We've talked about Grace's rainbow symbolism in this scene, but I haven't seen anyone pointing out the detail of Stratt having a line of countries' flags behind her on her first appearance
Something I always find funny of bloodymary is just
Simon feeling like he isn't human because of his mutations and stuff. Like his one chance of connection, his humanity, is gone.
Then there's Grace who's like "I accept you for what you are and everything. Please let me experiment on you, I love whatever you are. I love every human and non human trait of you. Let me hit PLEASEEEEE—"
beginning to suspect that adult life is one long string of having to either be brave enough to look like a complete moron, or eternally suffering from the consequences of inaction
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapter 6 of my bloodymary prison romance is up. Rated E, It has all the right tags and chapter is noted with content warnings. Spicy and with a curveball. hope you enjoy the soup.
so i'm moping about my story ending, I came to a stopping place and now I'm daydreaming about my bloodymary au where Simon is a tailor with a shop and Grace has finally landed a job a liberal arts college after losing all credibility and his former job due to his inflammatory paper about life not needing water to survive. I set a boundary that I wouldn't actually start writing it until I finish my first story...but if I post it to Tumblr only...I'm not actually starting a new story. Yeah. ......
Grace only has threadbare t-shirts and loose pants (he's living off ramen and mustard) and the college requires him to wear a button up shirt/suit jacket/tie to class. His new job starts in 2 weeks, he's struggling to find an apartment since his credit is absolute shit and he has a dwindling savings he has to keep to afford a place to live. He's currently sharing an air BNB with some unsavory characters. He's broke, hungry and slightly afraid for himself. He looks for a nearby thrift shop to maybe find something to wear that's nearby (gasp! he has no car either and he can't afford to get his bike's chain replaced).
Second Chance Shirts and Pants (the best I got for a name ATM) has a wide variety of clothing, they don't have a mens/women's section, just categorized by types of clothing and sizes with youth/adult tags. It kind of stinks of patchouli and gardenia but clean. Grace sees a clerk hanging clothes on hangers behind the counter. They are very tall and elegant, with blue-green hair and a lot of arm bangles, their name tag has 'Adrian' on it with they/them pronouns listed. Grace starts thumbing through the racks, getting excited for a few seconds until he reads the price tag. They're reasonable prices but he's absolutely financially drained, he's got like 30.00 to buy a week's worth of college professor wardrobe. He's about to give up when he sees a bargain bin in the back next to a door. There's a sign above the door that advertises tarot reading, spiritual cleansing and spell work. Grace is a little thrown back by the witchy services, being a dude of science, but he considers there are things that scientists haven't discovered yet, scoffing at religious or spiritual things that haven't been proven yet is kind of childish.
Grace rifles through the bargain bin, finds 3 medium ugly shirts that won't completely swallow him, 2 ties that look like Father's Day reject gifts, and a corduroy suit jacket that looks like it's molting. Everything comes to 20.00 so Grace can splurge on protein...hot dogs, maybe.
This whole time Adrian is tracking Grace's trip through the store, not because they're worried he's gonna steal but because Grace's aura is SO muted and lackluster. They feel sorry for him, also, because he's so skinny, his big blue eyes are really big in his face. They also suck their teeth a little at the fashion choices he's made but say nothing when he places the sad stack of clothing on the counter.
"New to the neighborhood?" They ask in a neutral tone, trying to not give this poor soul a hug.
Grace looks up (he was NOT making eye contact, Adrian is too pretty and tall to look directly at) and looks kind of surprised at the attempt of conversation. Again, he's been through it being ostracized and cast out and all that. Grace starts rattling off the personal details of his life, he's new yes, he's living in a 2 bedroom air bnb with two dudes named Mark (spelled the same way too, M A R K) who have odd hours and frequently store scrap copper next to his broken down bike. He can't lock his bedroom door and sleeps upright against it each night since both Marks tried to enter his room late at night. It's not ideal but all he can afford.
