『 capeandcowl • contact 』

[invoking]

❝ At the tone, please record your message. ❞
[ beep! ]
【 call • text • voice mail 】

Comments

[retropolis]

Uh... y-yes. I understand it must be shocking to hear.

[invoking]

You... both of you? Are you l-lovers?

[retropolis]

N-- [ It's automatic; he has to stop himself. He sounds crestfallen. ] Yes.

[invoking]

[ Gil's shocked. There's no other words for it. Nelson, whom he had looked up to and even trusted enough to hopefully not get himself into trouble of any sort of hurt, was allowing a man he loved to hurt him.

It's strange to know he's in love with another man. He's surprisingly not repulsed by the fact, merely curious and amazed anyone could love that burly, rude, and mysterious man.

And that he could even love in return.

People didn't hurt each other -- not lovers, he thinks. ]

But...

He... did that to you. [ He doesn't understand. ] I-I'm not...

[retropolis]

[ Nelson's relieved that Gil is at least not taking the news as badly as he'd originally feared. Not that it makes this whole conversation easier, but it's a comfort that it could still be going worse.

Still -- the worst is yet to come. ]

We were getting intimate. Wh-when you walked in.

1/2

[invoking]

[ He tries to say something, but his tongue flops uselessly and he mouths off gibberish instead. ]

[invoking]

I-I-I don't -- [ WANT TO HEAR. ]

NEVER MIND!!

[retropolis]

[ He makes a little wailing noise. ]

I'm sorry. P-please don't get upset, Gilbert...

[invoking]

I-I'm not up-upset!! [ He's heard enough sex ... things ... for one lifetime or two.

Or hundred. ]

[retropolis]

I wasn't going to go into any detail. It's hard enough to-- to even say-- believe me, Gilbert, I'm not particularly proud that it's come to this.

1/2

[invoking]

[ Hooded Justice, though. ]

[invoking]

I'm... sorry. I shouldn't have overreacted like that...

[retropolis]

[ Miserably, embarrassed: ]

Just... please don't say anything to anyone. And don't-- [ A pause. ] Don't hate me, Gilbert, please...

[invoking]

I wo -- [ He abruptly stops. ]

Why would I hate you? [ He sounds genuinely confused. ]

[retropolis]

[ He hesitates. ]

Because... well, I know it's an undignified thing to bear witness to. I wouldn't hold it against you if you thought any different of me now.

[invoking]

I don't hold any ill thoughts against you! I'm worried about you, Mr. Nelson! [ There's a difference, really! ]

[retropolis]

Don't be worried. [ !!! ] He's not as bad as you think, Gilbert, really.

[invoking]

But you were the one -- [ TIED DOWN AND BEATEN.

... Oh no, what if they switch positions?

Why is Gil thinking about such things? ]

[retropolis]

[ GILBERT NO... ]

Please don't trouble yourself too much about the particulars. I would tell him no if I were unhappy.

[invoking]

[ Really... no idea... what to say... ]

I... see?

[retropolis]

[ He clears his throat. ]

If there's something you really want to know I suppose I can... answer any questions you may have, but--

[ But do you want to know... ]

[invoking]

N-No, that's fine, Mr. Nelson... [ He really doesn't want to... ] And I don't want to keep you from your uh, trip.

[retropolis]

Oh, it's all right. No one's missed me so far, you can't get up to a whole lot in the woods.

[ He says it with a mild chuckle. ]

Regardless, I'm sorry you had to find out this way.

[invoking]

Please don't apologize. I... should have called. [ Or not shown up at all. Who knows. ]

[retropolis]

Now you know for next time. It was -- uh -- just an unfortunate misunderstanding.