Chapter Text
The sound of keys clicking echoes throughout the room.
Kasper and Lampert had been.. Acquaintances, for god knows how long. Just “Friends” alone was a strong word for Lampert, despite Kasper's multiple attempts of trying to classify them as “Best friends”. “Best” was an even stronger word.
Lampert vows to never give in. He needs no bonds of any kind, even an acquaintance is pushing it. The only thing worthy of a friend was the Rokea itself, in all its glory. Though.. Kasper was.. Decent company.
Click!
Sent.
“Hey man, weve ben buds for a while,,.. Yet you’ve never actually com to my place, always the ‘Rokea’. It juuust so hapens im pretty bored, so why not stop by! Come over plz.? Builderman apartments.. The gate code is 1112 and I’m door 81.. Just in case?”
Huh. Buds. Lampert tolerated it, just for now. He takes in the message, and Kasper finds himself waiting on a non responding dotted speech bubble for what seems like years.
“Okay.”
Kasper pumps his fists up in success. He guarantees that this will insinuate a greater bond between the two, after he gifts lampert the custom lampshade he made out of Tix. It may or may not have taken 9 hours, but it's worth the pride and adrenaline he gets out of seeing Lampert smile.
Knock Knock
The hell? Already?
Kasper opens the door to see a neutral-expressioned lamp guy accompanied by a neutral-colored sweater.
“Holy hell dude.. How’d you get here so fast? The Rokea’s like..” Kasper starts awkwardly counting on his fingers, “30 minutes from here…?”
“26. I walked.”
A distraught expression crosses Kasper's face, but he sets it aside for now and welcomes Lampert in. Lampert immediately notices the–uncleanliness of the apartment. Whatever, it's not that big of a deal.
As Kasper shows Lampert around, he comments, “Why are you so fast? I bet you’re one of the guys all the girls had crushes on in elementary, lol.” He pronounces the acronym out-loud.
Lampert was.. Quite the opposite actually. No person, let alone girl, ever liked him. At recess he always kinda just.. Stood there.. Journaling and examining the other kids' behaviors. If you would’ve asked any child who might’ve tried to make conversation with him, they’d bring up his abnormal social skills despite being a star student.
“Kas.. what in the—What on Earth is that smell?”
“Oh, that? You’ll tune it out soon enough, just m’ like ...pot.”
Lampert could tell Kasper was most obviously a stoner, but he never assumed that he would stoop so low to keep a stash of weed in his own room. I mean.. where else would he keep it.
Lampert just threw him a mean stare, Kasper laughing it off.
“What, ya want some?” He chuckled before the rude interruption of a scoff.
Lampert didn’t exactly CARE Kasper had his joint and did whatever he did with it.. It was just rather unethical.
As Kasper wrapped up the short-lived tour, he guided Lampert to his room he cleaned half-assedly. An attempt gone unnoticed.
“So.. what d’you wanna do?” Kasper questions.
“You're the one who invited me.” Lampert replies, clearly tired of Kasper's shenanigans.
Kasper shrugs, grabbing the remote to turn on some shitty 2000’s film. He mutters something about making popcorn, before leaving Lampert to settle in a bit.
He then notices something .. peculiar.
There seems to be a tiny–almost 2d–rectangular gradient. It’s hurting Lampert's eyes just looking at it.. Eugh.
Kasper trud’s back, a buttery scent trailing behind.
“Kasper. What is that?” Lampert points to the ..thing.
“That?.. Oh. That’s my roommate. It just kinda.. Appeared one day. They don’t seem to eat much besides trash and just kinda stand there and look ugly.”
“...What? Kasper this could be dangerous.. Does it grow? What kind of trash does it eat?” Lampert questioned, trying to act as non-chalant and totally not worried as possible.
“Yah.. It seems to ‘specially enjoy Poptarts excess shed from her brush. It’s no prob’ though, easier than taking out the trash.”
Lampert throws him yet another strange stare, guessing that this is just another side effect of Kasper being.. Kasper. They unpause the movie, but they really only think of each other the whole time. In a regular acquaintance, bud, friendly way.
Maybe they can be ‘Best Friends’. It’s just a label, after all. Why should Lampert care?
Kasper stretches back, legs spread onto the conveniently placed ottoman, seemingly dozing off. Instantaneously, his slightly bloodshot eyes shoot open. His mouth opens then closes like he suddenly forgot what he was going to say, but soon after he lights up. Hey! Kasper isn’t the lamp here.
“Oh dude! I almost forgot! I made’ya something!” Lampert's puzzled expression only worsens as he processes the words. Why would Kasper even wanna do anything for him? He almost felt guilty for not even thinking to get Kasper anything.
For some reason Kasper runs out the room like he’s being chased, and Lampert abruptly notices how horrid his running form is. Lampert guessed he was unathletic from his scrawnyness, but he would’ve never assumed it’d be this bad. Lampert has no right to say anything though, he’s never exercised; he’s a .. what even is he again?
Kasper rushed back in, turning his LED lights on the way. Lampert slightly lights up, not trying to ruin any kind of effect Kasper’s trying to give with this dark room.
“Sorry man, you need to see this in all of its glory.” Kasper tries to ease Lampert's confusion.
When Lampert thinks of glory, he thinks of the Rokea. Not some measly gift from a guy he barely knows…well, barely’s quite the understatement. They’ve known each other for almost 3 months now.
Lampert can make out Kasper seemingly fiddling with an outlet, before the whole room lights up.
A shabby lampshade. A shabby lampshade being held up by Tix and hot glue.
“Do you like it?” Kasper anticipates,
Maybe it was comparable to the Rokea. Just a little bit. Maybe like a twelfth of the Rokea. Lampert loved it. But he also hates it. That is the ugliest lampshade he’s laid his sweet sweet eyes upon. But at the same time, the thought of it makes him giddy. Unfortunately, Lampert is bad at expressing himself and could not build up the courage to state any of that. All he could muster up was a weak,
“Why?” he tries stopping himself from noticeably lighting up.
Kasper chuckled, “First of all, not the answer to my question, and secondly, what do you mean ‘why’?”
“Why..would you make this?” Lampert fought off a smile. He might know the answer, or he might not. He just wants to hear Kasper say it.
“‘Made it for you!” Kasper giggled even more.
Lampert was grateful for the clarification, but he still needed answers. “I know that.. But why did you make it for me?”
“We’re best friends! It’s just my–and a lot of other peoples–way of showing affection. I’m pretty thankful for you, and this is me telling you that in a form that’s..not just words. Now, do you like it?” Kasper knew Lampert had trouble picking up on these sorts of things, so he was always glad to help.
Lampert lit up a bit more. Accidentally of course. “Oh, uh..thanks man. I really appreciate it. I like it. I’ll wear it, a lot.” It was a white lie. He knew Kasper could tell he was lying, but all he could was hope. “I-sorry I didn’t get you anything. I’ve never been great at this sort of stuff, but really, thanks a lot.” Lampert let that smile peak through, and it spread to Kasper like a contagious virus.
Yeah, ‘best friends' is okay. It’s not like Lampert has any other friends, and though he wouldn’t admit it, he thoroughly enjoys Kasper's presence.