Red Hot Omelets

William Terry Louis Andrew Carrick Jonathan Dredge Hams Reading Roger Southwark Alwick Plymouth Junior Regison III is a wealthy man visiting Waffle Island in the hopes of finding reliable business partners. Gill just can't be bothered.

The Kirch Restaurant seemed particularly lively that evening, with a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces alike coloring the tavern. Angela sat across from her friend looking verifiably ill as he rambled on and on about yesterday, though he at least managed to keep the volume in check.

"—vile pervert! If you attack someone without their permission—no, if you attack someone, you're nothing but a low-life, pathetic, disgusting, shameful—"

Angela poked at her food, her stomach aching as each insult seemed to be aimed at her albeit unintentionally. "M—maybe it's—"

"—NOT a misunderstanding," Gill cut in before she could even finish. He stabbed his potato with his knife, completely oblivious to her discomfort as he went on, "Someone like that should be run out of town. We're both men! And non-consensual! You agree with me, of course!"

"O—of course, but…" she waffled, trying desperately to find a loophole in his logic. "Um…Gill, are you sure you don't…you know, have feelings for him or something?"

Gill choked on his drink, slamming the cup down but still managing to keep his voice down. "T—that's impossible!" he seethed, clearly flustered.

Angela smiled weakly, "Are you sure he doesn't…like you…that way? I mean, liking someone of the same gender—it's not that unusual, is it? Hahaha…."

"Why are you taking his side," Gill's eyes narrowed, conveniently ignoring the question altogether.

Angela squirmed in her seat, rubbing her chocolate brown hair as though searching her brain for an appropriate response. "I mean, he kissed you twice…and he hasn't made any moves on anyone else…as far as I know."

"…Did you completely forget the Sea Festival?" Gill's eyes slanted giving her that 'come on' look she knew too well.

"Th—that…there's a reason for that," she looked away nervously, dangerously close to spilling her beans, or whatever it was she was hiding.

Gill stared a moment longer before thankfully turning to his food. "This conversation isn't over," he warned. Angela gulped. She'd hoped to share her predicament with her friend, but with such disturbingly similar circumstances, she couldn't bring herself to utter a single word.

"What a vile pervert! Attacking me without my permission! She's nothing but a low-life, pathetic, disgusting, shameless, idiotic lecher!"

Will slumped rather lifelessly against the chair as he watched Candace skittishly take her sister's measurements. He knew she was talking about someone else, but couldn't help but feel every word jab at his heart. He was no better than that "low-life, pathetic and idiotic lecher" after all.

"Luna, please stay still," whined Candace as she tried to loop around her sister's waist.

Luna huffed, "What's the point in taking my measurements every single time? It's not like I've gained weight!"

Will desperately hoped that signaled a change in topic, but the girl reverted right back to her tirade, "Not only did she do that to me, but she had the nerve to run away! Do you have any idea how I felt?" One thing was for sure, Luna was not shy about expressing her point of view. If only he could be that straight forward, he thought.

"Even so, don't you have some measure of feelings for her? Otherwise you wouldn't have gone looking for her…"

"Th—that's no excuse!" she stuttered, her face burning bright red. Candace, clearly uncomfortable with the entire conversation, finished up her business and shrunk to the back of the shop to fasten some pins to a new outfit or something. "Anyway, come with me tonight!"

"Where?" asked Will, too drained to refuse.

"I'm going to confront that Gill!"

Blue eyes blinked in surprise. When was Gill a part of all this?

"He and Angela are always hanging all over each other! Isn't that suspicious?" she spat, throwing on a soft pink coat despite the warm weather and pacing about looking for her favorite white slippers. "She claims to be in love with me, and yet she spends almost every night with him! They're both playing me for an idiot!"

Will wanted to counter any reservations she had about Angela, heavens knew he knew all about their affair, but somehow he knew the woman wouldn't listen to reason. She actually reminded him of a certain someone. He wished he could rant about his predicament, but knowing Luna, she'd probably tear him apart. So he kept silent and followed her out, bidding farewell to the bashful Candace.

