ax_main | Gilmore and Jester

Jester needs new jewelry, and to VERY INNOCENTLY ask Gilmore some questions.

Jester had been waiting, so very patiently, until she reached the four-to-six-weeks mark of getting her ears pierced. And she thought they were healed already! There hadn't been any crusting in a while, and they looked really good! So after classes that day, she ran down to Gilmore's workshop and knocked happily, and very enthusiastically, on his door.

"Gilmore, Gilmore! Or Percy if you're here I guess. It's Jester! Can I come in?"

From inside the workshop came a warm, "My door is always open for you, Jester!" that could only be the resonant voice of Gilmore himself. When Jester opened the door, he was just pushing a pair of plastic safety glasses back into his hair, and setting some tools down in a little bin on his workbench. The thing he had been working on rested on the bench in front of him, looking something like a starfish made out of black ribbons. A slight scent of ozone and heat hung in the air, but was quickly being dispersed by a small table fan.

"To what do I owe this joyous visit?" Gilmore asked, getting up from his stool and spreading his arms with open hands in a typically glorious greeting.

"I think my ear piercings are all healed!" Jester stated happily as she skipped inside, but her gaze was immediately drawn to what he had been working on. "Oh my god, Gilmore, what is that? Is it a super secret project? Should I close the door?"

Since he was working, Gilmore appeared unusually un-adorned. He waved a hand toward the door for Jester to close it behind her, his rustic leather and antique silver ID bracelet fit snugly against that wrist. "It's not a secret project, it's just... something I'm not sure will work yet. Something I don't want getting out until I understand it better," he added, with brows raised, trying to impress on Jester the importance of not telling the entire world right now. "It has to do with the power-suppression technology, which, ah, not everyone at school is comfortable with."

"So it's only kind of secret," Jester stated after closing the door. This time, she stepped forward more cautiously, frowning at the contraption Gilmore was working on. Her hand shifted to the crude doorway symbol she had Drawn for herself, dangling from a leather cord tied at her waist. Her fingers closed around the wood, and the look in her purple eyes was oddly quiet and thoughtful. "It must be really awful. Having a mutation terrible enough you'd want to shut down a part of yourself."

The item on the workbench, on closer inspection, looked more like one long, thin black ribbon looped and folded into five distinct points, passing through a central hub that seemed to be made of the same substance. It was very, very black. Gilmore glanced back at it with a faintly fond expression, and sighed. "Not all mutations are compatible with the mortal equipment they're packaged in. For some of us, our bodies change to be able to handle the abilities -- like Warren's hollow bones allowing him to use those big gorgeous wings. It's not the same for everyone. Sometimes it's... well, sometimes mutation is lethal."

He turned back to her with a small, tight smile. "I'm just trying to turn a sword into a ploughshare. If this thing is going to save someone's life -- potentially," he remembered to add quickly, "then they shouldn't have to wear it as a collar of shame around their neck."

Jester listened attentively, eventually raising her gaze to meet Gilmore's as he talked. This was clearly something he cared about very much. Clearly! And now she had one question for him. "What's a ploughshare? I mean, I know what it is, obviously!" she hastened to add, and scoffed at how ridiculous it was that she might not know. "I just want to make sure that you know what it is, and you're not using that word randomly, you know?"

Gilmore hesitated, then quirked a sheepish grin. "I don't actually know. I assumed they're just... ploughs? It was something I heard in history class, I guess, like a metaphor for peace? You take your swords and smith them into ploughs because you don't need swords anymore." Maybe he was rambling a bit, but his smile was warm and genuine, and he honestly believed that he was trying to do a good thing.

"Anyway, you came down for a reason? Or just to visit?"

Jester narrowed her eyes at him through his entire explanation, trying to ascertain whether he was being truthful, or trying to pull one over her. But it was Gilmore; she couldn't suspect him for very long. And then he asked his question, snapping her out of it, and she grinned with an enthusiastic nod. "Yes! Look!" She stepped up close and turned her head from side to side, pausing each time so he could take a look at her piercings. "They're all healed up! Do you have that jewelry we talked about? It sounded so perfect."

Gilmore did lean closer to nod approvingly at Jester's earrings, then clapped his hands together lightly in preparation. 'Yes, of course, we keep that stock down here now. Partly because it's easier for my darling minions to find it, and partly so Molly doesn't 'test' everything I make before I can sell it," he chuckled, leading the way over to a large stack of plastic drawers that served as the 'warehouse' of Gilmore's Glorious Goods.

