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[notsolomon]

This is William Twining. I shall reply to your message at my earliest convenience. Thank you. ***BEEP***

Comments

[notsolomon]

Do you want to go get coffee? Or something like that?

[babermetrics]

Yeah sounds good

You dont play any sports right?

[notsolomon]

I know a good place then.

And no I don't. Sports and I are not on speaking terms.

[babermetrics]

lol I figured

LETS DO THIS Ill meet you at the train station in the shopping district

[notsolomon]

You figured.

But see you there.

[babermetrics]

lol no offense

[And with that, he's off to catch a train; he's already dressed, and it's William, so it's not like he needs to go primp or anything. (Maybe for like, two minutes. He can't not primp some.)

Once he's off the train and onto the platform, he keeps an eye out for that blond hair, craning his neck to get a look through the crowd. Is he here first? Hmm . . . ]

[notsolomon]

[It never takes William long to get ready, one of the many virtues of being fastidious when it came to his appearance. It also helped that the modern age had far more simplistic and lax standards for that sort of thing.

So he manages to arrive a few minutes later.]

I did not keep you waiting long, did I?

[babermetrics]

[By then he's determined William isn't there yet, and is leaning up against a wall to mess with his CereVice; he looks up when he hears William and waves, tucking that away into his jacket for now.]

Yooo! I'm not used to bein' anywhere first, ha ha! I was already half out the door though. So where is this place?

[notsolomon]

You were fast for once.

[Not that Leon is slow exactly. But William tends to be insanely punctual when he can help it. Usually.]

A few blocks from here, so it's convenient. But let's go.

[babermetrics]

[He falls into step beside William. It's a nice day, but it basically always is here under the dome, so he's not sure why he even still notices—but he does. Maybe it just feels nicer to be out with a friend.]

So you're for-real not mad at me about that whole thing, right?

[notsolomon]

[He twitched a little, but didn't break his stride.]

Why would I be mad? It is just an honest misunderstanding. A very big misunderstanding.

[babermetrics]

Heh, yeah, of course! You're a hundred percent right! I was just tryin' to help anyway, so it's not like I did anything wrong . . . I just wanted to make sure you didn't think I did!

[Aw yeah. Validated. He slings an arm around William's shoulder as they walk, cheerful and companionable.]

It's like it never happened!

[notsolomon]

Yes it never happened. At all. It was just an unpleasant blip that I will forget until I turn nineteen, when it will haunt me just like my seventeenth birthday does.

[There is so much sarcasm there. Totally.]

But no, let's forget about it. For real.

[babermetrics]

You better mean it . . .

[Sigh. He nudges William's side again, letting his arm drop after a few more steps.]

I would've been pretty upset if I messed up your friendship or whatever.

[notsolomon]

He and I are fine. And we sorted it all out. It wasn't his or your fault in any way. It was all me.

[His big mouth really got him in a mess this time. And he's having this conversation with someone whose good qualities do not include tact unfortunately.]

I am not that unreasonable.

[babermetrics]

You didn't really do anything either . . . so it's all good. Don't blame yourself! 's all cool! Heh, I just—I mean, you know I wasn't trying to like, diss on you, right? When I said that stuff?

[notsolomon]

I would think you would come up with better if you were trying to 'diss.' And like I said, I am hardly worried over it.

[And now there's a long pause before he decides to venture a little question.]

Are you bothered by it?

[babermetrics]

What, you mean if you guys really had been dating?

[He glances over at him as they walk, unsure he's parsing that right, but otherwise unbothered. Totally had gay friends before! Totally!]

[notsolomon]

Yes. Or anything relating to that. I just ask because you keep bringing it up.

[But well the fact that Leon doesn't seem bothered is a relief.]

[babermetrics]

H, hey, no I don't, what else was I supposed to think when he was callin' you that? —But I don't care! I seriously don't. If you were it'd be 100% cool with me! It ain't any of my business, y'know? I've known guys who were like that before.

[He is the pinnacle of sensitivity. But he's trying.]

[notsolomon]

Yes, trust me. I understand why you were confused. I just didn't... want you to think I was lying to you about something like that. Or hiding something.

[So now he just feels extra guilty]

[babermetrics]

Heh . . . I mean, it ain't like it wouldn't make sense to hide it, so . . . it's cool! But you weren't! I think!

[notsolomon]

No of course not. I am not dating anyone or engaged, so it is a non-issue.

[Oh god he needs that coffee, like now.]

[babermetrics]

[They've got to be there soon, right? Leon's beginning to feel a mighty need himself.]

Really? I mean . . . I figure that's probably the kinda thing that's pretty obvious even if you're single, right?

[notsolomon]

Yes it is very obvious I would imagine.

[And omg, there it is. Now hopefully they will forget all about this conversation and can talk about anything else. Anything.]