if i think i can figure things out, is that curiosity or arrogance?

Once the waiter was gone, Billy leaned towards Topher. "Think about how you would feel if--" he started, before realizing that trying to get Topher to empathize with Ben and Ender might not work here. Because Topher wasn't dating anyone, or having sex. At all. "It's just kind of embarrassing to talk about other people's sex lives," he explained instead.

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Topher shrugged. "'Kay," he said easily. "If you say so."

Paaaause.

"So... other topic."

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endsthegame

Ender reached out and gave a little pull on Ben's shirt to keep him from retreating completely under the table. "Good idea," he said. "Especially since I barely know Billy."

Yes, Billy and Topher, that officially made you the kids of this conversation.

... and in a weird way, it made Topher some kind of bizarre adopted relative.

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Like that weird cousin who showed up for holiday dinners?

Ben sat back up and smiled at Billy. "He holds his booze better than a lot of us?"

That was very helpful, right?

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"I try to, at least. Being friends with Tony has done wonders for my alcoholic tolerance," Billy said, laughing and glad for the topic change. "I also try not to drink as much as some of you guys."

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Topher eyed Ender for a moment for that subject change -- what? It seemed weird -- and then let it go.

"He normally gets a lot less drunk than most people," Topher contributed helpfully. "And less shirtless."

Wow, Topher. That was not an acceptable thing to say. Which did occur to him. Just, you know. After.

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endsthegame

Somehow, Ender doubted Ben got all that shirtless himself.

"Congratulations," he said wryly to Billy. "I figure they need a lot of corralling."

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"I think we were corralled at one point," Ben mused thoughtfully. "That was how we met the penguins."

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"Awww, we should go back and visit the penguins at some point. While sober," Billy said. "So we can remember the experience. I'm still up for hanging out sober too."

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"Yeah, I miss Antonio," Topher said wistfully.

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endsthegame

"They really did make it back safely to their minders, right?" Ender said, after a pause.

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"They did," Ben assured him with a smile. "We counted a few times to be sure."

And not just because counting had proved difficult.

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"We might be crazy when we drink, but we're not mean," Billy insisted.

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"Lizardface, though," Topher commented. "Lizardface was mean."

Thanks, Topher.

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endsthegame

"Oh, I didn't think you were," Ender assured Billy. "Just... not exactly mindful when you're drunk."

Ahem.

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Ben's cheeks--surprise--went pink. "It's an inhibition lower-er," he agreed.

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Billy thought of where he and Topher usually ended up after drinking, and couldn't help but smile a little. "Sometimes it's not such a bad thing to have your inhibitons lowered," he said. "As long as something good comes out of it."

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"Like penguins," Topher agreed. Then he caught Billy's eye, flushed slightly, and added, "And stuff."

Cuddles: always a good thing.

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endsthegame

"Never been my thing. Sorry, lads." Ender sounded very much amused. "But if it works from you, far be it from me to condemn anything good."

Looking at Billy and Topher, oh yeah.

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Ben's hand had snuck under the table to rest on Ender's knee. "And getting Tony to buy things is always kind of hilarious," he added with a smile.

He was a Jedi: disposable income wasn't really a thing for them.

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Billy could see the way Ender was looking at him, and he was trying not to look at Topher and make things worse. "Yeah, I felt bad at first, but I think Tony likes spending money on insane things, so it's like we're supporting him."

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"Yeah," Topher chimed in. "Helping him out. Like friends do." He gave a little nod of certainty at that.

Him and Billy? Help Tony? Well, there was a shock.

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endsthegame

The hand on his knee made that Ender turned his head briefly to flash Ben a slight smile. "Somehow I don't think a bar and a penguin sanctuary are going to help Tony all that much," he said. "But who knows. Maybe I missed something."

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