A Nightray Reunion

[yelliot]

Who: Elliot Nightray (yelliot) & Gilbert Nightray (rechained)
What: Elliot and Gilbert finally reunite
When: Before shit goes down
Where: Olympia, somewhere...
Warning(s): Screaming...from Elliot...



<sub>[For someone who faced life head on, there was nothing that pissed Elliot off more than being avoided or ignored. The only thing that could make it worse was having it done to him by a member of his own family. The first time Elliot had caught a glimpse of Gilbert it was on his way back from the market. There had been a flash of black shaggy hair and golden eyes but as soon as Elliot did a double take...whoever it was was gone. It's only when he noticed he was being followed that he'd caught on it was by none other than his brother Gilbert.

Every time he caught his brother in the act he'd run away cowardly or disappear altogether and every time it happened Elliot only found himself getting more and more pissed off. This is why it's Elliot who decides to be sneaky for a change and, when Gilbert is least expecting it, turns to chase him down and push him against the nearest brick wall he can find. How dare he avoid him! Especially after everything that had happened!]</sub>

WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, HUH?! STALKING ME GILBERT! CAN'T YOU JUST SAY HI LIKE A NORMAL PERSON? STUPID! IDIOT! HOW DARE YOU AVOID ME!!!!

Comments

[rechained]

Elliot—

[ Not even half as loud, Gilbert gives a start as he's abruptly pinned, very narrowly missing going for his gun. He spends a moment slack-jawed and stunned, tensing reflexively at the lecture before his face colors hotly and he finds himself shouting right back, like they're back home and no time has passed and Elliot's mad about something Vincent's done that Gilbert's been left holding the bag. ]

I haven't— I wasn't avoiding you! I just— It's been a long time! A lot's happened, and I just— I wanted to give you your space! But I was worried, so—

[yelliot]

DON'T YOU THINK YOU'VE GIVEN ME ENOUGH SPACE?! YOU WERE ASLEEP IN THAT POD AND I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO WAKE UP AND THEN YOU JUST CREEP AROUND LIKE YOU DID AT LUTWIDGE!

_{[Still loud, still causing a scene, but those that pass by seem to be steering clear of Elliot and his pinned brother. The radius of avoidance he's got going on is pretty impressive.]}

If you were WORRIED why didn't you just come up to my face and say so?! You're lucky I haven't punched you!

[rechained]

I wasn't creeping ar—

[ Not the time, Gilbert. This is not the time. He puts his hands on Elliot's wrists but doesn't yet try to work himself free. ]

You— You have your own life going here! I didn't want to just... show up and make things hard for you, okay? It's— It's not like— [ —we're actually brothers. But he can't bring himself to say that, even if he believes it to be true. Elliot's different from him, from them. Always has been. He's better. He's so much better than this. ]

—being a Nightray matters here. I just... wanted to make sure you were safe in your new life. That's all.

[yelliot]

SO WHAT IF BEING A NIGHTRAY DOESN'T MATTER?!

_{[Maybe not the best thing to say, Gilbert. You might be used to being a vagabond but at least you can feed yourself. Elliot's cooking skills are barely at survivable level now and that's after weeks of trying.]}

YOU'RE the one who decided not to be a part of MY life back home! NOT me, you idiot! If anything you should WANT to be a part of my life now you've the chance, RIGHT?!

[rechained]

I decided no such thing!! You were away at school!!

[ Gil defends himself against this attack on his character pretty much immediately, but then realizes that leaves him on the hook for Elliot's second claim, which— He— God dammit. Time to switch tactics. ]

What's wrong with being a part of your life from afar?? It's not like you're not plenty preoccupied with your servant!

[yelliot]

YES YOU DID STUPID! YOU LEFT! DON'T TURN THIS AROUND ON ME!

_{[Hissss...if Elliot was a cat his ears would be turned down as he gives Gilbert another shove.]}

BECAUSE YOU'RE MY BROTHER AND WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER DOESN'T THAT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?!

[rechained]

[ If Elliot was a cat, Gilbert would be running away from him even more.

