Welcome to Gaia! ::

It had been a while since both of them had been able to hang out together, mostly because they had both been away. HE was excited to share the changes that he’d gone through. Nelson was such a sweet and pure soul it was a delight to know him after all.

It felt a lot freer than he ever had, which had him dancing a little bit as he made his way to the spot he’d asked to meet so they could catch up.

Well… freedom and marshmallows had done it honestly.
He had a whole new secret appreciation for hot chocolate and horror movies.

He was worried about the stress Jace was under, but there was very little he could do or say without….well, adding stress.

He could just be there and wait with open arms and offer up whatever Jace was willing to take. He knew there had been a new ‘farm’ incident with Xander recently, but things seemed to have worked out alright to the best of his knowledge.

He’d brought lettuce and peas so they could feed the ducks and other interested birds, He thought, hoped Nelson would still enjoy that.

“Oh I only just made it here before you!” Holden assured with a wave of his hand, the one that had fished out his ever present cell phone. He’d added a slue of new charms to it, having sought out a phone case specifically that would allow him to do that.
“I’ve never been better either! Ah! I can’t express how lucky I am to have such a wonderful brother, and friends whom understand.” He sighed with actual contentment and gave a little ‘wiggle’ of joy.
“Oh! I brought food for the ducks! And I brought you a gift! I promise I am not only here to ask you all the questions about how YOU have been and what I missed.” He grinned and ducked his head, peering out from behind his phone as though that would somehow further establish his innocence. He wasn’t nearly as pure or sweet as Nelson, but he didn’t think anyone actually -could-be.

He did pause to sort in the pocket on the front of his oversized hoodie, one borrowed from his Brother advertising one of his previous matches with pride, and pulled out a small box.

“Look! It’s not much I know but… it seemed VERY you!” He nodded.

It was a small keychain, nothing expensive or extravagant, but the thing looked like a small goodie bag like you’d find at the store, with glitter and plastic candy inside to shake about a tiny, if somewhat distressed looking black and white bunny.

“It’s supposed to be useful too, if you drop your keys it’s supposed to be a little buoyant!”

There was nothing wrong with practical -and- adorable gifts, right?

“I got one for Xander too, so you two can match.” His eyes sparkled at the thought.

“Oh yes, I got peas, they should see absolutely mad about them! And by mad I mean they should adore it.” He corrected quickly.

“I bet we can get them on our laps too! And I packed us little tea towels in case anyone has an accident again because neither of us should have that on our laps, just the ducks.” He nodded sounding pleased with himself.
He didn’t -really- address knowing that Nelson and Xander were an ‘item’ at this point, but the motion of tapping the top edge of his phone against his mouth was tell enough, along with the slight crease at the corners of his eyes.

“Well… I mean, I know NOW for certain!” He said after a moment, still tapping the phone lightly against his upper lip.
“Since you were kind enough to tell me, but I think I think it was maybe more obvious from the outside just how much you liked each other. I don’t know… It’s not as though you can just …swap to seeing what other people do I suppose.” He sighed.

“I am so jealous, happily dating! I’m so pleased for you!”

Holden blinked.
“How would you have over stepped?” He asked, honestly confused for a moment, then he frowned.
‘Oh… noooo no no, no I am not, Xander is my -friend- that is ALL.” He held up both hands to placate the stuttering young man.
“Not at ALL what I meant, good lord! The desire to be in a relationship as cute as what you have in no way implies that I wish to date the same person you are.”

“Most people in our friend group, Nelson, have been waiting for clueless Xander to realize that you’ve been into him since… ohh…forever.” He offered a small smile hoping that he could assuage the nerves.

“You’re hardly stepping on toes, I promise.” He patted Nelson’s shoulder with a small nod.
“I may seem confident and brave, but I haven’t been able to confess my feelings, and that’s very silly I have to admit. No one in my life whom has meant anything has been anything BUT supportive of who I am or any of my goals. But for all that, I am not once once braver or smarter about knowing how to even go about it. Like so much else in my life, I just don’t know.” He shook his head and sighed.

Holden nodded with the same demeanor as someone carefully breaking news of questionable nature to someone who’d been unaware.
“He really can be, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. I feel like neither he or his brother feel like… they deserve it.” He said quietly. “love I mean, but it’s good because Xander has been in love with you, obliviously, for ages.” He smiled to deliver that news at least.

The reassurance and support though.
He hid almost immediately behind his phone.
“Oh I… It’s… a crush really.” He waved his hand. “Besides! I have no idea if the one I like is into pretty young men.” He struck a pose like he felt any sort of confidence before repeating more quietly.
“I really have no idea what… if anything they are into though, No idea at all. If I found a good moment, I might at least ask them before I let myself get carried away, but I don’t know.”

“Because some people are into pretty young ladies.” Holden said with a teasing smile and patted Nelson’s shoulder.
“As far as asking them, I’m just not that brave, I have used all my bravery up for a little bit.” He shrugged.
“When I find it again, I will try and save a bit to ask them, but I don’t want them to feel bad if they don’t like me that way, because sometimes liking someone as a friend is all someone CAN do, and that’s alright too.”

He probably sounded like he was trying to talk himself into the idea, and truth be told he was.

“But trust me, in my book, they deserve the world.” He sighed wistfully.

Holden leaned over, bumping his shoulder against Nelson’s.

“What makes you think you don’t give him anything? I’ve seen how he lights up when you’re around. There isn’t anything wrong with being a wall flower either because its very clear that he finds that particular kind of flower beautiful.”

He handed over some of the peas to feed to the local wildlife.

“Maybe what you need to let yourself realize, is that maybe you are, exactly, the person that Xander wants, and that he has already gotten the one he wants, hmm? Besides, so much of him is… oh I don’t know.” He sighed thoughtfully.

“…. I think he’s so, outgoing to hide a bit, you know? So I think perhaps you are a very brave wall flower, and he’s a very… shy, well social butterfly I suppose.”