Aaron

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot had weird feelings about being back in Fillory. It wasn’t trivial to go back and forth, and Margo wasn’t even sure how to make it happen again. Eliot has considered, briefly, insisting that Q go back in his place. But no, he couldn’t do that to Aaron. And this was his responsibility. Fen was so relieved to see him, too. They’d had sex the next night; she was ovulating.

He missed Aaron immediately though, and a few days later he went to King’s to spend time with him. Also like… apparently the king had been murdered? Things seemed remarkably peaceful under those circumstances.

Comments

[quitollis]

The King was dead and all seemed quiet. Hart was surveyor for the time being and he kept things in check fairly well. Behind closed doors, though, there was talk of 'the King of Harts' taking the throne. And Aaron's father, of course, had his own plans for taking control.

Fortunately, Aaron was only engaged to a niece of the Royal family and was left alone in his schemes. His sister was less fortunate, but so be it.

He had more important things. He met with Eliot in the woods, and practically jumped him to kiss him. "I missed you."

[eliot_thespectacular]

A little startled, but pleased, Eliot wrapped his arms around him and kissed him back. "Of course you did," he said fondly, and ran a hand through his hair. "I missed you too. I mean, I came all this way didn't I."

[quitollis]

"Hmm, I'm glad you did," Aaron said. "All well in Fillory?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Mmmhmmm," Eliot said. "Same old, same old." Including a wife who gave him a bit of a side eye when he left.

[quitollis]

"Did you ever speak to your friend after you got back?" Aaron asked. He, for one, was quite thankful to Quentin.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Quentin? Uh... briefly. He found what he was looking for, I guess." Eliot smiled wryly. "And he didn't offer to switch with me again any time soon."

[quitollis]

"Well, if you do speak with him, thank him," Aaron said. "The more I think of our time in Earth, the more I am thankful for it."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh please, he wasn't doing it for us," Eliot said.

[quitollis]

"I know," replied. "He doesn't know me, but... I would still thank him if I had the chance. Or... does he not know?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I mean, I introduced you when you met," Eliot said. "I don't know how else he would know, it's not like he's been here."

Eliot had some complicated feelings about Quentin.

[quitollis]

It was clearly a touchy subject. "It was a very brief introduction. I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have brought him up."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"No, it's fine, I just... have complicated feelings about Quentin."

Eliot rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, and then confessed, "I mean, he's one of my best friends, and I guess I was a little in love with him, too. But he just... left me here. In Fillory. And none of them - and I'm including Margo in this too - seemed to have any kind of appreciation for the sacrifice I made."

[quitollis]

Aaron nodded. "That must be rough," he agreed. "I mean, I know what you gave up now," he added, realizing the change from Earth to Fillory must have been hard. "Maybe you can reconcile? Talk to them?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot shook his head. "There's nothing to reconcile," he said. "Just my own complicated feelings. Margo and I are fine. And if Quentin and I were in the same world... I'm sure we would be, too."

He paused, and then added, "There's uh, there's one more. Was one more. Alice. Things were pretty complicated with her too, but... she's dead. Burned herself up fighting the Beast."

[quitollis]

"I'm sorry, Eliot," Aaron said, sympathetically. "Good close friends are rare."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"You know how I mentioned offhand once that I was in a threesome that ended badly?" Eliot snorted. "It was with Quentin and Margo. And Alice was Quentin's girlfriend. It's amazing we managed to pull our shit together enough to save the world."

[quitollis]

"Survival instincts are a funny thing," Aaron knew. Then, becuase he was curious (not jealous) about Quentin. "Were you in love with him when you had that threesome?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot hesitated. "I uh... maybe a little. I was still pretty fucked up over Mike at that point though."

[quitollis]

"Are you in love with him still - a little?" Aaron asked then, because he had the feeling that might be the case.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"No," said Eliot without hesitation.

[quitollis]

Aaron couldn't help but smile at that. Perhaps he wouldn't have minded too much, but he liked that Eliot didn't have to think about it.

"I er... talked to Eliza."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Yeah?" Eliot said, frowning a little. "About what?"

[quitollis]

"Do you want a drink? I have wine at the farm," Aaron said and pointed. This is where they met these days.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh no, that kind of conversation was it," Eliot said with a wry smile. "Sure, wine is good."

[quitollis]

Aaron nodded. "That kind of conversation," he confirmed. However, the wine was because he had to preface the conversation with what Alcuin had done. He needed a bit of wine for that.