chatime | ✧ — four seasons green tea.

[ he nyooms back

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. ]

... Not going back today. Already got excused.

[ IT'S A NORMAL-SIZED JAR

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?

[ His jar of the unspeakable...

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.

[ his brows just furrow slightly. once he's paid, he steers them towards the aforementioned benches. ]

Did you get into another fight?

[ Once they arrive, Hien unceremoniously plops down on the bench, sighing. Walking is painful, and he is glad to be sitting. ]

No, but I'm not allowed to go home until next week, so I'm thinking about what I should do.

[ 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. ]

In terms of where you're going to stay?

[ 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.

Edited 2026-01-17 20:37 (UTC)

… I don't know how comfortable it'll be for you, but you can stay with me if you want. My parents aren't really around.

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. ]

... 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.

A bit later that day, he sends Elysium a text: ]

idk what this is but it reminded me of your hair

attached: flower.jpg