my boi jesus

john 3:16 dude, read it

[janghye-jin]

Hye paused. It was a fair question to ask her, the possibility of dismemberment. She was tempted again to point out she suspected Britt wouldn’t mind, but if Britt was a practicing Jew, she supposed someone would mind. “I mean… No. I suppose not. I just need some measurements. Some samples and observations. I’m sure Lou and Raleigh can make sure it’s not noticeable at all. And then we’re better prepared if the snake is…” She whispered to be sure Betty couldn’t hear her. “…still out there.”

She brightened at Gabe’s vote of confidence in her. It was the direct opposite of Betty’s nonsense, and it was very welcome.

“This is why I’m confused, though. And I’m frequently confused by people, to be fair, but Betty didn’t know Britt to the best of my knowledge. In fact, I suspect she would have judged her severely for just being her. Lou, on the other hand, did know her, and cares about her, and I’d prefer for her to set the limits. She’s doing her makeup later today, and I’m confident that she can talk me through any tests I need to do in a respectful manner.” Or maybe just explain what about them was supposedly disrespectful. “So I’m just really asking you to tell Betty to back off because she’s being irrational. Please.”

At least she’d remembered to say please.

[gabrielroberts]

"Yeah. Okay. Makes sense." Gabe scrubbed his palm on his cheek. He was so tired. He was so tired and he didn't want to have this conversation with Betty. No matter how rational it all was. She felt like she was doing right by Britt. It would be tough to tell her she needed to relax around this.

"I won't tell her she's being irrational. But. I'll talk to her. I'll tell her I spoke to Britt's friends and they believe she'd want us to do this. Do you think you could get Lou to call me and basically just say that herself? I don't want to lie." It was one thing for Britt's friend's friend to come to him and tell him this, but it would mean more if he could back it up with Lou's actual blessing.

"She's just trying to honour Britt the best way she knows how. None of Britt's friends have told her what they think Britt would want yet. So Lou calling would help a lot, I think."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

[rumibehbahani]

There were many times that Gabe had taken Rumi’s breath away. When he’d given his speech a little less than a week before. In gym class for… reasons. Now. In truth, more than ever, watching him talk about his faith stirred the strangest combination of awe and need in her. It was the very manifestation of love.. “I… Wow. He sounds nice.” She gave a self conscious laugh. “And you’re really okay that I feel he’s not the son of God?”

“That’s the tricky thing with Lou. You think you can tell her anything. And you can, generally. But she’ll have an opinion. And I’m very… susceptible to her opinions. More than my imam would probably like. Something about devils and angels on shoulders, you know?” She looked down for a moment, embarrassed. “Maybe that makes me sound like I don’t know my own mind. But it brought me to you.”

She paused, confused. “How would you wear– the sunglesses– on top of–” She shook her head. “You’re teasing me. That is adorable. And infuriating. And adorably infuriating.”

[gabrielroberts]

"Yeah," he nodded. "Of course. If you're okay that I do. You have your beliefs, I know that. I'm already learning a lot from you and I want that to keep happening." Gabe hadn't talked about faith and spirituality in this kind of depth in a while. It made him feel more grounded. Rumi was adding to that, not taking away from it. He didn't need her to believe exactly what he did for that to be true.

"I'm glad that it did," he told her quietly. "Nothing wrong with being influenced by people in our lives." He was frequently. "Sometimes it's hard to know what we think about things all the time. I think you have a strong mind too. You're just... open to people you trust."

"Leave that to me, beautiful. You just worry about keeping those hands and lips to yourself." He snuck a quick kiss on the side of her head.

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

[rumibehbahani]

“You’re so… so certain.” Rumi paused, trying to choose her words carefully. “About His will.” It wasn’t that there weren’t Muslims who thought that way. Plenty did, and it had always frightened her a little, how rigid the rules were. Her parents had fled the Revolution in Iran. They had instilled a healthy sense of uncertainty in her. The kind of uncertainty that could have saved lives in their home country. And yet when Gabe spoke of a higher power like an old friend, it felt so… right. So secure. “How do you… how do you do that? It’s not that I don’t believe, by any means. But our texts can contradict. And they can judge. Yours as well. So why are you sure He’s so patient?” She swallowed, self conscious. “I don’t mean to doubt you. I don’t. Perhaps I’m a little jealous.”

Rumi blushed at the idea of Gabe giving Taliesin a talking to. They were falling so easily into being a… a partnership. “I would very much like to take you up on that.” She sighed, her relief at the notion partially tempered by her own guilt for sticking her or Gabe’s nose where it hadn’t been asked for. “I don’t mean to be a busybody or anything, but I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces, you know? Or if there aren’t any pieces, I’m the one who has to deal with how she tries to pretend she hasn’t glued herself back together with whatever gum paste she can find.” She winced. “That was mean. That was horrible.”

She really couldn’t think of anything that would make Gabe Roberts any less hot. “Maybe a very silly mask?” She held him close again, her nose bumping up against his. “But I would still be able to see your eyes, which are at least a third of the trouble at times.”

[gabrielroberts]

"It's okay if you do. Doubt." It was something his parents made sure he had permission to do when it came to faith. Doubt wasn't bad. It made him think about things, ask questions, really know what he believed in a solid way because he'd fought to get there. "I definitely do. Probably more than you expect." He didn't want her to think he was some unshakeable person. That wasn't real. "I think I'm sure about God's patience because he created people. He knows what we're like, the stuff we go through and have to deal with in life. Part of the point of Jesus was so God could experience that first hand. I can't imagine that after living the life He did that He'd expect perfection from us." Gabe shrugged. "The more I learn though the more I realise there's so much I don't know. But I think that's part of having faith."

"It's an open offer," he told her. Gabe hoped it really wouldn't have to come to that. That Tal and Lou would figure it out themselves. But he'd be a liar if he said he wouldn't do whatever it might take to make Rumi feel better about things. "I get it." He didn't know what he could say. It was hard watching your friends struggle. It wasn't something that came without negative impact. "You're a good friend. She's lucky to have you. And if you need to get those things off your chest without saying it to Lou, you can say them to me. I won't tell."

Gabe grinned at her. What an interesting idea. "A mask huh?" Where could he find some of those? Maybe Young would know. "So a mask and sunglasses would make me unkissable. I'll get on that as soon as I can. Can't have my eyes throwing things off for you."

[janghye-jin]

It was all the hope Hye-jin needed. The smallest sliver of light in a very dark flooded cave devoid of comforting things like bats. “We need to do an autopsy. Not a large one. I’ve no interest in cracking her chest. Though her liver would be useful to see how the poison was metabolized so fast.” Hye shook her head. She mustn’t be too ambitious. “I only need the lower leg, really. I think.”

She swallowed. “Really, I’ll take whatever I can get. And will be as respectful as humanly possible.” The operative word was ‘humanly.’ Humans were generally terrible. But she would try. To a certain point.

She told herself that Gabe would be rational. He’d always been so level headed. Aside from the… the fist fight. She suddenly realized Tony Alessi might have an opinion on this. Much better to get away with what she needed before more violence broke out. “I know it might be unnerving to think about it, but time is of the essence.”

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe hated to ask, but he wanted to be as clear as possible before he went off asking people for things on behalf of Hye-jin. "Her leg can stay... attached though, right?" He had no idea how autopsies worked. He could imagine torso stuff, the rest not so much.

"I know you will. You seem like you'd be very professional." He didn't think she'd come to him asking for this if she wasn't taking it seriously.

"I understand." Gabe sighed, thinking about the exhausted, strong willed girl on his couch. "Listen, all I can do is ask. I'll plead your case the best I can. Betty does listen to me, but not always. I'm also happy to ask others if needed." If Betty said no. He really didn't want to have to do that, but he saw the value in what Hye-jin was suggesting. There was stuff to learn, they'd be silly not to learn it. "If her friends, the people who knew Britt best, say no... there won't be much else I can do. I'm sorry. I will try though."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

[rumibehbahani]

“I’d like that.” Rumi said shyly. “Other people’s opinions aren’t supposed to matter. Only the teachings. But everything is audience, isn’t it? It’s an all an opportunity.” She winced. “And a pressure. ” She laced her fingers with his, letting the contact soothe her as much as was possible. His smile was so beautiful. It made it so easy to smile back.

