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 Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2023 7:28 pm
It had been…honestly? One of the worst nights that Luke had ever had. Between the twisted awful game…that had been all his fault…but…whatever. To Jason getting angry and just leaving...to being interrupted by that…crazy…insane…awful…
He shuddered and bit his lip as tears sprang to his eyes absolutely unheeded and unwanted.
He was fine. Absolutely fine…and he was sure that he had been punched in the face before…and he was sure that…he must have had a black eye at some point in his life but…
It hurt, and his left eye was swollen almost to the point that it was shut.
Still…there was Luke’s dorm and he hurried inside and up to his room, half hoping that Julian wouldn’t be there so he could just…take care of his face and go to bed but…
At the same time he wanted his friend there, for sympathy if nothing else…
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Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2023 11:04 am
Julian hadn’t had anywhere else to be tonight. He’d been studying for a test and finishing up some homework when Luke came in–with such good timing! He’d just finished the hardest part, and the rest of his work wouldn’t take more than a few moments.
He sat up straight in his bed and seemed to perk up a bit. “Luke,” he greeted pleasantly–and then froze.
Even if Luke was doing his best to hide it, Julian was certain he’d seen something on his face. Luke always seemed so warm and energetic, so the lack of energy as soon as he made his entrance seemed to imply that something was off, anyway.
Cautious, in a softer and more concerned tone, he lowered his pen and asked, “Are you okay?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2023 8:19 pm
Luke swallowed and took a moment to try and collect his thoughts before he simply burst into tears or something stupid. Finally he turned to look at Julian and shrugged half heartedly. “It…it’s really been a day. I. There was this weird dice and my brother and I picked it up and it was some kind of torture game or something…and then he and I got into a fight after and then I got beat up by this absolutely crazy girl after that and my face seriously hurts and I just…”
He swallowed and shrugged again, feeling his eyes burn with sudden tears.
“It’s honestly the worst day that I can remember having for a long time and I don’t know what to do, really…I’m sorry for just dumping this on you but…”
He bit back his next words.
Telling Julian that he was the only friend that Luke felt he had sounded so…
Dramatic. And needy.
And stupid.
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Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2023 3:47 pm
Julian was so used to Luke being a bit dramatic and loud, so he couldn’t always guess what was real and what was embellished. This was Destiny City, though, so he suspected there was a bit of truth in everything.
The tears, though. Those were real enough that his stomach immediately flopped and twisted.
Julian panicked when he saw tears, not because he was afraid of them but because he was sensitive to them. If he didn’t act fast, he might start crying, too.
“Well–here, come get in bed.” He hurried over to Luke’s bed and peeled back the blanket so he could tuck him in–or, maybe he was hovering there to see if Luke wanted a hug. He didn’t know if he should offer it, so he stood there awkwardly.
“I think there’s a gel pack in the fridge, I can get that for your eye. Do you want a snack? Um–you have yogurt, and–well, I can get you a snack. And a drink. It’ll be okay. We can put on a show you like too, right?” His voice wavered a bit and he was talking quickly; he was clearly nervous but he wanted to help.
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Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2023 4:25 pm
Luke made his way over to Julian and hesitated, honestly wanting a hug but almost afraid to ask. “...I like that you’re here. I was…I was trying to figure out if it would be better for you to not be home or to be home…and honestly, you being here won out…and…thank you.”
Hesitating for a movement, he moved to hug Julian, a quick one, but a full squeeze, relishing the feeling of the warmth of another person.
…It had honestly. Been way too long since he had hugged anyone and that…
Wasn’t great. Didn’t feel great.
“We should watch something happy, I think…like. Steven Universe or something like that…if you want? And the gel pack sounds amazing…thank you for being here, Julian. I’ve said it before but…I got the best roommate in the school.”
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 7:35 am
Julian never seemed to seek out physical touch but he was glad that he could offer it to Luke right now.He seemed like he needed it, and he was glad he’d been here to offer it.
“Um, yeah,” he said quickly. He didn’t have much of a preference; Julian didn’t seem very interested in television or the internet in general when left to his own devices, but in the company of Luke he was growing a wider familiarity and fondness for each.
“I can get things set up, you just get in bed. Do you need extra pillows? I can loan you mine.”
He was a busybody and a worrywart, and though he had a determined look in his eye his brows were still knitted with concern. The corners of his lips tipped downward, like he wanted to frown but was trying to put on a brave face for Luke.
He wanted to ask what happened but there was no way to do that without prying, and if he’d already been hurt, Julian didn’t want to dig deeper. Sometimes those questions were hard to answer, and he didn’t want to bury Luke in more stress.
He would do what he can. He could get the gel pack, he could get snacks, he could loan a pillow, he could put on a show. He would do whatever he could to try and give Luke a bit of support and comfort, and if he wanted to talk about it, Julian would listen.
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2023 2:34 pm
“I can help. I’m. I can help.”
Luke hesitated and drew out the die he had gotten from that game and held it out for Julian to see. “Look, one thing I’m going to say is if you see one of these out in like…just. Anywhere…maybe don’t pick it up. It was…some kind of a trap? And then my brother and I fought and he stormed off and it just. Led to a lot of bad stuff so…if you see a die on the ground…just walk in another direction…” He blew out a breath and reached out to grab the remote for the television before getting onto his bed and making himself somewhat comfortable.
“Julian, if you’re up to it, or want to or just…don’t mind...I don’t really wanna be alone…if you wouldn’t be upset to maybe sit up here with me? I’d appreciate it. If you don’t want to please don’t feel that you need to! Honest!”
Blankets and a pillow were almost as good as another person, he could and would deal.
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2023 7:38 pm
Julian looked visibly perplexed when Luke offered the die but he nodded despite the confusion that washed over his face. Most of what Luke was saying didn’t make any sense to him. He didn’t go outside looking for game pieces often, and he didn’t know what was so evil about them–or why Luke had even brought the evil thing back.
His brows knitted together but he nodded along. Even when Luke asked if he would sit up there with him.
He was nervous about encroaching in Luke’s space, or not knowing when he was expected to leave but that was a problem he could worry about later. For now, Luke was asking for his company. “Yeah, I can do that. Let me just–I’ll get the rest of the things I said, so you–you get comfortable and then I’ll be up.”
He was anxious but it didn’t stop him from collecting everything he’d said, and he presented them to Luke with worry and concern. “I’m sorry you and your brother got into a fight. I hope you two can make up soon. And I hope that you feel better soon. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. Oh, and–where I should sit, please. Or if there’s anything else you want me to grab first.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2023 4:16 pm
Luke shook his head. “Nothing else. Thank you for coming to sit with me, it means a lot. Like I said…you’re an amazing friend and I’m so glad that we got to meet…” He moved over and patted the space beside him on the bed, giving a small, tired smile and yawning once before he rested back against the wall. “We’ll make up…I know we will it’s just…been so much stuff in such a short amount of time…it’s no real wonder that we fought…”
It was too much stuff in a small amount of time…and he wished that he could unburden himself completely to Julian…but that…wouldn’t work out. Julian wasn’t a part of all of the extra stuff that he was…and hopefully, Julian wouldn’t ever be a part of it. He was far too gentle and kind to deal with all of the ick that was in the city.
“We’ll be okay…it’ll just take time.”
And he could be patient most of the time…it would be easier when he didn’t hurt but…right now? Right now he would simply have to deal…and with his friend beside him…it woudln’t be so bad. At least, he didn’t think so.
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