[ Hien told the headhunter that he'll think about it and give him a response the next day, which would be tomorrow. He knew that he would have left early today and despite all that he is, he doesn't like missing appointments and breaking promises. There will definitely be a response tomorrow even though Hien has more or less decided what he wanted to do about the offer.
When he hears Elysium before seeing him, his attention snaps to the speaker. It's the afternoon and the rumors he heard today... he wonders if they're true. It should really be none of his business, but seeing those marks across his neck and collarbones and the shirt that's loose off his shoulders...
First, Hien thinks Elysium is very cute. This thought comes first and foremost. Though secondly...
He's a little shocked that he forgets to answer Elysium right away like nothing is wrong. Everything is of the usual. When he finally snaps out of it, partially lost in the sauce of remembering the empty classroom scene, he holds up a small bottle of ointment and some bandaids. It's hard to see through the bangs, but there's a very recent cut on his forehead near the hairline. It stopped bleeding, but it's hard to miss the surrounding pinkish skin that injuries often have. He seems to be occasionally changing which foot to put his weight on as he stands too. Maybe he hurt his leg. ]
Just buying some things.
[ Is he doing well? Is he being treated fairly? Hien is still wearing the school's uniform, but he takes off his jacket to put it around Elysium's shoulders. He speaks in a quieter voice. ]
[ he just watches as the gears turn in hien's mind, quietly amused. his gaze follows hien's back to himself; he only tilts his head, as though he hasn't the faintest idea what's caught him out. when hien finally startles back to awareness, elysium offers a small, innocent smile. ]
Why do that when you seem to be doing a pretty good job of it yourself?
[ he flushes, just a little, reaching up to adjust the jacket until it sits more comfortably on his shoulders. then, he brightens, attention turning fully back to hien. assigns him as currently slightly shorter… but that doesn't stop him from extending a hand to brush past hien's bangs gently to confirm what he's seeing. ]
I'm not sure how much grounds you have to speak. [ slowly, he withdraws his hand. ] But let me help you with yours.
[ Hien just thinks about how Elysium's smile is cute and nice... and red does look good on him. His attention swivels when a hand brushes through his bangs. Ah. ]
... It stopped bleeding, so I'm just gonna put ointment over it and put a band-aid. The rest--
[ Of what? That's the only visible thing because his uniform are perpetually long-sleeved. But he bites back a sigh after having that slip. Might as well just tell him. ]
Why should I listen to you if you aren't even following your own advice, then?
[ he sticks his hands into the pockets of hien's jacket. he almost nestles into the entire thing, like he's savouring the lingering warmth of it. hehe. ]
[ he notices the key, vaguely thinking hien will need it back wherever he’s headed. as nice as the warmth is, he lets out a small huff, shrugs it off, and flips it back over hien's head. die. ]
Not listening. There are benches by the back where I can help you——c'mon.
[ and now he's just going to push him right along to the cash register. ]
[ Now he has a jacket over his head. Okay!! Hien just lets that stay there for a moment before finally letting it slide off, catching it in his arms. The way he walks is a little awkward when pushed to the cash register. He sighs, forking out some cash for the ointment. bandaids and two rolls of bandages. ]
[ he gives hien's arm a yank like that's akin to rooting him in place, before making his way back deeper into the store. the cashier is probably looking at the both of them tiredly… what delinquents. ]
[ This poor cashier. Well. Alright. Hien waits, putting the cash on the counter already and receiving his bag full of items. Thank you. He doesn't go anywhere though. ]
for whatever reason, he returns with an armful of snacks… plops everything onto the counter along with one singular ointment jar. his priorities. while everything is getting totaled up— ]
We should probably get you back before the bell rings, huh? Sorry, sorry. I'll be quick.
[ Hien stares at the snacks before looking at this... ointment jar. An entire jar full?? Bro. He looks at Elysium like. Okay. He looks away from the snacks and ointment. ]
[ he gets to dressing the small cut immediately, less teasing and more concentrated now that he actually has the tools for it. he starts with cleaning.
but not allowed, huh. the one thing about being with so many different people is that he's been in or at least observed plenty of home environments, quieter than usual. ]
[ It's a little nice to have Elysium do this for him, or anyone apart from medical professionals because they're obligated to. He's so used to treating himself, so someone else doing it for him? Not out of obligation? It feels good. ]
Might sleep at the park, inside a playground tube. I can take a shower at school, since we have those in the locker rooms and I have a few change of clothes.
... Great. Can't wait to add "trespassing" on my criminal record when the owners of the house happen to find me sleeping on the bed of one of their rooms.
[ "Not really around" means they can still be around whenever, and Hien doesn't like the idea of getting caught while sleeping on a bed in a room where their son was supposed to be sleeping. Just some random ass guy in their house.
But still, the gesture means a lot to Hien. Letting into someone's house is a sign of trust, or at least that's what Hien sees it as... despite Elysium mentioning that he wouldn't be home anyway. ]
Wouldn't your boyfriend get the wrong idea even if you're not home?
… He isn't the type to care, but I could ask him if you really wanted me to. And when I said they're 'not really around,' that was an understatement. The odds of you running into them are less than zero.
[ his smile turns blithe, and there's the distinct sense that hien won't get anything more out of him than this. with the cut dressed, he smooths hien's bangs back into place and, without ceremony, sets one of the snack bags in his lap. ]
I was wondering why you looked down earlier. [ … ] I know you didn't care for exchanging numbers, but—here's mine.
[ if there's no protest, he starts scribbling it into hien's palm. ]
Just let me know if you need help. I should get going since my 'boyfriend' probably misses me by now. There's nothing wrong with us looking after our friends, yeah? [ a small wave goodbye. ] See you.
