chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

[ at this exact moment. okay. well, socialising more than thorns isn't exactly anything special. ]

I haven't had a chance to greet the wedding party yet. I figured we could do that together?

[ they are not talking about anyone's parents if he can help it ]

That's fine.

[ he is squinting at elysium's watch. thorns picked it because he just thought it looked cool and unique but so many people made such a big deal about it that he is wondering if he is missing something. like, he is aware it is likely expensive because he's not stupid but his guess on the price tag is not even 1/3 of what it actually is. ]

Let's go.

[ …

very subtly uses his watch hand to scratch a spot on his head. when he drops it back to his side, he holds it at an angle thorns can't see. this thing truly was a mistake… good thing he can

sleight of hand it into another similar-looking but more inexpensive watch!!!!!!! goodbye!!! everyone really mass hallucinated this richard guy.

they make it to the groom… cue another touching reunion… ]

[ it is so nice... the groom comments that he heard that they're dating now?

thorns opens his mouth. closes it. he is not sure how he got to this conclusion...? he glances at elysium to see how he wants to handle this because it seems weird to just go 'no he has a girlfriend' while in front of him. ]

[ truly a mystery why everyone thinks thorns is dating the only person he bothers stringing more than one sentence together with. truly!!!

by comparison, elysium just smiles with a shrug. wouldn't they like to know. the real mistake would be dressing up to a wedding with thorns and expecting people not to wonder. whatever's already floating around he doesn't know the extent of just yet, but at least he's got a set of carefully rehearsed replies ready to counter whoever actually decides to bring it to their doorstep. he quietly notes that thorns doesn't seem to care—not that he was expecting otherwise. ]

We look like we get along that well, huh? I'll have you know he nearly killed me on the ride here. But hey, I'm happy for you, man. [ he holds out a fist for him to bump. ] Don't let us take away from your moment.

[ and when the groom is called away, elysium glances at thorns, silently checking with his eyes. was that passable? ]

[ thorns seems fine with it, at least. he is wondering why elysium didn't flat out deny it, but he realizes that maybe he doesn't want people to know he's in a relationship? maybe he and kitten have some sort of romeo and juliet situation going on.

he starts to see everyone start going to their seats. ]

... I think they're going to serve the food.

[ thorns is about to have enough content to publish an entire book on elysium's fraught relationship with his discord kitten… they are taking up too much real estate.

but this is just elysium's tendency to take the easiest way out. he neither confirmed or denied the allegations, and the subject was dropped? so that's good enough for him. ]

I think I saw our name card over on that side. [ points.

their table is filled with people their age… this is about to be so rowdy… ]

[ hmm. one of the people is a cousin, but the rest all seem to be friends of the couple. they can wander over to it and will see that this group have already hit up the bar? oh, the youth...

thorns sits down quietly. he already greeted this cousin earlier so he does not have to small talk (this is his own logic). ]

[ if other people have already hit the bar or are currently hitting it, literally what are they waiting for. elysium immediately starts dragging thorns over. this is about to go downhill so fast. ]

[ the way thorns had literally just sat down and is now being dragged back up

but he follows along since if he doesn't, elysium will just bring him a drink back anyway but he'll be forced to socialize with a bunch of people he doesn't know in the meantime. one of these is less hellish than the other. ]

You didn't hesitate.

[ elysium being both his social lubricant and shield from his own family is so funny. he hands thorns a cooler to start them off. surely he does not get drunk on this? ]

It's been a long time since we've been able to drink together, that's all.

[ is that why he was so eager. maybe. ]

You're really keeping to yourself. Is there anything bothering you?

It's just been a while.

[ seeing family, and in general just being around this many people in a non-school or work setting. he sips af the drink... ]

I forgot how chatty everyone is.

You mean this wasn't why you invited me? So I could redirect the attention from you?

[ teases. but they can go back to their table now. ]

If you replied to your messages more often, I doubt they'd be as curious about how you're doing now. They're trying to what, get several years of updates from you in the span of one conversation? If they aren't going to get it from you, they'll get it from someone who knows.

I'll tell them you've become a delinquent who blows up lab rooms for fun.

You're going to make them start doing wellness checks on me.

[ well, he probably also blew things up in high school. chemistry class is likely what got thorns interested in this sort of thing in the first place... science teachers feared him.

back to their seats! now that they're both seated, the other occupants of the table immediately try to drag them into conversation.

thorns sips his drink... ]

[ thorns taking the hyper-diluted chemicals in high school labs and concentrating them enough that they eat through their tables and flooring just to feel something

unsurprisingly, elysium slips into the conversation easily. they're talking about school! how it's hell, how they have so many assignments, and how the stress of job hunting looms overhead. every so often, he nudges thorns with an elbow, coaxing him to join in, then lets him be until enough silence passes that he decides it's time to prod again.

and if thorns looks lost, elysium will just leans in to murmur the missing context under his breath. isn't he such a good friend… ]

[ he's such a good friend... unfortunately it looks more than just friendly to people watching. before one of them asks, though, the servers come over to set plates down for them to eat.

thorns reaches over to steal some cabbage off of elysium's with his fork. this is platonic. ]

[ why are they doing this to people (and elysium) when they aren't even dating.

the way elysium is the only one who's thinking about this while everyone else is just like oh. that answers that question. and while elysium is sorely tempted to steal a fry back, being able to watch the gears turn in front of him isn't really something he wants to think about.

so! he just downs the rest of his cooler while shifting his plate closer to thorns. there is more cabbage where that came from… it's fancy sautéed cabbage. as long as thorns is enjoying himself, it's fine?

kill him ]

[ thorns is pleased. elysium got more cabbage on his plate than thorns did...

he is not remotely thinking about the optics of this. he pats elysium on the arm. ]

Drink more slowly.

[ he can't even appreciate how cute this behaviour is properly there are sooooo many eyes on them and every pair is thinking about how they've never seen thorns act like this before. this is such free entertainment.

elysium gets up. ]

I'm getting myself another drink.

[ IGNORES!!!! which means thorns is left without his meat shield. have fun. ]

[ he watches elysium escape and is left to the wolves. they immediately start quizzing thorns on how long they have been dating for?

he explains they're not... other people at the wedding were told that elysium is seeing someone, so eventually these two stories are going to collide... people will leave this wedding thinking thorns is trying to homewreck. ]

[ HELP

elysium leaves thorns for two seconds and things explode. at least, it was only supposed to be for two seconds. the next dish comes out and elysium is nowhere to be seen? the people at the table wonder if they'd scared elysium off, but that doesn't seem right for who he is…

hmm. ]

[ hmm.

he gives it another minute but will eventually get up to go look for him. he isn't extremely paranoid like he is in the other thread, but he is concerned about elysium's alcohol consumption so he'll still go be a bro.

he will go to the bar... ]

[ elysium is not at the bar…… however! if thorns asks the bartender for his whereabouts, they will say he was headed in the direction of the restrooms.

this seems pretty normal!!!! ]

[ huh...

he will go there to make sure that elysium isn't drowning in a toilet. he's truly being a good friend. ]

[ he wishes he were drowning in a toilet, actually. instead, he's stuck on the phone, clearly mid-argument with whoever's on the other end. if thorns listens closely, he can catch snatches of it—something about how he'd kept the promise he made and yet is still being hassled anyway. he snaps that he'll make it up like he always does then cuts the call short.

afterward, he just stands there with himself… ]

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