hien is amusing in the way that many people aren't, wearing his heart on his sleeve despite that gloomy demeanor of his, not smiling unless there's an explicit reason to, he imagines. every emotion feels genuine, even when it's only a subtle shift in expression. it isn't a knock against those who contort themselves to conform—school is about one of the cruelest places full of others' expectations and the need to conform.
it's refreshing to see nonetheless. so even when he's playing the part of the perfect boyfriend and his attention is fixated on giving someone the world, when he's on his own, he finds himself looking for that familiar mop of black hair, wondering what reaction he might coax out next. they're real—unlike so very many things in his life.
friday afterschool arrives and elysium's dropping his girlfriend off at her home. she's a little upset about wasting an entire day, but he promises her as much of the weekend as she wants. does she want to see him at dawn? for him to throw rocks at her window at midnight? she giggles, brightening at that, and kisses him on the mouth and says it's a promise. he returns it before she waves over her shoulder and departs.
this leaves him with a rare friday to wander around town… wherever he is, i guess elysium's finding him now and potentially peering over his shoulder and being otherwise obtrusive. ]
[ Unlike most students, Hien doesn't go home after school. He sometimes loiters in the usual place in the courtyard for a few hours before heading off to town.
Elysium can find him in front of a Sanrio store. The location has been good—it's near the school and the mascot plushes are so cute that most girls want one. They even have cute stationary and everything. Hien has been looking at a particular seal doll before be startles upon hearing Elysium's voice. He can't mistake that for anyone else's now. ]
... Mm. It's me.
[ He can't help the way he feels a little happier in seeing Elysium and the tail wagging vibes are definitely there. His expression doesn't change, but the emotions conveyed through his deep black eyes might have an imaginary twinkle in it. ]
[ well, that's convenient. he picks up one of the dolls and turns it over in his hands, head tilting. it's a little small, so he drifts deeper into the store and toward the back if hien's willing to follow ]
She's busy today, so I thought I'd pick something up for her… to show I'm thinking about her, you know? [ beyond when they're just together, is what his demeanour seems to suggest. ] She already has a lot of My Melody, though, so I'm torn on whether another one be thoughtful or if she'd prefer the surprise of something different altogether. I overheard her telling her friends she really wanted to try out that new trend—angel hair chocolate, I think?
[ he looks genuinely contemplative. maybe he should just get both. that would be easiest… sorry to hien who has to listen to him think aloud. ]
Buuut enough about me. What are you doing here? Shopping for someone else, or yourself?
Hot cocoa bombs too, usually paired with shortbread cookies.
[ Or something. Hien isn't usually the kind of person who keeps up with whatever is trending in any category, but he's seen it in the passing bakery enough that even he can tell what's currently in the vogue right now. Sweets aren't his thing though.
But that's okay, since he can listen to Elysium talk, and he finds that he likes hearing the sound of his voice. ]
I'm just looking around.
[ He thinks about Elysium's current girlfriend and falls into silence again. He eventually speaks up. ]
... Do you think you can fall in love with her this time?
Do you keep up with trends? If you don't have any plans today, help me with a second opinion. I'll make sure it's worth your time.
[ but before that, he's just going to hug different sizes plushes, trying to determine what might be best. eventually, he settles with one that's about fifty centimetres tall. a nice height, not too excessive. if she wants to throw it out, it won't give her much trouble. ]
But it's possible! We still have four days. [ he'd say this about everyone, to be fair, tucking the plush under his arm as he moves over to the register. ] She knows what she wants which is pretty admirable.
[ he thinks, if anyone's going to be the problem, it's him. ]
[ He's about to say that he doesn't keep up with the trends, but then he watches Elysium hug different plushes. That's... He's really cute.
But. Huh. ]
How come it's always a week? I thought it was coincidence...
[ He can't escape rumors no matter how hard he tries. They love talking about Elysium and the other popular kids. When he's asked the question, it doesn't take much hesitation to say: ]
I've never been in love, much less know how any sort of love feels like.
I don't want to waste anyone's time. [ he says it simply. their time, not his. ] And any longer than that, the other person usually starts getting bored.
