(ㅤan owlish stare takes over, mouth dry & thoughts blanking. it takes a solid few seconds to snap out of it, hues softer than they'd been before.ㅤ)
y'don't . . . deserve all the name calling. m'sorry, man.
why would I be messing with you?
I get name - called like, every single
day . . .
( shoulders shrug, apples of stubbled
cheeks now gaining a ruddy glow. )
got no interest in proving them
wrong, ‘cause maybe they’re right.
(ㅤpanic within orbs dilate to a somewhat - normal amount, or at least, a normal amount for himself. his hand twitches, nearly reaching out.ㅤ)
you're serious ,ᐣ like — you're not fucking with me ,ᐣ (ㅤpause.ㅤ) bambi is . . . new.
𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘴?
( neck juts forward ever so slightly,
the corner of his mouth vaguely
creeping skyward. )
I dunno who messed you up, but
they’re the ones who are in the
wrong, 𝙗𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙞. there’s a lot of
things that aren’t natural ——
guess I’m one of ‘em.
(ㅤchest feels tight, eyes large & frantic as they search for truth across that stoney visage before him. a harsh swallow.ㅤ)
it ain't right, not * natural . . . doesn't look good.
(ㅤpause, breath shaky.ㅤ)
you oughta know that, curls.
( fleeting moment of silence, gears
shifting with the snarl of upper lip.
glasses are pushed back into place,
optics finally settling on his own. )
listen, I don’t know who taught you
to think that way, but it’s bullshit. I
also wasn’t joking.
(ㅤpalms drag down length of face, horror flashing across pupils for a brief second.ㅤ)
all of it ,ᐣ you didn't just . . . make that joke, without knowing being . . . * that way isn't right.
right ,ᐣ
you're just saying that. i'm not — it's not good, y'know, to say that shit. don't just . . .
(ㅤhues flicker around, before palms come up to cover face.ㅤ)
nevermind. forget i said — everything.
( hands raise in defense. )
dude, I’m not saying anything else.
like I said, I don’t care. someone could
tell me they were into a rock they found
on the ground ﹠ I still wouldn’t care.
he hasn't been that close to someone else since . . .
a cough strikes him from that internal turmoil, thick bile rising in throat. “ㅤhow — er, i . . . i guess, sure. i should . . . probably eat. you're sure you want to ,ᐣ with me ,ᐣㅤ”
hues flash over to the small bike, the only vehicle present at the dingy corner store's parking lot. flesh grows hot under collar, grip around stem of drink tightening, briefly.
“ㅤkinda small, isn't it ,ᐣㅤ”
murmured, partially frozen. ×
enamel began to gnaw at the inner
softness of cheek, the conundrum
of heartbeat only quickening inside
ivory cage. being asked to 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 wasn’t
exactly something he heard often, if
ever for that matter.
yet as brain rattled ﹠ rewired itself,
a hand rose to nervously •
if you see a guy terrorizing the town
in a scarecrow mask, that was NOT
me. he’s obviously very emotional ﹠
pathetic ﹠ a loser ﹠ has murderous
puppy dog syndrome.
just continue about your day
( if you can ).