Photographs as weapons

[brig_gen_maes]

Characters: Maes Hughes brig_gen_maes, Dr. Horrible phd_inhorrible
When: May 10th, daytime
Where: Maes' house
Rating: PG. atm
Summary: An investigations officer starts work on an evil dude.

Comments

[phd_inhorrible]

Billy was, to say the least, a bit worried about this visit. They'd both been here for months, he knew that was true, but this was the first time the man had ever spoken to him. And their first meeting Maes was inviting him over to his house for a "picture exchange".

Even with his slight uneasiness...he felt inclined to go. Maes knew Penny and...maybe he could help him out with his talking to girls issue. After all, he did say he was an expert in love and relationships so...it was worth a shot.

It didn't take him long to reach Maes' house from his lab. He threw his bloodied lab coat over his arm and reached into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out the framed picture of Penny. He wasn't sure why him having a picture of Penny was something that had been shared with others but...maybe he'd find out here.

With a sigh, he put the picture back into his pocket and approached the opened door and man inside the house with a small smile on his face.

[brig_gen_maes]

Hearing someone approaching, Maes looked up from where he was relaxing n the couch. He stood up. "Hello! You must be Billy! Come on in!" Maes approached the door and waved the other man in. "Have a seat!" He gestured towards the couch and chair. "Can I get you anything to drink? We've got juice and water right now, and there are lemon cookies on the table!" No matter what Billy may be planning, for nw he was a guest, and Maes knew how to be a host.

He caught sight of the framed picture and smiled broadly. "I'm glad to see you brought her." He drew his favorite picture of Gracia from the pocket of his jacket; their wedding photo. "And this is mine." Maes held her out for Billy's inspection.

He needed to be careful to appear confident but he couldn't risk overwhelming Billy. With everyone else there was no fear, it was fun to overwhelm. But he needed to learn.

[phd_inhorrible]

Maes certainly was...energetic with people, wasn't he? As strange as it was, it did put Billy to ease slightly.

"Uh," he mumbled as he sat down in the offered seat. "No on the drinks, but thanks anyway."

He pulled out the picture of Penny from his pocket once Maes mentioned it. He smiled slightly when his eyes fell onto Penny's beautiful face. It was the only reminder that she had been here that he had. It was something he cherished in this place.

Billy glanced at the picture Maes offered and felt a twinge of envy in his chest. This man, from the looks of the pictures and excitement in his voice, had everything he ever wanted. He was able to get the girl of his dreams while Billy struggled with getting enough courage to just talk to Penny.

"You're a lucky man Maes," he said while unconsciously brushing his thumb across Penny's pictured face.

[brig_gen_maes]

Maes approached just about everything with enthusiasm. Maybe a little too much. He noticed that Billy seemed flustered, but if he changed tacks now, he could wind up making Billy more uncomfortable. "All right! You're welcome. Do you mind if I have some?" He didn't want to be rude.

Maes leaned over to see the picture, noting Billy's expression as he looked at Penny. There was hope there, then. As long as there was affection, there was hope. After all, while someone who loved could hate, someone who only hated couldn't love.

"In marraige, yes." Maes sighed, looking at Gracia. "Unless she shows up here, I'll never see her again." A bit of seriousness here could serve him well, but that was enough of it. Maes shook his head. "But tell me about Penny. I don't think she was here long." It wasn't a direct approach by any means, but if he could hear Billy talk, he should be able to gain some insight into the other man.

[phd_inhorrible]

He was slightly curious as to what the other man meant, but he figured it wasn't something the other man was going to share with a stranger. By the look on his face, it was a touchy subject. So Billy let it drop as Maes asked about Penny.

Talking about Penny...that was something that he could do.

"No, she was only here for a few weeks when she was here but it was still great to see her again. She's the most beautiful girl I've ever met. She's funny, kind, pretty...she's everything I could ask for in a girl. Even her voice is heavenly, whether she's singing or just talking," he said all this with an almost dreamy look on his face. "I just never know what to say to her. It took me months to finally get enough courage to talk to her...but that was also the same day she started dating that tool..."

He clenched his fists at the thought of Hammer being near his Penny...let alone touching her. The thought of him with Penny made him sick to his stomach.

[brig_gen_maes]

Maes smiled as Billy drifted into nostalgia. The other man wasn't talking about her capabilities or ambition or skills. He was talking about every day things. There was an earnestness to Billy that made Maes wonder how old or young the man was. And just like that, he saw Billy's anger. There was what could cause Billy to break with reality, morality

[phd_inhorrible]

Billy let his hand relax once he realized it was clenched into a fist. He glanced over to Maes, hoping that he hadn't noticed, and listened to what he had to say.

"I've tried but I don't know if she knows that I feel the way I do about her..." he turned his attention back to the picture and sighed. "Even if she did notice she has Captain Hammer as her boyfriend. Who would pick pathetic little Billy Buddy over him...?"

[brig_gen_maes]

Maes face was relaxed, seemingly open. He would like to appear a little oblivious to the other man. That was where his strength lay, being unrecognized as a threat until it was too late.

He nodded. "It's hard to know what someone else knows or feels. And it's easy to miss when someone feels something for you!" He leaned forward, inplying conspiracy. "That's why I act as matchmaker back home! I like to see people happy." Maes' glaze followed Billy's back to the picture.

"That's a good question. You don't know how many times I've asked myself why Gracia picked me. In the end, it's about who you are, and being true to yourself. If you're not yourself, it doesn't matter if they show affection; they won't be liking you. What are your gifts, your talents? Maybe we can find a way to play off of those for you."