Naturally, Gilmore opened up the right drawer unerringly, and began sorting through the small dividers and containers to pull out the longer draping chain styles. "Now, normally I'd ask if you were a silver girl or a gold girl, but I'm going to let you in on a little color theory. With your coloring, the warmer-tinted metals are going to look stunning. Copper in particular for casual days, and also rose gold when you feel that need to... dress it up a bit."

"Rose gold sounds so pretty!" Jester confirmed with a dreamy little smile, stepping over to see what was inside that box. "But, um..." She wiggled her fingers, on which were a few rings. "I kind of like silver better?"

"But of course," Gilmore assured her smoothly, drawing out a few dividers, and from another drawer, a flocked tray to put them in so Jester could inspect. From out of Gilmore's stock came several varieties of intricately draping chains, mostly in silver, but a few in the promised rose gold as well. He had numerous different styles, lengths, and adornments, from feathers to jewels to metallic wraps. "Now, these are configured right now to drape between multiple piercings, or connect to a cuff higher up on the ear, but I can easily extend them to latch around a horn instead. We can create a loop so you get extra chain-sparkle, or create a mold and cap for the tip of one. The only limitation is our imaginations."

Jester's eyes widened in glee. "Oh, caps! That would look so good! You're full of such amazing ideas, Gilmore! Can I have silver caps for both my horns? But... maybe just one of them with a drop."

Luckily, Gilmore had been fashioning decor for Molly's horns for months, and knew exactly what he was doing. "Certainly, of course! Let me make a couple of molds, if you don't mind, so we get a good snug fit? These have to be custom made, since only a few people in the world are even lucky enough to have horns. We can sketch some design ideas while it sets, all right?"

Jester squealed happily, clapping her hands together. This was so serious and amazing! "Where do you want me?"

Gilmore led Jester over to one of the stools near the workbench and gave an elaborate bow, welcoming her to sit. "Just here. I won't make you sit still too long, but if I can create a mold, then I can make a precise replica of the end of your horns and craft something to fit perfectly."

Clearly, Gilmore knew exactly what he was doing, bustling around the workshop and mixing up some concoction of rubbery molding compound from his supplies. He'd done this at least a hundred times, chatting away about the process all the while.

"I'll sit as still as I can," Jester promised him solemnly, tail settling comfortably behind her as she took a seat. She was quiet for a second, watching Gilmore ready that paste, then asked, "I can still talk, right? I don't have to be that still?"

"My dear Jester, I would shudder to meet the individual who could keep you from talking," Gilmore hummed as he worked. "I would never dream of stifling you."

Jester giggled appreciatively at his answer. "You're the best, Gilmore," she told him honestly, with all of her affection for him. And that was a lot of affection. She bit down on her lip, then asked, "Have you had a chance to work on my doorway? It's okay if you haven't, I know you had other commissions first, plus all your regular store stuff." And classes. And his boyfriend. "And people showing up for impromptu horn molds!" she finished with a bright, playful smile.

"I was just about to ask which you wanted done first," Gilmore answered, working with a small brush and pot of slip. "I wanted to create some prototypes in brass first, and my order was delayed. It's an unusual shape and I want to give you a couple of options before we settle on the final design. It's got to be sturdy enough that you can wear it every day if you want, but still pretty enough to suit you."

"I am very pretty," Jester confirmed happily. She did her best to remain still, despite how engaged she was in the conversation. That meant that she kept her hands folded together in her lap, as she usually tended to talk with them a lot, and her tail consciously curled up behind her. She pondered for a moment. "I think the doorway should come first. The Traveler would like that."

She hadn't told very many people she was the one leaving the Traveler pamphlets around (although some had guessed, or caught her at it), but of course she had told Gilmore. She had had to, when she explained about the doorway symbol she wanted.

Creating the very specific symbol of an (as far as Gilmore knew) imaginary friend was definitely a first for him. Though, he did frequently abstract symbolism and subtle nods from major media franchises, which had originally grown out of someone's imagination, and how different was that really? In some respects, the only difference between Boy Wizard and the Traveler was that the latter's publicity budget consisted only of Jester.

