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[pharmacy]

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Quentin Smith, 23

letters ◇ thoughts ◇ dreams

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[pharmacy]

[ He remembers those stitches. He remembers, too, how dodgy Felipe was about the injuries. House must be a friend, if he was willing to be cared for that closely. Something burrows against his ribs--a little like jealousy, a little like sheepishness. Maybe he has the wrong idea about House. ]

kind of
It's a lot of the same stuff, but it feels like I'm doing it underwater
Everything is so slow here, like your scars wouldn't have lasted a week where I'm from

How are they anyway?

[ludomania]

People heal faster there?

[ he has no idea how that's even possible. does everything else happen at a quicker pace too? ]

But I could tell – just from the way you touched me. I'd be doing much worse if it wasn't for you.

[ it comes easy to him and he doesn't even try to hide it. the fondness. Quentin was gentle when he needed it most and he'll remember that. ]

[pharmacy]

A lot faster
Not a lot of room to do clumsy work, so you have to learn fast, but you aren't trying to run with a limp for like months



fwiw I was kind of nervous I scared you off

[ludomania]

[ that's so weird. he'll never get used to people telling him about their worlds and how different they are. ]

Sorry, my roommate came back. I thought I lost her.

[pharmacy]

No, don't apologize, I just wanted to say I'm glad
I like you, I like having you around

Was your roommate part of
all of that?

[ludomania]

You're sweet, Quentin.

She went into the forest with me and someone else. She was supposed to turn back, but it was too late. I couldn't do anything to protect her.

[pharmacy]

yeah but you couldn’t help it, right? She has to understand that

are you guys okay?

[ludomania]

She's back to risking her life in stupid ways, so yeah, I suppose.

[ he's always worried about Mavis, frustrated too, but she's dear to him. ]

Do you have many friends here? Are they going?

[pharmacy]

[ That sounds like this friend is venturing into the Void. Knowing what little he knows of Felipe, that doesn't jive with the idea of Felipe staying at the gate. For the moment, he holds onto that. More importantly: ]

dude are you seriously asking if I have any friends?

[ludomania]

[ stupid. he snorts. ]

Well, do you?

[pharmacy]

a couple, yeah, turns out I'm nice, actually

[ Teasing is a good distraction. If he thinks too closely about his friends, he has to consider that two of them are gone. Temporarily so, he's assured and believes--but he shuffles past the thought before it can get hooked too deep in his lungs. Easy enough during the daytime. ]

Junpei is with me, we're sticking to the clinic
My roommate doesn't need any convincing
Everyone else is still recovering from the night at the castle lmao

[ludomania]

[ will they ever have a conversation without distractions™. ]

Are they sick?

[pharmacy]

[ah, there's the hook ]

sure
I mean we can't really die, right? lmao

[ludomania]

[ Quentin!! his stomach sinks at the answer. the connection intensifies as he turns his full attention to the younger man. ]

Hey.

Hey, are you okay?

[pharmacy]

Yes
yeah
I mean I'm sad and scared and pissed about it, but wtf am I supposed to do?

yours all came back fine, right?

[ludomania]

[ what the fuck did they do at the castle that had the Duchess murder them. skip the dessert? this is officially the angriest he's felt about the Duchess during his time here. ]

You could have told me about it.

[ honestly a little upset that Quentin didn't. because obviously everything should be about him. ]

But yeah, they did. I'm sure your friends will be back too. They'll be fine. It just takes time and you need to be patient. I can help you pass the time if you want. Anything you need.

[pharmacy]

Kinda seems like you have a lot going on, I didn't want to pile on

If you're offering, I would fucking love to drink about it
You can teach me to play one of your stupid games

sorry: COOL games
I'll pay attention and everything

[ He will not. ]

[ludomania]

You can always talk to me.

As long as you don't insult my games we'll drink all night. You don't have to be alone.

Just give me a moment to find what we need.

→ tavern

[pharmacy]

take all the time you need, I'm finishing up out here 
I'll see you at the tavern

[ His funds are modest, but you can really get away with modest if you're not very picky and not very happy. Good company is half the battle, anyway, and Felipe is always good company. Quentin's warm feelings for him might waver if he ever looked too closely at them, but there's a tacit agreement between them so far: when you look away, I look away. It may not be wise, but it feels safe, at least. 

[ He is definitely questioning his feelings when Felipe tries to explain scoring on this card game. This is the third time. He's about three drinks in. His mouth has been hanging open this whole time, eyes glazed over as he tries to listen, but then some absolutely nonsense catches his ear-- ] 

Wait, what? When the fuck do you call trump, how do I know what trump is? 

[ Dropping his hand face up on the table, Quentin slouches back into the booth with a petulant, coughing whine. His knees bump Felipe's under the table, once accidentally and then again and again on purpose. ] I can't hear this, who makes up these rules? Who has the time?

[ludomania]

I told you. Three times.

[ Felipe lets out a frustrated noise when Quentin shows his hand, the sign that the game is definitely over. despite the circumstances Felipe was ready to take this seriously, hoping to get a new opponent of Quentin, but it looks like he has to admit defeat even before finishing one proper game. he gathers the cards into his hands from the table and begins shuffling them – not for another game. just to calm his nerves. ]

We should try another game. One that doesn't involve cards.

[ under the table he hooks Quentin's leg with his own to stop him from the bratty kicking. ]

All we need is a bottle.

[pharmacy]

[ He wants to learn! He wants to learn, and he’s miserable over not learning, but the different between sets and runs and matches and trumps is too much to keep in his head right now and—and Felipe proposes a simple alternative. He likes simple.

[ Quentin’s eyebrows raise, knees pinch around Felipe’s and tug as he winds his fingers around the bottle at the table. Wine, sharp-tasting and strong, just enough to pour half a glass for Felipe and half for himself. He shoots his own. It isn’t fine stuff. The bottle, he sets between them officiously. ]

Teach me. I swear I’m listening.

[ludomania]

[ that's what Quentin has been saying this whole time and Felipe could swear he didn't hear a thing. he laughs at the serious look on his face and attempts to knock his knees back. ]

Lucky for you, it's fairly simple. You tell me three things about yourself, one of them being a lie. I'll try to guess which one and...

[ he shrugs and gestures at the bottle. it's not difficult. everyone has probably played it before. ]

I'll start, yeah? [ he holds up three fingers, lowering one with each fact. ] I've stolen from my father, I've been married and I've stolen from the Duchess.

[pharmacy]

[ His mouth lilts open for a minute. Oh, he knows this game! He likes this game. But the last thing that Felipe says is less fun than the other two. His voice drops low. ]

Felipe, tell me you didn't steal shit from her.

[ludomania]

Weren't you listening? You have to guess.

[ he reaches over the table to flick his forehead gently. ]

[pharmacy]

Okay, fine, the lie is--hey! [ He slaps at Felipe's hand, anyone's bet if he actually makes contact. ] --that you stole from the Duchess, what the fuck would you even take? I couldn't even leave the tour without someone grabbing my fucking ear.