* chrysoprase

Apple picking. I’m scared of sharp objects, so I think pumpkin carving would make me really anxious.

“No. I... want to be, though.”

“Oh it is a bit cruel, but..” she let a little smile spread across her lips. “Sometimes it’s even a not so great reacting that can encourage me. I mean, any reaction is a good one if you ask me. It gets people talking.” She chuckled a little, biting her lip. “Oh! Those are great ideas actually,” she said. “Very good…I might have to give you credit if I use one..” she smiled.

“So... is it the new Twilight?” Hoseok managed to quip, a slight smile on his lips. He felt his cheeks burning, his fingers picking at one of his wristbands. “Ah... Um... That’s-- I mean, you don’t... have to. I-- It’s... not that... original...” He awkwardly replied. “I mean... as-- as an idea, not-- not for the book. Um...”

“Sure, go ahead,” Dinah answered without hesitation, looking up when it really settled in what had been asked of her. That combined with the obvious anxiety written all over his face was concerning enough for her to figure out how to ask if anything shady was going on without outright saying those words. “Is everything okay?”

Hoseok managed a small smile and quietly sat himself down, perched on the edge of the seat, thighs drawn together so he wouldn’t take up too much space. “Yeah-- Yes, um. I just-- I think I saw my sister?” He awkwardly tried to explain, his hands moving to fidget with his sleeves whilst his gaze fell down to his lap. “I just-- I, ah... I don’t... want her to ask a lot of... ques-questions...” He admitted, a blush rising to his cheeks. “I can, um... I can... buy you a drink or some-something?”

When she heard him speak, the redhead gave a smile, not really knowing what he meant by special. It wasn’t really something she heard often, but she was worried with how nervous he looked by her just touching him. “Both?” Athena gave a smile as her green eyes watched his hand move to her face. Finally pressing her lips against his, she paused for a moment as he slowly pulled back, her hand moving to set the hair out of her face. “What did you say?” She tilted her head as she heard him speak, a small smile growing. “Did you thank me?” She didn’t really know how to react, the slight amount of alcohol in her system keeping her calmer than usual when it came to being forward with things. “Why did you thank me?”

Hoseok felt his face burning. Had he really said that out loud? “Ah, um... I--” He nervously pulled at his sleeves. “Can we--” He started off after a moment of silence, brows furrowed as he pushed himself up onto his wobbly legs. He wanted to be away from the other people; definitely didn’t want to end up having to kiss anyone else. The boy dragged himself to a slightly quieter part of the room. “I’m sorry...” He mumbled, still unable to meet Athena’s eyes. “I just-- I-- Um...” His gaze nervously wandered over the floor. “I really... um... I’ve wan-wanted to kiss you and-- I mean, it was only my...second kiss, but...” A shaky breath. “It... doesn’t matter.”

“Hey there’s no need to apologize,” Dean said to him. “You’re good, okay? I don’t mind helping someone out.” He offered Hoseok a little smile. “I’m Dean,” he continued. “You know, if this person asks or something,” he said, winking at him.

“A-Ah, I’m--” Hoseok started off, feeling his entire face heat up when the other winked at him. the brunet quickly averted his gaze, mentally slapping himself. The last thing he needed was to act flustered around a male who was no doubt much older than himself. He really needed to avoid those kind of situations. The boy swallowed hard and continued to pick at his sleeve. “I’m... Hoseok...” He eventually quietly finished, cheeks still burning. “I, um... What-- What do you do?”

“Ya want a mint or somethin’?” It may help him to ease down and it’s something she knew she had in her bag. “Then why are ya avoidin’ ‘em? Just want alone time?” The blonde guessed, thinking nothing of it before shaking her head. “Nah, I don’t mind. I like hearin’ people’s stories.”

“Ohh…” Maiah’s lips remained in the shape of an ‘o’ as she took in everything that he said. Four years was a pretty long, but she couldn’t necessarily judge the situation. “Like I said before, relationships are a two way street. In order for you to know more about her, she would have to be accessible, right?” She gave him a small smile. “Families are a tricky thing, no matter what. But they’re family, so you’ll always have time to know her. So asking more about her, wouldn’t hurt.”

