masquerade ball

[totheskye]

The weekend after his birthday, Skye calls pretty much everyone he's ever met and invites them to this place for his birthday party. Which, thanks to Cory's genius, is a masquerade complete with live band and fancy-ass ballroom

Comments

[gabe_bryan]

Gabe's dressed in a bespoke Zegna suit and accessorized with a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch and this mask. He arrives a little into the night and heads to the bar to grab a drink before looking to see if he can find the birthday boy.

[twinfest]

"Hello, Gabriel. You're looking festive."

Oddly the anxiety that conversation normally brings is absent. Perhaps it's due to the radical change in appearance and the aanonymity it brings, even if just for a moment. Or maybe it's the wine...

[gabe_bryan]

And Gabe, Gabriel, has no idea who he's speaking to.

"Hi there. How're you going?"

[twinfest]

"Better, thanks in part to you." Delicate fingers toy with a stem of wine and it takes a moment for more to come.

"Skye left me the list you arranged. Of the therapists. I haven't been yet, but just having the information makes a difference."

Of course now it's sure to be clear, exactly who he is, but that hasn't been the point of the disguise.

[gabe_bryan]

"Fred?"

That's some costume. And inevitably he looks for the ring.

"I didn't do anything but if you want to see someone it might help - I'd go see someone if I had the cash. I've come to realise there's no shame in it. Life is hard, make it easier where you can."

[twinfest]

The name still brings a wince, along with a nod. "Yes... I don't have a costume, really, but a glamour works, I think..." Gabriel's glance at the silver ring doesn't go unnoticed, and fred can't help twisting it restlessly on the now-slim finger.

He sips, then nods again. "I appreciate you giving him the list, though. It's harder to make excuses not to go without it. I made an appointment this morning, actually."

[gabe_bryan]

"I hope they're helpful, yeah?"

And he does hope that. Ring or no ring he hopes they can help him.

"Life's too short, I hate to see people in pain regardless of - "

Shit they've done to me. He's surprised he feels so emotional still.

[twinfest]

"Regardless of what's changed," he supplies simply, biting at the corner of his mouth. "For anyone. All of us.

"I really hope you know how I hate that you're both hurting."

[gabe_bryan]

"To be honest, and I'm not being confrontational, I'm fairly sure you're all relieved to see the back of me - and that's fine - I'm gone and status quo is returned. I take no offence at that."

He manages a smile.

"My hurt has faded, I assure you, leaving only other residual emotion in her wake. Those will fade too and the only evidence of any of it will be my trust in people is a little more worn. But that's the price we all pay when we use poor judgement, so I'm not complaining."

[twinfest]

"Actually, I haven't any reason to be glad of seeing you go; I've hardly got to know you at all. But I am sorry to have been part... perhaps much of the cause of pain..."

He twists his fingers together, unaware that he's fidgeting the silver ring as well, and steps back from Gabe.

"I'm sorry for bothering you, then. I was hoping we could at least get on, but that's likely poor judgement on my part. Thanks again for the numbers. "

He turns with a swish of soft skirt, sure he can't find a doorway out quickly enough.

[boom_kaboom]

He isnt completely sure it's you at first, but when he sees the lowered mask while you get a drink, he heads over. "Hi."

[gabe_bryan]

Gabe smiles, it's a little distant but a pleasant enough smile.

"Hello, Smith. How's life?"

[boom_kaboom]

His smile is the same and he pours himself a drink as he talks. "Life is alright. How about you? I wasn't sure I'd see you here."

[gabe_bryan]

Gabe just laughs, he's sure people will be varying degrees if surprised to see him here.

"Pour me a glass of wine would you? And tell me it's not all fucking Merlot... Skye invited me, he seemed sincerely pleased I said I'd come and in the end... Why not?"

A shrug.

"I'm doing... Great. I'm the best I've been in years. It's bizarre. It's amazing. I'm just... Great."

And he's surprised, he sounds surprised, surprised that it's true.

[boom_kaboom]

He pours two glasses of wine, handing one over. "It's not Merlot" He nods slowly. "Wasnt sure he would, but.... thats good. I dunno why not I've heard a lot. But you know how things are."

He takes a long sip. "I'm glad you're doing well. For real. Maybe sometimes it just takes something big to realize that." SMith? He' s not going so great.

[gabe_bryan]

"You've heard a lot about Skye and I?"

Gabe's been pretty tight lipped about it - he sees it as his business, but he hadn't assumed Skye would be the same.

"Yeah, I know how things are."

His tone is mild.

"It was my relationship after all. Ours. I'm the one who knows how things are and they're fine. Neither of us ... Things have worked out for the best. I have no regrets."

He's reluctant to push the point of how Smith is, previous conversations have ended with Smith upset and accusations that Gabe doesn't understand. Those words hurt, really, he's dealt with his own shit, he understands in a way. Regardless he thinks they just both end up feeling like shit. Not what he wants.

"Something big to realise what?"