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 Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 4:28 pm
Luke was getting rather worried. Julian was late...like, sure he also stayed out late…but this wasn’t like Julian to be this late, and he had already made sure that his roommate wouldn’t be in any trouble, piling blankets in his bed to make it look as though he were sleeping but.
What if something bad had happened? What if he had been attacked? Had been killed? Eaten by a youma? Taken prisoner for some reason…what if…
There were too many situations that came from the words ‘what if’, and each made Luke feel a little bit more sick as he thought of them, and finally, he drew in a breath and began pacing, staring at the door whenever he was facing it, and after half an hour of pacing, he decided that he had to go and find Julian. That something obviously must have happened and his friend was dead in a ditch somewhere.
Moving to the door, he reached out, hand on the handle and pulled it open, only to find Julian standing there. “Oh my god! You’re not dead!” Luke’s voice was a surprised whisper, not wanting to get caught.
Reaching out, he took hold of his roommate’s hand and quickly pulled him inside, shutting and locking the door behind him. “Are you okay? I was just about to come looking for you, did something try to eat you?”
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 11:06 pm
Julian nearly panicked when Luke was there to greet him. He’d hoped Luke would have gone to sleep or something, and he could have just snuck in without anyone knowing. He hadn’t meant to stay out for so long, but spending time with Brooklyn was important! They had a lot to catch up on, and he really wanted to make sure she had everything she needed. And, he needed to know what he could do to help.
He let himself be pulled inside the room, but looked more nervous than usual. He’d just been startled!
“No, I–it’s a long story, I ran into an old friend. She wasn’t doing so well the last time I saw her, but I lost track of time. I got lost in the forest, too.”
It wasn’t a lie, he just didn’t clarify which forest.
He turned to Luke apologetically and tugged on the sleeves of his long, overstretched and worn sweater. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
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Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2023 7:57 pm
Letting out a sigh, Luke shook his head. “No, no it’s okay, I was just. Like I was imagining the worst possible situation and it involved you being eaten by something in the city. I know it happens. Everyone knows it happens, I just don’t want it to happen to someone that I care about, you know?”
He let out a breath and then shook his head. “I know this city is filled with…you know. Bad things and bad people and I just. Don’t like the idea of…I don’t know.” Luke climbed back up into his bed, flopping backwards. “It’s so different here than it was in Bailey. Most of it is good but. I tell you, I never got worried about people like I do here. There’s critters there, sure. And like. Moose can be absolute trouble but…it’s just different.”
He lifted his head and looked at Julian again. “I’m glad that you saw your friend again. Is she doing better now?”
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 10:46 am
Julian had continued to fidget with his sleeves. There was a certain amount of lying required in situations like this, but it always felt so wrong to give half truths, especially to someone who he considered a friend.
“She’s better. It’s just complicated. She’ll be better soon, but she’s okay for now. I’m sorry for making you worry,” he said again, because he really did mean it.
Julian knew he didn’t have much of a presence, and he certainly didn’t look like he could defend himself. He didn’t want to tell Luke that he actually had some ancient magic hidden up his sleeve, so he tried to force a quick smile to hide any doubt. “I try to be safe. You know me,” he insisted. “I don’t like to create waves. If I ever got into any trouble, I could probably hide. Or run. I try to avoid danger. What, um. What’s Bailey like?” he asked.
He’d asked before, he was just trying to distract Luke–and he really did like listening to his stories! “Did you ever see a real moose?”
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2023 7:37 pm
“I’m glad that she’s feeling better…I keep thinking about my cousin Lena, like if anything ever happened to her I’m sure I’d be the same way, I get it. We’re protective about those we care about.” He gave a small smile and wanted to say more. Wanted to reassure Julian that if he ever did get into trouble, that Luke would be there to save him, a whole group of people in tow, honestly. At the very least his brother would be by his side…but.
Thankfully, Julian changed the subject, and quite smoothly too.
“I did see a moose, once. We were on a field trip with the school, going to a state park and one was running alongside the road. Julian, they’re so big. It’s crazy. Like, think of as big as you can think of…then double the size. It’s…Moose are wild. Literally.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2023 5:58 pm
Julian nodded as he listened but was visibly uncomfortable with the idea of that size. “I saw some videos online the last time I was at the library. I didn’t really even think they could get that big. We’re lucky we don’t have anything like that in Destiny City.”
Well, nothing he’d seen, at least.
But there were probably youma that might rival that…
He shuddered and shook his head.
“I’m glad you were safe. Do you mind if I go change into my pajamas real quick? I’ll be right back.” He was still making a face at the idea of a moose running alongside the road. He meant to go to the bathroom to change but he stalled, holding an armful of clothes. “They’re fast, too, right? What are you supposed to do if one comes running at you?”
…Was it like a bear? …Did youma even behave like the animals they looked like?
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:46 pm
“I should hope not! I mean, not on a normal day…sometimes this…I mean.”
Luke trailed off and hesitated. “Yeah that’s fine. Go and change. Get comfy…and yeah, I um. I heard like their only natural predator is a killer whale? So I think that’s insane honestly. But I think that’s for the moose out in the northwest not in like…landlocked areas where I was…but. Still.”
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, feeling…conflicted.
