Smol August Catch-All - Closed and OTA

[inlieuofadad]

Who: Gil Arroyo and YOOOOU and Malcolm and Tim and Meredith, if you want to do something specific/different feel free to just throw it at me or PM me. (I'm not on plurk that much these days.)
When: Shortly after the kelpies, up until the events of the TDM shhh shhh I'm not the slowest ever.
Where: AROUND. Town, ADI apartments, etc.
Summary: Gil does his first real Poking About, finds a possible dive bar to make a Regular Spot, and looks in on his son Malcolm and his roommates. ...A few times.
Warnings: Alcohol, mild PTSD, mentions of stabby injuries.


IA - Closed to Apartment B1

He promised. Gil reminds himself that several times over on his way to Malcolm's place. He promised, after he got discharged from the infirmary he'd spend at least one night on Malcolm's couch. His apartment's couch. Whichever.

Gil sighs when he arrives, knocking on the door rather than using the key Malcolm already gave him. It would be rude to just walk in when he hasn't even met Malcolm's roommates. He has a small overnight bag in one hand, a pillow under one arm, and a light blanket in a tote bag.

And a resigned look on his face.

IB - Closed to Apartment B1

Well. Now that he knows (that he knows) Malcolm's roommates, he's a little more secure in inviting himself over. Which he does fairly often to poke his head inside and see how Malcolm is doing if he hasn't seen him elsewhere that day. And then there are days like today, when he brings dinner with him. Enough for everyone, but specifically tailored toward Malcolm "Most Food Makes Me Sick" Bright.

IC - Closed to Apartment B1

Gil showed up very early this time. He had a bad night. He figured at the very least Malcolm would be up.

He's making himself useful--and comfortable--cooking breakfast for The Kids. Plain scrambled eggs for Malcolm, and a fairly elaborate display of pancakes, bacon, French toast, and--is that the makings for avocado toast. It is.

Look, he's old, but he's also a widower who spends most of his day around millennials.


II. Pratty's C.A.V., a Gloucester institution - OTA

Gil has decided to take in some of the local color for a night. It doesn't look promising on the outside, with its neon-lined windows and cheap signage. It keeps the lack of promises on the inside. Gil has been to plenty of New York dives over the years, and the energy in this place is completely different. More languid. More suspicious, less aggressive. Regardless, even with his discount wardrobe, Gil stands out.

He shakes his head and steps up to take a spot at the bar, ordering himself a scotch--not top shelf, not bottom--to nurse while he takes in the clientele. His mind wanders eventually, back to the kelpies, the knife in his gut, and past that to bleeding on Nicholas Endicott's floor. The two incidents have tangled themselves up annoyingly in his mind.

He should probably have another couple of drinks before sorting them out.



III. Bonnie's Flophouse and surrounding neighborhood - OTA

He's heard about this place, met a couple of people who mentioned living here. Curiosity was going to lead him to it eventually. Unsurprisingly, the term flophouse is indeed accurate. He doesn't stay long, but he's clearly an outsider to the space, and he's just as clearly marking the faces he sees there.

Walking back toward the ADI apartments from the flophouse, Gil slows to a stop in the face of three young goons who clearly think they're looking at an easy target. One of them flips a knife open, and Gil's eyes are drawn to it for a moment, a twitch of irritation (anger) and nerves (fear) biting through him before he's entirely calm again.

"Evening," he says dryly. "I'm guessing the fact that I don't have anything worth stealing doesn't matter that much to you guys."

Comments

[inlieuofadad]

Gil purses his lips slightly to try and hide the smile at Malcolm's declaration. He's one hundred percent sure that Malcolm has not asked his roommates whether or not they mind. But they're all good kids, and he likes keeping an eye on them. He just tries to make sure it's not too much of an imposition.

"Figured I'd give you guys a spread to choose from, leftovers for later."

[abrightboy]

“Sure. The only thing better than food is lots of food,” Malcolm says with mock enthusiasm.

[inlieuofadad]

Gil gives him A Look. "All right, them guys."

He studies Malcolm for a moment. "How are you doing? They seem all right, your roommates."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm nods. “Yeah; I got lucky. They’re both dealing with some kind of trauma. I don’t really have details, but their stress reactions give it away. But I think we understand how to all exist in the space without triggering each other too badly, so it works.”

[inlieuofadad]

The Look turns into faint amusement. "Well. Always good to have things in common."

He starts setting himself up, glancing Malcolm's way again. "Whatcha reading?"

[abrightboy]

“Files on the kelpies. But. I think they’re intentionally missing information,” Malcolm says, closing it. He looks at Gil. “Do you need help? I can handle a blade.” That sounds like his father. “I mean I can… cut up food.”

[inlieuofadad]

"Sure." He jerks his head toward some of the ingredients he's just set out, specifically the various options for avocado toast. "I also happen to know you scramble a mean egg."

[abrightboy]

The one food the housekeeper taught him before his mother chased him out of the domain of the 'help'. He made it for Jackie on Mother's Day. She seemed like she would appreciate it more than his mother would. She did. She said it was delicious. On the same mother's day, he bought his mother a brooch. She said it was tacky.

He smiles down at the counter as he picks up a knife.

"I've been using that skill lately."

[inlieuofadad]

"Yeah?" He glances around the little space. Still that lived-in kind of tousled, but tidy. "You ever cook with your roommates, or you all keep to yourselves that way?"

[abrightboy]

"Sometimes," he allows, carefully slicing an avocado. "Or sometimes one of us is up early, so we make extra of whatever and leave some for the others. Coffee, eggs... whatever."

[inlieuofadad]

Gil nods, silent for a moment as he goes about prep work. There's a question he wants to ask, but he's not sure how to do it, so after a moment he mentally shrugs and dives in.

"How are they handling your sleeping situation?"

[abrightboy]

“Oh. Pretty well. They seem to have gotten pretty used to all the… screaming. I should see if I can get a mouthguard, though, because it would ensure I don’t bite my tongue but also, um, sort of muffles all the…” He waves his hand near his mouth. “Noise.”

[inlieuofadad]

Gil raises an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, look into that. I'd prefer you didn't accidentally bite your tongue off. Pick up something temporary from a sporting goods store until the doctors here can get one fitted."

Making dad faces? Making dad faces.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm makes a face at the suggestion. A sports mouthguard? Ew.

[inlieuofadad]

Gil frowns, unsure what brought on that particular look. "What?"

[abrightboy]

"Just." He shudders. "Just buy it off the shelf and put it in my mouth? No thank you."

[inlieuofadad]

"I was assuming you'd clean it first," he says dryly.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm rolls his eyes. “It wouldn’t fit properly,” he clarifies. He looks down at his fingers fidgeting. “It being touched by everyone in a sweatshop is only my secondary concern.”

[inlieuofadad]

Gil chuckles, rubbing Malcolm's shoulder roughly. "You're such a rich kid sometimes. Come on, help me finish up with breakfast."