It had been hard for her. She realized suddenly that she hadn’t let herself have that thought. And for once, she didn’t demure or correct him. “It was.” She said softly. “Lou can be so stubborn. Especially when she doesn’t want to admit something’s hurting her. Or someone.” It was the kind of secret that felt so very dangerous, the sort of thing she’d never had the chance to whisper to anyone in their friend group. Not because Lou was a tyrant or anything, but because they all knew Lou was doing her best and helping Lou be her best was Rumi’s job. She squeezed Gabe’s hand again, almost reminding herself that he was real. That he was listening to her in a way she hadn’t ever let herself be heard.

“Tomorrow sounds perfect.” Rumi looked up at him, taking in the soothing softness of his eyes. “But I think I need to practice not trying to kiss you all the time, if you don’t mind.” She’d have to work up to being able to cut vegetables again. “So we could just… walk? With just a little bit of kissing every few blocks.”

[gabrielroberts]

Rumi's skin was so soft, so smooth. He didn't know hands could be that soft. He squeezed her hand gently, loving the way his fingers felt linked with hers. "Yeah," he agreed. "It's one of those things that's kind of easier said than done too. I think it's just a work in progress for most people and that's okay. Allah... God... He gets it."

"I'm sorry," he said. "It sucks when the people you love won't let you help them." Gabe felt that with Betty sometimes. But she knew what she wanted and needed, even if he sometimes disagreed. "I hope that things will be different now, but if not, I can always give him a speech about not hurting her," he joked, knowing that in reality that would be really weird of him. But also... he totally would if Rumi wanted him to. "Or, I just hope that she'll let you be there."

Gabe smiled back at her, and then he groaned at practicing not kissing. "I mind a little. I think that'll be kind of hard for me, but I'll do my best. Is there anything I can do to make it easier for you?" He teased. Honestly, he just couldn't be happier that he didn't have to leave her yet. This night was insane. So many highs and lows but he didn't want it to end. Not now. "Yeah. That sounds great to me."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

[rumibehbahani]

Someone important. Rumi felt a strange spike of… something rise in her. Jealousy? No. That didn’t make sense. Not already. Jealousy implied she deserved to be with him. Had a right to him. “They sound like a good person.” She’d forced it out, but she was woefully good at covering these sorts of emotions. It had taken Taliesin over a year to realize how deeply she resented his stealing her time from Lou. (Going from 100% to 60% was an adjustment, even if it was still the majority.)

But then he reassured her, and she felt her face go warm. Warm, not hot. Not blushing embarrassed but blushing comfort. “Oh, Gabe.” There really wasn’t more to say, so she just wrapped her arms closer around him, melting into the soft strength and beautifully clean lines of his body.

“I am very, very, very bad at not thinking about what other people think of me, Gabe. I am trying to work at that, but every time I take a step forward, I feel like I slide back a football field.” She paused. “But perhaps it’s enough that it doesn’t bother you. Because I care what you think.” Tee felt like a little of an odd choice to her, if only because of what they’d learned about Leo that evening, but it did feel… romantic in its own way. And Rumi always paid just enough attention to Tee to know that it was more important to do as they said rather than what they did. They were the type who specialized in best laid plans that were quickly put aside. And didn’t her production schedule know it. “They do know people,” she agreed. “So that feels like a good idea.”

Rumi’s nose scrunched as she grimaced at Taliesin’s overreach. “That was projecting, pure and simple. He’s been awful to Lou the last week and has somehow managed to work his way back into her good graces.” She knew how, but tried so hard to not think about it. She appreciated Gabe’s promise because it was very clear that she was going to be terrible at having decorum around him, especially in private. “Thank you for your discretion. I think… I think I will need it.”

