Song; Orange Juice by Noah Kahan
(With some adjustments to lyrics to better fit characters and avoid as much repeating in some spots)
Characters; All of GRAIN. Briar, Aries, and all the kiddos mentioned
Context; A kinda AU where Garvin got sober, leaving the polycule prior to that for a couple of months in an attempt to get away from everything for a while. He stayed with Briar and Aries during this time, but mostly stayed locked in the guest bedroom until the last couple of weeks
For the most part, this is a somewhat wholesome AU, but there is a decent amount of angst, especially between the street rats because Garvin kinda unintentionally guilt trips Akira who still holds onto their own addiction and there's also some hesitation from the rest of the polycule because they want Garvin back, but are scared about pressuring him into anything
Anyway, enjoy the hurt/comfort! :D
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*We start with a small meet-up the rest of the polycule set up, which was honestly mostly an attempt to get Garvin back around them. Aries did eventually coax Garvin into joining them and the rest of the polycule basically walk on eggshells around him, hoping to show their support and help Garvin see that they do care and want him back*
Nico, being welcoming as usual, careful about wording to not pressure Garvin at all: "Honey, come over, the party's gone slower..."
Ingall, joining in, equally as careful: "And no one will tempt you, we know you got sober..."
Revan, joining in as well, pointing out that there are other options for drinks than alcohol, hoping to prove that they are all trying: "There's orange juice in the kitchen, bought for the children, it's yours if you want it!"
Akira, honestly the most hesitant, aware that them still dealing with their own addiction may be a problem, timid about assuming Garvin is actually coming back: "We're just glad you could visit..."
Nico, allowing a bit of emotion to slip through, showing how he'd been struggling with Garvin's leaving, not quite understanding why, especially when she'd tried so hard to prove how much they cared and supported him: "Feels like I've been ready for you to come home for so long that I didn't think to ask you where you'd gone... Why'd you go?"
Ingall, thinking back on what Garvin had told them right before he'd left, sounding half-angry and half-upset: "You said; "my heart has changed and my soul has changed, and my heart, and my heart..."
Revan, quoting what Garvin said briefly upon coming over for the meetup: ""My face has changed, and I haven't drank in three months on the dot..."
Nico, quietly thinking back on the fight and overdose that probably lead to Garvin wanting to become sober "crash" referring to the argument and overdose, not a physical crash, and "graves" referring both to the past people Garvin's lost and the past version of himself: "See the graves as you pass through from our crash back in that month... Not one nick on your finger, you just asked me to hold you..."
Akira, tearing up slightly, thinking back on the past event, still actively avoiding Garvin at the moment, well aware that, while they took Garvin's side in the fight as usual, it probably wouldn't offer the same results as usual and probably actually made things worse, now they kind of assume that Garvin hates and wants nothing to do with them (Lord and savior refer to getting sober and Akira's basically just expressing their thoughts that, because of their own addiction, Garvin will probably push them to the side now and probably judge them): "But it made you a stranger, and filled you with anger! Now I'm last in the lineup to your 'Lord' and your 'Savior'..."
Ingall, expressing his feelings on Garvin leaving as well: "Feels like I've been ready for you to come home for so long that I didn't think to ask you where you'd gone... So why'd you go?"
Revan, sighing and quoting what Garvin told him after coming back: "You said; "My heart has changed and my soul has changed, and my heart, and my heart...""
Akira, quoting what Garvin, somewhat passive-aggressively told them after coming back, fighting back a shit ton of guilt and fear of losing Garvin forever: ""My life has changed, this town has changed, and you have not! The world has changed, don't you find it strange, that you just went ahead and carried on?! And you know I'd say the last time I drank I was face down, passed out, there on the lawn!""
Akira, on the verge of tears, reflecting on Garvin's words, knowing he's probably right, but hella scared about being shoved to the side as someone who's not strong enough to beat addiction: "Am I just a crow to you now?! Am I really just pulling you down?!"
Nico, trying to comfort Garvin about the past argument that caused all this: "You didn't put those bones in the ground..."
Revan, who (as you might expect) kinda started the argument, guilty about it all, but also slightly relieved that Garvin did seem to actually process and listen to what he was saying for once, also trying to state that what happened wasn't Garvin's fault at all: "You didn't put those bones in the ground...:
Revan, smiling slightly as Garvin seems to settle in a little more and basically says he'll stay, just glad he's back: "Honey, come over, the party's gone slower..."
Nico, grinning, clearly excited and determined to prove that they're all supportive: "And no one will tempt you, we know you got sober!"
Ingall, relaxing a little as well, also trying to prove his support: "There's orange juice in the kitchen, bought for the children, it's yours if you want it..."
Akira, watching everything with a mixture of relief and fear, continuing to distance themself as not to 'rub off' on Garvin or trigger him at all, once again putting their own emotions to the side in favor of supporting the others: "We're just glad you could visit..."