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solarianvoidthearoace · 4 years ago

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Excerpts from my Mythical Community Group AU

“Care for some company?”, Gerry gripped the chair opposite and furthest from Jon. He gave them a once-over.

“Ah, I’m actually…”, he looked at his phone. Gerry snorted,

“Contemplating after how long it’s socially acceptable to walk out?” Jon winced, a slight deer-in-the-headlights expression to match. Gerry grinned,

“I know you usually only come because Martin dragged you here. And, admittedly, I sort of get it. But we got along last time so I figured no point in leaving you isolated. And, yes okay, my volunteer colleague somewhat pushed me to come talk to you.” He shrugged. Jon took a deep breath,

“Well, if you put it like that…”, and gestured at the chair Gerry was propped up against. Jon gave Gerry a once-over as they moved to sit down. Dressed in all black with a selection of silver jewellery. A bit on the chubby side but comfortably so, filling out the presence Gerry had and matching their height well enough. Jon hummed,

“I honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to do at these casual gatherings. Besides that I don’t really know anyone well enough to approach them.”

Gerry gave a conceding little head-shake,

“It takes some time getting used to, yes.” Jon looked away,

“Martin knows I only come here with, and consequently because of, him. He texted me he wouldn’t come, which I wouldn’t question. “No” is a full sentence after all.”, he shrugged,

“Still, I kind of asked him what I was supposed to do now. He… Martin does know about my social anxiety.” Gerry hummed in interest, raising a brow.

Jon’s head tipped forward, looking down at his hands in his lap,

“He asked me why it was even a question. I should probably leave or, the less likely option, suck it up and be an adult about being here. I have admittedly been reluctant to come, still… he brushed me off and –”, he broke off with a shrug. Gerry frowned,

“Well, I understand the anxiety around an unfamiliar environment. But maybe it helps to remind yourself this is a safe space. These meet-ups are mostly just to talk to other people like us in a safe environment. That’s the purpose of our group, all activity-evenings and outings included. Create a safe space to exist openly, even if it’s just one evening every two weeks.” Jon sighed,

“It is nice, knowing everyone in here is like me. Or, you know, in the same boat at least.”

Gerry nodded,

“Knowing there is something so fundamentally connecting, because it’s othering us from other people, changes the whole atmosphere.” They frowned, turning to look around the room, before turning back towards Jon,

“You got along with Oliver quite well last time, right? He’s only randomly at the casual meetings but…”, he trailed off. Jon raised a brow,

“You know, I actually didn’t catch any schedule or something like that. Martin always just organised I come here with him.” Gerry blinked in surprise,

“Huh. Uh, I’m sure we have some printed flyers. Might have to ask my partner where they are stashed, though. Otherwise I could send you the PDF, if you don’t mind me knowing your phone number.” Blinking in surprise, Jon pulled his phone back out,

“If you don’t mind me having your number. Honestly, I’m more talkative over text.” Gerry snickered,

“Same. The other volunteer can be worse about that, honestly. They have texted me while sitting at the same table because they didn’t feel like talking. They are a great partner, though.”

After making sure they both saved the number correctly and spell-checking the name of the contact, Jon frowned.

“If it’s not too personal… can I ask what you are? I mean… uhm…” They snorted,

“I’m half-hulder, half-nix. Oh, wait.” After a bit of scrolling on their phone, Gerry smirked. And Jon’s phone vibrated with a message.

“Feel free to use that for the contact. Unlikely you will ever get to see me blond like that otherwise.” Gerry’s beaming smile was the same as in the picture. He wasn’t looking at the camera, instead a good distance to the left of it. The angle managing to catch Gerry’s honest delight as well as the sunlight that filtered through him. Their backside appearing hollow and kaleidoscopic. The biggest contrast, though, was that Gerry’s hair was very much blond. The fullness of their face matching up and the photo-version being dressed in black as well. What else stood out was the cow-like tail behind their back, or where his back should have been if not for the appearance of hollowness.

Jon couldn’t help smiling at Gerry’s expression, both in the picture and at the other side of the table.

“I’m an elf, in the broadest sense”, Jon tilted his head,

“It does come in handy in my career as a researcher. That’s where I met Martin, actually. We somehow just recognised each other for not being human and sort of clicked that moment.” Gerry’s grin returned,

“Oh believe me, I know that all too well.”

[…]

After a moment, Jon cleared his throat,

“So, do you have anyone to be with?” At Gerry’s surprised look, he blushed,

“Oh goodness, I meant… here, at the group. Have you anyone you arranged to meet with or something like that?” Which earned a chuckle,

“I do, actually.” Causing Jon’s blush to intensify as his face fell. Before he could do more than wince, Gerry laughed properly,

“You, Jon. In case you forgot already.” Slumping over the table Jon hid his face against the crook of his elbow while Gerry sat down. They kept chuckling over his dramatic act. When Jon had reigned his embarrassment back in, he sat up, sighed.

