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[ Bugsy's nose was decently sharp when he was paying attention, but he didn't notice Gil when he returned back to his artwork, too busy being in his head. He had a bottle of dark beer tucked into the makeshift sling for his broken arm, and he came to crouch in front of the shrine, taking the bottle out and biting the metal cap off. ]

Well, I've never been one for speeches. Didn't ever get to speak at any of my friend's funerals. So here- have this, and I'll just be sorry I'm not better with words,

[ He poured the beer out in front of the shrine, leaving the bottle with the other assorted knick knacks. ]

Edited (Icon) 2021-04-23 01:04 (UTC)

[Likewise, Gil's too stuck in his own head right now to properly hear Bugsy coming like he normally would, until the Roteater enters his line of sight and he starts abruptly. He's still not in Bugsy's immediate view, though, and a part of him is pretty sure the bugman won't notice him if he's just quiet.

He pulls his legs in a little tighter, trying to keep himself more out of sight, but his Mantle betrays him: lifting a foot sets it off with a sharp, crisp crackling of dry leaves, and his ears flick back as he winces at himself.]

[ Sure enough, Bugsy startled at the sudden crunching noise, fumbling to turn around and see- oh.

Like a ghost summoned by mourners at their grave. Gil. The actual Gil. And, not unlike just a few moments earlier when Bugsy was attempting to give a eulogy to a creature he barely knew, he just didn't have the words. He was at his feet now, just staring at his... friend? ]

[Gil hopes it's still 'friend', desperately so. His panicked gaze starts at Bugsy's face, staring directly back at him, before it drops to that makeshift sling as guilt roils in him again, back to the shrine one last time before he just stares back at the ground. His ears are pressed firmly against his head the whole time, and if he was sitting in a position that allowed his tail to tuck it absolutely would be.]

I-- ...mm.

[Words are hard, and for all his usual improv eloquence he's struggling now.]

...'m sorry.

... don't be. 'S my fault.

[ Bugsy rubbed his hands together to self-soothe, sticky with beer and dead flower sap. ]

Got what was coming to me.

No, like... well, I shouldn't've bitten you, first off, but...

[He pushes himself back to his feet, feeling disgustingly small and folding one arm across his chest so the other can reach up and bury in the mane at the top of his spine; self-soothing as much as self-harming, with how tight he's gripping it.]

...you were right. About... it. Him. Me, I'm...

[A frustrated growl escapes for a moment, but it's clearly directed at himself.]

I wouldn't have survived without it. You were right.

...what changed your mind?

[ The tattoos on Bugsy's arms fluttered in interest, all the various insects beating their iridescent wings as they resettled themselves closer to his hands. ]

My... human, double, he... uh.

[Somehow his ears press further against his head, almost hidden by his lengthening fur.]

Broke.

... Shit, man.

[ What do you say to that? He swallowed hard, not planning on asking for any kind of specifics. ]

Wish you'd had a, uh, nicer way to work it out.

Yeah. Me too.

[That way Coda wouldn't be suffering because of it.]

Like, fuck. I didn't even consider that it was like, because of it that I can... handle any of this shit? I... [A slight flinch flicks across his muzzle, as his grip redoubles on his mane, but he doesn't seem to notice.] I thought I was just always that kind of tough. Which is-- stupid, I was just some dumb sheltered rich kid, of course I'd snap. The only reason I'm not-- that... [And his eyes flick back to the memorial.] --it's because I had someone there to keep me grounded.

Way easier to deal with shit if you're only thinking about not gettin' hurt and when your next meal is.

[ Bugsy leaned against the opposite wall, folding his arms. ]

's like I was saying. It's survival of the best fit to the environment, and animals are very good at not having existential crises. Just better to be in that mindset where you don't think.

[He shakes his head slightly, the movement hampered by his own grip on his mane. Which he seems to realise, and lowers his hand to stick in his hoodie pockets.]

Not... quite. For us. We were just... performers. Toted out to put on shows for our Keeper at their leisure. I'm not sure I even remember eating when I wasn't on stage.

[But after a moment's pause he frowns, and shakes his head a little more vigorously. Like he's got water in his ears.]

Sorry, that's not-- relevant.