Adrian takes the trauma dump with a straight face and comments that sounded like a lot. They mention there's a new neighbor discount and his cost for the clothes is discounted to 10.00. Grace face and eyes light up like its Christmas, maybe because he can buy a little sweet treat now. He thanks Adrian over and over, hands them a crumpled 10 dollar bill. Adrian accepts it and puts the bargain clothing into a red reusable bag. Adrian mentions the clothing is a little big for Grace (as nicely as possible though) and he could get it altered at a shop down the block, cheaply if he mentions the new neighbor discount.
Grace thanks Adrian again (and again) for the tip and he promises that's his next stop. He grins so sweetly at Adrian, their heart breaks a little. Grace kinda sorta skips out of Second Chance and heads towards where Adrian guided them to find the tailor's shop.
Adrian picks up their cell and dials a number quickly and waits for the other party to pick up. They don't even wait for the person on the other end to say hello.
Adrian: I'm sending you a lost soul, told them to use the 'new neighbor' discount to get a break on some alterations. He looks hungry, too. Could you feed him, Simon?
Simon: *sighing* Yeah, I got some of the carbonara left over from my lunch. What does he look like?"
Adrian: Like a sweet, baby angel.
Simon: *sighing harder* You're going to have be more specific.
Adrian: No, I don't. You'll see what I mean.
Adrian clicks off the call and smiles, this is going to be fun.
so most of the Pokemon party details are done, and it's a tomorrow me problem, I believe you in you, Future Me! You know you who are, you're gonna do great!
More AU? (also this is a lot of stream of consciousness writing with notes for myself. It will be written a lot prettier, with a lot more shimmers and glimmers. so forgive, this is just a rough outline. See, I'm not actually writing it, right? sure.)
Grace is bopping his little narrow rear end down the sidewalk to the tailor's shop, feeling like something was going right for him even if it only is cheap ugly clothes that fit him well. He's also thinking about what he might be able to afford to enrich his Ramen diet, depending on how much the alterations cost. Let me say this man doesn't jitter around nervously, not in an exaggerated way. His energy just sparks off him, a live wire dancing near a puddle of water. Like it's exhilarating to take it in, but there's an overwhelming concern for his being that his energy is SO high, yanno? His eyes shine, maybe a little feverishly but in a sharp way, not confused, but sure. And this is the lowest Grace has been in a long time and he still shines. Imagine his aura when he's taken care of and loved? (hee hee)
Grace closes in on a narrow building set in between coffee shop and some kind of performance art/hippy dippy theatre that used to be a McDonald's or a Starbucks...who knows? Adrian had described it having a red and green awning, the building is painted cream but it has some graffiti art on the front. Adrian couldn't tell Grace what the art would look like, it could change day to day, depending on what the young artists of the neighborhood decided. Adrian mentioned it was encouraged by the owner, to help the young artists grow creatively. Grace was kind of awed by this unsolicited piece of info, he forgot to be confused why Adrian had included that in their description of the shop.
Grace encounters trees and vines decorating the front of the building, he thought he even saw a little fox face peeking out from the foliage of the art when he catches sight of the owner in the clear glass window next to door painted in a red and green harlequin pattern or something intricate like that. Simon is sitting on a low stool in the middle of the small front room, holding different pieces of fabric up to the light of the window. Grace only sees his back and arms, that are very heavily muscled. He sees long hair twisted into a plait that curves around the owner's neck to the front. Black, beautiful wavy hair that has wispies that escape the loose braid, glimpses of dangly earrings hanging from the ears. Tan skin greased up shiny, he's wearing a sleeveless shirt. *GORGEOUS IN THE SETTING SUN TYPE BEAUTY*
Grace has a drop in his energy, doubting his worth of entering a place where someone could be beautiful without even showing their face? But the need to keep a new job he just got as his savings dwindle forces Grace to march himself (literally to keep himself from chickening out) to the front door and to grab the handle and open it with more force than necessary, he basically throws himself in the building. He nearly drops the red shopping bag Adrian gave him.
The owner turns around at the loud banging of his door to see the sweet, baby angel Adrian had sent to Simon. Grace's hair has grown out in lanky blonde hunks that curl every way but the right way. A bright pink flush over Grace's cheeks, his blue eyes electric in the orange light of the sun setting, his glasses crooked because they got stepped on by one of the Marks, The sunlight pouring in from open door catches the tips of Grace's hair, shining like a ...say it with me...a halo! Simon fully now understands what Adrian had meant, taking Grace in as an angelic being.
