here's to the future

“Yeah? That was a very nervous laugh,” Nickel observed, dryly. He briefly raised both eyebrows together, and then let the topic drop fully. “Some people have a hard time finding the door. You told ‘em it was a speakeasy, right?” 

He ran few fingers from his temple into his hair, thinking. At some point, he’d have trim the excess–actually shave, too, for the black tie thing. He could put that off a little while longer. “If they did bail, maybe you need to find some more adventuresome friends.” He left a pause, just here. “Want me to introduce you?”

“Slightly nervous, I’d say slightly.” But he allowed the conversation to be steered - Sometimes, Tyler forgot that there were people who knew Benji better than him. But of course Nick did, that was what brothers were supposed to do - Not that Tyler would really know, although he’d imagined his relationship with Jason was close to what it might be like, having a brother.

He nodded. “Yeah, gave them detailed instructions and everything. I swear, if I get a text about how they’re so sorry, but they really needed to do homework, or some bullshit… Well, you’d probably be right about that, then.” The point of most of his relationships with friends was stuff like this - He could only really tolerate excuses about schoolwork from Benji, with anyone else, he found it kind of silly. He was doing just fine in school, and he didn’t shut himself in every night.

sunset: who is someone you thought would be in your life forever, but you no longer talk to?

reflection: have you ever changed something you liked about yourself to satisfy someone else?

night light: who/what makes you feel safe?

It’s not one specific thing, or person, but Tyler always feels his safest in a crowd. At the peak of his problems with internet gambling, he spent a lot of time alone, in his room, with just his computer and that was when he realized how much he actually needed other people to feel good, and comfortable.

 midnight: are you a different person late at night than in the early morning?

More often than not, Tyler’s late nights and early mornings flow into each other so much that they almost feel like the same. He’s not necessarily a different person, although when he has a late night, the morning is either very coffee fueled, or he crashes, and doesn’t get up until he absolutely has to. He definitely wouldn’t describe himself, in any sense of the word, as someone who’s a morning person.

candle light: are you an indecisive person?

“Now, in general, I’d encourage that, but you gotta take precautions not to get murdered. God, that kid.” Nick rolled his eyes, briefly entertained by the idea of Benji, fuming, tearing apart a couch cushion, looking for a reading or whatever it was they got in super law school. Only the suggestion of the real anxiety Benji might feel over being forced into taking a day gave him pause. But really, who would be meaner to Benji–his friends and family, ribbing him over his workaholism, or Benji, indulging in it without intervention?

Nickel gently switched the track of the conversation back onto Tyler. “You meeting people here?” 

“I really doubt Benji is capable of that.” Tyler said with a slight laugh, although it wasn’t far from true. Even without his actual literal life on the line, he knew that taking his friend’s books would never actually end well. Not only that, but it sure as hell wouldn’t end in fun for anyone involved, even at it’s best. “Although, sadly, I agree, that it might not be the best option.” He shrugged. “Supposed to be, but either they’ve bailed, or they’re really, really lost.”

He gave his friend a relieved smile—one he didn’t realize was sitting there, waiting impatiently for confirmation until he’d gotten it, and then a sigh was turning into a chuckle, slipping out curved lips. “Good. So at least I know you’re still semi-reasonable.” 

Something slid across his mind again, as a lull formed between them. And he hadn’t been planning on mentioning it, because it wasn’t necessarily… relevant. 

No, that was a poor argument. Come on, Dalton, you’re better than that. 

Yes, it was relevant. But there wasn’t necessarily any benefit to bringing it up. Because would it change anything? Help anything? Make Tyler feel any better? Likely not, to all of the above. 

But there was a knotted feeling under his breastbone that felt a lot like he’d be being a dishonest friend if he kept it from him. 

