It's true, it's nice to just laugh and smile like this, easily.
"Yeah, same here." Sure, she can banter some with the guild, but they're...the guild. She feels, once again despite all she did to protect this organization, that she can't show any weakness.
This was one of the few bright sides of losing the cocoon. Gary had gotten to know Sheila and Malcolm better than he had in the past.
"Absolutely, count me in." He agreed with ease. "And if you need one and need him distracted so that you can sneak one in, just let me know. I can help." It was an easy enough thing to offer to make. Between the cave, house improvements and plotting for arching Gary could distract Malcolm, so she could smoke.
"After all these years, I know more or less how to duck out and sneak one. I know you certainly do," a raised brow. "The stuff you spray-- axe and something else." Fear probably.
Sheila rises to her feet, sighing, a smoke ring drifting above her head.
"That's fair, I mean, obviously I do too. But we can totally be a team in this. Less speeches for both of us." As sad as it might be, Gary didn't think this vice of his would be what killed him.
"Oh my god, no, I haven't used Axe since I was like 15 or 16! I'm not that bad. Lately it's 18 Amber Wood by Rob Lowe." His weird niche ability of being able to name and identity celebrity scents came in handy with this. "Covers the smell and keeps me from smelling like a D-bag." Way too many jokes about his axe days when he first joined from the old henches had gotten him into those scents.
Fear also probably had a hand in it, at least in why he carries it. Reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small cylinder and twisted it to show the travel cologne. And holding it over to her. "They also so make scents strong enough to cover weed." A silent second. "Or so I am told!" There's that nervous 'I just told on myself' look. Granted, that one he stopped a long time ago.
He sees that eyebrow raised. "Ouch, come on now. Frat boy is barely a step above axe. Hurtful." Half kidding but also, already thinking of something to switch it too. "The comic boards, however, I don't take offense too." He added because, he did have standards.
Once it was handed over, he shrugged. "I try my best, not big on the yelling or speeches about smoking." He'd worked for the Monarch long enough to have them memorized. "I mostly quit when 24 died" His amusement washing away with a touch of sadness thinking of 24 again.
He should have known she'd know more about the minions than Malcolm.
"Too bad they can't bottle that, or nerd culture might be transforming." Thank god they can't, and won't. At least not while they're alive.
Sheila groans at the very thought of the speeches. "I'd almost rather he left those stupid pamphlets around the house."
Ah, 24. She gently touches his shoulder. "True. You can show the new caterpillars the way of the dank one day, maybe. Take them under your wings like 24 did."
"Oh, some can. There's a place called Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. They make some awesome scents, ones an old library scent." He admitted without any shame. Though, nerd culture would truly be bottled. No one wanted that.
He nodded, with the time that passed, he was tempted to light up again, but decided not to. "Oh, I so understand, he's screeched in my ear so loud over it in the past I thought he blew an ear drum." Which still wasn't as bad as the morning after the bachelor party.
Gary couldn't help but chuckle when she touched his should and gave him the great idea. "Maybe, I totally plan to take them under my wing. But, possibly, not the dank ways though, but everything else. Kinda keep him alive by keeping the neophytes alone."
It might be something he'd look into for her in the future. But he didn't realize yet that she'd even like it.
"Dude, I could not even imagine. I'd probably hit someone if they did that to me. But I've always slept alone and don't like people in my space." Which would likely have changed if he ever got in a relationship, but he'd been single basically his whole life and at this point he was more than fine with it.
"That's a fluttering horde tradition! Pizza rolls, and the buffalo wings, I will not deny them that. And dude, no one respects supper anymore." He made a face, Malcolm never made it on time when Gary made supper. Such a shame.
He notices it, but he's gotten the same look for 24, and from Malcolm when he'd made self-deprecating comments about his lack of a love life. As it was, he had no real interest in a relationship, he just wanted to further his career and help his best friend with his rivalry.
"Dude, how embarrassing would that be? Plus, he might hit me with those bony elbows." A shrug followed. "Unless the heat died or something." He's thought about it before, mostly as a watch a movie and all chill under a blanket on the couch kind of deal. "Which is so lame to say aloud?"
He didn't mind the pat. "Oh, I didn't really think about that. Kinda Bruce Wayne like that, huh? Except, no Alfred."
"The elbowing is pretty painful. And then he acts like it isn't his fault." She has to snort at her own cuddle pile joke, though, for such soft men, they sure try to act tough sometimes when it comes to all that.
