vecna | reverie inbox.

I know fashion changes, Alec.

[But also, probably never for the best.]

But are you going to start dressing me like you, then?

I know better. You'd veto everything I tossed your way.

That's why I'm going to let Madigan dress you.

[Makes just a little bit of a face.]

And dressing myself is out of the question… why?

First of all, it won't be as amusing for me to watch.

[ Alec... ]

Second of all, the goal is to help you blend in. I trust her to manage it while also adhering to your tastes.

[The second is too logical to argue against, but the first point-]

Amusing?

[Honestly, this man.]

Maybe I’ll just ask for all on-lookers to leave and deprive you of your entertainment.

Even me? I'm hurt.

[ He's not. ]

Even you.

[Yeah, he knows you’re not.]

You might regret that when I let Mads just have her way with you.

I’m a grown man, you know. I can handle one person, no matter how… lively you make her out to be.

Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you.

What’s the worst that could happen? She dresses me a little strangely? She flirts some?

You know, at this point I think I'm just gonna let you find out for yourself.

[Alec sure is setting some expectations here.]

Well, if it’s the latter, then don’t worry. The only person in this entire universe I care to be attracted to is standing right in front of me.

And he won’t even carry my bag.

[ "The only person in this entire universe"? Henry, please. Alec doesn't know what to do with himself when he says things like that. His gaze slices a way a little, almost embarrassed. ]

If you were trying to get me to carry it, that almost worked.

[ He's got it so, so bad. ]

[Henry has it just as bad. It’s why he can say such things so, so easily.

But oh? Is someone a little embarrassed? He leans a little to the side, dipping his head to catch his gaze in a teasing way. ]

Only almost? I’ll have to practice better ways to express my devotion, then.

[ Affection is hard and it gets him flustered sometimes. ]

I guess you will.

[ So of course he just invites more of it. Inexplicably. ]

[That's cute. You're being cute, Alec.]

Endless opportunities in the future, right?

[He smiles and straightens again, adjusting the bag over his shoulder.]

For now, let's keep moving on.

[ HE IS NOT CUTE. Even if that little bit of constricting warmth winds around his chest again at the mention of the future. Nope, not cute at all.

RIGHT moving on. ]

What do we think the empty floor to occupancy ratio is gonna be in here?

[UH-HUH SURE

Time to wander out of this store.]

I suspect we'll be more bored than not. [So lots of empty floors.] But the promise of coming across something, even every once in a while, is enticing enough to keep going.

Are you calling me boring, Henry Creel?

[ HE KIDS. Onto the next however many escalators before they find something neat I guess. ]

No. Never.

[His tone is joking right back but also, no. Never.

Up many escalators this time, and when a floor finally does have something, it's...

Well, it looks like an obstacle course.]

...Is this normal for a mall?

[ That little joking comment earns Henry a cheeky little smirk, then up the escalator they go. Again. And again. And again.

Until finally they arrive at. Uh. ]

Uh. Not... really? I mean some malls have like trampoline parks, or play areas for kids with those shitty inflatable obstacle courses. I've never seen anything like this before.

[Henry's drawn closer; all odd curiosities tend to have that effect on him.]

So then just unique to this place. It looks... [Hm.] Intense. Did you want to try?

[ Quirks a brow. ]

Do you?

[Absolutely not.

...Is what he should say, but his pride flares just a wee bit that look.]

And what's that supposed to mean, exactly?

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