over troubled water.

with this question, bobby takes a deep breath in and exhales, shaking his head at any thoughts of emotions that might pop up during his answer. " i guess the main thing that gets me is just the idea of having to ignore history. " he starts, before ignoring his initial plan of a response and going in a different direction. " like he knows my thing with m&ms and he's been there during all those gross times when i accidentally bought m&ms thinking they were skittles, and now all of a sudden, we're separated and he's not supposed to pick out my candies for me ?? that's nonsense !! " he chuckles. with this response, he sighs and leans back in his chair, with a sense of relief filling his spirits.

" i regret eating a taco for lunch, does that count ?? " bobby chuckled, grateful for questions like these lightening the mood.

" well, his reaction is news to me. the most i hear is about how he's busy with work. " he admits. with this admission, there's a silence in the air. he becomes quieter. his words become slower. he starts to really think. " i guess the only thing i'd really say is that i'm in the house. i'm here. he's here. i'm going through the same things he is, and if he needs to talk about it, i'm here, i guess. " he shrugs.

" ever find yourself reading the bible when you're a gay man who hasn't believed in that shit in thirty years ?? " he simply asked, avoiding becoming too comfortable with the negative emotions this question brings up. " that should tell you all you need to know. “

" two words: bubble bath. i love to use some of that lavender shower gel, but not that bath & body works shit. i mean the real good lavender lather stuff. i lather that on, sit back, exhale, and i'm good for the night. "

" and do what with them ?? raise them in this rowdy house ?? when i have a bunch of other twenty-year-olds clamoring for my attention and affection ?? i have so many children !! hell, the kids here are my children !! and i'm sure some of the other house elders feel the exact same way. "

" i have a tattoo. " bobby admitted, with a smirk growing on his face as he shook his head. " i won't tell you where it is, but considering that i started sobbing like a little baby during the process, i definitely won't be doing it again. "

" oh, definitely. " bobby groaned. " ever forget a gold watch ?? i bought mine in '97, lost it in '15, and now it seems that it's gone forever, because of course it is. " he then explained. " now, all i have are these fake things. "

" god, i hope so. " he laughed, looking down at his loafers. it took him a couple moments, but he eventually found himself returning to his typical persona. after all, that's all it was. " then again, it might be funny to have you all wheel me to club starlight when you're in your mid-life crises and i'm in my golden years. "

" if one of those beer-stained karaoke booklets doesn't have whitney on it, i'm walking out. 'i believe in you and me' is my jam and it brings the house down every single time, not to toot my own horn. " he laughed.

" well, let me tell you, 1994 was a trip. half of us were depressed, the other half were angry, so it all came together in this big fist-fight one night at sunday dinner: on easter, no less. it was the lord's holiday and i wasn't fully unconvinced that we had summoned satan in that dining room. i'm shocked we all made it out alive, because we were at each other's throats. "

“ puh-lease, i would personally call coming home coughing and wheezing a successful night. ” vee’s next round of laughter came out like a squawk. “ me ? driving around the city ?? no problemo señorito. i’ll be good - promise ! ”  they spun on their heel so that they could see and hear bobby more clearly, back to the wall of the lounge. whatever semblance of a plan that was forming in their head can wait for a moment. now bobby was just being way too amusing to dismiss, but then again it’s not like they have much of a choice. admittedly their interactions with bobby lately have been tinged by the barely-there thundering cloud hovering over his head. he was pulling quite the valiant effort to conceal it too, which vee had to respect, but any time they can spend with the older man is a good time. after all, they owe bobby that much, if not more, for all he’s done for them. “ oh y’know, i’ll be here and there and everywhere… no i’m fucking with you. i dunno, was thinking of vibing out at dolores. it’s a nice day. any recs, boss ? ”

If it were anyone else, Jacob would’ve probably shot that person a death glare for calling him out in the middle of the apartment lobby, but when he turns around and sees Bobby at the lounge area, his face relaxes into a smile. He expects nothing less from the doctor. “I’m just going to the store for a little bit. I promise it won’t take too long.” He leans against one of the chairs near Bobby. “I grew up here, I’m immune to the dry California weather.” He tries not to break out in too big of a smile, anticipating Bobby’s reaction.

Zion was stopped in their tracks by the question. No one had asked them to put on a coat in years and it instantly brought Zion back to being a kid getting wedged into an uncomfortable parka before school only for it to be ripped off his body whenever their mother wasn’t looking. Zion also thought they were too cool to get cold and the thought of wearing anything but a tee shirt on this balmy summer night felt absurd. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone call a California night chilly,” Zion laughed. “I don’t have a coat though. I think I should be fine,” Zion said. If getting chilly tonight was the worst thing they had to worry about tonight they’d consider themself lucky. 

Armand couldn’t help but grin softly at the sight. While much of his time ended up being spent sleeping in his office at the Gilded Cage, the time he was able to spend in his humble apartment allowed him great opportunities like this one to mingle with the residents. One of his personal favorites whom he may or may not have a slight crush on was enjoying two of Armand’s favorite things: A libation and the Golden Girls. Although he’d had the night off for a change, Armand had a hard time sitting still in his little apartment and decided he needed to go buy some groceries. He stopped when the other acknowledged his presence, and the soft grin on Armand’s face spread into a full-blown smile at the doctor’s concern.

“Bobby, Bobby baby, Bobby bubi, Bobby…” Armand sang playfully, sauntering over to the good doctor and placing his firm, yet gentle hands on the other’s shoulders from behind the couch, “You know you’ve already given me a fever that even one as brilliant as you just can’t cure.” Rounding the couch, Armand plopped beside Bobby and motioned to the tv as he made himself comfortable, leaning back into the armrest, “Now, which of the girls are you? Your biting wit would suggest a Dorothy, but you empathy also hints at a Rose.”