"Well, if he could drop by and let me know exactly what his symbol is supposed to look like, I'd appreciate it," Gilmore answered warmly.

"Maybe he would if you prayed to him!" Jester said immediately. "I'm sure he would like you. I mean, I would still be his favorite, but he could still like you a lot."

"I could certainly give that a try," Gilmore considered easily. It wasn't that he was humoring her, he just found it simpler to subscribe to her world-view for ease of conversation. "I didn't grow up religious, though. I don't have the first idea how to actually pray."

"Oh, that's easy!" Jester replied enthusiastically. "You just talk to him! I tell him about what is going on in my life, and the things I've done for him, and I explain the things I've drawn for him, and I ask him for help or advice sometimes. Sometimes he doesn't answer, but sometimes he stops by and it's... really pretty amazing."

Gilmore stepped around the stool, starting on Jester's left side once he'd finished with the right. "Oh?" he prompted, his voice taking on a teasing lilt. "Is that so? Is he hot? I could stand a hottie showing up in answer to my prayers."

Jester hummed thoughtfully, resisting the urge to tap a finger on her chin. "I guess he is? It's hard to remember anything about him, apart from his cloak. But I'm sure he is, I mean, he's the Traveler."

"Naturally, naturally," said Gilmore agreeably. "Well, I'm glad you're his favorite. Nolan wouldn't mind a sexy spiritual being showing up in my workroom, since I am so devoted to him." He flashed a bright grin and a wink. "But I just don't have time for any other men chasing me."

Jester giggled. "You two are the cutest. Do you want to see some drawings I've made? After you're done with my horns."

"Of... the Traveler?" Gilmore ventured at first. Then, he realized, "Or... of me and Nolan?"

"...well, both if you want!" Jester replied, shifting her head a little as she considered, and immediately going still. "Sorry."

Gilmore managed to lighten his touch at the last moment so he didn't poke a finger right through the molding compound, and gave Jester a forgiving smile. "You've been drawing Nolan and me? All right, that just needs to set, so... show me?"

"Oh good!" Jester was off the stool in a heartbeat, picking up the pink backpack she rarely went anywhere without and pulling one of several sketchbooks out of it. This was one where she'd sketched many people around school, and not the one where she was working on her art for Sandalwood and Rose. "Let me find some..." she stated as she opened the book on Gilmore's workbench, flipping through sketches of their schoolmates. "Oh! This is just you, but it's still pretty cool." She held up the page to show a sketch of Gilmore deep in thought, fingers smoothing down his goatee. There was a purple unicorn in the top right hand corner of the page. Jester went back to flipping pages. "Ah, here you are!"

She held up the book again, this time to a full length sketch of Gilmore walking away, looking over his shoulder as if he wanted to keep looking at Nolan for as long as possible, while Nolan looked at Gilmore with a small hint of a smile. Both of the boys' features were so warm and loving and cute! What they wore clearly placed the drawing at Kitty's party. There were people around, but Jester hadn't bothered drawing them out, only outlining them as shadows, making Nolan and Gilmore look like the only bright, vibrant people in an otherwise dull world. "Do you like it?" Jester asked hopefully.

Honestly, Gilmore had never seen anything like it. There was something different about a sketch than a photo, because the artist chose how to capture their subject, decided to add a furrow here and smooth a line there. Jester's interpretation of him was not exactly him, but it was a 'him' that Gilmore very much liked. He seemed rather at a loss for words on seeing the picture of himself alone, but when he saw the sketch of himself and Nolan together, a smile immediately blossomed. Delicately, he touched a fingertip to the paper just beside Nolan's face, not wanting to smudge a single line.

"This is Kitty's birthday," Gilmore recognized it immediately. "Did that... actually happen? I mean, that looks exactly like how I usually feel when I step away from Nolan, but I didn't, um... didn't realize I looked like that." The warmth and softness in his eyes and in his voice seemed ready to melt him right there.

"You're looking like that right now," Jester pointed out, sing-song. "You two are the most adorbs. Do you like that picture? I could do it on a wider canvas if you like!" He didn't seem to be taking the sketches the wrong way, which was very encouraging for fanfiction.

"I was just going to ask if I could buy a copy of this," Gilmore admitted, looking up with that same melty, goofy grin. "I love it, and I'm pretty sure Nolan would love it, even if he probably doesn't want the whole world to see it. I'll frame it for his private study, or something."

