✧ — peach iced tea.

[boba]

this post is so clean

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[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. ]

[transmit]

Knowing how to do them doesn't mean you'll remember to do them.

[ he taps his phone with his nail in quick succession to emulate prodding. ]

I told you everything's fine. Have you been eating? Sleeping? The ghosts aren't trying to get you now that they know I'm gone, are they?

[oversea]

[ his question was ignored...

he will just believe they will circle back to it. ]

Ghosts aren't real. [ okay. ] I've been fine.

[ feasting on instant ramen and pb&js like god intended. ]

[transmit]

[ god intends nothing of the sort. ]

What was for dinner?

[oversea]

[ he regrets agreeing to a video call because he is very visibly looking away. ]

A sandwich.

[ he keeps it vague. ]

[transmit]

[ elysium stares into the camera for a long moment… then pulls back slightly, eyes flicking down as he starts tapping at his phone as if he's in the middle of typing out a message. ]

Yeah? What kind? I haven't had time for our usual grocery run. Did you end up going yourself?

[oversea]

There hasn't been any need to go yet when it's just me

[ he ignores the question of what kind because it was just peanut butter and jelly.

that is technically getting fruit? ]

[transmit]

I don't remember there being any proteins or vegetables in the fridge before I left.

[ surprisingly

his tone isn't veering towards wanting to kill thorns? likely attributed to how he's still distractedly tapping away. ]

[oversea]

[ MY COMMENT NEVER SENT

thorns once again looks away from the camera for a moments ]

I guess your memory is bad.

[transmit]

[ tags your words as #me

he glances back up at the camera. ]

We haven't seen each other in so long and you don't want to look at my face?

[ this is the wrong thread for elysium to be saying these words. ]

[oversea]

[ oh my god

this is... embarrassing? thorns pauses, before eventually looking directly back at the camera. hi. ]

I'm looking.

[transmit]

[ oh, it'd be just as embarrassing for him if he weren't saying it with an ulterior motive. ]

Mind repeating what you said? Couldn't hear you—an airplane just flew past.

[oversea]

[ thorns did not hear one in the background? but okay. ]

What? That I'm looking? Or that your memory is bad?

[transmit]

[



nevermind. forget the ulterior motive. ]

Are you trying to pick a fight with me?

[oversea]

What? I just didn't know what you were referring to.

[ he is picking a little bit of a fight, but also elysium didn't clarify? he can't be mad... ]

[transmit]

[ he can be whatever he wants, including being mad. well, he just looks a little put out before he sighs. ]

You're—

[ except, his words are promptly cut off by… the doorbell! ]

… You should get that.

[ he ordered thorns ubereats… ]

[oversea]

Why...

[ he is wondering why would someone show up at this hour, and tries to think of anything he may have done recently to annoy a neighbor. he pads over to the front door, phone still in hand, and opens it.

...

there is a brief exchange where he tries to tell the delivery person they got the wrong apartment and he only realizes when he sees the name on the receipt. ]

Elysium.

[transmit]

[ it says a lot that thorns' look of pure exasperation is enough to wipe away all his earlier grievances.

hehe… thorns is so cute. ]

This is where you're supposed to look touched.

[oversea]

You didn't have to. I know you're busy.

[ busy doing what exactly is what's a mystery, but he doesn't think elysium should worry about him if things are hectic right now. ]

... What did you eat?

[transmit]

It took, what. A minute to make sure you're eating properly? Snap a pic of the fridge after we're done here, or groceries are next on the list.

[ threatens

there is the faint worry he's being overbearing, but if left alone, his baby would probably live off instant ramen… ]

Mm. Just a steak and the usual sides. I'm eating well enough here, so don't try to flip this on me.