Welcome to Gaia! ::

Mier was exuberant. Wove his joy into his routine, tied his hair into a neat braid, ran silver ribbon through it; because he could - because it didn’t matter if he got done up and painted himself every shade of festive. Gil might even like it? Maybe had a thing for orb memes and Christmas spirit?

There was only one way to know. N’ even if the big man didn’t? There was nothing that could ramp down his pride in how well the last month had gone for him.

A lesson, a win, introductions to those on his team. Medals earned; even though it cost him sweat, blood, and a boatload of pain.

It’d been worth it — the thrill of attending an actual mission.

The cherry to top it all off though?

The icing glitzed over the cake? That, was Gil. The gentle uptick of communication between them, phone time and tentative meetings planned for future dates —

Mier wasn’t sure what the exact plan *was*, for this particular evening. As he got dropped off by friends far enough away to have to walk into the nearly emptied lot. Bundled up in bright hues. Sunshine yellows and dark brown furred trim, some slimmer version of a puffy coat with deep kangaroo pouch pockets. Perfect for hiding away essentials, and tucking his cold hands.

It took him a moment to spot — and he should’ve known Gils car. The man stood out more so, impossible to ignore figure perched atop the hood of it.

“Gil!!”

He couldn’t help but run up, huffing chilled air in a gentle fog as he slid to a stop.

“Hah, are you well?”

Soft ask like the softer smile, like the rosy tint of cold that nipped gently at his nose and cheeks.

“I have been!! Oh, my internships been going well — we’ve got new members on the team, and that’s been nice.”

Gil looked well — *looked good* - but of course he’d always looked good. Seemed whole and hearty; even if something seemed off. Almost like a table with a wobbly leg. Except he couldn’t quite place it, or maybe it was just that Gil genuinely didn’t enjoy the cold?

“I’m glad — I’ve wanted..” well, he’d wanted many things, hadn’t he? That which had long caused all the fuss. Had created the schism that had threaded in distance. Like a crack that ran along used tarmac.

Gil hadn’t ignored him though - was reaching out an olive branch. Had given time and space. How that had cooled things, how Mier saw that as a chance to rebuild from a better standing. Start a fire anew on hoof kindling instead of half rotted logs full of lies.

“Well, many things. I do particularly like the cold though — or — no. I like the season. I hope your work is treating you well. It always seems like so much, all the hours you put in.”

"I can agree with that." soft titter of sound, hint of derisive sigh within it, because sometimes? It was exhausting. As invaluable as the work felt, as wonderful as all the information was? How many nights had he spent sore, and tired, and - at least it was only once or twice a week. At least the missions were few and far in between - or Mier didn't think he'd ever be up and walking.

"I'm hoping to get a scholarship out of it, 'possibilities for future funding', or however these things work. I really should work on getting into school - maybe during the fall semesters? Spring seems too close."

He shuddered at the thought of flying right back into school after having just barely left. Though he knew that was the push - that was the door that opened avenues to success for him. Shook his head and stepped over the thought as he moved closer to Gil. Offered up a smile as he reached out to touch --

Just being near Gil was warming. How his bulky frame exuded so much human heat. Radiated it - and he wondered if the metal was still warm behind him. If it'd be cozy to spend a few hours staring up into space and seeing what it spit out. Already he'd seen so much, aliens, invasions, lazers spat out of towers and asteroids shattered into debris.

It would've been nice to have something normal for once.

"It's good to have fun --- and stargazing..." and the talking? Such simple things, and Mier wanted that. To sit back and enjoy being outside. "Can we sit on the hood? It looks like it handles you so very well, such a sturdy thing."

'Warm' - and Mier hummed some soft content note, nuzzled ever so slightly at the coarse yet soft sweater material beneath his cheek. He'd take the hug. Got hints of 'Gil' from beneath that, how even with the cold nipping he thought Gil smelled - like his home - like dark heated things - like smoked spices and Christmas had been spritzed into his cologne.

"Wonderful!!" applauded the act and checked every pocket he had, slid his phone from a back pocket into his hoodie pouch where his hands disappeared briefly, before he found the hood with open palms and levied himself up to sit. Shimmied back until he could look up without leaning too far back and touching glass. "I got a ride - well - I'm working on getting a car. One of those milestones that requires money and -- mmmn. All the things a boarding school prepares you for? The internship, I feel like it was destined, but everything else?"

