Who: Alecto & Gourry Where: Alecto's flat When: Recentish? What: Gourry comes to spend time with Napkin Rating: PG-13 Status: Complete
For someone who usually didn’t care and very much put on airs about how little she cared, Alecto had spent perhaps too much time thinking about what to wear today. She’d considered texting Rebekah for advice, but then remembered that she was pretending that things weren’t a big deal. This was what she got for not drinking and making friends with people that told her she was a good person. In the end, she’d settled on a pair of bright red shorts and a black tank top. Mostly just because California was hot and she still didn’t like the heat. Years of being away from England and she still preferred the weather. Probably because it mirrored her soul or something like that.
So when she heard a knock on the door, she opened it. “I see you found the place pretty easily. I was a little worried since you tend to get lost so easily.” Just a little light hearted teasing. She did live above the Hanged Man, so she had a pretty good idea of his making it there without an issue. “Come into my borrowed abode.” She hadn’t touched too many of the things Hawke had around. There were a few things that were very obviously hers, but mostly everything was in a trunk at the foot of the bed, which had been charmed to be bigger on the inside, but light enough to carry pretty easily. It was useful. “Uh...you can probably find a seat somewhere and Napkin’s in the cage.” She motioned to it. “I’ve been considering making him one that’s charmed to be bigger than it is inside with more things to do, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
Like Alecto, Gourry too wore a tanktop, showing off his BULGING MANLY MUSCLES. He smiled at her, all dopey and happy as he stepped in. “Yeah, I still have the address to the Hanged Man in my wallet, just in case, you know?” He knocked on his head with a laugh. “Sometimes this whole memory thing troubles me, but then I forget I thought of that.” His attention immediately diverted to the bunny-napkin-goblet. Or was it bunny-goblet-napkin? Either way, he hurried over to the cage and crouched, being a giant and all. “Hey, Napkin!”
Alecto was decidedly not staring (even if she sort of was, but she was going to deny it). She was also sure that his smile was stupid. “You’re basically the most ridiculous human I’ve ever met in my life.” How someone got lost all the time was beyond her. “One day I’m going to get a text like ‘I’m on this street and I don’t know how to get home’ and I’m going to have to apparate there just to get you back.” And then his attention shifted to Napkin and she sat down on her trunk. “I’ve been learning spells to soundproof everything so he doesn’t hear the noise, but for now, his cage is kind of the only thing soundproofed.”
“You can do all of that?” Gourry looked at her with a laugh. “You’re an amazing sorceress--er, I guess witch is the right word for you.”
“Yep. I’m pretty great. It’s true.” Even if she didn’t always feel that way, but she didn’t really want to get into that. “But witch is definitely the appropriate word. “I’d apparate now, but Napkin doesn’t like loud noises, so it’s probably best to show that to you at a different time.”
Gourry looked back at Napkin. “Aw… poor little guy. You’re sound blocking things though, that’s great.”
“Yeah. I mean...I can’t have him having a little bunny heart attack because of loud noises. I guess all that would happen would be that he’d turn back into a napkin, but...you know.” She’d grown oddly attached to Napkin as he was. She wouldn’t have kept him around if she hadn’t. She shrugged, anyway.
Gourry turned away from Napkin again and looked around the room. “It’s nice.”
Alecto followed his gaze, shrugging again. “It’s okay. Hawke very nicely gave up his study or whatever it was for me. I’ve been looking around for other places. It’s not supposed to be permanent.” She kept her words light and airy as if it wasn’t a little bit sad. But Hawke’s dwarf friend could show up. She’d leave if he did. Hawke and Isabella were kind of like her family now, so it would be sad, but she knew the living arrangements and why Hawke’s second room existed. “But for now, it’s a nice place.”
“You’re welcome to stay at my place too,” Gourry nodded. “If you need a place, I mean.”
Alecto blinked at that, expression blank. She really didn’t know how to react in that moment. “Um.” Yes. Very intelligent. “You don’t...have to do that.” She felt the awkwardness of it all settling in. She’d been offered this before and then it just...disappeared. Only the circumstances had been different. And the thing about Gourry was that he was just nice so she didn’t want to accidentally take advantage. All of this was both new and stupid...since she’d never had a problem with it before. “But it’s nice of you to offer.”
Gourry shrugged. “I mean it though, I got a spare room and I wouldn’t want my friend to be sleeping somewhere she isn’t comfortable at. So, the offer’s always open.” He smiled at her. “Can I hold Napkin?”
“Thanks.” She stared down at the ground for a moment. “I don’t want to be a bother to anyone and I can’t really cook anything but poutine. I can theoretically put up wards to keep unwanted people out.” At the question, she nodded. “That is why you came over after all. I remember you having specific plans about it. Putting him on your chest and falling asleep. Or something like that.”
