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[/i][/INDENT][/INDENT][CENTER][COLOR=04cf3a][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/QXDwaZX.jpeg[/img] [/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=04cf3a][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]The Augmented Reality Center - Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=04cf3a][b]Dance Monkey #4.069:[/b][/COLOR] [color=white][I][b]I Care What You Think[/b][/I][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=04cf3a][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=04cf3a][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]Haven [@Skai], Mary Tyler,[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=04cf3a][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5561543][I]Hawkward Memory[/I][/url][/right][/SUP]

[INDENT]

The night air cut into his lungs in a way he didn’t anticipate. He only now realized just how hot it had been at the dance, surrounded by other people the entire night. He moved away from the entrance, giving a small nod to some congregated cliques of seniors either leaving or taking a break from the festivities. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his dress shirt, welcoming the cooling relief. His thoughts were a little muddled and hazy. He should have eaten more, but he was more than used to the sensation.

Rory rubbed his hand, feeling a deep discomfort at his actions. He didn’t understand the strange man, and still didn’t quite understand how he could hear clothes. A disorder usually wouldn’t manifest that vivid, and he was dating someone who was part bird: the hype-gene manifested in mysterious ways, it seemed. Rory lifted a hand to rub the bridge of his nose, silently mouthing off a few numbers. He did not want to spiral that night, and opted to keep himself grounded as best he could.

He slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out his phone and immediately swiping through his contacts. Within seconds, he lifted the phone to his ear. After several agonizing rings, she picked up.

[color=00aeef]“Rory… aren’t you supposed to be at the dance? What’s wrong?”[/color]

Rory hesitated, desperately looking for any words to explain his situation or what he needed. Instead, all he could muster was a single word. [Color=04cf3a]“Date.”[/color]

Silence followed on the other line, before loud scratching and some static. He had gotten Mary’s attention. [color=00aeef]“Date? Hold on… you’re on a date at the dance?”[/color]

Rory shook his head. This wasn’t what he needed. [Color=04cf3a]“Yes, but-”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“Oh my god… wait, did you finally ask out Ka-”[/color]

[b][Color=04cf3a]“NO!”[/color][/b] His response was a bit louder and more forceful than he expected. He couldn't bear to hear that name, especially not now. He immediately recoiled from his own voice, letting loose a flustered clarification. [Color=04cf3a]“No, no, it’s Haven. I’m on a date with Haven.”[/color]

The silence that followed was easily deciphered by Rory. He knew that Mary had put him on speaker, and was quickly scrolling through the photos he would often send of himself and Blackjack. She was trying to remember which one Haven was. [color=00aeef]“Is she… no, not the pilot… the girls with wings, right?”[/color]

[Color=04cf3a]“Yes, and-”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“She’s gorgeous.”[/color] This response elicited a small blush from the elder Tyler.

[Color=04cf3a]“I know, but that’s not-”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“How’d you guys-”[/color]

[Color=04cf3a]“I fucked up, Mare!”[/color] This outburst was not as loud and defensive as the last, but was filled with the same manic urgency.

[color=00aeef]“Already?”[/color] Her voice didn’t carry the same smugness that her twin would have given, and instead seemed more incredulous. [color=00aeef]“It’s been, what, an hour or so? What happened?”[/color]

Rory paused, taking a breath. [Color=04cf3a]“I… was a bit rude to someone she punched.”[/color]

The silence that followed was deafening.

[Color=04cf3a]“Hello?”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“I’m here. I’m just trying to figure out why that’s a problem.”[/color]

Rory shook his head, combing through the negative thoughts swirling in his head. But every time he opened his mouth, they felt ridiculous to say. It took him a few moments to gape out something intelligible. [Color=04cf3a]“He’s an awkward guy who talks to clothes. And it seemed like Haven put that behind her.”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“And what did you do that was rude?”[/color]

[Color=04cf3a]“I squeezed his hand.”[/color]

He could hear the deep breath on the other end of the phone before Mary spoke again. [color=00aeef]“Rory… you didn’t fuck up by squeezing that guy’s hand.”[/color]

[Color=04cf3a]“But-”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“You did fuck up by running away, not apologizing, and leaving your date alone so you could tattle on yourself to your sister.”[/color]

Rory was used to getting knocked on his ass. He had been steamrolled over by some of the strongest students at P.R.C.U. in a variety of sports. But Mary’s words always found a way to rip the wind from his lungs in a way no one else could. Before he could even try to muster up a defense, he heard the call end. She had hung up on him, and left him floundering for some form of external validation. Instead, he was left alone outside of the ARC. He slid his phone into his pocket, ran his hand through his hair, and walked back into the fray. He cut his way through whatever crowd remained near the entrance, where the sound wasn't quite as blaring as the dance floor. As he entered into the main hall, he turned his head around to try and find Haven. His heart sank a little as he didn't see her where he had left her. Maybe she had left-

[color=#d2b48c]“There you are, handsome. Sorry if I scared you, being gone so long.”[/color]

Rory's head whipped back to see Haven had slipped next to him. The smile on his face was immediate, but fell slightly as he observed her face. He felt that tightness form in his chest. He paused for a moment before he spoke, taking a deep breath. [Color=04cf3a]"No, no... I was just getting some fresh air... had a talk with my sister, and she really let me have it."[/color] His face contorted as he physically cringed at how dumb that had sounded, before shaking his head. He needed to focus, and the discomfort on Haven's face was a more pressing concern. [Color=04cf3a]"Sorry, did I miss something?"[/color]

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