certaininequities | IC Inbox for Ryslig

He surprised me, too.

[Norman huffs a soft laugh at the memory, but it doesn't last, because he can clearly see how distressed Otto is. he shifts a little closer down the cot, thinking about the conversation he had with Atem: how he'd been told to be clear and honest, and not try to predict Otto's reactions to choose for him]

Especially since ... well. If I had to make a choice, I know what it'd be. No matter how long I might have to wait.

He is, and he can ... but he also sees everything on the Network as it's happening, so he usually doesn't pay too much attention unless one of us specifically needs him.

[he gestures toward one of the arcade cabinets, smiling]

Honestly, the time he tends to get most involved is when someone offers to play a game with him. He's just a kid, after all.

[Even if Elias might not be paying attention, Steven still raises one hand in a hesitant waving gesture towards the Arcade, his eyes automatically flitting up towards the ceiling.]

Hiii Elias. Nice place you've got here.

[He doesn't expect to get a response, and part of him honestly kind of hopes he won't. He's had enough of gods speaking to him inside his head. After a few seconds, he turns his attention back to Norman.]

So did you want to sit down somewhere, or...?

[The sentiment is clear despite its ambiguous wording, and it takes Otto aback. It's true that Norman's known him longer than Bruno- that they've been through more together. But in a way, maybe that would've made Bruno the more preferable option. Less tainted history. To know Norman would still choose him even after all that's happened... It causes his cheeks to burn just a little.

And then he deciphers the underlying implication.]

No, you... You won't have to choose. [It honestly feels as if they've outgrown those sort of restrictions. As if it really doesn't matter in a place like this. They should get happiness wherever they can.] Bruno suggested that the three of us could work something out, and I'm sure it's possible over time. ...But it's nice to know you're so confident about your choice.

Oh, yeah, its- like chicken fat? [Peter always just accepted chicken schmaltz as a fact of life. Clearly, he was wrong.] It came up a lot when Ben cooked.

[There is some odd irony to the fact Ben is a safer topic than May at the moment. Something Peter doesn't entirely grasp.]

Yeah, true. Just hard to really picture right now. [He dusts his hands off carefully on a hand towel nearby.] I've been sending people messages too, to see if they'd like any.

[Peter scrunches his snout a little at that line of thought as he steps into the deli proper.] Well, you deserve to not have to conflate the two anymore.

I guess, consider all of this a fresh start to try something new. Something like, less stressful.

Like... what happened is still a lot. It doesn't negate how I feel about you? I care about you and Otto a lot.

[Peter nods slowly, though the gesture is a bit lost given Norman is focused elsewhere, so the teenager speaks.] Yeah, of course. It's her decision. Whatever she says goes, since we're all kinda just living in her house rent free.

I'm just glad you're at least doing okay, taking care of yourself and everything.

I saw your post about taking over the soup kitchen; if you ever need help butchering I've got plenty of experience and I'd be willing to come down and help.

More importantly I wanted to ask how you were feeling. Recovering? Want to talk about it at all now that there's a little distance?

[He is... barely aware of all that went on. It wasn't his business to pry; he's no stranger to how Ryslig fucks with people, and he doesn't need details to understand 'I need to work from home for a while to get my head on straight'. If Norman want to volunteer more details, that ball's in his court.]

Hi, Fiddleford! Would you believe I've got more volunteers to help carve up donations than serve them at the moment? Absolutely wild. But it means I don't have to learn, so I'm not about to complain.

As for how I'm feeling, well ...

You know, I'd love to. Can we meet up somewhere? I have a sort of ... surveillance arrangement here at Hill House, and not everyone's comfortable with it.

[Chiikage burbles at Norman as if he can read his damn mind. Norman looks up at the blood golem and raises his eyebrows]

Well, it's true, ya know.

[worst hall monitor ever]

Oh, that would be fine. If you wanted to come over and sit in the garden and drink some tea, you're more than welcome.

[He imagines this is not a conversation to have in a public coffee shop?]

Or I could come to you if you've got somewhere in mind.

I've got ... a surprising amount of people making sure that I do.

[he looks back down at Peter, studying him with a parent's keen eye]

What about you?

And yet you're still skinny as a rail. I'll be damned. Where did you even put it all?

[he laughs, already reaching for the drawer where they keep the parchment paper and storage bags]

I can help you pack it all up, at least.

[was Otto .... blushing? Norman isn't sure if he should dare to smile, but he wants to. he can feel it tugging at his cheeks like a foolish schoolboy, and he's embarrassed for himself. was it Ebenezer Scrooge that said 'I don't have the right to be this happy'? possibly. probably. ... fitting, even.]

You think it is?

[Norman ducks his head, reaching up to ruffle a hand through his hair, fluffing it up a little.]