Gourry nodded with a laugh. “Yeah, but I wouldn’t expect anything in return except putting up with talking to me.” He turned back to the cage and pulled the rabbit out, cradling him close. “Hey buddy, how you doing?”
“That is a full time job,” she commented, a hint of teasing in her expression. “There’s a lot of things you do that don’t make any sense.” But she didn’t really mind it that much. Even if she did occasinally find herself bewildered by the whole thing. She watched Napkin quietly for a moment before saying, “You’re welcome to borrow the bed for the purposes of bunny adventures.”
“Nah, I’m good on the floor.” The tall man simply sat down… and then fell backwards, rabbit on his chest. He put one arm behind his head, the other floofing the bunny’s fur.
Alecto studied him quietly for a moment. “You’re strange.” But Napkin seemed happy with the arrangement as it was. “He likes you.”
Gourry smiled. “I like him too. And you.”
Alecto rolled her eyes. “Of course you like me. I’m awesome. Pretty much the best person that ever existed.” She studied him for another moment before moving to lie next to him on the floor. “I don’t think you’d find anyone as cool as me.”
“I don’t think so either,” Gourry winked at her. He toyed with Napkin’s ears, making ‘woosh’ noises as he did.
She shook her head, reaching over to pet Napkin. “So did you ever solve the problem of it being hot everywhere?”
“Nope. Still hot.” Gourry chuckled.
“That is not a lie,” she commented casually, not taking her eyes off Napkin.
“Right? I honestly never thought California would get this hot,” he frowned deeply.
She had to keep herself from facepalming. “It’s always hot. The States are weird and hot and very sunny.” She glanced up at him. “But I’m pretty sure you’d be hot even if it was cold outside. And I don’t mean temperature wise.”
Gourry looked at her, confused. “Am I sick?”
That earned a groan. “You pain me. Like. This is seriously the most work I’ve ever had to put into telling someone that they are attractive in my life. I did not expect to have to explain this.”
“I’m attractive to you?” He tilted his head.
Like a dog, Alecto. Like a dog.
“Um. Have you seen yourself? Even the blind would be attracted to you.” If she had not already been on the floor, she probably would have slid off wherever she was sitting onto the floor in frustration. She decidedly did not explain that the fact that he was nice to her for no reason only made it worse. “I need a drink.” But she didn’t move.
“Well, I just didn’t expect someone like you to be attracted to this,” he gestured to all of himself with an amused smile. “I thought you’d like them dark and broody types.”
“I am the dark and broody type.” She sighed. “I just have the curious misfortune of being attracted to the weirdly optimistic types. Apparently. I mean, okay, I might sleep with other broody types as a one off, but that’s basically all it is.” She pulled out her wand, summoning a pillow so she could effectively cover her face with it. “Don’t ask me. I don’t make the attraction rules.” But given the pillow, it came out muffled. She only pulled it off long enough to say, “How the fuck did you not understand the meaning of my words? I said NOT temperature wise.”
Gourry tilted his head in thought. “...Dunno.” Really, that was the best explanation poor Alecto would get from this doofball.
She felt like hitting her head on a wall, but she also didn’t want to have more of a headache. “You’re completely hopeless. Seriously.” She turned over on her stomach. “Such a fucking Hufflepuff. My dream parents are cringing right now. Probably so is dream me.” She studied him for a moment. “Soo...yeah. Sorry if that’s awkward or whatever. You can still come see Napkin since he likes you and all.”
“Why would it be awkward?” Gourry tilted his head again. “I think it’s nice.”
Her stomach really needed to stop all the strange acrobatics. She would have glared at it if it wouldn’t have looked strange. Instead she just looked at Gourry skeptically. “You think it’s nice?”
“Yeah,” He smiled at her. “You think I’m attractive. Feeling is mutual.”
Out of habit, she kept herself from smiling immediately so she could control the expression on her face. After a moment, she allowed a more confident smile. “Of course it is, because I’m fucking awesome.” Yes, okay, her accent was a little stronger than normal in that moment, but she was choosing to ignore that. “I was unaware that the dark, brooding types were your type. But I guess I’m dark, brooding, and moderately morbid.”
“You’re a strong woman, you’d look at me as an equal, not someone better or lesser.”
“Mmmm. You’re definitely lucky you got this version of me, then.” She reached over to pat him lightly on the head. “Dream Alecto’s a real twat. Everyone is lesser than her.” Which she might jokingly say here, but she didn’t really think a lot of people were lesser than her. Maybe that idiot pick pocket that she’d run into with that guy who could survive being stabbed by a knife. “And before you tell me that I don’t have to be her, I know. Like five million people have told me already. You included.”
Gourry chuckled. “I’m glad then, that I met this you.”
