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[vecna]

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[striketwice]

Are you really gonna make me say it?

[ HE HATES SOUNDING LIKE A DAD ]

We have food at home.

[vecna]

[oh my god OKAY DAD (to be fair, sometimes Henry is just an overgrown kid)

He has to laugh at that while he spears his food with a plastic fork.]

All work and no play. Fine, but I'll be sure to let them know that you're the reason they're without something sweet to eat.

[striketwice]

I really don't think it's going to be that big of an issue.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some incredibly complicated magic to put together.

[ Let him build his portal HENRY. ]

[vecna]

[Fine ALEC.

As tempting as it is to tease him, Henry opts to leave Alec alone so he doesn't create a portal that liquifies either of them when they step through. So, first, he tends to his food -- and if there's still plenty of free time after that, Henry will spend some of that time wandering about the food court, seeing what other things he possibly could summon to the pick-up window.

In reality, he doesn't want to test the man's patience too much, so he doesn't end up ordering anything except one item: a giant cookie cake from a knock-off American Cookies. Because how can he not? It's so stupid. So childish. And so perfect.

Ding!]

[striketwice]

[ Henry should know from experience that he's going to have a couple of hours and some change to kill. Alec doesn't feel too bad about putting their "date" on hold for it — Henry brought this on himself, after all.

He expects to hear that troublesome ding! way more often than he does, if only because he knows how contrary Henry can be. So, he's surprised to only hear it once. The portal is about finished by then, so he opt to complete his work before he investigates.

A couple minutes later, leaving the portal standing open to Unicorn's kitchen, he meanders over. ]

Now what did you get?

[vecna]

[When Alec approaches, Henry’s already picked up the cookie cake, holding it out so he can see the colorful icing decor.]

Don’t say it like an accusation. Look.

[Look at how ridiculous this is.]

It doesn’t happen to be your “magical birthday”, does it?

[striketwice]

[ "Look" doesn't make it any better. ]

I couldn't even begin to guess what the date around here actually is, but I'm guessing we're nowhere close to March. So no, it doesn't.

[vecna]

Then we’ll just say it’s mine.

[ :) ]

You wouldn’t deprive me, would you?

[striketwice]

You act like I'm going to confiscate it or something. It's your cookie cake, I'm not gonna take it away.

[vecna]

Great. I’m sure the others will enjoy it, too. It’s perfectly themed, you know.

[In case that wasn’t already painfully obvious.]

[striketwice]

I can see that. I'm sure that's why you picked it out.

[ He rolls his eyes, though his tone is undeniably fond. ]

The portal's done, so let's ship all this food back to the dorm and keep looking around.

[vecna]

[Henry's clearly garnered a surprising amount of entertainment from this food court outing, weirdly pleased about this ridiculous unicorn cookie cake.]

Great. We'll leave it in the kitchen.

[UNICORN CAN THANK HIM LATER

But Henry at least won't make Alec carry the food again, as hilarious as that would be. All the takeout, still untouched, will simply lift up and float after them both whenever they make their way through the brand new portal.]

[striketwice]

[ This just serves to have Alec make a mental note not to leave Henry unsupervised in an actual mall, one day.

Though he does appreciate not having to carry everything. Having a psychic boyfriend does sure have its perks, even if it's Henry's fault they're having to deal with all this anyway. In any case, the takeout gets deposited into the fridge. Alec tacks a note onto the fridge door with a magnet, encouraging their teammates to please eat all of this food for the love of god, and then it's back through the portal into the mall proper.

Alec waves it closed behind him. ]

I hope you know I wasn't planning on spending my morning doing actual work.

[vecna]

[Season 3 was Henry Creel Left Unattended at A Mall, the Show. The universe never, ever needs this.

But anyway, with the food put away and a desperate plea for help left on the fridge, they return to the mall through the portal yet again. Henry is just a step or two behind Alec when it closes behind them.]

Did I put a damper on your plans? But we still have plenty of time to kill, and at least that's one less portal to worry about.

[striketwice]

I guess.

[ He's kind of glad to have something so convenient out of the way already, but he's still gonna bitch about it. ]

Anyway, let's keep going.

[vecna]

[Alec please.]

Don't pout, Alec. I won't make you work anymore.

[Looks like all that's here is a food court, so it's up the next escalator they go!]

[striketwice]

[ Just. Makes a face. He's not pouting! (He is.)

And up the escalator they go to... more empty floors. ]

I'm beginning to think someone just straight up asked for a dying mall.

[vecna]

[He's totally pouting.

And exciting, more empty floors!!! How much of this mall is empty, as opposed to actually brimming with stores? Their voices practically echo.]

And why would anyone want that? This prison might just be losing its potency when it comes to creating new things. I bet there's more above us.

[striketwice]

Here's hoping, otherwise we're gonna ride escalators all day for nothing but Chinese takeout.

[vecna]

And the cookie cake.

[Don't forget the cookie cake!]

[striketwice]

[ The fondest of exasperated eyerolls. ]

How could I forget?

[vecna]

[Alec is a saint for humoring Henry. He just chuckles.]

It's the best part.

[Well, no point in hanging around. UP MORE ESCALATORS, RIGHT? Henry's expectations aren't high at this point, as they ascend slowly to another floor, but when they arrive...

They're greeted with a clothing store this time.]

Oh? Look at that.

[striketwice]

[ It's the only way in which he is a saint tbh. ]

Huh. What's this? A whole other source of clothes besides the costume shop?

[ He has yet to realize it's all 1950's fashion.... ]

[vecna]

[Henry's the first to realize it, though, drawing close and stepping into the store. Oh, yes. It's almost surreal, like transitioning back into that era in his memories, the style of clothing of the time, men and women's wear alike. Even the interior of the store...

He isn't sure how to feel about it. That strange sense of nostalgia, unbidden.

Well. At least in his estimation, there's nothing particularly radical about the clothing on display. He already almost dresses like this, in his neatly pressed trousers and button-up shirts.]

It seems like it.

[He looks over his shoulder at Alec, grinning.]

You should pick an outfit out for yourself.

[striketwice]

[ It hits Alec a second later. He barely missed the 50s but some of the fashion lingered. And then of course he's seen how Henry dresses. ]

If I wanted to dress like this, I'd just raid your closet.