Looking around the room, he fidgeted with his bag,

“Uh… can I ask what other hobbies you pursue? I mean, I already learned you don’t enjoy handicraft.” They grinned,

“I love to cook actually. It’s rare I attend the cooking classes, seeing as it’s no fun to come here alone”, they briefly turned to look around the room,

“But when there is communal cooking, I see to it that I can attend and contribute.” They smiled as they focused back on Jon,

“It’s part of my nature as a half-hulder to have a certain knack for all things homemaking. Which is not to say I’m good at housekeeping, not at all.” They had an affectionate and amused glint in their eyes,

“Just that I actually enjoy spending time to make sure it’s a home more than just a space to live. Though, when it comes to hobbies…”, they trailed off as Jon looked away. Focusing on someone behind Gerry.

“Almost didn’t recognise you, Delano”, the newcomer grinned,

“Had a date before coming here, didn’t you.” Gerry raised a brow, turning deliberately slowly,

“What makes you think that, Daisy-darling?” She shrugged, jerking her head in their general direction,

“You are overdressed.” Gerry propped his chin up over the table,

“Take a seat and you might find out.” Before he turned back to Jon,

“Jon, this is Daisy, the one actual werewolf we have here. Daisy, Jon.” Which had Jon freeze in his offer of a hand to shake. Daisy laughed,

“Tattletale.” She gave Gerry a once-over before actually sitting down. Leaning back in her chair and kicking heavy boots up onto the table. Gerry also relaxed back into his chair, their arm slung over the backrest,

“So what’s the verdict?” Which got a wolfish grin,

“I just remembered you do ballroom dancing”, Daisy’s grin widened at Gerry eye-roll,

“But I still think you had a date. With your dance partner, perhaps?” She suddenly turned to Jon. Gerry immediately sat up straight,

“Jon is a friend.” Daisy nodded, slowly,

“Doesn’t give that vibe of having had a date, you are right.” Before Gerry could do more than look upwards in exasperation, Jon spoke up,

“Uhm, if you don’t mind me asking… what makes you sure Gerry had a date?”

“Button shirt”, Tim walked up to their table,

“Gerry rarely breaks those out.” Which earned a finger-gun from Daisy before she added,

“And their nails are recently painted. I would say yesterday at the longest.” He rolled their eyes but still Gerry held up their hand, showing off the black nail polish,

“Close, today morning. Now could you please stop playing Cluedo about what I did before I came here?” Tim exchanged one look with Daisy before lazing himself in the chair next to Jon. They both grinned before turning to Jon,

“What would you see as a sign Gerry had a date?”

Making Jon splutter as he flushed,

“I don’t think… I… I don’t really know them well enough to… ah…” Tim waved it away,

“Nonsense, we are talking about Gerry. He is used to these shenanigans. Come on, maybe you can make them confess.” While Jon anxiously looked between them, Tim, and Daisy, Gerry buried his face in their hands,

“Professor Bouchard, in the cellar, with the lead pipe.” Causing laughter all around. When they looked back up, he grinned at Jon,

“I don’t mind. If you three really want to make a guessing game out of where I was before coming here, knock yourselves out.” Jon hummed in contemplation, suddenly invested in the tease. While he was scrutinising Gerry, yet another person appeared at their table.

“Is the monthly round of “what did Gerry do now?” on again?”, the other volunteer leaned over him. Resting their elbows on Gerry’s shoulders, they kept close to them,

“Can I join in?”

Gerry simply sighed, tipping their head back to look up at their partner,

“You? In that case I demand a participation fee. Compensation for how you will make me suffer.” Earning a bellowing laugh from Daisy while Tim and Jon both snickered.

Still, Tim kicked the chair next to Gerry from the table,

“The more the merrier.” They didn’t move though, waiting on Gerry’s input. He sighed, looking up in exasperation,

“If you don’t incriminate me, I’d love to have you join in on the fun.” They squeezed their shoulder before sitting down,

“Okay, so what have you got so far?” Gerry relaxed in his chair again, elbow back on the backrest and legs crossed easily. Daisy still balancing her chair on two legs, heavy boots anchoring her to the tabletop. Tim leaned forward with his elbows on the table. The newcomer, Gerry’s volunteer-colleague, pulling up their feet onto the seat of their chair, arms propped atop their knee.

With the suddenly companionable atmosphere Jon relaxed as well. Still hugging his bag to his middle but leaning back and looking around the table in expectation.

“Daisy found out I painted my nails today and remembered I took up ballroom dancing, Tim pointed out my button shirt. No tip from Jon yet”, Gerry hummed. Jon frowned, raising one hand so his forefinger lay across his bottom lip.

Before he blinked in surprise,

“Their hair is freshly dyed as well.” He actually sat back at his realisation. Earning a short applause from Tim. Gerry sighed, carding a hand through their hair and making it fall forward over their shoulder.

