I will. He should get why you don't want to miss it better than anyone.

[He frowns, leaning against him.]

Do you think I overreacted?

You don't have to do that. [But it's a sweet sentiment, and he smiles slightly, wrapping an arm around him to draw him closer.]

No, I don't think you did. What did he even say? If he straight up said I was wasting my time with you, I swear to god-

No. No, he never said that.

[He's quick to say it. And actually that's the accusation he feels worst about now he's had time to sit there and worry about this conversation while he's been waiting.]

We weren't even dating then. It was just generally. He said if someone was gay where he comes from they'd still marry who they were meant to. For heirs. Or so they didn't shame their family. And he's totally okay with that happening. He's happier with it that way. He said he's alarmed when he thinks too much about knowing two guys who are engaged to each other.

[He laughs a little as he explains it, still hardly able to believe he had that conversation. That it actually does still sound that bad now he's sober.]

God, I can't believe I actually thought he might have changed his mind.

We were still fucking. It's still personal, even if he didn't know that. [But honestly they'd been obvious to, he's pretty sure, both Natasha and Jade, so if it was missed, it was missed willingly.

He breathes out heavily at the explanation, leaning his head against Oliver.] Jesus. I shouldn't really be surprised? There are some older necromancers who think the same shit. But literally all he has to do is decide that other people's personal lives aren't his business to be scandalized about.

He can think whatever he wants. [He tilts his head, mouths a kiss against whatever he can reach.] You're not a waste of my time. And he can fuck off with his party if he'd rather go plan it with the "muggles" he hates.

He knew I was gay. I don't know if he knew about you being bi. He was upset he kept running into people who weren't straight, but I was really drunk. I thought maybe I made a bigger thing of it than it was.

[But now he's actually talking about it... it had been pretty bad. Really bad.

Bad enough to get Soeki frozen out of his Halloween party? He can't quite believe himself, but he isn't sure. It isn't just some dumb commercialized holiday to either him or Lucius.]

I know I'm not. [He's secure enough in his relationship he already knew he didn't think so either, but the kiss is nice all the same. He seeks out the hand that isn't currently holding him closer, lacing their fingers together.] You should still say yes if he does come back to you. I think I can be smart enough to avoid him if he's doing something big.

He needs to get over himself. [He can see why Oliver would be upset. It's not the kind of shit you want to have to deal with on top of the usual Ryslig problems of changing and feeding. And Soeki is hurt and annoyed in general at the moment.]

I don't know if I would want to now. Obviously my input doesn't matter even though I'm practically the only one on this peninsula that really gets what Halloween means to magic folk.

It does matter. You were really excited.

[He sighs, resting his head on Soeki's shoulder.]

If you want to draw your protection stuff on my walls then you can.

Before he snubbed me. For siding with my boyfriend. I don't need his friendship, or his party. [He leans his head against Oliver's, subtly taking in the scent of his hair. It's familiar, comforting. Weird that he thinks smells are comforting now, but hashtag bear life.]

Wards. They go over doorways, actually. [He smiles a little, fond.] But it's sweet of you to offer.

Oh.

[Well, he screwed that up. Maybe he should ask him me questions about his beliefs. This conversation is making him realize how little he does know.]

Well, you can draw wards. If you want to.

[It sucks, and it hurts a little, and maybe he's sulking like a five year old whose toy was taken away, but he'll get over it. If it comes to choosing, he'll choose Oliver any day.]

Would you draw them with me? We can do it in chalk. It'll wipe right up after Halloween since I don't have my magic to back them. It's just tradition for me, you know?

[He thinks about that. It's nice that he's offering to do it in chalk, and he can't say he's too enthusiastic about the thought of having them up permanently, but this is Soeki. It's important to him, and he's already ruined one part of the holiday.]

Let's do it in paint. Or... what do you normally use?

[He's clearly a little surprised when Oliver suggests paint, gold eyes widening a fraction, smile going hopelessly soft. He's always a little wary when his... family craft comes up, because it can be off-putting to other people, but Oliver embracing this tradition of his family's... It just makes him fonder.]

Usually sharpie or black paint, yeah. [He laughs quietly.] But we also cover over them a day or two after Halloween with a coat of the wall paint. It'd look weird if you ever had regular-people guests over, y'know?

I thought you said that stopped them working?

[Not that they'd work in Ryslig either way. He's not sure what the best thing to offer from there is.]

Do you want to paint over them after?

Covering isn't the same as clearing away. But they're not gonna work either way. [His smile is a little bitter there; it still feels weird and wrong to not have his magic, even after all this time in Ryslig. Being a were is hard for more reasons than just the pain of transforming or the feral spells.]

It's enough that you offered, Ollie. It means a lot. It doesn't matter if it's paint or chalk, I just... [He looks down slightly, almost shy.] Want to share a little bit of home with you.

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, OLIVER. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 142.58.303.67 * oliver has joined 142.58.303.67 <oliver> So this is my private channel. <oliver>** Talk to me?

IC Contact [ryslig]

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