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[arcanegrasp]

Elias is often out and about, but he's always glad to hear out anyone who needs to speak with him. Visit him in his home within the lighthouse, catch him out in the bustling city streets, or leave him a letter! He'll get back to you as soon as he can.

((OOC: Gonna get a proper code for this later, don't worry about the format now!!))

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[arcanegrasp]

Oh.

With how often Elias forgets about the existence of his sending stone, the voice, familiar as it'd ever been, jars him out of some reading. He's quick to snag the powder-green stone off of the table he'd abandoned it on, and does all he can not to let the alarm on his face seep into his voice. It only works so well, what with that tone, one he'd heard many a time before, leaving his throat a bit tight.

"Neil! Hello! Goodness, I---" Papers rustle, a chair creaks. He's even gone as far as to stand up. "One moment, I wasn't expecting any calls, let me find my bookmark."

Some clattering can be heard as he sends another book toppling to the floor before he speaks again.

"How are things?"

[itsjustabaddream]

Neil laughs softly at the ruckus. That familiar clumsiness is so terribly endearing. That voice works every time.

"Troubled, sadly. I don't want to bore you with my tale of woe, but to make a long story short--- Jon left me. Someone from his home world who he had strong feelings for arrived, and he ultimately decided that was where his heart lies. It's been a hard time."

[arcanegrasp]

Elias listens, so attentive that he's practically on the edge of his seat - and when Neil gives the news, there's a twist and turn of emotions. At first, he's indignant on Neil's behalf, a few derisive thoughts crossing the mind - but overwhelming that quickly is this horrible well of excitement that rises in his chest, one that is immediately met with an equal force of guilt for the thrill existing whatsoever.

He scratches gently at his beard, frowning deeply.

"I'm... terribly sorry, Neil. You two seemed to be getting on so well, I'm shocked to hear it. I suppose the heart can be an incredibly fickle thing."

[itsjustabaddream]

"Oh, I have no reason to believe we wouldn't have continued on blissfully had Martin Blackwood hadn't manifested from the void, but alas. I find myself alone once more." There is a long moment where he takes a deep breath. "I hope it's no bother that I called. There was... a time when I could rely on you for nearly anything. I suppose I hoped I could capture another moment of that."

A beat.

"We'd really caught lightning in a bottle back then, hadn't we, Elias?"

[arcanegrasp]

The flutter in his chest is truly absurd, and he does all he can to swallow it down. What is he, a child with a crush? Get it together, He hasn't got a clue where this is going, but, ever-prone to yearning, he lets his thoughts wander. He doesn't know why he always lets himself get like this.

"No bother at all. I've told you that you could call on me any time you needed, and I stand by that," Elias is quick to reassure him, and he begins to pace his home, slow and ambling. "And... hah, we really did, didn't we? It's so odd to think back on, it all feels like nearly a lifetime ago. A bit like a dream."

[itsjustabaddream]

Neil hums his agreement. "...I have something, ah... ill-advised to ask you. Feel free to say no."

[arcanegrasp]

His pacing stops, and the hand that he'd lifted to idly run over the edge of his table as he'd passed it returns to his side.

"...Of course, what is it?"

[itsjustabaddream]

"...Would you be interested in--- keeping me company? I could come by for a while..."

[arcanegrasp]

Elias balks, looks around his messy home, and has to put in some considerable effort to get his voice back.

"I--- yes, certainly!" He leaps too quickly at the offer, and scolds himself internally immediately after. Don't get desperate, Coldwood. "I've got just a bit of tidying to do, would you be heading this way now, or...?"

[itsjustabaddream]

"Whenever you like," Neil agrees. "But I know your messes very well. It's of no concern."

[arcanegrasp]

"Well, feel free to--- come as soon as you like, then!" Elias laughs, a bit embarrassed. "Should I... expect to see you in a while?"

[itsjustabaddream]

"I'll be there shortly," Neil agrees. "See you soon, Elias. Thank you for getting me out of the house."

[arcanegrasp]

"I'm just happy to be able to help, even if just a bit. See you soon!"

The second the sending stone call has ended, despite being told to distinctly not worry about it, worry about it he does - he immediately stacks books and tools, trying to throw everything into a somewhat-more-organized chaos in the short amount of time he's got.

