fiddlestick | IC Contact

[It's okay, Elliot. Rean knows you're a pure macaroni.]

Ah... yeah.

[He's quiet for a moment, as if considering. He does eventually speak up, although he's quiet with it. The whole bus doesn't need to overhear.]

...Remembered what happened after that red knight impaled him. It's... pretty much what we were expecting, but it didn't make it hurt any less.

[For a moment, he isn't sure if Rean is going to talk about it. He even starts to open his mouth to say he doesn't have to.

But then he speaks up. Its...it's pretty close to what he was afraid of]

Oh...

[He swallows. He reaches over to put his hand on Rean's to try to show support and comfort.]

Y-Yeah, I'd imagine not. Think anyone would run over at 5am after seeing that.

[...Aw. Rean seems to recognize the gesture as such, at least, and flips over his hand to grip Elliot's back loosely.]

Heh, yeah, that's about what he said. Meant I got off the hook for waking him up, at least.

[A little more lighthearted:]

It's kind of funny, actually. He told me later he thought it was Eren calling at first... be careful what you wish for?

[Aw yeah, friendship handholds. Just gonna let that linger there as people get the wrong impression. ]

Hehe, I'd say you did if he got you a key to his place!

[Just maybe Crow likes you honey. Just maybe]

Really? That is kinda funny, though it is pretty like Eren to contact in the middle of the night. [He has been on the other end of that more than a few times] I wonder how those two have been doing today.

Haha... maybe. I think he'd been planning it for a while, though. Meant he didn't need to keep leaving the door unlocked for me.

[Yes, Crow likes him, but Crow also probably likes not getting robbed! But aww, ye, friendship handholds. These sure are happening.]

Yeah, I know. Or, at least, he answers my middle of the night texts without a second thought. Does Eren ever, like... sleep? [And to the question, a sigh.] I don't know. Hopefully well... I haven't heard anything, and I'm hoping no news is good news. I'm planning to talk to Crow later either way.

Makes sense. I'll help you move when you do, okay?

[Maybe not the furniture, but he can help with the little boxes and the sorting!!]

Haha, he does. Though once or twice I've had to go over to make him go to sleep. [But that's not all the time!!!] No news meaning good news would be good if it's true.

Crow seemed to be doing okay when I talked to him last night though.

Thanks. Once the semester is over, I'll probably look to you.

[Rean can't help but smile at the talk of making Eren go to sleep. Ah, domestic bliss?]

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.

Oh, you talked to Crow? Well, that's good. I guess he can't be that upset, then.

I'll be around!

[He nods]

Yeah, don't worry. We talked things out, he was just stressed out about the project.

[He glances, noticing the street signs]

Oh, I think our stop is next!

I mean, I had a feeling, but it's still good to get confirmation.

[Oh!]

Ah, yeah, you're right.

[Rean reaches up to tug the cord that requests the next stop before smiling at Elliot.]

Glad at least one of us is paying attention.

Haha, yeah sure is.

[He grins and gives a nod with a "yep!". He sure is paying attention. As the bus slows to a stop, he gets up and moves off the bus, waiting for Rean to do the same.

Sure enough, Elliot's done enough research to land them in a shopping district of Tisse. There's tons of different specialty shops along the street. Lots of window shopping to be had]

Think this will be good enough?

[Rean glances around as they step off the bus, then flashes Elliot a bright smile.]

More than good enough! I figure we'll just stroll by the shops along here, and if either of us are interested in heading in, we just speak up?

And don't be shy about doing that. We are here for you, and I do want you to have fun.

[He nods and gives a little double fist pump]

Haha, you got it!

And you don't be shy either okay? Maybe we can get ideas for your new place~ 🎵

[Aaaand that earns Elliot a blush and a slight pout.]

Oh, come on! It's not like we're going to change that much just because I'm moving in...!

[Fluster fluster.]

C'mon. Let's go.

[And they're off! Feel free to pick a store or just start a conversation, Elliot.]

