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

[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.

[partymagician]

[ Oh.

Hm.

Fai isn't sure what to say for a moment, and he briefly wonders if he even wants to know. But, his curiosity wins out in the end. ]

...What did he say?

[exofractured]

[How much to say... Phantom has had zero success dodging so far, but he's also trying not to spill anything vulnerable for Hien. He'll hedge a little, but not wholly dishonestly.]

Things he likes about you, mostly. We'd already talked about a number of things, so I doubt he had much else that would count for the card. I just wondered if you'd worked things out.

[partymagician]

Oh. I'm surprised it counted on the card.

[ Though... he wonders what that was? But he doesn't want to infringe on Hien's thoughts from that lesson either...

He smiles. ]

You could say we worked things out. I call him my boyfriend now.

[ It's still weird to say, since he's never applied that label to anyone before, but... it's nice. ]

[exofractured]

Some of them were flexible, I suppose.

[And on this day Dana smiled on Phantom and he didn't have to employ any NSFW warnings for what Hien actually said. He also manages not to choke on his coffee again, a double win.]

You - ah?

[Fai is so unreadable that that catches Phantom by surprise. Moment to reboot...]

[partymagician]

[ Phantom is truly so lucky...

Fai laughs softly, doing his best to chuckle without struggling from the aftereffects of the electric shock their group received earlier. ]

He told me how he felt on my birthday. I feel the same, so you know how it goes!

[exofractured]

[Phantom kind of doesn't know how it goes. But... that's at least two nice things that happened today. For a moment the awkwardness vanishes and he just smiles.]

Good. For both of you.

[Yeah, he's seeing and feeling some of those aftereffects himself. The sweater might mean things don't hurt just at the moment, but the occasional muscle spasms are fun. At least he hasn't dropped anything yet! Phantom wraps his free arm a little more tightly around himself (and the sweater) for security.]

[partymagician]

I'm happier than I expected to be.

[ Well, his expectations were never getting into a relationship ever, so it's not like he had some bar set or anything.

He glances at the way Phantom wraps an arm around himself. ]

Be sure you get plenty of rest.

[exofractured]

I'm relieved. Even if you both seemed to make it unnecessarily complicated.

[Although, what does he know, honestly. But Phantom makes a little noise of exasperation for that concern because it deserves it.]

I hardly need to be reminded. The three of you are the ones who kept putting yourself in a worse position to take care of me. ...I have more sweaters if you have need of them.

[partymagician]

[ You know what? Phantom is right. They did make it more complicated than it needed to be. Then again, Fai makes every relationship more complicated. ]

...I actually have three or four sweaters myself, so feel free to keep that one. I know Hien has a couple too.

[exofractured]

[Phantom nods, and then fidgets a moment. He's not as feral as he was when he first arrived, but some things still go against the grain.]

Thank you. ...It fits Marcus better than mine. I appreciate it.

[partymagician]

Of course.

[ He's glad that's settled! Though on the topic of Marcus... ]

How is he doing, by the way? Resting, I hope.

[exofractured]

He fell facefirst into bed, so I suppose you could call it that. He's as stubborn as Hien, but selectively more sensible.

[Who is Phantom dragging here, even he's not sure.]