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[abrightboy]

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During the Undergrowth Flood

[empathicfault]

It's three days in, and Will had started to get used to not being affected by it. Unfortunately, that means it has to come hit him specifically.

He's home after work, which at the moment consists of trying to make sure they're helping with any emergency that comes up and that the cats are taken care of. It's nevertheless rather stressful, and he's carrying himself like an old man coming back from the dog's walk.

And then he's just different. His curls are more pronounced and his hair slightly longer, his face is clean-shaven, and he's wearing a t-shirt and skinny jeans. He looks around with a bit of hesitation. But none of the heaviness he'd had- he seems to appreciate the surroundings and pats the comfortable dogs on their heads.

This is Malcolm's place, he does know that. But the feelings that come up when he thinks of Malcolm...they're too strong. It's making him think he should take off. He does get hung up on people sometimes, and it always ends badly...

Re: During the Undergrowth Flood

[abrightboy]

"There's the love of my life," Malcolm enthused when he spots him as he looks up from the kitchen island. "Dinner's almost ready. I hoped you'd be back in time."

Re: During the Undergrowth Flood

[empathicfault]

Will visibly startles, looking back over towards the kitchen. His expression brightens, but his smile doesn't reach his eyes. What is it about this one that's so special, anyway?

"Hey! Yeah, I just got back. What's on the menu for tonight?"

Re: During the Undergrowth Flood

[abrightboy]

"Filet mignon with a blue cheese crust and fingerling potatoes," Malcolm tells him, clearly pleased with how good it smells and how impressive it must be.

He reaches out an arm towards Will. "What are you standing way back there for? I've been waiting all day to touch you."

Re: During the Undergrowth Flood

[empathicfault]

Will's eyes bug out a bit at the description. He obligingly gets up and walks over towards Malcolm. The dogs trail behind him- are they his dogs? Weird.

He's smiling as he walks to the kitchen. "If you're trying to impress me, it's working." He walks straight into Malcolm's arms and leans in for a kiss.

audio, shortly after his bro's post about his wedding

[howtheyshine]

Hey, Malcolm, um. [His voice is a wee bit pitchy, that "I am holding on by my fingernails" tone.]

I think I might need- I might need to talk? About things? With someone?

Re: audio, shortly after his bro's post about his wedding

[abrightboy]

I’m always available for a friend. Where do you want to meet?

[howtheyshine]

Can- Could you choose?

[abrightboy]

Come to my place; I’ll let Sunshine out of her cage.

[neverwaitslong]

Ulla slips into Malcolm's office, shutting the door behind her. She looks happy, so clearly whatever she's here to say isn't bad, she just wants to talk to him.

"Hello Malcolm. Are you busy, or can I ask you something?"

[abrightboy]

He looks up from a page of doodles on his desk, clearly pleased to see her.

"Please ask me something," he implores her with a grin.

[neverwaitslong]

As straightforward as ever, she asks him, "Would it bother you if I took your idea and made wedding jewelry for me and Taylor using our hair spun together?"

She wants his blessing before she does it. And she doesn't want to overstep onto anything he would rather keep unique to him and Will.

[abrightboy]

“Bother me? Oh! No. It would flatter me. To be honest…” He leans over the desk conspiratorially. “I kind of took the idea from Justine’s hair crafts. She mistook my questions about it as criticism and she was generally a cow about everything, so instead of commissioning them from her, I took the idea and brought it to you. And you did something way more amazing than I even pictured, so… best turn of events ever. So yeah. Are you thinking bracelets too, or something else?” he asks with interest.

[talesuntold]

Malcolm, it's Maggie. Give me a call when you're back. I made a judgement call based on my instincts, but it's the kind of thing I would normally clear with you first.

If you get Dave instead of me, I'll leave him a message to pass along so you aren't left in cryptic voicemail limbo. Talk to you soon!

Gil, you can ignore this, you already know what I'm talking about.

a day or so later

[abrightboy]

...Gil? Gil was here?

Re: a day or so later

[talesuntold]

Yeah. You got a good one this time. I did too. If you haven't met Dave yet, he's one of my favorite people, so you should, if you get the chance. He's also the one person from my world I already know I'll turn if he decides he wants it.

Anyway, I was... a lot more honest with Gil than I usually would be without a check-in first. So I wanted to talk to you about it.

Re: a day or so later

[abrightboy]

….I think Gil already knows about Will. I mean, I don’t know for sure, but I assume my mom would have told him.

December 28th, morning

[empathicfault]

It's not like everything is picture perfect, like in a Hallmark romance. Malcolm wakes up with a night terror, block in his mouth to keep from biting his tongue. Will wakes up a half a minute beforehand, as usual. He holds onto Malcolm in a loving (non-restraining) hug as his husband fights his dream. Will waits it out, responding to what emotions he can feel.

But once Malcolm's properly awake and things have settled a little, Will gives him the biggest smile. "Happy Anniversary, sweetheart. You want your coffee before or after we get out the presents?" He helps undo the restraints on Malcolm's legs, rubbing the ankles a little once they're free. He looks for all the world like they're in a classic fairy tale, and they've hit their Happily Ever After.

Re: December 28th, morning

[abrightboy]

He still looks a little pale and shaken by the horror as he spits out his mouth guard to start to get up... but then Will says 'happy anniversary' and asks about coffee and presents and the remnants of the terror are immediately chased from his features. He smiles brightly.

"Well... we need to get the coffee to go to show you your present," he says coyly "...so what if I put the kettle on and you get my present?" he suggests, clambering off the bed to head to the kitchen already, but pausing and turning to give Will a lingering kiss. "Happy Anniversary," he says, before he practically bounces towards the french press again.

Re: December 28th, morning

[empathicfault]

Will laughs lightly as Malcolm gets out of bed. He figured that might be the good kind of distracting. The dogs, already up, are following Malcolm into the kitchen. Will watches them for a moment, then slides himself out of bed.

"We need the coffee? Hmmm..." It was sure to be revealed soon, but he turned a few thoughts over with this new mystery of what he could've gotten. Will slides himself out of bed, and heads towards the stairs. "I'll be right back."

He doesn't often make the dogs wait for their breakfast, but they can wait today. Instead, he finds his two packages and brings them down. One is quite long and- rather expectedly- sword-like. The second is smaller, just a little larger than a personal notepad. Both are wrapped in gold and black paper.

Re: December 28th, morning

[abrightboy]

Malcolm isn't even trying to pretend he's not looking when Will brings the packages down.

"Will! That's two presents!" There's no admonishment in his tone. "I only got you one thing!" He's still grinning. He comes around the counter because he can't wait all the way until they get on his side of it. "Can I open them now?" he asks, looking up at Will's face, clearly stopping himself from reaching for them until Will says it's okay.

backdated to late port, after The Wolfening

[hostileterritory]

[Malcolm being Malcolm, he'll catch it - the way David's voice is subtly changed, his inflections fractionally different, his tone somehow indescribably changed. More awake somehow.]

Uh. Malcolm? I think we should talk. And then probably we should talk to Maggie after that. Whenever she's... whenever we can.

Re: backdated to late port, after The Wolfening

[abrightboy]

Of course. Um. Do you want to meet on the ship? I can come back. Or there's an adorable little tavern in the village.

[hostileterritory]

[Christ he's glad this is audio. At least Malcolm can't see his face and the way he can feel himself go the color of blue cheese.]

I don't think I should go into the village.

[abrightboy]

Okay. I'm on my way back to the ship. Ten minutes tops.

[He makes it in eight and knocks on David's door.]

David?