He reached out to touch Tyler’s elbow just as they were approaching other people in the park. He slowed their pace to a stand still. Better say this now, while still out of earshot. “Hey, listen… I should tell you something. Nadia… when I met up with her this evening, before finding you. She mentioned she was here as well, because of her brother. Apparently he’d… gotten mixed up in the likes of this… cult, community, whatever it is. And he.. disappeared for a while. I don’t know, she was pretty vague about it. And I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but when you told me you were here because of Jason…” He licked his lips, taking a moment to search Tyler’s face. “I just thought you should know, I guess. I know it’s likely not even helpful information but.. let me know if you want to talk to her or something. I could introduce you. Or invite her over.” 

Tyler could tell, the moment where something was obviously going on in Benji's head that he couldn't figure out. No matter how hard he tried, or how much he liked to pretend he could, he couldn't really read his friend's mind. He paused, his smile not faltering, but become softer. But then when Benji spoke... He wasn't sure what exactly the feeling was, but it was heavy on his chest. 

"Oh." He said, because it was all he could really think to say. "I - Yeah." He frowned, biting his lip. "But like, he turned up again?" Whatever it was, there was hope, right? At least a little. There had to be.

Risk is part of the fun. It was better than nothing which was, Adare felt, all he’d been getting from the kid. But that statement told him that, at the very least, there was some interest in gambling. He liked poker, but he hadn’t been drawn in by any of the flashy machines around the casino. Adare reconsidered his prior stance. Maybe the kid didn’t care much for the intangible; maybe he preferred real cards with real faces and real chips. It could easily be a byproduct of being scared of the virtual world as much as it was a fear of being sucked back into the virtual world. Zircon, ever the enabler, would have a field day with this guy, but Adare wanted Oakenfold’s thorns sunk deep into his skin before he let Zircon get his hands on him. “Well, if you ever feel like taking a risk,” he began, producing two poker chips marked at $500 a piece from his pocket and setting them on the counter in front of the kid. Remnants of Michael’s last hand going towards a good cause. “And mixing it with a little fun and some real cards, none of this virtual bullshit   ” He tipped his champagne glass towards the machines a dozen or so feet away. “   you come see me. Sound fair?”

Honestly, the whole conversation Tyler had just had felt almost fake - Probably due to the  hundred plus year old champagne, like, who even could afford that sort of thing? He knew people with money, sure, but that had felt almost past regular wealth. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel admiration and a twinge of jealousy for it. But who wouldn't? 

It wasn't until after he'd had a few more drinks and played more than a bit of video poker that he noticed how late it was actually getting. That had always been a problem at home, but here it was even more so. Inside Oakenfold, time seemed like something that was easy to forget. But he had ended up there for longer than anticipated, so, with some disappointment, he headed for the door. 

At least, until he spotted a familiar face. "Kaitlin! Hey." He said, grinning at her.

While Forest had been friendly to Tyler in the past he had been hoping he wouldn’t stumble across the boy again. He had enough guilt with what happened to the players he lost, enough weight on his shoulders over the loss of Jason and the others. He didn’t need another reminder of that, another reason to feel that guilt more acutely. A reminder that these people weren’t just lost to him but had families and friends out there looking for them without even knowing they were gone for good. People who, like Davey, might eventually stumble upon Oakenfold with their need to get answers. 

He could’ve probably just waved Tyler off and continued on his way, but it felt a little wrong with the way the boy seemed somewhat out of sorts, like the early morning was already spelling out a very long day. Pulling the earbuds from his ears he offered Tyler a brief smile, “What brings you out here so early?” Or perhaps, so late, judging by the sleepless look in his eyes.

Honestly, Tyler expected to move on, keep walking. That was what people did in the city. At least, that was Tyler's experience. He didn't mind it too much, but it almost felt refreshing to him when Forrest stopped. He gave a simple shrug, and smiled back. 

