This had been - well. It had been an experience. After years of never touching another human being, self-imposed celibacy, rose petals awakened a sleeping dragon within Dan but it had been too much. Way, way too much - too hot, at that party, it felt like the ocean sun only a few feat above the glinting sea, just beating down on him and he had to leave.
The night air was cold, it thawed the lava coursing through his veins and calmed his thoughts - which, he was glad he reinforced those walls while helping Richie with his, because he didn't want to be thinking some of the things that slipped in. It was easier not to. To try not to pay attention to all the ways in which he was currently fucked.
Planning to lose himself in the musty aroma of books and crinkled, old paper, he stopped short when Bill appeared. And handed him a rose - which he almost flinched at, because he'd had his fill of those petals. Though he supposed it he had to admit it was nice that someone not in a weird rhombus of a relationship or engaged was paying attention to him because they wanted to, not because magic told them to.
Still, he was wary. Because Dan's heart was bruised like an old banana, and he couldn't take anything else that would inevitably step on it and squash it. "Thank you," he chuckled, taking the rose and - blushing, of course. "I - what are you doing out here? I thought you were enjoying the party."