spacing out on the roof... as you do.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

[Espio is sat on the roof again. The shiny curvaceous surface provides absolutely no obstacle to his climbing ability, and - as only a handful of cadets can actually reach him up here - it makes a nice quiet spot to sit and think.

Or, in this case, stare into space while holding a Rayquaza toy.

To say Espio is rather bewildered is a bit of an understatement, but at least it makes a change from his usual cranky self? Probably needs to be snapped out of it, though.]

Comments

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

...what makes you say that?

[fierybluebird]

Because he talked to me and Grell first about whether to even talk to you. By the time he did he'd already figured out how he felt.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

Already?

[]

And you both encouraged him to talk to me, huh? [] Why?

[fierybluebird]

Yeah. He said he had a problem and told me he liked you. Took me a while to figure out what the fuck the problem even was. [Downs his blue moon and waves a hand.] I didn't say to talk one way or another. He was just worried about losing your friendship if he told the truth, or making you upset and I said if you were going to get upset from the knowledge, you might get upset just from him not telling you. He's not exactly the most opaque of kids, eh? Still his decision to make, and yours how to deal with it. I can only sit back and hope everyone finds their happiness in the long run.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

[]

Losing our friendship...?

What an idiot.

He's practically my brother. Why would I let something like that mess it up?

[fierybluebird]

[Shrugs.] It wasn't a well grounded fear. [Gets another drink and sips this one a little slower.] My brothers ran into things like that a lot though. [Stirs it idly.] All male crew, alone on the ocean for large stretches, closer than best friends, lines blur, you know? I'm just proud of him for even figuring out how he felt. Most guys couldn't.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

Hm... he could still be mistaken, though.

[]

[fierybluebird]

No. He's quite sure of himself.

That doesn't mean he doesn't want to be brothers though.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

I know, I know! But you can be sure of something and still be wrong about it.

I think I should probably do something, though.

[]

[fierybluebird]

[Laughs and starts in on his third drink, switching to rum now.]

Tell me about it. I swear that sums up Ace in a nutshell. [Waves a hand and nibbles some pretzels.]

And what would you do? [Watches carefully.]

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

[]

I don't know.

[fierybluebird]

I wouldn't recommend doing that then. Rash suits very few people to a safe level.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

Well...

I know that took a lot of guts, so I don't want him thinking he shouldn't have said something at all.

[fierybluebird]

Hm, sounds like something good to tell him.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

And I should probably apologise for flailing and stammering like a moron.

[fierybluebird]

That should help. Though I'm sure he'll understand. Honestly, I was kind of expecting you to punch him or something.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

You were expecting me to punch him?! What would I do that for?

[]

[fierybluebird]

Such things are known to happen when one's taken so off-guard.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when I'm already fighting.

[]

[fierybluebird]

I meant a lot of guys react violently to the first time knowledge that their best friend likes them as more than that.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

Oh, right. Well, I didn't, and I wouldn't.

[]

[fierybluebird]

[Hands up.]

Sorry, eh. I just didn't expect it to be that smooth, even.

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

...you'd call that smooth? Felt like I'd been hit with a brick.

Anyway, enough of that. I know what I'm gonna do about it, now, so can I have another drink?

[fierybluebird]

Always. [Orders him another.]

So you're okay?

[turnip-rage.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Yeah, I'm fine. [] This isn't gonna change much, I hope.