"It's totally lame, but that's alright." Like Bruce Wayne... "No, no Alfred, as far as I know." He could have used one.
"I had a feeling, you can just tell with some people." Though, he shook his head when she mentioned Malcolm acting like it wasn't his fault. Classic Monarch, he wasn't even shocked. Before 24 died he might have openly given his idea without much shame, but now he cared a little more about what he says and how it can be taken.
Outside of his fandoms, anyway.
"And that's why it will never be mentioned again." He pushed himself up, grabbing the empty bottle and the cigarette butt to drop it inside. "That so sucks, he deserved better than that." Looking back to her. "I'm gonna head back in, in a second. Want me to ditch yours too? He never takes out the trash, easier to just toss them in the can." That's how he's hid the cigarette butts and kept Manolo from getting blamed.
Depending on the people, he's a little easier to argue with these days. Maybe it's old age or just settling in. Or just a best friend who respects him but doesn't fear him like he used to.
Her smile softens into something sad, wistful. Of all she knows about bitty Malcolm, he deserved so much better. "He deserved the world, then."
Now that trust fund...it depends. Sheila shrugs. "C'mon, let's go in. I'm freezing my tits off, but it's good to know I was right-- he isn't taking out the trash."
Probably a bit of old age, and a best friend who will argue with him now. Gary always tended to befriend people older than him. Hank, aside, of course. But they had a lot in common.
"Well, we can at least try to give him the world now. Team effort, or family effort, I guess." That brought a smile to his face as he pulled open the back door for her, motioning her in first.
"You totally should have said something, I would have loaned you my hoodie." He lightly chastised, but would follow her inside once she was headed in. The bottle still in hand to ditch with the rest of the trash. "Come on, did you really think he was? I take it out, and to the street."
Her smile widens. That's right. They'll give him the world-- or else. Sheila skitters inside at his polite motion, shakes her head.
"It's alright, I needed the fresh air-- fresh cigarettes." The house is much warmer, even as she rubs her palms over her arms. "It's normal to hope, you know?"
That smile was returned, Gary already wanted to make sure both of them were safe and happy. So, the idea was no different from normal. Sheila and Malcolm were his family now after all.
"Totally get it, some nights it's just nice." The burly henchmen manage to not offer his hoodie again, but starts to head towards the kitchen, so he could go take that trash out before Malcolm comes looking for them. "Oh, I so get it, but I also don't mind, and he knows that. I like helping out."
Once a minion, always a minion. It's why he never cut it on his own.
"I know you do...I just wish he wouldn't just count on that."
He had for too long, before, and then 21 had left a bit-- to grow up, to heal a little, heal a scab ready to return and be picked at a little more, but-- still.
"I mean, I'm his henchman, it's expected. And I don't mind. Besides, I can hide these without him knowing." The beer bottle tossed in the trash can as he pulled the bag out. "I'll see you tomorrow, have a good night, m...Sheila." He caught himself, maybe he'd be able to keep it.
He'll get it eventually. For now, he waved and headed on back out to ditch the trash, so he could head upstairs to play one of his games a while, then off to bed.
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"Yeah, same here." Sure, she can banter some with the guild, but they're...the guild. She feels, once again despite all she did to protect this organization, that she can't show any weakness.
"We can still, as long as we don't get caught."
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"Absolutely, count me in." He agreed with ease. "And if you need one and need him distracted so that you can sneak one in, just let me know. I can help." It was an easy enough thing to offer to make. Between the cave, house improvements and plotting for arching Gary could distract Malcolm, so she could smoke.
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"After all these years, I know more or less how to duck out and sneak one. I know you certainly do," a raised brow. "The stuff you spray-- axe and something else." Fear probably.
Sheila rises to her feet, sighing, a smoke ring drifting above her head.
I spent WAY too long on this.
"Oh my god, no, I haven't used Axe since I was like 15 or 16! I'm not that bad. Lately it's 18 Amber Wood by Rob Lowe." His weird niche ability of being able to name and identity celebrity scents came in handy with this. "Covers the smell and keeps me from smelling like a D-bag." Way too many jokes about his axe days when he first joined from the old henches had gotten him into those scents.