Ok, maybe I overreacted, thought Gill as he paced up and down the living room occasionally glaring at the clock. No matter how much of a pervert he is, he is still our guest! And I should make him feel welcome… Besides, it's like Angela said, it's not like I have any lingering attachments. What he does is his business. I'm sure there was a reason behind yesterday's poor behavior. For instance, William was stumbling drunk, perhaps? It wouldn't surprise him.

Having had some time to cool off, Gill more or less came to a decision to just let bygones be bygones. He'd already chewed William out after picking him up from Angela's. Besides, they were both still so young. It could be the blond was at 'that age' where he was confused about his sexuality and wanted to confirm things! Yes, that made…well not perfect sense, but any excuse would do at this point!

The front door bolted open and he swung around, for a moment thinking it to be that bothersome guy when instead appeared an even more sinister character.

Luna stood with her arms akimbo, her mouth big as her ego, "Gill! I have a bone to pick with you!" A tired looking Will came staggering behind her—he really looked like he'd just given up on life.

Gill held pointed a finger at himself rightfully confused, "With me? What have I done to you?"

"I tried to stop her…" muttered Will, his words going in one ear and out the next as the two simply bickered on without him.

"Like I said, I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Don't lie to me, you had something going on, didn't you? That's why you're always together!"

"Slow down and explain properly. I don't understand what it is you think I did…"

Despite the incomprehensible conversation, Will couldn't help but stand back and laugh. The two were really remarkably similar, even if neither cared to admit it. If there were a difference at all, gender not-withstanding, it'd be that Luna was honest with herself. But Gill's stubbornness was another side he found cute, even if it made his life unbearable at times.

"So cute," the words spilled out without realizing it, and of all the things to perk their ears! Will grimaced at the stifling stare the two shot at him. "Don't mind me, do carry on." As cute as they were, he didn't need to be dragged into this—he was already in enough trouble as it was.

"Tsk…this is obviously not going anywhere! I'll let you go for today," said Luna with a flip of her hair. The short woman gave Will a pat on the back before storming out, leaving Gill all but befuddled.

Gill gaped at Will for some sort of explanation, but the other just shrugged, not too willing to talk about a girl's private life—even if said girl just took out all her frustrations on them.

"Just let her be, she has a lot of things going on," he said simply, chuckling wearily as Gill just nodded blankly.

Then he gathered his wits about him. "Ah, yes! I wanted to talk to you, but you came home so late…" Will winced, but otherwise remained silent. Gill flipped his bangs casually, "Well, not like it matters. Actually, I wanted to apologize for earlier. I behaved rather rashly."

Now there's something he wasn't expecting. Will rubbed the back of his neck as a flush stained his cheeks. "…I honestly wasn't expecting that."

"What was that?"

"N—no, I mean…" the blond glanced away, still gushing. Being apologized to, and by Gill of all people, it just unleashed a fleet of butterflies in the pit of his stomach. He wasn't even sure what to say. One thing was for certain, he felt a lot better than he did just an hour ago. "I wanted to apologize as well. What I did was unforgivable."

"It's good that you realize," said Gill, a bit sharper than before.

Will laughed; he felt like a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Maybe they'd actually make some progress? Maybe he could finally just come right out and say what he'd been meaning to say since the day Arthur kicked sand in the prudish man's face? Maybe tonight would be the night everything could chang—

"And that is why I hope we can both forget about everything that's happened."

Will blinked. "Excuse me?"

Gill folded his arms, nodding his head wisely, "I think it'd be best if we both cleaned our slates and started over. I want you to enjoy your time here. This really is a wonderful town if you take the time to smell the roses." Will gawked as he spun around and headed for the kitchen. Gill took out some clean pots and filled them with water, going about his usual routine, "Speaking of clean slates, what would you like to eat? It's a bit late, but you should still eat something."

Will stared blankly from the entrance way, both hands falling lifelessly to his sides. You're kidding, right?