chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

[ the technical rounds are always nerve-wracking… the specifications look complicated, maybe even overblown, but when he pulls up other recipes on his phone, it doesn't seem that bad? in an ideal world thorns would be handling as little as possible which means elysium would want to get a pre-made tart ring, but realistically that'll just leave them with doing the filling and considering how fussy thorns had been earlier, he's not convinced that'll go over well.

how does he instill so much mistrust for what's essentially edible chemistry…

but this is literally the first thing they're making, and giving in to temptation this quickly feels like jumping the gun… even if the sample looks good. he has to be pragmatic and keep expectations low!! ]

Let's see how many episodes we get through and rank our options?

[ says this like they aren't going to get increasingly complex ]

[ he nods his head.

there is a pause, and then he scoots slightly closer to elysium; it really is a difference of an inch or two which can mean nothing? people change their sitting positions all the time and it means nothing. ]

We should have also made popcorn...

[ except then elysium would face the same dilemma he did at the movie theater, the hand touching... the idea of having separate popcorn bowls at home is funny. ]

[ okay well there's pretty good justification for this in that elysium's holding a bag of chips. he assumes thorns wants some too, so he casually scoots the rest of the way over until they're side by side, holding the open bag out toward him. it's no leaning like he had been with alh*itham, but he is a lot closer than he needs to be which

is not something he really thinks about as someone who likes being close to people. ]

I can make it while there's nothing really going on. [ the judging part is where it's at. ] Want me to?

[ he has gotten slightly more normal (read: delusional) since their movie theatre not date so if they touch hands? he will just be like thorns thinks nothing of it so i will!! too!!!!!!!!! ]

[ they are so normal!!

thorns will go and grab some chips, which is definitely a thing that he wanted and the reason he moved over. totally. granted, it's better for him if elysium gets the wrong idea. thorns isn't trying to date him, but the small moments of closeness with him is still very... nice.

but the very last thing he wants to do is ruin it and make things weird, so only this is fine. ]

... Sure. Especially if we'll be here a while.

[ this is such whipped behaviour. thorns wants popcorn, so he goes to make popcorn. while he's away, he does leave his phone behind which conveniently lights up with other message notification. if thorns is looking, he'll notice it's from… a guy named scien?

he's probably just as prolific in the chemistry department for reasons similar as thorns. he's fucking crazy. the message reads something about meeting at the lab at 5am… okay… elysium is not a science major so ?

but he eventually comes back, returning to the same spot on the couch which is directly right next to thorns. hi. ]

Did I miss anything?

[ thorns is now wondering if elysium needs help and if scien has blackmail on him or something. he is not even remotely thinking this is a romance thing. ]

Someone has to start over since they messed up their mixing. And I think you got a text?

[ just said casually like how you'd inform someone they missed a phone call... ]

[ he settles in even more comfortably than before, practically leaning into thorns. setting the bowl on thorns' lap, he keeps his phone in plain view since he has nothing to hide—earlier messages indicate that he's coming in as a lab assistant?? ]

Oh. It's the guy with the— [ uh ] unique dating profile. I'm pretty sure one of his friends wrote it up for him because it sounds completely different from how he texts. I don't think he even knows he's on a dating app? Or maybe he does and doesn't care.

[ DAHUT ]

I heard he's known to be a complete maniac. [ a pause; he taps his chin thoughtfully as he fires back a simple thumbs up. ] Kind of like you.

I don't think we're anything alike.

[ no, they are both crazy in regards to their work and are difficult to get along with, it is simply that the reasons they are difficult diverge... but only if you care enough to see why. on the surface they just both appear to be rude.

he takes some popcorn and chews thoughtfully. ]

He's going to experiment on you.

[ why do they live in a lawless world. he blinks. ]

Wouldn't he have asked for research participants, then…? I mean, sure, I'm peak form, but isn't it pretty inefficient to experiment on just one guy?

[ thorns experimenting on him in high school was different… probably… he sounds like he's trying to rationalise it, but the hesitation in his voice already gives him away. uh. ]

No way funding's the issue. He'd have to want a larger sample size for that…

I think he just considers it his idea of fun.

[ thorns understands...

he eats more popcorn idly, his attention now on elysium instead of the screen. ]

You'd be safer helping me.

[ highly debatable. ]

But I guess you two are dating...?

[ he'd be safer and would have more fun with thorns but the point here is to get over him by dating people similar to him.

