[log] Lean on me [closed]

[zunesareawesome]

Characters: The Sorcerer Not-Yet-Supreme, Star-Cat, Star-Lord, and the Librarian
Location: Building 318 and various
Date: Day 339-343
Summary: The visiting of Flynn Carsen to the clan of Snow.
Warnings: References to character death, drowning, blood (because this is a scary building), more CW's in ensuing threads.




318: The stench of blood is thick in this garage, with blood long-soaked into the concrete floor, staining nearly the entire expanse. There are empty wooden tables to be sat on if you would rather not sit on the floor, though they've all been flipped as if in anger. One of the tables has been broken into pieces and burned, and another has pieces missing as if someone had begun to break it into pieces but was interrupted. The whole place has a hostile air to it, and the walls sound like they're breathing at night. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO, CONTACT @LELRIC FOR ANY ASSISTANCE." "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX, PLEASE CALL @LELRIC FOR ANY ASSISTANCE NEEDED." and "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EIGHT, FOR ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT @LELRIC ANY TIME." are written on one of the walls.

Comments

[zunesareawesome]

"You mean like an Alaskan-sled-dog type sled! And I could go mush and you'd have to drag me around!" Ha! That's what you'd get, too, if you busted him with your crowbar. He nudges him back.

No excuses.

[cahooted]

He rolls his eyes at that. "Only if you give me treats."

As soon as he says it he pauses, scrunching up his face. "That came out wrong. Forget I said that."

[zunesareawesome]

"Okay, yeah, I was about to ask if you wanted dog biscuits? Because they're really not that bad? I mean, I've tried them before."

A shrug.

[cahooted]

There had been a time where Flynn had been very squeamish about food in survival situations. Several months in this famished hell has made him a little less picky and just the word biscuit is enough to make his stomach rumble loudly.

"Are they? I never had any."

[zunesareawesome]

"Yeah, a little bland, but nothing too bad. I think they just don't overly flavor them? I think it's a little mean, cause like, it's not like dogs can tell you if you need more salt or sugar or whatever." This is important! Dogs deserve the best of everything.

[cahooted]

"Maybe that would be bad for the dogs. Maybe stuff tastes differently to them?"

His stomach growls loudly again. Must you talk about salt and sugar and food so much, Peter? "I... I'm good with trying one? You know. To form my own opinion."

For science.

[zunesareawesome]

There's a long pause.

"You really, really want a dog biscuit, don't you?" A shrug. "Well, if I find some I'll save 'em for you."

Because he's a good friend like that.

[cahooted]

"Oh."

There is a pause in which the disappointment is almost palpable.

"I thought you meant you had some."

[zunesareawesome]

"No, I don't have any." He rubs the back of his head. "Sorry, man. I will definitely try to find some for you, okay? Or maybe we can trade for some?"

He really hopes he can find some dog biscuits for him! That's going straight on his shopping list.

[cahooted]

"... Well, if you're looking for some I would actually prefer regular biscuits. If it's not too much trouble."

Look, he wouldn't mind trying them but that doesn't mean he--

"Please do not ask the network for dog biscuits for me?"

[zunesareawesome]

There's a shrug.

"...well, okay. I just thought that you might really want dog biscuits and I can totally get you some? I still have plenty of music left I can trade."

A beat.

"We're in a post-apocalyptic murder survival town, I don't think anyone's gonna judge. And I'll just tell them it's for me."

[cahooted]

Oh, he knows Peter when he gets like this and given the Dracula situation Flynn has a sinking feeling where this is going. "No, I mean it. Do not tell people I want dog biscuits."

Yeah, he is not buying you telling them it's for yourself. "I just thought you had some and I wouldn't have minded trying some if you had some because I am really hungry but if you don't have them and you're asking for food you can ask for literally everything else first."

A beat.

"Except raisins."

[zunesareawesome]

Peter squints, not really sure if he's just being polite or if he's being serious that he does not, in fact, want people to know he wanted dog biscuits?

"...I mean, there's nothing weird about liking dog biscuits, if there's a certain food that you like I'd totally try to get it for you--"

A beat.