"Late night, early morning, all sort of blending in to one." He replied with a small laugh, but a tired one.

benji: If I listened to you *all* the time I would either be dead, failing out, or a wino under a bridge somewhere.

benji: hahahahahaha

benji: I have to admit that's probably enough. Even for me. I concede.

benji: And considering how rare you must know that to be, I'd enjoy this moment while it lasts.

benji: Doesn't change the fact that you almost cooked it, though.

tyler: BUT I DIDNT

tyler: anyway weve strayed so far from the point here

benji: I don't give bad examples.

benji: How gracious.

tyler: thats subjective id say

tyler: anyway barack obama had a blackberry so like

Benji’s gaze cut across to Tyler as they made their way into the park. It was amused, but sarcastic. He rolled his eyes a bit. “Please, don’t play the modest card, Young. It doesn’t suit you. You know you’re a gorgeous bastard. It’s just better if we’re all on the same page.”

And though he had no idea, truly, what he was getting himself into, coming here, he also was reassured, in this moment, that he didn’t regret it for a second. Mostly because he could sense Tyler’s relief at his presence—the way his eyes lit up and his shoulders seemed to drop, even just a bit. Whatever his friend was going through, Benji was going to be there for him whatever way he could. And considering he wasn’t great at the traditional friend comforting things (partying, drinking to forget, coddling, etcetera etcetera…) his non-traditional and slightly pretentious sarcasm was going to have to do. 

From what he could tell, Tyler didn’t seem to mind. 

“Go with the flow… meaning, ‘fly by the seat of your pants, correct?’ Yes, that does sound like you.” His voice lowered a little, as they approached a space where others were milling about. Benji tried to get a sense of what was in store, but he couldn’t, still. “So… I take it you don’t have any idea of what the fuck this event is even about? What happens? We’re not going to be asked to strip down and participate in a ritual, are we? Because I love you, man, but not that much.” 

Tyler grinned, almost gleefully. Benji wasn't like a lot of his other friends, always playing into whatever joke he was going with in the moment, but he liked it better that way. Although, Benji was the only one who Tyler really liked it from, he would likely find it boring on anyone else. But there was an appeal to the way Benji interacted with him, and it was something at this point, he wouldn't give up for the world. Hell, he didn't know what he would do if he lost Benji, without Jason... He didn't want to think about it. 

"Fine, yes, that's what I mean." He replied. He wasn't entirely sure what this whole thing was going to entail either, and honestly, it only seemed like Benji was half joking. "Yeah, if that's what this is about, we're leaving. Like immediately."

benji: This morning when you put your Blackberry in the toaster oven instead of your hotpocket.

benji: Oh, and when you bought a Blackberry.

benji: And when you bought hotpockets, actually.

benji: I'm very familiar with your wisdom, yes. I suppose thanks are in order.

tyler : thats a bad example. i hadnt had my coffee.

Sentiment, in the context of gambling, was boring. How many times had Adare heard someone say they loved the game because their old man had taught it to them? Countless. Oberon had taught Adare how to do dozens of things that he still enjoyed to this, but he didn’t enjoy them for sentimental reasons. And while that wasn’t quite the case with this kid, learning poker first still gave it that attachment. That wasn’t something so easily manipulable as say someone chasing the high of the risk. So he took another sip of champagne, let it simmer in his mouth for a heartbeat, and swallowed before speaking again. “Just for fun then? Not into the whole risk and reward, big payday sort of shtick? That’s usually why most people come here.” And there was a reason he’d come here       Adare just had to get to the bottom of it. “Among other things.”

The risk and reward. It was true, that was probably why Tyler was here. No, it almost definitely was, at least most of it. But there was also something in his mind that didn't quite want to say that out loud. Maybe it was Benji's voice, in his head, telling him he should be more careful, or it was him thinking about how much of his sophomore year he'd spent sitting in front of a computer screen, either ignoring texts from his friends. But he still had a hard time seeing it as a problem - It would be a problem, if he was losing all his money, but he'd never had enough bad games to call it that. He’d come here now, finally, on impulse. Tyler had never been the best at self restraint. “Risk is part of the fun, I think.”

benji: Yes, I'll come with you. To keep you from doing something stupid, but I'll come with you.

benji: The price of being your caregiver is high, my friend.

benji: Probably not. It wouldn't talk as much.

tyler : when have i ever done anything stupid??? frankly i dont know if i should be offended you would even consider saying that