"Hi...sorry about barging in...I was looking for the tailor, um, Adrian sent me from Second Chance...?" Grace is deff breathing heavy, half from embarrassment and half from shock seeing how beautiful Simon truly is. High cheekbones, sharp jaw, PRETTY dark deep set eyes, a wispy beard around his jaw and chin. Simon nods, trying not to smile at Grace's sweet awkwardness. He gathers the fabric hanging from his very thick thighs with his left hand, that has a few angry dark surgical scars around the wrist. Simon stands from the stool and offers his right arm to Grace, "That would be me. I'm Simon, the tailor. You need some alterations, right?"
Grace, for some reason clasps both of his hands over Simon's single hand. He is overwhelmed by Simon's presence, he nods and opens his mouth once or twice, and then spits out, "Yes, alterations, I need those. I'm Grace."
Simon's eyes squint a little at the name, Grace, an angelic mess named Grace. Maybe he feels a shiver go over his chest, like some mystic poke from the universe goes through him. Simon knows somehow, Grace is going to be trouble for him.
okay, banana flavored Pikachu cake with gobsmacks of yellow frosting is getting decorated by my wife (I made it) and the deviled eggexcute eggs are boiled, shelled, halved, dyed pink with beet juice and the ranch yolk filling (this is wife's request, I just cook what she asks, ugh) are made, just gotta fill em. then I make the digletts in blankets right before the Pokemon party starts. Past me is a friggin bitch, she could have at least boiled the damn eggs.
More AU. And it's just a rough outline/not starting a new story. pinkie swear.
Grace is still hanging onto Simon's right hand like Simon's a lifeline. His hand is warm, strong and slightly calloused. Simon notices how cold *and* clammy Grace's fingers are, he reaches and covers Grace's hands with his left, all the fabric flowing around to cover their hands.
Grace is further twitterpated as Simon gives Grace a small smile. Grace keeps clinging on, Simon squeezes Grace's hands as he gently withdraws his hands. Sugar, Grace was just sitting there *holding hands* with a gorgeous near stranger for God knows how long (Grace lost track of time getting dazzled by the shimmer in Simon's eyes, can you blame him?).
Grace will finally get the hint and drop his hands and be very sad about it, Grace's hands tingle with warmth returning to his cold fingers. Simon holds out his right hand and asks, "Can I see what we're working with?"
Gace has enough sense to hand Simon the shopping bag and Simon turns around to go to a work table at the back of the small room. Grace has exclusive front row seats to see the cake factory that is Simon's backside. He's almost beet red at this point and he feels like his face is going to burst into flames. He burst into the shop like he was running from the cops, held hands with this gorgeous creature who didn't even make it awkward, and now he's ogling the man like a piece of...cake.
Grace follows Simon, hypnotized by the pants he's wearing. They're narrowly fitted at Simon's waist but widen gradually as they go down Simon's legs, pieced together in strips that special around the leg of the pant. shades of red and green with different patterns but somehow they're fitted in a way that makes it own new swirly dizzy pattern. Grace is being dazed by everything about Simon while the tailor pulls out the sad, sad clothing. The shirts are boxy and will make Grace look like a waif, the ties are hideous and the jacket is shedding all over Simon's worktable.
Grace comes back to the present and kind of sees Simon judging the pieces he was forced to buy. He feels kind of low, like another person is judging him for bad choices. Simon clears his throat, "I *could* alter these and they would fit, but they will not look any better."
Simon looks like he just pulled a bandaid at full force from Grace's skin and looks really sorry about it. There is empathy in Simon's face, not judgement. Grace no longer feels low and surprises himself by responding, "I will not hold you accountable for how ugly they are, you had no hand in it."
Simon looks over to Grace and barks out an unexpected laugh and Grace sees a little relief in Simon's face, as if he was worried he'd hurt Grace's feelings. Grace lets out a little laugh too, the first in a long time.
