dumbshow | probably not depressing

[That last page turning is turned very dramatic by Knuckle staring over his shoulder in the middle of this rage-fit. No... No... He's already this far behind?!

Lifting his arm, he holds his fist out like a threat to Shoot, his other hand clapping over his biceps aggressively.]

Shut the hell up, I haven't gotten far enough yet to tell! [Now he's defending the book? It's unclear, but he drops his arms, eventually, even if his aura is a little unnecessarily boosted for someone just trying to read.]

Don't act all snobby just because you do this more often! I'll show you, too!

[Ducking down, he snatches up that book and sits down firmly, opening it right back up to the doggy bookmark he's already using (here, at page 1), and reading. This time, he actually does it!!]

[Defensive much? Shoot barely glances up from chapter 2! to acknowledge his outburst; whatever makes him happy ("happy"), go right ahead Knuckle...

He still isn't entirely sure what brought this whole incident on, but it seems to have motivated Knuckle to shut up and read - so he'll take it. Without really thinking he sticks his leg out slightly to nudge Knuckle with his heel; a "shut up now" nudge for sure. Then a half-second later he wonders if that was strange and stares intensely at chapter 2 instead.

This novel that he grabbed at random - it's apparently a mystery - isn't all that bad, so far. He'll probably get super into it and forget Knuckle is even there... First one to give up loses.]

[Well, he doesn't give up. There's that.

But about twenty minutes into reading, where Knuckle has made significant progress, Shoot may notice him shaking lightly from the corner of his vision. If not? Well, he'll start sniffling shortly after, hiding his face behind the book and bringing up a free arm to press over it.

No... NO HE'S NOT CRYING, DAMN IT]

[He doesn't notice at all... until there are tears, then he actually looks up from this engrossing mystery. At first he wonders if Knuckle is stuck on page 2, this time, but on further inspection it looks like he's just crying.

As usual. Shoot lowers his book a little, leaning over to the table to pick up whatever scrap of paper he's using as a bookmark on short notice. The receipt, probably. Hmm.]

I'm going to get something to drink.

[He will let Knuckle weep like a baby in peace, rather. He gets up.] Do you want anything?

I'm fine! I'm not crying at all, asshole!

[Sooo that's a no. He sniffles into his sleeve a bit more, keeping his thumb in the book as he rests it over his own head. He's making a lot of complicated poses, basically, to hide his crying.]

Don't tell anyone...

[He didn't say... He purposely didn't say anything about crying!! To that end he can only sigh, but lightly, because Knuckle is crying everywhere.]

I won't. I'll get you some water. [Ignoring that no!! Don't dehydrate because of YA trash, that would be stupid. Shoot wanders away to find their glasses and get said water, taking a little extra time to see if Knuckle will calm down a little by the time he comes back. Honestly, he's used to this...

This time he employs a nen hand to carry one of the glasses, just so it's faster. He'll leave the second one on the table. 3... 2...]

How is it?

[hE SAID NO, DAMN IT. But he's too busy weeping to retort just yet, so give him this time to sob a bit more. By the time Shoot gets back, he's at least got it under control where he can just keep to rubbing his eyes and isn't inhaling shaky sobs and trying to mask it.

God.

It's the question that gets all of his movements to pause.]

This girl... she doesn't love him! She doesn't love the werewolf! [Ah, he's retelling.] No matter how hard he tries, he keeps getting let down, and he's given up inside!!

Can you imagine, Shoot?! He's heartbroken!

[So... does that answer the question.]

[TAKE THE WATER AND LIKE IT, this isn't optional. Shoot is expecting a lot of things in answer to that question, but crying about werewolves isn't precisely what he had in mind.

On second thought, it makes a lot of sense. Werewolves are kind of like dogs. He doesn't say this, and never will. Just like he won't say that this time, crying over ~~dogs~~ random stuff is endearing... He'll just lean back a little and look sideways away from his water to the waterworks.]

So it's not as boring as you thought? [He has nothing to say to the riveting YA plot, ah.] That's good.

I wasn't the one who called it boring! You did!

[Shooting a glare over at that, he keeps one hand in the book and the other reaches over to snag that water. Fine. Gulping like half the glass down, he sniffs again and sets the glass down so he can rub his eyes dry.]

He loved her without knowing it, and now that he realizes... It's been three years! [STARING AT SHOOT EXPECTANTLY NOW... Isn't that sad. ISN'T IT? He's not going to ask that aloud because that's not manly or impressive, but come on, don't be heartless.]

[Maybe he did call it boring, but Knuckle thought reading was boring! They're both guilty, but only one of them is an elitist jerk. Ah. Well, anyway.

He's being stared at... It takes him a second.]

Oh. That's sad. [the least convincing delivery ever, hurk] Maybe it has a happy ending?

[Shoot is realizing presently that he's never actually talked about books to someone, and that it's Hard. Endure him.]

It sure as hell better!

[He picks the book back up, looking furiously at the page he has opened.]

But the next three chapters have depressing names, I checked! Damn it! Ethan... I'll cheer you on, even if no one else will!!

[He's really passionate about this-- ah, look, he's reading again.