[ His palm tickles a little bit when Elysium writes his number onto it. He looks down at it for a second too long before looking back up to see Elysium waving goodbye. ]
... See you.
[ If there's one thing he has right now, it's at least his cell phone. Good enough, even after being kicked out of a home.
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When he hears Elysium before seeing him, his attention snaps to the speaker. It's the afternoon and the rumors he heard today... he wonders if they're true. It should really be none of his business, but seeing those marks across his neck and collarbones and the shirt that's loose off his shoulders...
First, Hien thinks Elysium is very cute. This thought comes first and foremost. Though secondly...
He's a little shocked that he forgets to answer Elysium right away like nothing is wrong. Everything is of the usual. When he finally snaps out of it, partially lost in the sauce of remembering the empty classroom scene, he holds up a small bottle of ointment and some bandaids. It's hard to see through the bangs, but there's a very recent cut on his forehead near the hairline. It stopped bleeding, but it's hard to miss the surrounding pinkish skin that injuries often have. He seems to be occasionally changing which foot to put his weight on as he stands too. Maybe he hurt his leg. ]
Just buying some things.
[ Is he doing well? Is he being treated fairly? Hien is still wearing the school's uniform, but he takes off his jacket to put it around Elysium's shoulders. He speaks in a quieter voice. ]
... Take care of yourself.
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Why do that when you seem to be doing a pretty good job of it yourself?
[ he flushes, just a little, reaching up to adjust the jacket until it sits more comfortably on his shoulders. then, he brightens, attention turning fully back to hien. assigns him as currently slightly shorter… but that doesn't stop him from extending a hand to brush past hien's bangs gently to confirm what he's seeing. ]
I'm not sure how much grounds you have to speak. [ slowly, he withdraws his hand. ] But let me help you with yours.
[ he'll ask what happened later. maybe. ]
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... It stopped bleeding, so I'm just gonna put ointment over it and put a band-aid. The rest--
[ Of what? That's the only visible thing because his uniform are perpetually long-sleeved. But he bites back a sigh after having that slip. Might as well just tell him. ]
... they'll get better with time.
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Why should I listen to you if you aren't even following your own advice, then?
[ he sticks his hands into the pockets of hien's jacket. he almost nestles into the entire thing, like he's savouring the lingering warmth of it. hehe. ]
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My bruises are different from yours.
[ He huffs. Don't make him say it out loud... This Hien has some shame.
The pocket has a single key in it. No keyring. Just a key of regular size. ]
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Not listening. There are benches by the back where I can help you——c'mon.
[ and now he's just going to push him right along to the cash register. ]
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[ Now he has a jacket over his head. Okay!! Hien just lets that stay there for a moment before finally letting it slide off, catching it in his arms. The way he walks is a little awkward when pushed to the cash register. He sighs, forking out some cash for the ointment. bandaids and two rolls of bandages. ]
... Weren't you gonna buy things too?
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[ he gives hien's arm a yank like that's akin to rooting him in place, before making his way back deeper into the store. the cashier is probably looking at the both of them tiredly… what delinquents. ]
Wait for me.
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for whatever reason, he returns with an armful of snacks… plops everything onto the counter along with one singular ointment jar. his priorities. while everything is getting totaled up— ]
We should probably get you back before the bell rings, huh? Sorry, sorry. I'll be quick.
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... Not going back today. Already got excused.
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ignore how he asks for two bags and divvies the snacks in half tho. surely this is not something that will come up later. ]
Hmm. Excused, or—suspended?
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Hien doesn't think about the two bags, since he just thinks Elysium wants that many. ]
Excused. My mom got the call from my guidance counselor and picked me up.
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Did you get into another fight?
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No, but I'm not allowed to go home until next week, so I'm thinking about what I should do.
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but not allowed, huh. the one thing about being with so many different people is that he's been in or at least observed plenty of home environments, quieter than usual. ]
In terms of where you're going to stay?
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Might sleep at the park, inside a playground tube. I can take a shower at school, since we have those in the locker rooms and I have a few change of clothes.
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That, and I probably won't be around much this week anyway.
[ there's maybe the faintest hint of amusement in his voice. he slaps a band-aid on hien's forehead with a plop. ]
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[ "Not really around" means they can still be around whenever, and Hien doesn't like the idea of getting caught while sleeping on a bed in a room where their son was supposed to be sleeping. Just some random ass guy in their house.
But still, the gesture means a lot to Hien. Letting into someone's house is a sign of trust, or at least that's what Hien sees it as... despite Elysium mentioning that he wouldn't be home anyway. ]
Wouldn't your boyfriend get the wrong idea even if you're not home?
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[ his smile turns blithe, and there's the distinct sense that hien won't get anything more out of him than this. with the cut dressed, he smooths hien's bangs back into place and, without ceremony, sets one of the snack bags in his lap. ]
I was wondering why you looked down earlier. [ … ] I know you didn't care for exchanging numbers, but—here's mine.
[ if there's no protest, he starts scribbling it into hien's palm. ]
Just let me know if you need help. I should get going since my 'boyfriend' probably misses me by now. There's nothing wrong with us looking after our friends, yeah? [ a small wave goodbye. ] See you.
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... See you.
[ If there's one thing he has right now, it's at least his cell phone. Good enough, even after being kicked out of a home.
A bit later that day, he sends Elysium a text: ]
idk what this is but it reminded me of your hair
attached: flower.jpg
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he blinks at this unregistered number, then goes—ah. ]
Oh?
Am I being called pretty?
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[ Pretty?! Maybe. He's fumbling so bad here. ]
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Are you saying it's not…?
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are you baiting me
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continues to try and crawl out of my endfield factory
you are so strong....
LOOKS AT THE TIME
its fine I started sleeping at like 7
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