"So, what you're telling me - in all seriousness - is that he just- just takes straight up twenty hour naps sometimes?" Bob asked in clear disbelief and exasperation, while pinching the bridge of his nose.

Wade seemed skeptical too. "Yeah, I mean, I dunno guys - are you sure that's okay? Seems like a lot."

Phil nodded. "He tends to stay up late - it's just a crash. It's like, once in awhile is all."

"Look." Bob and Wade focused on Mark; his soft, 'listen to me I promise everything will be okay' voice catching their attention. "I promise, it's normal. It's like my alcohol allergy, a little weird but doesn't affect my life too much, right? I promise, it's fine."

And the two men couldn't find it in themselves to argue with their friend when he was just so earnest.

"Anyways, we're waiting for a few others, right?" Dan asked, shuffling his feet a little.

Wade didn't know why he felt so awkward all of a sudden - he was usually fine with other people. He glanced at the brunet Brit. Maybe empathy or something?

"Yeah, Tyler, my old wrestling buddy from High School," Mark said with a fond grin stretching across his face. "And his work buddy, uh," he glanced at Bob, "Ethan?"

"Yeah," his old roommate confirmed. "Ethan's an editor for the franchise that Tyler manages. They're a small company but those two get along really well and I guess became friends. It'll be cool to hang out with them again."

"Actually," Wade cut in, looking at his phone, "Molly just texted me - I guess we had dinner plans I forgot about."

"Ah no prob dude." Mark clasped him on the shoulder. "We still have over a week to all hang. Say Hi to Molly for me, okay?"

Wade smiled. "Sure thing."

As Wade was gathering his stuff to leave (he misplaced his keys), Jack happened to shuffle in, bleary eyed. "Wot time is et?"

Phil bit back an amused laugh, and Dan didn't bother to hide back his snort; Jack's accent always thickened after a long sleep, and with his messy hair and tired eyes, well. . .

It was adorable, to say the least.

Mark just grinned at him. "It's almost two in the afternoon, you crazy potato. Wade's on his way out, but Tyler and Ethan should be here soon."

Jack seemed to vaguely process the words, dismissing the time. But he did perk up and put out a hand when he saw Wade. "Ah, sorry ta hear that I missed th' fun! It's nice ta meet ya though."

"Likewise," Wade said with a blooming smile.

By time that Wade had made it to Molly, Tyler and Ethan had shown up.

Mark gave him a warm greeting; the younger man shaking his hand just as friendly, and introducing himself to the other three as Tyler warmly embraced his old friend.

It was Bob who eventually shuffled them out the door - having to physically pull Tyler and Mark apart when they started grappling one another playfully, and Jack had been sucked into the tussle. They got into seperate cars and drove through the fast-paced yet clogged LA traffic, eventually meeting in an area with a plethora of shops and eateries.

After parking and paying the meter, they decided to walk along until they found a suitable place to eat.

It was pretty obvious that Mark and Tyler were fast friends; while he had initially come off as something bordering stoic, it was obvious that Tyler was just as fun and jovial as Mark - even if it wasn't expressed quite as boisterously.

And Ethan, he was obviously more hyper when contrasted with Tyler - Mark quickly enfolded him into a trio of chatting and joking. Dan would almost say he had adopted the younger man.

So while Tyler was barely breathing with silent, mirthful laughter, and Mark and Ethan bounced humor between themselves, Jack quickly got to know Bob, chatting quite amociably with him.

Dan was content just to have fun with Phil, while they both assessed the situation and let themselves naturally fall in with the others. There was something warm bouncing between all of them, and Dan found himself feeling really awake and content, despite the nerves from social anxiety.

Luckily, for him, he could let his alien energy just do it's thing, unlike Jack and Mark who were pretty much just confined to the apartment. And the only time someone outside of their group had slipped up, was when Wilford answered the door one day and snatched a package from a startled postwoman.

They didn't let him live that one down for weeks.

Phil nudged him, and Dan felt a trill of hey hey hey; when Dan looked at his friend, brow furrowed, Phil merely tilted his head.

He caught Ethan, who had been gazing back at them with intense curiosity. No one else seemed to notice, though he looked away, his face red at being caught.

