✧ — peach iced tea.

[boba]

this post is so clean

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[oversea]

[ helppp

thorns realizes that this conversation is no longer a safe place. he thinks they need to leave it now. ]

Shouldn't you be going to class?

[transmit]

[ seeing you at this hour is so jarring

and he thinks not. ]

I'll go to class when you answer me. Thorns?

[ he's already missed so much class he cannot miss any more but here he is!! answer him!!!!!! shakes ]

[oversea]

[ i am barely staying awake rn but it's fine

but ugghhh. he goes over and grabs onto elysium's wrist and tugs. ]

I was joking. You can't miss class.

[transmit]

[ IS IT FINE? BURIES YOU IN BED WITH THORNS.

and has thorns even started his gym arc yet. elysium plants his feet firmly into the ground. ]




Thorns.

[ HE IS THE WORST LIAR IN THE WORLD ]

[oversea]

If you miss any more classes you're going to fail, and then you will have to drop out, and we won't be able to go to school together.

[ this is so extremely dramatic but he refuses for elysium to not go. they just missed so much school. ]

[transmit]

[


his takeaway is that thorns really does not want to take him on this date. he's about to protest again when something hits him—do they even go to school together now? and the combination of that and the unwillingness to not only disclose what the date was takes all the fight out of him.

he tries not to let the disappointment show, but it does in the way his shoulders drop and how his entire face stiffens. ]

… I guess you're right. [ haha. he retracts his hand and shoves it into a pocket.

how is this relationship so disastrous not even a week in. ]

Okay, okay. On my way, since that's what you want.

[oversea]

[ the change in his demeanor along with the comment stops thorns from immediately responding. their relationship is still new enough that he isn't really sure what is the correct way to approach certain things. there's how he would if he was just thorns, but now he is thorns and elysium. how is he supposed to figure it out from that angle?

not for the first time but he is again wondering if they rushed into something and should never have made decisions while deliriously sick. ]

... Don't say it like that. You're making it sound like I want to get away from you.

[transmit]

[ this is so cursed. getting together was so much of a mistake; if they walk it back entirely, will their friendship will survive? probably. he's always the one kicking up a fuss.

his one working brain cell suggests this is a bit drastic, but it doesn't change that it's still on the mind. elysium smiles a little uncomfortably. ]

Sorry. I didn't mean for it to come across like that. [ awkwardly looks at his watch… ] I have five minutes to get to class. I guess… we continue this conversation later? If you want.

[oversea]

Yeah. I'll see you later.

[ when even is later? thorns hasn't even had his classes for the day yet and he assumes elysium is working again after his last one.

well. they have to go to the same place at the end of the day, which seems both like a blessing and a curse. ]

Have a good class.

[ ...

he walks over and places a quick kiss on elysium's cheek, except he does it so clumsily it lands on his chin instead. and then he hurries off... they're already near the business building anyway so thorns has more of an excuse to leave first. ]

[transmit]

[ when even is later, truly!!!!!

elysium ends up late for his class after being stunned still by the kiss. it's not even in the same way where his heart feels like it's going to burst—more like it feels like they're going through predetermined motions and a flowchart of what they should and shouldn't do.

should they try talking it out some more? talking hasn't seemed terribly effective. still, he wants to believe they can work it out. they have to. only, a few hours later: ]

Something came up.

You'll have to head back on your own today…

[ followed by an apologetic sticker on its knees. ]

[oversea]

[ oh...

thorns stares at his phone, and then just quickly types out a response. ]

Okay.
I'll be home.

[ he will wait... again. embarrassing. ]

[transmit]

[ he sends a cuter sticker after that which involves smooching and a copious amount of hearts. that should fix everything between them, right? right. they're both embarrassing.

and thorns can wait again but no one comes home that night……… ]

[oversea]

[ OKAY

thorns sends him some question marks and falls asleep on the couch. binch. ]

[transmit]

[ there is no response… not even a read receipt…

if he decides to look for elysium in the morning, he isn't anywhere to be found, either. whack. their last (in-person) conversation really had been an argument. oopsie. ]

[oversea]

[ okay...

thorns does not know elysium's classmates or who he works with so he can't really ask them. so he just sends another text. ]

Are you okay?

[transmit]

[ almost an entire hour later—

signs of life!! ]

Yeah

Sorry for the late response
Just had something come up with family

[oversea]

[ oh. he wonders if he can ask for more info, but he isn't sure if they are back to the closeness point where that's fine. things are so hard.

vague questioning should be fine though? ]

Is everything alright?

[transmit]

For now, yeah.

But I got an exemption from the school in case you're worried.

[ … ]




I'll make it back for our date. For sure.

[oversea]

[ so he isn't planning on coming back soon? it really must be serious then. if that's the case, the dare shouldn't really be a priority, he thinks. ]

Okay.
Let me know if I can do anything.

[transmit]

[ for a while after the read receipt, there's nothing. no response, no typing indicator. it's easy to assume he's either asleep or gone.

then, nearly an hour later— ]




Are you free to video call?
It's fine if you aren't.

[oversea]

[




he immediately calls him. ]

[transmit]

[





hopefully thorns has his volume on low because that sure is a loud yelp as elysium just barely catches his phone in the process. otherwise, he seems fine, if not a little tired. he's suited up with the distant night sky as his backdrop, and it appears he's somewhere high up.

ahem. ]

… Hey. [ belatedly, he notices how much of a mess he looks on camera. panicked, he runs his fingers through his hair to tamp it down. ] You really weren't up to anything?

[oversea]

Nothing.

[ he is sitting on the ever familiar couch. he was getting some work done, but his laptop was abandoned as soon as elysium texted him back. ]

... Where are you?

[ that might be easier to broach than just asking what happened, maybe. ]

[transmit]

[ hopefully it isn't too obvious that he's already braced himself for some of these questions. he takes in the familiar scenery with a flicker of longing; it's only been a day since he left, and he already feels…

… ]

Out of town. I would've liked to make it back every evening, but it's better that I stay here for now until I wrap everything up.

[ he considers this enough of an answer, so! he moves on. ]

You're already all caught up with work? Don't forget to take out the trash and clear the lint from the dryer. I won't be gone that long—but still. You gotta do these things or knowing you, they'll pile up.

[oversea]

I know how to do chores...

[ he means for it to sound annoyed, but it falls flat; he can't manage to hide his concern. if he's in another city then did he go back home to his family? ]

Is everyone okay? Your mom?

[ it has to be serious. why is he in a suit. ]