dumbshow | probably not depressing

[A few minutes - that's not so bad. But then-]

What? [Does he have to say it like that, that's so- he didn't want to be sleeping in someone else's room because it's strange, not - Knuckle!!]

No! [harsh] I just wanted to know. Not- It's your room, so...

What'd I say about getting worked up over it?

[Coming up from behind, he slaps his back with one hand and sets a plate in front of him with the other. There's already silverware set up and everything! What a wife.]

It's not a big deal. I'm just messing with ya. [So chill, dude. He moves back to get his own plate.]

[Don't smack him, he's still confused by all of this... It's probably the most jarring that he can still look Knuckle in the eye after being hugged to sleep - appreciate that.

Still, he'll take up his fork and vaguely consider the eggs without actually digging in. He's waiting... shh.]

Then don't bring it up... [if it's not a big deal!

Oh-] Did you find the books?

Oh, yeah! I ran into them by accident.

[They were in the fridge, he'll never tell. But as of now, they're in the bag over on the table by the tv, which he nods to as he sets his own plate down.]

See? I didn't lose them! I just forgot about 'em a couple times.

[At least the books are safe... He looks over at the bag, wondering if he can just... sit around and read all day and nothing else. He might be staring a little longingly, ah.

bUT breakfast]

Well, it's good they turned up eventually.

[Eating in silence... ahem. Getting Along Better means he should make conversation, huh.] So... what are you going to do with the rest of the day?

[What's he going to do? That's a good question. He ponders this as he eats some of his food, realizing only now that he's sat down that he forgot the drinks like the lamer he is. Oh well.]

Not sure. [To be honest, he usually just wanders aimlessly until things happen. Or sometimes he'll have a Big Goal, but.] It's been a while since I've trained properly...

[The 'while' is since the Ant Incident happened, really.]

[Get a hobby, Knuckle... Shoot moves on to contemplating the toast, meanwhile.]

Hmm. [He can guess at the timing, somehow. Just a hunch.] I'd offer to help, but that's probably not an approved activity for someone just out of the hospital.

[Getting wasted, on the other hand— but really, he probably won't be physically up to par for a while yet. That's a little disappointing...]

Edited 2015-01-27 06:44 (UTC)

I'm not too sure on it, anyway.

[Which is a rare thing for him to say about training. Honestly, he really wants to. Really wants to!! But... he doesn't want to leave Shoot behind. So he's decided to himself, just now, hearing that, that he won't train until Shoot can!]

I wasn't drunk, but I did have a headache. [That's the excuse he's going for.] Hmm... Now I'm really not sure what to do.

[No, what- he could tag along, don't sacrifice training for him. He'll notice sooner or later and seriously oppose it, don't...

He eats a little more in silence, before he comes up with this not-offer:] I thought I'd read for a while.

[NO TOO LATE he's already made a secret promise to himself. As for this, though... reading. Ah, right. He gives a slow glance over to the books, and even if he'd picked up a couple for himself, he's more aware that he's not much of a reader...

As in, doesn't that sound really boring?]

Really? Already? [Well-- that... makes sense, he guesses.] Hey, Shoot, how many books do you read per month, anyway?

[Shoot gives him a quizzical look - already what? Why should he wait to read a book, what... else is it going to do but sit there?

But, hm,] I don't really know.

[And then mid-conversation he just decides he's too thirsty to sit here and ignore the forgotten drinks, so he's getting up to get them water. He'll add, at least, while he's over there,] It depends on free time... I could finish a single book in a day or two, if we didn't have other things to do.

[aka nerd]

[Knuckle looks at him in shock, and it's probably because he just calculated how many words per month that is, and that was a formula that he was expecting to use for a 3-4 books a month type schedule. But a book in a couple days...

It's nothing extreme, sure, but was this his main hobby?! The man super into math is confused by reading, amazing.]

Uhh, right... [What the hell does he say. He wants to try spending more time with Shoot, but he may fall asleep again if he tries reading for more than twenty minutes.] You really are in those things, huh? No wonder you're always hanging out alone.

[Well, when he and Morel weren't harassing him.]

[Ha, what?? He doesn't have any (other) friends, what else would he do all the time?

This honestly doesn't strike him as weird or boring at all, and he frowns a little in surprise at the look on Knuckle's face as he comes back with the water. Knuckle's going to have to take it himself when he offers it, because the other one is pinned between his arm and torso, leaving him totally incapable of putting one down without spilling the other. This talent has drawbacks.]

You did want to know. [hmph.]

It's peaceful. Reading, I mean. It's like... taking a break.

[A long break, with chapters. Shh.]

Yeah, but... That's a lot of time.

[He probably calculated that roughly, too. Think of all the time you could be PETTING DOGS-- he means, training! Or going on walks or being active! He does in fact take that water, by the way, a default reaction to Shoot carrying things for him. Even if they haven't spent too much time together alone, they're partners, and he's used to him enough like this. He'll even mutter a thanks.]

Then I'll just read, too! [He's going to get emotionally invested and cry all over the pages and never stop, that's what's going to happen. Spoilers.] If it's really relaxing. Peaceful? Peaceful.

[He folds back into his seat once Knuckle takes the glass, leaning forward slightly to set the other one down on the table and quickly sliding it away from the edge. He hums - it is a lot of time, but he needs a lot of time to... relax. Finishing a book is a good feeling, he feels better...

Not- that he'll share that. No, it's too soon for that. For now, Knuckle's suddenly inspired declaration gets him to smile, just a little. Shh.]

