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[Well, now she's just suspicious. Visibly relieved, but suspicious. Janine nods idly before turning her head away, to look at things. As nosy as she is, she can wait on Egon to explain things. This is a strange place- who really knows what's changed.]

[It's only a few moments before Egon returns from his short venture to the bar with three cold brewskis in-hand, passing them out before taking his seat next to Boone and, after an uncomfortably long time, noticing he's being stared at.]

Yes? Do you need something different?

Boone mentioned you had some relationship news?

[There's no judgement in the voice- Janine expects just to hear that he's seeing someone, or in some kind of unusual relationship. Or, for all she knows, being an angel has made him entirely asexual.]

[Boone has never seen Egon look so terrified.]

[Boone just sips his beer, one eyebrow quirked.]

Yeah, what kinda relationship news you got?

[Okay, so maybe he feels a little bit bad seeing Egon look so terrified. But he doesn't want to be hidden away from Egon's friends. And really, she has to find out sooner or later. The whole of Ryslig pretty much knows they're dating, someone would tell her. It should be Egon.]

[Egon can't even get his bottle to his lips. He swallows anyway, sets the drink aside, and shoots Boone a look so short and angry it could melt diamonds in under a second.]

[He swallows again, expression going blank and only his eyes remaining panicked.]

Er... yes, uh, right.

I am in a relationship. One I'm very happy with, it's had a lot of time to grow and develop.

[He didn't forget, is what he's trying to say. He didn't want to discount her.]

Going on eight months now.

I suppose that comes with more important information. This isn't a new development, but I'm gay.

[You could hear glass shatter in the space between them so clearly that it was like someone dropped a chandelier. Janine is just staring. She laughs a little bit, trailing off nervously.]

What?

[Now Boone, you're in the spotlight between two surprised and slightly angry people.]

[Boone raises his eyebrows. Hey, Janine started the conversation, not him. Still the awkward silence gets to him after a while, and he sighs.]

He's in a relationship with me, is what he's trying to say.

[There. Now Janine knows.]

And you seem like a good friend, so I know you're happy for him even if you're surprised. Right?

[Egon puts a hand on Boone's shoulder and the grip is so tight it may as well be the hulk holding him in his seat. The nephilim's face stays neutral.]

That's right. I care about Boone very much.

I'm sorry you had to find out so suddenly, this way. I almost hoped you'd never find out, knowing how things were at home.

Why didn't you tell me? You could trust me.

[It doesn't stop how hurt the human woman looks. This is the best response Egon could have hoped for, little do any of them know how much worse it would get.]

[Well, now Egon is mad at him, but Janine's reaction is a good one. Sort of. She's at least not questioning the fact that he's gay, she's just hurt that he never told her.]

Maybe it's not that he didn't trust you, he just... didn't think it would need to come up.

[But now that he's in a relationship with a man, and Janine is questioning his relationships, it seems like now is a good time.]

[Oh, it could be much worse. Egon can come to him, face in hands, later in the event. In fact, he will. The nephilim right now is just cold and quiet and dismayed.]

[He was afraid. He had been afraid, but he couldn't tell Janine that.]

Does Peter know?

No, not really. No one does.

You just... let me sit there, you let me fawn over you. Why?

I- I know, Janine. I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you- you were one of my closest friends at home.

[Honestly, Boone can't really blame Janine for being upset. And it's not his place to get into this discussion. Still, he pries Egon's hand off his shoulder and takes it in his own, both as a gesture of support and because damn, that grip was starting to make his shoulder ache.]

Hey. I know Egon pretty well, you know. And I know he'd never have done anything to hurt you intentionally.

[His voice is soft, trying to soothe Janine as best as he can without feeling like he's interfering too much.]

[He knows he did her wrong. He's been doing her wrong for years. Egon's chest aches, his glow duller than a wet match. Feeling his boyfriend's hand around his is... conflicting, but he gives it a tight but more friendly squeeze, a few almost-unnoticeable sparks dancing along his eyelashes as he holds in the anger.]

All I could do was try and make you happy.

I didn't want anyone to get hurt in the process.

[He's not sure what to say now, but when he looks at Egon and sees the anger there his ears droop just a little. He's in for it later.]