“Oh, yes. I’m sorry. I keep forgetting that you know each other.” She really hadn’t thought of their circles overlapping ever, but Young could be surprisingly social despite his anxiety. “I might be a little biased, but I think we should tell him first, then. Work our way up to Tee.” She wasn’t going to say it out loud but her former prop master sometimes erred a bit too far toward judge-y. And that was Rumi’s job.

[gabrielroberts]

"Better than me," he agreed. They did not need to get into that right now though. It just didn't matter at this moment. Rumi wouldn't care and he wanted to talk about things other than Betty.

"Okay, I hear you," Gabe said. "You're allowed to think about it. It's kind of part of what you do, isn't it? Wondering how you seem to other people?" It made sense in his mind anyway, why she would care. "You can always talk to me about it though if you're worried. Like a team." Like a couple. He couldn't believe he was here right now. With her. Life was insane.

"Oh that sucks. That must have been hard for you." He knew he felt all kinds of things when people weren't kind to Betty. "Anytime Rumi."

"Yeah. We're bros. I love that guy." Gabe could not wait to see the look on his face when they told him. It was a good idea to tell him first, Young was the best. "Okay, let's do that," he agreed. Tee would be the easiest council person to start with, but Young was the best person in general. Maybe it would make Rumi a little braver if it went well with Young.

"So that's tomorrow," he said. "What do we do now?"

[bettysimmons]

“I’m very sure. We all have duties.” She could stand to learn so much more about the people around her. If she treated it like one of her volunteer projects, she was sure she’d be able to dedicate herself enough to memorize facts about the people of West Ham.

Betty narrowed her eyes. There had been something different about Gabriel that night. It wasn’t just his continued insistence that he and Lucy didn’t mean anything to each other. It was the intensity when he looked at Rumi. She knew something was going on. But she’d allow him this. “Well, thank you for clarifying.”

“I’m glad.” He had been through enough. The prognosis was better if he was in a better mood. “If you’re the sleepy one today, then maybe I should get out of your hair. Thank you for keeping me up to date. Please don’t forget to schedule a meetup between the three of us.”

[gabrielroberts]

"Yeah, okay," he agreed, letting out another yawn. He almost asked Betty if he could just take a nap on one of the hospital beds, but he figured patientifying himself probably wasn't the best idea when she was already worried about him.

"Love you. I'll see you later," he said before he made his way back out of the building. He didn't know how long he'd have to try to sleep before he was called to another meeting, but he was going to make the most of it.

(fin.)

[bettysimmons]

“I insist. You can’t make good decisions on bad information. It will be good for me. I’ll have a better understanding of the world around me and you’ll have better answers on how to navigate things.” She smiled. There were several upsides to this plan, but it wasn’t something she would have thought of without Gabriel.

That surprised her. While she had been napping, drooling on his furniture, he had been falling in like with Rumi. She needed to get more sleep. “Wow. That’s big. I’m very happy for you, but you should have told me then. Not when I was asleep, of course, but when I woke up.” He’d been the one to say that day that there wasn’t anything happening with anyone.

“It’s true,” she shrugged. “We have to find a way to make this whole thing worth it. That’s what He would want from us. We can’t just sit on the sidelines, we need to thrive. That includes making happiness where we can, in case that wasn’t clear.”

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe drummed his fingers on his knee while he pondered that. The one plus he could see was that Betty would tell him if anyone treated her badly. And then he could kindly speak to them about that. Or ask CM to, since that was their job and he didn't know if he was allowed to do that now since he was on the council. "Okay. If you're sure. That probably would be helpful."

"I don't think I knew then Betty," he said. "It's a hindsight thing. It was the first time we'd hung out like that. I needed to see her more to know for sure if it was more than just friendly." He'd even needed a moment like that for Young recently. It took a second for him to figure out sometimes. Plus even if he had known, he still wouldn't have told her then. She was way too perceptive when it came to him already. Betty would have immediately tried to play her version of matchmaker.

