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You died. I turned it around first.

[Jedao points out, a little bit dryly. There's a fond you dummy in there that he doesn't quite say out loud.]

And I'm...honored. That you did tell me.

Sure, but me dying is--

[No, wait, pause, we're trying to be better--]

It's- um. You don't need to use that as an opening for stuff. Me getting chewed up and spat back out by life. We're friends, you can just... talk to me. And I'll do the same, for you guys.

It wasn't that, exactly. I don't like to talk about him at all, usually. It just...

Maybe you should tell me more myths from your world when you haven't just died.

[If they're still friends, after -]

I'll see how many I remember. They're gonna be pretty heavily filtered through some stupid crap, though, you know me.

[He gives another yawn, longer this time.]

Besides, all stories are rip-offs. You dig back through adaptations far enough, you'll always find a myth somewhere. Just-- find me and ask.

[He gives Jedao a warm, exhausted smile. Definitely still friends; Jedao hasn't even done anything to revoke that.]

Look, it's - fuck.

[He chokes a little on his own whisper.]

I'm going to break Gonou's heart tomorrow, maybe.

...what?

[Well that certainly wakes Eiffel up a bit, and he pushes himself onto his elbows to look at the camera properly.]

Jedao, baby, speak to me. What are you talking about?

[Jedao takes a slow breath. No one's ever called him baby before. He kind of wants to cry. The Galley was a fabulous excuse to put this off for a month but it hasn't made it any easier.]

Look, there's just - things. That I have to tell him. Like - it would be wrong, to keep going, if I don't.

And I don't want to talk about it, but just - if he dumps me, be - be cool about it, okay? Don't - defend me or say it can't be that bad, because it can, and - he can tell you if he wants, but don't make him. Can you just - do that? Be his friend first?

[He wants to push. By God does he want to reach through the screen and shake Jedao and tell him it won't be as bad as he thinks it is. Because Gonou was a good and kind person who wouldn't hate him for it.

But since Jedao doesn't offer it, he won't. But fuck the urge is real.]

...okay. But-- Jedao, you're my friend too. I'm not gonna not keep being friends with you for-- whatever this is. Even if Gonou hates you, which he won't.

[He smiles, and it's horrible. Just an awful, incredibly sad smile.]

I know. Thank you.

But I don't want to hurt him worse than I have to. So I'm asking you, as a friend, to be his friend first.

[Jedao you're making it very hard to promise this when he just wants to hug it out.]

...yeah. I can do that.

[And it's very much not a promise because he absolutely wants to be able to go back on his word if he has to.]

Thank you.

[It's soft and very earnest. Are you willing to disappoint this face, Eiffel?]

[Hey, he can blast those puppy dog eyes all he wants, he raised a literal baby. It's the other face Eiffel has trouble with.]

...you're not a bad person for letting him... I dunno, make an informed decision, I guess? [It's a quiet offer, some final act of solidarity and care.] But I don't think it's gonna change things. Long as you're trying to be better, right? Intent means a lot.

I know that's not why. I'm being better.

[Gonou deserves that. They just both have to live with the consequences.]

I hope you're right.

[He doesn't believe it. But he does look a tiny bit heartened. He believes Eiffel believes it, even if he doesn't know the details, and - it helps, to think Eiffel wouldn't hate him. Would care more about who he is now, in a way that Gonou doesn't really have the luxury of.]

[Eiffel doesn't miss that tiny shift in Jedao's mood, and even if it's only like, one percent less self-loathing, he did that.

So he smiles back, and there's such a quiet, gentle sincerity to it.]

Iiii may not always be right, but at least I look good doing it, right?

[It's a stupid joke, but he makes himself grin, so there's that.]

You're gonna be just fine, babe.

You always do.

[Soft and wry, but still sincere.]

...you’re a good friend, Eiffel.

[That makes him chuckle softly.]

You gonna be alright if your good friend goes back to sleeping off the mother of all hangovers? I'll be back on my feet tomorrow afternoon, probably. Or- is it today afternoon, now?

Time isn't real.

Get some sleep, Eiffel.

[Smash cut to like, twelve hours later. Voice only. That voice is hoarse and watery and still a little in shock, but like. In a good way.]

...you can say I told you so.

[Eiffel is a lot more awake twelve hours later, and therefore has to try not to be too overly enthusiastic at the sound of good news.]

I take it by your reluctant admission that I am, truly, a genius and right about everything all the time forever no take backsies that things went...

Weeeeeeeeeell?

[Dryly; haplessly amused by both of them.]

I'm pretty sure if one of the new guys didn't have your old key, we'd've fucked in the Engine Room.

[It was still an extremely close thing.]

Edited 2022-09-27 14:39 (UTC)

[--sorry that just flashed a very vivid image through Eiffel's mind, and his voice sounds distinctly strangled for a moment.]

U-um-- would- wait, so, if I still had the key, you would have??

I don't know.

[Jedao would have risked it, if Gonou did. But it'll be nice when one of them has an actual bed.]

Okay, well- um. Moving on--

[He can think about that later. Possibly in private? Who knows!]

You guys talked, it went well, hooray! I'm glad to hear it, seriously. And I'm gonna reserve my 'I told you so' 'cos this is a happy occasion and you deserve to own that.

I don't mind. You're an easy person to be joyful with.

But also I owe you a shirt.

[Jedao please stop changing direction. Eiffel can't help but laugh, trying not to sound affronted and failing but it's fine because he's not really offended?]

What are you doing with my clothes? I didn't think filter access meant wardrobe access!

Edited 2022-09-28 02:39 (UTC)

Yesterday you asked me to bring you a clean shirt. You were really out of it, huhn?

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