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 Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 5:50 pm
Takes place mid-October 2024. Follows Meet Halfway
He felt silly to worry. It wasn’t like he tried to go over every night. If he did, he was certain his mother would make an issue about it. As if she actually cared. She just didn’t want him having a good time, or to have friends. Or to be happy.
“Sorry, what?” he winced, realizing that Cassidy had been talking to him and he hadn’t been paying attention. He already felt like maybe he was doing something wrong, or at least for the wrong reasons. He wanted to help Cassidy out, but he was also worried about so many other things.
He still hadn’t heard anything from Énna. As far as he was aware, Énna would never want to talk to him again.
“Sorry,” he apologized again. “Too many things in my head. What were you saying?”
He felt bad. This wasn’t how he wanted to start the afternoon.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 6:12 pm
Cassidy released a long, wistful sigh. He should have known that Riker wasn’t paying attention when he hadn’t responded to at least two very clever, very flirtatious comments he’d slipped into his story.
He’d seen Riker on his phone but just assumed he was capable of multitasking.
Cassidy was gripping the straps of his backpack to relieve some of the pressure on his shoulders. He hadn’t brought his bike today since he knew they’d be walking home together. It wasn’t a long trip, ten minutes on a bike on a slow day. Walking was fifteen to twenty depending on the pace, but it was a nice day so he wasn’t rushing.
“It’s not important,” he dismissed. The story was only worth telling once and he didn’t want to waste breath trying again. “What about you?”
He nodded to Riker’s phone. “Is everything okay?”
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 6:13 pm
He felt guilty. He had agreed to help Cassidy with the shelves in his room, but he’d already been inattentive and rude. Riker glanced at his phone again, and then stuck it in his pocket.
“Yeah, I guess I worry too much. It’s just… you know the kind of person who will do whatever they’re told so they don’t cause trouble for others? Julian is like that. And I know Elliot won’t let anything happen to him but…”
He sighed and shook his head. Once again he felt guilty for making things about himself instead of Cassidy. He glanced over and eyed the backpack. They still had a little while to walk, so he stopped.
“You’re going to ruin your shoulder like that. Aren’t you in, like… physical therapy to get better? Here, I can carry it,” he offered, holding his hand out for the bag and seeming like he was not going to move until he had it.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 6:16 pm
Riker had such a shadow over his face, and Cassidy thought it looked like it hurt him to put his phone away.
“Oh, you’re cute. I bring my backpack to and from school every day! Maybe that’s why my arm’s not getting better.” He wasn’t going to fight with Riker, not when he looked so insistent.
…And if he were being honest–not that he wanted to admit it out loud–his shoulder felt like he’d been getting jabbed with needles nonstop for the last block.
He passed the bag over with a little laugh and a word of thanks.
“I think it’s cute that you worry so much about him. Julian seems nice. And so gullible! It’s so hard not to play pranks on him, but I don’t even know if I could enjoy it. Like taking candy from a baby, you know? Don’t worry, I won’t. He’ll be fine with Elliot. And Atticus is with him too, yeah?” Of course he was, they were attached at the hip.
“You can keep your phone out,” he insisted, because yeah–even if he was looking forward to this time with Riker, he didn’t want him to be anxious or frustrated because he was worrying.
“How’d you and Julian get to be such good friends, anyway? I know he’s a pushover,” he said, blunt but not insulting. “And you like to keep people at a distance. You’re a weird combo together. No shade! I like him, I’m glad you two are friends. I think he’s good for you. And you’re good for him. I bet people might try to take advantage of him if he didn’t have someone like you around.”
He waited for RIker to start walking, unwilling to rush him since he was carrying Cassidy’s bag for him.
“Do you guys have similar hobbies or something? Like, what keeps you together?” Opposites attract, sure, but he and Riker were alone so it was fine to snoop some. Especially because he doubted Riker was going to ditch him and run off when he’d promised to come over and help.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 6:31 pm
If there was one thing that Riker liked to talk about, it was his friends. Especially Julian. It took a long time for him to get to know Julian, and it took him a while longer to get him to open up about things, but Julian was one of the very few people he trusted with pretty much anything.
“I was a jerk to him and then later I apologized, and he didn’t know any better but to forgive me,” Riker shrugged as he put the backpack over his shoulder. He hated how they met. He hated that he was so mean to so many people. Even meeting Dering wasn’t much better. Their paths only intersected for so long because they were trying to retrieve Stirling’s starseed from the Negaverse. After that, Dering recognized him enough that he was comfortable to talk to him.