Naw- it is. Sorry- sometimes I forget not everyone's time over there was like mine.

[ Bugsy's turn to shrink in on himself a little, sinking down the wall to sit more properly next to his little shrine. ]

No, it's-- you were being real. 's'okay.

[Gil's legs feel like they're trying to collapse beneath him, but he still walks across the short gap to stand next to Bugsy's sunken form; he won't sit next to him, he's not sure he has the right, but he can at least put a hand on Bugsy's shoulder to give him a gentle squeeze.]

...shrine's nice.

[ Bugsy gently put a hand atop Gil's, sighing just a little. ]

Usually I'd be making up some bullshit artist's statement right now, but yeah. It's kind of a shrine. Just felt like the big guy should be... honoured. 'M not usually woo, but something about putting things to rest properly feels right.

Yeah. Yeah, no, that's... makes sense.

[His tail swishes in his harem pants, making them brush briefly against Bugsy's arm.]

I haven't been out from There for like. Shit, probably barely nine months now. I... haven't really been doing shit with actually dealing with it.

[Being self-aware, unfortunately, does not make him not stupid.]

You know I've been out nearly ten years now? Got back home... shit, some time around 2010. Give or take a year and some change.

[ Bugsy glanced over at the pants, trying to remember if he saw a tail on the big guy, but ultimately turning his attention back to the conversation at hand. ]

Shit, I never really did anything to actively deal with it. Shit just got easier eventually. I went back to living the ways I always have.

Fuck, I would've been like fourteen then.

[Sometimes he forgets how baby he is compared to the other Changelings. Something about it makes him feel uncomfortably lacking.]

I know that's how it's supposed to work, but it's still hard. Feels like that point's never quite in reach.

[He's being more careful, now about putting information on his life beforehand out there with Bugsy. He doesn't want to be the cause of another aggressive little pissing contest right now.]

Edited 2021-04-23 06:16 (UTC)

Man, you really are a baby. I should start talkin' about when I was your age and shit,

[ Bugsy laughed, buzzing in the back of his throat. ]

Yeah, it's one of those things where it'll never come if you're waiting for it. You've just gotta get used to dodging whatever your brain throws at you. Finding work-arounds. And then, once you've got 'em, you've just... got 'em.

[Gil makes an offended noise, and shifts his hand so he can clip Bugsy's ear with his knuckles, but it's a sharp tap at worst. Bugsy's not wrong; and it's certainly got Gil's ears at less of an aggressive press against his head.]

Yeah. One of my best friends back home had depression, medicated and everything. Helped her with her routine sometimes, when she was having bad days. [He'd almost forgotten that, actually, except in where Artemis's habits brushed against those he remembered from Eileen.] Sometimes I'd forget she had it if it wasn't for the bad days, all her habits worked fucking smoothly.

Hey- c'mon, man, watch how you touch me,

[ He warned. Just because he wasn't holding a grudge about the wrist thing didn't mean he wasn't Gil clipping him over the ears. ]

But yeah. Eventually you just know your own bullshit. Always makes me think of those spy movies, where the spy goes through all the really complicated dance moves to get through a laser field. At first you just keep falling into shit that makes you trip the laser, but by the end it just looks graceful.

[Gil's tail flicks again with his wry amusement, but he behaves himself then, folding his arms over his chest and lifting a leg to press against the wall. And his thigh leans gently against Bugsy's side, then he won't deny it.]

Yeah. Probably I should start working on some of those. Pretty much my only filters now only work when there's minors present, since there's like. A certain level of conduct and not-swearing people expect from a teacher.

Well hey, all you need to do is just be around kids constantly. That'll work.

[ Bugsy leaned into the touch just a little. Nice contact, for once. He was going to savour this. ]

... you've got time, though. You don't need to figure everything out right away.

[That makes Gil snort. Please, no.]

Ehh, never really felt like that. I had a hot minute to escape, I went from depression hermit to teachers aide in like two weeks... I don't typically get the chance to do things by halves. [His muzzle wrinkles lightly in annoyance.] Even my own dumb brain won't let me ease up when something very suddenly happens in front of me.

You think I wasn't like that when I was your age? Your brain is gonna slow down eventually, you're gonna have good and bad days, and you're gonna have time to work out how to make peace with it.

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