Aprazível | Saturday Evening

[dollpocalypse]

Topher shifted a little in his seat, taking in the restaurant and all the people and especially the other people at his table.

Dinner. Dinner with Billy and Ben and Ender.

Well, this wasn't going to be awkward at all.

"So... do you think they have onion rings?"

[[for the three! okay for broadcast since it's in rio, just in a separate post so we don't break the trips post, la.]]

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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."

[momslilassassin]

"Diversifying his portfolio?" Ben tried with a laugh. "His money isn't all tied up in tech stuff this way."

Until the penguins wore jetpacks, anyway.

[selfhelphero]

"And he needs to spend more time out of the lab. Being there all the time can't be healthy, even if he is making cool things," Billy insisted.

[dollpocalypse]

"He's bad at knowing when to come out and, like, sleep," Topher pointed out. "Drinking helps."

The logical stylings of Christopher Brink, gentlemen.

[endsthegame]

"I don't think drinking helps him to sleep," Ender said, after a beat. "And if he did get that dependent on it, it wouldn't be a good thing."

[momslilassassin]

Ben gave Ender a little grin. "Like any of us are going to let Tony get that bad."

[selfhelphero]

"Friends save you from yourself," Billy said with a nod. "That's what we're here for."

[dollpocalypse]

"Also," Topher chimed in, "from giant virus monsters." A beat. "Well, that was mostly you guys," he amended, glancing from Ben to Billy.

[endsthegame]

"Funny," Ender said, "I always thought Ben's strategy was just 'launch himself at the thing with the teeth and if he winds up saving someone, well, that's just the gravy'."

Straight-faced, yes.

[momslilassassin]

Ben kicked him. "Hey!"

Pause.

"Okay, accurate, but still."

[selfhelphero]

Billy probably should have kept his mouth shut, but he couldn't help it. "Ugh, you two are adorable," he teased.

[dollpocalypse]

Topher grinned. "You should've seen them that day in Tony's lab," he commented dryly.

The dirty jokes had buuuurned.

[endsthegame]

Sigh.

"You two also seem to get along well," Ender said.

It was a little dry, if you listened for it.

[momslilassassin]

"Yes, let's talk about you instead," Ben added, blushing slightly.

[selfhelphero]

Billy couldn't bring himself to look at Topher, and tried to give Ben a confused look instead. It might not have been very convincing. "There's nothing going on between us," he said. "If Peter or Warren said otherwise, they were totally lying." Because that was clearly the only way they could be misinformed.

[dollpocalypse]

Topher looked appalled. Yeah, now he got why talking about relationships with other people was bad.

"Wh-- Peter -- Warren -- what?"

[endsthegame]

"...No, they didn't say anything to me," Ender said, keeping his voice calm. "I just know you two are close."

[momslilassassin]

"Since you're out to dinner with us and stuff," Ben added with an easy smile.

Like a double-date thing! Which he didn't say because he was taking pity on Billy.

[selfhelphero]

"As friends!" Billy said quickly. "We're not... you guys are... you know what I mean."

[dollpocalypse]

Topher bit his lip. "What did Peter say? He didn't make fun of you or something, did he?"

He was very hung up on this, yes.

[endsthegame]

"Well, I'm convinced," Ender said, half under his breath, and took a sip of his beverage.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smothered a grin with his hand. "I don't care at all what Peter might have said," he told Topher. "Really. Breathe."

[selfhelphero]

"He--he didn't say anything," Billy said, which probably sounded totally believable, for real. "Er, forget I said anything."

[dollpocalypse]

"But--" Topher chewed on his lip a little. "I mean." Lowering his voice a little, he explained, "He sometimes gets... you know. If he was mean or anything, I can talk to him."

[endsthegame]

Ender's lips twitched a little, as if trying to accomplish a wan smile or some other vaguely knowing expression, but failing. "Peter does what Peter does," he said. "Sometimes that's sticking his nose in where he shouldn't. Talking to him probably won't change his mind."

He glanced from Billy to Topher. "Doesn't mean he doesn't occasionally have a point," he added lightly, "Just that it tends to be steeped in bullshit."