[fufufu]

Haha, I know- but it'll be your place too! Just something to keep in mind~

[To the walk they go! Elliot will start walking alongside of Rean, glancing at the stores. So far it's pretty generic clothing shops for women and restaurants]

So how's studying for finals going?

[Yeah, Rean's not really interested in women's clothing. Well, he is, but not in this capacity, so onward.]

Yeah, yeah, I know... still, aside from moving in my display stuff, I don't think there's a lot—

[Ah. Finals. Well, there goes any joy he had in him.]

...They sure are going?

[Aha. Ha...]

[Oh wow that sure is a change in his mood right there]

Oh, that's...not reassuring.

[r u ok Rean.]

Everything okay?

...Mggggh.

[He slumps over a little as he walks, sighing.]

This entire semester has... really not been great, and that was before I missed a whole week because of the layer thing. I mostly caught up with assignments, but I'd be lying if I said I was keeping my head above water for any of them...

So I'm not imagining finals will go much better. It's not like it even matters in the long term, with what I'm taking, but...

Oh...that's not good.

[Elliot can relate a little, some of his grades have taken a hit from all the Retrospec stuff, but he's also been working hard to keep them up too.]

Is there anything I can do to help? Maybe we can study together! What're you taking?

I... really doubt we have any overlap.

[SIGH.]

Trust me, there's a reason I say it doesn't really matter. I'm just taking a bunch of random liberal arts electives right now. None of these are required for anything, no one will ever look at them past the hit they're going to have on my GPA.

But my parents were angry enough about that. Me doing poorly in all of them besides? I don't even want to think about the lecture I'm going to get...

[Just... dances around the fact that he has no direction in life a ha ha...]

Oh...

[Honestly, Elliot isn't blind to the fact that Rean hasn't settled on a passion. Eren's talked to him about it before]

So...I take it you're not really into any of them?

Not in the slightest. I just needed to stay a full-time student.

[He doesn't sound happy to be talking about this, but he isn't resisting.]

Oof.

[he says, trying to think of how to go about this. Might as well be honest]

Eren...mentioned once you were having a hard time figuring out what you wanted to do.

Ah... yeah. I'm not really surprised he told you.

[Honesty does appear to be the best policy, here. Rean doesn't seem upset.]

I've been trying different things for a couple years now, and just... nothing sticks. It's not that I can't do any of it, it's just... hard when your parents expect you to follow in their footsteps and none of it appeals to you in the slightest.

[A little bit of bitter laughter.]

I'm guessing I don't strike you as the businessman or lawyer-type, either.

Yeah...you come up a lot in our talks. Good things though! He likes you a lot.

[REAN IS FRIEND!!!

But oh. Oh that is VERY relatable.]

Sorry, not at all. You're not really cut-throat enough for that kind of thing...

Though I do know the feeling you have. My family's the same way. They wanted me to become police officer or join the military. [He makes a face as he imitates his relatives:] "Elliot, you need to do keep in mind what's really important".

[He sighs and shakes his head.]

It's pretty frustrating, huh? Like they don't really see you there.

...Really? [Rean, why do you sound surprised...] Well, I'm glad to hear it.

[Elliot saying "not at all" just makes Rean laugh, though, a little less bitter.]

Nothing to be sorry about. It's just the truth.

[And he'll let Elliot continue, sighing to echo Elliot when he's asked.]

Yeah, that's... exactly it. And I just keep trying to live up to what they want, but... I don't think I'm ever going to be the son that they wanted.

Don't get me wrong. I love them, and I know they love Raina and I. They've never left either of us wanting for anything, and even though I've been nothing but a disappointment since I left home, they keep paying for my room and education. Sure, they'll get on my case when I do call home – believe me, that was a fun way to end the whole "hey, I have a boyfriend!" call – but they still go out of their way to help me out.

But it's always been like this. I've always been stumbling along, and every time they've tried to talk to me to help, it just rubs in how I'm not like them. I guess I was hoping if I tried to head out on my own at least a little, I'd find something, but...

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