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[foolmetwice]

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[HIT HIM UP WITH SOME MESSAGES SHOULD YOU CHOOSE]

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day 120, post game

[foolishjourney]

[After everything is said and done, Lily is gonna wait for Mars in the lobby by the door, headphones over his ears and fiddling with his phone as he waits]

[foolmetwice]

[coming up behind Lily, stealing one of the headphones to tuck same next to his ear. what're we listening to, boyfriend?]

id choose a song if i wasnt in public without headphones

[foolishjourney]

[tenses for a moment, as if ready to react to Sudden Invasion Of Space, before he realizes exactly who it is, which causes him to relax and lean against Mars.

it's idol music, what else would it be? that's all they get for free on imeeji!spotify.]

Hey.

it’s probably the idol version of last surprise or smth

[foolmetwice]

Hey.

[he says a bit softly, nose pressed against Lily's neck as he leans back]

Nice music.

[even though he isn't into idol music]

. . . how was the rest of the game?

sounds about right

[foolishjourney]

Mm. Teased Joker. Made some new acquaintances. Pretty good, all together.

You?

[foolmetwice]

Got into a fight or two. Got doused in lemonade and strung up by an umbrella. Learned my new unitmate is kind of into me. Turned her down gently.

[. . .]

[laces his fingers with Lily's, tugging on his hand to lead him towards the cafe]

Let's walk.

[foolishjourney]

Sounds about right.

[who else would get rowdy at speed dating?]

And I can't blame her, really. You're very handsome.

[gives his hand a squeeze!]

Mm, yeah, let's go.

[foolmetwice]

[and off they go! Mars is quiet until they get a good distance away from the hotel. and only then does he speak up again, voice deceptively casual]

So. . .

[SOOOOOOOOO]

[how does one even start a conversation like this?]

You spent some time with Joker, huh? [a pause] Did you have fun?

[foolishjourney]

Of course. He's fun to be around.

[gentle head tilt]

Why do you ask?

[foolmetwice]

[mmmmmmm. . . MMMMMMMM]

[a deep breath]

. . . you like him, right? [another pause] A lot? Or. . . just enough?

[foolishjourney]

I've never really thought to quantify it?

[gives his hand a squeeze, because he isn't sure where Mars is going with this.]

I guess... not as much as I like you, but I do like him a lot.

But I'm not unhappy whatsoever. I'm content having a good friend, especially one that has qualities worth admiring.

[foolmetwice]

[. . . there is some part of him, some selfish part, some part that's still uncertain about all of this, who feels happy that Lily says "not as much as I like you." he knows he shouldn't make the comparison-- it isn't fair to Lily's or Joker's or his own feelings-- but he likes hearing it, anyway. human fallacies]

Yeah. I didn't think you were unhappy. I figured you were pretty okay with the way things were now. But--

[. . .]

I mean, if you could-- you know. Pursue him. Would you?

[foolishjourney]

I... hm.

[his brow furrows -- he honestly hadn't given it too much thought ever before.]

I think that I would... if you did, too. If it was mutual. It wouldn't feel right to me, otherwise.

That's not to say I'd want to hold you back from something you wanted -- just that I wouldn't feel right dating someone else unless you were involved.

I think you're giving me too much credit, though. Just because I like Joker doesn't mean he likes me... I'm pretty sure the time in his heart wasn't reflective of reality.

1/2

[foolmetwice]

[. . . FFFFFFFTTT. . .]

[foolmetwice]

[there are actually two things Mars wants to address, here]

[one: Joker's feelings, but he'll get to those in a second]

[and two. . .]

— even if I told you that you could? Even if I said it was fine to go for it without me?

[the answer to that question is important in ways Mars can't yet verbalize, but there is something really. . . warm. . . about Lily feeling that way. something that makes his stomach flip and his heart beat just a little faster]

[foolishjourney]

Mhm. I would rather you be involved. Is that weird?

[foolmetwice]

[FFFFFFFTTT]

[reaches out to frame Lily's face in his hands so he can press their foreheads together, fingers curling against Lily's cheeks]

No. It isn't.

[Mars is still a little selfish, after all. he still isn't sure he's ready to share Lily with anyone. especially not when he's so thoughtful, so concerned for Mars's feelings, so unwilling to leave Mars out of anything, like he knows deep down that Mars might initially struggle with being left out]

[but. . . regardless of feelings, and regardless of where they go from here. . . regardless of Joker, and whether Mars gives Lily the green light to go after him. . . whether Joker and Lily flirt or kiss or bang or whatever, what Mars has right now, in this very second, is something he would never have to share]

[and you know what? that works for him]

I just want you— and him— to be happy.

I think. . . you make each other happy. S'all.

[foolishjourney]

[Ah.

He smiles softly, eyes closing as Mars holds onto his face so tenderly, letting out a soft exhale. Lily doesn't know what's going through Mars' mind, but he can tell now that his answer was the one that Mars wanted to hear. Needed to hear? Both, most likely.]

Would that make you happy, though?

[foolmetwice]

You're all I need to be happy.

[there's a bit of raw truth to that, too]

And I still don't really want to share you.

[he punctuates that by pressing a kiss against the corner of Lily's mouth, lingering close as he mutters, eyes fluttered shut]

But whatever I have with you is something nobody else gets, so. . . no matter what, I wouldn't be sharing you, anyway.

[foolishjourney]

Mm. You're right. What we have is special, and nobody can take that away. My feelings for you are unique to you... and no matter what, you'll always be one of my top priorities.

[gently places his hand over one of Mars']

But if you're not absolutely sure this is something you're ready for, you shouldn't push yourself. But if you are, this is something to approach together.

But I guess, when you think about it, it wouldn't really be sharing me, so much as... letting Joker in with us. If he wants to.

[foolmetwice]

[. . . why is Lily so good. . . WHY IS LILY SOMEONE HE DOESN'T DESERVE!! WHY DOES LILY SAY EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO HEAR LIKE HE CAN READ HIS GODDAMN MIND]

[a sharp breath out, a crooked smile, and Lily's fingers feel so warm against his own]

. . . Joker and I have a thing that's getting kind of hard to ignore.

[a "thing"]

I kind of want to see where it can go. But not without you. Never without you.

[foolishjourney]

[HE HAD A POSITIVE STARTING FOUNDATION AS AN AMNESIAC, THAT'S WHY

LILIS GOOD...]

You should, then. If it makes you happy, you should pursue it.

[Lily gives him a soft kiss on the cheek]

You have my full support.

[foolmetwice]

[aaaaaaaaaaah]

[tilts his head to turn that cheek kiss into a full-fledged mouth kiss. because he can!1]

[and when he pulls back, he mutters]

You too. Okay?

[foolishjourney]

[you utter rascal, you!]

We're putting a lot of stock in the concept that Joker even likes me, though.

[foolmetwice]

Oh. He does.

[RIGHT. TIME TO SPILL JOKER'S SECRETS]

I asked.