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Thank you.

[Egon opens his package neatly and carefully, finding the book and hair gel, smiling earnestly. Just what he needed. Dammit Boone.]

[Inside the werebear's package was a very large gold fur coat, big enough for his travel form. A little something to help out a hairless bear.]

You see... well, when I'm around you, I experience a certain set of chemical reactions. Endorphins released in the brain. An increased heart rate.

[Boone honestly wasn't sure what to get Egon; he's terrible with presents, so he just went with what he knew Egon liked. He shakes out the coat when he unwraps it, and smiles back.]

Hey, thanks.

[It's for his travel form, but he wraps it around himself anyway. It drowns him like this, but it sure is comfy. He blinks and tilts his head as Egon speaks though, brows furrowing in concern.]

Oh. Is that... bad?

[It sounds bad.]

[It's warm, and soft, practically vacuuming the younger man up in folds of fur. Egon tucks the gifts into his bag, face growing more red by the second.]

It... doesn't have to be. But that depends on how you feel on the situation. It's very much hormonal, but also my own responsibility.

May I try something?

Not sure I understand the situation, to be honest. But sure, go ahead.

[It just doesn't occur to him somehow that Egon is trying to confess his feelings for him. He's doing it in a very technical way, and it's not the kind of conclusion Boone is likely to jump to first.]

[Egon needs to act before he scares himself out of it. The nephilim leans in, nearly a full foot down, and places a quick and almost imperceptible kiss on Boone's lips. It's two or threw seconds, not long enough to overstay but long enough to get the point across.]

[He cares about you, quite a lot. And you've shown for him concern he does not often recieve. The older man's lips are soft and taste faintly like yellow cake.]

[Egon stands back up, the color washed out of his face now. He wants to look everywhere but at Boone.]

[Oh. Oh. He's... oh. Boone blinks, stares at Egon, then finally his brain seems to catch up to what just happened and he looks away, feeling incredibly confused and somewhat guilty. He didn't realise, and he feels... well, pretty awful about it. Worse still, though... Egon shouldn't have those feelings for him. It's dangerous. After a few moments, Boone looks at Egon, expression full of concern. His voice is soft, and a little sad.]

You don't wanna do that.

[He goes silent again for a moment, trying to think of a way to explain so that Egon's feelings aren't hurt.]

You'll only get hurt if you get too close to me. What happened to Carla... I can't see it happen to you, too.

[It's not disgust, at least. But he's obviously afraid.]

[Okay, it's not revulsion. That's the least Egon could have hoped for. It was surprising to him, though, how small and afraid Boone looked. Not of him- that was more surprising to him than it ever should have been. Afraid for him.]

[The nephilim looked lost, then grimaced mostly to himself before putting a tentative hand on the bear's shoulder.]

Boone, I... I care about you very much. You've been kinder to me than anyone on the peninsula. I don't want to make assumptions about you, or try to replace someone you lost- especially not Carla.

I said it's up to you how you feel about this, and it is. But please don't worry about me. There are a lot of things I fear about this too.

[He shakes his head, shoulders slumping a little under Egon's hand.]

I don't know how I feel about it.

[It's the truth; Egon has been a good friend to him, and he enjoys his company. He's just... unsure. It's all so sudden.]

Might need some time to think about things. That okay with you?

[As soon as Boone goes limp in his grip Egon lets go, pulling the hand back to his chest almost as if it's a defense mechanism. The doctor nods slowly, wondering if he's broken things for Boone. Hoping he hasn't.]

That's alright. Like I said, I don't want to force anything on you. And if you decide this isn't for you, I hope I haven't tainted our friendship.

[Boone knew his romantic preferences. He was one of a growing few who had been entrusted with it. And even if it seemed he was fine with Egon as he was, this was often the nightmare scenario for straight friends.]

You haven't.

[He straightens up again, realising he's probably making Egon feel bad. It might be awkward, but he doesn't want Egon to think he just lost him as a friend.]

Just... I'm not very good at this. I'm still not going anywhere.

[That much he can promise.]

[Egon gives Boone a tired but earnest smile, then pushes open the door to the restaurant they had been entering and were now blocking the way into for a few people.]

Thank you, Boone.

I know I'm not the most eloquent or... in-touch person, either.

[Boone mumbles an apology to the people who were waiting and follows Egon inside, glad to be out of the cold at least.]

Maybe. Wasn't sure what you were saying at first.

[But he knows he's not the smartest guy, and subtlety can be lost on him sometimes.]

Doesn't matter now.

[They got there eventually. He sits down at a table for two by the window, and stares out of it, apparently still very distracted.]

[Egon follows, and he's fallen back into silence. He's made the werebear across from him uncomfortable, and for once he actually notices that he's done it. He wonders if this is how Janine felt when she'd first kissed him. He should have been better to her than he often was.]

