chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

[ 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… ]

[ hm.

he can just leave and go back to his seat. instead he walks further in after a moment. ]

Here you are.

[ it at least sounds like thorns just walked in and not like he heard anything...? ]

[ oh!

it's thorns. his mood lights right away, and then there'll be a sudden weight across his shoulders: elysium's arm, draped over him without hesitation. ]

Missed me so much you followed me here? What's up? Socialising with your cousins couldn't be that bad.

I thought you drank too much and drowned in a toilet.

[ was elysium even gone long enough for all of that to happen? who knows.

he almost wants to ask what was wrong, but also literally anyone can walk in here so thorns holds his tongue for now. ]

They were asking for you.

What? I've barely started.

[ his phone rings again. it's a unique ringtone if thorns pays attention to these things—and elysium quickly puts it on do not disturb. ]

Imagine if that went off during speeches. Talk about embarrassing. But since you're here, we might as well grab a drink together on the way back. C'mon!

[ hmmm. hit again, elysium is saved simply because a wedding is not the best place to question someone.

so he follows after him back to the bar. but as they're walking, ]

Didn't you just get a drink?

[ yes ]

No? I had to use the restroom first.

[ urges thorns along. don't think about it. ]

[ OKAY.

well, back to the bar they go. thorns gestures at elysium when they reach the bartender to signify that he found him... this shows that thorns really was Looking looking for him. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject