Deleted Scenes: Two Tipsy Simps

Setting:  During Chapter 24

(A small tidbit that was originally written for Ryder's POV and cut due to high word count.)

Ryder was the perfect amount of tipsy. 

They were still aware of everything going on and knew that it was time to stop drinking before they got any more drunk, but everything was just so good. The music was even better, Kodiak’s jokes were even funnier, and that nagging anxiety about what Cheri was going to say was nothing more than an oopsie moment. They knew that they weren’t acting like themself – usually Shani was the one trying to drag Ryder along to be his wingman, but tonight, Ryder was dancing and fully enjoying Out of Spite’s set. 

“WOO!” Kodiak said, putting up his fists with a cheer. Ryder couldn’t help but laugh a little bit at how much he was enjoying this. He’d had a little bit more to drink than Ryder, but he was also done drinking for the night. “This is amazing!” 

“Pit really knew what she was talking about!” Ryder said with a grin. They were so glad that she gave both of them permission to drink because Arthur was a huge party pooper. But come on, Kodiak was loving it! He was giggling like crazy and dancing his heart out. He knew the words to every single song and sang them without any reservation. 

“In two weeks, one of you will be dead and the other one is gonna need alcohol to get through each day so fuck it!” Kodiak said in an impersonation of her voice. “I love your Victors! Mine fucking SUCK!” 

“They sure DO!” Ryder said, stopping to sing along to the song even though they didn’t know the words. At their complete failure, Kodiak started laughing loudly. His laugh was so loud and funny that Ryder couldn’t help but laugh along with him. Damn, this was a great idea. They felt just the right amount of happy without feeling like they were completely raging – like the drummer from One Man Circus. If Shani was here, he would absolutely be trying for that man ass. Actually, there was a lot of nice man ass here. And one of them was right in front of Ryder’s face as Kodiak was shaking it with fervor.

“Why can’t Shani go for nice gay boys like you?!” they asked him. They really wished he would stop wasting his time on straight dudes, or worse – fucking jerks that hurt his feelings. Oh, Ryder didn’t like those guys and they knew not to show their faces in front of Ryder again. 

“Pfft, what?!” Kodiak asked them with a giggle. 

Ryder felt so much affection for their friend, throwing their arm around his shoulders and pulling him in close. “You’re just… You’re so nice!” they said. “And you’re cute, and you got a tight ass, I mean, District Two boys just really suck in one way or another, but you… You are the damn best dude, I want to have… ALL the brothers!” 

Kodiak just started laughing at that and slapped their back a couple of times. “Yeah, well apparently District Ten boys ain’t much better!” he said. “They’re just… Big jerks. Or they just dumb as hell.” He threw out his hands to where Luke was still grinding away with Ridley. 

“Well, I like this District Ten boy,” Ryder said, slapping his back a few times in return. “I really like this District Ten boy and if you win, you should go date my step-brother, okay, he needs a nice gay boy and you’re the cutest nice gay boy I know!”

“Dude, don’t talk about that,” Kodiak said, shaking his head, but he giggled a little bit about it. “I’ll prepare a proposal for my Victory tour. But is he cute tho?” 

“Oh, he’s an adorable little twink, curly hair, blue-gray eyes, really a stand-up guy. Dude, you have the same damn tell in combat, come on you’re like, meant to be!” Ryder said, giggling a little bit. “I… I gotta teach you more signs!!” They started trying to think of what signs he should know. “Uhhh…” They forgot every sign they ever knew. Except… Oh yes! “Oh! I know!” they said cheerfully, holding up their hand with thumb, pointer, and pinky. “I love you!”

“Aw, dude, I love you too!” Kodiak said, smiling over at them and pulling them into a hug. 

“No, dude, that’s the sign!” Ryder said, holding their hand in his face in case he was having trouble seeing it and then laughing at how it smushed his face. 

“Oooh!” Kodiak said, taking a second to get his hand in the same shape. “Gotcha.” 

“Oh, what the hell, I do love you man!” Ryder said, putting their arm back around his shoulders and swaying him a little bit to the beat of the song. 

“I mean, love ain’t real, but whatevs,” Kodiak said with a small giggle. “Anyways!” 

“Aw, don’t say that dude,” Ryder said. “Okay okay, I gotta piss.” 

“Thank God because me too!” Kodiak said, staying nestled in their arm. “Let’s go and then we should get some more water,” he said with a laugh. “Although, I think I’m currently the best version of myself.” 

“Yeah, this is fun as hell,” Ryder agreed, walking with him and giggling a little bit. They could both still walk just fine but they were definitely not going in a straight line. But then again, there was nothing straight about them both.