Grace actually senses the front room he's in, now that he is no longer embarrassed to death and dazzled by Simon. It's also warm in the shop, not unpleasant. He smells a hint of cedarwood from Simon and...bacon? Does Simon smell like parmesan cheese? He only sees thread and needles and all the bits and bobs in the large front pocket of Simon's black service apron. Grace sniffs again and sees a Tupperware container on the work bench, piled high with pasta, rich sauce and it smells so damn good. Simon does, too but Grace's hungry.
Simon hears the little mouse sniff come from Grace and smiles as he picks up the container.
"Here, this is leftover from my lunch, seems like you appreciate good food."
Grace's hands are waving a mile a minute but Simon stills one of them with a gentle touch. Grace tries to say no but Simon gives him big beautiful smile (with a pinch of white teeth) and nods his head as he puts the container in Grace's hand.
"It's carbonara, it's best fresh. If I eat it tomorrow, it wouldn't be as good. You're helping me out, sit."
Simon rolls the same stool he had been sitting on over to Grace. Grace sits down, and starts opening the container. There's a wooden fork already there. He's getting a face full of yummy pasta scent and he just grabs the fork, starts eating without saying another word. It is so fucking good, Grace closes his eyes as he chews. Simon sees peace bliss and the biggest smile in front of a stuffed mouth. Grace is so adorable as he eats, Simon doesn't want to interrupt what feels like a religious experience for Grace.
Simon starts with the shirts and tries his best to picture the alterations, but he just keeps seeing the slender tall Grace looking like a foundling. While Grace eats faster, Simon steps to a narrow door to the left of the worktable, open it and pull on a chain. It's a storage room with two racks with clothes just hanging off, so many shirts/pants/articles of clothing, it's an explosion of color and Grace is distracted from stuffing his face when he hears the door open. He sees Simon passing his hand along he clothing and picking different hangers out, simple pieces, white shirt, pale blue one, ties (are they silk??!!) a warm orange suit jacket.
Simon looks up when he feels Grace's gaze, he looks a little sheepish as he speaks, "I'm sorry, I can't let you wear what you brought in. They don't suit you, but I think I have some things that might."
And then Grace starts sniffing and ...oh son, he's welling up a little, oh shit he's crying.
so I got excited and piddled in my 2 ongoing bloodymary fics and then I had 2 different flares. it's like I'm not going as fast as I want but you really can't write feelings and love junk when you're hurting. it's very hard to feel human at all. I can go back to the next chapters later when I do feel human. for now, more AU where I don't have to edit a rough draft/outline, because it's *still* not a story. yeah.
Grace is crying silently, fork mid-air to his mouth, with fat bubbly tears. He has been shown more kindness by Simon in under 5 minutes (possibly 10 minutes, god how long was he holding Simon's hand for???) than Grace had experienced in 2 years. His partner gave up on him first, frustrated with Grace's intense work on his paper. Grace had forgotten one too many dinners and anniversary dates. Six months later, working heartbroken with no time constraints, his paper was finished and so was his career. He had acted aggressively at a conference in Denmark, insulting a very important professor in their field. He stood by his paper, but he was defending the one thing that had held him up from his lost relationship. He lost his position at the prestigious university he worked at. He lost his professional colleagues, he was laughed out of interviews at nearby colleges.
He survived on substitute teaching gigs that paid slightly more than minimum wage. He couldn't land a permanent teaching gig because he really had no professional references. He came to the Pacific rim art college because they wanted edgy/rebel/pushing the boundaries type of teachers, and picked Ryland only for that reason. They didn't know he loved teaching and was a very good teacher, at that. They had a bare bones science department to provide the required science courses so their fine arts and dramatic arts students can gain their degree. The college board had told Grace in no uncertain terms he was to teach the course as planned and there would be no budget for offering more advanced science classes. Grace had accepted even if did hurt his ego, his ego had gotten him into this in the first place. The college hadn't offered relocation expenses, Grace had spent a good amount of his dwindling savings to take a train to the college, his bike carrying a broken chain with it. Grace is embarrassed to cry, but he feels a relief knowing kindness still exists, and he hasn't slept very much since the Marks tried to enter his room 3 days ago. He has to cry, there's no alternative.