"You have a point," he admitted. Gabe wasn't wanting to date Rumi just because he needed some happiness in this messed up situation though. She was so much more. He hoped that even if this hadn't happened they would have found time to have their moment. Maybe they would have on the trip instead. Cooking marshmallows on a campfire and looking at the stars. "I am happy." He yawned. "Exhausted. But happy."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

[rumibehbahani]

“It was.” Rumi’s face was hot. Burning really. But somehow it was the nicest feeling she’d ever helped. “But I like hearing you say it.”

She giggled. Rumi actually giggled. “A little hostile. You really do see the best in people don’t you?” She loved that about him.

“You keep saying ‘if’. I don’t mean to presume but if you… um.” She’d said 'um’. She really said 'um’. She couldn’t cut around him. Couldn’t speak. She felt helpless. And strong. And safe. All at once. “But I’m pretty confident I want to keep you around. If you want to keep me around. You know? I only mention the secrecy because Dante and Anu are so… them. Will people think we’re moving too fast?” But you were supposed to move fast in order to move at all in her culture. Well, up to a certain point.

She sighed, struggling to comprehend this new version of him. The confidence. The… swagger, maybe? The idea that she could be part of that, let alone cause it was almost too much for her. It was… sexy? Was she allowed to say that? Lou would say so. But Lou was Lou. She could never be Lou. But she didn’t have to be. Because Gabe was Gabe.

“I would love to tell our friends. I guess I’m just not sure how. I imagine your friends are less… opinionated than mine. Which is not to say your friends don’t have opinions. I’m sure they do, and my friends are entirely ignorable. It’s just… Tal already interrogated you, right? He doesn’t get the opportunity to do that pretty much ever because the girls in our group don’t date aside from Poppy and then Wes and Hye dating each other, and Tal can’t do that to Wes because Wes knows how insecure Taliesin can be and Poppy doesn’t date the kind of people who would listen to him.”

Her eyes went wide. “Please don’t tell them I said that. It’s with love. So much love. And patience.”

She paused. “I’m sure Achilles would be nice though.”

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe gave her a rueful smile. "I'm trying to. I promised someone important that I'd do better at that." They could talk about that another time though. They were already talking about too many other people.

"The if was for your benefit, I just don't want to assume anything," he clarified. Gabe was all in. It was a no brainer for him. He was just wary of coming on too strong or moving faster than she wanted. But hearing her say she was confident that she wanted to keep him around made his heart stutter in his chest. Gabe leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, unable to help himself. "Rumi, there's nothing more I want than to keep you around." There were things that were up there, sure, but she was firmly set at #1.

"Does it matter what they think if we know we're moving at the best speed for us?" he asked. "If you want we could try telling Tee first. They're my friend but they'd probably have some good advice about it too. We could figure out how to approach it from there." They were great at this kind of thing. People-y stuff. He also just wanted them to know.

"Yeah, he did." Gabe grinned at her. He'd loved it. It was his first clue that she might think something was growing between them too. "He warned me about hurting you. I'm more than happy to prove myself to the people who love you, Rumi. To you. They want what's best for you." He shrugged. "I can't feel negatively about that." He would have pretended to zip his lips shut if it didn't mean he'd have to take his hands off her waist. "I won't tell."

Gabe laughed. "I think he's the one I'm looking forward to telling the most." He missed Young. Things had been crazy the past few days, and they were probably only going to get crazier. He needed to check on him soon.

[bettysimmons]

The thing she felt most certain of was that people were changing here. Her limited interactions with people showed that they were being impacted by their circumstances. “You’re right. It’s important to focus on who they are now. I guess that means I’ll need to put myself out there more. I don’t really want to, but with your position we can’t be sure that everyone is going to be authentic around you. They might try to sway you. The best barometer is how you treat someone who doesn’t hold power, in this case me.”

She laughed, more than a little self conscious. “I hope I made some contribution then. It’s all a bit of a blur in my memory.” She’d been so bone crushingly exhausted. It had been an accident.

