#xfccarnival

(!* it should have only taken a few minutes -- should have being those key words, chanyeol could laugh because of course things never go as he plans them but, you know, whatever that's fine let's go with the flow.  either way, he only meant to be separated from james for just a few minutes -- just a few, to get them a drink or something.  maybe some cotton candy or those funnel cakes because james has been really cooperative and this has been fun besides, well, the kid almost vomiting on him earlier but that's another story for a different day. 

it had been a considerably good night for someone who didn't get to find anyone to go with her in the first place -- upon reaching the tent of a certain handler's, jiyeon had both managed to borrow her 800 won and drag eden out to the carnival grounds with her.

this is going to be good -- right?

"come onnnnnnnnnnnnn--you were shot in the shoulder not the legs!" jiyeon whines, tugging lightly on the sleeve of the poor handler's in her grasp (she was careful not to touch touch him, knowing fully well that eden didn't have the best tolerance toward mutants--even if she was from the same organization).

"you're killing me, eden -- you're literally killing me!" she groans, avidly working leading him toward the cotton candy stands like the (inner) child she is. "the pink ones are going to be sold out!"

they're the cheapest ones of course --

Jimin was bored, simple as that. And a bored Jimin was a restless Jimin. He had been lying in bed for the better half of the morning and it was getting tiresome just staring aimlessly at the ceiling. 

This... was not the spring break he had in mind. 

It took him about thirty more minutes to actually drag himself out of bed, looking for his so-called roommate and not seeing him in the general vicinity of their room. Another thirty for showering and putting on something decent. This sucked.

He pulled out his phone, sending a quick text to Hyungjin (Jayden really, but he had trouble saying that sometimes.).

(!* xavier knows a lot of things.  that's probably the understatement of the century but chanyeol sighs as he jumps up, grabs at a tree limb and half walks up the side before landing on his feet with clear eyes and a whistle.  it's probably more strange to find him walking like a normal person; everywhere he goes he's climbing or jumping just because he likes to, because it's good training --.  but he doesn't even think about it, because this is what's normal for him; instead he thinks about james arlington and how xavier is worried about the boy and his sensitivities, about what happened a few weeks ago.  ' can you check on him', he asks, and chanyeol says, ' yeah, sure !' with a smile on.  he knows what james looks like, but he doesn't know who james is.  today he's going to find out, and his eyes shine when he sees the younger man a bit ahead -- )

limbo, that’s his current situation, stuck in a netherworld between embarrassing attempts at flirting and the ambiguous result to the venture controlled part by curiosity and part by something magnetic. (hormones? human nature? not enough research could answer questions on interpersonal relationships) and he’s stuck in a place in time where only text is exchanged, information broken apart and transferred by the help of control channel, and with each flashing notification he feels himself become more anxious. this is exactly why studying is infinitely better than companionship - but the thought is overcome by a million others and he replies with his brow characteristically furrowed.

(. txt ) d&d as a euphemism for what? dicks and dungeons? what kind of person do you think i am?

(. txt ) wait. don’t answer that. i forgot you’re borderline delusional.

his fingers cease their jittery, hyperactive movements as a new string of messages arrive, the letters black like crows and his head swathed in similar confusion, lost in the dark with only a box of matches. what? is he really being asked out on a date to a carnival (to someone who has never been, no less) or is it possible that he’s the delusional one here and - oh, he called me cute. fuck, heat rises to his cheeks and muttered swears breaks the silence as he sits there, staring at the texts that can’t be logically denied as accidental practically giddy. he’s screwed, totally, irrevocably, screwed. 

and yet, happy about it. 

(. txt ) …

(. txt ) did you send that to the wrong person? i’m not cute. who is it that you think you are talking to? i am the danger. 

(. txt ) when are you free? 

he's not too worried, not at all ( not really ) -- the thought of being rejected never really crosses his mind because jr knows it won't happen.  byunghun obviously likes him too much ( but he's a typical tsundere; hey, he learned that word just for byung ok. )  he likes this game of cat and mouse, jr has known somewhere in his heart that they were bound for this sometime.  ever since he first caught sight of hot pink hair and mildly excited eyes, he's wanted -- it's a strange feeling, wanting things when you're determined to live simple.  but now jr has the mouse in his paws and he won't let go.  it doesn't take too long for messages to start flying in -- and jr can't stop that smile from creeping on his lips, just imagining the put off look on pretty boy's face is enough to have him grinning ear to ear.

(. txt ) you're the one who said it, not me --

(. txt ) come on, am i really that delusional? you know you want me ~

his eyes twinkle -- he's teasing, he can't help it.  jr can't help but wonder what byunghun's face looks like now; probably red and annoyed and something else that he can't really put a name to -- maybe he looks happy.  maybe a little hopeful.  jr definitely hopes so; his fingers give pause over his phone screen as his smile freezes and a little hint of doubt crosses his eyes.  he probably shouldn't do this -- start something up with byunghun, really; he doesn't deserve it but he wants, and the momentary lapse of judgment passes with the flash of a new text.  he smiles.

(. txt ) your name is lee byunghun, isn't it? 

(. txt ) i think you're the only person i'd ever call cute ok pls 

(. txt ) uhh i don't think you know what danger is.  you're cute. like a mouse.

he almost laughs in triumph.  almost.  but his heart is too full to bursting and jr can't answer fast enough --