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[inthebiblicalsense]

[In a very serious, business tone, Abel's answering machine sounds after any attempted calls that aren't responded to right away.]

You've reached Abel. I am not available at the moment, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can. If this is urgent, leave the line open.

And if this is Fitz I hope you're having a good day.

Comments

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

He doesn't like small talk.

[Abel is aware of how private he can be with certain things. He glances towards the kitchen before changing his mind, settling on the couch close enough to chat but far enough away that it's not impolite.]

I saw him the other day, shortly. He's been... [He tries to find the right word, pressing his lips together as he thinks, not wanting to share too much.]

Quiet. Did he say anything to you?

Re: audio | early evening

[a_titanum]

I'd prefer not to say. [ What Cain has or hasn't shared is up to Cain to say. ] But I have noticed that he is... in an ill humor. And I've seen changes to his schedule that make me wonder where you currently figure into said schedule. When I saw a distinct lack of openings, I decided I'd come and ask you if all was well.

I know how important you are to him. And while I won't ask you to share anything between you, I wanted to express my concern at these apparent changes.

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

[There's something about that he doesn't like. He has no idea what he's allowed to say, what Florian might know about what happened recently, or at home.

He feels stuck, and as someone who has been attempting to give Cain the space to process as he'd said he needed, he'd talked himself out of bringing it up again. But now with Florian sitting across from him on the couch, that lack of confidence in his own judgement is creeping right back into the forefront of his mind.

If his eyes seem distant as he makes eye contact, its because he's attempting to try and look for something he missed.]

Your...concern is noted. [His hand slowly starts to grip the couch cushion tightly.]

Was there anything else?

Re: audio | early evening

[a_titanum]

[ The fact of the matter is that Florian has no interest in talking to Abel about this. Abel doesn't need to talk to him. Abel needs to talk to Alexei.

And hopefully not say anything to make it worse.

The discomfort is not something he minds; he learned very early the importance, the value, of making people uncomfortable and while he doesn't relish it here the way he did back in Elendhaven, he does think that perhaps Abel needed to stop and analyze somewhat.

He hopes he analyzes constructively. Hmm. ]

Not from me. [ A careful look at Abel. ] If you have questions of me, ask. If I don't feel I can answer them, I will say so. But I assume whatever you would ask would be out of concern for Alexei, something I wholeheartedly support.

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

[He pulls his gaze away from Florian a moment, staring a hole into the slate floor, pulling his scar between his teeth to consider.]

When did you see him last?

Re: audio | early evening

[a_titanum]

Shortly before coming here. He was with Blitzø.

[ This sounds like a Very Normal Occurrence. ]

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

[At least that sounds right. And he supposes, knowing that Blitz loves Florian like he does Stolas, it would make sense that Florian might get closer to Alexei too. His shoulders relax minimally, but at least there is that much.]

But he's not staying over there either, is he? He's been sleeping in his own room. [Which is very much not a normal occurrence.]

Re: audio | early evening

[a_titanum]

[ He lets the answer flicker through his eyes but what he says is- ]

If I said he was?

[ He is. Rather a lot. Alexei is pretty much living in the room with them. ]

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

Then he's actively avoiding me.

[Which okay, that hurts if that's the case. He clenches his jaw to keep it from showing as readily on his face.]

Does he have his communicator with him, or do I need to call Blitz?

Re: audio | early evening

[a_titanum]

He has his communicator, I believe.

Though...

[ An interesting jump. No contact, but now the context has changed. How does that work, exactly?]

Is there a reason that made you think he was avoiding you?

[ Is it different if he's alone licking his wounds versus with others? Florian is very curious about that. ]

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

Shortly after I see him he makes some kind of excuse to leave.

[And he had been chalking that up to still processing, that he was supposed to wait.

And yet every time he did it, even since that day they'd had their second conversation, something felt off that he couldn't quite put his finger on.]

If he's going somewhere else and doesn't want to see me, obviously I'm continuously making some kind of mistake and it's making him not want to be near me.

Re: audio | early evening

[a_titanum]

So you've seen him, but only for short periods.

[ So not complete avoidance, then. Florian frowns a little. ]

Forgive me. And you are well within your rights to tell me it's hardly my business. But-

Have you asked him? Why he keeps slipping away?

