IC INBOX | McGillis Fareed

[vogelfrei]

@McGillis Fareed

monday

---

ABOUT ME

Brigadier General, pilot, bird lover.

NOTE

I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Message @monday

Comments

[cirquedesang]

[...But what if he did just want a karaoke double date?? The mental image is amusing, if nothing else.

Regardless of if it's going to be a karaoke adventure or something else entirely, as pretty strongly indicated by the "ok we need to talk" tone over text, McGillis will get a thumbs up emoji in response, and Celeste showing up right on time.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Unsurprisingly, Eli arrives alongside Celeste. He isn't sure what to make of that cryptic "we should talk" message. Was McGillis... breaking up with them? That sounds wrong? ]

[goei]

[Izou arrives completely without any consideration that this isn't just a karaoke double date.]

Didn't think this was the kinda thing you'd be into, McGillis!

[vogelfrei]

I'm not.

[ As is... probably apparent from the way he's seated in this booth like he's about to conduct a strategy meeting in an active war zone. The vibes are... a little oppressive. He crosses his arms as everyone sits down. ]

But this room is private and soundproof, and after all the last times we had private conversations they never actually wound up very private... it does seem like an appropriate location.

[ Though with Izou looking so cheery he at least adds: ] Also it has room service.

[ There, he's making sure you're all happy. Are you happy yet. ]

[cirquedesang]

[...Skill issue.

But he can't really fault McGillis for being cautious, either, so!

He'll settle in to his booth spot and slide the room service menus to the respectively barky dogs.

No comment about any other reasons room service and soundproofing could be useful... Flustering Izou and Eli is too easy to upset McGillis by taking the low-hanging fruit.]

[fullmoonmutt]

Hey, don't blame me for any of that. I didn't tell him to make a spectacle of everything, you know.

[ "Him" being Izou, obviously. Well. Ignoring the shirtless situation in a certain palace. Look, shut up, he's taking a menu after settling in close to Celeste on whatever couch he chose. ]

[goei]

Wh- Don't act like it's all my fault!!

[EVEN THOUGH IT IS!!!!]

Seems ta ne like yer rooms plenty private, McGillis. Makes me think you've got ulterior motives.

[It's not embarrassing when he says it as a joke! Since he knows McGillis absolutely did not have that intention. Anyway yeah he's at least going to get snacks.]

[vogelfrei]

[ It is absolutely Izou's fault - is what McGillis would like to say, but in truth he'd had the option to hold him back every time and never did. So really, it was his mistake as well and he's currently rectifying it. ]

I don't think I'm the one with ulterior motives here... but that's a good segue into why I called you all here.

[ McGillis sighs and leans back against the couch. When did 'the dumbest conversation I ever had to have' turn into such a fierce competition anyway? ]

You all want each other. We've talked about this in various two-people configurations and it's getting ridiculously unwieldy. Might as well rip the bandaid off and talk as a group, right?

[cirquedesang]

...Perhaps you have no ulterior motives here, but you are also purposely excluding yourself from the... matter at hand, no?

[If we're having uncomfortable conversations... might as well call him out about that very notable exception.]

[fullmoonmutt]

Probably ain't into sharing...

[ Eli. Please.

But, honestly, he isn't surprised. He'd told Izou to talk to McGillis. This might be the fruit of that particular labor. ]

...uh, we got to use the phone to order shit? Damn. We'd better write down our order first, then. I don't want to ring 'em several times.

[goei]

Yeah turns out he's real posessive. But I guess he wouldn't have made a fancy meetin' ta just say "no way, never," right?

[But yeah Eli is right, so Izou starts writing stuff down. McGillis is paying so there's no limit.]

[vogelfrei]

[ There is something kind of eerie about the way everyone is being so incredibly calm and matter-of-fact about this. Is this really his group of idiots?! It's almost making it seem like they're going to be capable of having a reasonable conversation that settles matters?

No, he should not let his guard down. But first of all, turning to Izou: ] Chocolate milkshake for me.

[ The fact that he is wholly willing to order something like that in front of all of them is a testament to how far they've come as a group, but he's not going to tell them that. ]

And if I just said 'no way, never', none of you would be happy with it.

