#ojt arc

[pixuou]

Johnny: Hey! Hope I'm not calling too late... We're back home.

Tank: It's alright, I'll just whisper so my dad cannot hear. They're already asleep I think. Did you have fun at Pride?

Johnny: Oh yeah, it was great. Jill and I did a lot of fun things, and we hung out with Ophelia and Stella too.

Tank: Wow, I hate that I had to miss it. But I couldn't risk angering my dad even more.

Johnny: I know, I wish you could have been there too. Next year for sure, we'll make it happen.

Johnny: Now listen. I told my parents you were coming tomorrow. They were a little confused, but they understood I just wanted to help you escape your dad. Where did you tell him you were moving? (...) Good, because I asked Ophelia to say you live in the apartment across theirs if anybody was to ask. Either way, pack your stuff and be here by noon. And remember: to my parents and sister, we're only friends, at least for now... (...) Good night, Tank. I can't wait for tomorrow.

[pixuou]

Tank: Hey, what are you doing here?

Johnny: I just came to check on you. I hope you don't mind.

Tank: In the rain?

Johnny: I'm not made of sugar.

Tank: Maybe next time call me first, okay? You need to go now, everybody's home. You don't want my dad to notice you.

Johnny: Sure. In a second...

And then this happened.

[pixuou]

Tank: Welp, here we go. Hopefully won't be staying for too long.

Tank: ...so I just need a little time to get it together. Until then, I'll pay you rent, as soon as I get a job... How much would you ask from a tenant for my room?

Buzz: Your room? Oh, you don't have a room anymore. We had the second floor renovated so Kristen and I could have a proper bedroom, so now there's only that and Buck's room upstairs.

Tank: Oh... fair enough... but there's still plenty of room down here, surely I can put my bed somewhere...?

Buzz: We threw out your bed too.

Tank: What??? You seriously want me gone so bad.

Buzz: I just want you to man up and become independent. Soon you'll have to sustain your own family, I can't let you get used to leeching on your father's money. It's in your interest, you know I've always done what's best for you.

Tank: Oh of course of course... Don't worry, I'll be gone in no time.

:-(

[pixuou]

Johnny and Tank were slowly starting to like each other's company living together at the fraternity.

Tank: My father says I should beat you up.

Johnny: And why don't you? It would feel a little nostalgic.

Tank: Yeah, you know what, why don't we just fight? But you hit first.

Johnny: Okay! You've got it coming. This is for... uh... the water all over the bathroom floor yesterday.

Tank: Come on, you can do better than that.

Johnny: Hm... the spoilt milk in the fridge then?

Tank: Nah... I would seriously deserve to have you get back at me for... a lot of stuff. I bullied you so much in high school that you feared me.

Johnny: I didn't fear you! I avoided you because I had more important things to do than pick fights.

Tank: You saw me in the hallway and did a 180 and ran away whimpering usually.

Johnny: I didn't! Stop lying or I'm gonna hit you.

Tank: There you are!

Johnny: You know, this is gonna sound sappy but I don't even remember now why we ever had to fight so much. I mean it when I say your bullying wasn't even that bad.

Tank: 'Cause I never really wanted to hurt you, or anyone. I just wanted to prove I was strong and brave, to my dad most of all.

Johnny: Wow, you really learned to play like that from point zero since we live here?

Tank: I didn't have a choice. I needed those creativity points to pass.

[pixuou]

Then Ophelia finally graduated and moved in with Stella. They decided to stay in that apartment until their contract ends (and then they'll probably buy a house from Olive's inheritance), so they started refurnishing it a little and making it feel more like home. They plan to stay in Strangetown so Stella can live close to her work. Ophelia's plan is to become a psychotherapist, or at least a counsellor, and then start her own private counselling practice somewhere down the line.

Johnny and Ophelia fell out a little when they broke up, but by now they've rekindled their friendship, and Johnny gets along with Stella too. They're also the only ones he told about what's been happening between him and Tank so far (since Ophelia has also become good friends with Tank in college).

Poor Stella caught some suspicious lab flu...

[pixuou]

Despite not being the overachiever type, Ophelia did her best to finish her psychology degree, and she managed to graduate with a GPA of 3.2. She is now ready to move back to Strangetown to live with her girlfriend Stella, but one thing's for sure: wherever they'll end up living, it WON'T be 13 Dead End Lane.

[pixuou]

Tank: Hey. So... the house is empty this morning. Everyone's gone to work, and I've got a day off. I was thinking, if you're free, maybe you could come check on me again.

He did.

Johnny: We should do this more often.

Tank: Ah, if I could only leave this place, then we could.

Johnny: Do you remember what I told you back in the frat? I was for real.

Talk: What?

Johnny: That you can always come to ours. We even have a spare bedroom. I know normally it would be super weird of me to ask you to move in with me this early but you cannot stay here anymore, and we can treat it as like, a simple help with accommodation thing. Or a friendly favour thing. And neither of our parents would have to know that we... that we are...

Tank: I mean, it's a little humiliating, but... I think I'd like to be around you all the time.

[pixuou]

Tank: What are you doing up here in Aldric's room?

Johnny: Oh, just came to the mini fridge. I thought he said he had some hidden booze in here, but it's empty now. I don't like stealing, but he ate my leftover pizza the last time, so...

Tank: There's plenty of booze downstairs, why don't you come join us?

Johnny: Because this is a graduation party, not a drop-out party. I don't really have anything to celebrate or be proud of.

Tank: Come on, do you not want to remember your last college party? Just take it easy.

Johnny: Wow, it's rare to see you be the laid-back one.

Tank: Hey... if you want something to help you relax... I know a good massage technique.

Johnny: Where'd you learn that?

Tank: Someone in the military showed me. There were a few nice guys who cared about your health and all.

Tank: Better?

Johnny: Loads.

[This was autonomous and non-ACR!!!!!]

Tank: And, so, what will you do now? Where will you go?

Johnny: Probably just home to my parents. My dad is getting old, they could use some help around the house anyway.

Tank: Oh, that's nice...

Johnny: I'm guessing you don't want to go home to your dad?

Tank: He doesn't want me to either. He says I should be able to sustain myself completely now.

Johnny: He's delusional. In this economy? On your own?

Tank: I know... I'm not sure I could afford to pay rent anywhere alone, not even in the outskirts. I'm probably going to be broke forever working in the arts...

Johnny: Look, if things turn bad... just know that you can always come to ours. We have some extra rooms... I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind helping you out for a bit. And your dad wouldn't have to know.

Tank: There is so much my dad doesn't know.

Johnny: Just give me a call, really, if you need anything.

Tank: Thank you, Johnny. ... Now, shall we go and blow some bubbles for the last time?