Even if every single Lysithea knight seemed to want to ignore him while saying hello to Julian. Or make weird comments about his darker clothes.
It didn’t matter. He was grateful that Dering -- and Julian -- was gullible enough to give him another chance. Riker wasn’t about to squander that.
“We don’t really have similar hobbies,” he frowned, feeling his ears burn a little as he thought about it and continued. “I mean… he plays the violin. And I’ve been trying to, uh… learn an instrument or two. Maybe try singing, I don’t know. It’s pretty ridiculous.”
Riker cleared his throat and shrugged once more, silently cursing himself for giving Cassidy more fodder to tease him with.
“Don’t play pranks on him,” he grimaced after a moment. “He wouldn’t get it.” And just to be sure nothing happened, he pulled out his phone again. Just because Cassidy insisted. Thankfully there were no texts. Julian must have been working hard.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 6:38 pm
Cassidy almost laughed when Riker seemed to immediately pull out his phone, but he turned away so he could hide his smile instead. It was cute. He should be jealous but he couldn’t bring himself to feel any animosity towards Julian, even if he was stealing Riker’s attention. And he wasn’t even here!
“I won’t play pranks on him! You really think he wouldn’t get it? Maybe I can teach him.” He laughed, but shook his head. “No, I’m kidding. I won’t. He doesn’t seem like he’d enjoy tricking someone else, or being tricked. I’m still trying to find something for him and I to have in common. So far it’s just you.”
Though there was no new message from Julian when Riker first checked his phone, one popped up while it was still in his hand. ‘It started to rain but we just got inside. Don’t forget the umbrella!’
Julian knew Riker was going to head home with Cassidy today, and he’d also known it was going to rain at some point, so he’d insisted this morning that Riker take his umbrella. It was pale blue and big enough for two people to fit under, but small enough that it fit in a backpack without any issue.
The clouds hadn’t quite rolled into this side of town yet, but Cassidy had been eyeing the encroaching darkness on the horizon. He didn’t seem particularly worried about it, even if the wind had picked up just a bit.
“I didn’t know he played the violin. He doesn’t play for the school, does he? I never see him with a case.” Cassidy seemed to mull it over for a few seconds but then once again half-turned to Riker while they walked. “Is that what you want to learn how to play, too?”
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 7:04 pm
“His wrist got injured, so he hasn’t been playing as much,” Riker shared with a shrug, even as he smiled at the text he’d received. He quickly typed back as he slowly started walking again.
‘Thanks for the reminder. We’ll stay dry. Almost there.’
He would pull it out if it started raining. No point having one more thing to carry if they could get there before the skies opened up.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind learning to play the violin. We’re trying to find a spare, but Julian had better access to those kinds of things when he went to Hillworth. I don’t know. Apparently Mr. Reid used to be in a band. Maybe he’ll teach me how to play the electric guitar. Or I’ll figure out how to play an organ.”
Riker spared a glance over at Cassidy, adjusting the two bags on his shoulders as he did so.
“I don’t think you need to have anything in common. He’s really supportive. You’ve seen him at the meets. I know he’ll come to the baseball games too, once those start.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 7:06 pm
Cassidy nodded along as Riker spoke. He was amused at the way he adjusted the bag but Riker had been so insistent on carrying them! He’d give it another block and then ask if Riker was sure he didn’t want to hand it back.
“I’m guessing it’s ‘drums on his desk’ Mr. Reid and not ‘jumps when the chairs scrape’ Mr. Reid. You should ask him to teach you, I want to hear. An organ though, not piano? I want to know what type of music you want to play for that. It’s neat! Different. I like it.”
As long as he wasn’t doing it just for Julian, but given the way he was talking about it, Cassidy found it hard to think he was only invested to try and win over a boy. Especially one who he didn’t think he needed to have anything in common with.
“How’d his wrist get injured?” he asked, because as someone who had been injured, he thought he had every right to be equally nosy. And Julian was so private! But also such a people-pleaser. He probably could have just harassed him until he got an answer. It seemed kinder to ask Riker, at least he wouldn’t make Julian squirm.
Besides, Riker clearly liked to talk about Julian. Look at him! Smiling over a text message!!
‘Okay! Let me know when you get there!’
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 7:07 pm
Riker wasn’t sure if he should say anything about Julian and his wrist. It wasn’t his story to tell. But then again, it wasn’t as though Julian was willing to tell it, either. Riker had kind of forced it out of him, and even then it was a matter of piecing clues together.
His grin brightened a bit at the text, and sent a smiling emoji back to Julian before finally being comfortable with putting the phone back in his pocket.
