but even if the stars and moon collide [afterparty]

[allatonce]

[Well, that sucked!

After about an hour, invitations written in colorful ink appear under everyone's doors.]

Understandable if you're not up to it, but we're having a memorial and "don't wanna be alone" hang-out in the restaurant again.

[The restaurant has very much been decorated with the most rainbow fabric she could find in the department store. Jonathan got roped in, mainly so she could make sure he was doing okay, but also because she assumed that he knew how to put a tablecloth on a table. He seemed like the type, anyway.

After consulting with Undertaker, most of the food that's been set out is more traditional Chinese funeral food than Victorian—you can get a whole roast duck in the restaurant—but she tried for a mix of things. There is fruit, the aforementioned roast duck, and several vegetarian dishes along with potatoes for some reason and... cookies? Okay then.

Joy's trying, because that was way less terrible for her than it was for basically anyone else.

Happy Pride Wrath, New Rapture!]

Comments

[bootyhunter]

Abso-friggin'-lutely, my guy! Me and them don't speak the same language, but that's what translator bracelets are for.

[He jingles the Sonic-ass gold plated wristlet on his... Uh. Wrist.]

I also figured out another foolproof way to flirt with the ladies if this gem of a device ever breaks.

[He blinks one eye in... All that can be described as a series of more blinks, just quickly, but at different paces... And then does something similar with the other eye.]

It's like Morse Code, only with winkin'! Yeah, I know.

[WHAT??? WHAT IS IT... THAT YOU KNOW!!!]

I'm a genius.

[sixthnonsense]

[Hagakure literally has no reason not to believe any of this, so he is instead hella impressed.]

Seriously? That works? What were you saying just now?

[He knows...a little morse code. But his brain is in no position to parse any of it right now.]

[bootyhunter]

Of course! You really think I would share one of my personal tips of the trade without testin' it out first?

[HE WOULD! HE ABSOLUTELY WOULD AND IT IS UNDENIABLE!

ALSO HIS MEMORY IS VERY VERY BAD!]

[sixthnonsense]

[Hagakure continues to not know any better. Clearly, this is a work of pure genius.

...also, the image of this conversation continuing with Dandy still just right up against him.]

Can you teach me sometime? Then we'd have a secret code only we can speak!

1/2 last two parter i swear

[bootyhunter]

For sure, buddy!

[It absolutely is! Dandy blinks once with his right eye, then once with his left, and then with his right eye once more!]

That's code for a thumbs' up!

[Okay! Okay he is finally taking a step back and taking a more daring sip of that shitty alcohol now, and-]

2/2

[bootyhunter]

[...Touch.

It burns, it burns, it burns. Both the liquor in his throat and the notion that it never lasts, and that no connection of the physical sort is permanent. This is something that Dandy has always known, both about himself and the nature of the universe.

The sensation of someone's skin against your own is what reminds you that you are, indeed, alive. Or at least feeling that way.

Oh that glass is gonna be empty now son!]

Huh.

My head feels funny.

[sixthnonsense]

[Hagakure begins to practice the wink-code for a thumbs up, not even realizing that a thumbs up is just something you can do quietly anyway--]

Huh?

[He stops his blinking and focuses his gaze on Dandy. With a laugh, he moves to take a sip of his own drink.]

That'd be the booze kickin' in if I had to guess. I toldja this stuff is strong.

[It knocked him on his ass last week. Tonight, he's...well, he's been feeling the buzz but it's coming on a little less intensely. ]

[bootyhunter]

[Oh, it's strong alright.

It's here, again, that repeating string of smiles. All the women looking over their shoulder at him, their lips curling into a smile, only their hair changes and the dark silhouettes of their faces don't quite look the same each time. None of the grins match.

God, there were so many. But did any of them actually love him? That he certainly can't remember.

Hagakure may notice that Dandy is staring at a spot right above the younger man's shoulder.]

...Do you do this a lot?

Or did you?

[A clue that he's out of it.

The fortune teller just mentioned it moments before, that his classmates were too young for this sort of thing.]

Back in there?

[sixthnonsense]

[It's a little peculiar to be sure, but Hagakure doesn't find it something to worry about just yet. Alcohol does make your brain fuzzy.]

