[ that's fine. he sips at his drink, staying quiet for a long moment to the point where it might seem weird that he even called him over. ]

How have you been?

[ casual ]

[ it does seem weird!!!!

looks up from his cup ]

Really?

I think it is a valid question to ask after how busy this weekend has been?

[ totty... are you stressed.... ]

After what this weekend has been like I'd be worried about anyone who said they were doing well.

[ he is so stressed. ]

Lying may be the way they cope.

Still, I just want to check on you. We did bond.

[ in the bathroom. ]

[ fair, lying usually is the way he copes.

... ]

The room's pretty depressing now without Da-kun there.

He was, admittedly, someone I was more fond of than others.

[ it was kind of hard not to like him, he was just a lil guy running around in his ugly shorts. ]

You did luck out with the rooming.

Yeah. I know.

[ though he feels pretty damn cursed now.

takes a sip of his coffee and sighs. ]

Is that guy you're stuck with still terrible?

He is fine as just a person to talk business with, but I would not really consider him someone you would be in a living situation with.

[ owner can handle any person but blade is so like

edgy

it is not worth it. ]

[ raises his eyebrows slightly like, what the hell kind of business would you even talk about with him...

sips. ]

You know after that first night you stayed with us, I went over there to lecture him on how he needed to grow up and deal with sharing a room like everybody else, and then it turned out he hadn't even been in the room that night? It was just empty!

[ there's a long pause. ]

I see.

[ why ]

Mm.

[ ...inwardly like SHOULD I INVITE HIM OVER AGAIN? DO I WANT THAT?? IF HE DIDN'T JUST GET KICKED OUT AGAIN IT SOUNDS WEIRD AND GAY TO OFFER ]

[ he is so funny.

but owner just sighs. ]

Thank you for telling me. People here sure can be strange.

[ one of the worst people to say that ]

[ the irony is not lost on him... ]

Yeah, no kidding.

[ ... ]

Anyway, um... if you have issues with him again at some point, I guess it'd still be okay if you wanted to stay over again, even without Da-kun there.

[ their social buffer... ]

[ oh. he looks surprised. this is week 0 so the emotion is-- also surprised, genuine. ]

Oh. [ he offers a polite bow. ] I appreciate the offer.