[ whoa... a gentleman... but in they go. thorns walks inside, tugging elysium in after him. it's the level of lateness that the group of patrons inside are varied and would be fun to people watch if thorns was into that. which he isn't. ]
[ there's a group of teens trying to see who can stack the most plates… elysium remembers those days fondly and would be nostalgic about it if he weren't so thoroughly thorns brain. ]
This specific location? A couple of times. It would've been nice to walk through the mall if it were earlier…
Not really. There's nothing wrong with being a homebody.
[ he sends his order in and settles back… they're getting their own looks from how overdressed elysium in comparison to thorns, but he couldn't care less about what's going on with other people. ]
I'm just trying to catch up on lost time and learn more about what you like.
[ people will think this is a pretty woman situation...
thorns isn't even sure what he can say that has been interesting. when school was still in session, his life was going to class, to his internships, to the lab–and now quiet. granted, the only reason he is not still going to the lab is because the campus has shut down entirely for the holiday break, so he can't get in... he has tried... ]
[ thorns can stop being lawless for the holidays okay ]
That's fine. It just means we can pick up where we left off before I got busy.
[ and if thorns is confused by what he means by that, he won't be for long. all those conversations they once had as pillow talk—about his experiments and papers, surface again, elysium deliberately circling back to them just to hear thorns speak of what he's passionate about.
he is heart eyes. this is the look of someone deeply in love, wanting to be part of thorns' world in any way he's allowed. ]
but thorns will answer any question, perhaps in way too much technical detail about certain things involving his work, but at least it is definitely the easiest conversation topic for someone who is generally antisocial except for when he is forced to touch grass.
when he is in the middle of explaining how something blew up– ]
at this point, at least a few plates of sushi have already arrived. he takes a piece and casually tries to feed thorns with it by holding it up to his mouth. that is distraction attempt #1.
distraction attempt #2: ]
Can you finish what you started first? You were saying something about a chemical reaction?
[ and he will explain the process, pausing every now and then to eat some sushi. if anyone is eavesdropping, this conversation is so boring. but it's fine. ]
[ it might be boring to everyone else, but to elysium it is the most fascinating thing in the world because it is thorns who is explaining these concepts…
sorry. this just goes on for as long as until thorns can reach a natural conclusion with elysium constantly prompting him to keep going. ]
[ okay but the difference here really is comparing one person who is pursuing his passions and the other who is not. he tries not to let his expression stiffen, but there isn't much to say about something he'd rather leave at work (everything relating to work).
he doesn't think it's worth talking about still, but— ]
My family owns a bank, yeah? [ he straightens out his posture. ] At an upper level, the role is largely what you'd expect: managing escalations, liaising with shareholders, and overseeing our branches while addressing issues as they arise. Final approval tends to land with me when others don't want the responsibility. [ … ] It's pretty political, especially when it comes to lending decisions.
[ their mothers may be friends but that can only go so far when generations worth of wealth is on the line. and once again, thorns isn't sure what he has done to deserve something like that. logically, he knows that's not how relationships work, but it still seems like a lot to ask for. ]
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Have you been here before?
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This specific location? A couple of times. It would've been nice to walk through the mall if it were earlier…
[ their conveyor belt sushi… ]
Have you? Or the one closer to our place?
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[ it is very much the mentality of 'why would i go over there when there's one closer to me' even if this area is nicer...
but hmmm. ]
You go with your friends?
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[ but he just goes out of his way to explore in general, gesturing for thorns to start ordering. ]
What other places do you normally go to?
[ he doesn't know what thorns doesn't like other than his smoothies, apparently. ]
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he knows not to say this because elysium is already aware of this fact. ]
I don't know. The park?
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… And when was the last time you went there?
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[ there's a too long pause.
before he shrugs. ]
I don't know. Does it matter?
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[ he sends his order in and settles back… they're getting their own looks from how overdressed elysium in comparison to thorns, but he couldn't care less about what's going on with other people. ]
I'm just trying to catch up on lost time and learn more about what you like.
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thorns isn't even sure what he can say that has been interesting. when school was still in session, his life was going to class, to his internships, to the lab–and now quiet. granted, the only reason he is not still going to the lab is because the campus has shut down entirely for the holiday break, so he can't get in... he has tried... ]
Oh. I'm not great at answering vague questions.
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That's fine. It just means we can pick up where we left off before I got busy.
[ and if thorns is confused by what he means by that, he won't be for long. all those conversations they once had as pillow talk—about his experiments and papers, surface again, elysium deliberately circling back to them just to hear thorns speak of what he's passionate about.
he is heart eyes. this is the look of someone deeply in love, wanting to be part of thorns' world in any way he's allowed. ]
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but thorns will answer any question, perhaps in way too much technical detail about certain things involving his work, but at least it is definitely the easiest conversation topic for someone who is generally antisocial except for when he is forced to touch grass.
when he is in the middle of explaining how something blew up– ]
Wait. You haven't said how work is for you.
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at this point, at least a few plates of sushi have already arrived. he takes a piece and casually tries to feed thorns with it by holding it up to his mouth. that is distraction attempt #1.
distraction attempt #2: ]
Can you finish what you started first? You were saying something about a chemical reaction?
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he eats the sushi... chews... ]
Uh. Yeah. It made the fire alarm go off.
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[ it may seem like he is trying to stall indefinitely but he genuinely wants to know these things, okay… ]
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[ and he will explain the process, pausing every now and then to eat some sushi. if anyone is eavesdropping, this conversation is so boring. but it's fine. ]
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sorry. this just goes on for as long as until thorns can reach a natural conclusion with elysium constantly prompting him to keep going. ]
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it lasts for a while then... but eventually thorns has given every lab update he can give, considering he hasn't been in a while. ]
And you?
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he laments the end of it. ]
What about me? What do you want to know? I've just been working.
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[ thorns waits for his asmr... ]
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he doesn't think it's worth talking about still, but— ]
My family owns a bank, yeah? [ he straightens out his posture. ] At an upper level, the role is largely what you'd expect: managing escalations, liaising with shareholders, and overseeing our branches while addressing issues as they arise. Final approval tends to land with me when others don't want the responsibility. [ … ] It's pretty political, especially when it comes to lending decisions.
[ takes a sippy from his soda casually. ]
You should let me fund your lab.
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[ their mothers may be friends but that can only go so far when generations worth of wealth is on the line. and once again, thorns isn't sure what he has done to deserve something like that. logically, he knows that's not how relationships work, but it still seems like a lot to ask for. ]
What would you even get out of that?
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[ he's moved on from drinking out of this cup to stabbing his ice with his straw. ]
If it weren't for you, I'd probably would've run away again.
[ …
he did not mean to say this aloud. feeds thorns another piece of sushi. ]
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this is such a huge lore drop. thorns does not know what to say at first so he eats this sushi. ]
You can always run away with me.
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alas. that is just what he inherently wants to do when the going gets miserable. ]
You can't drop your opportunities like that. It was a joke. A joke!
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[ ...
he picks up sushi and holds it out to elysium. ]
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