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[ he doesn't answer right away, instead looking at the ground ahead until they come to a stop in front of a box. ]

I–– [ he stops himself to rethink this. ] Is there anyone who hasn't opened one of these yet?

Oh. I haven't been that nosy. Did you want to help those people in particular?

[ no he just changed his actual question in the middle of his sentence. ]

... No.

[ it took him ten years just to work on his own..... ]

I'll ask around. It'd be easy if the boxes had their own names on it, but unless we know who the people in their shards are the labels are pretty useless…

[ But he still did it… Elysium's proud… ]

Do you want to do the honours?

[

he has to let go of his hand. there's a pause before he does so, reaching down to open the box. he wordlessly straightens himself back up to hand it over to elysium. ]

Here.

[ sniff

His fuckin autograph…… he peels back the flap and just looks. Astounded. He might've had a reaction to seeing the transceiver, but that's only because of the realisation and association that came along with it. If they're strictly comparing item to item, then

yeah

It isn't an exaggeration to say that it means more to him than any piece of equipment would've. ]

[ this is funny since both then and now, thorns does not see the point in an autograph so he has to just stand here while elysium has a moment, meanwhile he's like 'that's it???' ]

Oh. That PUS thing?

[ that is not what they're called. ]

[ "PUS?!?!?!!??!"

If thoughts could screech, they're screeching. ]

It's AUS! A.U.S! Alive Until Sunset! It wasn't even that long ago and you've already forgotten? Or did the river take that away from you, too?!

[ This is not even remotely as important to Thorns as it is Elysium. Okay.

'Not even that long ago,' can range from a year to ten years because of how dramatic he is, so it really does not matter where it actually falls in the AK timeline. He hates Thorns so bad. ]

Oh. Yeah... I guess.

[ he's going to forget the name again in about an hour.

but he'll give elysium a friendly pat, as if that is all that is needed to smooth this over. ]

Congratulations.

You should at least remember the things you went out of your way to get for me. This and the salt shaker… I haven't forgotten, you know?

[ So Thorns shouldn't… wtf… he trails off. AK really chose such interesting things to define their early friendship. ]

I remember.

[ he just doesn't think he needs to remember the particular band name. ]

Do you still have it? Back home.

Of course I do. Or, I did. I think it's the same one.

[ He takes it out of the box and hands it over. It's framed and in perfect condition—but there's more than one reason now why he's glad it's kept so well. ]

[ he looks it over. it really is a reminder of how something that can seem so small to you can mean a lot to someone else.

... ]

I wonder which task got it to open...

Is that the scientist in you speaking? If there are more next week, we can give it a thorough testing. Maybe what we find will help the people who are more reticent.

[ They don't know they don't have many more weeks left here… ]

... Mm. We can. If I thought of it, we could have tried last week...

[ well, it doesn't really matter, but he is curious to see what gets judged as okay or not. ]

I could've and should've thought about it too. It's on both of us to make up for our shortcomings.

[ But with that, he's just going to take the autograph back to tuck it into the box again. Tucking it under one arm, it's all to pick up Thorns' hand. He really isn't going to let go until Thorns decides he's tired of it. ]

Let me just drop this off and then we can check out everything else that's showed up together?

[ he nods his head in agreement.

life is funny when something clicks into place, but it's not a realization you are able to vocalize. so he just squeezes elysium's hand, tightening his hold of it. ]

Mm. At least it's not as weird as before.

[ The ears……

He just nods his head back. ]

… When I checked it out the other day, things almost looked cozy.

It makes sense, I guess, if they wanted us to nap.

[ it does make it easier to cuddle with someone if there are nice places to cuddle... ]

There's a giant space for it, but there's another place I think you'll like more.

[ He tightens his grip. ]

We can check out both.

[ Will this be the most time they've ever spent together in these five weeks… incredible. ]

[ they slept together (non-sexy) before... does the time count if they were unconscious during it? ]

Mm. Take me wherever you want.

[ after they do the drop off... but thorns will let elysium lead. ]

[ Elysium was actively trying not to acknowledge the elephants in their room, so… probably not…

Timeskips. Thorns is immediately taken to the star room. ]

Oh.

[ ... it is nice.

thorns gives it a quick glance around before looking back at elysium. ]

I'm a little surprised.

[ he doesn't seen an obvious weird part. ]

I was here with Dahut a little while ago. You've nothing to worry about! The roof didn't cave in on us—not in the entire time we were there.

[ Assuming they're settling somewhere to watch, Elysium presses in close.

Thorns might recognise their positions as similar as what they'd seen back in the simulations. ]

Are you trying to jinx us?

[ the roof is definitely going to cave in now...

the simulations that said a lot, but they also just brushed past, not being able to really touch on what was being obviously said. ]

It looks real.

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