shadows_have_offended | Que sera, sera - whatever will be will be

The news took a while to settle and, honestly, Neil still isn't entirely sure what to do with the knowledge. He's a college student now--or, rather, will be in September. He doesn't sign up for classes for months yet, but he's already looked over the catalog at least three times, trying to think what he'd like to do, now that he knows what he wants to do. It's all a huge relief, in a way. Maybe he can do Shakespeare in the Park again this summer. Maybe things will start to shape up more brightly.

In any case, he's celebrating. He sent out texts to all his friends, promising music and drinks and food--and a dog--to be shared by all. He tidied up a little, even, not that his apartment is ever very out of order in the first place. He doesn't really know how to decorate for a party like this, so he doesn't bother. Just makes sure there's lots of food and that the drinks are neatly arranged and that Beau's crate is set up in the bedroom, covered but open, so he can disappear if he'd like to.

He's not sure who all will come, but that doesn't really matter. He's just excited that he got in. It's the next step in his life, and it's his own step. That deserves to be celebrated no matter what.

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When Gabriel arrives, Neil's surrounded by admirers, with more than a few others looking his way. Rather than pushing his way through the little crowd, he makes brief eye contact with a host, a little nod that's a promise, and then finds his way to a drink.

He recognizes Benji, from his French class, and Ellie from Guy and Anthony's apartment. He supposes he sort of knew Neil had been carrying on with Ellie (because he listens to Ellie talk), but it's different to see them all in the same room together.

Gabriel leaves what he thinks is an obviously shaped gift by Neil's record player.

Neil separates himself from the little knot of his coworkers, teasing and congratulating him, within a few minutes of Gabriel coming in. It feels strange, somehow. The times they've hung out have either been very public or moments of weakness. He isn't sure, for a moment, how to be in private but around other people with him.

It passes. He smiles and squeeze his arm briefly.

"You didn't have to do that," he says, nodding to the gift. He's not sure if he should open it now or later. "Can I get you a drink?"

Gabriel rolls his eyes, smiling. "Of course I did - you should be very pleased with yourself and you should be celebrated accordingly. And yes, I'd love a drink. Have you registered for classes yet?"

Neil shakes his head a little. The party is plenty of celebration, but he's hardly upset that Gabriel brought him a gift. It does something to his heart that he hates a little bit.

"It doesn't open for incoming students for a couple weeks," he says. "But I already looked through the catalog to see what looked good. I figure the first year, I'll try to get as many of the core classes and prerequisites out of the way that I can?"

They head into the kitchen, where the drinks are. Neil itches to hug and kiss Gabriel; he makes a gin and tonic for him instead.

"Decent idea. I've a few friends that decided to try to scatter them through four years, but... seems easier to just get them done with. But don't cram them into one semester if you can help it, give yourself breathing room to do something you really want."

Gabriel lets Neil take charge in his own kitchen, smiling a bit as he watches. "Quite the turn out," he notes, glancing back at the main room. "You've earned it."

"I think I, uh, didn't plan very well," Neil admits. There's some good friends here--Rosie and Therese, his coworkers, in fact everyone here is a friend or an acquaintance--but there's also an odd knot in his chest because there's at least five men here he's been to bed with, and two of them keep tracking him with their eyes.

But he laughs it off, focusing on the drinks. He hands Gabriel his gin and tonic, holding his own scotch and soda. "Cheers."

Gabriel accepts his drink and he smiles at Neil as he gives a little toast. "Cheers," he echos, and, rather impulsively, he leans close to give Neil's cheek a kiss. He is happy for him.

He gives Neil a bit of space and sips his drink slowly.

The kiss is soft and friendly, and Neil hates the little bead of heat that skips through him. Maybe very bad planning indeed. But Gabriel steps back from him, gives him space, and Neil sips his drink as well.

"Are classes going well?" He smiles a little, maybe a bit teasing. "Are things good with you and Anthony?"

It is, Therese has to admit, just a bit of a relief to come across someone else she knows here. Given that she would hardly consider herself social, she wouldn't have expected much in the way of that as it is, but she can't pretend it isn't a little awkward to be in a room that, Neil aside, is mostly full of strangers. So when she sees Gabriel, she smiles, making sure he doesn't look occupied before she makes her way over. Chances are, she's always going to be a little out of place in situations like this, but she is, at least, making an effort.

"Gabriel, hi," she says. "How have you been? It feels like it's been a while."

Gabriel smiles when he sees Therese, relieved. It's not that he doesn't know anyone else here - he does, a little - but she's a welcome face. He's lingering off to the side himself and he finds himself grateful for the company.

"I'm well enough, and it feels like it's been ages," he says with a little laugh. "But I'm alright. Knee-deep in a new semester and slogging through. How have you been?"

"I've been alright, too," Therese says, nodding slightly as she smiles. Things have been quiet lately, but as far as she's concerned, that's a good thing. For one, she knows what eventful tends to be like in Darrow, and she would rather avoid that when at all possible. She's never been one for too much excitement anyway. A party like this is about as close as she wants to get, in no small part because it's for a friend having received good news.

"Working steadily, nothing too crazy happening, which is always nice. Around here, I think uneventful is a good thing."

"I'm starting to think the same, honestly. A bit of quiet for as long as it lasts is rather a comfort."

He's had a rough turn but it's nothing to do with Darrow, he thinks. Gabriel doesn't really know where it came from, but he's past it, as past it as he can be.

"I'm actually counting the days til summer break," he admits with a wry smile. "The semester's been strong but Christ, I could do with more sleep."

The way he phrases it, saying as long as it lasts, is probably more accurate than her own statement. Therese knows perfectly well, after all, that something will disrupt this quiet spell sooner or later. That's just the way of things here. It also seems like all the more reason to enjoy this while she can, too aware that they're lucky to have this reprieve.

"I can't say I blame you," she says, quietly grateful that she at least doesn't have to worry about that. "They must be giving you a lot of work to do."

Que sera, sera - whatever will be will be

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