Simon has the shirts, ties, and jacket dangling at his fingers as Grace is crying. He is now unable to speak. He was only helping this man like he's helped a hundred other people. If someone needed clothes, anyone in the neighborhood (including a nosey, meddling thrift store owner) knew to send them to Simon. The speed at which he created original, good quality clothing, he had too much to begin with. Moms who needed new school clothes for their kids, someone who needed a new wardrobe for work, altering clothing for accessibility for the disabled, he took it on. He didn't accept money for his help, what mattered is that it kept him busy. It was not even an intrusion on his time, he still had regular paying customers that came to him for original clothing and tailoring existing clothes for them. Adrian carried some of his pieces on consignment and he was regularly replacing what they sold there for him. Money meant nothing to him except it funded his helping other people and, again, it kept him busy. He needed constant projects and time consuming tasks. Grace had been gobbling down hand made pasta Simon made in the middle of last night. And yes, some people would cry when Simon helped them. He had seen it but the tears pouring out of the angel perched on his stool are kind of an avalanche.
Simon exits his storeroom with the clothing, laying them on the worktable, as far away from the steadily shedding jacket as he can. He walks past Grace flips his welcome sign in the window to closed, draws some thick curtains across it and locks the front door. He returns to stand in front of Grace, tears still dribbling down. Simon reaches for the fork and container, which Grace releases easily. Simon puts them down on the worktable and turns back to Grace, squatting down and reaches into the front pocket of sewing notions, he has to fish around in there for a second. He pulls out a light green handkerchief with leaves embroidered in red on the edge. He places it in Grace's right hand and pats it.
Grace lifts the handkerchief, not to use it but to admire the embroidery. the stitches don't over lap and are so small and intricate.
"It's too pretty to use, you're too nice, Why?" Grace asks as the last few years fall down his cheeks.
"I've cried like that before. I think I know how you may be feeling. It's hard to just exist. Maybe it pisses me off, maybe it makes it less hard when I can help. " Simon says, shocking himself about being this vulnerable with a stranger...but a stranger that seems to be hurting as much as Simon has and will in the future.
Simon is also unnerved by his need to touch the stranger. His left hand is covering Grace's. When did he do that and now he sees Grace's brows lift in surprise at the contact. Simon went too far, shit.
Grace begins to dutifully wipe his tears away with the pretty cloth. He uh sniffs it also, audibly. Grace doesn't even notice he does it, the smell of cedar coming from the cloth is so strong. He may wander if Simon will want it back, now that it is soggy with his tears. Maybe he can slip it into his pocket and take it home. Grace will wonder why he wants to take it.
Simon will tighten his hand over Grace's hand, and Grace will see the surgical scars. He will put the cloth down and cover Simon's hand, his fingertips grazing the scars.
Simon will look into the red rimmed blue depths of this sweet angel and feel another poke in the center of his chest, a little more insistent and rapid. What the hell was that? His heart? Simon waits and feels the constant beating, his heart is fluttering...?
Just then Simon's front door rattles like it's alive and voice calls out from behind it, "Simon! You're closed at 3pm? You ok?"
Dang it, a certain metal performance artist has arrived for his appointment and he was supposed to look at the pipes in Simon's guest bathroom, his last tenant had left and he needed to make sure it's ready for the next...whenever Simon found a next tenant. Oh is he holding the hand of his next lodger who needs to escape the Marks? Will the Marks get handled on move out day? hee hee.
another trip down bloodymary au lane because my mind is mush and cramps and shit and fuck endometriosis.
still not technically a story, so here we go:
grace is so surprised by the intrusion of multiple knocks and shouts from the front locked door, he reaches up and honks his nose into the pretty handkerchief Simon gave him. This instantly makes Simon smile, he looks reluctant to stand up, but he does. This caller is getting more insistent and about to cause a scene.
"Simon! I came here instead of going to see the love of my life because you said this was the best time. Open up!"
Simon sighs harshly but keeps the smile plastered on his face, he does not want to upset Grace, whose tears are still drying. Simon takes his hands from Grace's, grabs the pasta and hands it Grace, noticing that Grace slipped the pretty hanky into his pocket but says nothing.
"Please keep eating, I forgot about this...appointment."
