fiddlestick | Class VII Text Group @ recolle

[Rean's cautious change of tone isn't lost on Crow, either. True, maybe he had wanted Rean to come along initially if only to show him his interests, but if you didn't like to gamble, you didn't like to gamble. There's no shame in wanting to opt out of that.]

You're more than welcome to be our third, but you don't have to do this on our account. [He tries to sound as gentle about it as possible, reaching out to ruffle Rean's hair.]

Even I can admit gambling's pretty boring when it's not somethin' you like doing.

[Oh no Rean has that sad puppy look again.]

Yeah, it's not like we have to do everything together. If you're not interested, our feelings won't be hurt.

I mean, I'm definitely not interested in going along on any trips to the gym if you guys do that.

[Maybe if he was single he'd go for the eye candy, but...nah. Nah]

I mean... I've also never tried it, so who knows? I could be biased.

I'll try it this once, then I'll know for sure one way or the other.

[He sounds more certain of himself now, at least, even if he is bowing his head a little in response to being headpatted. This isn't supposed to happen to him? He's supposed to do this to other people?

...Not that he's shoving Crow away, though. Why would he do that?]

...And, yeah, Elliot, I can't see that working out for you. ...I wouldn't be opposed, though.

[Gotta get that training in!!]

[Well, if Rean's certain, Crow's gonna light up like a Christmas Tree. Seriously, he's blossoming.]

We'll make sure we do more than just slots, don't worry. They've got billiards where we can just bet against each other.

Who knows? Maybe I'll pay off my debt!

[He's joking, he knows his debt's probably astronomical by now.]

Heh, 'working out'. Nice one.

I wouldn't mind hittin' up the gym with you--with my ex-roomie gone it's been kinda quiet.

Slots are pretty boring anyway since there's no skill. I like billiards though! I like to think I can hold my own in it.

[In other words, he's good]

Hehe, yeah good one. [But yes good you two, make a gym date]

Oh! [Rean actually perks up at the mention of billiards.] I'm not the greatest at it or anything, but I do actually know how to play. That'd be fun.

[And to being called out for his pun, he grins.]

Heh. I was hoping you'd catch that. [♪] —Ah? "Gone?"

No skill, unless you charm Lady Luck to be on your side~

[But billiards was more fun if they were going as a group, and he brightens up even more when Rean agrees.]

Then that's the plan! Even Elliot seems pretty confident, but I'm no slouch either.

[He pauses, though, when Rean asks.]

Ah...we were originally supposed to room together in that apartment, but her old man wouldn't have it. She still pays for the rent though, as long as she can visit it since she's back in Georgia.

...If I didn't know better, I'd say that sounds like cheating. [He's not saying Crow does cheat just you know, the only way he can see that working is rigging the slot machine] But that's a good plan.

[He'll be quiet as Crow explains that story, since Crow already told him about that situation]

Mm... cheating or just hoping for the best and being disappointed when it doesn't work out.

[So what he's saying is that he has no faith in your "Lady Luck," Crow.]

Oh, I see... [Man, that's a good friend to pay for an apartment that far away she's not even living in.] Does she visit often?

It's talk like that that makes her stay away, you know.

[Assholes.]

Not really. It's pretty far from here for one thing, and she's...probably got obligations.

Dates. Finding her own this time instead of taking mine.

Ah, sorry. Didn't realize she was so sensitive.

[he doesn't sound very sorry]

Oh yeah, she's probably too busy with all women in Atlanta to go after anyone you meet here...

[He may be idly watching for reactions here, don't mind him]

If that's all it takes, she might be a little too capricious of a mistress to waste your time on, you know...

[He's not sounding very sorry, either.]

Heh, well, I guess that's one upside. [And normally, he wouldn't ask, but... curiosity gets the better of him.] Do you go on a lot of those? Dates, I mean?

Hm. Maybe I'm playing to the wrong field then.

[What if there was a Lord Luck, after all..]

