#gulliver is here!! advocating for my raphael/gulliver besties agenda

[sesamestreep]

i know it's just a number, but you're the eighth wonder (chapter 2)

Raphael had reached the bottom of his glass, and made some faint overture about heading out, leaving Merrick to enjoy his evening, but it had only made Merrick laugh.  “It’s like that song,” Merrick had said, through a lopsided smile. “You know. I really can’t stay.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he’d replied, and it was the truth but still, he was enjoying himself immensely. Merrick obviously wasn’t much of a singer, but there was something soft and pleasing about his voice. It wouldn’t do on a stage, but in a pub at the end of a night of celebrating or over a crib, it would do quite well. He’d been certain, at that moment, that Merrick’s big dog (Grendel? Godzilla?) had been the recipient of a charming made-up lullaby or theme song at some point. Merrick had tsk’d in frustration. “Yes, you do! Maybe just a half a drink more,” he sings, gently, before switching to a lower register. “Put some records on while I pour." Raphael couldn’t help it, and had to burst out laughing. “This is a song?” “Yes!” “A real one?” “Yes, it’s famous. Are you serious? It’s everywhere this time of year! It’s—” he paused to hum the tune to himself for a few notes. “Never such a blizzard before … ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside!’” “Oh,” Raphael had said. “The creepy song?” “It’s not creepy! He’s trying to stop her from going out in a blizzard!” “He’s definitely just trying to get lucky.” Merrick had looked chagrined for a moment before he said, “It can’t be both?”

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