Y'mean drink? Yeah, booze is honestly the only drink I really like. But there wasn't any of it in the school. I'm kinda surprised I didn't get a lot of withdrawals, honestly...

[Then again, it was far longer ago that he last drank than he remembered.]

With someone like this? [He tips his head back to down the rest of the bitter liquid. It never tastes any better, and it's hell going down, but at least he feels good.] Never.

[...he could probably feel better.]

[bootyhunter]

[Shit! Fuck. That's sad.

That's mad depressing, actually. It kind of snaps him out of it.

The girls disappear.]

Whaaaaaa-?! Whoa, dude!

[Dandy is going to attempt to lean on Hagakure's shoulder, though he might be a little closer than usual. He's definitely wobbling a little.]

Rule number one of downin' drinks- Do not try to throw 'em all back by yourself!

I mean, then who's gonna be holdin' all that of hair back for ya if you've gotta hurl? And you've got a lot of hair.

[this is um gay

but dandy is gonna flip one of those locks back with his index finger]

Bo-yoi-yoing.

[sixthnonsense]

[Shoulder leaning? Totally fine. Cool, even. Bros do that! He's got Dandy's back if he needs some support.

In spite of the depressing nature of the topic, having Dandy there makes him smile. He lets out a light laugh at the point Dandy's trying to make.]

It would be nice to have it outta the way for that, I'm not gonna...

[Then Dandy plays with his hair, and--

Ba-bump.

Completely by surprise, his breath catches in his throat.]

...lie.

[What the hell was that? He looks down at his empty glass, then over to Dandy so he can make a completely overblown statement.]

Dee, I think I'm dyin'.

just bros being bros, nothing 2 see here

[bootyhunter]

What?

[After everything that's happened today, Dandy's tan complexion turns a good deal paler. He's actually worried, despite the ever-thickening fog in his head, and in a way that emotion tethers him here.

In this timeline, in this place.

He reaches out instinctively, the reflex fast under the hazy veil of his own afflicted cognition, although much slower in reality. He's bumbles in the process of trying to feel for a pulse on Hagakure's neck, even going so far as to push too hard, probably...]

Your heart's still badunk-a-dunk-dunkin', bud. It's a little fast, but...

I think you're alright? So it's probably the booze.

You didn't eat or drink anything ya left lyin' around today, didja?

[There was that poisoning...]

guys being dudes right here

[sixthnonsense]

[Hagakure makes a slight choking sound as Dandy checks his pulse.]

That's good...I think. It got all irregular for a sec. Really freaked me out.

[But Dandy's probably right. It's gotta be the booze. This malort stuff is gnarly. He wishes it wasn't their only alcoholic option.

When asked about what he's consumed recently, he slowly shakes his head as he thinks back.]

I ate some of the stuff at the gathering, 'n' Jason made me an ice cream float. But that was a while ago. I think I'd be feelin' any food poisoning by now.

[He hopes.]

Yeah, probably the booze.

[bootyhunter]

Oh, great! Wonderful. Wunderbar, baby!

[He looks a good deal more relaxed at that. It's probably not Great for Dandy to let his guard down, but Jason doesn't seem like the type to poison anyone.

Oh, and... Um... He might be sloughing off Hagakure and leaning his back against the wall, for now. The alien hunter offers his friend a boozy thumbs up.]

If it weren't for the booze, I'd have chocked it up to my killer good looks makin' your heart stop for a split second.

[where is a physical stop sign, so we can rip it out of the ground and hit dandy with it?]

We really need to get you a date when all of this is over!

You're crazy shy. Why is that? 'S not like you've never been on one, right?

[sixthnonsense]

["If it weren't for the booze, I'd have chocked it up to my killer good looks makin' your heart stop for a split second."

Dandy spelling it out like that? Unintentionally or not, a dot is suddenly connected and Hagakure feels his stomach lurch. And he can't even say, "actually this might be food poisoning after all". He can actually tell what caused that one.

Gods. That's really what it was, wasn't it? Is the booze doing this to him?? Maybe he needs to get out of here after all.