[itsjustabaddream]

About ten minutes later, Neil knocks at the door. His normally neatly styled hair has been left to its own devices, falling about his face in wild curls.

[arcanegrasp]

Elias opens the door within a few short moments, his smile losing a bit of it's shine at the sight. It makes sense that Neil would obviously look the downtrodden part, considering the situation... but it never made it any easier for Elias to see.

He wastes little time waving Neil inside, however, holding the door for him.

"Neil! Please, come in. I'd just put on some tea. The walk over didn't give you too much trouble, I hope. It looks like there's a storm on the way."

[itsjustabaddream]

"I noticed," Neil remarks. "No wonder my hair's untamable today. But I do appreciate the tea, thank you."

He sees himself in past Elias, looking around. "Quite a place you've made for yourself, Eli."

How long has it been since Neil's used that old nickname?

[arcanegrasp]

It's not a nickname Elias has heard in years; he couldn't count them, but it's enough to put that old ache back in his heart as soon as Neil uses it again. The old wound becomes fresher by the minute.

"Oh, it isn't anything too exciting. I wish I'd ever have gotten an organizational system in place, but I make due," He chuckles, closing the door softly. "It isn't too bad a spot to have gotten for simply having to tend a light every now and again, though!"

[itsjustabaddream]

"You've made a life," Neil remarks softly. "I'm proud of you. After all I put you through, it's good to see."

[arcanegrasp]

"Think nothing of it," Elias gives a short, dismissive wave, stepping over to the kitchenette connected to the living room space. The kettle is removed from the stove, and he starts to fuss with the small, plain teapot on the counter. "I mean... it wasn't without reason, Neil. I hadn't been in your corner when you needed me the most. I'm fortunate that you'd still wanted to even just be colleagues, with what I'd put you through."

[itsjustabaddream]

"It would have been a shame to lose you completely," Neil tells him earnestly. "You're an intelligent, skilled man, a dedicated researcher, and a good friend. I'm thankful that you're still open to working together."

[arcanegrasp]

"You flatter me," Elias jokes, lifting a hand to scratch at the back of his neck. His hair has only grown out just enough to hinder him hiding that nervous tick, sweeping waves of hair jostling gently, and does not help him hide it whatsoever. "I'm just happy to help where I can. And I feel like the island has made some considerable progress recently!"

[itsjustabaddream]

"That it has!" Neil smiles briefly, but it dims. "...I'm sorry, Elias, I--- have to confess I didn't really come to talk shop, as it were. Not that I'm not delighted to catch up, but I should come clean that I had... other intentions."

[arcanegrasp]

That clearly catches him off guard, and he finally glances back from his pouring of tea into cups - just long enough to spill some on the counter. His attention snaps over, and he hurriedly snatches a rag from beside the sink, tending to the spill as quickly as possible.

"Oh, damn it, I'm sorry, I..." Elias looks back up, leaving the rag to tend to the mess itself, finally fully looking up. "What were you looking to do?"

That hollow ache in his chest only grows deeper. There's no way he means what his heart wants to think he could mean.

[itsjustabaddream]

"I was... hoping to seek out some comfort of a more physically intimate nature," Neil explains plainly. "I'd rather not spend the night alone. But I do understand if that's not what you want. As I said, it's ill-advised and not the most emotionally healthy choice, but..."

[arcanegrasp]

Elias knows this is a bad idea.

Deep down, he knows. There's every chance that Neil just needs this to move on, to feel someone that isn't Jon, to be held for a night while he mourns what he has, and then go back into the world. It's something people do all over the place, it's not unheard of. Were that to be the case, that old ache of Elias' would be deeper than it's been in years upon years, and he'd have to nurse that wound all over again.

And yet, his hopes, so desperate to reach to any chance, beckon for him. Their serious relationship had started with a few trysts, hadn't it? Why couldn't this be the same?

"My home is yours," Elias interrupts gently, and finally steps away from the counter, the tea abandoned for now. "And... my bed is yours to share, as well. Perhaps I could, ah... use some physical comforts of my own. It has, er. It has been... some time."