He'd posed the same idea to me, but I wasn't sure what you'd think. I -

[he laughs a little: mostly at himself, but also relieved, as he looks up at Otto, sheepishly]

I'm glad you think we could...

Sure, there's a couch back here, by the workspace. If Emily's using it we can always sit in my space, but it's a little small in there.

[the workspace is, thankfully, unoccupied. and a plate of Elias' ever-present cookies are sitting out on a table by the couch, along with a cheese pizza that only has a few slices missing and looks fresh]

Help yourself, if you're hungry. This kind of stuff gets left out all the time. I can get us some water, too, if you'd like.

Oh, I haven't seen your garden yet. I think I'd like that a lot. What time would you like me to be there?

[he'll have to leave a note on the door in case anyone comes looking for him, but that won't take long at all.]

You're in for a treat then. The pumpkins and corn are really starting to come in in earnest right about now. I have some chores I'd like to get finished up so let's say an hour?

[That will give him time to prepare some variety of snack. Which he has to do, obviously.]

[Delicious as the cookies and pizza look, it's just not in the cards for Steven. He shakes his head as he takes a seat on the couch.]

Oh, no, thanks. I just had supper. Couldn't have any of that even if I wanted to. Vegan. Funny story; Marc isn't, actually, but that's... [He trails off, running a hand through his hair.] Yeah. I'll tell you about Marc in a bit. Water's fine, anyway. Thanks.

[He catches that smile on Norman's face. It feels like the sort he hasn't seen on his friend's face in years. It's a very flattering one, too. Perhaps if Norman had had reason to smile like that more often, he could've kept the Goblin at bay. But then, those are the sort of hypotheticals Otto is probably better off not pondering for too long.]

It's different than either of us is used to, but then... So are most other things here. There's no reason not to try, if we all feel the same way.

[Feelings are a tricky topic, though, as he's still sorting through them. He takes another sip from his iced tea, if only to mask his nerves.]

Sounds perfect. Oh - Peter made an entire mountain range of latkes recently... would you and Marco like any? We've been trying to give them away since even the crew here at the House can't eat them all.

[How dare you snipe him springing snacks on you by springing snacks on him. Dad on dad violence. He has to scour his brain for a good few seconds to remember what 'latkes' are, but luckily Ford was often aggressively Jewish in his direction. His memory supplies 'hashbrowns but better'.]

I would! I'll never say no to any sort of potato. I don't know if I'll be able to get Marco to eat any but it couldn't hurt to give him the option.

[DAD-OFF! Two Dads Will Enter. Only One Will Leave. Because IT'S NOT HIS HOUSE!]

Hey, if he doesn't, more for you. Never know when you need a midnight snack, after all. (usually around midnight)

See you in an hour. :D

[and with that, he goes to clean himself up a bit. rearranging the master bedroom to suit his tastes is warm work in the middle of July]

See you. :8)

[It's bolstering that Norman is in a good enough mood to offer snacks and use emojis... or it's a sign that he's really, really pushing down how bad he feels. Fiddleford is no stranger to doing the same thing because it seems easier than facing the ache head-on. Iced tea in the summer heat will help either way, right? It can't hurt.

When Norman arrives it's to a snake waving at him from the side of the house on the path that leads around to the garden.]

Come on around.

[True to his word the garden plots between the house and the private lake are explosions of corn and pumpkins. Not just big pumpkins, but little decorative ones too, ones left over from the natural decorations Elsa grew for his wedding that he let go to seed because seeing them reminds him of how kind that gesture was.]

I'm not that skinny!

[Norman gets a blep in turn for his teasing, Peter's tail wiggling a little in turn.]

Thanks, I was trying to figure out where to even start, you know? I usually eat stuff while cooking, but hot oil kinda made that hard. [A habit Norman and Otto had to get used to anytime Peter helped them cook, gently sniping bits of ingredients to eat.]

[Peter blinks at the reversal of the question. He scrunches his nose a little unhappily. Unintentionally sounding a bit defensive.]

I- yeah, I am. Why wouldn't I be?

[Unsurprisingly, he's pouring more time into being Spider-Man where he can.]

[he wants to be closer to Otto, right now. wants to invite him to sit next to him, so that they can lean on each other the way he and Bruno did, in the Cube. not even for anything more simple than the comfort of each other's presence. for the warmth, physically and emotionally. he knows Otto is in a tough place, himself: the aftermath of all of this, plus still processing his grief for Rosie, and everything else ...]

Everything's moved so damn fast, hasn't it...

[he reaches out, places a hand on Otto's shoulder. a compromise.]

I feel like I haven't even had a chance to process what happened at home - and I was here a month before you. S'there anything I can do...?

IC Inbox for Ryslig

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Yeah, we'll wrap it here!

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<teslacoils> before the wacky broadway trauma event

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