BUT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW IS:

[dipolar]

WHO? midnigher thingpuncher and hei dipolar
WHAT? hei's never seen a movie and m wants pelmeni, trade-off
WHEN? today, right now as you read, you're in the shit
ANYTHING ELSE? will add warnings if existential crises occur, i guess?

(movie poached from the library, ingredients poached from the mess hall, and a couple of hours between lights out and training at 0600. time enough for a movie and snacks.

he's a bit apprehensive with no movie experience under his belt and a tendency to fidget, but he's leaving his capsule in the dead hours of the "night" to seek midnighter out all the same. the plan is to meet him in the library and does, depositing the pelmeni onto a low coffee table surrounded by a pod of comfortable sofas — that he seems determined to bodily shove against the wall as crows look on flatly. having something at his back will make him far more likely to sit still, vantage of the terminals and shelving broad.

stands back to admire his own handiwork, then looks to m for approval.)

This'll do for now. You managed to get the tablet?

Comments

[thingpuncher]

No, no, I can't pick. I've seen it before, remember? You're betting on yourself.

[Betting, odds, competitions, that always made perfect sense to him.]

So pick something fitting.

[dipolar]

Ah...

(right. spares this some serious thought.)

I have to be nice for a whole hour.

(A WHOLE HOUR)

[thingpuncher]

What.

[What?]

When am I not nice?

[dipolar]

No. If you win, I have to be nice for a whole hour.

(repeats himself, looking over with a flat expression.)

[thingpuncher]

[Another chapter in a book titled 'not everything is about you, Midnighter'.]

You're plenty nice. You're fine. [If you're a bird, I'm a bird!]

[dipolar]

I'm not nice.

...

Your standards are all fucked up.

[thingpuncher]

[ok, possibly, but-]

You're as kind as you need to be. I dunno, doesn't strike me as mean. Maybe everybody you deal with is just a whiner. Actually, that's probably it. [Noctis...]

[dipolar]

That's not it.

... (well—)

There are a great many whiners, but this is my personality.

[thingpuncher]

I noticed.

[Haaaa.]

I still don't think it's a big enough win for me. Not like I'm crying from your crushing insults.

[dipolar]

Fine. I don't know, then.

(folds arms, slouching down the couch.)

I don't know many things you like or dislike. Except— ah. I can watch one of your weird musicals.

[thingpuncher]

[Someone's annoyed they already used Midnighter's happiest icon on the previous comment, because that's where he is right now. Midnighter holds his hand out.]

Deal.

[dipolar]

(well, that's that then. m looks quite content with it and hei has a feeling he's about to lose his own bet, but he makes the deal anyway with a tight grip and a firm shake of m's hand.)

You'll have to choose the worst one. If I'm to do this, then it has to be very bad.

[thingpuncher]

They're all horrible. That's the point. We're gonna watch my favorite.

[Which is to say, he has Hei watching Sweeney Todd in the bag.]

[dipolar]

By the way... I was betting on Barbara's survival.

(cheats, changing the entire bet.)

This whole time, you see.

[thingpuncher]

Yeah.

[Midnighter nods, repressing a smirk. He's not particularly competitive, and he's pretty sure he can still make Hei watch one of his favorite films if he whines enough. Hei is susceptible to whining, and Midnighter has very little shame.]

After the brawl.