|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2024 7:04 pm
The bee Wooble was finished and was waiting for when she saw Atticus again, but the unicorn one was nearly finished, and Brooklyn carefully worked on it as she waited for Julian to show up for lunch. It was a gift for him, and though it was a lot more tricky than the bee had been, she was really proud of it…and wanted to make more for other Lysiteha Knights. What a fun…silly little thing to just…give out a crocheted unicorn when she met them?
A sign of her friendship and…their…unicorn…ness.
She was having some issues with the horn, and that was the last bit she had to finish. Her legs were tucked up on the bench of the picnic table, and she was staring at the nearly completed gift with her tongue stuck out in concentration.
Brooklyn was so close to being done with this, and then she could surprise Julian and they could swap stories of how great school was going. Provided it was going great for him…she hoped it was.
Finally, finally she managed to get the last few hooks done and held the unicorn, (his name was Billy! Too cute!) in her hands and then looked up, jumping slightly at the sight of Julian. “How long have you been there? I’m so sorry I was definitely in the zone!”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2024 8:49 am
“Sorry!” Julian said quickly. He’d only been standing there for a moment but she had seemed so focused, so deeply engrossed, that the thought of interrupting her and breaking her concentration seemed practically criminal.
He didn’t mind waiting for her to finish the last hook. It was a nice day and with the gentle breeze and warm sunlight he’d just been basking it all in.
Now that she was finished, he rocked on his heels once and then pushed himself to the picnic table to sit across from her.
A smile, as always, was on his face.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. What are you working on?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 9:23 pm
“You’re good! I was just super focused, and it’s a gift for you!” Brooklyn held the teal and white unicorn out to Julian, grinning broadly. “His name is Billy, and he’s a Wooble! I met a friend at Crystal and she gave me a kit and now I’m like…crocheting all these cute animals and things!”
Two. Two cute animals. A unicorn and a bee…but there would be more! And she had the patterns so she could make more unicorns and more bees…and she would learn to make other stuff. It was so…neat to watch something as simple as yarn turn into something…cute and holdable.
“How are you! What’s been going on? How is Azure!”
Swinging herself back around, she stretched and leaned on her elbows, watching him with a smile. “You look good!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2024 2:23 pm
Julian accepted the little unicorn with great care, as if he were handling some delicate treasure. He cupped it in both hands as he admired it. “He’s cute, thank you. I don’t know what a Wooble is, I’ve never heard of them before?”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as he examined it. His face lit up and he seemed like he was not only appreciating Brooklyn’s newfound skills, but he was also touched that she’d gone out of her way to make him something.
“Um–oh, but Azure is good! I was really nervous about starting a new school but I know a few people so it hasn’t been so bad. I’m trying to learn everyone’s names. You look good, too! I’m glad that you’re making friends at Crystal, how’s everything going for you? Do you like it so far?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2024 7:07 pm
“I hadn’t either until I…literally ran into someone. It was terribly embarrassing, but…it ended with me getting a friend so I can’t be too unhappy about it. She’s super nice and she was going on about the Woobles…they’re these…kits? That teach you how to make crochet plushies? I have a bee, it was the first one I made that I want to give to Atticus the next time I see him…and I’m not sure what to make for Elliot.”
Brooklyn gave the unicorn a warm, happy look. “I want to make them for all of my friends…eventually. All of our friends. But I want them to mean something, I guess. But! I’m so glad you’re enjoying Azure…I’m really very glad that you’re out of Hillworth. And…I’m just glad to be in school again…”
It was…nice. A stability that she had honestly missed. But.
“The workload is high though. And I’ve been struggling a little bit, but. Doing my best.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2024 8:00 pm
Julian found himself nodding along with Brooklyn as she spoke, and as he held the little unicorn in one hand, he stroked the back of it with his thumb.
“I’m glad you were able to get back in school. And I’m really glad that you’re already making friends. But that doesn’t surprise me, you’ve got a really big personality.” He was glad she had someone nice, and someone who seemed to be encouraging her. “I bet Atticus would love a bee. Elliot, um, I guess that is a little harder. But he seems happy with lots of things. They don’t make, um, Woobies? That are bears? I don’t know,” he admitted.
He couldn’t remember Elliot ever telling him his favorite animal but he always seemed to love the ones on his Wonder.
“I wish I was creative, I would make you something, too.” He pressed his lips together thoughtfully but gave up after a second. “Maybe I’ll figure out something some day! I guess I haven’t had a lot of free time to start new things. Azure is really different from Hillworth. But Talia’s nice, and everyone’s been so patient with me. I was thinking I might try to join a club or some after school group. I’m still figuring it out. But I’ve finished setting up my room. And I’ve been juggling the other things, too. Here and, um, Lysithea. I’m still trying to figure out more of my Wonder.”
But really, he’d had it pretty easy so far.
“What are you struggling with, is it just the workload?” he asked, always worried about overstepping with his questions. He just worried. He wanted to help if he could, even if he didn’t have much confidence in his ability to do much.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 6:41 pm
“I think there are bears, yeah! I’ll have to look and see what I can find, my brain was telling me bears, but…I just wanted to make sure.”
