:Rəset: (PRIVATE)

Oh finally...

Charlie awkwardly clutched her bag of cinnamon bread, cheeks puffed out as she watched the awkward casanova waltz out of the scene, clearly just as uncomfortable as her. With this in mind, she shuffled over to Jason and Gil, clearly ready to get out of this hell of eye-burning fluorescent lights and the constant drone of patrons and nodding in agreement to Jason's call for food.

If this bread was paid for, she had no problem walking right out of the store and driving the car back to their apartment to eat like a family. Or something.

    Oh great, Drei actively avoided looking in the sheep prince's direction, pretending to take great interest in the fluorescent lights and concrete ceiling above them. He waited a few feet away near the door, gripping his bag of easy to eat items that would be able to sustain him for quite some time. Him alone. This should be okay, right? Just like he didn't expect to be fed by the others, he certainly didn't expect to feed them either. Yes, this is fine.


    The less-than-chipper blonde nodded in affirmation. "Let's go," he sighed, readjusting his grip on the bags in his arms for the walk back. His phone buzzed a couple of times in his front pocket, Drei making a mental note to check once his hands weren't so full of gym-ready supplements and meal replacements.

    Upon returning to the apartment Drei pulled out his phone, a text from an unfamiliar number in Wisconsin appearing in his inbox.

    Talk to you at 9
 
    Furrowing his brow, the young man sighed and locked his screen, tapping the side of his phone before starting to unload his supplies into his backpack while the others unpacked their own groceries. With an exhausted and sigh, he flopped on the ground next to his backpack and pulled out a newly purchased protein bar. Whey protein flavored like... cookie dough. Why the hell did I pick this?? Taking a bite he sat back and observed something that he hadn't expected: the others had pooled together their food supplies and began cooking together. ...Really? He'd expected one of the bubbly extraverts to step up and take care of Major but he surely didn't expect... everyone to be contributing. They were nearly strangers still, right? Right? Heat gathered at his cheeks as he looked away, fingers digging into the skin at the back of his neck as if to distract from the choir of "stupid stupid stupid"s now playing in his head.

----

    He couldn't help but take a taste of the spaghetti, his resilience failing thanks to the aroma that had been floating around the room. But it was just a taste, not wanting to take too much from the others and instead opting to retreat and wash the dishes. It was the least he could do after not contributing to their food stores, after all.
 

    Drei looked up, doing a quick sweep of the accommodations the room had to offer, a sharp buzz of his phone knocking him out of his decisiveness. "I'll take a bed, I don't mind sharing," he replied quickly and ducked into the bathroom, closing the door and checking his phone. Again the unknown Wisconsin number displayed on his screen, although this time ringing him up. Thumb sliding across the screen, he quietly answered. "Hello?" A chipper voice responded on the other end.

    "Bro, it's me! How's your vacation going??"

    Drei's shoulders relaxed as a familiar voice accompanied that unfamiliar number. Elodie had already warned him she'd spoof her number when calling, but it still raised his paranoid hackles every time. "...Fine," he responded tersely, his clipped responses betraying the relief he was currently feeling. Despite the nameless and vague nature of their conversation, it proved to be soothing, providing an outlet of stress relief to the bird who'd been humming with anxiety all day.

    "Alright tell the guys I said hi, and have a fun trip! Love you."

    "... Yeah, love you too," Drei mumbled softly, their convo coming to an end, tapping to hang up and stepping out of the bathroom, sitting on the edge of the bed he'd already mentally marked as his.    

   While dinner had been filling, Kaine had secretly hoped in the back of his mind pasta and delivery meals weren't going to be a habit. However, for the time being the man pushed aside his concerns in favor for some much needed relaxation. The day had progressively escalated despite his initial expectations upon meeting what he predicted would be a deadbeat group of socially awkward hooligans. Overall, the troupe had a bit of balance to them with a few different flavors mixed into the batter. Either for better or for worse. 

   Kaine ran his hand through his hair, a yawn escaping him as he did so. His fingers tugged at the tangled strands as he absentmindedly attempted to straighten them out. Sharing a bed? It wasn't as if Kaine found the act awkward in the least, in fact he was rather... familiar with it. However, he didn't exactly have a read on just how everyone tossed and turned within their slumber. As long as none of them suffered from vivid night terrors, it was most likely a solid option. "Sharing isn't a problem," he assured before making his way towards the bathroom. His freehand reached for the light switch before scanning the tiny room as his eyes searched the drawers for signs of a hair brush. Luckily one had been readily supplied, along with a hair dryer which would admittedly come in handy later. Yet as the thought struck him, his thoughts stopped at the word: later?

   How long was he really planning to stay here? Sure, he tagged along partially for curiosity but just how long could he ride on inquisitiveness alone? He very well could've been blown to smithereens earlier if they had just been a second too late. Just because he went through Hell and back in the past doesn't mean he was readily prepared to relive the experience again. On the other hand, withdrawing may not be even an option being what transpired. If he already got himself into a mess, then making allies would be better than being alone. Even if they aren't exactly optimal. 

   Alas, he shook his head for now before letting his hair down and lifting the brush to the locks. He stared back at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes wandering to the mirror image of the drop of turquoise from his ear as he exhaled. The room became quiet as his mind came to a halt, and he let the stillness in the room take over as his brushing gradually became slower...

