♕ |[ 88 ]| What did I know, what did I know, of love's austere and lonely offices?

[had_not_lived]

[ACCIDENTAL AUDIO]

--did a better job of it, you know. If only for a couple of days.

[Quietly, Neil's talking to... well, it's probably obvious. He doesn't sound angry; just a bit sad. Weary. It's been a long day, already. Now he pauses, listening to something inaudible.]

Not so badly after all, apparently. I almost wish you would come, just to visit-- to see what I've managed here. I think some of it-- some of it-- you'd have to be proud of. You would. At least a little bit.

[Another long pause.]

Well, of course not. [A sigh.] I'm trying to read, all right? You aren't real. Go away.

Comments

[had_not_lived]

Thanks, Penny. Really, though, it's all right. It's not so bad, just hard to concentrate.

[Private]

But... Can I ask-- about that, how much do you remember about it?

[In other words, do you know about your former-sort-of-step-son's boyfriend?]

[anunluckypenny]

Alright.

[Private]

About the family thing? Basically all of it... at least, you know, the things that happened. I don't remember getting married or anything, but brunch and the-- [and hanky panky with Wilson, but let's not mention that] --everything.

Why? Did you forget, or is there stuff I should forget?

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

[Let's not mention that indeed, Neil hasn't thought about the logistics of that and he doesn't want to.]

Well, not exactly-- just--

The thing is, not everyone knows. About me and Todd, I mean, and-- if you could just not mention it to anyone, we'd really appreciate it.

[Private]

[anunluckypenny]

About you and...? Oh, the--okay, no, I totally understand, and I won't say anything to anyone. It's alright, though, you know? The City's pretty accepting. Some of my best friends're in really good queer relationships.

[Oversharing? Yes. Definitely.]

Sorry. But I promise.

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

No, I know; I know. It's not that. The people who do know have never given us any trouble, and-- well, Billy and Teddy never seemed to have any trouble, or anyone else I've known who was. Like us.

It's not even exactly secret, it's just... private. [Saying it that way sounds ridiculous, even to him.] I guess it's just hard to get used to.

[Private]

[anunluckypenny]

Well... if you don't want too many people knowing, that's good enough for me. As long as you're happy.

[They were so cute during the curse. Penny sincerely hopes they're that adorable the rest of the time.]

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

[Lady, you have no idea.]

We are, we really are. And-- I mean, we are a lot more open about it than we used to be, just... not as open as I thought we were over the weekend. So it's kind of strange, explaining it after the fact.

[Private]

[anunluckypenny]

[Then carry on being adorable! The City needs some functional relationships in it to give everyone else a little hope.]

I think I get it, though. That kind of thing isn't as okay wherever you're from as it is here, right?

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

More the when than the where, from what I can tell.

But... that's it, or part of it, anyway.

[Private]

[anunluckypenny]

When makes a lot of sense, too.

Whatever the rest of it is, my lips are sealed. Completely. And that applies to my fingers, too, although I don't know the "lips zipped" finger equivalent.

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

Thanks, Penny. On Todd's behalf, too.