mother_love | MHA #3

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MHA #3 - Friday

Billy had managed to avoid leaving the apartment at all yesterday, which was probably for the best. It also meant he had actually managed to get a few extra hours of sleep- which was always nice, especially a few days out from giving Jon a statement.

That last meet up had ~~handwavedly~~ ended pretty quickly when they were done. So Billy figured he should check in and make sure Jon was doing ok. it had been a bit of a different statement than normal so, couldn't hurt to touch base, right?

So, Billy pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Jon.

(Is expecting one at some point, but totally open for anyone else to drop by!)

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Jon still wasn't entirely sure why Billy should care about his health, but for whatever reason, he did, so Jon was going to be polite and bring by biscuits to go with the tea.

He shuffled them to one hand and knocked.

Billy looked towards the door at the knock. He really had not expected Jon to take him up on the offer, so a faint grin tugged at the corners of his mouth as he went and opened the door.

"Jon. Glad you made it. Please, come in" he said as he stepped aside.

"Thank you." Jon came in and held out the package of shortbread. "I, um. I brought something, if you like it."

He looked around. "You have furniture. That's...that's good."

"Ah thanks" Billy said with a nod as he took the bag. "Yeah, moving up in the world. Living the high life now" he said with a laugh and a nod towards the couch. "Make yourself comfortable. Will have to let me know what you think. Not like I have a line of neighbors coming over to visit or anything."

"You, um. You probably could, if you wanted," Jon said as he went to sit. "Everybody around here seems to like a party."

"Eh we'll see. Might have to talk to Summer about that at some point."

Billy paused for a moment then looked at Jon.

"Is... is there a preference you have for the tea? I got a fairly decent selection. Ok... so it's a variety box I ordered online. But it seems to have a pretty mix."

Says the man who prior to meeting Jon would not have thought twice about making a mug of hot tea in the microwave.

"I...not particularly." Jon was surprised there were even options. "Just...just black tea, I suppose. Or maybe something with spices."

To be fair, Jon would totally make tea in the microwave himself. It had scandalized Martin.

Well, when the baristas at the local coffee shop give you the evil eye for mentioning tea and microwaves, you kinda got the idea that it wasn't something good.

"Two chai teas then," Billy said with a slight nod as he headed into the kitchen. One good thing about such a small apartment was how easy it was to still see and talk to someone from just about anywhere.

"So, things going alright since we... we talked?" Billy asked. Because 'talk' was a much more normal and nice sounding way to describe it, really.

"They're fine," Jon answered, glad he could say that again today.

He sighed. "Yesterday was a little...awkward, but otherwise it's good. And...I hope you are as well."

"Things are well." Billy knew enough not to try and pretend everything was fine or perfect. But he was doing alright.

"yesterday was... oh right the truth day thing." Billy shook his head and sighed slightly. "I was fortunate enough to have missed all of it. One benefit of not going anywhere at times I guess" he added with a smirk

"I probably should have done the same," Jon said. "Not that I mind the big things, but...well, social interaction is much more difficult."

"Social interactions? Difficult?" Billy quipped with a smirk. "We both are perfectly normal with social interactions. I don't know what you are talking about" he added with a laugh.

"Ha." Jon offered him a wry smile for that. "Of course. Perfectly normal, the pair of us."

"exactly! Two perfectly normal guys. Having perfectly normal socialization."

Well, Billy almost made it all the way through that with a semi-serious face before he cracked.

"And tea," Jon pointed out. Tea was perfectly normal!

"Of course, can't forget the tea" Billy agreed as he got the kettle and poured the water into the mugs. "Any cream or sugar for you?"

See? Normal conversations. They could do this.

"Just a splash of milk, please," Jon answered. "Thank you."

He tried to think of something else to talk about. "So, um. Your shop. I hope that's going well."

"Shop's alright" Billy said a moment later as he brought out the two mugs and set them down on the coasters on the coffee table.

"Not gotten much in the way of customers and such. But I did start things up at the beginning of winter so..." He gave a smirk as he sat down. "Hopefully with the warmer weather people will start to come, whether for the supplies, the lessons, or the simulations."

Edited 2022-05-28 17:40 (UTC)

"Probably at some point," Jon agreed. "I don't know what the coast here is like."

"A lot different than in Mexico that is for sure!" Billy said with a wryly grin. "There's some good surfing spots for the pros and most beaches have fair waves for the casual surfer from what I have heard and seen so far. Will see how things go once the weather warms up"

Billy paused for a moment, trying to think of what else to say.

"You could come by and get your feet wet so to speak. Could at least run a simulation or two if you'd prefer. It really does help with the relaxation after.... well, you know..." Billy trailed off, mentally kicking himself for that turn in the conversation.

