Chapter Text
wylan finished packing the last of his belongings into his rather toylike luggage and wrapping his flute in a protective layer of cloth so it wouldn't get damaged in transport. He wasn't completely sure he would need something like an instrument but it was always nice to at least have with him - it brought a sense of comfort to the boy.
He remembered the brownies from last night and thought he could maybe use them to make a good impression with the other kids.
“Alys, may I take a few of the treats you made last night? I’d like to share them with the others.”
“Oh! Yes of course sweetie why couldn't you. But what others wy?”
Alys was barely a decade older than the boy but she always seemed warm, motherly even. It never felt like an act to win over his father - like she always wanted this life, maybe she did.
Wylan took a wobbly breath before returning to the conversation. “Oh, the competitors my father is having me travel with… to noyvi zem - theres 4 of us” he said like he was unsure - and he very obviously was. “Thats wonderful wy! You should just bring a tin - you know, for a little plane snack” she mentioned quietly before winking very obnoxiously and returning to her cross stitch.
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He was expecting to see 4 pin tight boys who were already sick of him to neatly tuck into the seats next to him - what he wasnt ready to see was a sickly pale - rather slim & offputting guy, a girl adorned in teal head-to-toe with incredibly long braids the colour of pure coffee, and . . .
“Hello.” wylan felt a scorching breath behind his nape - as high as wylan hopped he was thoroughly sure the other boy leapt twice the distance. “Hi there . . . wow!.. Are you uhm here for the…” he still wasn't told what he was attending - and this crowd surely didn’t fill in the blanks. “Are you with.. Us?” wylan said after a short pause. the other boy still staring at him, possibly too close. “Think so” pulling away from behind wylan, now able to see his full frame
The other boy was remarkably lanky and held a taupe complexion, though judging by the warm feeling creeping into his skull - wylan looked closer to a traffic light
“Did I scare you?” the boy said utterly out of breath - seemingly asking himself the same question. “Sorry…hah . . . im Jesper, you?” wylan looked up still flustered, unsure if the redness was caused by the interaction or the man standing in front of him. Who was much too comfortable holding eye contact
“I'm wylan, hello!” voice coming out more shrill than expected. “You’ve said that already, excited to see me hm?” wylan was now visibly uncomfortable, currently being flirted with by a total stranger…maybe ? he wasn't exactly sure - oh god, he is now realizing just how daft he is to be blushing scarlet at the slightest interaction.
“i-I brought brownies for everyone! Plenty of them - my step-mom couldn't wait to get them off her hands . . have at it!” a hopeless attempt to ignore what had happened less than 15 seconds ago. “are they dairy-free?” the slender boy asked very bluntly as a very obvious try at being non-chalant, though desperately eyeing the tupperware full of chocolate
“He has ibs!” the comically short girl says boldly while poking her head out of her very on brand turquoise sweater hood, revealing a silver necklace with a pendant of a blade.
“I dont have ‘ibs’ inej, i have an indifference to lactose” scoffing. “He is going to be clawing at the walls of the plane stalls if he isn't careful. Or maybe worse since he thinks he is to good to use a restroom in a moving vehicle” with an edge of wit - or possibly fear . . . “However, I will be snagging one. Thank you . . wylan, is it?” wylan was still zoned-out while trying to shake the thought of a boy who is still standing dangerously near him - grinning stupidly probably about the thought of the other blowing up a flying toilet.
Just as reality came back he answered to the girl “oh yes yes! That's me . . . you? are inej i’m assuming” still sounding like a dogs favorite squeaky toy
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after an extra while in TSA due to inej’s very . . outstanding jewelry - they were finally all boarded, the pale boy & inej both in business class and with jesper & wylan crammed together in economy
“ah, found our seats!” wylan squeezed between a few people to the best of his ability to get to jesper - apparently they had been seated by the event organizers because the boys were in the very far corner of the plane together.
“i’ll put up your luggage ma’dam” one long — very flustered flight ahead of him.