capeandcowllogs | i don't want to spoil the party

WHO: ellie & gil.
WHERE: gil's apartment and then wherever.
WHEN: backdated to midnight of 1/19.
WARNINGS: talk of dead stuff again maybe??
SUMMARY: gil's life is suffering but with cute ghost ladies.
FORMAT: no

[ midnight is a long way off when gil gets up and does his usual cleaning of the small apartment space. lack of sleep isn't much of a problem for him-- he tends to sleep for short periods at a time and is mostly a light sleeper anyway. since he's anxiously awaiting ellie's appearance, he showers hours before twelve (keeping an eye open to ensure nobody was wandering through the walls), does some light grocery shopping and returns to make himself a small dinner.

a few minutes to midnight, he looks to each and every wall in the living room, feeling more and more apprehensive about their plans. he feels for his lighter and cigarettes, pulling one out of the box to light the end and take a quick drag. maybe she won't come? he wonders as he watches the faint smoke rise in the air. ]

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[ with his shoes and gloves on, he follows ellie through the doorway (he does stop for a split second when her form phases right through the solid door because god that's a bit creepy to see in person) and pulls the door in to lock it properly. ]

It's alright. I've gotten used to the weather in the city already. [ summer's thick air? not really, but that's a long way off so he doesn't need to worry.

he pivots on his heel and heads for the elevator, checking to see if she's following. he keeps his voice low, noting most of the lights are off under the doorways of the other apartments. ] Can... anyone else see you?

Oh, well. I'm glad?

[ she's still walking behind him, moving her hands to her speech all the while.

it takes a bit of composure for her to force herself talk at a near-whisper, but she's managing it. barely, really ― her voice inflects just a little too loudly, even when she's restraining herself. at the very least, they're already at the elevator doors in no time. ]

Now they can, I guess. I don't think we want you to look like a crazy person by talking to air.

[ with a little laugh: ]

Can anyone else see you?

[ the button for the main floor lights up and the doors close shortly after. ]

I wasn't worried about that... [ trailing off, embarrassed by how easily she caught him. ]

[ smiling and shaking her head, she briskly (and weightlessly) walks out when the elevator touches ground with a bing!, not looking back. ]

No, it's okay! I know you're already uncomfortable, soo...

[ even at her pace, she pivots at the exit doors; turns expectantly towards gil to open them, and gestures imploringly.

there's a very sudden little flash of uncertainty behind her eyes. ]

Um. You are okay, right?

[ he tightens his scarf as they approach the door, feeling the warmth of the building behind him and the night's chilly air greet his face once he pushes the door open. he squints as a cold wind brushes a light amount of snow past his eyes. ]

I'm not uncomfortable. I'm fine. [ he's now worrying he offended her. ] I'm still growing accustomed to different worlds... and people. [ he looks at her. ]

[ she looks back at him with a reassuring look, now unbothered. all these thoughts move on so quick.

and, for a quiet moment, she follows. for the freezing climate, ellie certainly wasn't mindful enough to throw on something that appeared winter-appropriate. her hair flies in the unbiting wind. then: ]

No, I bet you're okay. New places and people are tough.

[ reaching a hand to pat his shoulder ― her fingers fall through, fall back to her side. ]

You seem like a really swell guy, Gil. Real nice.

[ he seems to hold his breath forever when that happens. it seems it was a nice gesture in thought, but he's still trying to wrap his thoughts around the fact he's spending the night out with a ghost. wouldn't this make some story to tell oz back home? he thinks oz would be intrigued.

in spite of the cold, his cheeks burn from the compliment. ]

I'm... not really. [ no, he's supposed to thank her for saying a nice thing. ] But thank you, anyway.

It's okay. You don't have to be modest.

[ it's strange, she quietly notes as they walk, how congested this place is even at a night like this. it's overwhelming. stuck in the same town for decades and now she's here, and if she could really feel scared, maybe she would or does.

glancing at gil's face, she sees his red cheeks ― it must really feel chilly. it would be nice if she could empathize. ]

You don't feel like you belong here?

[ his expression freezes for maybe longer than he wants it to before he frowns and tries to come up with an answer for the question. he doesn't feel the cold as much as he should, too conscious of everything else instead.

he doesn't look at her in return as he finally answers, rolling one shoulder lazily in a half-shrug. ] It's not a matter of feeling. I know I don't.

[ he's trying to remember the direction of the theater kenzi takes him to. he's marched through the night so often in the city he should know the route like the back of his hand. he turns right, glancing to see if ellie's following. ]

[ she gives a little nod (still quietly plodding along) when he looks back. ]

I guess none of us do.

[ though ellie doesn't focus on him, no; her gaze scans across the streets and skyline.

it's nicer when it's dark, and not because of who she is. it's nice because the darkness covers up the dirt, just a little, and so does the ice. it looks like things are almost totally okay. absently, she wonders just how perturbed the poor man is. she can't decide if she cares or not.

maybe that's bad, but it probably doesn't matter. ]

It's not awful, isn't it? It's like an extended vacation!

[ he's suddenly itching for a cigarette. he'll have to hold himself back though, not wanting to smoke in the presence of a lady, even if she can't smell or breathe it in.

... he thinks, anyway.

if he hadn't ever been caught up in habit's "game" or watched the sentry be overtaken by something that struck fear into gil's heart, he might have been able to say it's not a bad place. ]

That's a strange way of putting it.

i don't want to spoil the party

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