"Oh, I, um. I was never much for surfing," Jon confessed. "Even watching, there were far too many tourists all over. I've...never really been good with crowds."

"Well the benefit of having access to a simulation room is good, since we can make the setting whatever we want or need," Billy said. "Lord knows I have done more meditation runs in there than actual surfing simulations."

"I'd be willing to set anything up if you wanted. If.. if you think it would help with anything, since... the last one wasn't our usual flavor for statements and all so... want to make sure its enough to..."

Billy trailed off and let it hang there, with a somewhat apologetic smile to Jon. It just felt, cruel, in a way to say the world 'enough to keep you fed' out loud. He had a hunch Jon would even know what he meant or have a good idea at least.

"Right." Yes, Jon got that. "I, um. I don't know, really. It's been a long time since I was at the beach."

"Something to consider. Always open to giving it a go if you want" Billy said as he paused a moment to try the tea.

"I'll let you know," Jon said. He wasn't sure he'd ever want to be in a bathing suit again, but he supposed it was good to have options.

Billy nodded. "As long as this is working for you... I'm handling in on this end."

The exhausted look was normal, really. It wasn't MUCH worse than what he was used to normally.

"You'll, um. I hope you'll tell me if you're not. If it's a problem."

Yeah, he knew the routine Jon, he was a grown adult and knew what he could and couldn't handle- especially now that he wasn't being caught off guard by it.

"I'm good. If things get too bad I will bow out. But it seems to still be helping" he said with an almost casual nod in Jon's direction. "So that's reason enough to keep going for me."

Whether you wanted to accept it or could accept it yet, Billy didn't want to see you starve yourself to death, Jon.

Jon still had a hard time believing that wasn't precisely what he deserved.

"I...If you think so." Jon drank his tea. "I...thank you."

"Like I said the first time, you deserve good things just as much as the next guy. You deserve the same decencies as anyone else." Probably... no, definitely .... more than any normal guy. But Billy knew that was a fruitless discussion to get into just yet.

"I'm not entirely sure that's true, but I'm glad you think so," Jon said. "It's...it has been...easier."

"Good," Billy said with a genuinely glad look. "Us socially awkward, mostly loner types have to look out for each other after all right?"

Jon eyed Billy's stature and physique. "I, um. I'm fairly sure we're not the same type."

He was a noodle-armed academic. Billy was Not.

"Ah in that way no, no we aren't. Difference keep things interesting though." Billy said with a slight shrug. "Maybe that is partly why we ended up here on the island.... All these different people filling niches and complementing collection of strengths and weaknesses."

"Or we're just...the flotsam of the universes," Jon said. "Ending up here by chance."

Such an optimist.

Billy gave Jon a bit of a side eye glance and sipped the tea for a moment before setting the mug down again ant looking at Jon squarely.

"Well... that's one way to look at it of course. If that is the tone you want to set for your life.' There was a slight pause before Billy continued. "Speaking from experience though, it doesn't work out all that well."

Jon gave him a sour look back. "Speaking from experience, nothing does. No matter how I look at it, that won't change anything."

Sorry, Billy; Jon had reason for his fatalism.

"Fair enough" Billy said with a shrug. "Guess only time will tell."

He knew a losing battle when he saw one. He knew that much of Jon already to know that line of conversation would lead no where. And so he focused on the content of his nearly empty mug before venturing to speak again.

"So, class seems to be going pretty good so far this semester" he offered, again painfully aware of how much he really did suck at social interactions outside a very limited and restricted set of parameters. "I think it's been good so far at least."

"I hope so," Jon said. "Without knowing where or when everybody's coming from, it's difficult to say, but at least it should help a bit."

And prove to everybody that yes, he was actually a millennial and not a boomer.

Pffft please you weren't that old looking there Jon.

"Eh general topics and such are a safe bet really. Those unfamiliar can get a crash course, and those that know more or who are even experienced with it can get a chance to show off their skills and brag a bit. Sounds like a win-win overall," Billy added with slight nod.

No, he only looked near fifty instead of thirty.

"That was sort of the idea, yes," he agreed. "It's...well, probably more fun than useful, but it is a summer course."

"Hey, if you can make it fun and help people learn that's a major victory. And yeah, it's a summer class, but i imagine this kind of class could actually be a help to people, even if they are less than vocal about their lack of experience or understanding."

Said the man who had struggled for almost a month before finally getting an updated phone after finding himself stranded on the island for the foreseeable future.

"I'm pleased you think so," Jon said, nodding. "I hope it's been a help."

"It has. Don't sell yourself so short" Billy said. "Not everyone is able to do it. Lord knows I am not good teacher material... or a role model of any sorts", he added with a dry laugh.

"If anyone sees me as a role model, they should probably be forcibly restrained," Jon said seriously. "But I...well, I'm glad it's been helpful."

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MHA #3 - Friday

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