Gerry’s volunteer-partner changed their position. Propping their chin up on the back of their hands put atop each other, they looked around the table,

“Let’s assume Gerry had a date they took to his ballroom dancing club… what about it?” Jon piped up,

“Don’t you need to pitch in a tip still?” They demonstratively turned towards Gerry who huffed,

“I asked them to not pitch in and they won’t unless I say otherwise. It would be unfair, given they know me the longest and have most contact with me outside the community get-together.” They smiled,

“Plus the tiny detail that my nature makes it hard to trick me, even when it comes to guessing games.” Gerry gave their shoulder a shove,

“Don’t blow that out of proportion.” They snorted,

“You don’t blow me knowing you privately out of proportion.”

[…]

Gerry made a noise of understanding,

“Lonely on a Friday night?” Smile audible without a trace of pity. Jon sighed, eyes falling closed,

“It’s silly, I know.” His eyes fell on the book,

“Actually…”, Jon got up, walking over and picking the paperback up,

“I still have your book. I’m done reading… so…” Admittedly, Jon himself was a bit scared of where the talk was going as of that moment. Keeping quiet even after an encouraging hum from Gerry. He heard them chuckle,

“You want to know if you can come over and drop it off.” As casual as Gerry was, Jon felt himself blush,

“Not necessarily… I… I mean… We can just as well make out a date for tomorrow or whenever, I don’t…” Gerry’s chuckle was warm, easily painting the picture of their smile in Jon’s mind. He could even imagine his head-shake.

“Jon, it’s late. And you called me because you are lonely.” Ducking his head, Jon just so suppressed an embarrassed whimper. Gerry huffed,

“I’m not at my place yet. But if you would like to come over, get your head free and –” They broke off. Jon could vaguely hear Gerry talking with someone, clearly turned from the phone to do so. When he was back on the phone Gerry sounded amused,

“Yea, no. So the company I’m with suggested trying to arrange a party on short notice. That won’t be happening”, Gerry was clearly grinning,

“But if you would like to come over to my place just ask.” Jon bit his lip. While he scraped up his confidence he could hear Gerry chatting and laughing with their companion. He knew he was taking long but Gerry didn’t end the call. Instead keeping their phone so Jon could vaguely make out Gerry’s half of the conversation he was having in person.

“Gerry?” As soon as he spoke up, Gerry’s focus was back on him. Jon just knew.

“I would like to come over to your place if it’s no trouble”, as soon as he said it he covered his mouth with a hand. Gerry huffed a laugh,

“Sure thing. I will text you the address.” Jon swallowed thickly,

“Okay. Ah, see you then.” Gerry’s next reply a bit belated,

“Yea, we should be home in around 10 minutes. See you.”

Jon had to focus as to not trip over himself in his sudden rush to get ready to leave. Finding out Gerry wasn’t living all that far from his home wasn’t making it easier to focus. He was looking at his phone, checking the street name again, when Gerry came towards him.

Jon just about melted when Gerry greeted him with a hug. Still, he looked unsure when Gerry took him by the hand.

“And this is really alright?” Gerry glanced back at him,

“Unless you are scared. And if that is the case, you know I can talk my way around anxiety pretty well.” Coaxing Jon to grin back at them,

“That you can. Okay, lead the way.”

Gerry really had intercepted him almost right in front of their house. Leading Jon inside and up a flight of stairs to an apartment door that was leant. As Gerry ushered him in, Jon couldn’t help but frown.

“Just leave your shoes at the door”, Gerry moved over to flick on the ceiling light in the small hallway they were stood in. When Jon finally got a proper look at his partner, he gawped. Gerry was a sight to see.

Still in their block-heeled boots Jon got to watch them shrug off their jacket. Revealing a well-fitting button-shirt, matching the also black slacks. And as they looked at him again, Jon was surprised to see Gerry wore make-up. Beyond their occasional eyeliner.

Jon had known Gerry was good looking and confident about their weight. Still, knowing it was an entirely different matter than actually seeing Gerry in a figure-hugging, classy combo of all-black. It certainly was a sharp look suiting their body type.

“Something the matter?” Jon had been staring. Only realising as much when Gerry had to suppress his amusement. He blushed, ducking his head to focus on his shoes. While Jon did that, there were steps.

“See, I told you it’s a look”, a chuckle from one of the open doorways. Jon’s eyes widened, head snapping up. The contrast was jarring. While Gerry was dressed in black from head to toe, the other person was decked out in light colours and pastels. The most lushly shade their yellow shirt-blouse. Torso covered by a light green over-bust corset, accentuating and mitigating the yellow. The cotton of the corset matching the white jeans they wore, rounding up the whole look.

They were leaning in the doorframe, one thumb hooked in their pocket while the other forearm kept them propped against the frame. They smirked at Jon,

“Pick your jaw back up. It’s not as rare as most people assume to see Gerry all decked out. Their natural blond, now that is a sight to behold.” Making Jon and Gerry blush.

Finally straightening back up, Jon felt overwhelmed all of a sudden. Only belatedly catching up with the implications. He covered his mouth with a hand, gasping in mortification,

“I interrupted a date, didn’t I?”

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solarianvoidthearoace · 3 years ago