[text message to Elliott]

[hardtoignore]

Elliott. I need help with something.

Comments

[bearshermark]

Oh, man. Well shove it in a bag and get it over here, then.

[hardtoignore]

Thanks man. I'm losing it over here. First all this magic stuff and now this weird fancypants suit.

[bearshermark]

[Hold up]

Magic stuff?

[hardtoignore]

[There's quite a pause before he starts typing again.]

Look. I didn't want to say anything because you already talked about magic and stuff and are probably dealing with a lot more dumb carp, but like... you know how I told you about my first memory?

[bearshermark]

Yes...

[hardtoignore]

I started seeing red sparks last month. But a few days ago I started to get more of something that I couldn't just ignore as my paranoia. Unless I am just seeing things! That would be better than actually having this red magic light.

[bearshermark]

Hey, listen. You're not going to kill anyone, okay?

[hardtoignore]

Easy for you to say! You look like you have some control over this! But what if I do something crazy, like sleepwalk and attack someone on accident??

[bearshermark]

You won't. When was the last time you even punched someone?

[hardtoignore]

Okay fair. It still freaks me out okay? I don't want this! Why couldn't I just get the cat and be done with it?

[bearshermark]

I know. I'm sorry. We'll figure this out, okay?

[hardtoignore]

Yeah. Yeah, okay.

I'm going to head over as soon as I know Phil won't notice me dragging this trashbag out of the house. Then I think I gotta show you some stuff.

[bearshermark]

Sounds good. I've kind of figured some stuff out, so I'll do what I can to help.

[hardtoignore]

Thanks, I'll need it.

[Half an hour later Clarence arrives at Elliott's home, suit in a trashbag and nice dress shoes hanging from the fingers of one hand. His eyes are heavy with dark bags. Some of it could probably be attributed to late night studying, but only some of it.]

[He knocks on the door and shifts from side to side, hoping El wasn't in the middle of anything important before his texts. Didn't need to add residual guilt on top of his constant neediness.]

[bearshermark]

[Nothing remotely important, if the loose t-shirt and sweatpants Elliott greets him in are any indication. He takes in Clarence's tired expression with a pang but forces a bit of cheer into his voice as he steps aside to let him in.]

You sure you aren't going to prom?

[hardtoignore]

[That kind of joking gets rolled eyes in repsonse.]

Ha ha. C'mon! I don't want your neighbors thinking weird stuff.

[He shuffles inside, fairly comfortable with this home by now. It isn't overly large, but it's nicer than some of the places Clarence had lived in the past. Not as nice as Phil and Kris' place, but they were probably the most affluent couple Clarence had ever been assigned to.]

Don't get me wrong, this is a nice suit but I've literally never owned anything like this in my life. It even has a tie!

[bearshermark]

[Elliott closes the door and follows him inside, then leads them to his room. The closet is already open with the few things he has on hangers- a winter coat, a nice outfit or two and a blazer- shoved back to leave plenty of room]

Maybe you were invited to a lot of fancy parties in your past life?

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence snorted at the sheer ridiculousness of that thought.] Only if I was the entertainment. It's not a normal suit. Pretty sure it just makes me look younger than I already do.

[And to show that truth, Clarence pulled it out and shoved it towards Elliott to get a look.]

What even is on the inside? Red silk?

[bearshermark]

[Elliott blinks at the fabric, then runs his hands over it. It feels nice, like the way expensive fabric does. The red lining is unusual- as far as he knows anyway.]

Maybe it was trendy back then. [But the longer he looks at it, the more it seems a shame to just shove it in the closet to be hidden away for however long]

..Have you tried it on yet?

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence shrugs. As much as he likes art, he hasn't really considered himself as fashion-forward. Or fashion anything.]

Are you joking? Of course not!

[bearshermark]

[Elliott tsks and hands the bundle back]

Come on. I bet it'll look good on you.

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence grasps the material, eyes widening in shock.]

Seriously? I mean, I...

[He glances away, cheeks warming.]

... I've never actually worn a suit before.

[bearshermark]

[Elliott waves, dismissive]

They're just clothes. I'm sure I can find a Youtube video for the tie.

[And he wastes no time in pulling his phone off the charger to look]

[hardtoignore]

[Oh. Elliott is serious. Seriously serious. The more Clarence realizes this, the more awkward he becomes. But he would probably be lying if he said he wasn't a little curious how it looked.]

Okay, well... if you look for that, I'll go ahead and try the pants at least.

[And maybe the dress shirt. He wasn't sure if that jacket would even fit him.]

[bearshermark]

[Elliott throws him a smile from behind his phone, then turns to let him dress in peace while he scrolls through video results. Something short and sweet, with a good shot of the process..]