fiddlestick | Class VII Text Group @ recolle

[Rean nods along with Crow's assessment, pausing to take a sip of his own coffee, before having to swallow so that he can laugh at Elliot's joke without, you know, spitting coffee all over his friends.]

Ahaha... yeah, I guess so! But if being senpai means losing the excitement of Christmas, then I guess I'm okay with being kouhai forever.

Heh, guess I'll let you take the senpai title this time.

[He's in agreement with Rean, here. If being kouhai meant going back to the days of waking up at dawn for presents, he'll gladly take it.

He'll take a sip of his coffee, his whole body physically relaxing against the back of that booth.]

Ah...Elixir of Life, isn't it.

Edited 2018-12-30 20:16 (UTC)

[JEEZ YOU TWO.]

H-Hey I'm excited about Christmas, I'm not Scrooge. Just...not a morning person. Ever. And I was up late too.

[Excuse him as he drinks that sweet Elixir of Life]

Ah...so nice.

Haha, sorry, sorry. I was just kidding around.

[Rean doesn't actually seem that upset about this, though. Being in person means it's a lot easier to judge tones of voice.]

I'll admit, I've always been a morning person, so it's especially easy for me. But if you were up late, that's gotta make it harder.

[It's good to see Rean feeling more at ease with joking around with them, though. He'll just smile behind his coffee cup.]

Not me, today's just special. Then again my night classes run from 8-11 every night...and then gym for an hour...and then it's home and however long it takes me to bed...

[So yeah, he's not dozing off til 1 or 2. And morning classes on top of it.]

Explains why you snag all my jobs, though.

Ehe, it's okay.

[Look one of his laughs! Maybe he is starting to wake up. He glances over at Crow. ]

...So in other words, you're probably gonna crash hard when the excitement wears off. [Got it. ]

Ah... you're out that late every night?

[A sip. Rean just seems impressed, if anything.]

Yeah, I usually try to turn in earlier if I can. Homework gets in the way, though, or sometimes I get distracted watching something...

[To Elliot's little bit of snark, though, he laughs. Yeah, that sounds about right.]

Not every night, just Tuesdays and Thursdays. Morning classes are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays so it's a rough sleep schedule.

[He turns cheerfully to Elliot.]

Yep! Got a date with my bed all planned out.

No kidding. That sounds like a nightmare schedule. Did you make registration mad at you?

[Because seriously dude, that's such a rough schedule no wonder there's temptation to skip.

That gets a snort.]

I'm almost jealous. I have to see family most of the day.

[A horrified stare.]

Nightmare, indeed... why would you do that to yourself?

[There HAD to be classes at other times, at least for the morning ones. As for the rest of it...]

Ha... I might be stealing that idea myself, to be honest. I usually try not to nap in the middle of the day, but since I don't actually get to be home this year, it's not like I have a whole lot to do after I call everyone...

[Funny. He's a little jealous of Elliot.]

Nooo don't make me tell~ It's embarrassing!

[His voice is sing-song, playfully turning his head to look out the window.]

Got a big family? [The answer's more to Rean, because--]

We all know Elliot's got relatives for days.

[Funny, he's kind of jealous that they've got someone to call]

Edited 2018-12-31 14:07 (UTC)

[....?]

How can your school schedule be embarrassing?

[And oh...Rean. That in a way makes it sound a little sad.]

Aha, well you two are always welcomed to come with to my family's, though I don't know how fun it'll be. Most of them are off the app now, so they're back to treating me like I'm a little kid...

Oh, it's Crow. I'm sure he's found a way.

[That's said with a little smirk in Crow's direction, though. He's teasing.

That smile fades with the question about family, though.]

Ah... not so much. My parents and my sister, that's it. I imagine mom and dad will say hello to anyone else for me. [Rean glances off toward the window, too, with a sheepish little smile.] Although I can't guarantee I won't be on the phone a while. I've got a nice long text from my sister chewing me out for not calling home recently, so I imagine she's going to lay into me and then want updates on every little thing...

[...wait is he being invited somewhere]

Huh? I mean, thank you for the offer, but I don't think I should intrude on something like that...

[Crow just smirks back, the tease accepted and playfully giving a little sneer back. Keep that up and he'll have to shut something where that mouth is.]

That's right...I kinda had a feeling when the ones at college changed their whole attitude to me.

[Luci's back to doubling down on his laziness too, it seems. Like Eren without the eccentricity and quirky character traits]

I'm with Rean, Christmas is a family event and you guys aren't all together very often, right?

[A turn to Rean.]

I'd say you should call your sister more often...but I'm pretty guilty of that myself. Haven't called my cousin since I moved here...but she's down in the Everglades busy wrestling alligators or using snakes as shoelaces or something.

[Elliot seems like he's about to protest Rean's remark about intruding, when Crow speaks up in agreement. Whatever he was going to say, he seems to deflate from it and back down.]

...Yeah. Okay.

[He looks over at Crow]

I'm sure she's not doing that all day today, she'd probably be happy to hear from you. And same with you and your sister Rean. Sounds like she cares a lot.

[Hm? Something's a little odd about that response. Rean rests his chin in his hand, looking at Elliot with a little concern over his coffee cup.]

...You sure? You don't really sound like it's okay.

[How is it he can read things like this, but not notice when people like him? It's a mystery.]

Is that actually what people from the Everglades do...? [Northern boy has never been to Florida and isn't sure he wants to.] But... yeah, I know I should. She gets on my case every time I go a while without... I dunno, I just feel like I never have anything worth telling her.

