open | i heard a scream in the woods somewhere

[burying]

Who: Kieren Walker + You!
What: Kieren struggles with the consequences of his Free Runner Feat.
When: The Month of February
Where: Milton; Milton wilds.

Content Warnings: Will be listed in individual prompts.



permissions are here | contact: heolstor / _heolstor for questions/plotting

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[notarat]

[ His gaze instinctively falls to the ring that's now sitting on his finger, that hasn't been buried underneath his shirt on a chain around his neck for a little while now.

.. it's still hard to talk about, but.. Kieren and Hickey are close, right? Maybe he already told Kieren about it. And even if he didn't, Hickey did say it's okay here. That people would understand, rather than be horrified and disgusted by it. It doesn't take away the fact it's still kind of terrifying to talk about, but.. Maybe it's alright with Kieren.

So after inhaling and steeling himself for a moment, he slowly speaks up with: ]

Back home I couldn't be open about my relationship with Cornelius.

[ It's probably a dumb secret in comparison to the big one Kieren just told him about, but.. on the other hand, people finding out about this back home had pretty much just as many consequences as Kieren's own condition, considering the time.. ]

I.. would want to try living here with the things that bring me joy, rather than hiding them because other people would wish me to. [ .. it's the first time he's really said it so openly. It feels.. strange. Vulnerable, too.

Even if Billy doesn't feel like he has much to fear from Kieren, there's a part of him that seems to brace himself all the same, not really daring to look over at him as he speaks. ] That is the decision I would want to make.

[burying]

[ Kieren stares for a moment, processing: his relationship with Cornelius. It only takes a few beats before his expression softens, his head dipping a little as he smiles. He knew Cornelius was gay, but it hadn't really clicked where Billy was concerned and he's mentally kicking himself for not realising it sooner.

Yeah, best mates. Just like how Rick was his best mate, too.

It feels... bittersweet, just for a moment. With everything that happened for them back on the Expedition. But there's more happiness after that moment. He's happy for Billy. Cornelius too. He means that.

Billy's not looking at him when Kieren lifts his head to look back up at him. He gets it. This kind of stuff's not exactly easy. ]

Hey. [ It's offered softly. ] It's okay. I'm— uh, on the same team, for lack of a better word. Sort of.

[ He doesn't just like men. He likes people. ]

But... that sounds like a really good decision to me, Billy.

[notarat]

[ At least those words do get him to look.

With clear surprise in his eyes. Even though there might have been the faint hope that Kieren would understand, rather than judge him, the possibility did not even exist in Billy's mind that the other would understand because he's like this too. It's not like Billy imagines he's the only man ever with his sort of inclinations - even putting Hickey aside, he's not even the only one on the expedition - but it's surprising all the same to learn that Kieren is the same. That he coincidentally ran into yet another one.

.. the surprise slowly softens. There's some relief. Maybe something glad, too. ]

I hope you can reach a good decision too. [ It's said quietly. Billy doesn't do emotions and vulnerability all that well - not out of any sense of ego, but more just the fact that he's never been in a position to be safely vulnerable. It's what happens when you have to tuck everything about yourself far down.

But he's clearly trying here. ]

You should not just have to wallow in what has been. Despite everything that happened.. You deserve happiness too,-- [ A slightly awkward pause, and then-- ] .. Kieren.

[ He's so not good with first names and being informal, but!! Trying!! ]

Let's find the good in our second chances.