Grace had started twirling the pasta on to the fork before Simon fished his sentence but pauses, "I can leave, it's no big deal-"
Simon throws Grace a look that says different, "No, you don't. This shouldn't take long. Just eat, ok?"
For an unknown reason, Simon pats the top of Grace's hand and notices how soft his hair is. Grace still has pasta dangling from his fork in surprise when Simon goes to the front door and maybe wrenches it open a widdle roughly after unlocking it.
The door opens to a man in overalls and smudges of black smudged on his cheeks and chin. He has goggles tucked into the bib pocket of the overalls. His hand is raised mid knock and mouth gaped open mid shout. He has green and blue marbled framed glasses with oval lenses, wide sparkling eyes full of mischief and irritation. He has a plethora of tattoos dancing up his arms. Some galaxy pieces, maybe an anvil on one of his biceps. Will make up more later. He has wild curly hair streaked with gray.
"Hi Simon, thank you for answering your door after 5 minutes of knocking. "
Simon takes a deep woo-sa breath, grounding himself and trying to will his irrational irritation down. Rocky was just coming to see him at the exact time Simon had asked him. Simon's friend from the performance theatre just has a shrill and very intense way of displaying his emotions. It was not Rocky's fault Simon had locked his shop to give Grace time to collect himself. The rush of frustration ebbs away and Simon moves out of the doorway and waves Rocky in.
"Sorry about that, Rocky. I had a last minute customer and I was trying to help them-"
Rocky comes in quickly but kind of skitters to a halt just inside the door when he sees Grace who has swiveled around on the stool, pasta still in his hand as he slurps up some of the pasta (maybe bucatini? they just hold the sauce, so nice, ya'know).
Simon pokes Rocky's shoulder to encourage forward momentum and introduces Rocky to Grace.
"Rocky, this is Grace. He's new to the neighborhood and needed some work clothes for his new job at "Insert Hoity Toity Liberal Art College Name Here". Grace, this is my friend Rocky. He owns the "Insert Funky Dunky Performance Theater Name Here" nextdoor."
Rocky moves in the direction of Simon's poke and comes up to Grace who is still chewing his pasta with big owl eyes as Rocky kind of moves like a curious predator. He gets a centimeter inside of Grace's personal space and inhales deeply, sniffing at Grace. Grace scoots back in the stool (thank God it has little wheels or Grace would have dumped himself into the floor, along with the most delicious pasta has ever eaten) and kind of flinches.
Simon is instantly irritated at Rocky again, his boundary-less behavior is scaring Grace. Simon is picturing Rocky as a junkyard dog who is scaring a little bunny, Grace, for no reason.
"Rocky, down! He hasn't even known you for minute, can you relax?"
Grace is still holding Rocky's eyes as he swallows the food. Rocky backs up a smidge but still looks wary of Grace as he asks dramatically, "So you've met them?"
Grace's dinner plate eyes become serving trays as he responds, "Met who?"
Rocky places his hand over his heart as he pronounces, "The love of my life, my eternal soulmate, Adrian. They aren't shy about using their favorite essential oil, patchouli. And you reek of it, I envy you."
It is at this time that Grace looks over to Simon, silently begging for help. Simon reminds himself to be gentle in reprimanding Rocky's overwhelming behavior. He really couldn't blame Rocky, he was deeply and unexplainedly in love with Adrian. Simon had been Adrian's friend for 2 years, ever since he opened his tailor shop. They benefited from each other's services and referred customer's to each other. Plus, Adrian and Simon loved clothing and fashion and could talk about it for hours. Rocky had moved into his performance theater and glomped onto Simon for dear life. The man was chaos and dramatics, smart but oblivious to social norms. Simon adopted him as a friend like he did anyone who crossed his path, having friends and people counting on him did more for him than endless tasks.
