60.) Text

[havea_heart]

 Sergei's is open again.

theers cake here to celebrate

[Herz will be manning the fort for a little while at least. He's still a healing, stuttering mess, but he's refusing to hide in his room for longer than fourteen hours any given day.

Sitting out are a few various cakes--some meant to be taken more seriously than others. Enjoy the sweets,

Comments

[tanvirus]

[He's not up to seeing people or talking to anyone, but in the end, the dual lure of Herz's voice and cake is too much to resist.

What?

Cake is totally a food group.]

[havea_heart]

[Holy crap, you almost look worse than he does.]

Tan? H--Hey...

[tanvirus]

[The second he hears Herz's voice, he starts second guessing the "go out and get food" decision.

Smile, Tan. Fake that you're hungover or just woke up from a nap or something.]

Hey. You're healing up well.

[That's right. Smile and wave and eat your cake. He's fine, Herz. Fine!]

[havea_heart]

[Yeah, uh. Turning things to him? Pretty smart move on your part. Suddenly Herz is far more interested in small talk.]

Y--

Yeah, uh--

Thhh-thanks.

...can...c-can I--I-I--I

Get you...a-anything?

[tanvirus]

[Very clever, wasn't it? Too bad it wasn't intentional. No clever points for Tan.]

No, I'm...

[He peers at his half eaten cake, suddenly not sure if he's hungry enough to eat the rest.]

I'm good. Thanks.

[havea_heart]

[Well, this isn't awkward. Herz shifts his weight from one foot to the other, suddenly feeling like he's intruded and ruined the guy's appetite.]

O--Okay.

...shh--

Sh--shhould I...leave you, uh...be ah--o-or...?

[tanvirus]

[No worries, Herz, Tan ruined it all by himself.

He closes his eyes for a second before answering. The man looks wiped the hell out.]

Nah, it's okay. You can stick around if you want.

[havea_heart]

[Gosh, he really does. Herz takes the seat next to him and leans on the table, dark eyes in his direction. He's following your lead, man, because...

Well, he's Herz.]

[tanvirus]

[That's very sweet of you, Herz. Tan's just going to pick at his cake a little more.

...Has he lost weight?

Nah. Just shadows under his eyes.]

[havea_heart]

[After a few vaguely uncomfortable minutes of silence, Herz stumbles across his pair and gives Tan a gentle nudge with his elbow.]

Y--you--y-you look like you could--ccc-c-c-could use mm-more than just cake.

[tanvirus]

[What? Did you say something, Herz? He wasn't listening. It's probably obvious from the faintly confused expression on his face.]

Oh?

...Oh. Yeah, I guess. Just not real hungry.

[Assume he's sick, Herz. Please.]

[havea_heart]

[Good idea!]

Sick?

[C'mon, Tan, just let him mother you a LITTLE bit!]

[tanvirus]

Mmm. Maybe. Maybe drank too much.

[Shit, he actually lied. Tan hasn't had a drop to drink for days.

And okay, okay. Get him some soup and some cocoa already!]

[havea_heart]

[...you know what, he's not entirely buying it.

MAYBE ITS BECAUSE YOU'RE SO DAMNED UPBEAT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME.

Seriously, dude, this is borderline-unnerving.]

y'should--should eat.

I--I-I mean. More than--than the cake.

[...and yet, he doesn't go directly to the kitchen like a good little wiafu. Is he actually giving you room to argue?

Yes.

Because he's a polite fucker for some damn reason.]

[tanvirus]

[Only borderline? Tan's normally a chatty bastard, and now he's practically monosyllabic, and you call this "borderline" unnerving? Wow.]

Yeah, I should.

[At least he admits it!]

Just not real hungry right now.

[havea_heart]

[Look, he didn't want to be dramatic, okay?

Well, more dramatic than usual.]

...h-how long, um. Havehh--hhh-h-have you b--been...

How--hh-how long has--h-has your appi-app--a-

[GOD FUCK.]

Whenn--w-when'd it start?