|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:22 am
Ailein perked up as music filled the air. He bounded over to a man pushing a cart and started to have a light conversation. A few moments later a pecan ice cream cone was being offered to Gabe, held carefully as to not mess up the other's book. "H-h-h-here th-thi-this is fo-for he-he-helping m-m-m-me the o-o-other d-d-day..."
He hoped the other like pecan. It was a passing thought as he tried to keep his own cone from melting on his hand. "M-M-M-may I a-a-ask y-y-you s-s-s-something...?" He paused before quickly adding, "A-A-And tha-that wa-wa-wasn't it."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:41 am
Groangroangroan...
"Oh, thank you."
Mmm, peccan.
Bet he dosed it with a helping of squirrel fur.
Gabriel slid the scrap of paper into the designated pages and handled the ice cream somewhat warily, not tasting it. He had a thing about eating in front of people. Particularly people who insisted on staring at him and persisted on disturbing his peace.
Bit of a sticky dilemma. Ah hell.
He took a cautious nibble on the top of the cone.
"M-M-M-may I a-a-ask y-y-you s-s-s-something...?"
You just did.
"A-A-And tha-that wa-wa-wasn't it."
Smart boy.
Gabriel allowed another bite, swallowed, and replied, "Yes?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:49 am
Ailein's smile faded as he stopped his cone from dripping by licking the sides. The other obviously appreciated the ice cream. At least he was truthful about that. He hesitated when the other agreed to allow him his question.
There was no friendship to break. If the man fled then there would be nothing to grieve. His worry was hurting the man's feelings though he doubted he could ever break him. He was like a stone. The honey eyes hardened.
"Why do you keep pretending?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:57 am
Huh?
Pretending what? To be polite? Heck, good question.
Course if I didn't, I'd get smacked around a whole lot more? Jeez.
What's his problem anyway? Escaped from an asylum somewhere?
"Excuse me?" Gabriel's tone was mildly incredulous.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:05 am
The boy sat down next to him to avoid staring. He ignored the person beside him for a few minutes, drifting in and out of his thoughts.
Why does he hide behind a mask?
Why do you?
Ailein sighed slightly. "I-I-I ca-can t-tell..."
You're just like everyone else. A fake.
"Y-Y-You d-d-don't h-h-have to p-pr-pretend to b-b-be n-nice to m-me. I-I-I k-k-know th-tha-that I'm s-s-s-st-str.....weird." He gazed up idly at where his book lay on the ground. Animals. He understood them. People were two-faced and mean.
Animals were simply as they appeared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:25 am
As far as I recall, you're the one being all nice and gushy. I just responded.
Gabriel indulged in a heavenward glance of his eyes. Then he took another bite of his cone as he regarded the boy for a moment. Ailein, to all appearances, seem to be furiously intent on not meeting his eyes.
What's with the mood swing anyway? Is he bipolar?
Still, Gabriel thought the boy had sounded a bit hurt as he stammered out his question. His lips thinned slightly in displeasure at the situation, although when he spoke, his tone was patient.
"Look, ki- Ailein. Did it ever occur to you that people may be nice to you simply because not everyone's a b*****d?"
You're a b*****d.
Well... yeah.
He hesitated, then tapped Ailein lightly on the shoulder. "Did you really want me to treat you like you're the singularly most bizarre thing I've ever seen?" he asked mildly. "Try not to think too highly of yourself. You're not weird enough to warrant that kind of treatment."
Eeeeexcept when you wear a dress, but that's pretty much you asking for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:34 am
When Ailein finally met Gabriel's eyes, his own were grateful and relieved. He cracked a smile and nodded with a slight laugh. Not a girlish giggle, but a real laugh that actually added some masculinity to his frame.
"I-I-I-I su-su-suppose y-y-you're r-r-r-right." He glanced down at his cone again then finished it quickly, the end of the cone to the squirrels that had been staring at him. "S-s-still... I d-d-don't w-w-want pe-pe-people to pre-pre-pretend to be m-m-my f-f-friend."
He idly laid his head back. "W-W-Would y-you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:45 am
"Well... no, I wouldn't," Gabriel allowed slowly. He was simply relieved that the boy didn't seem about to throw a fit.
Who knows, with weird people.
Ha.. ha.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:55 am
There was a bit of a silence. Not uncomfortable, at least not to Ailein. He enjoyed just listening.
He finally broke the silence by turning to Gabe again. "M-m-maybe w-w-w-we co-could b-b-be fr-friends..." It was light hearted. He stood and retrieved his book from the ground, brushing it off.
"I-I-I s-s-still n-n-need an en-entry ph-ph-phrase..." He muttered to himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:59 am
"M-m-maybe w-w-w-we co-could b-b-be fr-friends..."
Thankfully, Ailein did not sound serious about that remark. Gabriel would not have known how to properly respond to that without hurting his feelings somewhat. He gave a dismissive shrug in reply. The boy now seemed more preoccupied with talking to himself, which was fine with Gabriel. He started eying his book again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:10 am
Eventually be friends... He mentally added.
He slugged his backpack over his shoulder and smiled. "W-w-w-well my s-s-s-sister g-g-gets m-m-mad if I-I'm n-not h-h-home w-wh-when she's up." He smiled and gave a wave. "S-s-s-see y-y-you a-a-around Ga-Ga-Ga-Gabriel!"
With that the boy started off, singing to himself and enjoying the rest of his day. "When you walk away you don't hear me say, please oh baby, don't go...."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:16 am
"Bye." Was Gabriel's absent answer as he was already getting well reacquainted with his much neglected book. In another hour or so, he'd have to chase Morag down before leaving the park.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
