@ofkits
roman has always needed a social clutch at crowded functions. there was something about a busy room that made him suddenly useless, unsure of what to do with his hands, where to place his gaze. if left unattended, he’d always end up in the corner of the room, nursing a cup of the house special, counting the moments until he was free to excuse himself. things became easier with octavia. being affable was embedded into her very nature, fluttering from group to group like the butterfly that she was, tugging roman along with her. just the warmth of her grip at his fingers was enough to quell the ever-churning sea of apprehension in his chest. it almost felt easy. almost... but now he’d been abandoned. what was there to do now? roman felt incredibly childish, lost in a forest of veiled faces. the mask he’d picked up in venice whilst on vacation sat atop his head like a crown, bangs carelessly and messily peeking atop from them. he looked like a disgruntled second grader at a halloween party, frowning into a goblet of sprite. no drinks tonight. no need to embarrass imperium... for now, anyway. darkened eyes danced across the crowd to find a sliver of entertainment, perhaps even joy. ask and you shall receive. across the expanse of chattering faces, roman finally discovered his favorite. that of his best friend. instantly, the anguish for being social seemed wiped clean from the boy’s face, instead grinning for once. forgoing his quiet corner of the party, his footsteps led him to the brunet.
“oh thank god,” he let out once the other was in earshot. “i wasn’t sure if you were here or not yet. didn’t want to immediately start calling you on the phone from the bathroom in desperation. would have done so in another half an hour tho,” roman admitted. it hadn’t even been that long since they saw one another, but each time roman greeted the boy like a faithful lapdog away from his owner for moment too long, because in truth, each time did feel like too long. this was the burden to bear for a boy who’d never once had a best friend before college. now it seems no time felt long enough, despite even living together. there seemed to be a canyon in his chest, loud and empty when they were apart. i miss you was always dripping off his lips, never quite meeting the air. though, it never had to. the pair spoke in a secret language, already well aware of their great need for this friendship, for each other. more than friends, more than brothers. “run into any interesting characters yet?” roman’s eyes now fixated on a woman with far too many ostrich feathers woven into her updo and a smile bewitched his mouth, the kind that was shelved only for kit.