[ the illusion starts slipping: he's not at all there. he's empty. he can't provide what they really want from him—love. he hopes that he can—and he's not about to think that it won't happen, but that is the objective reason hien had asked for behind why everything else has ended in the past.
it's always better to end things amicably. ]
You too, huh. [ he faces the cashier and asks for it to be wrapped, paying for everything by card. they ask him to wait for a few minutes, and so he nods and stands to the side. ] I wonder what it's like to have it all figured out.
[ He says quietly as he looks off to the side. The other person getting bored? Is that what amounts to relationships nowadays? He thought it was just Elysium trying to see if he could find someone that he could love, but it sounds tough for him too. Hien wants to know more out of curiosity of wanting to get to know Elysium better, but it's none of his business. ]
To have everything figured out with the guidance of someone else... must be nice.
Or just having someone to figure things out with would be nice, right? Come what may.
[ but
elysium's real personality is too flighty for that. he doesn't know what he wants, and the things he does changes on a dime. not at all of an attractive trait.
it would be nice, then, to fall so in love with someone to be able to change. is it healthy, staking that on a single person? who knows. but it feels like the only way out, somehow, of this incessant loneliness he doesn't know what else to do with.
the cashier comes back, my melody now wrapped in her cardboard prison. he takes it from their hands and regards hien with another cant of his head. ]
[ Hien briefly thinks about his only friend. Do they count? Instead of letting himself dwell on the question, his attention is on Elysium because he doesn't want to think about the possibility of Elysium fitting that role. That would be impossible. ]
We're not going to the bakery?
[ Well, he supposes Elysium would know about what his girlfriend wants. Hien doesn't mind following him though. In fact, he'd like to. ]
We are. We're going to somewhere a little nicer than just a bakery.
[ one of those swanky european bakeries that double as a chocolatier… before, he'd just went to the most convenient bakery to pay hien back. but this feels a little more personal so he wants to go the extra mile. it's two birds with one stone, really—getting his girlfriend her chocolate and this supposed cocoa bomb, and compensating hien for his time. ]
You're more into savory things, yeah? One of my exes said the sandwiches here are best in town. Pick one.
[ Hien nods. He likes savory a lot more. After turning around to see the selection, he freezes with wide eyes.
...
He mutters "this is so expensive... what the fuck..." under his breath. He doesn't think he's seen a higher priced sandwich in his life, but he always stuck to extremely low prices or made his own. He wouldn't even go to the deli for a sandwich. Convenience stores have been super cheap. ]
but he waits, patiently. hien said he'd come to a decision so here they are. however long it takes, he doesn't seem to rush him before adding it onto the order along with a plain croissant and the plethora of chocolates in his basket. ]
Grab us a seat first? I'll wait for the stuff to be ready.
Hien nods and goes to grab a small table for them. He doesn't really want to be spotted by anyone else through the windows, so he picks a more reclusive spot in the corner. He sits and waits, keeping an eye on Elysium just in case because he has to know where he is... ]
and yes, he's totally going to get kidnapped the moment he leaves hien's sight. it takes a few minutes for them to heat up the food, then an extra few for something else. by the time elysium makes his way over to the table, drinks have somehow been added to his tray. surprise.
he sets down both the drink and the sandwich in front of hien before sitting, a little like a personal server. ]
You'll get thirsty, won't you? It's better than just water.
[ meanwhile, he just nibbles on the croissant like it'd been more of a formality than something he'd actually wanted to order, but it's fine, companionship and all of that. ]
And no problem. You ended up helping me, too.
[ by making a throwaway comment? sure. more like for the company, but he isn't saying that aloud. ]
... I wave back now. Doesn't that count for something?
