[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

[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?"

[cahooted]

Okay, that just makes Flynn laugh. But not in a derisive way at all, it's a light sound, a happy sound. He fully accepts your enthusiasm, Peter.

"You know what? Don't feel too bad about that. I am from Earth, and I still don't know how people act sometimes. It's like, I should? And I do, in theory, but then you're in a group of people and somehow everything that you say or do isn't quite right and everybody looks at you funny..."

His smile widens. "Oh man, I know exactly what you mean!"

[zunesareawesome]

"...story of my life, bro, except in space. But most of the time it's everyone else that doesn't get my jokes or what I'm trying to say?" There's another chuckle. "Guess it's pretty universal, huh?"

"Yeah!" It's like they're so connected, bro! "And it's like--why can't people be as cool as Humphrey Bogart in the Maltese Falcon or Indiana Jones or Han Solo or David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider or or or Kevin Bacon--"

[cahooted]

"I guess. Seems like the potential for embarrassment transcends space and time."

His eyes light up at the mentioning of Bogart. "Oh, I love the Maltese Falcon. Have you seen Casablanca?"