|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 9:08 am
He was sitting, not in the Life labs for once, but on the edge of the dormitory building steps that led out onto the grounds, the door propped open. Merric's weapon was laid across his lap, the sound of the rain filtering in through the open entryway and echoing gently through the hallway.
He was dressed as well as he ever was, in a pair of dove gray slacks, a white button down, and matching dove gray waistcoat, the panda pin back in place where it should have been, thanks to Melvin's return of it. Everything was neat and tidy.
Merric's head was bowed over the horseman's pick; he seemed lost in thought.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 9:28 am
"Alright, Merric?" Roswell asked primly, a clipboard under one arm. For people of his skill level, the duty roster of assignments all appeared to be either guard duty or janitorial. Lysander, of course, preferred guard duty, and no other duty drove Roswell so completely up a wall.
He'd rather be scrubbing out refuse than watching the time slow to an impossible crawl.
Roswell gave the weather a cursory glance. It was rain. It had been rain for the past however long.
"Aside from the obvious."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:37 pm
It took a moment for the words to register, and then Merric's head went up to find Roswell peering down at him, looking as calm and collected as he ever did.
"Oh - ah, y-yes," said Merric quickly, though this wasn't entirely true. It was rare that he saw either of the two men without the other, but Roswell's presence wasn't unwelcome in the slightest. He shifted where he sat, half turning so that he could look at Roswell better.
"It's disgusting outside,' he said, unnecessarily, Merric's hand gliding absently over the pick again without looking at it. "I was thinking about - going to try this whole...thing...fighting, that is, but it's too wet and rainy, and I'm not even sure I'm made for it."
His eyes flickered to the other. "Are you doing all right?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 5:33 pm
"Oh?" Roswell said, a certain gleam coming over his expression.
He looked out over the island, a fierce wind whipping the palm trees back and forth.
"It's only a little water. We'll have to fight in all kinds of conditions, you know," he said. "Not just sunny days on beaches. And at least you can anticipate the weather at this point. A swimsuit, for example, would be less uncomfortable and dry quickly."
He got a little steely at the return question.
"Fred's back," he said shortly, "and Lysander and I are having a disagreement.
So, for myself personally, a spar would be welcome." His expression suddenly changed to something almost eeriely cheery. "Would you like to give it a try? There's time to change."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 5:40 pm
Merric glanced out at the dismal weather again. Roswell did have a point; it wasn't as though they were going to spend all of their time on even ground when it was beautiful and sunny out; and it was even more unlikely that they would be able to back out from a fight just because of inclement weather.
There was a certain, uncharacteristic edge to Roswell's voice. Merric's brows drew together as he pushed himself to his feet, using the pick as a means to levy himself up into a standing position.
"Oh," he said, and while he had gathered the first, the latter was not very good to hear. "I'm...sorry, that sounds very much like you'd need a distraction."
He glanced down at himself, then over at Roswell. "I suppose I should. And no, it's quite all right, I think I'll just go in this; the rest of my clothes are just the same as it is, so there wouldn't be any point, really; it would just be substituting one suit for another."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 1:43 pm
Roswell gave Merric a flat look.
"That," he decided, "is absolute nonsense. A swimsuit is the same as a business suit. Honestly, Merric. I'm going to change. And you are too. Come up, I'm not pushing you into the dirt in a white shirt and a tailored jacket."
Roswell was already headed back towards their dormitories.
He decided to pry into the other issue with at least some modicum of tact.
"Has Lysander...spoken to you, recently?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 1:50 pm
Merric opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again. He slowly got to his feet, desummoning his weapon as he did so, brushing nonexistent dust from the knees of his slacks. "I suppose you're right," he said, and started to follow Roswell back, falling into step beside him.
The question, however, almost made him stumble over his own two feet. Merric felt the beginnings of a flush suffusing his cheeks; he had not expected to run into Roswell, and here and now only made it that much harder, all things considered.
"I...a few days ago," he said, clearing his throat. Merric's fingers fluttered aimlessly at his side with nothing to do. "Not...not recently, unless that counts as recently."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:19 pm
Roswell took the answer to his actual question from the flush.
"I already know," he said, "in case you were worried. That he propositioned you. He made it very clear to me that he was going to. I know I've been on a certain edge recently, but I'm not angry with you over that whole business. It's another set of issues."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:34 pm
Of course Roswell knew.
This shouldn't have come as a surprise, and it didn't really, but it didn't stop the flush deepening in color, Merric's sense of mingled mortification, embarrassment, and shame burning through him. He had the sudden, wild urge to run away, except that would have been unbelievably childish, and besides, Roswell deserved better than that.
Merric's steps slowed down until he had stopped walking altogether.
"I'm sorry," he said, the words coming out before he could stop them, his heart beating too fast. "Roswell, I'm sorry, I didn't - I didn't intend for any of that to - "
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:49 pm
Roswell stopped only when he realized Merric wasn't following. And apparently collapsing in on himself.
"Merric, honestly," Roswell said, "it's alright. And, I'm not trying to um," he looked at Merric's completely red face. "Look. It isn't you. And it's not your fault. And it's not as though I've given you completely platonic signals, myself. This is a completely different topic, because I was drunk at the time, but that night- with the Dare or Dare game, I mean, did you turn down any dares?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:01 pm
He was not exactly having a panic attack, but the constriction in his chest was making it harder to talk. Merric took a breath and tried to calm himself down, because Roswell was still mostly reasonable - or seemed to be, at least, even if what they were talking about had no reasoning behind it whatsoever.
"N...no," said Merric, and then, "I - I was also drinking, though, so I'm not sure if...that counts, or anything."
He'd heard the it isn't your fault but it seemed to just filter through his mind without taking hold.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:07 pm
Roswell appraised Merric again.
"Not a single dare. Even I turned down a dare, and I, Merric, am very enthusiastic about dares. That level of, I don't know, agreeability is a very rare gift, but it puts you at a disadvantage, in certain situations."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:18 pm
He managed a very slight smile at enthusiastic about dares because that somehow seemed extremely Roswell-ish. But it disappeared a second later, melting into an expression of confusion that eventually went to one of understanding.
Merric took a breath that somehow hurt. "You mean...Lysander," he said quietly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:36 pm
"Well, especially with him. He's good at ignoring Nos in the first place."
Roswell seemed to reconsider this, especially in the current context, somewhat embarrassed.
"I don't mean that he'd- be violent, with anyone. Only that he's pushy. We're not trying to- you're still a friend, as far as I'm concerned. The things Lysander's sorting out- that's all a different matter, and I don't hold anything against you. I do like you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:53 pm
That as well was unsurprising. Merric took another painful breath, willing himself to not overthink, to allow Roswell to speak before he made assumptions this time.
He felt somehow exposed, standing here; and also never more as though he had intruded upon something intensely private. Merric's eyes flickered, his hands curling together, fingers tangling. "I didn't...intend for it to happen," he said again, because it felt like he needed to clarify this, an almost desperate desire to explain even if nothing much had happened, in the grand scheme of things.
Except to Merric, it had been a great deal. "I like you - both of you - very much," he said, voice still quiet. "And perhaps you don't hold it against me - " Except he couldn't see how he wouldn't. " - for which I don't deserve, but I...dislike the idea that I've offended either one of you. Or that I've...done anything at all to..."
Merric trailed off, at a loss at how to finish that sentence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