Dan looked at Phil and shrugged. No worry fine unconcerned it's okay bouncing off of him. They were keeping to themselves, kinda, so he wasn't surprised that Ethan might be curious about them.

Phil opened and closed his mouth, saying without speaking that he agreed but nevermind.

Dan nudged him a little roughly, now curious and pinging what what what?

But Phil pursed his lips, and shrugged. There was no feeling that Dan could pick up that translated properly, but he knew Phil well enough that he would talk more later.

"Are you two done," they could practically hear the smirk in Mark's voice, and, yep, looking at him his face was entrapped with a grin.

Whatever jibe he had planned was ruined, as Jack quipped, "Awww, Mahrk. You know these two eat everythin' in sight. We coulda had a peaceful meal fer once."

Phil snorted, though it was Dan who spoke. "Peaceful? With you?"

This led to an indignant squabble, Mark shooting an amused look to Ethan and Tyler.

"This is what you live with?" Tyler asked, incredulous.

Mark shrugged in a 'what can you do' fashion.

They eventually did make it in, and ordered. It took some time to figure things out, considering everyone's dietary needs. (Ethan was apparently allergic to peanuts - like, really bad - and then there was Phil's lactose intolerance to take into account, plus they all chose not to order anything alcoholic to drink since Mark couldn't have it, even though he said it was fine and he wouldn't be offended in the least.)

Everything went together really well; they all joked and told stories, weaving together conversation seemlessly. Phil pulled Dan into the conversations, which led to the Brits' infamous banter.

After they were finished, and had all payed, they decided to take the car down to the beach for a bit. It was a bit of a treat to the three Europeans, who were used to the colder Atlantic coast.

"You guys are gonna love it, I promise," Mark said assuredly.

"Won't the water be hot?" Phil asked as they walked along the sidewalk, looking for any space to walk out onto the sand.

Ethan and Tyler started laughing, and Bob struggled to hold back as well. Mark just grinned, shaking his head fondly.

"It's still the ocean, you guys: awful, dark, and cold. Maybe a tad warmer than what you're used to, but that's it."

"Not fond of water, I take it?" Ethan asked.

Tyler snorted. "Mark's been afraid of the ocean for as long as I've known him."

Mark shot Tyler something that bordered on a glare, pressing his lips into a firm line before answering, "Yeah, I'm effing terrified of it; deep water, grasping and dragging you down into the unknown? All of collective human knowledge barely knows what all is in there - Space is so much better."

They found an opening and made their way out onto the sand.

"But isn't Space unknown too?"

"No, it's mostly known, and most of it is empty." Mark stated it matter-of-factly, though it didn't take Dan's Dismalen abilities for the roommates to feel the current of excited energy at the mention of Space.

And, lucky for Mark, Ethan indulged him.

"So you know a lot about Space?" Ethan asked.

To say Mark became starry-eyed would be an appropriate statement. He immediately launched into excited chatter about Stars and matter, the solar system and other celestial bodies. It kept Ethan entrapped, and Tyler smiling the whole time.

Dan was laughing quietly into his sleeve, and Bob took the opportunity to talk to him, leaving Jack walking behind the others contentedly.

Phil, seeing that Jack was alone, went up to him. "Hey, you doing okay?"

"Hmm?" Jack looked over to him, confused; then, understanding dawned on his features. "Oh! Yeah, I'm good. It's 'ot but not stuffy. There's fresh aer, an' the cool sea breeze. I'm fine." He sent him a reassuring grin.

Phil relaxed. Seàn did seem to be getting red, but he didn't seem overheated, so he figured it was probably just because he couldn't really sweat properly. "If you're sure." He saw that the others had pulled quite a bit ahead. "Hey, I'll race you to the water! Onetwothreego!"

He took off, Jack letting out a curse. "Cheater!"

The rest of their group laughed as the two sped past them, Jack catching up quickly and the two of them almost keeping pace, Phil maybe two steps behind.

And amongst the other beach-goers, they all stood out yet blended in, joyful laughter loudly rivaling the sqwuaking seagulls wheeling into the air.