chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

You practically eat, sleep, and work just to pass the time. I wouldn't exactly call that taking care of yourself…

[ maybe it's the feel of thorns' hair in his hands, maybe it's the extra time they've been spending together. for once, he doesn't reach for the lowest-hanging fruit, swerving the opposite direction entirely. ]

I never really got the sense that you enjoyed much of anything. You'd look satisfied after your accomplishments, sure. Otherwise… you'd carry on with that same blank expression.

[ he pauses to hold a few bobby pins in his mouth for easier access. he's putting an awful lot of them in thorns' hair… but that's because a lot of these strands don't want to stay down? god. ]

I'm not trying to project my idea of fun onto you; I just figured there should be more to your days than work, things for you to look back on other than it. And judging by how you kept joining me, I didn't think I was wrong to keep at it. Are you going to call me out on quoting my philosophy classes again when I say my definition of it is living a little more?

[ he taps thorns' cheek from behind. ]

Done!

[ it's funny how much of a change there is when you just put any real effort into your appearance. it's kind of the same feeling as during the modeling, with not being quite sure of what he's looking at.

thorns turns around in his seat so he can actually look at elysium directly. ]

Are you having fun?

[ there was a point where thorns mostly believed that elysium was just being polite. thorns was always under the impression that he agreed to live together because their moms arranged it and there really was no reason to say no. since thorns does not know the extent of how much money elysium has access to, from his pov it just seems like a good deal.

but he's realizing that elysium is likely not just being polite. ]

[ it didn't take long for him to regret his disappearing act. but then 'i'll reach out next week' became 'i'll reach out the next week after' and as that goes, it gets to a point where it gets a little too awkward to actually do so. he isn't ordinarily the type to shy away from being bold—but seeing as thorns hadn't contacted him, well. that's how it goes.

being able to live together was a convenient way of closing a chapter he never had the chance to. if things stayed awkward, that was that, they could live separate lives until it was time to part again. the other route seems to have lead them to where they are now. he doesn't have any complaints.

he just grins at the question. the energy of wanting to ruffle thorns' hair but he physically cannot or he'll ruin it. ]

Yeah! Plenty. Anything you want me to change?

No, this is fine. It's what you wanted.

[ that's enough for him. but he will stand up so that he can go actually out on the suit and let elysium get himself ready. ]

You never put your suit on for me so I need to see it.

[ it's what he wanted, huh… ]

You'll get to see it all night! If you were that excited to be the first guy to, you could've said something earlier.

It'll be a bit since I'll have to iron it out. Got anything to pass time? Or, you could always take another quick power nap.

[ he just hits him again.

thorns has not forgiven him for the nap incident. ]

[ he's never opening his heart again

under his breath: ]

Coffee's a crutch…

[ he hits him again.

and then goes to sit down. ]

... I'm just glad you're having fun.

[ this is abuse!!!!!

… it begs asking since thorns has: ]

Are you?

[ he made thorns eat so much rotisserie chicken, ]

[ it was so much chicken. imagine every single meal for a week being costco chicken.

he seems to be thinking about that. ]

... yeah. I'm having fun.

[ they both are… well, it's hard not to when thorns has that glazed look on his face.

heheh ]

Excited to get groceries again next week?

Just get one chicken.

[ thorns will eve accept two? but they can't do this again.

there's a pause, and then he adds quietly. ]

But, really. It's been fun.

If you're going to be working out with me, they're good macros…

[ not the gym bro talk.

also. this is starting to get embarrassing. stop that. he starts ironing his shirt more aggressively. ]

Yeah? Wanna keep going? You're not going to find anyone else with as complete a package as I come. How many countries did you save in your last life, huh?

[ elysium...

it's a little funny, since if you put someone in a room with the two of them and they'd be so confused over how different they are from each other. thorns has had a few classmates who were always really surprised if they found out that he and elysium were roommates. ]

Well, you're right that I won't ever find someone else like you.

You can't word that more like praise?

[ he tosses a bobby pin a thorns' head. but once the shirt is done, he comes to a stand, disappearing into the bathroom. he emerges, suit and all. it's probably a lot more than two pieces and i am not about to look up proper terminology for menswear mobile.

he rests a hand on his hip and tilts his head—as if asking, happy? ]

[ hmm. hmmmm.

thorns looks at him, and it is not the first time he has thought that elysium would really look nice in a wedding. ]

Thanks.

[ he is not sure what to say here. thanks. ]

[ he laughs. ]

I'm just getting started, buddy. You'll be a lot more thankful to have eyes in just a bit.

[ shut up.

proceeds to do his own makeup and style his hair. it's a little weird considering he's never done any of this in front of thorns before, but he doubts he'll be paying that much attention… it's boring. ]

Do you listen to yourself?

[ well, at least thorns isn't watching him like an insane person. he is occasionally on his phone, every now and then glancing up to see what elysium is doing.

... he has no idea how far along he is with this. ]

[ saves them from being bl webtoon toxic in this timeline

at least, it should be obvious from glance alone how much more confident he is styling himself. it makes his movements on thorns seen overly careful by comparison.

by the end of it, he's wearing the same watch thorns had pointed out and just fiddles with it on his wrist… as uncertain as he had been to wear it, thorns had picked it out? their friendship is so precarious.

he gets up with a start and winks. so belatedly: ]

I'm not wrong.

[ thorns does notice the watch. he is a little surprised that elysium is actually wearing it since he hadn't expected him to take his suggestions that seriously at all.

...

wait. ]

About what?

the response was so delayed he isn't sure what it's in reference to. ]

About being a gift to people's eyes…

[ duh! now he's made it awkward… ]

[ oh.

thorns still craves violence. ]

Do you want me to compliment you?

You missed the timing.

[ elysium also craves violence. ]

Do you need me to tie your tie for you?

[ unfortunately thorns is still his baby he has to take care of. ]

Sure. You'll probably redo whatever I manage.

[ thorns is well aware of how this would likely go and the small chance of elysium actually approving of thorns' tie attempts. ]

Thanks.

[ you say that but like every piece of art of him in a suit his tie is so fucked up

even being a stealth trust fund kid will not save him. they now match fucked up ties unless thorns is capable of staging an intervention. ]

Tada!

[ he's so proud of himself ]

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