Hoseok nodded, though he knew that he was a big problem in the lack of communication. His foster sister tried to message him at least once a week, but the brunet couldn’t bring himself to reply to most of these messages, simply because he didn’t know how to. “I, um... I don’t really... know what women like...” He then awkwardly admitted. Actually, he didn’t exactly know how to talk to anyone, but that felt like a bit too much of personal information. “I’ve never... had si-siblings before.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” she said with a gentle smile. She looked at him and shrugged her shoulders. “We’ll just take it one step at a time, okay? How does that sound?” she asked. “What’s her name?” she asked.

Hoseok managed a timid nod, his hand nervously fidgeting with his sleeve whilst he looked down at his lap. “E-Erica” He replied quietly, before licking his lips. “She’s, ah... she works in a hotel...” He wasn’t sure how smart it was to give information away like that, but he also figured it would help to at least make it seem like he’d actually talked about her. 

At Hoseok’s comment, Reuben looked down toward his hands. From the confines of his chest, a laugh (the sound more akin to a bark) escaped. It was raspy as it followed the breaths that he exerted,  a consequence of his thorough deep clean. Reuben wasn’t embarrassed by the fact that he had obviously been making an effort. If anything, the visit served as a prompt to actually force him to make his apartment somewhat presentable. But despite it all, there was no concealing the darkened ceiling from where smoke had lifted and STAINED–Febreeze had been his best friend in his attempt of removing the sweet smell of weed.

“If you saw the place before, you’d wish I had. Trust me on that. I was close to making another breakthrough with penicillin, so right now, I’m feeling like a domestic Goddess.” As he was when they had met before, he felt glad that Hoseok had decided to turn up. Admittedly, Reuben felt at times as if he were on eggshells, careful with what he said and became very aware of how he had pushed Hoseok out of his comfort zone. But as per usual,  he was forever plagued with the need to befriend all he came across. Reuben knew that this stemmed from childhood–always seeking plans, getting muddy in rivers, all so he could prolong the inevitable. Growing up in a home where such unbearable sadness lived for what felt like an eternity, Reuben would be determined to lighten the spirits of both himself and those that surrounded him.

Was Hoseok a victim of this? Maybe, but he had come to like Hoseok a great deal–their interactions were comical, and although their meeting was strained in parts, Reuben found the cracks in which the Hoseok he had come to know shone through. Hoseok was funny when he was comfortable, and so Reuben had no qualms in inviting the other over for an afternoon of nerdiness. His brothers’ failed to indulge in his hobbies, so it was a relief to find a kindred spirit in the other.

Reuben’s bare feet had sunk into the outdated shag carpet as he retreated inside and shut the door behind Hoseok. In a box atop of his dining table, lay the figurines that the pair planned to paint. From Druids to Half-orcs, Reuben had bought an abundance in a bid to keep the pair busy. Reuben was not afraid of being utterly shameless and admitting that he was very excited for this.

“Have you eaten yet? I have so many coupons we can use if you’re hungry. I’m a regular customer at everywhere in a five mile vicinity.”

“You do look like a domestic Goddess.” Hoseok replied with a small, cheeky grin, though he was hoping he wasn’t taking it too far. The last thing he wanted to do was insult Reuben barely a minute after entering the apartment. But at the same time, he wanted to seem as relaxed as he could manage, despite the constant anxiety in his body. “My place is... kinda bad.” He then added with a slight shrug. Sure, he could blame the state of his apartment on the size (or lack thereof), but rationally he knew it was the depression that drained him of all energy and motivation to do anything.

His wide eyes wandered around the place for a moment; he was hesitant to step further inside, but eventually did so anyway, not wanting to look too awkward in lingering near the door. He hated that he got like this -- sometimes it even still happened around Saeran. The discomfort of being away from his home, being too aware of his lack of social skills and the timid and awkward way he carried himself. It was exhausting.

At the mention of food, Hoseok heard his stomach growl and a blush rose to his cheeks. “Ah... I haven’t, but... I don’t want to... be a bother...” He replied, frowning slightly. Even with coupons, he felt weird just accepting anything from other people. It felt wrong to take money from others. “I’m okay, I... had some rice yesterday.” He pushed his lips up into a smile, though he was unable to look Reuben in the eye.

He slowly moved towards the table. “Are these the, um... figurines?” He asked, keeping himself from reaching out to touch anything. Something his parents had only needed to tell him once -- look but don’t touch. Sure, he’d have to touch them later, but he didn’t want to do anything without Reuben’s permission. God, why was he so weird?