Fear also probably had a hand in it, at least in why he carries it. Reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small cylinder and twisted it to show the travel cologne. And holding it over to her. "They also so make scents strong enough to cover weed." A silent second. "Or so I am told!" There's that nervous 'I just told on myself' look. Granted, that one he stopped a long time ago.
shhhhh <3
Sheila does take the cylinder, gives it a squint. "I think it must do a good job, I hardly ever smell it on you-- not lately, anyway."
Oh don't worry, she knows the things her minions got up to.
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Once it was handed over, he shrugged. "I try my best, not big on the yelling or speeches about smoking." He'd worked for the Monarch long enough to have them memorized. "I mostly quit when 24 died" His amusement washing away with a touch of sadness thinking of 24 again.
He should have known she'd know more about the minions than Malcolm.
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Sheila groans at the very thought of the speeches. "I'd almost rather he left those stupid pamphlets around the house."
Ah, 24. She gently touches his shoulder. "True. You can show the new caterpillars the way of the dank one day, maybe. Take them under your wings like 24 did."
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He nodded, with the time that passed, he was tempted to light up again, but decided not to. "Oh, I so understand, he's screeched in my ear so loud over it in the past I thought he blew an ear drum." Which still wasn't as bad as the morning after the bachelor party.
Gary couldn't help but chuckle when she touched his should and gave him the great idea. "Maybe, I totally plan to take them under my wing. But, possibly, not the dank ways though, but everything else. Kinda keep him alive by keeping the neophytes alone."
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"Try waking up next to that when you slide into bed after a last ciggie." An eyeroll. It's fond, though!
"And pizza rolls. And supper."
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"Dude, I could not even imagine. I'd probably hit someone if they did that to me. But I've always slept alone and don't like people in my space." Which would likely have changed if he ever got in a relationship, but he'd been single basically his whole life and at this point he was more than fine with it.
"That's a fluttering horde tradition! Pizza rolls, and the buffalo wings, I will not deny them that. And dude, no one respects supper anymore." He made a face, Malcolm never made it on time when Gary made supper. Such a shame.
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"You mean you haven't forced your boss into a cuddle pile? That's a surprise," good cover, Sheila.
Pat, pat. "I know, I know. He's not used to that-- I think he was on his own a lot for dinner as a kid."
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"Dude, how embarrassing would that be? Plus, he might hit me with those bony elbows." A shrug followed. "Unless the heat died or something." He's thought about it before, mostly as a watch a movie and all chill under a blanket on the couch kind of deal. "Which is so lame to say aloud?"
He didn't mind the pat. "Oh, I didn't really think about that. Kinda Bruce Wayne like that, huh? Except, no Alfred."
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"It's totally lame, but that's alright." Like Bruce Wayne... "No, no Alfred, as far as I know." He could have used one.
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Outside of his fandoms, anyway.
"And that's why it will never be mentioned again." He pushed himself up, grabbing the empty bottle and the cigarette butt to drop it inside. "That so sucks, he deserved better than that." Looking back to her. "I'm gonna head back in, in a second. Want me to ditch yours too? He never takes out the trash, easier to just toss them in the can." That's how he's hid the cigarette butts and kept Manolo from getting blamed.
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Her smile softens into something sad, wistful. Of all she knows about bitty Malcolm, he deserved so much better. "He deserved the world, then."
Now that trust fund...it depends. Sheila shrugs. "C'mon, let's go in. I'm freezing my tits off, but it's good to know I was right-- he isn't taking out the trash."
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"Well, we can at least try to give him the world now. Team effort, or family effort, I guess." That brought a smile to his face as he pulled open the back door for her, motioning her in first.
"You totally should have said something, I would have loaned you my hoodie." He lightly chastised, but would follow her inside once she was headed in. The bottle still in hand to ditch with the rest of the trash. "Come on, did you really think he was? I take it out, and to the street."
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"It's alright, I needed the fresh air-- fresh cigarettes." The house is much warmer, even as she rubs her palms over her arms. "It's normal to hope, you know?"
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"Totally get it, some nights it's just nice." The burly henchmen manage to not offer his hoodie again, but starts to head towards the kitchen, so he could go take that trash out before Malcolm comes looking for them. "Oh, I so get it, but I also don't mind, and he knows that. I like helping out."
Once a minion, always a minion. It's why he never cut it on his own.
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He had for too long, before, and then 21 had left a bit-- to grow up, to heal a little, heal a scab ready to return and be picked at a little more, but-- still.
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"Goodnight, Gary. And thanks for all this. I appreciate it."
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