It was his friendship with Adrian and offering to fix them lunch each day that sealed Rocky's fate. Adrian walks into Simon's shop, tall, shimmery with silver jewelry, piercings on piercings (Adrian was experimenting with clip on piercing rings before they committed to a needle), well moisturized brown skin with copper sparkle oil. Rocky is in Simon's shop also for the free meal he offers to anyone who's hungry at midday (Rocky spent all of his welding salary money buying the falling down theater. Times is hard for dreamers.) Rocky has heard about them from Simon but he's been so focused on fixing up the rickety old movie theater into a performance space, he had not made the effort to meet them yet. He had been renovating the theater to meet his strange aesthetic and was covered in sweat/dirt/oil, probably a burn or two on his arms (his tattoos are a little warped from frequent blowtorch oopsies). Hair completely drenched with sweat, plastered every which way but loose. Threadbare sleeveless shirt and basketball shorts (he gets hot when he's welding. welding what? Idk yet kid). He looks a mess, let's say that.
Now, Adrian is *not* shallow and wouldn't judge someone negatively on their appearance (they might make judgments on a fashion choice as a matter of taste, they always keep the negative ones on the inside, they are not cruel, just picky). It is the way Rocky chose to pledge his undying allegiance to Adrian without even telling them his name that freaked Adrian the fuck out.
"I have loved you. I love you now. I will love you in future timelines and on different planets. You don't have to love me back but I will dedicate my life to making you happy."
Sweet right? Yeah, if he hadn't yelled it from across the small shop (again no need to yell to the person 4 feet in front of you) on his knees with his hands full of kimchi wings, a sweaty mess.
Adrian had snatched the bag with their own kimchi wings and pickled radishes from Simon and 23 skidoo'd out of there.
"Rock, what the fuck is wrong with you? I'm sorry but that was a lot for the first time! That's my friend and you can't say shit like that and scare them. Do you understand?"
Simon was squatting to be nose to nose with Rocky, basically snarling this as he says it. Finally, Rocky seems to come to from whatever parallel dimension his mind had been lost in and immediately apologizes for scaring Adrian. He won't take it back but he is *extremely* upset with himself and wants to tell Adrian he's sorry. Simon tells him it's probably not a good idea until Simon speaks with Adrian. Rocky nods and leaves with the kimchi wings still clutched in his hands.
Simon calls Adrian and apologizes on behalf of Rocky and apologizes for exposing Adrian to Rocky's overwhelming presence. He makes sure Adrian understands that he corrected Rocky and if they ever see him again, he should at least not scare them. Adrian says it's ok but they had just had such a freaky deja Vu feeling when Rocky pledged his love and the entire display freaked them out, they aren't mad and understand people make mistakes. Simon asks Adrian if they want Simon to tell Rocky to stay away from them and his shop. Adrian assures Simon it's ok, they know if they need him, Adrian just needs to call him and he would protect them. Also, Rocky's aura showed no malice. Simon rolls his eyes and asks what Rocky's aura showed them (Simon is a bit of a skeptic but he has his reasons and does not shit on his friends' beliefs). Adrian pauses for a few seconds and Simon is about to ask them if they're ok when Adrian tells him that Rocky was being honest and his aura had been full of blue and green swirls...Adrians favorite color combo. That had also freaked them out. Simon and Adrian were active friends, speaking each day and hanging out. They kept their conversations light with Simon, speaking about their shared interests. Simon did divulge some private details about his past, out of a need to be honest with them. Adrian had been surprised with Simon's honesty (details to be revealed later, sowwy) and surprised Simon with their generous acceptance of his history. Adrian had never been that forthcoming, though. He knew they moved from the deep south to escape the Bible belt and be themselves. He knew they didn't date because of "weak and insecure men who can't handle handle who Adrian was". That was it. That was ok for Simon, he was happy to be their friend for what they needed it to be.
So from then on, Rocky was on his best behavior and kept his mouth shut around Adrian. He smiled like his life depended on it and mean mugged anyone if they didn't look at Adrian with a smile on their face. Adrian was able to speak to him and get one to two word responses from him. Rocky can't allow more words or he's going to spew vows of love. He still calls them the love of his life and springs faster than Simon to defend them if there is even a chance of negativity around them. Simon has asked Adrian if this behavior bothers them, Adrian says no but they need time to meditate on Rocky's offer of undying love, without any pressure. Simon says he thinks what Rocky is doing is kind of pressuring...especially considering the multiple gifts Adrian has found delivered to their shop through the post office with Rocky's name plastered over it. Copper and silver earrings, figures made with swirling wire work (of course, they're all of Adrian, fine details showing their wide large eyes and even the shape of Adrian's mouth in miniature), and so many silver and copper bangles). Adrian wears each piece of jewelry and in constant rotation. They display his figures in the thrift shop. They smile sweetly at Rocky more now.
