Corruption (AUTOPLAY)

❝ Cool, ❞ Vanth mumbles, cheek pressed against the back of his hand. ❝ I can make fun of the murder scenes without spoiling you, then. ❞ The weight beside him lifts off the couch. Vanth watches Juliyah walk around the coffee table and out of the room with his head still down, only to see him return with a blanket and have it tossed over him the next moment. Vanth stays a blanket ghost long enough for Juliyah to return to his seat, and then finally gathers the motivation to pull it around himself. ❝ ... Thanks, ❞ says the Vanth-burrito at his side. Now that he's comfortable, hopefully Juliyah won't feel obligated to keep glancing his way.

"Nothing scares me," he says with confidence.

Adolin chuckles at the other man's description, finding it amusingly accurate. He thanks him as he walks away, then absentmindedly picks up his phone, fiddling with it while he waits - yes, he knows how to use a few more of the device's features now!

"I did warn you," he says with an amused tone.

“It’s impressive. How does he do that?” - Adolin asked with a grin. He hadn't expected Vanth to frequent the restaurant often enough to be friends with one of the staff, but it was a pleasant surprise.

"Don't ask me," he mutters with a shrug. He knows it's one of those rhetorical questions. "He's a bottomless pit." There's no ill meaning behind his tone. Even he's amazed at how much someone so small can eat, but he knows the reason behind it.

❝ Yeah. You know me, I'll never turn down a classic. ❞ Vanth doesn't reach for the snacks right away, instead setting his elbow against the arm of the couch and dropping his head against his knuckles. He's glad they're there, though—Juliyah was even kind enough to grab his favorites. He'll have to find the stomach for them before the movie ends.

"Yeah, lost count of how many times I watched it, actually." Juliyah rises again from his seat only to be gone for a moment before returning with a blanket this time. He tosses it over Vanth's head and plops right back down.

If Adolin had any lingering doubts that this was the place he was looking for, the greeting he received erased them immediately. A quiet chuckle slipped past his lips at the other man's confusion, and he couldn't resist teasing him. "Unless Vanth cut his hair, got a tan, and somehow grew a few inches..." - he flashed an easy grin. "No, I'm not Vanth. But I'll gladly take his usual."

Juliyah releases a huff that could only be described as a laugh. "Right. That man's in the sun whenever he's around me, and he's still pale." Vanth was pretty short and pasty as fuck. He keeps that thought to himself, though.

❝ Yeah, I'll join. ❞ But Vanth knows he'll hardly be paying attention. Still, that doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate the invite—not to mention, the lack of questions. It's something to get his mind off things, and at least he'll be with Juliyah instead of moping around the castle alone. ❝ ... Thanks. I'll drop my stuff off in one of the rooms and meet you on the couch. ❞ It doesn't take very long to do that. Vanth leaves his shoes by the door and disappears down the hall. By the time Juliyah returns, he'll find him sitting cross-legged on the couch, quietly staring at the dark television screen. Vanth huffs a humorless sound. Even his vague and fuzzy reflection looks like shit right now.

Juliyah returns with some snacks. Ones that he knows Vanth will like. He places them down on the coffee table, followed by some drinks, and grabs the remote.

Given the green light, Vanth sighs, though it does little for relief. Maybe some part of him is glad to get out of the house, but mostly... Mostly, he wishes he didn't have to leave in the first place. TXT: OK TXT: I will b there soon ___ Thanks to a little teleporting, soon really is soon. Vanth raps his knuckles on the front door less than half an hour later, carrying a bag holding a change of clothes. Just in case. ❝ Hey, ❞ Vanth greets bleakly once Juliyah answers the door. He doesn't look at him; his eyes are slightly swollen and pink. ❝ I, um. Brought some stuff with me. But if I can't crash here, then... it's cool. ❞

Juliyah was about to tease him. Ask if he's been crying in a teasing voice, but seeing as how Vanth had brought some extra clothes with him? Well, Juliyah has sense enough to NOT ask the question.

Alone and sitting on the edge of their mattress, Vanth opens his phone for the first time since arguing with Sebastian. The bedroom feels too large to stay holed up in like this. He has to get some fresh air. TO: Julililibeans 🫘🍭 FRM: Vanth

DING