✧ — peach iced tea.

[boba]

this post is so clean

Comments

[transmit]

If we invest this much into it, then we have to commit. I'm helping you.

[ good thing he can be just as annoying in return. thorns literally could've picked up his own basket hello

instead of stabbing himself with the spatula handle he stabs thorns with it. ]

Did you get everything you needed?

[oversea]

[ he did not expect them to get enough things that they'd need more than one basket... they could have cutely shared one like a domestic platonic couple, and yet here they are instead.

he nods his head. ]

Yeah. We can go.

[ before they are further distracted. ]

[transmit]

[ every shopping trip has ended the same with them always walking out with more than they planned. thorns shouldn't even be surprised by it anymore? this haul might be excessive, but if they're going to be baking regularly, they aren't just wants, they're needs… in this essay he will…

…

but the way stores are designed to tempt you at every turn. until they're out the door there is no escaping distractions!! and he caves easily enough, slipping a few snacks under his free arm like they're nothing. this is fine. thorns ate so many chips they simply need to replenish, that's all. don't comment. ]

[oversea]

[ elysium really is a nightmare.

thorns watches this happen but doesn't comment on it because he knows the snacks will be purchased one way or another, if it's not now then it would be the next time elysium goes to the store. ]

Where are we going after this?

[ the place... ]

[transmit]

[ he's still stuck on the thought that he didn't make enough at dinner, so there is the possibility that thorns will get hungry during the ride and need something to snack on. there's that.

and if you thought the nightmare ended there, no… because he's also one of those people who commit the crime of having to buy new reusable bags every single time they shop, so they have a pile stacked up back at their place somewhere. when you leave them in the wrong coat pockets or you forget them in the car. today is no different… life is so tragic sometimes. ]

I already told you. A nice ride. It's what I do when you see me sneaking away at night. [ … ] I need you to give me your honest review. That, and… if we're going to be each other's best men, we should know more about who we are now.

[ this is no less vague but okay ]

[oversea]

[ this is so extremely vague, yeah. also thorns cannot emphasize how much he does not think he is getting married. even the dating app plan he isn't really into; if anything, he'd probably go on a few dates just so he can eventually announce that it's not for him.

but that's a later problem. for now, he gives elysium a questioningly look. ]

... Yeah, sure.

[transmit]

[ just before closing the trunk, he plucks the bags of snacks and deposits them onto thorns' lap. he's very welcome.

and by drive—he'd literally meant drive. instead of putting on music, he rolls down the windows and takes them over a bridge, following quiet roads that run right along the water's edge. ]

When you're out this late at night, there's no traffic. You can go on, and on, and on—and the world's still so quiet.

[ he props an arm on the window frame, letting the wind sweep over him, tugging at his hair. ]

It kind of felt like you needed some slowing down. Don't burn yourself out with how much you've picked up, Thorns.

[oversea]

[ he almost wants to argue that elysium is doing more, but he supposes the difference is that thorns suddenly started a lot all at once versus just picking things up over time. but what else can he do? he never minded staying in their apartment on his own, and he still doesn't, but it's gotten a little harder with the reminders of elysium actively moving on.

he would say it was easier to deal with kitten, but that's not really true. thorns wasn't aware of his feelings when she was an issue, but he was weirdly obsessed with her in hindsight. he is so stupid. ]

... I can handle it.

[transmit]

Uh huh. Let this be an official warning, then, not to leave your bestie behind or else.

[ it's no cliffside, but he eventually stops the car along a rocky shore. moonlight glitters along its surface, and he makes no actual move to get out of the car. instead, he leans further into the door, eyes slipping shut as he lets the sound of the waves lapping against stones wash over him. ]

I've thought about getting a bike just to be able to enjoy this kind of thing more. Only, we don't have the parking space for it…

[oversea]

Well, we can see. Technically we're entitled to two spaces since there's two of us.

[ thorns just does not have a car... so he never looked into another spot...

but thorns does not close his eyes, or look towards the scenery. instead he just turns in his seat so he can watch elysium get comfortable. it's moments like this where he realizes that they really wasted so much time that could have been spent together. ]

How often do you do this?

[transmit]

[ he's so caught up watching the waves roll in and out that he barely spares thorns a glance, nor does he notice the direction he's turned. it's a little ironic how often he finds himself gravitating toward water; when they were kids, the beach was probably where they spent most of their time. ]

What happened to being my voice of reason?