“Same reason he was removed from his home and put in foster care,” Riker said quietly as he looked back up at Cassidy. He knew Cassidy wouldn’t take advantage of that information. Not if he had any desire to talk to Riker again. But Riker knew that he would likely not get it from Julian, and it wasn’t as though he knew all of the details. Just enough.
He shrugged a bit, adjusting the backpack again, but only because it kept sliding off his shoulder.
“Yeah, I mean… I don’t know it could be interesting,” he mumbled about the organ, realizing he didn’t exactly have one to practice on anywhere nearby. Just on Ganymede. It was easy to forget that he was Riker and not Reims when talking to Cassidy. He needed to be more careful about it.
“I’ll have to see if they have time. I don’t want to add to their list of things they have to do. Guitar lessons definitely isn’t a priority. What about you? Have you ever picked up an instrument to learn? Or do you already know how to play something?” He was curious, after all.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 7:35 pm
That emoji hardly captured the enthusiasm in Riker’s grin. Cassidy could have rolled his eyes but he couldn’t even bring himself to be jealous. It was just cute. UGH. No wonder he was so protective of Julian.
He understood Riker’s look as the silent warning, and he had all the information he needed anyway. No reason to press or dig.
“I can play the kazoo, and hot cross buns on a recorder,” he answered dryly, but Cassidy had never really been ashamed of his faults or limitations. “All those little symbols look the same to me, I can’t tell the notes apart so it seemed like a little too much work to break into. My grandpa taught me how to play some songs on the accordion when I was younger, but all that’s muscle memory. I don’t even think I could play it on an accordion that wasn’t his. I’ve got it back in my room, my grandma gave it to me after he passed. I’ll play something for you sometime,” he laughed, but judging by how unserious he was it was clear that he didn’t want Riker to expect much.
He held out his left hand and gestured to his bag. Riker had already carried it so far, he didn’t want him to hurt himself. “Let me hold it again, I can’t let you wear yourself out before we even get home! Don’t make a face, I know you’re big and strong. Are you working out to get all those muscles or just carrying extra backpacks to build mass?”
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 7:37 pm
Riker scowled immediately when Cassidy held out his hand, and took a step away from him.
“No,” he insisted, adjusting it so he could put his arms in each strap. He probably looked silly with a backpack on top of another backpack, but he should have done that in the first place.
He scoffed a bit at Cassidy’s teasing about him working out, but did his best to ignore the way his ears burned. If he adjusted the straps of the backpacks on his shoulders, it definitely wasn’t so he could flex a little.
“You really have an accordion? You absolutely should play something for me. It’s the least you can do,” he huffed, but there was no seriousness in the comment. He was just trying to shift the focus on how flustered he probably looked after that comment about his muscles.
He actually did work out. Mostly in school since there was a weightlifting class he signed up for, rather than the typical P.E. class. It was mostly the same thing, but focused on weights and some sports medicine instead of throwing around a basketball or whatever. But other than that, he worked out before running, even if it was just push-ups or sit-ups or whatever. Not that he would do that when other people were around but still.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 8:06 pm
Cassidy grinned and had to turn away so Riker couldn’t see how much he was enjoying this. He didn’t want to make Riker work extra hard but it was cute how determined he was to keep the backpack. “Okay, okay. You can keep the bag. We’re almost there anyway. As soon as we get to the end of this block you’ll be able to see the gate.”
The wind had picked up a little more and the clouds were getting closer but if they kept at this pace he was sure they’d make it there before the rain.
“You think playing the accordion is the least I can do for you? Oh, well you’re in luck, I can’t wait for you to try what I’m making for dinner.” He huffed but was still clearly enjoying himself. “The least I could do for you!” he muttered, “Oh, I hope you like polka. I don’t know if it has to be tuned or anything so let’s hope your ears are as strong as your muscles. Maybe after you start learning some music, you can teach me how to read it. Or, I’ll go over and ask Mr. Reid if he’ll teach us.” Cassidy wasn’t shy and he liked bothering the Reids, and because he was (mostly) on his best behavior in class, that meant he saved all more annoying habits for outside of class.
It wasn’t really so much that he even wanted to learn how to play, or read the music, he just wondered how long Riker was going to drag his feet and put off asking because he was shy about it. The Reids were teachers! And Riker and Elliot were friends, whether or not Riker actually knew that. It seemed totally logical that if he wanted to learn he should go ask them first. Especially if Julian was going to go over there for homework help, anyway.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 8:13 pm
“Oh, you think I’ll be staying long enough for dinner? How many shelves are you putting up?” he frowned, giving Cassidy a curious look. As if he didn’t come prepared for whatever happened, anyway. He didn’t know how long he would be, or what the weather would be like. He didn’t want to leave a job halfway done, but he also didn’t want Cassidy to feel like he was obligated to feed him or anything like that.
