Inbox

[skeletonkeay]

INBOX OF GERARD KEAY

Point of contact for Pumpkin Hollow. Gerry can be reached by phone, mail, or a visit to his shop during business hours. Pinhole Printing and Binding is open from 11am to 6pm every day except Tuesday, because fuck Tuesday, or unless Gerry deigns otherwise.

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[skeletonkeay]

The little bell on Gerry's door rings, and he looks up from what he's sewing.

"Oh, hey, Drelasa. Whatcha got there? Smells good."

[misbegottendreamer]

“A little something for both the stomach and the soul. It’s potato bread, one of my old comforts.”

She sets the basket down, lifting the cloth from the bread, and a faintly sweet, starchy smell fills the air.

[skeletonkeay]

"Ooh." Gerry sets aside what he's working on. Bread is more important. "I'll never say no to a few carbs."

He pulls a pair of chairs around the counter, setting one behind Drelasa.

"So, how ya been? Hanging in there?"

[misbegottendreamer]

“I would say I’ve been doing better than that, flah. I’ve my own share of the forging business now, and I’m able to use more of the crafting methods of my homeland. And… I’ve met many good people.”

Pause.

“Thank you, for trusting in me enough to ask a personal favor. It has… led to many unexpected things, but not unwelcome things.”

[skeletonkeay]

Gerry's face flickers a strange expression at the word he doesn't know. Is that--- some kind of term of endearment?

She does kind of have family vibes... In a strangely positive way.

"I'm, ah, glad to hear it," he says softly. "How's he doing?"

[misbegottendreamer]

“He knew it was your idea almost immediately. The best way I can describe him is that his heart is bursting with love for you and his mind is on others who might have been affected by being… hollowed.”

[skeletonkeay]

Gerry lets out a sheepish laugh at that, shaking his head. That's reassuring, certainly. Cecil's cute...

"Yeah, I... got the impression it hit him hard. In ways he couldn't really explain to me. Or wouldn't." Gerry sighs. "Did he at least talk to you about it?"

[misbegottendreamer]

"A little. He spoke about what he felt his role was in the hive. He called himself 'a room without doors.' I feel like he understands the nature of what happened to us more than most would. But he seemed much more concerned about discussing the well-being of others, yourself included."

[skeletonkeay]

Gerry frowns deeply at this, concerned and puzzled. What the hell does that mean? A room without doors... trapped? Useless, somehow?

At Drelasa's last remark, Gerry lets out a huff of air. "Yeah, that sounds like him. That... abject refusal to worry about himself is why I'm always so damn worried for him. And I do get it, I'm not exactly the self-care king or whatever. But he's just so avoidant and I don't know how to get through to him that he can talk to me. That I want him to."

Ironically, Gerry fails to comment on his own well-being.

"...Wanna split this potato bread with me?"

[misbegottendreamer]

“He didn’t strike me as avoidant. To me, it felt more like he’s so accustomed to these sorts of things that it doesn’t worry him as much as the needs of his neighbors. Now, I could have been misreading, but he felt fairly forthcoming during the whole conversation. And yes, I would be happy to share the bread with you.”