everybody's fine 'cause it's party time ( W5 AFTERPARTY )

[cheerfuldays]

After a positively thrilling game of the prisoner's dilemma, it's all over. Everyone needs to get patched up, recover and... hopefully not kill each other after everything. At some point in the cafeteria, Shizuku and Madara have taken over the kitchen- though help won't be denied completely- and leaving a large meal of noodles and whatever else they can still use from Fai and Shizuku's little shopping trip... not a lot of fresh food, but it works out. There's also plenty of coffee, a tea kettle and even hot chocolate ready. (Shizuku herself is using her ill-gotten tapioca balls for some homemade boba, hell yeah.) Team Idol may not stick around for long, but there's plenty to go around for now... and Shizuku will happily bring over some snacks from the convenience store too. And did you know that place has a milkshake machine? Because it does. Get you a milkshake, people.

But tensions are high after everything. Hopefully this doesn't become a murdergame. 

Comments

cafeteria

[exofractured]

[Phantom doesn't really want to be up. He most certainly doesn't want to see anyone. But he does, unfortunately, need food for Marcus. He's bandaged up and in one of his own cozy sweaters by the time he slinks to the cafeteria to find something. He makes a beeline for the coffee when he sees it, one-track mind enough to startle when Fai speaks.]

Well. I'm pleased I didn't have to make it.

[partymagician]

[ Phantom is so kind, looking after Marcus!!

Fai grins, happy to see Phantom here too. ]

You can still pour me a cup if you want to!

[exofractured]

Now you're concerned with letting me be useful?

[Grumbling... But he will reach for the cups to do that, though he's also looking around for Hien.]

[partymagician]

Sure am!

[ He just laughs lightly as Phantom takes a cup. ]

If your looking for Hien, he's probably somewhere around the dorms.

[exofractured]

[Phantom shrugs a little and focuses on pouring, pretending neutrality.]

"Somewhere"? I thought you would know.

[Wait, why did Fai guess that was his purpose. Phantom blinks and glances over.]

[partymagician]

[ Too many comments saying they're close... Fai figures everyone thinks he and Hien are attached at the hip. ]

Nope. I'm giving him some time to himself right now.

[ Not that he thinks Hien would lash out, but Fai wants him to unwind a bit on his own. ]

[exofractured]

I suppose as long as he isn't doing anything foolish, like walking on those injuries.

[Fai probably knows best, right. He better? Phantom offers the cup towards Fai like a shield between them.]

[partymagician]

[ Fai takes the cup with a soft thanks, immediately having a sip. ]

He has a bad habit of walking things off, so... he probably is doing exactly that right now.

[ He's seen Hien walk off too many injuries at this point. It's frustrating. ]

[exofractured]

[Phantom's going for the coffee for himself to power himself through this. Probably needs more sugar while he's at it.]

...Have you told him not to do that?

[partymagician]

[ Poor Phantom... ]

I've scolded him a few times. He doesn't take as many injuries as he used to, thankfully, so I haven't had the need to tell him that as of late.

[ Hm. ]

But I should probably remind him.

[exofractured]

Probably, yes. That is... well, I'm sure he's trying. For your sake.

[Phantom's probably already gone too far with the sugar but it's keeping him busy, RIP]

[partymagician]

[ Fai is about to answer that Hien is, in fact, trying, but... ]

Ah... Phantom? Are you alright?

[ Obviously he isn't, but that sure is a lot of sugar. ]

[exofractured]

[He's good! He's normal! He's going to drink this coffee like it was intentional!]

I doubt any of us are, generally speaking. Why?

[partymagician]

That's just a lot of sugar...

[ He's a little bit concerned now. ]

Is there something else bothering you, other than the injuries we've sustained?

[exofractured]

[Oh yeah, that's way too sweet. Come on poker face.]

I'd say the injuries are quite enough.

[Can he just ask them Fai if they're dating yet without it spilling the beans on what Hien told him... Definitely safer to ask Hien.]

[partymagician]

No, I don't think so. You weren't like this earlier.

[ He frowns as he looks at Phantom. ]

What is it? I know it has to be something that you weren't thinking about earlier while we were all stressed...

[ He pauses. ]

I'll keep asking until you tell me.

[exofractured]

I'm exactly the same as I always am.

[Why did he forget Fai had this side to him. Maybe the coffee will help him think faster.]

It's, ah...

[partymagician]

[ He leans closer to Phantom. ]

Hmmm? What is it?

[exofractured]

[AUGH.]

...Did you get Hien to take you to dinner yet?

[Smooth! Maybe he can just drown himself in his coffee and that's fine.]

[partymagician]

[ Fai blinks. ]

...We went roller blading.

[ So, no. ]

Why? Did he tell you about us?

[exofractured]

[Luckily he had a good lie prepared for this one. A misdirection, at least.]

I read the paper. [Divert, divert.] I don't know what roller blading is, but I suppose that counts.

[partymagician]

Oh! Well, if you read the paper, why were you so embarrassed about asking?

[ He laughs softly. ]

[exofractured]

[That's a cheat question and he only chokes a little on his coffee.]

I suppose because it's still a prying question.

[partymagician]

Hmmm... not really. We both said it on our public interviews, so it's pretty reasonable if you ask me!

[ He eyes Phantom. The way he choked on his coffee... ]

What is it really?

[exofractured]

[Why is he not better at adlibbing lies, this is so vexing. Should have gone for a distracting monologue.]

...He may have said something. Because of that exercise with the task cards.