…

it's too bad he isn't thinking that far. ]

Who knows. I thought the situation was funny so I agreed to it. [ … ] We'll see how this one time goes, I guess…?

[ but there's a more important takeaway here: ]

You haven't asked me for help since… you know, back then. I didn't even know that was an option.

[ the way that the proper way to get over him would be to both stop living with him and to also date someone nothing like him, but it's fine.

thorns wants to ask about scien again but they have different priorities here. thorns shrugs. ]

You're always so busy.

[ it ends up being elysium's turn to cram his mouth full of popcorn… this is mildly embarrassing. ]

Only because there's nothing better to do. I could say the same about you.

[ not entirely true. some things are unavoidable, but otherwise there's very little he wouldn't drop for thorns. even if he's seemingly slipped back into old habits by dragging thorns out like before, he still exhibits a degree of restraint. he has to keep himself occupied somehow… though, he does keep himself busy, not so much to avoid thinking about thorns as being active is simply who he is. ]

I wasn't that busy before...

[ at least, in comparison to elysium having an active social life.

he reaches for more chips instead and chews on them slowly, trying to give himself more time to reply. ]

But I guess things worked out.

[ their snacks are saving them from so many awkward silences. thorns made a good call on the popcorn.

they're also on judging and elysium is paying 0 attention. oopsie. ]

In what way, you'd say?

[ they are going to be so confused at the results.

but thorns runs out of the chips he took and wonders if it is too soon to grab more again. maybe. ]

You seem to be getting dates easily...

[ they literally ate dinner less than two hours ago elysium's thinking he didn't feed thorns enough… he's failed him…

they also need to go to the gym tomorrow to work this off probably ]

… Well, yeah. Why are you making it sound like a surprise? Other people have eyes.

[ thorns being forced to go to the gym on an off day he will k word him

he makes a slight face. ]

I don't know. I just didn't know how fast dating apps were.

[ if they ever come up in conversation he starts to tune out. ]

[ HE HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET HOW DOES HE ALREADY HAVE OFF DAYS!!!!

there is a pause because he genuinely thinks he's going to regret what he's going to ask. but, it is all a part of the theoretical plan to move on for real so he continues on as casually as he can anyway. ]

Do you want to try it out?

[ watches as thorns ghosts everyone ]

[ his off days are so important...

thorns should have seen this coming but he is still unprepared. but also, if he doesn't want elysium to catch on then isn't this the perfect method to hide feelings? it's not like he has to actually date anyone....

... ]

Sure. I guess just to see what the fuss is for.

[ he asked but he was still so unprepared to hear a yes………… he eats another mouthful of popcorn. they're already onto the next episode and elysium hasn't noticed. help.

… ]

I'll make you a profile for the ages. [ he wriggles his fingers. ] Gimme.

[ oh god actually making a profile is a step further than he was expecting to do.

he wordlessly hands over his phone, already regretting this as well but because he's scared of what elysium is going to do. ]

[ he wants to sabotage this so bad but he will be a good bestie… a part of him knows it'll inflict psychological damage onto himself, but he's also curious what kind of people thorns will swipe right on? people who seem like they're intellectually stimulating? older men and women?

thorns has every right to be scared because he spends the next thirty minutes working on this thing both fervently writing up his profile and cropping and editing pictures from the wedding. everything about it is a rather charitable interpretation of thorns? so charitable that it's probably more than mildly embarrassing to read through. ]

[ shaking

this is taking so long that thorns eventually just leans over, his headp brushing against elysium's shoulder as he peeks to see what he's doing. this is really such a bad idea... imagine people reading this and then they are forced to actually interact with thorns. ]

Did you take this long on yours?

[ THEIR BAKING SHOW

he just leans back until they're pressed against each other, head and shoulders aligning in a quiet fit. okay. he makes thorns sound like such a generous guy (he is!).

at some point, elysium glances up, only to realise their faces have ended up inches apart. he looks back down to his phone. he will not think about it and instead concentrates his energy where it's important. ]

My pictures speak for themselves. [ no. ] What, you think I'd half-ass yours? I wouldn't sabotage my bro like that. I told you; I'm backing you all the way.

[ he is sabotaging him just by presenting to the world a version of thorns that doesn't exist outside of their friendship, but like. he is just infinitely more stupid in this au i'm sorry. ]

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