Her eyes narrowed for a moment before she said, “I’m going to kiss you right now, but don’t think that means you can slack on your Napkin duties and let him escape or anything.” After checking to make sure Napkin hadn’t suddenly made a quick escape, she pulled her hair over to one side and leaned down to kiss him because Merlin knew she’d waited at least three million years if not four. Just before she did, though, she paused. “Isabela already condoned my shagging you, too. Or really she told me I should.” Yep. Now kissing.
Gourry was about to reply but found himself being kissed instead. He moved a hand to touch her cheek lightly, calloused thumb rubbing across her cheekbone. He pulled back after a second, looking at her directly. “You sure that was okay?”
Alecto dropped her head onto his shoulder. Partially out of annoyance and partially to avoid looking at him in case her face was being obvious at that moment. “Yep. Definitely okay. Better than okay. 10 out of 10 would try again.”
Gourry laughed, nothing mocking, but gentle and genuine. “Again?” He leaned back to find her face as she was hiding, and brushed his lips against hers.
Alecto was pretty sure laughing should be illegal, but it was more because it made her feel weird than because she believed she was being laughed at. Feeling him moving, she turned her head slightly before lifting herself up on her elbows a little to make the act of kissing him easier. Especially when she was definitely not settling for just his lips brushing against hers as their second kiss. When she pulled back, she said, “I am considering the possibility that kissing is easier without a rabbit in the way.”
“Maybe a teeny bit,” Gourry smiled at her. He lifted his hand to tuck her hair behind her ear again. “I can swear I didn’t come over expecting this,” he assured her.
“Well, to be fair, I didn't exactly mean to do this either.” She shrugged. “Not today anyway. Or maybe ever.” She stared at a spot directly to the side of his head. “What I told you about Isabela was like...after we talked for the first time and told them you were weird because you were nice to me. Sooo…” Another shrug. “Also suspicious.”
Gourry smiled at her, reaching out to toy with a bit of her hair. “I think a lot of people from the net are nice to you.”
“Yeah. It's still weird. Isabela says it's because I surround myself with assholes.” Which was possible. “I dunno. Just how I'm wired maybe.” If shrugging was an olympic sport, Alecto would be a gold medalist at this point. “Most of them are like my family anyway and they tease me as often as they're nice to me.”
“Well… what’s next?” Gourry watched her evenly, gently.
Alecto looked at him and then around. “Um. I hadn't really planned past this.” Because she didn't exactly even plan this. “What's supposed to happen?”
Gourry brushed her cheek again with his calloused thumb. “Well, I’m not one to push anything.” He smiled.
“I'm not easily pushed.” A beat. “Unless I'm drunk. Definitely wobbly enough for it, then.” She snorted lightly. “But I'm also pretty easy. Not going to lie.” She glanced at Napkin. “I guess it depends on how much more cuddling you and Napkin need to do.”
“Easy?” Gourry looked at her, confused.
She shook her head, resting her face in the palm of her hand. “Nevermind. Just agree to paintball and laser tag at some point.” Finally looking up at him again, she said, “Also probably you should be prepared for my morbidness and ever increasing awesomeness.”
Gourry sat up, looking at her seriously, but it still remains to be rather gentle. Gourry is just looking for confirmation. “Are we dating now?”
“I dunno. Maybe? Do you want to be dating? Because obviously it doesn't have to be a thing. I'm probably the worst at dating.” Her expression was very much neutral. “We can just go on friendly adventures where we shoot at each other like normal people do or something.”
Gourry frowned a little. “I don’t feel right kissing you, going on date-like things with you and it not being dating, but I obviously wouldn’t force you into it either.”
She eyed him for a moment. “I'm not good at dating or this stuff or well, being open about myself.” Except for the fact that she kept accidentally telling him things, but she was okay to ignore that. “So you know...there are better people to date in this universe than me.” She felt more awkward than she'd have liked. “But if you want to be dating, we can be. I just don't want to make things weird or whatever.” She sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. “But it's...cool. Whatever. Or something.” This was definitely Alecto at her most awkward.
“No, not weird. How about this,” Gourry reached for her hand. “We go on a date, wherever you want, and then dinner. Then if you feel up to deciding then, you do, otherwise we go on a few more or stop. Deal?”
Alecto let him take her hand. There wasn’t really a reason not to. Even if part of her wanted to pull away and stay in her protective, self-imposed bubble. “If we’re going to dinner after, it probably shouldn’t be paintball.” Even though paintball was the greatest thing known to man. “Which leaves lasertag.” Still shooting at people. It counted. “And I demand nutella ice cream.”
“You got it,” Gourry lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles. She smiled a little. “Give me a sec to put Napkin back in his cage and we can try that whole kissing thing again.”