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[twocomplex]

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[twocomplex]

Or we could be dancing in the square, already accounted for.

[He looks over to him as he leans back in his chair, feet kicking up. A hand extends to wave away Mattias' thoughts, despite being the one to cause them.]

We won't know unless we try, isn't that right? I thought you weren't the type to give up.

[noctiphile]

[He smiles but it's weak and wavering, uncertain if the compliment is genuine. Uncertain if any of this is outside Oren's game.]

You're right. It's worth a shot.

[He stands there for a long few minutes, fidgeting beneath Oren's gaze before nodding and turning to leave.] I won't—I won't burden your time any longer.

[twocomplex]

[Those words are enough to make him sit up straight. He turns in his chair, one hand gripping the back of it as he faces Mattias. There's not the same anger that's been burning in them the rest of the conversation. It's left something a lot more hesitant. Worried. Unhinged.]

I haven't once said it was a burden.

[His voice is softer, even if there's something mildly stern in that.] How many times did I call you? I've been returning to this ship each night with the hope that you'll come back so that I can rest at ease, Mattias.

Did you really come here only to ask a favor and leave? [His grip on the chair tightens slightly.] I get nothing more? No thoughts, no plans, no conversation?

Who is burdening whom?

[noctiphile]

[He wants to beg him to stop. Wants his words to cease and the concern that's so evident to go away. It's hard to negate. Hard to mirror his words with the harsh tone of their argument, the tone that had set him off. Funny, how now he can barely remember it.

The heart is a fickle beast and it betrays him in this moment.

He half-turns, biting his lip, mulling over words to tell him. He could speak of how he occupied nearly every thought. About how many nights he yearned to call him just for a simple conversation. How he wanted to hear him laugh again, see him smile, feel his hands across his skin. Instead, all he offers is a feeble grin.]

... I've been meaning to go shopping. If you would like to accompany me.

[twocomplex]

[An invitation?

He tries not to let the surprise show on his face, but there is an evident pause in reaction. Slowly, his hand slides off the back of the chair, and he glances to the ground between them. Shopping. So was he regretting his actions after all? He hadn't given up on him completely?

But he'd still avoided him, he reminds himself, and there's a strange mix of relief and dread. He lets out a breathy laugh and stands, and the look that rises to meet Mattias has a charming amount of shyness to it. A strange contradiction from all of his behavior just before.

There's a chance that this won't end in argument. Right?]

I'd quite like that.

[He glances down at himself to double check that he's presentable, smoothing his hands down the front of his shirt as he steps closer to Mattias.]

...Lead the way.

[noctiphile]

[There's something about the motion that sends his heart aflutter. Some semblance of insecurity, of timidity in his presence that might be genuine. He smiles, however small, and points his head towards the doorframe.]

Follow me, I suppose.

[He leads the way, largely silent except for multiple reassurances that the store was "just ahead". It wasn't, and they got lost more than once as Mattias was distracted by multiple attractions and vendors, poking and prodding at novelty items in passing before resuming his search for the strip of stores.

When they finally get there, he leads the way into the first one—an expensive boutique that has them both befuddled, swaying awkwardly in a dance of uncertainty around the other. Half-hearted coughs and nervous comments litter their stay and the entire experience is unabashedly uncomfortable. Mattias leaves the store with nothing, shaking his head at any clerk who tried to offer their "expertise".]

That was... perhaps not the best choice. [He says outside the store, rocking back awkwardly on his heels.] In stores, I mean. You have my apologies. I—[Something catches his eye. A vendor's stand only a few yards away, selling glasses with pitch black lenses. Canting his head, he walks towards them, plucking one off the stand and turning them over in his hands.]

Oren. [He calls over his shoulder.] Do you know what these are?

[twocomplex]

[The entire thing had been awkward. Joking comments that Oren would usually make were shelved with the worry of changing Mattias' mind, leaving far too much silence between them. The store had been too pricey and he could barely wrap his head around navigating a conversation while not feeling confident, let alone shop for things.

It was only now that he forgot of their absence from each other. Tension slowly left as he leans in to inspect what Mattias holds in his hands.]

Are those glasses?

[A smile quirks at just one side of his mouth, and he laughs, reaching over to pick up a pair himself.]

Colored so darkly? What's the point of this? A fashionable blindfold?

[noctiphile]

Perhaps they're meant to be something else?

[Frowning, Mattias tries to strap one around his arm. It nearly falls to the ground before he catches it.]

I suppose not. [He holds them to his face again, frowning again.] The lenses are too thin. How will this block the sand? It'd be scratched within minutes. How much are they charging for this?

[twocomplex]

[Oren can't help but laugh.]

What use do these serve? The price, let's see...

[He turns the one he has over in his hand until he notices the tag, leaning over to Mattias to point it out.] 80 credits? There are different colors. For 80 credits I could look mysterious, is that it?

[noctiphile]

Hm. [Mattias can't help but chuckle, shelving his own pair and taking Oren's. Gently, he slides the pair onto his face, trying his best not to smile and failing.] Well, for 80 credits you might just need it. You're a hard sell on mysterious.

[twocomplex]

You'll have to tell me how I look.

[He laughs, hands raising just to lightly touch fingertips over the back of Mattias' palms. But the glasses slide into place just right and he doesn't have to mess with them. His hands withdraw, and Mattias can admire the mirrored image of himself in the lenses as Oren laughs again.]

You've grayed out! [That's not really clear, he realizes, and a little jokingly he reaches out to touch Mattias' chest, testing his distance.] I mean that I can still see, but your colors have changed!