[It seems that his appetite has flown south, and the nephilim looks out the window too. He'll order, because he'll likely eat regardless of the discomfort in the air, but what he really focuses on is shrugging off his half-cape and nursing on a glass of tea that seems almost humorously small in his giant hands.]

[Boone orders too, because dammit they came out to eat and he's going to eat. He doesn't know how to get rid of the tension in the air though, and glancing over at Egon he feels guilty again. The answer he gave probably wasn't the answer Egon wanted, but he's not going to lie to him.

He traces the outer rim of his glass of water with a claw, apparently very focused on it, but after a few moments he speaks.]

Don't want things to be awkward between us. If you need some time on your own I can leave. Don't really want to, cause I said I'd spend some time with you for Christmas, but...

[He trails off, pausing what he's doing and looking directly at Egon finally. Waiting for an answer.]

[Egon wouldn't want Boone to lie to him. He trusts the werebear, and he wouldn't want to see him hurt.]

[Almost forgotten for the moment, because he was carefully tucked into the satchel Egon has taken to carrying everywhere. But there's a little yawn and a shuffling, and Egon has to remember that, for the first time in his life, he's a pet owner. But then Boone speaks, and the living thing in his bag is forgotten for just a moment more.]

I'm sorry- I'm alright. We'll have a nice dinner. And I don't want this to make all out meetings from now on uncomfortable.

[They should. He'll get the pierogi platter and some mulled cider, that should lift his spirits. He has no reason to feel bad, and neither does Boone. And here, a distraction. Egon lifts a very small English bulldog pup from his bag, cradling the very small but very excitable little animal and hooking him up to a short leash so he can sit under the table while they eat. It yips a little and he will entirely ignore any sideways glances from the other patrons.]

Here, I wanted to introduce you to this little fellow. Loki brought him to me earlier today.

[He nods, apparently satisfied with the answer Egon gives him. But then he pulls out a puppy, and Boone's almost stern look softens, his ears perking up a little. It's... adorable. When Egon places the puppy on the ground, Boone leans down to pet it. The puppy tries to gnaw on his finger with tiny teeth, and Boone lets it do so with a small smile. Suddenly, the tension between them is almost forgotten.]

You give him a name yet?

[Egon had been afraid that the tiny dog woild get stepped on if he just walked him here. He's glad that the little fellow is doing good under their table, though. And he's glad Boone is sufficiently distracted. And, their interaction is cute.]

Not quite. Debating, but I was considering... Slimer.

[And Boone should know why. It's a drooly, stocky, jowley breed.]

Slimer, huh.

[He gets it, especially since the puppy has drooled all over his hand by now.]

Fits pretty well. All he needs now is to be green.

[He pulls his hand back and wipes it on his pants, but he's still giving Slimer a fond smile. He can't help it, he has a soft spot for dogs.]

Call me sentimental if you will.

[He'll also reach down to pet the dog, who keens a little and rolls over on his tummy before yawning. He is a very lazy dog already. That sort of works for Egon, really. It is very Slimer.]

I bet I could find the dye, if I felt like putting the time in. I think he's nice as he is, though.

No, I'm the same way.

[Sentimental, that is.]

He's cute. What kinda dog is he? Never seen one like him before.

[For some reason hearing Boone say the word 'cute' is very weird. Welcome, though. The dog shakes his head a little as he keeps hold of the bear's finger, too small to do much damage.]

[Egon props himself up on his elbow, watching it idly before snipping a corner off of one of his dumplings and offering it to the dog.]

He's an English bulldog. A breed with some health problems, but overall sturdy. They were originally bred for bull baiting.

[Boone watches as the dog messily eats the dumpling, clearly enamoured by it already. He sits up straight again, his steak half-forgotten, but not before giving the puppy a few quick scratches behind the ears.]

Kinda makes me miss Rex. Wonder if I could bring him here.

[He looks over at Egon, as though looking for his opinion.]

None of the monsters here would bother him. Probably safer here, too.

I don't see why you couldn't, I believe most people here don't care to bother with others' pets, and I believe they come back just like we do if something happens.

[Slimer walks in a few circles before curling up between their feet with a soft 'whuff' on the tile. The puppy doesn't have that luxury, but Egon certainly plans to take good care of him.]

[He also offers a pierogi to Boone.]

Want one? They're potato and cheese.

Hmm.

[He looks thoughtful, obviously seriously contemplating the possibility. Then Egon offers him something, and he snaps out of it.]

Oh, sure. Thanks.

[He looks down at his steak as he takes the food, realising it's getting cold. Not that he minds too much, but he should probably start to actually eat it.]

Back home we ate a lot of steaks when we were travelling. Mole rats and bighorners aren't too hard to come by, and we'd cook the meat over a fire. Kinda miss that.

[Boone deserves a good companion, some happiness. He does hope that he gets his dog. It would also be interesting to study, perhaps.]

I don't know about the appeal of rat steaks. It's mostly beef here, though I'm sure any steak is a good one if it's done correctly.

I'm a pizza or hoagie person, myself.

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