"I can absolutely do that for you!" Jester agreed enthusiastically. "I am a great artist, after all."

Gilmore leaned in and wrapped an arm around Jester's shoulders for a quick and careful hug. He didn't want to jostle the curing molds, after all. "Thank you. Nolan's going to adore it. So much better than a selfie."

"I mean, selfies are pretty cool," Jester said with a grin, returning the hug. "But this is definitely better. You two are just so cute, it's really no wonder so many people love you online! Do you know that you have fanfiction?" Look at her, making that transition work!

At that, Gilmore pretended to wince and groan, but it was obviously an exaggeration. "Oh, god, I was afraid of that. I know Nolan has entire forums dedicated to speculating on his personal life, but I wasn't sure it had gone that far." He'd suspected, of course. Gilmore's Glorious Goods served exactly the market that thrived on fan works, and Gilmore knew how the communities worked. He leaned back and gave Jester a meaningful look. "They're good, right? Like, real literary quality and really good smut, right?"

"Well, I mean," Jester started, "some of them are really good, yes! There are a few who are stupid, but. There's some reaaally amazing ones out there!" So Gilmore didn't mind at all! That was so cool! Jester would of course tell Kitty. It should make her feel better about posting her fic. "I could recommend some if you like! If that wouldn't be weird for you."

"No, no, that's quite all right," Gilmore laughed, warm and easy. "I mean, I'm living that dream every day. As long as my fictional self isn't trapped in bad fic, I'm very content."

He squeezed Jester's shoulders again, then gave her a speculative look though his eyes were teasing and practically twinkling. "And just how did you happen to come across this rainbow of real-people fic about your good friend Gilmore, hmmm?"

"Oh, I spend a lot of time reading fanfiction!" Jester answered, fighting the urge to blush when he looked at her like that. She wasn't ashamed! No, no, she wasn't. "And Nolmore is a pretty big thing in some circles now."

Nolmore. What the hell was Shaun's life anymore, that he was part of a celebrity 'ship name? He scritched his fingers through his goatee, fighting against a sheepish expression, because self-consciousness didn't really fit with the Gilmore brand. "Well, as long as I look smoking hot in these stories, I'm fine with it. Nolan is much more private, though. As you're wandering AO3, just... don't mention that you live with us in real life?" he suggested delicately. "Publicly, he and I met as part of NolCorp's charitable foundation work. We don't want Xavier's involved in our story."

"Of course not!" Jester immediately agreed, bringing both hands to her cheeks at the very thought of it. She shook her head fervently. "I would never jeopardize this place! I'm not even saying that I know you, don't worry! I miiiight be saying how cool your jewelry is, though." But that was okay! Anybody could order from Gilmore's Glorious Goods! "And I'm thinking about illustrating some of the fics, too," she threw out there, so it wouldn't come as a surprise when her drawings for Kitty's fic surfaced. In case Gilmore ever saw them, and recognized her style. "But only the best! And, you know, it will be very tasteful. No nudity."

Knowing that Jester had a certain affinity for sketches of the anatomy that he happened to possess, Gilmore was a little bit relieved. "I trust you implicitly," he promised, pressing a hand to his heart. "And it warms my heart to know that we have someone here at school so very invested in our story. Even..." Gilmore flashed a grin. "Even if she's taking a few liberties with it."

"Well, you know, liberty is a good thing," Jester replied with an impish grin. All the same, she was etching those words into her memory, so she could quote them to Kitty verbatim, later. That should totally set her mind at ease! "You guys have a statue that's all about it and everything!"

"Bring me your huddled masses yearning to write porn?" Gilmore drawled, arching a brow and quirking a grin. Yes, he was a saucy fellow, but he thought Jester appreciated the joke. He had to stifle the urge to ruffle her hair. Instead, he clapped his hands together lightly. "Well! Those molds should have cured by now. Shall we get on with it?"

"Yes!" Jester confirmed happily, closing the sketchbook - for now - but leaving it there while she went back to sit on her stool. When she spoke up again, she was a little quieter, the obvious sign of genuine earnestness. "I really think the Traveler would like you very much, Gilmore."

"Jester," Gilmore answered honestly, pausing before resuming his work, "I sincerely hope I get to meet him." If only so that Jester wouldn't be alone in her steadfast faith anymore.