Gerrymichael and anger:
Michael Shelley has a temper. He does his best to hide it under warm smiles and soft-spoken words, but there are so many things that can set him off. Injustice, not being believed, incorrectly filed statements, Emma not refilling the coffee machine after she takes the last cup, all of those things can make his blood boil. But he keeps that his secret. He doesn’t want to become “that guy” that no one wants to talk to at the water cooler because he loses his mind every five minutes.
When he starts dating Gerard he becomes even more determined to keep that part of himself hidden. He knows how much Gerry has gone through, and his worst fear is being someone he doesn’t feel comfortable around. So he promises himself to keep all his emotions hidden inside him forever until he dies. And for about six months that works fine.
Then one day Gerard is…a lot. He comes back from hunting a Leitner with mud all over his boots and tracks it all over the floor. He grabs a bite to eat and leaves behind a trail of crumbs as he goes to take his seat on the couch. He flips on the tv and turns it up way too loud for a small apartment where sound echoes off the walls.
Michael tries to keep his opinion on Gerard’s bad habits himself as to not let even a teaspoon’s worth anger out, but he just mopped the floors and he’s always found loud noises overstimulating. So he can’t really help it when he turns to Gerard and snappishly says “Will you turn that down?”
He immediately regrets it. His mind jumps to the worst case scenario. He can already imagine the betrayed look on Gerard’s face and the ensuing argument as the relationship he loves crumbles through his fingers like he’s trying to hold onto sand. This is the worst thing he’s ever done. He’s unforgivable. There is no going back to what they were. He might as well flee society and live in solitude the woods.
He can barely look over to see Gerard’s face, even when he hears the tv lower to a softer volume. He glances over expecting a look of shock or, worse, discomfort, but instead he’s just met with a shit-eating grin and the words:
“That was hot.”
It takes Michael at least five business day’s to recover.
avatarofthearchives:
Concept: Gerard Keay in this shirt.
Concept: Gerard Keay meeting Michael Shelley for the first time while wearing this shirt.
Speaking of Gerrymichael dynamics I really like to interpret Michael Shelley as someone who is morally good to the point where he feels crushing guilt for things that most people wouldn’t think twice about. Then meanwhile, Gerard is good too, but his goodness comes in a more morally questionable font. Like, just imagine this exchange:
Michael: “I didn’t see someone behind me today and I accidentally shut the door in their face! I’m terrible. I’m the worst person who ever lived. I deserve to rot for my sins.”
Gerard Covered In Blood Because He Just Killed Something Monster Adjacent: “Nah, you’re probably fine.”
Doorkeay Concept: Michael Shelley (human) being more scary than Gerard Keay when push comes to shove.
No one is surprised when Gerry is scary. He’s blunt and somewhat confrontational and has had enough survived experience with the fears that no one is surprised that he can hold his own. Plus, his aesthetic is somewhat intimidating. It’s not surprising that he’s capable of being scary.
Michael however, is sweet and a bit timid and clearly not eager for confrontation. He seems like the type of guy who has all the bravery of a fainting goat. That’s why it surprises Gerard what happens when they get into a situation together.
Michael and Gerry run to the store just to get a few things and Gerry is alone in an aisle when a man approaches him and asks for the time. The man’s features don’t look quite…real enough, and his skin gleams like it’s made of plastic. Gerry knows right away that he’s dealing with a Stranger entity, and after a lifetime of handling the fears he’s fully prepared to be the protector of both himself AND Michael.
That is until a 6'5 shadow falls over him. An arm slings over his shoulder as Michael comes up from behind with a rigid posture that makes him look made of stone. His lips twist into a clearly fake smile that shows too much teeth. His eyes go wide and unblinking. He looks just as unreal as a stranger entity, and his voice doesn’t sound any more grounding. It seems deeper than it should be as Michael asks “Can we help you?” in a tone that even put’s Gerard on edge. If he didn’t know him he would think he was very dangerous. And…well, honestly watching the interaction makes Gerard wonder if he isn’t. Not to himself of course. But to anything that goes bump in the night.
The entity turns and leaves without much fuss after that, and Gerry is just as surprised when Michael’s personality does another immediate 180 back to how it was before. He worries over Gerard’s wellbeing and says that he felt like there was something unsettling about the man, which Gerard agrees with. However, he’s a more preoccupied with how into that he was. Hey. He’s a simple man. He likes his partners a little intimidating. Both because it’s attractive, and because it takes a big weight off his shoulders.