Brooklyn fell silent and listened to Julian talk for a few moments, smiling brightly when he spoke that school was good, and that Talia was nice and that he wanted to join a club! She…hadn't thought that far about herself, and was honestly just happy that she had found a friend and some new hobby…it was…nice to feel…normal for the first time in a long time.
“If you want company going up to Dering, I’m always game to go with you!” She hadn’t…been neglecting Stirling…but she hadn’t gone up since school had started.
“Also, if you want to learn how to Wooble, I’m happy to teach you and lend you my patterns? And…ah, yeah. I did a lot of make up work that Soleiyu gave me to try and get ready, but like…it feels that Crystal is teaching different things than I was ready for and the group home in Washington didn’t…it wasn’t teaching me enough. I don’t know…” She sighed. “I’m doing my best though. Trying.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 2:45 pm
Julian understood the limitations a group home might have given Brooklyn but he was happy that she was trying to catch up, and happy that she was doing her best.
“Do you want to come over and study some time?” he offered. “I’m not the smartest, but maybe I can help you catch up some? Or, um. I mean, if you let me know what you’re having a hard time with, I can ask Soleiyu to help figure out some lesson plans? He wants to make sure you’re doing well. He’s very invested in your success.”
It sounded silly to say but Soleiyu wasn’t exactly discrete when it came to voicing his thoughts about how important school was. With so many teenage Knights running around, he had made it his duty to make sure they could be set up for success outside of just fighting the Negaverse.
“And, um, I was having a bit of a hard time jumping into some of the lessons they had at Azure. I think Hillworth just had a different plan for when we were going to be taught some things. Soleiyu told me it’s okay to not understand. He’s getting some supplemental lessons ready for me. And I’ve got some notes from my friends that I’m borrowing, so if you want to come over for dinner, you can look at those and see if it’s anything useful?”
He wasn’t sure about making a Wooble. He didn’t think his hands were that steady, and when he had some trouble with his wrist already he was worried about putting too much of a strain on it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 3:07 pm
“Of course I’d love to come over and study! I was thinking of asking Sol for some help…it’s a lot of the Math that’s getting me? They have me in a trigonometry class and I think they’re assuming I too geometry last year, but I was in an algebra two class at the home, and that was the kind of thing I had Sol get me studying…I’m truthfully, I don’t see what the point of learning these thing is and just…ugh. I never thought I would dislike triangles so much?”
It sounded dumb, saying it out loud but. She really did like the idea of spending more time with him, and with Talia and the others. It was a friendly house, and she was comfortable there. When he didn’t mention the Wooble, she let the matter drop, choosing to just think about the math issues again.
“Tell me when’s a good time and I’ll be over. They don’t really care much about curfew here, not like St. Mags, it’s nice. Like being an adult but…you get your food made for you…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2024 6:17 pm
Julian hadn’t put the little unicorn down since she gave it to him, and as he held it the palm of both hands, he stroked it with his thumbs. It seemed to be an absentminded thought that brought him some comfort as he nodded along to her words.
“You can come over any time! I’m sure Talia would be happy to see you! And there’s always extra for dinner. Evan cooks a lot but sometimes other people do, too. Zac grilled some steaks the other day and, I don’t even know if I ever had a steak before. It was so good, Brooklyn. I can’t stop thinking about it. Even now!”
He’d been particularly hungry lately, and though he was still shy about actually eating whatever he wanted, he was slowly getting more comfortable picking at the leftovers. He wasn’t very good at asking for things, but nothing was ever a fast process for Julian.
“I can let him know when I go home tonight, about the trigonometry? Whenever you can come by, you should. And bring your book, I bet he can get something done real fast. I was a little overwhelmed with my biology and it took him like twenty minutes to make me mini lessons. I don’t know how he does it. I’m still learning some trigonometry myself, but I think I’m getting it. A little. The calculator does most of the work,” he admitted.
He had a little smile on his face though; his eyes were back on the unicorn and something about it just seemed to bring him peace. “Is it strange for you to be out of St. Mags? Or, um, does it get overwhelming for you?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2024 6:59 pm
At the sound of the steak that Zac grilled, Brooklyn’s stomach rumbled and she snorted slightly. “...Do you think they’d mind if I came with you tonight? What will be for dinner, do you know? I’ll tell Zac to make steaks for me when I come over next…now you’ve got me thinking of them! I’m so jealous, Julian!”
Not a bad sort of jealousy, but she wanted some steak that she couldn’t stop thinking about! That sounded amazing.
“I’ve been trying to use the calculator but…I don’t know. I feel like I keep messing something up? Like, I can do it while we’re walking through an equation during class but having to do it on my own? I forget what to press and what to do. It would be nice to talk with him about it…and.”
She went quiet at the question about missing St. Mags. “I…It’s not that it’s overwhelming…and It’s been over a year since I’ve been out of it…I…I do miss it. It felt like my life was a lot more simple when I was there? I didn’t have to worry about…all of this crazy stuff…I was making money, like. I was taking my life in my hands and going...and now I just. I feel like I’m getting back there? But…it’s never gonna be that easy again. I know that.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2024 5:27 pm
“They wouldn’t mind,” Julian offered quickly. “You don’t have to be jealous, we can just ask! Zac looked really happy to make them so I don’t think he would complain.” And if he was worried about the money then Julian could just ask if some of his monthly funds could cover it.