[Sigh...]

Tell you what, though. You call your cousin more often, I'll call my sister more often. We can hold each other accountable. And I'm planning to call home today, so you should, too.

[Crow notices it too, and when Rean calls him out on it, Crow doesn't add any further comment. Elliot didn't need to be backed into a corner to say what's on his mind, and he was the meekest of the three of them.]

...

[Despite that, though, he'll answer Rean's question and Elliot's little quip all at once.]

It could be...I haven't seen her since I used to spend the summers down there. The stories I could tell you guys about her and my uncle...

[But they probably don't want to spend Christmas morning hearing about that, so he'll smile down at his cup.]

She's gonna be pissed at me, I can tell already. But...I guess I can give her a call, if you hold up your end of the bargain.

[Oh, Rean's calling him out. He suddenly looks very interested in the coffee in front of him, biting his own lip as he does so. Finally he looks back at Rean.]

Y-Yeah, it's fine. I just...I wanna make sure you guys have a good Christmas, that's all.

[It's more complicated than that, he can't deny he's hoping to avoid some of his own family awkwardness. But what right does he have to complain? At least he has some family in town, and no one is interested in hearing his situation.

In other words, you gotta up your social link to unlock his tragic backstory.

He stays quiet about the talk of calling sisters and cousins. He's got nothing to add that just won't turn the attention on him, so let's not.]

...They sound like they'd be fun to hear about someday.

[Rean won't pry too deeply about Crow's family, not right now. Family's already a touchy enough button, it seems.]

And I will keep that end of the bargain. Hell, let's say... we call every two or three weeks? And if one of us hasn't made the call by the fourth week, we owe the other. [A little grin, at that.] We can put it on your tab.

[But joking about bets with Crow aside, there is still Elliot, and Rean notices him worrying at his own lip. Mm... he doesn't know exactly what's going on in Elliot's head, but with the way he's looking, Rean has a feeling that telling him no would hurt way worse than any awkwardness he might endure. And, well... it's not like he has plans today anyway, right?]

...If... you're sure it won't be a problem, though, I really wouldn't mind having somewhere to go. ...Sitting in the dorm all day does seem kind of depressing.

[He'll just turn it back around on him, and avoid calling out Elliot any further. That's always easy enough.]

Hey, why's it only focus on MY tab! More like my efforts should go into paying you off. What's my debt even up to now...

[But Rean's offer is met with raised eyebrows, before a smile forms.]

Well if you don't mind havin' me, don't leave me behind, then. Rean's gone and called my afternoon plans depressing, so now it doesn't even seem enticing anymore. [Rean may catch a little wink to him, but it's subtle.]

Do we need to bring somethin'? [Foodwise.]

[He blinks, staring at them with owlish surprise since he didn't know if they'd actually say yes- heck, it was surprising that they did. Especially with Crow, considering how thanksgiving went]

R-really? You mean it?

[Holy crap...he looks so grateful]

No- it wouldn't be a problem at all! I'd love to have you two there! And no, you don't have to bring anything!

[He puts his hand to his chest]

T-Thank you, really...

That's exactly what I'm saying. If I owe you, it gets deducted from your debt. If you owe me, we just tack it on.

[But their fictional debt is less important than how relieved Elliot looks now, and Rean can't help but smile himself, his shoulders relaxing a bit.]

May have to reschedule our nap dates a to little earlier, then, Crow. [But to Elliot proper, he's more serious, more gentle:] And you're welcome, but we should be the ones thanking you, you know.

[And now that their plans for the rest of the day are a little more settled and Elliot seems a little more awake...]

Say. Do we want to actually exchange gifts now?

At an interest rate higher than what I'd be tacking on, too, I bet.

[He jokingly sneers, but turns to Elliot, his red eyes surprisingly warm for their colour.]

Don't mention it. Look how many times you've been there for us.

[Crow drums his fingers on the table though, leaning his back int the booth.]

But Rean's right. We're here to celebrate the joys of Christmas that cost MONEY. So let's get started!

[he watches the banter over debt. Wow. He never knew debt and interest rates could sound so gay....

Still, he's so lucky to have met these two. To think a few months ago, he was worried about meeting people from Class VII and how it'd go. But here they were, acting like close friends without even relying on the memories all the time to do so. He never could've asked for a better result]

Aha, guess so. Still, I'm really grateful.

[And he wants them to know that!! but oh right, presnets]

- Oh yeah! I think I'm awake enough to appreciate them for sure! Who wants to go first?

That's because your interest rate would be zero. All debt in the International Bank of Rean is subject to the same interest. I'd say I don't make the rules, but I'd be lying.

[♫ It's a metaphor~ ♫ Or, at least, it is to Rean. Who knows if Crow's caught on to that yet.

Rean can't help but feel blessed, too. The app certainly has its drawbacks, and he's seen that plenty of times firsthand this month alone. But even so, he can't help but be thankful to it, and to the memories. Even if they're not relying on those now, he never would have met these two otherwise. He can't trust Retrospec, but right now... he kind of owes them his happpiness. It's an odd place to be.]

Well... [Rean reaches for his bag, pulling out the present from Crow as well as his for the other two. He passes them each a neatly wrapped box, of which Elliot's is slightly larger.] Don't know who wants to go first, but I figured we should at least have everything out.

Class VII Text Group @ recolle

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