Naturally, Ryan was uncomfortable. He already was in most, if not all social situations, but this one was sort of forced upon him, and Gabe and himself were totally out of balance. Not just, like, class-wise; at this point Ryan was used to being less wealthy and powerful than the people he was around anyway. More in the aspect of personality, though, Gabe was of the same caliber as Brendon, and the only thing Ryan knew to do around people like that was try and control them or water them down. Which was probably why his very misguided instinct with Gabe was to make sure they were even allowed to be here in the first place. He figured the best way to navigate this situation would probably just be to keep whatever the incoming conversation was short, rush out the door quickly, maybe call Brendon somewhere along the way to let him know someone was in his house.

[i]Fantastico. Sit down?[/i] Ryan didn't comply for a second, looking where Gabe had gestured but not quite registering. Eventually he moved hesitantly over, tracing a tiny design on the headrest while he waffled about before dropping into the seat. Rather than mirroring Gabe's aristocratic pose in their spot, he shrunk himself down, pulling his hands together in his lap and keeping both feet planted on the floor. [i]No, he doesn’t know I’m talking to you. Actually, he most likely wouldn’t want me to. I have a history of, like, scaring away his potential hookups.[/i] Ryan tilted his head questioningly, wondering what Gabe knew - and if they knew, who else did? Was Brendon waving the affair around openly while Ryan tortured himself over it? Well, if Gabe was comfortable enough with Brendon to just pop up in his home like this, then it probably just meant he finally had a friend close enough to talk to about these things. Ryan supposed he was glad for that fact, but a little unsettled over it coming back to him like this.

Ryan addressing the elephant in the room of Gabe being here technically uninvited went over surprisingly well - on the surface. He thought he was in the clear until they spoke. [i]Breaking his instruments- a lesser evil than, maybe, his heart.[/i] Ryan furrowed his brow, even more confused now. So were they actually told about what was going on, or did Brendon, maybe, say something else Ryan didn't know himself? If Gabe was afraid of Brendon's heart being broken, maybe they thought he was sacrificing it in the first place; as in, Brendon had told them he liked Ryan back, or something. The slim possibility in itself was enough to make Ryan's heart race a little, but as of right now, the only certain thing was that Gabe, for whatever reason, thought he might hurt Brendon. Which was about the furthest thing from his real intentions as it could get. Since it seemed like they weren't quite done anyway, Ryan withheld any argument, pursing his lips and shaking his head slightly at the implication he'd ever do that to Brendon.

[i]I’ll cut to the chase, Ryan. I know you and Brendon are, whatever, sleeping together- Notice the present tense.[/i] Oh. So there, that's what had gotten out. Ryan bowed his head and placed his chin in his hand, staring at the floor. [i]That doesn’t usually happen with Brendon.[/i] It really, really didn't. It might've been a flattering statement if Ryan hadn't already convinced himself that the only reason they were still doing this was because Brendon didn't feel like firing him just yet. It was only a matter of time - the affair was to keep Ryan from overreacting again, he supposed. [i]So you must be doing something right to cancel out how much of a self-righteous asshole you’ve apparently been. I want to know what that is.[/i] Ryan instantly looked affronted, despite his knack for hiding his true feelings about whatever. [b]"You've got it all wrong. Trust me."[/b] 

Ryan drew his hand over his face, figuring he could leave it at that since this was his and Brendon's business and not Gabe's, but the impulse to just talk it all through was overwhelming. After all, he'd kept it entirely to himself anyway. After a moment it apparently became too much to just keep this to himself, and he had to actually answer. [b]"That's not - I wasn't trying to be self-righteous, or an asshole, you have to believe me. I just... I just want him to be okay, and watching him come home with people who don't give a shit about him night after night, that's..."[/b] Ryan shrugged, looking off to the window, and really hoped this wasn't something Brendon would hear later. He'd got enough of it, anyway. [b]"I know he says he doesn't need anyone, or whatever. It just seems like... such an empty life. Coming home with strangers every night, then waking up to an empty bed and resetting the cycle. And he deserves better."[/b]

After a pause, Ryan realised that that was definitely provocation for another smart response, and he put a hand up briefly. [b]"I know, that's not necessarily me, just. I dunno, I'd even be happy to see him... find someone else, maybe. Anything's better than what he was doing."[/b] There. He'd said, like, one percent of what he'd always wanted to. And sure, some regret was settling in because he didn't quite trust Gabe, but whatever. At least the gist of it was all out.