But he doesn't make any sort of move to leave. He just gives his empty glass a thousand-yard stare as Dandy's words filter through like static into his ears...

Oh. He should...probably answer, huh?]

I- I dunno? I guess the whole thing is kinda daunting to me, and I never know what to do or say 'round the subject. My mom's always tellin' me I gotta get better at the whole dating thing.

[bootyhunter]

[thankfully dandy is not only an Idiot but also Drunk!!!! Which means that he's chortling a little too loudly and thwapping Hagakure on the back several times. He's handsy, gomen. Also, his face is a little flushed.]

To get better at the whole dating thing, you've gotta go out there and shoot your shot! Nobody has a hundred-percent success rate, not even the rich pretty-boy types. And if they say they do, they're lyin' to ya!

[Surprisingly sound advice from someone who may or may not have spent the past ten years pining in Thirsty Assfuck Tomfoolery Land!!! In all fairness, in the span of Dandy's life, and well, all his other lives...

Ten years really isn't that much time.]

Do me a favor, though, Gooby-baby. [gay] Next time you get the urge to start hittin' the bottle, give me a call, okay?

I don't wantcha drinkin' alone.

[sixthnonsense]

[Dandy's not alone in that. Hagakure's face is flushed too, although it's not all from the alcohol. Still, all of that advice? It's getting taken to heart. As best as it can at any rate, since his senses are all sorts of addled right now and he's not sure how much of this is going to stick in his foggy head.

In the moment, though, it means a lot to hear. It's reassuring. That...y'know, he's got a lot of great people here who are looking out for him. So for all of the muddled screaming going on in his head, he gives Dandy a lopsided grin.]

Thanks, Dee. You've got yourself a promise.

[He holds up his empty glass as if to mimic a toast.]

Here's hopin' we can find some better booze for the next time, though. Seriously, would it kill Fontaine to give us a little beer...?

[bootyhunter]

Prob'ly! Here's hopin'.

[He doesn't actually mean that, but he does hope that if the remaining living manage to confront that bastard... He'll get to give the guy a swift kick to the 'nads.]

Cheers.

[Dandy clinks his glass against Hagakure's.

Their fingers make contact.

Unfortunately, he thinks nothing of it.]

Speakin' of which, thanks for cheerin' me up tonight.

[sixthnonsense]

To Fontaine gettin' what's comin' to 'im.

[The glasses clink, their fingers touch...and Hagakure averts his gaze for a moment, but the recovery is surprisingly smooth for how easily he wears his emotions on his sleeve. It's probably for the best that neither of them acknowledge it, right?]

Happy to help, my man. That was the goal, y'know! It took until bein' here, in this game, to realize that spending time with people after a trial is actually...really helpful. Maybe not in a big ol' gathering, but like this. One-on-one.

me writing this at near midnight like dandy??? who are you fooling

[bootyhunter]

Heh! "Funtime with FonFon," [This is even more cursed than Fontie.] is gonna definitely involve me smashin' him in the bonbons, baby. Like, all violent and shit! It'll be fun.

[who is gonna tell him

Dandy does notice poor Hagakure's lack of eye contact, and true to anime protagonist form, a an obvious shine glints in one of his accursed, booty-leering eyes.]

Hey, Dummy.

C'mhere.

[HE IS GOING TO GRAB THE UNFORTUNATE FORTUNE TELLER BY THE SCRUFF OF HIS SHIRT AND SHOVE HIM ONTO THE BED, I SWEAR, IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, THIS WILL BE REVEALED SOON-]

"FonFon" will haunt my nightmares forever

[sixthnonsense]

Huh?

[To his credit, Hagakure actually does start to move without really thinking hard about it, but then hE'S SUDDENLY GRABBED?]

H-Huh??? Dee what are you doiiiiinnngggg?!?!

[He descends into a shrill scream of surprise as he's pinned down onto the bed. There's a slight silver lining here in that he knows this isn't about to become the next murder, but if it's not that, then what is it?? What is he supposed to make of what looks so obviously like--

Face furiously flushed at this point, he squirms under Dandy's grasp to no avail. He might be a little taller, but he doesn't exactly have a lot of muscle. Dandy's got him here good.]

Dee???

[He questions again, desperately. Again, what the hell is this??]

[bootyhunter]

[Dandy, who unknowingly seems to have descended into his latest bout of wild clownery, takes both of Hagakure's hands in his own and toggles them to either side. Ah, yes. It would appear that this is "wrestling." Why does this iteration involve straddling? Hm! To be fair, Dandy doesn't exactly sweat the small stuff.

It's funny. Despite being a grown-ass man, he still pulls shit like this, apparently! Perhaps it is because he never got to experience anything like it in the first place.

Or, well, there's a slim chance he might have. It's just that he doesn't remember.]

What's the matter, punk? Come and get me!

[THIS, THIS BY FAR IS THE MOST OFFENSIVE THING HE HAS SAID THIS EVENING:]

Is this your first time?

[Joy and Rossiu will be able to hear the sound of Dandy's deep belly laugh. Thankfully, there is nothing jeering or chiding about it- It's a pure sound.]

[sixthnonsense]

[danDY--]

Oh that is a low blow, man!

[But he thinks he's starting to get what this is now. He hasn't done it in a while, but what guy didn't play wrestle in his youth? And he's definitely not taking that insult literally lying down!

So with all the gusto of a Typical Teenage Boy (we are immature here) and aided by his fight or flight instincts kicking in hard, he grips tight onto Dandy's hands and puts all of his force into attempting to throw the other man off.]

Haaaaaaaaah!!

[Though that is most certainly the battle cry of a drunk young idiot, he's having fun too.]

SPOILERS FOR SPACE DANDY SEASON 2, EPISODE 11

[bootyhunter]

[Dandy's prototypical stubbornness is turned on its head, quite literally, when the Super Highschool Level Dinklebrain manages to reverse their arrangement and knock Dandy onto his own mattress.]

Oof!

[He lands after exclaiming that, causing a ruckus while laughing and flailing his arms around in a haphazard manner. This is, most certainly, more of a silly excuse to facilitate physical contact between the two of them than anything else. Within the confines of the alien hunter's alcohol addled mind, he's delighted. Somehow, he's managed to get his friend to feel more comfortable, not just with their relationship, but with himself.

Or, well, that's how Dandy's perceiving it, anyway.

Abruptly, Dandy let's go of Hakagure's hands, wrapping his own around the other's torso. He pulls himself up a little, although his head gets a lot closer to the younger man's body than he realizes.

For a moment, he sees Catherine.]

Whew.

[We should clarify- He sees her in the way a fourth dimensional can be perceived by a third dimensional, in that he can feel her soul, her essence, but not exactly make out a shape. She's warm, however.

"Dandy? Have you figured out the secret of warping yet?"

Dandy blinks. He knows that this isn't real.]

My head is already startin' to kill me. What the hell do they use to make that bullshit? I'm not usually this much of a lightweight, I swear.

Couldja give me a minute to catch my breath?

[To return.]

Sorry.

[sixthnonsense]

[Hagakure laughed right along, grinning as he held tight onto Dandy's hands to keep his position on top. In that blissful moment, he forgot he was in a death trap for the second time in a row- that his heart was beating wildly for reasons he didn't want to acknowledge.

That all comes crashing back as Dandy suddenly lets go of him and he staggers a little. When he finally finds support from the mattress, Dandy's arms are around him, pulling him close. Given how awkwardly Hagakure fell, Dandy will find his face pressed against the other man's chest for a split second. It's literally nothing compared to his usual tastes, but there's a small amount of shape to it.]

O-Oh--

[More importantly though, he might feel the hitch in Hagakure's breath and the rapid ups and downs of his chest before he pulls back. Though his instincts are switching from fight to flight very quickly, Dandy's words manage to reach him. The initial panic begins to subside.]

...Yeah. [He takes a deep breath, then does his best to relax and get his breathing back to normal.] Yeah. Don't worry about it.

[From his adjusted position he can look straight down at Dandy, and...so he does. His own expression is dumbstruck- like he's trying to process a million thoughts at once...and perhaps decide if he should do something completely stupid or not.]