“Gabriel,” she chided, “In times of hardship, joy is even more important to hold onto. As long as her intentions are genuine, there’s no reason to marinate in guilt for having some tiny bit of happiness.” The small grasps at happiness were the only thing keeping her going right now. She couldn’t stand the idea that he might be holding back in those moments.

[gabrielroberts]

"You don't have to do that Betty." He didn't want anyone treating her badly because she'd volunteered herself as a target to be a true test of their character. "I can figure it out. I don't want to put you through that." She'd been through enough.

He thought back to that day. How Betty had pulled up and immediately started interrogating him about Lucy in front of Rumi. Thankfully she had let him move the conversation on, and he'd been able to make a save on that front with Rumi after Betty had fallen asleep. "I'm sure. I think I fell in like with her that day." He chuckled to himself. It really had been that quick. Gabe had locked eyes with her all of one time before he stepped off that cliff.

Gabe almost laughed at the idea of Rumi not having genuine intentions. He couldn't even imagine it. She was way too... kind and genuine and perfect. "Thanks for saying that," he said. Gabe wanted to be happy about it. He was ecstatic, honestly. It was hard to believe it was real life, it felt like a dream. He didn't want the pressure of everything else going on to squash that feeling. Maybe he did need someone to give him permission to embrace it.

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe was grateful that Betty was someone who always meant the things she said. It meant he never had to doubt or question it when she said things like that. The two of them were permanent structures in each other’s lives.

Gabe smiled. “I think we need to get you up in the pulpit sometime Betty,” he said, bumping her with his shoulder. “That’s the kind of thing my mom would put on a throw pillow.”

“Both. God and time is gonna heal my nose. Are you working tonight?” he asked her. “Want to have dinner and watch Narnia?”

[bettysimmons]

“That’s too much responsibility for me. I don’t think anyone wants to hear me talk that much. I certainly don’t. I’d need you to write the whole thing for me and I’d probably mess up saying it because of nerves.” She laughed. “I’ll leave that to you, the voice that inspires you or something behind the scenes.”

Betty placed her hands together, “Amen.” She was relieved that he’d started taking his recovery seriously. She didn’t think she could fix it again without worrying about internal bleeding. “No, work. Yes, Narnia. I promise I won’t fall asleep this time.” She would never miss a chance to watch Jesus inside of a lion.

(end)

[bettysimmons]

“That’s not something you have to worry about.” There were many things that she couldn’t decipher right now. A world without Gabriel wasn’t probable to her. God had seen fit to place them in this world together. They were staying that way.

Betty nodded her head slowly. She was still getting her footing with this more jaded Gabriel, but she felt equipped to navigate it now. “I will.” She softened her tone, “If the journey was easy, we wouldn’t need faith. This is part of it. You’re going to be okay.” She chuckled, “As long as your nose heals. Mentally, I think you’ll be okay.”

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe was grateful that Betty was someone who always meant the things she said. It meant he never had to doubt or question it when she said things like that. The two of them were permanent structures in each other's lives.

Gabe smiled. "I think we need to get you up in the pulpit sometime Betty," he said, bumping her with his shoulder. "That's the kind of thing my mom would put on a throw pillow."

"Both. God and time is gonna heal my nose. Are you working tonight?" he asked her. "Want to have dinner and watch Narnia?"

[bettysimmons]

Betty had never seen Gabriel collapse on himself. She watched his face as something cascaded over it. Pain? Guilt? She wasn’t sure. This was an entirely foreign sensation to her. Her dissection of his recent actions hadn’t meant to be a point of judgement. It appeared to have upset him anyways.

Her hands hung in the air as she debated hugging him. “It’s okay, Gabriel.” They’d been through a variety of changes recently. All of her routines had been disrupted and she’d found herself trying to figure out why God had called them to this over and over again.