“I think we’re having lasagna for dinner tonight. Um, it’s got cheese, so Evan’s making it.”
Which meant it was going to be good! But also that he was going to have to take some medicine for it. Not that he’d made a big deal out of it! He was still embarrassed so hadn’t really told anyone at the house. And it didn’t matter anymore because he could afford the medicine!
He couldn’t help but smile because life was good and he’d always been able to enjoy the little things–they were just popping up with so much more frequency now.
“Soleiyu was working on, um, a computer for me. So I know he’s home.” And he loved solving problems so Julian wasn’t worried that they would be imposing. He’d like to find a way to thank him properly, though.
“And, um. I don’t know, you’re working so hard.” But she’d been working so hard for such a long time. “Do you have any ideas for, um, maybe a way to make it easier? I know I can’t do much but if I could help in some way, I will. And Soleiyu probably has other ideas, too. I feel bad,” he admitted. “I know all these amazing people. I don’t want to be a burden. They always tell me to ask for help if I need it. I just wish I had something to offer, too.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2024 5:33 pm
“Lasagna sounds amazing.” Brooklyn’s eyes sparkled and her stomach rumbled again. “I will ask him, I’m not. Afraid of Zac. He’s. A pushover.” She didn’t sound completely sure of herself anymore but. At one time, those were her thoughts. Still. “A computer? Can he do that? I might have to ask for some help with that too…I’ve been trying to save up for one, but…huh.”
She frowned slightly, tilting her head as she watched him. “A way to make…me working easier? Not really, nothing short of a time machine to catch whoever my real parents were, or if.”
Brooklyn broke off and shrugged. It was better to just forget the promised home. The promised family. It wasn’t…it wasn’t there, and until it actually happened, she would just keep working her butt off.
“I just have to get myself to a point where I’m comfortable. I’ll get there, I’m sure…and Julian, if you were a burden, do you think everyone would be so excited to help you out? Honestly, people who are burdens…people do their best to be rid of them, so clearly, by that logic…you’re not a burden in their eyes at all. Like, burdens get told that they’re burdens and get told that things are their fault or that they deserve the ‘bad stuff’...have any of your friends or Talia or Zac ever said that to you?”
She knew the answer, but was still trying to make her point. “Maybe to foster families. I know I’ve been a burden more than once, and honestly? Between you and me…there were some homes that I worked at being a burden…so.” Brooklyn shrugged. “You are helping. You’re keeping me in the loop, getting me dinners. Telling me things I should be asking Soleiyu, honestly, you’re as far from a burden to me as anyone could possibly be. And I love you for it.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:38 pm
Julian flashed a brief, worried smile, like he often did when he might not have completely agreed, or had doubts about something, but didn’t want to argue. Brooklyn had said kind words and he appreciated them, and what doubts or insecurities he had often floated to the forefront of his mind.
He could have been drowning in compliments and kindness and, most certainly, the doubt would still slip through the cracks.
But that was another burden to put on others, so he kept it to himself and pushed it away as best he could. He didn’t want to have those niggling thoughts! He just had to work harder at focusing on the good, kind things people said. Not his own self-doubt.
The smile eased into something more genuine, and the worry in his brows relaxed. “Thank you,” he said honestly. “I just think it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t share what I could. We’re friends. And Talia and everyone work really hard to keep me happy.”
And Brooklyn wasn’t very good at asking for help, so Julian was good at offering it.
“Soleiyu has always said to ask for help, especially if it’s about technology. Please ask him! He says he can make computers much better than anything you can buy in store. I believe him.” Julian was enthusiastic, and even if he was gullible, he trusted in Soleiyu–and he’d seen the type of things he could make!
“I don’t know if he could help with a time machine, though. But if anyone could, I bet it’d be him. But he’d probably say something like ‘why do you want to look to the past when you should look to the future’ or something really, um, well–proverbial or something. Or cryptic. Do you mind if I text Talia and let her know that I’m bringing you home with me?” he asked, fumbling for the phone Soleiyu had made for him. He’d had it for a while but it was far smarter than he knew what to do with, but as if to prove his previous statement, he presented the phone so she could see his work. “He made this for me, um, so if you want any upgrades for yours, we can ask! I get wifi anywhere, I never lose service. It’s really neat! Sorry, I know I can't stop talking about it. I just think it's so cool!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2024 6:29 pm
“Yeah?”
Brooklyn pulled out her own flip phone and gave a little, envious sigh. “That really is super cool. But yeah if you wanna text that would be great! You wanna start heading over there?” She had no doubt that Soleiyu would tell her not to bother. That it could ruin everything. She had read time travel stories. She knew how it worked. Still, though. Maybe she could get him to upgrade her phone…and get her a computer and just…get some comforts that she really couldn’t afford just yet.
…Especially not with her new Wooble buying problem…
Ah well.
“I’m going to see what he can do with my phone, yours really is amazing! I’m kind of excited to see if he can make this into something more useful!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