Hah...not in awhile, actually. I used to get numbers but...well, she took all of the girls. And with Retrospec now pretty much a part of my life...it's kinda hard to find a guy who really 'gets it'.

If you say so.

[He has a feeling Crow will never give up luck-based games, so why bother arguing?

But yeah good Rean, be curious]

Mmm...yeah, I could see that. It'd be hard to start dating someone when you can't tell them anything about the app. You might meet someone nice on the app though...

Yeah... we'll go with that.

[Crow, please. But, hm. Rean glances up, thoughtful. So Crow goes both ways, huh...? ...Wait, why does that matter?!]

Yeah, I can definitely see that being an issue. You'd basically be locking your partner out of half of your life... [Because why would you date if not to find a long-term partner? Rean's a romantic in that way.] Still, Elliot's right. At least having the app does kind of limit your dating pool to a something more manageable than, say, Tinder.

Basically, and it's hard to really make excuses if they happen to notice something weird going on. Or if your hair turns a different colour...

[He nods, thoughtfully.]

Who knows, maybe they're hiding right in plain sight.

[Crow's not even TRYING to flirt this bad...]

Ahah...yeah.

[Gonna just take a sip of his drink. Don't trust himself to say more than that]

Ah, yeah. I mean, you could, but it'd definitely get hard to keep track of your own lies...

[the internal state of the elliot be like]

Heh. Maybe! Best of luck with that, I suppose.

[Thankfully(?) for Crow and frustratingly for Elliot, it seems like Crow's flirting has gone right over Rean's head.]

Exactly, and one's bound to trip you up sometime.

[Sorry Elliot, this is what shipper hell is like.]

Heh, thanks. Same to you too, if you're lookin'.

Ehh... not as much.

[Rean leans back a little, which earns a little "mrr" from Pachinko. How dare Rean not full-body cuddle him? He gets some pets to quell his irritation, though, which he accepts.]

I guess I'm not opposed to it if the right person comes along, but in general I've just never seriously thought about it. Guess I've always figured it'd probably be better to have a good handle on my own life before I went waltzing into someone else's.

[...You two are so dumb and hopeless. God.

But at least Rean said something Elliot does feel safe commenting on]

That's...not exactly how relationships work Rean.

You don't wait until you're the idealized version of yourself to start dating. No one would ever date if it was like that.

Instead it's more like...with the right person, you become a pair that brings out the best in each other? And you both learn and grow together, as a team, to get a handle on things.

[Crow smiles when he sees Elliot speak up. It's good to see him confident enough to give advice like this. To be so comfortable in his own life and decision that he can safely and confidently offer his input.]

And Elliot would know, he's the expert.

[He woo'd Eren "Ten Pack Men Snack" Jaeger]

Besides, you're only young once!

Ha... I guess so. [Rean sighs a little, turning a withering little stare to Elliot.] Because you sound just like Eren right now...

[Because oh, yes, he's had this conversation with Eren. Almost word for word, even.]

But... yeah, I know. If I find a partner like that... well, I'm not against the idea. [And that choice in wording is deliberate: partner. That's the idea Elliot was getting at, after all, isn't it? And... well, it doesn't limit his options. Make of that what you will.] I'm just not actively searching one out, either.

[A pause, and a shy little laugh as he looks away, down at Pachinko just to avoid their gazes.]

Call me a romantic, I guess, but I'd always kind of hoped something like that would be a little more... I dunno. Fated than just hitting up girls in the student union.

Haha, do I? [Welp] Sorry. I didn't know he talked to you about this too.

[And hmmm, partner okay. that's a very gender neutral term there. just gonna log that away.]

That's a good point, that doesn't seem very romantic either. Unless it's one of those "I saw you and knew you were the one" types of deal.

Eren gave you the love talk, too? Guy's more perceptive than I thought...

[Then again, Crow underestimates a lot of Eren's qualities. Like his weirdness.]

Aw, take pride in that, Rean. Means you're looking for something that'll last.

Hmm. Maybe you just need a little help...

Class VII Text Group @ recolle

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