School had made him ready for more of the same - though sometimes he felt like it'd made him far more ready to join some militant organization than actual society, but he supposed regimented things were entirely a part of day to day 9-5's. Besides, he knew if he got a little money under his belt with an actual job, that his mother would meet him half way. They weren't wealthy -- but they were comfortable. Lived somewhere between the line of 'just enough' and staunch reminders that things could be worse. How him living out of the home for so long had lifted a single mothers burden.

Though he well knew that even if they'd been rolling in it, nothing ever would've been handed too him strictly for free. Which was fine, that was how he liked it anyways. To earn what he would keep.

"All at once, I do not envy anything you must do, and yet? I wish too that I could do it without -- ah - having to jump all the hurdles leading up to it?" Tucked his legs up underneath himself, crisscross, tilted his head to peer for stars twinkling up into the sky, for some mysterious other to clandestinely spark through, and set off a new snow storm, or a shrill breeze to whip through and dash the thinning clouds completely.

"I've been working on being patient though." and he said the words as if he sought praise, tracked Gils fidgeting and interpreted him as cold. Scooted closer like an offer -- because it would likely get colder still, and well before the aforementioned stars came out. "I've been working on quite a few things..heh, the list seems endless..work seems endless. I'm ready to retire the word for something. Oh, for any other thing that means the same but sounds less like a wrench being thrown at a wall - tsk 'work'. "

Nuzzled up round the embrace, curled closer to stave off the inevitable cold. Every word out of Gil's mouth was -- experienced. Smart, he knew, obvious in all the ways it pointed out how exactly things worked. Mier couldn't help but want for more, faster, right now.

Could stave it off and kick it down. Wasn't if he was asking for it to be handed to him, simply, made more accessible. School had been so much effort and his attempts at day to day advances often hit so many snags that made it became a chore. He didn't want everything to be that.

Three ring circus with hurdles, and hoops and...

He didn't want to be a hound or a pony put to work for the sake of others only, he wanted to lead! To have agency and power on scalable levels. Heaved a sigh against Gil and nodded on instead for all his insatiableness. Let it lie before he stuck his foot in it, quite literally. Wouldn't kick what he knew to be right down the stairs, not when he could be agreeable for it.

"I do" and there were colors forming above, swirling bright, but they caught better in Gils eyes. Searched the darkness and searched his face in equal measure, while he watched the watercolor glow gently split in peaks and valleys across the sky...

Found he watched Gil's face more. In wonder -- in worry...

"Are you..." abortive little half thought that he instantly swapped for - "You are a very good person, at heart, aren't you Gil?"

And it was fine he thought, if he clutched just a little, threaded his fingers in a soft curl over the fabric that he was budged up against. Mier wasn't sure if he was a good person -- if he was - a myriad of things. It was hard to know. To be patient enough to find out.

Mier forgot, seamlessly, that Gil had experience on him. Had time and years and — had already lived some of the things he sought for himself.

Enough to know, maybe?

Enough to make the warning sound sincere instead of patronizing or placating. Gil was too good for this world…this an intrinsic thing that Mier knew.

“I don’t think I’ve ever quite had someone explain it to me like that before.” Soft spoken words because he didn’t want to disturb, the way the sky lit up and flared with auras like a melting pot full of paint. Glitter fondue watered down until it dripped in streaks behind the horizon.

The way it was clear that Gil just wanted him happy, safe, whole.

“I like that you say it anyways. I like…I don’t think you should ever stop saying it - that is — Ah..all the very intelligent things.” brightly chilled chuckle that accompanied his smile. Lit with the backdrop of the night sky.

How Mier wanted to ask for more, advise, easement, of Gils experience as a whole. To n** after everything he’d done and pick the words apart until he could take some of the strong steadiness that made him up; make it his own. Instead he clung. Took the tug close and cuddled up for the simple joy of sharing warmth — whispered ‘thank you’ meant it as easily as he meant to apologize for being so, himself?

Overeager overachiever that needed someone to yank on the reins…gently….without making him feel forgettably small.