[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/dipRYIr.png[/img] [sub][color=35996B]Archer[/color] | [color=98AC90]Guy[/color][/sub][/center][indent][indent][hr][hr][/indent][/indent] [color=silver][indent] It didn’t take long before the two friends got separated from each other in the sea of their peers when Archer and Marisol had entered the party. The lanky boy gave up after a feeble attempt to locate his small friend. Instead he dumped his bulky basket of fruit by the snacks table as he grabbed a handful of caramel corn and a beer. He shoved the popcorn in his mouth and twisted the beer open nodding hello’s at his friends dancing. Mostly he was just looking for somewhere to sit. Eventually he made it to a group of couches where people who had grown tired of dancing had gathered. There he recognized one of his fellow literature buffs Guy Lowell. Archer grinned widely and jumped down next to the boy on the sofa. [color=35996B]“Suh dude!”[/color] he said slinging his arm around Guy giving his shoulder a squeez. [color=35996B]“Woah great costume.”[/color] Archie exclaimed as he surveyed his friend from head to toe. [color=35996B]“Atlantis…. obscure. I like it!”[/color] he let out a chuckle before taking a swig of his beer. The Jell-O shot had proved gross and disappointing. He tossed the small cup into the nearby trash and poured some coke into a red solo cup. If he had just been holding a can he would have been judged and asked why he wasn’t drinking. With the cup he blended much better with the crowd of rich alcoholics. He wandered away from the hubbub of the drink tables and found himself a nice spot to just sit and watch people. As he sipped his drink he began to seriously wonder why he had even come. He just didn’t know people here well enough. So many strangers despite his years at KA. He stared into the deep brown of his drink, wallowing in his stupidity when a weight plopped down next to him. The movement caused him to fumble with his cup but he managed to steady it as an arm wrapped around his shoulder and a familiar voice caused his heart to leap straight into his throat. Guy turned with a bright grin. [color=98AC90]“Hey dude,”[/color] he responded jovially. His whole outlook on the party suddenly brightened and he was feeling much [i]much[/i] better. Funny how his brain could flip on him like that. He decided not to pay this switch any mind and instead concentrated on the person who always managed to make him smile and feel less like a doofus amongst princes. [color=98AC90]“Thanks, glad at least one person got it. ‘Fraid you outdid me though… Something Renaissance?”[/color] His eyes traveled over the softly curled hair and exposed shoulder. It wasn’t fair that Archer could look so damn lovely. He struggled to reign his heart back to his chest where it belonged. Archer had just about forgotten that he was even wearing a costume. He looked down at his bare shoulders and let out a laugh. [color=35996B]"Uh yeah something like that!"[/color] He said and shot Guy a wink.[color=35996B] "Thanks, I just think it's so unfair that all the girls get to dress in sexy costumes and we get stuck with the boring ones!"[/color] He said draining his beer. The wink about did him in, but a master of keeping his feelings reigned in did not allow it to show in his face. Raising an eyebrow, Guy gestured toward Max and Sawyer. [color=98AC90]“I think the guys around here have no problem discovering something sexy to wear. Besides,”[/color] he said with his goofy, lopsided grin, [color=98AC90]“There is something to be said about the way clothing can be worn over form for sex appeal.”[/color] He gestured toward Millie Jean and April to make his point. [color=98AC90]“And your own costume gives quite a punch to the gut.”[/color] His deep voice was teasing as he nudged his friend playfully in the side with his elbow. [color=98AC90]“Need another drink?”[/color] he asked, eyeing the empty beer bottle. Archer put his empty bottle on the table and rubbed his hands together. [color=35996B]"Yeah sure! I need to find that boyfriend of mine anyway so might as well get another one!"[/color] The boy said slapping his knees as he stood up. Looking around to see if he could spot Kavan somewhere around the room. Ah yes, boyfriend. He was glad that Archer was looking elsewhere because Guy took a second to wressle the stupid off his face. Pushing the lensless glasses up his nose and hair hair back from his face he stood as his friend did. He was sure to grab Archer’s empty so that it could be properly disposed of. He wasn’t about making messes in other people’s homes. Even giant jack-asses like Kavi. [color=98AC90]“Finally dating now, are we?”