It is. If you hate it anyway, I'll make it up to you.

[But he has faith in BOOKS sigh what a loser.]

Heh... a deal?

[That's kind of amusing. He'd like to see what Shoot came up with in order to 'make it up' to him, but. If he trusts in it that much to begin with, it might be good. Even the supposedly shitty book that reminded him of Meleoron, huh?]

Alright, then that's that! I'll give it a try today! I just don't wanna get bored before too long, so keep your deal with me, Shoot!

[After that, he's excitedly drinking down his water. What a child.]

[okay really it would be dogs

The enthusiasm is still- nice to see. It seems Knuckle really can get super into anything, even when he Doubts it.

Ah, he's looking forward to sitting in the same place, reading and not speaking aloud... So much fun.]

I will, I will. Get started whenever you want.

[He's going to sneak away to shower because his hair should be down by now but isn't, and that's objectionable. So is demanding he be there the whole time Knuckle learns to read, hmm.]

[Knuckle should shower too, and yet... If he's staying home all day, he can put it off. This man is an adult. He takes a while finishing up his food, but when he does, he heads over to the couch to sit down. He doesn't really wanna start reading until Shoot shows up...

But if he waits, isn't that pretty weird?

He spends about fifteen minutes squinting at the TV considering this before he digs out one of His choice books and flipping to the first page. He'll read through the pre-chapter stuff and the chapter titles and then pretend to read the first page for the remainder of his time.

Actual adult.]

[Shoot takes his time with the shower, as he still feels off, generally speaking... His headache's just about gone, he just feels a little strange when he stops to think about it. Probably more from his recent recovery than getting drunk, so. He'll live with it.

When he eventually comes back his hair is down - wet, he has a little towel on his shoulders and everything - and he's dressed more casually in some sweats and a shirt because that purple monster is a little much to stay home and read in all day.

Basically it's very obvious that he's going to sit on the couch with his nose in his new book and be dead to the world for a while now. As he plucks his book out of the bag and settles in, he glances over at Knuckle's- god.]

It took you that long to decide which one to read?

[Is he being merciful or does he genuinely believe this is the case... no one knows.]

N--ye--

[Knuckle's having trouble deciding which answer makes him look like less of an idiot now. His decision? NEITHER, DAMN IT. He half closes the book on his finger, waving it in Shoot's direction.]

Shut up, what does that matter! You took forever in there! [It's probably all that hair, but like he can talk.]

[It's definitely all that hair. Look, he had to take out, like, ten braids... But still, what does that have to do with Knuckle reading??

Ah, did he... Knuckle, please.]

Well, don't get distracted again. [He pulls his legs up onto the couch so he can balance his book on his knees, glancing over at Knuckle again once he's settled. Did he pass page one...!!]

I wasn't distracted, asshole!

[He has not, in fact, made it past page 1 by then. But he has managed to hold his book up so the cover faces Shoot, and tries to make it near impossible to tell what page he's on.

All this effort could have been used for reading, but he's nervous. Shoot's going to end up reading him into a hole or something, and then what the hell's he gonna do!! He skips page 1 to feel like he's made progress and tries reading from there.

Almost ten seconds later, he has to turn back and start at page 1 again. Damn it.]

[Shoot gives him a look but doesn't say anything, giving his own book all of his attention now.

Well, most of his attention. He can't help but glance up at the back of Knuckle's book every now and then, given how determinedly he seems to be turning pages. What is he actually doing...

Maybe he'll try to finish the first chapter before he stops to wonder what's going on here, great idea. So - reading. Reading, totally unaware that Knuckle has made this into some kind of pagecount contest.

how is page 1 looking now]

[Status report: He has read the first sentence about 50 times. It has not yet brought any sense of understanding. Hope is distant. His fingers are starting to hurt from holding this book like this.

Eventually, he stands up from the couch and just yells.]

THAT'S IT, DAMN IT!

[Throwing the book on the ground, he lifts his chin and points down at it like he means serious business. He's paying no mind to Shoot right now, because he's decided-- it's between him and this book.]

It's all in my head! Like hell I'm gonna let you beat me, you paperback asshole! Who opens a book with clumsy cut-off sentences?! I'll show you--!

[Forgive him, Shoot.]

[Shoot jumps, nearly dropping his own book. He didn't actually finish chapter 1, unfortunately, and now Knuckle is-? He's not sure what Knuckle is doing, he realizes as he stares up at him from the couch.

Please don't fight the book, this is how furniture gets broken in this apartment. Shoot looks down at the book, and back up to Knuckle- and again. Then he clears his throat, and if Knuckle stops being a child and looks at him he'll see him casually turn to the last page of chapter 1 now. Victory...]

I told you it wouldn't be any good.

[dON'T READ YA TRASH, SCRUB]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

WHAT DID I DO TO YOU HTML

you must have done something

i've angered a god somewhere

clearly

whatever i'm using this COOL ICON

Ah yes he's so cool i can't look away

when you say that with that icon

did it convey my completely honest feelings

maybe....

smiles

i'm dyin

god these nerds

i can't deny i've faked reading a book in that exact way, also forces shoot to look casual for once

haven't we all faked reading a book in this way, YES SHOOT LOOK CASUAL

i'm pretty sure i faked my way through all of anne of green gables that way

lFDSMGLDSFGMDF gpoy me, except with all my lit books

oh.... my parents made me read anne of green gables... stares at hands

stares at you........

i sat there for hours and just pretended to read, idk why i thought this was a good idea