   Once done, he promptly placed the brush back into the drawer before walking back out, not even bothering to retie his hair for the time being. His pupils darted across the the figures, to which they stopped upon Katy for a brief moment. Truthfully, I wouldn't mind if he slept on the floor... He didn't want to risk waking up to next to a fretful sack of tears. As for the next candidate, Elrod had been persistent about staying in his own occupied space, to which Kaine had only assumed the poor fellow receiving such a situation as a social nightmare. Major was a concern, being the only girl and a child she was probably less than eager than to be sharing the same resting spot with any of the other group members. As for Gil and Jason, they didn't have anything in particular he could point out to be a potential problem when it came to sleeping. 

   Really, the biggest (or perhaps second biggest, depending on Major) obstacle was the bird roosting upon its perch just a few steps away, and just like a bird, it was mostly to be territorial with its nest. Most feathered fiends would screech and peck at signs of a predator, making that possible arrangement disastrous in most cases...

   ...Or hilarious. His eyes wandered back to Jason, who had the audacity to ask if the blondie's sister was single. If fate deemed them tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum (or rather, Casanova one and two), then why not play the part? After all, he doubt Drei would rather switch places and try to make amends with the little league after his outburst earlier. In all seriousness he could've been making a mistake, but at the same time he'd be lying if he said he was going to forget Four-eyes' attitude during their ragtag operation earlier. 

   With that, he waltzed over to the ginger before lowering his voice as to keep the conversation between them, "Listen, it's probably better if Major goes with Gil. He seems to understand her best, and we might make her uncomfortable. I vote you, Drei, and I take this one. Though of course, it's up to you..." 

Jason was pleased to find that already a few people were okay with sharing. It made the whole ordeal a lot easier. He frowned at Katy, though, being gloomy and as insecure as ever.

"Katy, I'm sure we can figure something out! Sleeping on the floor is.." But Jason started to really take in the place, seeing their options of sleeping was rather limited. Maybe he could sleep on the floor... But before Jason could think anymore about that individual, Elrod spoke up about not sleeping at all. "No sleep?Can you do that?" Jason raised an eyebrow at his friend. He couldn't remember if it was because it had been so long since we'd all roleplayed or the day had felt so long, but he couldn't remember if that had to do with his powers or not. "Wouldn't that be uncomfortable... and a bit lonely?"Maybe he was being rude asking the last thing... but it was already out of his lips now. Too late!

His attention was next switched to the long haired prince whom decided to suggest a sleeping arrangement.
"Oh! That sounds good to me!" Jason smiled, eyes going from Kaine and then to Drei. Weren't they fighting earlier though...?M Maybe this was Kaine's way of trying to make things up to him..? Or maybe it'd make things more awkward... Jason honestly wasn't the best judge of that, so for now he'd just go with the thought that it was a good idea. When Jason went to look at the girl and the blonde it seemed as if they were already talking. "Looks like that'd be the best idea for those two as well. Thanks Kaine."Jason nodded, suddenly looking at the man's locks that had been freed from their capture. Staring at it for a couple seconds, the man considered reaching out and touching it.... but that'd be weird, right? Hmm maybe he tried to sneak a feel while in bed.. That was arguably worse but oh well. Turning around, the redhead faced Drei with a big grin on his face. "Ready to sleep, my man?"


---

Katy stayed silent for the most part, still willing to give his body up to the floor. He deserved to sleep there for the inconveniences, after all.. Maybe he could suggest Elrod take the couch...? But then the ever so positive and kind Gil had approached him, and to Charlie, suggesting that Katy hinself take the couch. R-really? He'd want him to? Katy got a little flustered for the kindness even though it wasn't anything special at all. It was just Gil being Gil. Katy was so touched he hadnt even paid attention to Gil's jokes, Katy trying not to tear up. Letting his grip on his legs loosen a little a he sat there. "I-if.... it'd be okay... I'll sleep there.." 'Only because he suggested it...' Katy slowly picked himself up and then out of nowhere hugged Gil, tears starting to pool in his eyes. "Th-thank you!!" He shouted a little too loud.

This was the only time in her life she ever felt like she had a real family dinner: surrounded by people she cared about in some form while eating the best food she had in a while. Considering her diet was mostly ramen and box mac 'n cheese, that wasn't too much of an accomplishment. But she at least had all the cinnamon bread and pasta she wanted, even going as far as to share some with her 'newfound' friend Gil. She'd definitely have to pack leftovers at her computer pad just in case, but there was always the fridge in case she needed to sneak over to the other end of the room.
Speaking of room, however, there would definitely be difficulties in how to approach sleeping. She eyed the couch in the other room, considering it'd make a great chair for a desk in case she would work late into the night.

A small nod resulted from Gil's suggestion, although reluctant considering she knew nothing of his sleeping habits. For all she knew, he could sleep with only socks and take up the entire bed space. But, the benefit of the doubt would have to be the main mind frame she'd have to work with in this case. At least he was right about Katy: that guy must have had energy focus packed into his powers or else he couldn't generate that many tears that fast.

A small chuckle escaped her lips as she made plans as to how to set up her workspace. Katy would have the couch, so that took away a huge part of her plan to have a comfortable chair to sleep in when her escapades got really tiring: but hope wasn't completely lost. The little girl snatched her laptop bag off the ground as she set up her system on the smaller desk in the other room, marking a chair as hers with an extra jacket slung on top as she got to work plugging in all of her components.

Granted, it wasn't as fancy as she would have liked, but purchasing better computer parts illegally would have to come later. Now, laying down after a food coma sounded nice, following that thought process by plopping down on her appointed bed and resting up.