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 Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 10:00 pm
Julian had very little influence over what he actually ordered; Brooklyn insisted he try a few things, and she had spoke with such enthusiasm and eagerness that he’d had to agree. So, he’d wound up with chicken tenders and honey mustard sauce and french fries, and a small milkshake that she’d said was to die for.
He was prepared to die. He took a sip without thinking about it and it was heavenly, but then suddenly they were talking and it meant that he had to sneak in his medicine without being too obvious because he didn’t want to wind up doubled over and lying on the ground the whole time they were up at his Wonder.
The conversation before they’d gotten their food was pretty light, mostly Julian listening to her talk about what she’d done today. He complimented her dress and he was happy to hear about the things she got up to outside of school and outside of Knight things.
They were in public, so he knew he had to keep the conversation normal.
“Do you really think you could get away for the whole summer? I mean, you wouldn’t get in trouble with your foster family?”
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 4:34 pm
Brooklyn sighed and shrugged, taking one of her chicken tenders and breaking it in half to let it cool off just a bit before she shoved it in her mouth like she did the last time she was here. “I wish I could. Honestly, I would give almost anything to leave that place. This school year has been…it’s been one of the best years of my life. The freedom I get over at St. Mags is just…” She gestured slightly and then put her fingers to her lips, kissing them and flicking the kiss outwards.
“I’ve had enough to eat, I’ve made friends. I…I got glasses because one of the nuns saw me squinting and actually cared enough to do something about it? I never…thought life could be this good…but. I’ve tried to see if I can stay at the dorms for the summer like I did for winter break but it’s a no go, so…I have to go back to that place. They’re awful, Julian. I wouldn’t wish these losers on anyone. They’re your normal run of the mill ‘in it for the money’ types, and the kids that are living there are honestly left with nothing.”
She fell quiet and chewed her lip, wondering if she’d be able to at least leave her stuff in the dorms…or…if she could leave it all with Cara or…
“Living in the Castle…even with it being run down would be…paradise compared to that dump.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 6:40 pm
“Oh,” Julian said, and looked at her with slightly widened eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that, it sounds horrible.” He seemed genuine, if not just slightly surprised. He glanced down at the food, and considering what she’d just said he did feel bad about her spending his money on him–even if she’d insisted.
He picked up one of his chicken tenders and pinched it between his fingers as he thought. Julian was quiet and sometimes spoke in a wispy way, like he was trying to remember to talk above a whisper and was almost getting it right.
“I wish there was something you could do.”
His eyes were on his plate and it seemed like dipping his chicken tender in the honey mustard required so much of his attention. “But I’m really glad to hear that your school is looking out for you. I haven’t really made friends at Hillworth yet, I don’t feel like I fit in much.” A problem he might have carried with him everywhere, but at least he and Brooklyn were both Lysithea Knights! That was something to have in common that they could talk about. Well, not here. But eventually. “The food’s only okay, they don’t have a whole lot of options. I’d say that this is the best thing I’ve had to eat in a while but Talia brought lunch the last time I saw her so it’s sort of tied for my favorite right now. But it’s delicious, thank you.”
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Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 5:48 pm
“It is pretty crappy but…I’m sure I’ll figure it out. This is…the first time I’ve had somewhere I’ve wanted to stay so that’s…odd. And different. I’ll figure it all out. I’m glad that you like the food, it really is good!”
Taking a bite of her chicken tender finally, she looked a little interested. “You got to have lunch with Talia? That’s super cool, we haven’t hung out that much, but when I did meet her she was super nice…and I want to spend more time with her, that’s for sure!” Brooklyn thought about her a lot at least…though she supposed that was her job wasn’t it? As one of her Knights…she was supposed to protect her princess or…or whatever.
“I hope that you and I can be good friends too, I think you’re really neat, Julian, and I’m so glad that we got to meet!”
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Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 6:29 pm
“I’d like to be friends,” Julian insisted, and lowered the bite of food he’d been about to take just so she’d know how serious he was. “Talia was there when we figured out that I was a…well, you know. And I had a lot of questions, but it was late. So we planned to meet up so I could go through them. I had a whole list. She brought lunch. Did she tell you about the food truck she works at? It was really good. I’m not much of a cheese person, but I think it changed my mind. I’m used to Velveeta too much, I guess.”
He shrugged; he was happy with most meals, it was just his stomach that liked to make a fuss sometimes. Most meals weren’t worth getting sick for; he couldn’t count how many hours he’d spent with stabbing pains in his gut or feeling like he was overheated and dizzy.
But that was not what he wanted to be thinking about right now, he was thinking about his new friend and all the things they were going to be able to do today.
“I feel bad not knowing so much of this. I hope I don’t take up too much of your time asking bad questions. I’m still figuring all of this out. But I want to do a good job.”
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Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 8:21 pm
Brooklyn grinned and nodded. “I…honestly? The cheese that I used to be used to was always covered in mold so I thought I didn’t like cheese at all…but it’s really not bad so I’ve had to reevaluate my decisions because of that. I’m so glad that we get to be friends, and I know you’re going to do a good job, I can already tell and I’ve known you for like…an hour! But, we’re in this together. I started this adventure with friends and now you are too. There’s another one of…uh. Us that I know about, I’ll see if I can get you introduced to her too.”
She made a face. “She’s a Crystal girl though, we don’t have that much in common. Still. She’s part of this family so we gotta do our best.”
It was kind of nice to think about. They were a family, really…and that honestly made Brooklyn feel rather warm and fuzzy.
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Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 9:38 pm
What? Moldy cheese? That sounded even more unappealing than he could have imagined. He didn’t think cheese could get worse.
Julian forced a smile anyway, mostly out of polite horror at the thought.
“I look forward to it,” he said, interest easily stirred again when she mentioned the other one of them. He didn’t know if he’d have much in common with a Crystal girl either, but he was eager to find out. And hopefully not make a fool of himself in the process.
He had to keep telling himself that this was going to be okay–when they were done with lunch, they were going to go up and see his Wonder.
He could worry about meeting other Knights once he figured out how to be one, himself.
He was looking forward to that, too.
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