Tell me about your despair, yours

"I mean, if you have the time, I'd appreciate some pointers." Cal grins. "Just enough to stop me from falling on my ass in front of everyone." For some reason, Eli has been the person he's felt the most comfortable around so far. He suspects there's a reason for that, but it's a little difficult to bring up. He's hoping for a segue so that he can drop into conversation that he's trans and see what the reaction is.

"Do you know how to rollerskate? It's kinda like that, except, uh...on ice. Helpful, I know. Just don't overthink it, I guess? Because once you start thinking too hard about it, that's when you fall." Eli nods like she just gave the most sage advice ever. Honestly, she doesn't know how to explain how to skate on the ice that well, just that you have to do it. "Maybe we can find some skates your size and practice!"

Shit. Shane has to look away because he knows he'll fold the second he looks back at him. He lets out a breath and continues to hold the cloth to his nose, trying to ignore the way he's blushing or how close the other is to him. Shane swallows hard, closes his eyes, then shakes his head, a nervous laugh finally escaping him. "No--no. I mean, that's--not that I wouldn't, but I think you're bleeding a lot and, um, you're not--thinking clearly? S-so..."

ilya is honestly thrilled that svetlana was finally able to make the permanent move to the states. russia meant a lot to both of them, but there was a lot of pain there. living in the states was far from perfect, but it was better than moscow. safer.

"Mm, I took some tylenol a little bit ago. Still waiting for it to kick in," she mumbles as she sets the glass on her table, curling back up underneath the blankets. She feels like absolute shit. Svetlana doesn't like flying for this reason. Even flying up in first class doesn't negate the fact that she never fails to get sick after a long trip.

~ @rinkholy || a little thing from Caleb so I can get used to him ~

Honestly, Eli would be lying if she said she wasn't eyeing Cal...just a little bit. Not only because he's cute, but because she also has the uncanny ability to tell when someone is like her, so to speak. But how does one go about bringing it up without sounding weird? You don't, so she's just been keeping her mouth shut.

Shane laughs as Ilya pulls him close, a wide grin appearing on his face. He loves making them happy. It's his favorite thing in the world. He wraps his arms around their shoulders and hums, leaning up to press a kiss to their cheek. Honestly, they would have no issue affording a second dog, considering, and there would be plenty of room for Anya to run around with her new companion.

Shane is quiet as Ilya speaks, his thumb absently brushing along their knuckles, just letting them get out all they want to say before he tries to interject at all. Honestly, Shane is relieved that they brought it up again because he had no idea how to broach the subject on his own, always worried about saying or doing the wrong thing when it came to something like this. "Okay. I can do that. Um, do you want me to call you my spouse or my husband or...? Whatever you want. I just want you to feel comfortable."

[TXT Lily]: Hmm, that's sticky.

He's hesitant, because he understands the symptoms, but he also knows that ignoring them can be worse than getting treatment. He's not exactly worse, by the standards of the medical staff, so Shane isn't going to push it, yet. "Just know I am not above getting you to a hospital one way or another if you get worse." Is his reply, because he could probably force Ilya back into the car and drive him to the hospital now, but he could just observe him, as he'd been instructed to do by the medical staff, as he knew to do.

Ilya lets out a long breath and grits his teeth as he leans against Shane, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment in some poor attempt to block out the sunlight that peeks in under his sunglasses. He knows it's not foolproof, that any amount of light he sees right now is just going to exacerbate his symptoms, so he has to mentally prepare himself for it. He counts down under his breath and opens his eyes just enough to see where he's going, leaning against Shane all the while as they make their way inside.