“My ears will be fine,” he insisted, but his expression was skeptical, like he wasn’t quite sure if he should be worried or if Cassidy was just exaggerating. If he was being honest, he hadn’t thought about having to read music. He thought it was just something that was learned by ear or something. But he knew that was stupid and didn’t dare say it out loud.
“What are you making? Just so I’m prepared,” he asked, and not because he was hungry or looking forward to whatever Cassidy was going to make.
The gate was close, but so was the rain. He could hear the raindrops hitting the leaves nearby, even if there was only a couple that fell where they were. Reluctantly, Riker awkwardly reached behind him to try and grab the zipper without having to take his backpack off. After a few unsuccessful attempts, he sighed.
“In the middle pocket, there’s an umbrella,” he told Cassidy, pausing to turn so the backpacks were facing him, but holding onto the straps so they couldn’t be pulled off his back easily.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 8:15 pm
“What! You thought I was going to have you come over here and do all this work and not feed you? I was up for hours prepping already so all I have to do is heat it up!” Cassidy said, already hurrying to fish around Riker’s bag for an umbrella. It wasn’t buried under anything so he was able to pull it out easily, so the only trouble was resisting the urge to snoop. He stood close to Riker as he opened it, and then leaned into him as he raised it above their heads.
“There’s no coconut, in case that’s what you’re worrying about. And it’s only two shelves so I won’t take up all your time. You’ll be done before the rain is. It’s soup! So it’s perfect for this weather. I wanted to make you some swordfish steaks but they were out when I went yesterday. Too bad, I even saved up for them. But that’s fine, I made Carabaccia instead, which must be served warm. I hope you like onions because I used so many the whole house smelled. Glad it was cool, I opened the windows to let it air out overnight and it’s fine now. Dad was not impressed when he came home but he stopped complaining when he realized I made some for him, too.”
He held the umbrella up over Riker and leaned in close so they could walk next to each other.
“I also made some stuffed meatballs in case you didn’t like the soup, and I used my favorite mozz so I know you’ll like that. And, for dessert, tiramisu. Which I didn’t make,” he admitted. “I tried, but I haven’t figured out what I did wrong. Mine’s too mushy. I froze it and it’s kind of ice-cream-y now? But it’s so ugly. It’s the second time I messed it up so I was ready this time and just grabbed a good one yesterday. No coconut oil,” he said again, “I made sure of it. I called twice to remind them. They told me, ‘Cassidy, we don’t use coconut in any of our recipes, stop calling about it,’ so I thought about it some, and then I called them a third time. Then I ordered some cannoli, and I said, ‘no coconut oil!’ and they hung up on me. When I went to pick it up, they said,” he mimicked them, in a shrill, heavy accent, “No coconut oil, no coconut oil. But I guess we’ll find out! Hope you brought your epi-pen! I’m just kidding, I trust them. The owner grew up with my grandmother so if they mess up I’ll just cry to her and they’ll never hear the end of it!”
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2024 5:24 pm
There wasn’t much of a chance for Riker to say anything. Cassidy liked to talk, he knew that. But sometimes it felt like he went on and on and on and on. He wanted to be annoyed, but all he could feel was flattered -- and flustered -- that Cassidy would go out of his way to make sure things were safe for him to eat. He felt a little like his heart swelled with a strange emotion that he didn’t quite understand. And because he didn’t understand it, he just shuffled along with Cassidy practically up against him.
And bumping into him every time they took a step that wasn’t in sync.
He let out an exasperated sigh and let go of the shoulder straps that he was holding onto so he could instead reach over to hook his arm with Cassidy’s. He didn’t say anything about it. Obviously it was so they would stop bumping into each other and jostling each other around.
“I wasn’t worried about the coconut,” he frowned, hoping that Cassidy didn’t think that he thought so poorly of him that he expected to be essentially poisoned. He knew Cassidy had been telling his story to be humorous and probably to put him in a good mood, but it was hard to be in a good mood when his stomach felt like it was being attacked by butterflies.
“I have no idea what most of that stuff you said was,” he admitted. Obviously he knew what soup was, and meatballs, but everything else…? Maybe he’d heard the names before, but he certainly had never had them.
“Why would you be up for hours to prep food for me?” Riker ended up asking, his brows furrowed with confusion. “I haven’t been very nice to you.”
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