[ He huffs. Maybe this means Elysium didn't see his failure. Anyway, his sandwich is great. He's going to focus on that instead of his creeping embarrassment. Thank you. ]
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hien is amusing in the way that many people aren't, wearing his heart on his sleeve despite that gloomy demeanor of his, not smiling unless there's an explicit reason to, he imagines. every emotion feels genuine, even when it's only a subtle shift in expression. it isn't a knock against those who contort themselves to conform—school is about one of the cruelest places full of others' expectations and the need to conform.
it's refreshing to see nonetheless. so even when he's playing the part of the perfect boyfriend and his attention is fixated on giving someone the world, when he's on his own, he finds himself looking for that familiar mop of black hair, wondering what reaction he might coax out next. they're real—unlike so very many things in his life.
friday afterschool arrives and elysium's dropping his girlfriend off at her home. she's a little upset about wasting an entire day, but he promises her as much of the weekend as she wants. does she want to see him at dawn? for him to throw rocks at her window at midnight? she giggles, brightening at that, and kisses him on the mouth and says it's a promise. he returns it before she waves over her shoulder and departs.
this leaves him with a rare friday to wander around town… wherever he is, i guess elysium's finding him now and potentially peering over his shoulder and being otherwise obtrusive. ]
Senior? Is that you?
[ what are you doing out here… it's friday… ]
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Elysium can find him in front of a Sanrio store. The location has been good—it's near the school and the mascot plushes are so cute that most girls want one. They even have cute stationary and everything. Hien has been looking at a particular seal doll before be startles upon hearing Elysium's voice. He can't mistake that for anyone else's now. ]
... Mm. It's me.
[ He can't help the way he feels a little happier in seeing Elysium and the tail wagging vibes are definitely there. His expression doesn't change, but the emotions conveyed through his deep black eyes might have an imaginary twinkle in it. ]
Not on a date today?
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She's busy today, so I thought I'd pick something up for her… to show I'm thinking about her, you know? [ beyond when they're just together, is what his demeanour seems to suggest. ] She already has a lot of My Melody, though, so I'm torn on whether another one be thoughtful or if she'd prefer the surprise of something different altogether. I overheard her telling her friends she really wanted to try out that new trend—angel hair chocolate, I think?
[ he looks genuinely contemplative. maybe he should just get both. that would be easiest… sorry to hien who has to listen to him think aloud. ]
Buuut enough about me. What are you doing here? Shopping for someone else, or yourself?
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[ Or something. Hien isn't usually the kind of person who keeps up with whatever is trending in any category, but he's seen it in the passing bakery enough that even he can tell what's currently in the vogue right now. Sweets aren't his thing though.
But that's okay, since he can listen to Elysium talk, and he finds that he likes hearing the sound of his voice. ]
I'm just looking around.
[ He thinks about Elysium's current girlfriend and falls into silence again. He eventually speaks up. ]
... Do you think you can fall in love with her this time?
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[ but before that, he's just going to hug different sizes plushes, trying to determine what might be best. eventually, he settles with one that's about fifty centimetres tall. a nice height, not too excessive. if she wants to throw it out, it won't give her much trouble. ]
But it's possible! We still have four days. [ he'd say this about everyone, to be fair, tucking the plush under his arm as he moves over to the register. ] She knows what she wants which is pretty admirable.
[ he thinks, if anyone's going to be the problem, it's him. ]
Have you ever been in love?
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But. Huh. ]
How come it's always a week? I thought it was coincidence...
[ He can't escape rumors no matter how hard he tries. They love talking about Elysium and the other popular kids. When he's asked the question, it doesn't take much hesitation to say: ]
I've never been in love, much less know how any sort of love feels like.
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[ the illusion starts slipping: he's not at all there. he's empty. he can't provide what they really want from him—love. he hopes that he can—and he's not about to think that it won't happen, but that is the objective reason hien had asked for behind why everything else has ended in the past.
it's always better to end things amicably. ]
You too, huh. [ he faces the cashier and asks for it to be wrapped, paying for everything by card. they ask him to wait for a few minutes, and so he nods and stands to the side. ] I wonder what it's like to have it all figured out.
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[ He says quietly as he looks off to the side. The other person getting bored? Is that what amounts to relationships nowadays? He thought it was just Elysium trying to see if he could find someone that he could love, but it sounds tough for him too. Hien wants to know more out of curiosity of wanting to get to know Elysium better, but it's none of his business. ]
To have everything figured out with the guidance of someone else... must be nice.