You're still his friend, right?

[Oh, you just wait for it Boone.]

[Janine looks conflicted and upset, biting one of her nails before huffing gently.]

I mean- I guess, of course. I'm just... I feel I've been led on.

I tried to make myself clear, that I wasn't interested romantically. But like I said, I wanted you to be comfortable and happy.

At least it's out in the open now.

[He has a feeling he should get Egon's anger out of the way sooner rather than later though, so he stands and goes to get Janine another drink. Then he gestures to Egon.]

Just need to borrow Egon for a moment. Won't be long.

[He'll take him up to the balcony, because he's sure Egon will yell at him.]

[She frowns a little, glancing away and sipping what remains of her beer uncomfortably.]

Okay, I may head home early.

[The nephilim nods. He knows Janine isn't going to be here when they return, or at least not long afterward. He just follows Boone, staring at the floor and gritting his teeth slightly all the way up.]

[When they reach the penthouse he goes over to the balcony and stands there silently, waiting for Egon to start yelling. Or whatever he's going to do. He doesn't look happy about it, but he's going to take it as best as he can. It's better than letting Egon stew over it, that'll only make things worse.]

[It hardly takes a second past their entering the balcony that electricity starts curling off his horns, fingers, and out of his eyes like a live wire. He squeezes the bridge of his nose tightly before taking off his glasses and tucking them into his shirt pocket as the air crackles.]

I know it's probably different where you're from, but why in God's name did you do that?

[The static causes his fur to puff up, and he smooths it down as best as he can before giving up and focusing on the conversation.]

She asked. Well, not if me and you were together, but she asked if you were with Lust. Was surprised you hadn't told her about us before you brought her to meet me. You should've known it would've come up.

I couldn't tell her! I didn't want to lose her as a friend- and now this. If she were here for longer, perhaps. But somethings wrong- I doubt she and Peter would even be here long. And for the rest of the time, she's going to think I've been mocking her all these years.

But you told her and didn't lose her. Least, not from what I saw.

[He arches an eyebrow at that, though.]

What do you mean she won't be here long? You think she's not real?

She's not happy with me, though. She may want nothing else to do with me. Even if it's not about being gay, I just...It's got to sound bad to her.

[The nephilim puts his face in his hands, and the crackling continues. If he had never seen them again, maybe it would have been better. He has no clue how much worse it could get.]

They showed up after everyone else.

It seems like everyone who arrived knows someone who's already here. Somethings not right about it- I think no matter what they are, they're not staying.

Perhaps I felt I could have my old life back for a moment.

Well, yeah, she's gonna be hurt. But that's because you pretty much just told her you'll never have feelings for her, right? You really think she wouldn't be upset?

[And it's something he should have told Janine a long time ago. Still, when Egon puts his face in his hands Boone reaches out, patting him lightly on the shoulder.]

Egon, we're not getting our old lives back. Know that's not what you wanna hear, but I'm not gonna lie to you. Even if everyone you care about shows up here, it's not gonna be the same.

[He keeps his face in his hands, breathing calm, sparking slightly where Boone pats his shoulder. One wing twitches and reflexively pulls away. He told himself repeatedly he was happy here. He is; he told himself he missed his friends, he'd be happy yo see them again, that he knew things had changed.]

[And yet here he was. He'd done so much wrong by her, and the rest of his friends, by keeping his own fears to himself. And he had to know he couldn't go back to normal; especially here. He couldn't have lied to her, or set Boone aside.]

I know.

I'd hoped to keep it to myself.

[It's the one thing he can't account for, he can't control.]

At least, to tell her on my own terms and on my own time.

The longer you waited to tell her, the more you'd just be leading her on. You know that. Better that she knows now.

[He pulls his hand away when Egon's wing retreats.]

Look, I get it, you're mad at me. I can give you some space if you want.

I know.

[He strokes a few metal fingers down his nose, sighing before he stands fully again and glances at Boone. The werebear was right. Doing it on his own terms... he likely never would have. And there was so little he could do to justify it.]

[The static fades as he collects himself.]

I suppose I'm going to have to talk to her in private.

It's time to tell Peter too, before he feels even more insulted.

I'll talk to you later.

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