[cirquedesang]

Maybe not, but it is your right to do so. Your happiness matters to us, as well, you know?

[Just going to be matter of fact about that part up front.

It's really a testament to how close they've all allowed themselves to become that they're capable of a calm conversation in the first place.

...Though he's sure there will be some barking sooner or later. Better to just get what needs to be out first, then.]

Just because there is interest doesn't mean it needs to be acted upon.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Choosing somewhere soundproof with room service is 100% why the dogs aren't barking yet. They need to focus to order food. ]

Ha, I knew it. You do like sweet things!

[ First the cookies, now this. He adds the milkshake to the rapidly growing list.

They're also getting more or less every appetizer on the menu to share: cheese curds, fries with a variety of aioli dips, onion rings, stuffed potato skins, chicken fingers, and fried tofu. Yes, that's on the menu, shut up. ]

Celeste is right, though. I mean, sure, the desire is there and all that shit, but we don't got to do anything.

[goei]

Yeah, if I was just gonna do it no matter what you thought I wouldn't have asked you in the first place.

[Gathering the list, Izou reaches for the phone, but then pauses and;]

I mean if yer worried about them stealin' me away you could jus' watch.

[And then he picks the phone up and starts ordering, preventing McGillis from murdering him on the spot, at least not immediately.]

[vogelfrei]

[ Eli gets a little shrug at his victory in confirming that McGillis does have a sweet tooth. It's fair enough, he'd been playing coy about it earlier but has given up on it now. Trust is a fragile and gradual thing, but it builds over time slowly and steadily.

... which is all very nice and sweet but then Izou decides to be Izou and McGillis makes a face.

And then has to hold that face until Izou gets off the phone with the karaoke staff. So rude. ]

I'm not doing you that favor.

[ Sorry, he'd address all that stuff about his own happiness but he's been sidetracked. ]

[cirquedesang]

[When Izou is, well, Izou, Celeste figures there will be some reaction from McGillis...

But the fact he makes a point to hold his face while he orders is... actually kind of endearing.

But he also refuses to acknowledge anything but the easiest part. So. Putting a pin in that for now.]

Izou...

[Chiding!!!]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Yeah, he's safe while he's on the phone, but once Izou hangs up, he's getting a rough punch in the arm from Eli. ]

What the hell, Izou? Why would anyone want to watch?

[ Eli, don't ask questions unless you want an answer to them... ]

[goei]

[Eli is spared because Izou doesn't know either.]

I dunno! But apparently some people are into it! I just figured...

[Uhh.... Excuse... Excuse.]

Ok mostly I thought it'd get more of a reaction out of McGillis.

[vogelfrei]

[ ... ah. Of course. ]

I would not have put it past you to want me to watch, honestly.

[ Izou brought this public shaming on himself, he cannot complain now. ]

[cirquedesang]

[...Yep, there it is.]

It would be, ah... the great sword genius Okada Izou double wielding, no? Of course you would want to show off.

[goei]

[CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP AND ALSO HIS OWN METAPHOR??? DID MCGILLIS TELL CELESTE??? NO SURELY HE WOULDN'T HAVE. Regardless of whether that was his intention, as usual his imagination gets the better of him with Celeste's vibrant language, and now he's the one getting flustered.]

Wh-No that ain't it at all!!

[HE IS BEING BETRAYED... HE ONLY HAS ONE ALLY LEFT;]

Eli! You believe me, right??

[vogelfrei]

[ Does this look like the face of a man who would tell any living soul about your horrible sword metaphors? McGillis looks like someone just made him bite into a lemon. ]

On second thought, I am giving a blanket 'no' to this.

[ CELESTE IS NOT ALLOWED TO INFECT IZOU WITH EVEN MORE CRINGE. ]

[goei]

[WOW SOUR LEMON IS RIGHT.]

Oi don't go decidin' that just because you can't appreciate a good metaphor!!

[DON'T BE A HATER!!!]

[vogelfrei]

It lacks finesse.

[ Celeste's use of it was even WORSE than Izou's. He can't live like this. ]