Fine. She needed to hug him. She held him tightly, keeping her head very far away from his lest she accidentally bump his nose. “There’s a lot to get swept up in right now. I think it’s probably normal to have some struggles along the way. Most people aren’t as good at being moral all the time like you. So, it’s new. That’s why it’s scary, but I’ve seen it in other people.” She stopped to breathe. “You’ll be okay. It doesn’t mean anything. You thought the things, but you didn’t do them and that’s a big difference. Monumental. That means no one was actually harmed.”

She cleared her throat. This wasn’t something she felt very good at, but she was trying. She pulled away from with a small pat on the back. “The good thing is we already know that you can do better. You have in the past. Very achievable.” Her tone softened. “I’m proud of you for realizing where you want to be. We can work towards it. I don’t think it’s going to get easier.” Could it be as simple as Gabriel needing her? Was that why she was here? She didn’t know. It all felt so complicated and indecipherable.

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe's throat burned with emotion. This was... this was new for them. Usually it was Gabe giving Betty some form of mini sermon. Not to lecture her, it just helped her to walk through some stuff that way. It moved him deeply to have her doing it for him. It's what his dad would have done for him.

He hugged her back, feeling more grateful for her than ever. Grateful that she'd tell him what she'd noticed. That she'd be there after. "Thank you," he said, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. "I don't know what I'd do without you, you know?"

Gabe nodded at her reassurance. At her warning. "I know. You're right," he said. "I don't... I think you know me better than anyone, Betty. If I get caught up like that again please tell me." He hated the idea that he'd miss it. He already had once. Gabe didn't want it to ever get past his thoughts.

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

She had more breath capacity than him. They could work on that. It would be fun to work on that. She felt herself blushing like Lou had said it and not her.

She gasped. “I… um…” Had Rumi ever said the word ‘um’ in her life before? She wasn’t sure. She felt a flush of embarrassment and then a flush of something else as she looked into his eyes, her heart rabbiting and her stomach filled with butterflies and soup and all kinds of horrible things. So why did she feel like she was walking on air?

“Yes, Gabe.” She said softly, their noses touching, her arms wrapped around his neck. “I would very much like to go on a date with you.”

She smiled, and she swore she felt her whole body glow. “Do we… Should we… Do you think we’ll get in trouble if we… tell anyone?”

She wasn’t sure who 'anyone’ was at this moment. Lou seemed like an inevitability to her, and she was sure Gabe had a friend or two like that. She wasn’t clueless. She’d seen Taliesin trying to interrogate him at the picnic. The New Romantics would suspect something, but Lou would keep them in line if she needed to. “Not that I’m ashamed. I’m only… well, do you think it would complicate council things? Or would concealing it…” (not lying. Never lying. Just not anyone’s business.) “…be even worse?

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe grinned back at her. He couldn't believe his luck. His heart felt like it was soaring in his chest. "Me too," he said. "If that wasn't already clear."

"I don't know." He watched her face carefully. "I don't think we'll get in trouble. It's not like it's against the rules. But maybe we wait until we have something official to share? I don't want to assume anything or put any pressure on you," he said carefully. He thought they deserved that time to figure anything out they might need to without everyone's eyes on them. "Dante and Anu have dated before, they might get a little hostile but they made it work at the meeting." Gabe didn't know what the right move was. "I think we can be conscious about it. If you want to keep me around."

He smiled at her softly. "I definitely want to tell my friends though. If that's okay with you." Gabe wanted to tug her closer, but he stayed where he was. No wandering hands. "I'll follow your lead Rumi, I just... I haven't felt like this before. This is brand new territory."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

It was only supposed to be a picnic. It was only supposed to be an interview. It was only supposed to be a supply trip. 

It was only supposed to be a dinner. 

But something has shifted. 

The stars have moved. 

So press play, and go.

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

The council meets to discuss the Eckman-Jenkins legislative proposal. You might expect a snoozefest but bitch… it’s politics.