[/color] he said in a light and teasing tone. [color=35996B]“Yeah…”[/color] Archer mumbled still looking around the room as they made their way over to the drinks table. When they arrived Archer grabbed another beer and twisted of the cap and took a big swig before turning back to face Guy. [color=35996B]“I guess I’ll find him later.”[/color] his fingers tapped on the cool glass bottle. [color=35996B]“So have you found something interesting to read lately?”[/color] he asked his fellow literary geek. [color=98AC90]“Been doing a Terry Pratchett binge lately, what with Good Omens coming out. That’s not quite as important as you settling down. Who’s the lucky guy?”[/color] Guy led the way a bit from the table so that the pair could better hear each other over the cacophony of the room. If Archer told him he would no longer have to pretend not to know who it was. That would be a small relief. [color=35996B]“Kavan Varma…”[/color] Archer said between his gulps of beer. He for some reason felt awkward talking about it with Guy. Why? He could not answer. [color=35996B]“So! Going on a fantasy trip then?”[/color] Archer tried to steer the conversation away from his romantic life. Guy offered a slight grin, [color=98AC90]“Congratulations to you both,”[/color] he said with real happiness which surprised him. He supposed he could be happy for them both, why not? Between the fast paced drinking and the way Archer shifted Guy could read that this was not a welcome topic of conversation, so he let it go. [color=98AC90]“As the holidays approach I think all of us could use a trip to fantasyland,”[/color] he joked. [color=98AC90]“What about you Archer, anything good to read lately?”[/color] The curly haired boy thought for a moment going through his mental rolodex of books he had read as of late. [color=35996B]“Well I have been going through a lot of indie publications as of late. And as you know that is very hit or miss.”[/color] he grinned at his friend. [color=98AC90]“Still better than doing Wallenberg’s essays,”[/color] he said dryly. The tall boy let out a loud laugh [color=35996B]“Say what you will about Maxie, the boy pays well. I could’ve taken my essays from fifth grade and it still would’ve passed for him”[/color] He said as he looked towards the big oaf of a man. [color=35996B]“But he’s actually really nice for a sportsperson.”[/color]. Guy mutely nodded his agreement but it seemed that Archer’s attention had gone elsewhere. As he scanned the room one last time his eyes lit up when he saw the shining gold god that was Kavan. [color=35996B]“Oh hey, there he is! Over there with…”[/color] he stopped as he saw the girl his man was talking to. [color=35996B]“Huh…”[/color] was all he could muster as he surveyed the ugliest girl he had ever laid eyes on. Archer felt bad that he thought so about the poor girl, but then he realized he was looking at Sonny in drag and the guilt evaporated. [color=35996B]“Come on let’s go say hello!”[/color] he said waving at Guy to follow him as he pushed through the crowd to reach his friends. Dutifully the young man followed along behind Archer, unwilling to say goodbye to one of the few people he knew in this god forsaken place. He had an easier time navigating the crowd as Archer took the lead, which was thankful as he did not want to spill anything on some poor innocent who had likely spent crap tons of cash on their costume. Archer’s smile grew larger as he came closer to the pair. He put his arm around Kavan when he arrived [color=35996B]“My my my, who have we here…”[/color] he said wide eyed looking Ms. Drake up and down. [color=35996B]“I’m impressed that you had all of this inside of you”[/color] he said laughter on the brim of bursting out. He reached out a finger and poked at one of Sonny’s fake breasts. Guy made a point of looking at the ground in embarrassment. [color=35996B]“Wow very realistic.”[/color] he said as the laughter seeping out. “[color=35996B]You two know Guy right?”[/color] he said as he grabbed Guy with his free hand dragging him closer to them. A little awkward now that he was among people he did not know so well he stood a bit off to the side. His heart plummeted to his stomach as Archer was physically affectionate with his new man. Ever the great actor, Guy kept himself neutral and pleasant. His position on the sidelines did not last long as his hand was tugged at and the tall nerd was pulled closer to the group. He gave one of his famous, lopsided grins as he held out his hand to each boy in turn. [color=98AC90]“Hello,”[/color] he greeted shyly. [/indent][/color]