Well this flower is my soul (open)

[ring_for_giles]

CHARACTERS: Ossie and Giles, and you!
DATE: Early January
LOCATION: Various
SITUATION: Pet an emotional support cat, listen to some music, stop by for tea
WARNINGS: Blanket for changeling nonsense

I should give you every rose that ever grew

There’s not really a private setting aboard the Serena Eternia- it’s a cruise ship, aside from the cabins, the entire thing is engineered to prevent people from getting up to mischief. Ask Ossie how he knows. But the Library has enough cozy nooks that it’s a comfortable setting for Ossie to set up shop. Having taken up the entitlement of the Blackbird Bishops, a Changeling society of caretakers for the lost and despairing, it is now his solemn duty to listen to the troubles of those aboard the ship, and he has a sign at the front of the library advertising his services. He has tea and some cute little biscuits and, crucially, a familiar tuxedo cat on offer to sit on your lap while you talk. Ossie insists on you introducing yourself to ‘Mr Ainsel’ before you talk to him. It’s only polite.

But take this one here for a start

While a significantly riskier affair than usual due to the piano’s newly-acquired taste for flesh, Ossie’s been feeling distinctly sentimental since the trial, and with a newfound appreciation for the Captain’s situation… well, as he says, love is his religion, and there’s nobody he loves more than Giles. So find him practicing and rehearsing a particular song by himself. Or…

With Giles watching from the nearest table, perhaps working on some darning just for something to occupy his hands. It's clear most of his attention is on the serenade, the hearts in his eyes are only one shade off becoming literal, even with the tight control he generally keeps on his expressions. But he'll acknowledge anyone who approaches, and invite them to join him to listen for a spell. Ossie's playing is too good to be kept all to himself, after all.

And you can keep it in your heart

The cottage, as ever, remains open for tea. Perhaps you've been invited round by Ossie at some point, or even by Giles on a rare occasion, either way a knock at either of their cabin doors will have you warmly greeted and invited into their private little sanctuary. Depending on the day, they may both be at home, or only one may be available.

( please include if you want Ossie, Giles, or both of them in the subject line! )

I have everything I need because of you

Wildcard

Comments

library

[cacophonish]

"Hey, Ossie." Jeff's just here to hang out with Ossie, honestly. He's fine and doesn't need to unburden himself of anything, because he has no troubles! He leans down to offer a hand to the cat. "Hi, Mr. Ainsel! I'm Jeff."

Don't mind if there's some faint, lingering... opossum scent on him, Mr. Ainsel.

[ring_for_giles]

The cat takes a few extra sniffs because the opossum scent is out of place and very interesting, and then headbutts the hand firmly.

[ossie_oswald]

"I say! If it isn't our dear Jeff, Mr Ainsel," Ossie chimes delightedly, gesturing for him to sit and offering the cat to him.

"Just dropping by to say hello? Or is there something on your mind?"

[cacophonish]

A headbutt! Jeff responds to that with some affectionate petting, before he flops down on a chair and accepts the offered cat.

"Nope, nothing on my mind. It's totally blank, as usual." What's a little self deprecating humor between friends? Jeff flashes a smile. "I just wanted to hang out. I haven't seen you since, um. You know, the total shit show back at the hotel."

[ring_for_giles]

The cat promptly settles into Jeff's lap and curls up contentedly, although it does press a paw against his arm in a way that almost seems disapproving at the self-deprication.

[ossie_oswald]

"Ah, rummy business, that. Dreadful- just dreadful. Tea?"

If Jeff wants to ask about Ossie's wellbeing in the face of the trial, then he'll need to ask directly.

"How is our Bash faring, by the by? I haven't seen him since either."

[cacophonish]

Jeff takes that paw to mean: MORE PETTING, and so he obliges with some head scritches. Man, cats are relaxing...

"Oh yeah, I could go for some tea." And Jeff's smile begins to falter, become something a little more melancholy. "And he's, um. Not doing great. He's really taking it hard-- not the dying part, just... I think he blames himself for it getting as bad as it did."

[ossie_oswald]

"He's a sweet lad. I could have predicted he would take this too hard on himself," Ossie muses, pouring out the tea and scooting the biscuits towards him.

"Make sure to send him my way, won't you? I think he could use some tea. Not least of all for all the fretting he must be doing over you."

[cacophonish]

"He is, he's like the sweetest, most caring person I ever met. And I know he thinks you're really cool, too, so like. I bet he'd love to stop by for tea." Jeff reaches for a biscuit and gives it a little nibble, looking thoughtful. "You think he frets about me a lot?"

[ossie_oswald]

"It's largely inevitable, when one cares about their partner as much as I can only presume he does about you. Good heavens, I certainly fret about my Giles when he's out of my sight."

Especially when he's being stoic, Ossie thinks, but leaves that unspoken.

"Care comes with concern. They're blood brothers in that way, wot."

[cacophonish]

"Yeah..." He's got a point. Jeff nods. "That's true. And I worry about him a lot, too."

Jeff furrows his brow, and looks own at the cat, suddenly very concerned with making sure he gives it all the petting and attention it deserves.

"Sometimes I... I feel like we're just always on damage control lately," he admits softly, almost reluctantly. "I just want one moment where we're both happy and... neither of us are worried about anything. You ever feel like that with Giles?"

[ring_for_giles]

The cat nudges at Jeff with its head and kneads at his lap to show how pleased it is to have all this attention, and to provide a much needed distraction.

But with the question it looks at Ossie, blinks once, looks over at the bookshelves, then back at Ossie again. A silent question of its own, do you want me to leave before you answer?

[ossie_oswald]

Ossie acknowledges the question with two taps on his teacup for no- they've had methods of non-verbal communication since before they were taken, and the use of which has only expanded since Giles started masquerading as a cat.

"I understand what you mean, yes. That everything either becomes talking about some ill occurrence or asking how they are after it. Giles and I have the advantage of living together- regardless of what's going on our lives, we have breakfast in bed together, we take our tea together in the evening, we read together on the couch... rituals such as those may serve you well. Sometimes we take the presence of our partners for granted- we all do it, especially in difficult times. I believe it was one of the chappies from Motley Crue who said 'you've got to date your wife', wot?"

[cacophonish]

He smiles faintly as Ossie describes those quieter, more domestic moments. "We had that, back at... the other place. Like a nest of our own."

And his smile falters, as he admits, "It's harder to have that here. I think... I'm scared of smothering him, you know? Just being around all the time, when..." His voice gets soft, and he shrugs. "I dunno. Sometimes I think I just remind him of a place he'd rather forget. And sometimes I think... he just sees me as a victim, and not..." There's a long pause as he tries to find the words, before he settles with another, "I dunno."

[ossie_oswald]

"I need you to listen to me very carefully, Jeff," Ossie places down his cup and offers both his hands out.

"We are only able to survive horrible circumstances for the sake of those we care for. When I was taken, it was the thought of Giles somewhere else in that house that kept me going, and when we escaped, we escaped together. I can assure you that Bash would be worse off without you here. I feel the affection he has for you whenever he speaks of you. There is no doubt in my mind that you are his rose plucked from amidst the briars. And you are not a victim, any more than any of us are."