but then he just snorts, like the recollection itself amuses him. ]
Oh. That one's because I knew too much about his circumstances.
[ OKAY.
it might've been helpful not to have been so vague the first time he dropped it, but he knows thorns doesn't care about gossip? still, now that it's mentioned: ]
He's been in and out of a relationship with his roommate for years.
[ thorns does not care about gossip but he very much cares about this specific gossip, except he isn't even thinking about the people involved in it. his one track mind...
[ it's messy but it's also funny. see: everyone looking in on them. does he still have rafayel on read, i'm in tears. ]
Yeah. Best case scenario, we work out. Worst case scenario… he realises there's no getting over the other guy? If I'm not enough to convince him, who else would?
[ yes... he got more messages since, which he responded with an emoji. raf will 100% knock on their door one day.
also elysium is so annoying. thorns isn't surprised if they didn't work out because of this... ]
I see... [ ... ] It's still better if we don't. I don't want anything getting weird with your dating app tries.
[ while some of them aren't in the immediate area, others are close enough that depending on what they put in their distance settings they may still stumble on his profile. ]
but thorns will just quietly unbuckle his seatbelt to step outside of the car. there is absolutely nothing scenic anymore about the view, but he still glances around as if there is.
still, it feels like the moment from earlier is long gone, much like many other moments of vulnerability. thorns doesn't really care what his family things because if they annoy him too much he can simply block them, but he's aware elysium cares. ]
You should've said something earlier. [ the view SUCKS!!! ] Mm. My bad…
[ okay. well. unless thorns offers more context, he'll just assume this is a moment thorns needs to himself for whatever reason. he won't ask—he isn't sure if thorns would even want him to—so he simply leans back and waits, making it obvious that he is, hands folded on his lap. ]
[ he actually looks back into the car like he's waiting for elysium to join him. but then he doesn't, so he just turns his attention back to these ugly bushes and a trash can. nature is so beautiful.
[ again, thorns could've said something earlier. what the hell.
nonetheless, the glance back is enough to tip him off…… and with a sigh only he can hear, he slips out of the car and falls in beside thorns, nudging him lightly with his elbow before his hands are going back into his pockets. ]
[ trails off. plays it completely totally natural despite remembering full well how he'd left that conversation. him and his stupid baka life in this universe and every single one he's a part of. ]
—Oh. Right. I just didn't want to feel like you were put on the spot, that's all. Uh.
[ uhhhhhhhh ]
Do you want to have this conversation here? You don't want to have it at home instead? Somewhere nicer?
[ the rat eventually starts trying to knock the entire trash can over but it's 100x its size. it's almost inspiring how it keeps tapping its paws against it. wow. ]
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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.
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It doesn't have to be dramatic. It can be something like things didn't work out?
[ hmm. ]
Like with Alhaitham.
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[ maybe if he says this then elysium will forget that the idea was suggested and they can move on, because this is a terrible idea. ]
What was it that you said? Dating a friend didn't work out?
[ not in those words exactly, but the same sentiment. ]
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but then he just snorts, like the recollection itself amuses him. ]
Oh. That one's because I knew too much about his circumstances.
[ OKAY.
it might've been helpful not to have been so vague the first time he dropped it, but he knows thorns doesn't care about gossip? still, now that it's mentioned: ]
He's been in and out of a relationship with his roommate for years.
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that sounds so messy though. headache... ]
And you got involved in that?
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Yeah. Best case scenario, we work out. Worst case scenario… he realises there's no getting over the other guy? If I'm not enough to convince him, who else would?
[ he says this so confidently. ]
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also elysium is so annoying. thorns isn't surprised if they didn't work out because of this... ]
I see... [ ... ] It's still better if we don't. I don't want anything getting weird with your dating app tries.
[ while some of them aren't in the immediate area, others are close enough that depending on what they put in their distance settings they may still stumble on his profile. ]
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Right. I forgot. Would've been pretty awkward if one of your family stumbled on my profile before we decided to break up, huh?
[ tilts his head the other side. he assumes thorns will eventually resort to it. ]
I'll just close it. It was losing its novelty, anyway. I don't need dating apps when I can chat people up on campus.
[ the power of being an extrovert ]
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thorns goes quiet again, staring outside before his hand reaches out to gently tap elysium's on the wheel. ]
Stop the car.
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that is an odd ask when they're less than ten minutes away from their place, but okay. he finds the next most convenient spot to pull over. ]
Do you need to go?
[ glances outside. look. he made sure to find bushes. ]
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[ he just did on his own...
but thorns will just quietly unbuckle his seatbelt to step outside of the car. there is absolutely nothing scenic anymore about the view, but he still glances around as if there is.
still, it feels like the moment from earlier is long gone, much like many other moments of vulnerability. thorns doesn't really care what his family things because if they annoy him too much he can simply block them, but he's aware elysium cares. ]
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[ okay. well. unless thorns offers more context, he'll just assume this is a moment thorns needs to himself for whatever reason. he won't ask—he isn't sure if thorns would even want him to—so he simply leans back and waits, making it obvious that he is, hands folded on his lap. ]
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...
life is truly hell. ]
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nonetheless, the glance back is enough to tip him off…… and with a sigh only he can hear, he slips out of the car and falls in beside thorns, nudging him lightly with his elbow before his hands are going back into his pockets. ]
What's this about?
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[ so instead of looking at the beautiful ocean they can look at this. it will give the same emotions. ]
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Did I?
[ he did… ]
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[ he will just call him out on it. ]
It's fine if you didn't want to talk about that anymore. But you were just criticizing me for rushing through things.
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What were we talking about again…?
[ trails off. plays it completely totally natural despite remembering full well how he'd left that conversation. him and his stupid baka life in this universe and every single one he's a part of. ]
—Oh. Right. I just didn't want to feel like you were put on the spot, that's all. Uh.
[ uhhhhhhhh ]
Do you want to have this conversation here? You don't want to have it at home instead? Somewhere nicer?
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[ it's really not.
... no, it's all weird now. thorns sighs, before reaching over to lightly punch elysium on the shoulder. ]
It's fine. Let's head back.
[ he will move to open the door and get back into the car. ]
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Hold on, hold on, hold on. Hold on just a sec—! This seems important to you? I was just kidding around. We can talk.
[ with this rat as their witness… ]
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thorns frowns, although whether it's because of the rodent or the current situation it is difficult to tell. ]
I just don't know why you thought I wasn't going to share anything.
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I didn't think you'd tell me off, but after hearing what I said aloud it was kind of embarrassing…
[ not the foot in mouth ]
Like I said, we don't normally talk about this stuff.
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[ so it has to be important to him?
he doesn't comment on the shiftiness but he is noticing it. the rat is sniffing the ground for some snackies. ]
I didn't want you to think I didn't appreciate you saying that.
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Oh. Well. It's no problem… New month new me.
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thorns clears his throat and just nods ]
Right. Let's go back...
[ he tries again to enter the car... the rat moves like it is joining them. ]
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