Elliot loudly announcing that they're brothers strikes him with far more force than the shove, however, leaving him stunned and blinking uncertainly in Elliot's direction. ]

I— We're—

...we—

[ He gives a hard swallow, throat all at once scratchy and dry. ]

Of... Of course that means something to me. I'm— ...I'm here, aren't I? I know I'm not... great at being a brother. I'm not great at most things. But I'm trying.

For you. I'm trying.

[yelliot]

Yeah, you are...but you're trying to avoid me! So...don't, okay? It's not that hard Gilbert.

<sub>[Gilbert might be having an existential crisis, but Elliot's conviction when it comes to family is unwavering. Gilbert and Vincent would always be his brothers. Blood didn't matter when it came to them...and if they wanted to say otherwise, he'd deck them.

At least Elliot's not yelling anymore.]</sub>

[rechained]

I just— ...didn't want to be in the way. You have a good thing going here. [ Besides the starvation. He's been considering leaving sandwiches in your mailbox. ] But if it's what you really want, I— ...I'll stop hanging back.

[ He pauses, mopping a hand over his face. ]

Sorry. Um. [ An awkward pause, Gilbert glancing around nervously. ] How... How have things been?

[yelliot]

If you're in the way I'll tell you.

_{[That's something Gilbert can believe in too, considering how forward Elliot is. Returning his hands to himself Elliot sets them on his hips. How have things been? It's a good question. Just what was he supposed to tell Gilbert exactly? That he'd recently got a cat? That he and Leo were more than just master and servant?]}

They've been difficult. Both Leo and I are just trying to make end's meat...but I can't say it's all bad.

[rechained]

Yeah? I'm sorry I wasn't... here when you got here. It must've been hard. [ There's a pause, Gilbert scratching at the tip of his nose. ] I've, um. ...I've been proud. Just. From what I've seen. You've done a lot with... with the rough start this all must've been.

I'm glad you and... and Leo had each other.

[yelliot]

_{[Hearing Gilbert say he's proud of him makes him feel warm in a way that's nostalgic, not that he'll admit it. It's nice.]}

I don't really know what I'd do without him.

_{[There's more to that statement than Gilbert can possibly discern but it's true. Elliot wouldn't know what to do without Leo to balance him out and call him on his shit. Most likely he would probably be dead in a ditch somewhere after pissing off the wrong person.]}

No one in our family really approves of him...but when they wake up they'll see how wrong they are about him.

[rechained]

They might never see him like you do, but [ —but fuck 'em— ] the only thing that matters is what you see in him. It's your life, Elliot. You make your own happiness, and if they can't be happy for you—

Then that's just how it is.

[ He's talking about Leo and Elliot, but he's also talking about himself and Oz. He knows Elliot's feelings regarding his relationship with the Vessalius family, but in his eyes it's not that different. They're loyal where they're loyal, and they wouldn't trade their person for the world. ]

I'll be happy for you, either way.

[ ...complicated feelings for Leo aside. But that's neither here nor there. ]

[yelliot]

<sub>[In the time that Elliot's had since he woke up from his pod, he's done a lot of thinking. The more days that passed the less mad he'd become toward Gilbert to the point he'd told himself he'd go easy on him when he did wake up. Even his feelings toward the Vessalius siblings had begun to soften just a bit. When it doesn't matter where you came from anymore and your name holds no weight...didn't that mean they could all start over?

It's his own life. He makes his own happiness. These are things he knows, but to hear Gilbert say them...]</sub>

You know, you can say some pretty cool stuff when you're not being stupid.

_{[A compliment and an insult, as usual.]}

So what have you been up to? Other than following me around.

[rechained]

[ Nice words...? From Elliot?!?

For just a moment, Gilbert forgets to breathe. Heat floods to his face, eyes just starting to mist over. He blinks back the tears, expression hopeful as he turns briefly away from Elliot to gather himself and then back again. ]

I, um. ...just getting by, I suppose. I've... never really been on my own before, so I haven't... really known what to do with myself. Since... Oz and Break and Vincent are all...

[ He sighs, casting a baleful look in the general direction of the sky. ]

You— You seem to be doing well, though! Just from... what I've seen.