So it seems he can get into books just as easily as anyone.]

[Oh, no... it's getting more endearing. Stop that. Shoot's literal mystery mystery novel has turned out to be about an overly complicated dual murder with more plot twists than is wholly necessary, leaving him with... nothing to contribute. It's not worth crying about!

He goes back to reading it anyway, and while it's stupidly complex it's not unreadable, at least until one particular plot point throws him for such a loop he comes all the way back around to react out loud before he realizes he's doing it-] What? No.

[He frowns like he's Had Enough of this book's nonsense and abruptly flips to the end, skims the final few pages, and frowns even deeper. Then he simply drops the book, gets up, and walks... out of the room.... goodbye Shoot.

This book sucks, he's aPPARENTLY DECIDED.]

Shoot?

[He's just in the middle of a really tense part of his own book, but he'll stop when Shoot starts being distracting and then just leaves the room! What the hell! Finding a good paragraph to end on, he leaves his bookmark in the book and stands to follow him, calling out again.]

HEY! Shoot! Where'd you go?

[Shoot is already down the tiny hall, and if Knuckle looks down it at the right moment he'll see Shoot, irritated!!, sticking his head out from his room. More annoyed than he reasonably should be, ah, this is part of getting to know him...]

I'm getting a better book. Go back and sit down.

[fURIOUS ABOUT BAD PLOTS]

...A better book?

[Wait a second here, he is caught off guard. He stomps over even more stubbornly, placing his palm against the door like he's going to push it open.]

You mean your weird serious book isn't as good as mine? Hah! Shows you for-- hey, wait, what d'ya mean you're going to get a better one! I thought we were reading!

[No, this is his room?? He doesn't try to get rid of him, at least, as he's too busy nerdraging away from the door, presumably over a bookshelf small enough to fit in these little rooms.

Also, shut up, he's somewhat bitter now that he paid for that stupid book. He does look over at Knuckle with less nerdrage and more confusion, after a moment.]

What do you mean? We are. [that's what he's... Knuckle??] I'm going to read something different.

[Well, good thing he's not being stopped, since he's just shoving in and standing there with his arms crossed OVERLY SERIOUS. He looks like he's just been offended in some way, and he's trying to loom over Shoot as if he's not a tiny dorito.

Are you telling me you're giving up on that other book? You didn't read it all the way through! I could tell from the way you flipped the pages! [What the fuck] How can you judge it fairly if you haven't read it through from cover to cover?! Shoot!

[Shoot only wanted to get a different book. He is giving up on that other book, and he doesn't think that's - morally reprehensible or anything like that!

why was he paying such close attention to the page turning]

I've read enough. I'm not interested in wasting time with the rest for the sake of some arbitrary measure of fairness.

[go do some math or something, god]

[BECAUSE THIS IS A CONTEST!!!]

What the hell, Shoot! You're putting down the author's hard work before you've read all of his words!?

[Or her.] That's cruel! You're cruel!

[WHAT...]

He [or she] already has my money. [Flatly... no, he doesn't believe in this arbitrary fairness crap at all. A beat.]

You put down the movie I wanted to watch without seeing any of it.

That's different!

[With one hand on his hip, the other points out like he's coming straight out of ace attorney.] We were trying to decide what to watch! I didn't pick it up and give up most of the way through!

[How the hell is he going to decide who wins their competition if Shoot picks up a new book?!]

More importantly... What happens if I finish mine and you're still reading?

[It's not different... Shoot gives him a look, wishing he would make up his mind about whether this is about his dumb reading contest or the author's feelings, already.]

You have another book to read. Why, what were you planning on doing?

[Leaving aside that there was no chance at all of them ever finishing these books at the same time. He'll skip that.]

I can't finish two in one day! Are you insane?!

[That's not what was being implied, and yet, that's what he expects. He's not going to sleep until it's finished! He's decided! And so Shoot should follow suit, so he can properly compete! Oh, and so that author doesn't have his work insulted...

He squints at Shoot's little bookshelf, stepping over to it.]

Haven't you read all these, anyway?

[Another mostly flat look; he could finish two books in a day... if he read through meals and did nothing else. He probably has before, honestly.

But ah, his precious little bookshelf, invaded. Don't look at it and judge him.]

I have. I could read them again - that's allowed.

[There's some vague, noncommittal grumbling as Knuckle waves off Shoot. His competition has already been crushed. He's won, technically, but what kind of victory is this? This is lame. And now Shoot's going to get stuck in another book for hours after he's already finished his and then what is he supposed to do?!

He made that promise to himself not to train yet!

Damn, this was tough.]

Fine, whatever! I'll be back out there, so hurry up. I'm leaving you behind! [Without saying what he even means by that, he heads back to his couch and his horrible werewolf romance novel.]

HAHAHAHA look the younger you are the harder it is to think about wtf you're doing shit for

they didn't catch me is the real joke

well that just makes you a pro

hmmmmmm

it's true!!! I am an expert on pros

a pro x pro?

im lEAVING

you started it

I DIDNT ASK FOR THIS

i think you did

shoves you over

goodbye

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject