[attr="class","icon"]

Emerson hums as his eyes roll up toward the ceiling in feigned thought, before deadpanning, “Yeah, you’re a total weirdo for that. What a one track mind.”[break][break]

The composure in his expression cracks after seconds. “No, I don’t think that’s strange. You know yourself—I think that’s honestly pretty cool.”[break][break]

He grimaces playfully. “Do I look like I can argue?”[break][break]

His head tilts with a belated thought, though. “Oh if it’s like an internet troll, I’m not too shabby.” He lets out a breath of laughter.[break][break]

Tucked away behind a screen, rather than pushed to the front of a courtroom. Totally different energies.

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"yeah, pretty weird."[break][break]

even if it is meant as a joke, he won't deny that not many have the same privilege as him with knowing what they want to do in life. in that regard, he's lucky.[break][break]

"hell yeah you look like you can argue. on the internet."[break][break]

which em confirms right after.[break][break]

"are you on any socials, by the way? i don't think i have you added..."[break][break]

he pulls out his phone to check.

[attr="class","bottom"]emerson whitlock[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

“That just makes you stand out.” He shrugs slightly. “It’s a lot of effort to be so convicted about something.”[break][break]

He shifts from joke back to sincerity with ease. Emerson honestly wishes he had that clarity so young. Maybe then he would’ve learned to push back against the pressures he faced. Instead, he remained meek and bendable to his parents’ expectations, even after discovering his preferences as a teenager.[break][break]

A bark of laughter follows the added confirmation of his bolstered online confidence. It’s no great secret, really.[break][break]

“Oh yeah, most of them,” he replies before downing the rest of his drink. His hand lifts to order another round.[break][break]

If his friend has had a rough go of it, it only makes sense that they go proper hard, right? Not that that’s…difficult for Em accomplish, being a tiny twig of a lil guy.

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"alright, give it here."[break][break]

he's talking about em's social media profiles, of course, as he holds his phone out to his friend. it's currently on the instagram app.[break][break]

with a new round of drinks served, he reaches for his and is quick to drink it. it's clear by the way he's leaning against the counter that he's already tipsy.

[attr="class","bottom"]emerson whitlock[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

Relenting, he takes the offered phone and plugs in his socials one by one. Figuring it's okay to open up the apps as he sees them on the homescreen after instagram is closed.[break][break]

His other hand absently moves to his refreshed drink once it arrives. The heat in his face and the affects of round two hit him a bit quicker, but as he glances back up to return the phone, Em notes James' demeanor.[break][break]

A dumb little laugh tumbles loose as he leans to the side, head tilting to catch his eye. "You all good?"

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"i think so...?"[break][break]

he laughs, looking over to meet em's gaze before shifting back to the drink in his hand.[break][break]

"these drinks are stronger than i remembered."[break][break]

an admittance to how much of a lightweight he has become. with a defeated sigh, he looks back over, words slipping out easier than they would have before.[break][break]

"you're a good friend, em."

[attr="class","bottom"]emerson whitlock[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

“Yeah?” he peers at James over the rim of his glass, watching the way he keeps himself from teetering.[break][break]

“I think that’s kinnnnddd of the point, Jamie,” he laughs, snorting once before covering his mouth and nose in surprise. “No more thinking about stressful, bummer things, you know?”[break][break]

A means to an uptick in mood, even just for a little while.[break][break]

The compliment hangs between them and his face flushes bright with color. “W-well so are you!” His hand pats at James’ own, as Em fixes him with a look of determined, tipsy somberness.[break][break]

He’s never considered himself a good friend, so it means the world. Really.

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the uptick in mood is welcome. it helps him forget even if only for the night.[break][break]

"nah, i can be better! i'll be better, i promise."[break][break]

he's a decent friend but he wouldn't call himself good just yet. he still has a ways to go.[break][break]

"i gotta stop spending so much time at work."[break][break]

groaning, he leans into em.[break][break]

"can you drag me out sometimes? like, just drag me out of the office?"

[attr="class","bottom"]emerson whitlock[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

Emerson blinks sluggishly at him, “I don’t think you need to be better.”[break][break]

How’s he—the extreme introvert, being the more upbeat one about this? Astounding.[break][break]

He laughs as James leans against him, even though the act of it makes him still in surprise. His hand moves to pat pat him again, this time against his head.[break][break]

Palm lingering there as his increasingly sluggish mind tries to sift and process the request made.[break][break]

“Yeah! Yeah, I do that. Tooootally. By your ear n’ everything!” More laughter follows, bubbling up along with the redness in his face.

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astounding indeed.[break][break]

he blinks, peering up.[break][break]

"did you just pat me on the head?"[break][break]

then, he laughs.[break][break]

"it's nice. i liked it."[break][break]

but he's not going to ask em to keep doing it. that might be weird.[break][break]

"thanks for coming out tonight, man. it really helps."

[attr="class","bottom"]emerson whitlock[break]

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Em looks down, awkwardly shrugging his shoulders slightly enough to not disrupt James where he leans.[break][break]

“Uhhh, yeah, guess I did.” A softer laugh twines through his response.[break][break]

At the admission, he laughs again and gives him one more complimentary pat. It was just the first thing he thought to do, so it’s good that James isn’t the one thinking it’s weird.[break][break]

“Anytime, dude. Really. It’s all good.” He pauses considering, “—you good to travel? You can crash on my couch if you need.”

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"am i good to travel?"[break][break]

he leans away, then stands only to start swaying. he steadies himself against the counter.[break][break]

"i don't think so..."[break][break]

fumbling for his credit card, he quickly pays off their tab.[break][break]

"i'll crash at your place if that's okay?"

[attr="class","bottom"]emerson whitlock[break]

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“Yeah. That’s what I asked,” he retorts with a dry chuckle.

It fades, though, as James pushes himself up, and immediately teeters. His hands go out, as if he’d actually have any hope of successfully catching his friend.[break][break]

“I think you’re more of a lightweight than me.” Though make no mistake, Em is still at a point somewhere just past tipsy.[break][break]

“Wouldn't have offered if it wasn’t okay.” And that wasn’t a lie—his space was sacred. He starts out the door, pausing with a laugh before skirting around James like he could keep him upright with little upward pushes here and there.[break][break]

“I’d offer my shoulder, but uh, it’s like, at your middle.”