Gods. Edmund wasn't sober enough to handle an emotionally-compromised, too-clever-by-half lad with a self-destructive penchant. Nor was he drunk enough to laugh it all off as a lark or overlook the pitiable rawness with a few handy gestures. He wanted to tuck the plaintive youth into bed, then rub at his temples and drink the rest of that bottle of cordial. That plan was still an option, right? , (At least he needn't worry about anything, er, popping up on his end at the moment. A Bulgy Bear taking a mudbath would be more erotic than this cataclysm of uncomfortable feelings.)
"I'm glad you have your alibis all worked out," Edmund said dryly. "I've noticed you watching. I didn't notice all the rest. You've hidden it well. Perhaps too well."
Awkwardly, he patted Ienzo's shoulder, unsure what one did to soothe a cast-off puppy-love. He still had not the faintest idea how to reply to each new outburst, and so he merely nodded at the right intervals and quietly sipped at the flask so that he was spared any further need for words. Fortunately, Ienzo seemed in no short supply of them. Maybe he just needed someone to listen for a while?
Oh. Damn. Called out on his faces. Edmund could have groaned. Susan would have killed him for letting all that chagrin show so plainly. They'd practiced their poker faces so many times...
The hand he laid on Ienzo's shoulder was much more sure this time. "Friendship and affection are never pathetic," he said, with a shake of his head. "It isn't wrong to feel as you do. It must make things very difficult for you here." Of all the fellows Ienzo could have told this tale to, Edmund's was surely the most sympathetic ear. Nevermind that Lucy would be much more qualified to comfort the broken-hearted young man, or Susan to take him in hand and make sure he took proper care of himself.
"How do you plan to make it through the next terms?" he added gently. "Graduation is a long way off yet. Would your sponsor let you have a private tutor, if the stress of boarding school got to you?" Privately, he thought to himself that it sounded as if Ienzo's beau had cut off communication on purpose, ending the schoolboy affair either for the good of both parties or perhaps more self-serving reasons. It was an observation that seemed unkind to point out to Ienzo just then, especially since he was no doubt clever enough to have considered it himself.
no subject
,
(At least he needn't worry about anything, er, popping up on his end at the moment. A Bulgy Bear taking a mudbath would be more erotic than this cataclysm of uncomfortable feelings.)
"I'm glad you have your alibis all worked out," Edmund said dryly. "I've noticed you watching. I didn't notice all the rest. You've hidden it well. Perhaps too well."
Awkwardly, he patted Ienzo's shoulder, unsure what one did to soothe a cast-off puppy-love. He still had not the faintest idea how to reply to each new outburst, and so he merely nodded at the right intervals and quietly sipped at the flask so that he was spared any further need for words. Fortunately, Ienzo seemed in no short supply of them. Maybe he just needed someone to listen for a while?
Oh. Damn. Called out on his faces. Edmund could have groaned. Susan would have killed him for letting all that chagrin show so plainly. They'd practiced their poker faces so many times...
The hand he laid on Ienzo's shoulder was much more sure this time. "Friendship and affection are never pathetic," he said, with a shake of his head. "It isn't wrong to feel as you do. It must make things very difficult for you here." Of all the fellows Ienzo could have told this tale to, Edmund's was surely the most sympathetic ear. Nevermind that Lucy would be much more qualified to comfort the broken-hearted young man, or Susan to take him in hand and make sure he took proper care of himself.
"How do you plan to make it through the next terms?" he added gently. "Graduation is a long way off yet. Would your sponsor let you have a private tutor, if the stress of boarding school got to you?" Privately, he thought to himself that it sounded as if Ienzo's beau had cut off communication on purpose, ending the schoolboy affair either for the good of both parties or perhaps more self-serving reasons. It was an observation that seemed unkind to point out to Ienzo just then, especially since he was no doubt clever enough to have considered it himself.