[noctiphile]

[The lingering fingertips are enough to make his heart ache. He tries not to think about them, pushing on.]

It changes the color of your vision? [He touches the lens before the salesperson barks at him in an alien tongue. He shrinks, smiling sheepishly and mouthing "I'm sorry". Then he simply pulls his own pair of glasses off the rack and tries them on. Laughing, he claps his hands.] You're right! You're pink!

[Continuing to laugh, he cups Oren's cheeks.] Look at these rosy cheeks!

[twocomplex]

[He laughs himself, brushing Mattias' hands away in a few playful swipes.]

Oh, hush! You look like some sort of bug in those, I'll have you know.

[As if his are any better. He reaches up, leaning on his tiptoes to take the shades, and hands them back to the alien that is getting increasingly impatient with the both of them. Oren doesn't seem to care, pulling a plastic pair from the shelf and moving to place them on Mattias.]

Try this one, this one.

[noctiphile]

This one? The material is awful! [He pinches it between his fingers and makes a disgusted face.

Still, he drops the subject once he sees the color.] You're green!

[He peers closer, clearly squinting beneath the glasses.] Though they dim your eyes. A pity.

[He had always found them beautiful in their vibrancy.]

[twocomplex]

[Oh. That comment is enough to lighten his chest and pull a wider smile onto his lips. He looks over his sunglasses at him for a good few seconds before taking them off and setting them aside.]

Don't they all? [Curiously, he grabs one of the pamphlets from the section, half-eyeing it as he reaches up to grab another pair of glasses for Mattias to try on. He urges it at him as his eyes flick down, running over the bold words on the front.

"Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays! Shield them from the sun!"]

Wait, Mattias, look here. [He lightly bats the side of his shoulder, gesturing at him with the advertisement.]

[noctiphile]

Hm? What is it? [He shuffles closer to Oren, shoulders bumping together. He doesn't think much of it as he peers down at the pamphlet, reading it over the rim of his glasses. Muttering:] "Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays"? What's that? [He turns to Oren as he asks, waiting for an answer before he waves it off, looking back to the pamphlet.] "Shield them from... the sun"?

[His head snaps up now and the sunglasses are torn off his face in shock and disbelief.] That can't be right. Nothing can shield the sun. They'd have to be—be blankets or something. Tarp. [He turns the sunglasses in his hands again, running his fingers over what is clearly glass.] This—this is nothing so hardy.

[twocomplex]

[Oren's just as baffled, turning the page over in his hand for an explanation. There aren't any words that offer explanation (at the very top of this side, it says "Enjoy the sun in comfort and style!"), but there is a side by side comparison picture at the bottom. It's a beach with a glaring sun, so much that one picture is barely visible through it. The other side is completely clear, if a little dimmer, more contrasted...

He's squinting at this now.]

Do they claim then that sun through these would not burn? [It wouldn't act like a magnifying glass? Is it because they weren't clear?]

How can that be? [He puts another pair on again, himself, glancing around the station as if it would provide a clue. He lands back on Mattias, leaning closer again to offer him the paper.] That picture, there... Do you suppose they really work?

[noctiphile]

It's hard to tell just from a picture... [He bites his lip, glancing towards the vendor.] Maybe they have a... a miniature sun or something. With everything else here, I doubt that'd be too farfetched.

[Uncertain, he glances to Oren.] Right?

[twocomplex]

Strange... But with everything else here indeed, I have no room to argue that.

[Maybe they do? They must, with these pictures.] Do you suppose someone else would know?

[He's got half the mind to ask. But toying with the tag on the arm of the ones he's wearing, he grins, nudging Mattias with his elbow.]

Let's get them. One each! To try out.

[noctiphile]

I'm not buying these monstrosities.

[He slaps him with the back of his hand.] Find me a good pair and I'll wear them.

[twocomplex]

Worry not, Mattias! I've won enough to cover a pair for you as well as me.

[He laughs at the idea of Mattias needing the help (he knows that's not the issue), and turns to face the board.]

I'll find the perfect fit even without understanding these. What color do you want?

[noctiphile]

I don't know. [He waves a hand in dismissal, poking at the other goods on the cart.] You're the one choosing. What color do you think suits me best? I'll follow your advice.

[He frowns, bobbing his head to the side.] Providing it's right.

[twocomplex]

[He searches through them one by one, giving a light slap to his arm at the last sentence from Mattias. Please, he's always right. And when he comes across the pair, he knows he's right. He takes it off the board and tiptoes once more, sliding the sunglasses into place before gesturing at a display mirror.]

Oh, it must be those. Take a look, Mattias. I've even chosen gold for you.

[noctiphile]

Oh. [He straightens, surprised. Turning his head left and right as he looks in the mirror.] They're... perfect.

[He stares at himself for a few more minutes before his gaze drifts to the rest of the glasses. Gingerly, he pulls one from the stand and turns to slide them over Oren's eyes. He grins, gaze flickering up and down his face before he sidles out of the way, gesturing to the mirror.]

[twocomplex]

So my advice was right, then?

[He laughs, touching the glasses that have been placed upon his face as he steps to the mirror himself. He does a similar thing, looks left and right, lowers them a bit on his nose to look over them.

And then he's pushing them back up, shaking his head.]

So both of ours is right. I'll buy them, before we're kicked out. He's looking rather unpleasant. [With a lingering smile, he brushes past Mattias to greet the shop keeper, gesturing to himself and then Mattias before he pays.]