Honestly. Luke wished he could just open up to Julian and tell him…well. Everything. It would be so cool to go up to Lisse with him and show him all that neat stuff but.
“I’m just so glad you’re okay. You’re really important to me too. In case you didn’t know.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:59 pm
Julian nodded and went to the bathroom; he left the door cracked just a bit so they could keep talking, and he hurried to change. “Wait–a killer whale? How…? I don’t…”
How was a killer whale a predator for a moose?
He was already reeling from that confusing fact, and it took him a moment to process the rest of what Luke said. He found himself feeling embarrassed, because he didn’t even know if Luke knew him. He felt like he was always walking on eggshells. Well–it wasn’t like they were strangers, it was just complicated.
“I’m really sorry I worried you.”
He came out in his pajamas–a pair of long sweatpants and socks, and an oversized sweater over his t-shirt. Nothing ever seemed to be labeled, and everything was simple. Never logos, never brands, never images. Always nondescript. “You’re, um. You’re a good friend. I’m glad we got to be roommates. You’re a lot nicer than what I expected. I was worried it would be someone I didn’t get along with. But it’s actually been really nice. It’s even kind of homey here. I mean, I know you’ll probably want to go back to an actual home after this semester is over? Back with your mom and brother, if you can?” It would be nicer, to be with his family. Maybe Julian would be with his next semester, too. “But I’m glad we met. I hope we can be friends for a long time.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 2:28 pm
“Yeah so I guess moose can like…swim? And dive? I’ll try to find the post online so I can show you, but I swear I’m not making this up…”
If it were actually true or not, was a completely different story but…it had felt like it should be true. Moose were too big to be afraid of anything else.
“I mean, I don’t think we’re going to get to leave the school yet, hopefully after this year though, I’m going to give my mom a stern talking to over winter break…ah, do you want to come over for a few days during it? We’d love to have you! She won’t mind me asking, I’m sure.”
She owed them. Luke knew she owed them. Especially after her latest stunt with the whole sleeping crap.
“And we will be friends for a long time. I can tell that already. You’re awesome. And it has been homey. Like, it’s not as bad as it could have been, and that’s all thanks to you. I’m glad that we’re roommates.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 3:51 pm
Julian still seemed a bit alarmed. Moose just seemed so big, like they should sink and not be able to swim. He didn’t think that Luke would make something like that up. Julian was gullible, he’d have been easy to trick, but he doubted Luke would have done that tonight, not after worrying about him.
Truthfully, he didn’t know what he was doing over Winter Break, though, and being asked made him feel nervous and flustered. Obviously he didn’t have a problem with staying with Luke, they got along well as roommates.
“Um, maybe. I can see if I’m allowed.” He didn’t know about Luke giving his mother a stern talking to but he hoped he wasn’t there to see it. “I don’t want to intrude, I know, um. Holidays are kind of a big family thing and all.”
He had his brother, and his mother! Julian didn’t want to mess up anything for them! Things were probably hard enough with them all being split up like they were already.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 5:32 pm
“Family and friends! Like, you can meet my cousin Lena most likely, she’s the absolute favorite of the family, and she’s super into like, fantasy things. She’s fun. But, no, I’ll ask mom and I know she’ll say yes. She likes you. And, yeah. We’ll have a good time.”
Julian deserved to have a good holiday…and…
s**t. He’d have to think of a good gift for his roommate…well. That could be taken care of later but…
“You’re never someone who could ever intrude. Or be a burden, just so you know. You’re great and my best friend.” The words were said with utter belief and Luke shrugged. “Jason doesn’t count since he’s my brother. You’re my best friend outside of my family, and that’s important too. So, I would like you to come if you are able.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 1:10 am
Being called Luke’s best friend was surprising, only because he wasn’t used to such brazen friendship. Most of his friendships were quiet, simple little things. He had friends–friends that he liked very much! But declarations of best friends made him a bit queasy, if only because it was so much pressure to be the best of anything. He was very happy being a normal friend!
He didn’t doubt Luke’s sincerity, or the intention of his words, Julian just had a bad habit of overthinking things. He tugged at the long sleeves of his sweater as he crawled into bed and tried to make himself comfortable.
“Oh, well it sounds nice.” And scary, but life was always a mixture of both. He never seemed to know how to act around families, especially perfect ones. Luke spoke so highly of his, and Julian would have been lying if he said he didn’t feel a bit inferior. It wasn’t like he was jealous or anything! There was no malice in the comparison. He was just afraid of messing up and looking bad, or making Luke look bad, or any number of possibilities.
How horrible would it be if Luke said he could never intrude or be a burden and yet somehow Julian uncovered a way to be just that!
“I’ll try,” he promised. “I’ll ask too. But it’s okay if your mom has other plans for the holiday, I won’t be upset. We’ll have time later, too.”
Especially if they were going to be friends for a long time.
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:36 am
“I’ll let you know as soon as I do. Come on, why don’t you get in bed and we can put on a movie before bed? Something fun…maybe the muppets.”
It was funny, chill and just…something easy. Something that would hopefully put them both in a good mood to have good dreams. It was one of his favorite holiday movies too…so that didn’t hurt.
They would have time later if his mom said no, but…he couldn't see her saying no, so that was absolutely a moot point. They would have time later, and they would have time now. It was going to be fantastic no matter what happened.
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