(no subject)

[amicably_absent]

Glitch slept in late, not remembering Wyatt waking him before he left and instead retiring out to the rotunda with some books for the day. He sat on the swing, luckily having found the one where they had found DG swinging, not having to race back through the maze.

He read quietly through old books, books he had penned during his academic years. It was familiar, but he couldn't remember writing them.

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[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

His chin tilts down, wondering if he really heard what he thinks he did. He turns around, watching this, this strange guy who somehow stole his dad's heart away. There's nothing wrong with stealing hearts if...

"Why would I hate you?" He feels guilty now, like a hot, glowing branding iron pressed to his forehead. "Why would I be revolted? That's crazy!"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Because it would be really easy to see me as a cheap replacement, someone trying to butt in where they're not wanted, in a lot of ways. As the person Wyatt's with, as someone competing for your time to get to know him again after so many years..." He shrugs. "Emotions don't always make sense. That's why they're emotions. I wouldn't blame you for feeling any of them. I just, wanna know. Because I don't want to make things hard for you. Or between you."

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

Aw, man...

He did not see this coming. He didn't not see this coming, and now he has very little idea how to get out of it. He'll have to explain himself, and that means figuring out what exactly he feels, and he's rarely made time for introspection.

"Okay, look." He walks over and holds on to one of the thick old ropes keeping the swing above ground. "I thought he was dead. The Longcoats took him away, and we never heard from him again, and I don't know how long the bitch kept him imprisoned. Then one day, not even a month after my mother dies, we set up an ambush for a prisoner transport. Longcoats, and three high priority prisoners."

He sighs. "Dad's there, one of them, one of you. Looking exactly the same as he did when I last saw him, and I don't mean that like people do when they lie to people's faces about not aging. He hasn't aged one day, Glitch."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"No, of course not. That's the design of the suit. Perpetuity. Harnesses the natural inclination of the Outer Zone for graceful aging and long life, exceptionally long life compared to the other side, and enhances it. You're too young to remember, but all the O.Z. used to be like that. People lived long, long lives. Death is uncommon here. The magic of this land makes us that way, and it made us able to handle those long lives in relative peace."

He looks out. "I haven't aged really since I was... however old I was when I started working with moratanium." He looks back up to Jeb. "The magic is leeching back into the world now it's not all bottled up in those girls."

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

It sounds like some of the stories his mother used to tell him when he had trouble sleeping, after the Longcoats had driven them away from their home. Of giant men with whiskers for beards and a city entirely made of emeralds... He knows some of it was taken from the history books, but he can't believe it was all real. He can't believe the ramblings of a headcase, no matter how lucid he seems. But even that isn't the point.

"My experience with magic isn't all that memorable, but that's my point. Mom kept on hoping he'd come back any day. I thought he was dead, and he isn't. That's the first thing I have to come to terms with. Then there's the fact he's changed, we've all changed, and I have to get to know him all over again, and it just feels so strange having a dad again.

"And then there's you..."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"The headcase."

He looks back over the lakes. "I wasn't always a headcase. I dunno how much your dad told you... or I told you, frankly, but I used to be the Queen's Personal Adviser. We were like that." He twists two of his fingers together. "Before they took my marbles."

He rubs the zip and sighs. "I'd probably be worried to in your position. If I could remember long enough to worry."

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

"That's not what I said, Glitch," Jeb replies with the air of someone much older than his years. "I know you're a headcase, and I know you're Ambrose, and I am worried. I have the right to worry about my father going head over heels because of someone who struggles with his own mind half the time, and is someone completely different the rest."

He smiles slightly, amused for some reason he can't think of. "And it's not what I was going to say, either."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"No, it's what a lot of people have said though. Your dad did. Wouldn't let me travel with him and DG at first, because I was a criminal headcase. Guess that was probably before the political headcasing days..."

He looks to Jeb and laughs, swinging himself a bit more. "I wouldn't tell you not to worry. He's your dad, you have that right. It's a bit of why I want him to go with you. You two need that time, just you, without me hanging around like a bad smell with a perpetual tendency for breaking bones."

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

"Oh, come on! Stop with the tongue-in-cheek pity party." He grins, giving the swing a push, then stepping back.

"Aren't you even the slightest curious what I was gonna say before you went hunting conclusions?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

He looks away, the grin fading to something softer, something much more vulnerable. "In a way. I find reaching conclusions on opinions first saves a lot of hurt though. If you assume the worst, anything better is a blessing. I've never been very good with people."

His voice is almost whisper soft and shy, not looking up to Jeb.

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

Jeb, unlike his father, doesn't notice the shift at all. He thinks, and who wouldn't were they in his shoes, that he's simply said something very, very wrong. Though, with all the other things he's said already, he has no idea why he's gone too far now.

"Hey..." He reaches out, placing his hand on Glitch's arm. "I'm sorry. No one should ever have to feel that way. I was going to say you make him smile like it's the easiest thing in the world, and I have no idea how you do it. And, that I'm actually kinda glad you do. He needs to smile more. Be happy."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Glitch has that effect on a lot of people, I notice. I don't really understand how he does it, I was never like that before."

The fluidity of pronouns is confusing, even for the man using them. Then the bright smile is back. "You're sweet, like your dad. Thanks." He closes his hand on Jeb's and pats it softly.

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

"So...we're okay? You know, with me being awkward when you guys go all fluffy with each other and stuff?"

He thinks he can feel a headache coming on, though he has no idea why, other than he feels terribly confused. Wyatt never did get around to explain about the whys and what fors of Glitch and Ambrose switching places.

"I'm not revolted. And I don't hate you. I just don't know you well enough to really like you yet, either."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"That's fair." He keeps swinging, back and forth. Back and forth. "I like most people on first impression. All of them. Every time. Until they're horrible to me. Which usually doesn't take long, but sometimes-"

He blinks and goes silent for a moment, then looks to Jeb and smiles. "Hi!"

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

"Hey."

Yeah. That's a headache, alright. "But sometimes, what?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes what what?" He blinks again. "What are you talking about?"

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

His mouth opens and closes, but nothing comes out, until one of his hands find its way to comb through his hair. "I don't know?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Neither do I. At least it's both of us." He's very cheerful about it.

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, so... We're having fish for dinner. Wyatt asked me to go look for you, make sure you get back indoors in time for it. Dinner, I mean."

He really, really has no idea how Wyatt does it, and he really means that.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Oh, awesome." He smiles and picks up his books. "I'd forget to eat probably until far too late. But I've been eating out here."

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

"You want to start heading back?"

He decides to help with the books. "Let me get those for you."

He's seen Glitch walk on his own, and it isn't the most balanced of walks he's ever seen. He doesn't want to come back with Glitch somehow injured because he couldn't be bothered to help a guy out.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"Thank you." He sorts out the books and starts off towards the maze in his usual swaying, casual gait.

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

Before he follows, Jeb takes a quick look around to make sure nothing's left behind, and, satisfied that they have everything, he starts walking.

Small talk. Small talk shouldn't be this difficult. "How was your day?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"I have no idea. It was probably good though. I can't remember anything bad." Which is as good as he gets. "The grumpy lady said I need a bath, but she's not willing to fight with me over the soaps again."

[spoonfulofwit.livejournal.com]

"Who?"

It's either that or pointing out that not remembering your day and assuming it's good, is, well, not good. And he doesn't want to ask if Glitch usually doesn't remember his days, or if it's a temporary thing.

Or if he just remembers Wyatt.