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

[He can tell that Florian is being delicate about this, choosing his words carefully but in regards to Alexei, to how he handles or mishandles things, unfortunately it's a sore subject.

Abel doesn't do things that he isn't confident in, in the public eye and the question brings some of that frustration back to the edge of his tight expression.]

If you know what I've done wrong, just say it.

And you're right, it isn't your business, but you've decided you're concern outweighs mine or Alexei's privacy. If it didn't you wouldn't be here.

I'm not going to slip, and share something private if that's what you're waiting for. I don't know what I did wrong, but I'm not about to make it worse by- by failing what ever this is.

Re: audio | early evening

[a_titanum]

[ Florian waits out the tirade, mostly by going through a thought exercise in which he sets Abel on fire. He'd never do that, not even when he was an inmate, but it's a very soothing thought all the same. It's not why he can continue on calmly; he could do that even while in a rage, had very often in his life in Elendhaven, but it does make it a smidge easier. ]

I don't want you to 'slip'. Quite the contrary. The question I asked has a yes or no answer. It wasn't an invitation to tell me more. Nor do I want to be involved in what's private between you and I haven't. Pointedly. If you were listening. I came here because I care about Alexei, I assumed you did as well, and I have noticed that he is hurting.

When someone that I care for is hurting, my first thought is 'what do I need to do to fix this situation so that they are no longer in pain'. I've done what I can as his friend directly towards him but the problem remains. So I brought the question to you.

[ A little hardness enters his tone as he looks Abel in the eyes. ]

If that idea is offensive to you, it does make me wonder how much Alexei's pain and unhappiness is a priority to you. As in, it factors into your decision making and demands action. [ Yes, there is an implication that 'feeling bad about it and letting it fester' is not acceptable. Because it isn't. ]

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Abel is a good listener, though sometimes certain word stick out more than others and not always the right ones.]

You don't have to assume, thank you. I do care, very much so, and I suppose I should be sorry that I apparently don't put him as high of a priority as you do? Because you know me and my intentions so well.

[Abel stands, because he can't just sit and be calm in the face of Florian and his carefully curated demenour.]

Now I don't mean to be rude, but I think I'm done here. I'll talk to Alexei, I was trying to find the right time to do so anyways, but I don't appreciate what you're implying.

[Even if he didn't have a low grade migraine from the stress he could feel coming off of Alexei every time he saw him, his pain would still be a priority. It's lack of confidence and his own insecurity that has kept him from doing so until now.]

I'm sure you can find the door yourself.

Re: audio | early evening

[a_titanum]

[ Xie Lian help him... ]

I don't know. Which is why I said 'wonder'. Which is why I came to you, to find out. Which is why I can only assume without information directly from you.

[ He could help the tone that adds 'you dumb bitch' at the end. He does not. If Abel wants to get hostile with him for being concerned over a friend, he is more than welcome to fuck himself. He will stand and offer a dip of his head. ]

The 'right time' is when someone you care about is hurting. Everything else is just fear and excuses. [ A glance at Abel.] Have a good day, Abel. Es wird besser, wenn du deinen Kopf aus deinem Arsch ziehst.

[ And he will go. ]

Re: audio | early evening

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Abel is thankful that Florian leaves quickly. His immediate response is to try and memorize what he's just said in German, sure of the language but unsure of the meaning, writing it down on a notepad on his desk to later attempt to translate it.

He doesn't like it when people say things to him he can't understand, especially after a conversation like that. But the urge to throw something at his door after Florian has disappeared through it is high.

Finding his way into the bedroom, he flops down on the bed, startling Alex and tries both pulling at his hair and the breathing exercises Malcolm had taught him to try and calm down.

Florian obviously doesn't understand how hard he's trying not to hurt Alexei, and yet it keeps happening as much as he's choosing every word carefully, trying not to get angry, trying not to bring up the past.

Perhaps he's skipping over things in his thought process, but he'd never been good at this, and the more he fails the more time he spends trying to figure out the best way forward. Alexei was worth that effort and stress, it just...took longer than it probably should and maybe he needs to switch tactics.

What he's doing isn't working, and it's painfully obvious. He has to call him, knows he needs to, but calming down first is important. It isnt Alexei's fault his friend decided to stick his finger in the middle of their bees nest and he'sgoing to try and not mention it too much when he does.]