Adrian flabbergasts Simon by telling him if Rocky wants to prove he deserves them, they're going to let him. Simon now considers it a safe stalemate and Adrian seems happier than when he first met them. However, all that considered (dang, it was a lot), Rocky still gets his fur up when confronted with a new person in the orbit of Adrian. Not from jealousy, from his sense of duty to protect Adrian.
Grace's eyes light up as he sees Simon coming to his rescue but now he has context to Rocky's question and behavior.
"Adrian, oh yeah. They were very kind to me and helped me out with getting some clothes. How long have you been together?"
Rocky immediately stands down and claps Grace on the shoulder, smiling, "We aren't together, not yet. I hope soon but I would wait 10 lifetimes if it meant I could be with them. It's their choice but they are the love of all of my lives, past and pres-"
Simon claps his own hand over Rocky's shoulder and gives it a medium squeeze, "Rocky, remember what we talked about? Reel it in, pal."
Rocky immediately squeezes his lips together and redirects his energy, "Sorry, Simon. Since you're helping Grace here, I'll go look at those pipes in your guest bathroom. Are my tools up there still?"
Simon nods his head miserably, "Yes, in a mess. You can leave them there, but at least make it neat?"
Rocky nods and finally takes his hand off Grace's shoulder who was trying not to flinch from the uninvited touch because, in a way, he had similar behaviors ...just like when he clutched at Simon's hand for how long he still didn't know. Simon also relinquishes Rocky's shoulder and they both watch the artist exit out of the main door at the back of the shop and hear him stomping up the stairs, without another word.
Grace and Simon are alone again...Simon steps back to the front door and locks it. Grace's heart starts beating fast again and his pasta sits in his lap. He feels full and wants to keep eating but he might get sick if he does. He's sleepy too, the warm shop and Simon's cedarwood smell invading his senses. How can his heart pound but feels so drowsy? 3 nights of sleeping against his bedroom door probably helped, trying to keep himself safe from the Marks. He doesn't hear Simon approach until he was in front of him. Grace looks up into Simon's big dark eyes and feels like he might cry again, he really doesn't know why.
Simon takes the pasta away, inspecting to see how much Grace ate (a fair bit I'll tell you) and puts it on the workbench. He retrieves the pieces he selected from Grace and walks back to him. He offers the clothing to Grace.
"These should fit you but I want you to try them on. I can do some quick alterations if you need them, if I see the clothing on you. You can change in the storage room, if you're comfortable."
Grace's heart beat starts beating triple time and nods his head. He takes the soft pieces and sees up close how beautifully made they are. He can't believe he gets to have them. He stands and feels stronger than he did before the food. Grace wants to hug Simon badly but he's already crossed a boundary today, he smiles at Simon gratefully and enters the storage room and shuts the door behind him.
Simon drops down on the stool, still warm from Grace's very cute behind that Simon definitely noticed as he walked past him. He turns so his back is to the storage room, even though the door is closed. He hears a hell of a racket from upstairs and feels like he's trying to breathe underwater. A panic attack, perfect. Why, Simon searches his emotions the way he trained himself to do, to help identify his emotions and reactions and regulate them. Was it Rocky? No, he was himself no matter the day and Simon was used to handling him. Was it Grace? Yes, thinking of Grace made his anxiety whistle loudly. Why? Grace seemed sweet and lost and helpless. Ok...and Simon wants to protect him. Ok, that usually happens when he finds someone in need. But this isn't just empathy or concern, it's more intense. It's a warm feeling. And it was getting warmer, the more he worried about Grace.
Simon's phone rings loudly, or it feels loud to Simon. He fishes it out of his apron, he doesn't get a chance to greet the caller, of course.
"You got it bad, don't you? I can feel it all the way down the street." Adrian's voice says, a little cackle follows.
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
ellievsbear
gracieabrams
snowghoul