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[ but
elysium's real personality is too flighty for that. he doesn't know what he wants, and the things he does changes on a dime. not at all of an attractive trait.
it would be nice, then, to fall so in love with someone to be able to change. is it healthy, staking that on a single person? who knows. but it feels like the only way out, somehow, of this incessant loneliness he doesn't know what else to do with.
the cashier comes back, my melody now wrapped in her cardboard prison. he takes it from their hands and regards hien with another cant of his head. ]
Let's go? I have an idea for where to go next.
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[ Hien briefly thinks about his only friend. Do they count? Instead of letting himself dwell on the question, his attention is on Elysium because he doesn't want to think about the possibility of Elysium fitting that role. That would be impossible. ]
We're not going to the bakery?
[ Well, he supposes Elysium would know about what his girlfriend wants. Hien doesn't mind following him though. In fact, he'd like to. ]
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[ one of those swanky european bakeries that double as a chocolatier… before, he'd just went to the most convenient bakery to pay hien back. but this feels a little more personal so he wants to go the extra mile. it's two birds with one stone, really—getting his girlfriend her chocolate and this supposed cocoa bomb, and compensating hien for his time. ]
You're more into savory things, yeah? One of my exes said the sandwiches here are best in town. Pick one.
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...
He mutters "this is so expensive... what the fuck..." under his breath. He doesn't think he's seen a higher priced sandwich in his life, but he always stuck to extremely low prices or made his own. He wouldn't even go to the deli for a sandwich. Convenience stores have been super cheap. ]
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If you can't pick, should I choose for you?
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[ He seems very hesitant, but in the end, he chooses a jalapeno ham and cheese croissant sandwich. ]
... want that one.
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but he waits, patiently. hien said he'd come to a decision so here they are. however long it takes, he doesn't seem to rush him before adding it onto the order along with a plain croissant and the plethora of chocolates in his basket. ]
Grab us a seat first? I'll wait for the stuff to be ready.
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Hien nods and goes to grab a small table for them. He doesn't really want to be spotted by anyone else through the windows, so he picks a more reclusive spot in the corner. He sits and waits, keeping an eye on Elysium just in case because he has to know where he is... ]
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and yes, he's totally going to get kidnapped the moment he leaves hien's sight. it takes a few minutes for them to heat up the food, then an extra few for something else. by the time elysium makes his way over to the table, drinks have somehow been added to his tray. surprise.
he sets down both the drink and the sandwich in front of hien before sitting, a little like a personal server. ]
They recommended this to have with the sandwich.
[ also like everything else, a fancy lemonade… ]
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Hien stares at the lemonade and looks up at Elysium like. Man. ]
... Just because they recommend it, doesn't mean you have to get it.
[ He huffs. ]
But thanks.
[ And he takes a bite. Yummy. It must be some spicy jalapeno, but Hien eats it as if there aren't any. ]
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You'll get thirsty, won't you? It's better than just water.
[ meanwhile, he just nibbles on the croissant like it'd been more of a formality than something he'd actually wanted to order, but it's fine, companionship and all of that. ]
And no problem. You ended up helping me, too.
[ by making a throwaway comment? sure. more like for the company, but he isn't saying that aloud. ]
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[ Hien felt that he didn't really help out with anything. ]
But it's nice to finally get to hang out with you like this.
[ He takes another bite out of the sandwich. Elysium is so busy and far all the time. ]
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[ he lowers his croissant if only to lean forward atop his arms and cant his head. ]
I was under the impression that you weren't that fond of me, senior. You never say hi back.
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[ He huffs. Maybe this means Elysium didn't see his failure. Anyway, his sandwich is great. He's going to focus on that instead of his creeping embarrassment. Thank you. ]
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[ is he teasing or complaining or both. ]
My eyes are pretty bad. Haven't you seen me with glasses a couple of times? You have to really wave your hand for me to notice.
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[ —look cute with them on, is what he doesn't say. The hesitation is obvious and he frowns, not sure if he's being played or it's something genuine. ]
... I don't want to cause trouble for you.
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[ an imitation of hien's friend as he laughs, kicking his feet to lean back in his chair. ]
I cause plenty of trouble for myself all the time. Buuuuuut I get it. I'm probably just a brat to you.
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