"Seriously, you hate raisins that much?"

[cahooted]

"I don't even know if I like them, I have never tried them before!"

Slight flailing. Why do you have such problems with people literally telling you what they mean!

"Raisins are just... there's something about their texture? And their wrinkly look. And their taste. And their raisin-ness."

[zunesareawesome]

"Well, then I can get them for you and you can try them!" Easy, right?

"Dude, raisins are excellent paired with chocolate or bread. And sometimes they're really good as an after-school snack?"

[cahooted]

"I didn't say I want to try them, I-- wh--" Just some incoherent sputtering at this point.

"Why are you always like this!"

[zunesareawesome]

"Why am I always like...what?"

He's quiet, speaking the last word with emphasis.

There's something genuinely almost hurt in his voice. He's used to getting called out by people, he's used to even his own crew not taking him seriously sometimes, he's used to everyone here thinking he's an idiot--which was part of the reason he always doubled down on the bragging and boasting, trying to bury his insecurities so far deep--

--but not by Flynn.

Ever since that one conversation with Sherlock, there was a part of him worried Flynn would give up on him, grow tired of him. That he was such a genius he'd get bored with him.

[cahooted]

Well, this is going great. So much for dropping by to cheer up your best friend and be emotional support. Flynn freezes at the shift in tone and the question, hands dropping listlessy at his side when the agitation leaves him.

"I don't know, it's like I'm saying something and you pretend I just said the opposite. Is this like a... a space thing I don't get?"

He pauses, the awkwardness and regret at the sound of Peter's voice washing over him like ice water.

"I didn't mean anything bad by it."

[zunesareawesome]

"I wasn't pretending, I thought...never mind." He sounds slightly defeated. He just really wanted to help you out, bro, you don't have to be all bashful about dog biscuits.

His voice is quieter.

"Maybe it is some space thing."

[cahooted]

"I mean, maybe they are nutritious. ... And if you found me some I'd still totally eat them and--"

He trails off.

"Maybe it's a me thing. I'm sorry, that was stupid."

[zunesareawesome]

"...yeah, I...think they are, and I just thought you really wanted some but was too embarrassed to really say so, and I just...wanted to help." He's very earnest about it.

"No, it's not you."

[cahooted]

The earnestness brings a small smile to Flynn's face. "Well, I was. I mean, I am. I guess I am?"

He flops down next to him with a small sigh, nudging him with his shoulder. "I guess I'm just not used to people, um... going for these things, I mean, the embarrassing things and not think they're embarrassing? Just, if people thought I want to eat dog biscuits, they'd probably think that's weird and that I'm weird so I thought maybe you think it's weird and I just don't, I don't want you-- I don't want people to think I'm weird and I have no idea where I'm going with this..."

He rubs the back of his neck. "... That's actually really nice of you. That you want to ask around for me. Thanks."

[zunesareawesome]

"To be fair, I did get raised by space pirates and stuff like eating dog biscuits wouldn't be any big deal? ...maybe if there's something I'm doing that makes you go like...hey, whoa, that's not cool, you could point it out? I mean, before coming here? It's not like I knew anyone else from earth." He nudges him back with his shoulder. "I don't think you're weird. And anyway, who cares if people do? I'm weird and I'm also really cool. So if you're weird, you're also cool."

"...you know I'd do anything for you, bro." A real, honest smile.

[cahooted]

"I guess we can be weird together then."

He returns the smile. "I'm not sure if I'm the best person to point them out. I'm actually terrible at these things."

[zunesareawesome]

"We will be the weirdest, bro! We'll be weirder than anyone and nobody can do a thing without it!"

Please accept his enthusiasm, Flynn.

"That's okay. I mean, you know, what's 'normal' for earth can be totally uncool on a lot of planets. You're just ahead of the curve, that's all." His smile turns a little sad, though. It takes a lot for him to admit this, but...

"I have this...idea of what earth is like, what people are like and act like, but it's mostly movies and I don't really know if that's how people act sometimes? But they should, cause movies are great?"