Keep reading

[bettysimmons]

“I know. It is a lot.” She deflated. “I’m trying to see the world the way that your father encouraged and it’s hard when people act so…oddly. I guess I didn’t pay enough attention before. When it was important to. I thought that I knew these people from stereotypes and it turns out that stereotypes aren’t always true.” Betty took a breath. She was learning a great deal, but it never felt fast enough. “I don’t have your people skills so I’m relying on them here and just going with what seems like logic. Which can be a trap. And some faith. Faith is always paramount.” Faith in what? That was harder to answer right not. God, forever but this group…she couldn’t put it into words.

She was relieved that he wasn’t going over there again. Her deal with Tony would have his limits. They were supposed to stay far far away from each other. “I think that’s smart and a rebreak at this time would be so bad for your healing. Like so so so bad. I don’t even know all the complications you could be facing.” She needed to do more research. “So, thank you. I mean it.” Her smile was genuine even if she could see the strain in his.

Soon. Her eyebrows raised in surprise. He’d been so defensive last time she’d asked. Things had shifted quickly. “Family meetings usually come within a few weeks, but everything’s so accelerated here that I don’t think she’ll mind. You should go on a date first, though, just to make sure it’s what both of you want.”

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe felt bad. He wished he could give Betty the certainty she needed. He wasn't sure they could rely on what they knew before this anymore. It was all changing. But he promised Betty he was going to do better and stop looking at a lot of things in a bad light. "Yeah. I don't know. I think even before this we only ever knew what people chose to show us, you know?" Did that make sense? "So I'm not sure that knowing more about how things used to be helps that much now." He would try to help it make sense for her. "I wish it did. I'm finding it hard too."

"Anything for you," he told her. Gabe meant it. Even if he wanted to do the opposite. If it meant this much to Betty he would do it.

Gabe's heart warmed at Betty claiming her spot as his family. It was easy to think he didn't have any right now but that wasn't true. Betty was his family.

"Yeah," he agreed. "If it all goes how I'm hoping I'm sure we can hang out with you conscious this time," he teased. Betty had zonked so fast that first day Rumi had come to his house to help him with speech prep. Would she have still done that if she'd known this was where it'd lead? Probably not.

"It feels kind of crazy to be thinking about this stuff with everything going on but. I don't know. She's amazing. It's hard not to."

[bettysimmons]

Betty shrugged. “You are. Your becoming much more interested in the teachings of the Old Testament rather than the New. Vengeance, wrath, punishment, and violence. It’s what you’re suggesting. The world is a bad place and bad people. I don’t know that I agree but I we are living in a society that is missing a lot of people.” She really needed to stop between sentences. Gabriel had been her moral compass and watching him tilt was confusing. She’d been so sure that his will was unshakeable. “I’m not judging, I would never cast the first stone but I am trying to hold fast to the notion that we can all be forgiven.”

“That’s what I’m trying to save. We need more forgiveness here, but I can’t figure out which world we’re living in. Is it the vengeful one or the kind one?” She wanted to hug him, but restrained herself. Affection made her uncomfortable. “I just want an answer - no guesswork required.”

[gabrielroberts]

Gabe's face fell, his shoulders drooped. It probably would have hurt less if she had badly punched him herself. He wanted to deny it, say he would never do that. But a wave of devastation hit him when he realised she was right.

Gabe lowered his eyes, shame flooding his entire being. "I..." he trailed off, trying to find words that he didn't have. She was right, he had been acting like an a-s-s. The first night they were stuck here he'd resorted to violence. He couldn't let his anger at Tony go. He wanted him to pay for what he'd taken, what he had disrespected. He didn't think that Tony could change. And he was imagining a lot more people than Tony could fall into that category too.

"You're right." He nodded to himself, took a breath and lifted his eyes back to Betty's. "You're right, Betty. I'm sorry. I didn't see it that way. But there's no excuse." He sniffed. "I don't want to think like that." It wasn't what he believed. He knew his parents would feel the same way as Betty. Gabe was not being a good representative of his faith for anybody right now. Not even his closest friend. "I'm going to do better."

"It's the kind one," he said quietly. "It's our job to help it be that. I'm sorry I forgot."