middaeg | fellas is it gay if you can magically read your best bros thoughts (OPEN)

Who: Rich and others
When: Morning and noonish, November 15
Where: Jeremy, Rich, and Michael's home
What: Rich and Jeremy's Bonding ceremony and celebration
Warnings: none

i. Bonding (Closed)

[Jeremy shows up at Rich's door bright and early the next morning. Despite how Rich claimed that suits weren't required, Jeremy still put together the nicest-looking thing in his wardrobe. His hair is slicked back, his skin is clearer than usual (where did he find concealer?), and he's used up a good chunk of his precious deodorant that he brought with him through the mirror.

The SQUIP had a lot of drawbacks, being an evil mind-controlling robot and all, but it taught Jeremy a valuable lesson: Jeremy cleans up good.

When Rich opens the door, Jeremy's waiting expectantly, hands behind his back and bouncing on his toes. It's clear that he's been there a while.]

You ready to go?

ii. Announcement (Open)

[To announce their Bond and to celebrate, Rich and Jeremy have opened the house up for any and everyone who wants to check it out--both quietly not mentioning how empty the space seems with Justine's recent disappearance. At Rich's suggestion, they've sent an open invitation out on the watch network to anyone who wants to drop by and offer congratulations.

Their budget isn't huge, but Jeremy's insistence on hospitality means that they've got enough finger food and drinks for people to try out. There's no alcohol.

Jeremy's still nervous even though the deed is done, so he's bustling around constantly to make sure that everything is perfectly neat, that they've got enough seats, and that nobody needs a refill. In his rush, bringing a hot tray of cookies from the oven straight onto a serving tray, he bumps into you. As he turns around to see who he's plowed over, he rushes to apologize. The niceties run into themselves before he even sees your face.]

Shoot--I'm sorry--thanks for coming!

iii. Wildcard (Open)

[Jeremy and Rich are both available to talk about their new bond with your character. Let me know if you want a specific situation!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Without meaning to, Jeremy automatically clamps down on that feeling. He can tell it's not from his own mind, and deep down he believes that the emotion is therefore dangerous.

Jeremy doesn't look defensive on the outside. He gives Rich his own wobbly smile.]

Is that it?

[He asks it in a hush, nearly a whisper.]

[Rich feels that slight push back, and for a moment, he eases off. It is definitely a strange feeling to get used to, so he can hardly blame Jeremy for reacting poorly, considering their baggage.]

Yeah, that's it. Did you feel it?

[The witch, apparently short on time, suggests they can wait outside the room to adjust. Rich nods and thanks her before guiding Jeremy out into the hall.]

[Jeremy nods, letting Rich walk him out.]

So that's--we're really--it happened so fast.

[Rich isn't getting much over the new Bond until Jeremy relaxes again.]

Yeah, it's pretty quick... the way most fake weddings should be, huh?

[He leads Jeremy out of the hall, out of the Coven entirely. He can talk to them more later about magic lessons and the like, but he can tell why Jeremy is so reserved.]

Hey, it's okay. I know... it's a lot to get used to.

[There's something questioning in Jeremy's thoughts as he wonders how Rich means that, but he doesn't voice any concerns.]

It's okay. It's fine. Uh. How did your first one go, before? You never told me about that.

[He's still not mentioning Justine by name.]

It went... really well. Once I got used to someone being able to... hear everything, and could trust they weren't going to destroy my life with it like the SQUIP did... it was good.

...It felt safe.

[He desperately wants Jeremy to feel the same way when he gets used to this.]

Ah.

[Jeremy knows Rich is focusing on that aspect of it for Jeremy's benefit, but still, it's a good gesture.]

That sounds really nice, Rich.

When does the mind stuff start working?

[It's certainly not just for Jeremy's benefit. It's something that also helped Rich a lot too... along with the feeling that he was doing something to keep the person he was Bonded to safe.

But, oh, that's... worrying. Rich frowns, walking with Jeremy a little faster, hoping to get him somewhere private so they can talk.]

It... well, it's already there. You kind of just... pushed me out a bit. It's okay, I know it was probably a bad feeling.

[Jeremy trots after him, speeding up to keep pace.]

What? No, I didn't!

[He's had enough talks with Rich in their own world to remember the "gaslighting" concept (and how manipulation tactics in general are both bad and a trigger), so after only a couple seconds of hesitation, he follows up.]

I mean, I didn't think I did? I didn't mean to!

I know you didn't mean to! It's seriously okay, dude. Feeling something in your head that isn't your own can be scary and bring up painful memories. It took a while to train myself not to panic when I felt it too.

[Rich would never want Jeremy to feel like he was manipulating anyone with a Bond. It's supposed to be a good thing, and help them communicate better so they can avoid accidentally... doing things like this.]

Let's just get home. We can relax a bit and I can show you how to feel what I'm trying to get across to you.

All right. I mean. Um.

I was gonna invite a few people over. Can we wait until after that? I don't wanna have SQUIP flashbacks when other people are around.

Oh! Wow, I wasn't expecting you to want people over... we can do that!

[Honestly, Rich is proud of Jeremy for putting himself out there, enough that he isn't as bothered by the muted connection between the two of them now.]

Do you want me to send an invitation on the watch? That way we can get it out to our friends faster.

It's not really my house, so I wasn't sure it'd be okay. But... yeah! That would be great, if you don't mind it.

[Jeremy shoves his hand deep into his pockets.]

We should stop and get food. Some kind of decorations? Nothing gaudy. Like, Pinterest-Etsy-fifteen-dollar-budget-but-classy. Burlap ribbon and lots of chalk hand-lettering.

Well, it's not really my house either. You're allowed to do whatever you want! It's our house, okay?

[Rich continues talking, counting things off on his fingers.]

Okay. Finger food for sure, cutesy decorations, little matching pins so everyone knows who got married, apparently. Two wedding cake toppers so we can chop them in half and put the two dudes on the cake. Anything else on your reception list?

[The distraction perks Jeremy right up.]

Whose house is this? It's my house now!

But we'll need a punch bowl and cups, obvs, and maybe some sort of banner. Maybe some baking stuff but I guess that'll already be at the house. I'm not magicking up a cake for you, though, Rich. I have zero fondant skills.

Hell yeah it is! And it's your house for partying in! Baking stuff is definitely at the house, but we can check the markets for party supplies...

[Rich trails off with a mock offended gasp and a ridiculous pout.]

Aw, c'mon! Maybe you have magic fondant skills! Just magic the fondant to be perfect, duh!

Should I try?

[Jeremy sounds too eager.]

I thought you weren't allowed to transmogrify anything that goes into someone's mouth. For lab safety or something.

[Who knows where Jeremy gets these ideas?]

Seriously? You have the weirdest ideas about magic. I'm pretty sure I have the same chance of getting food poisoning from magic cake than I do with non-magic cake. Maybe less of a chance since your hands aren't as involved. Seriously, you might as well give it a try! See what spells you happen to be good at.

[Rich looks just as eager, but maybe he's just happy Jeremy isn't in a panic about the idea of using magic now.]

fellas is it gay if you can magically read your best bros thoughts (OPEN)

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