[ he snorts. ]

It's not the most practical thing to get a spot for a bike I'd only use two, maybe three seasons out of the year. That on top of insurance. [ even more ironic, how the moment thorns isn't in the equation he gets a lot more sensible. ] But often enough. I've got a few other places like this—some closer, some further. I'm not nearly as social as you seem to think I am. I need my downtime, too.

[ a pause. his gaze lingers on the horizon, then flicks back toward thorns. ]

… Does this make a lame date? I'm so used to only showing people one side of me.

[oversea]

[ on one hand, it's not too surprising to hear given how elysium was like that when they were younger, but his social circle was also smaller back then just because the natural of high school is smaller than this.

but considering how much he wasn't at the apartment, and how much he's on his phone, of course thorns would assume. it does show that even though they've been spending so much time together recently, there's still such a period of time where that wasn't the case. ]

You shouldn't be showing me only one side.

[ he shouldnt be just people. ]

[transmit]

Right? And I made fun of you for not getting close to other people. I'm the exact same way.

[ it's a weird thing to be admitting this. but, hey. even if their relationship is in limbo, wanting them to improve as people together doesn't have to be romantic.

amazing what can be achieved when you aren't thoroughly ill. ]

… With any luck, that'll be past tense.

[oversea]

... I think you'll manage.

[ not thorns, elysium.

he finally glances away to look over at the horizon instead, but his body is still turned towards elysium. ]

You won me over. I'm sure you can do it for someone else.

[transmit]

[ somehow this is heading into a debatably worse direction than the other thread.

he laughs, similarly turning back to the scenery sprawled before them. ]

It took us how many years to have a proper conversation? We'll have to see.

[oversea]

It's always easier to not.

[ and they were always comfortable with that, because they could always just exist next to each other and be content.

but dancing around talking about things a little more deeply brought them here. thorns doesn't blame elysium for the failed confession, but what might have happened if he had done it without using prom as an excuse? it might have made thorns realizes it wasn't just another event, but they can't really say for sure. the past is the past. ]

[transmit]

You don't have anything to say back after a guy's poured his heart out to you? Not even what your favourite thing to do these days is?

[ he doesn't give thorns much of a chance to answer. a second passes, two.

then—his hands are firmly back on the wheel before he starts to pull away from the waterfront. ]

Just kidding. I know it without you even telling me. You're always complaining, but you're having sooooo much fun these days, aren't you? Wonder why.

[oversea]

... I really don't have that many friends.

[ this is not shocking information, and the amount that he would consider close friends is much smaller. but most people he's in constant contact with think he's unapproachable. which isn't exactly wrong, but also isn't true if you can see pass the resting bitch face and his blunt replies.

everyone is young and temperamental though, so most people can't. ]

I just work when I want to stop thinking about things.

[transmit]

[ the quality over quantity argument…

he glances up at the mirror above to observe thorns. ]

Anything been making you do that recently? Family?

[oversea]

Family has been the same. [ ... ] Well, no. More annoying since the wedding.

[ they constantly ask him if he's dating elysium or not and thorns has to tell them every time the answer is no and will always be no. ]

I think you just showed me that I need to look at some things differently.

[transmit]

Don't let them get to you.

[ taps his finger in thought… ]

If it ever feels excessive, just use me as a cover-up. I'll play ball.

[ and then they can spin some breakup story where he needs another ten years before he's ready which isn't exactly far off from the truth…? they will just look incredibly messy. but, anyone with a working brain cell will know to be a little more sensitive around him. ]

[oversea]

I wouldn't use you like that.

[ if anything, it seems weirder given the history between them. and while elysium may be over thorns by now (lol), thorns is not over elysium. ]

I'll just ignore them.

[ it is what he normally does. ]

[transmit]

[ thorns basically realising his feelings yesterday: i will never recover from this… ]

Yeah, but I'm telling you I don't mind. Even if you say that now, if it ever comes up again I won't question it.

[ his bad guy larp that he probably has too much fun with ]

It's the least I can do. Then you won't feel like you have to avoid your family as much.

[oversea]

[ he has never had a crush on someone else before so he is not sure how to handle this. people just live like this?

he just looks at elysium, who is probably not looking back at him if he is driving. pay attention to the road. ]

I don't want to pretend to breakup.

[transmit]

[ he tilts his head like he's thinking to himself. he does not want to crash the car so his eyes are, indeed, still on the road. ]

It doesn't have to be dramatic. It can be something like things didn't work out?

[ hmm. ]

Like with Alhaitham.