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Even though Arthur tried to get his friends to make up just before the ball, it still feels like nothing got resolved and itâs infuriating. He never knows what to do when the two of them fightâif heâs the one whoâs involved, he usually apologizes first (but only when itâs Dorothy or Nathan, anyone else does not get this kind of a privilege) and thatâs it. But since this isnât about him, he canât really just make them iron out their differences. âAlright, I know itâs not your fault butââ Arthur starts off, trying to choose his words wisely. He really does not want Dorothy to be cross with him too, âbut maybe you could try and be lessâŚpassive-aggressive?â he finally settles and hopes to God they donât take it the wrong way. âI just donât get it, why youâre both so stubborn about this.â
Arthur scans the crowd, notices a costume that fits their rules but doesnât say anything. âSo you agree, this fight is silly. And donât you worry, heâs going to get a talking-to as well. You lot are no fun like this, youâd better sort yourselves out.â
Heâs ready to protest the remark because itâs borderline offensiveânot give much in return, now thatâs a first. What Dorothy says then makes him roll his eyes. âOh, come on now,â Arthur groans. âI can tell you without you winning. We go out, we drink, we talk. You act as if weâre having some cult-like secret meetings when youâre not around.â Heâs really downplaying it and he isnât sure whyâthereâs definitely a lot more to the time he spends with Nathan than just drinking and talking; like the inexplicable joy he feels whenever he makes Nathan laugh or the way heâs always wishing for the night to never end when theyâre together. Thatâs something Arthur canât say and not because of Dorothy but because he isnât quite ready to hear these things himself.Â
âBiblical reference? This could be quite literally anyone,â he says but drinks anyway. âBut to be fair, this could be said about my costume as well. Someone asked me if Iâm EdwardâŚI donât even remember which one and I just said yes and went along with it because he brought me a glass of wine. Oh, this looks like a King Arthur to me.â Another sip. âHave you seen anyone you know tonight? Thereâs a handful of friends but I have no idea who most of these people are. And thatâs odd.â
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âIf you know itâs not my fault then Iâm not sure why youâre still talking to me about it.â They donât think theyâve ever snapped at Arthur before, but the feeling of bitterness when it came to Nathan was still there. And the distance...it only made it worse. Dorothy did not want to begin thinking of their friend with any sort of malice in mind. Yet, it did not feel right to forgive someone that refused to apologize. If anyone was being passive-aggressive between the two of them, it was Nathan. It was always Nathan. âI just, I donât understand why it had to be this way to begin with.â They donât elaborate, mostly because they donât exactly know how. It didnât feel right for them to be at odds in such a way, but it was not up to them. They knew that much at least.Â
âMhm. I donât believe you.â Thereâs a glint in Dorothyâs eyes that is all too familiar. âSo, thereâs no reason I canât be there too? Maybe when this is all over we could have a sleepover and you two can tell me all about it. Whatever it is that youâre keeping from me, that is.â Dorothy rubs their chin seemingly in deep thought, âYou know. I know too many people.â It had gotten to the point that Dorothy had written down a list of their names, short descriptions to help them remember whoâs who. When Dorothy had first met Feriha, she had made it too the list too. Pretty, with nice hair, and a little bit like them.Â
âAnd anyways, Iâm babysitting you for tonight. Remember? I have not had the chance to wander off and see for myself. Though I do remember Feriha mentioning her costume to me once, I think it had something to do with fairies...Weâre not adding that to the list.â
âNow that you mention it though...â Dorothy tilts their head a bit, his words echoes in their mind for a bit. âWho are all these people?â They say it as if theyâd just realized it now. The thought hadnât even occurred to them, why were they here? âItâs a bit odd isnât it? I donât think Iâve ever even heard of a Mr. Ashton.â
















