These Heartstrings of Mine Are Intertwined With Yours [Closed; Bendytimed]

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Finding Orc in the Media Library is something that strikes Howard as just about as weird as walking in on hippos wearing tutus and dancing ballet - certainly unusual enough to make him doubletake, but given Stacy and her Stacy-ness, not totally out of the realm of possibilities. Stranger things have happened than the illiterate taking a sudden interest in libraries.

Howard, for his part, is looking for more driver's ed material, so once he's located that he wanders over to the space on the floor Orc's occupying and takes a seat next to him. He has a the numbers to punch into his data pad and bring up some nice instructional videos on defensive driving, although for the life of him he still can't find a good instruction manual for a stick-shift car.

"Hey, man, what's-" Ah, Orc's wearing headphones. Probably can't hear him. Howard taps Orc on the shoulder. "What are you doing around here?"

Comments

[paidinbeer]

Now that was interesting. Howard never apologized to Orc unless he needed something. At least that's how Orc remembered it.

Either way Orc allowed him to rest his head there. Howard was alot more touchy since the FAYZ. Even Orc had noticed that. But it didn't bother him. It was just different. And it made Howard happy so he wasn't going to stop him.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Need something or was scared Orc would smack him for calling him stupid, basically. It's a new development, that he apologizes simply for making Orc feel bad rather than trying to change something that relates back to himself.

"I heard you got a job in Infrastructure. I didn't even need to set that up for you."

[paidinbeer]

"Huh?" At first Orc wasn't sure he'd heard right but he nodded, "Oh, yeah. I knock stuff over. Sometimes I lift stuff." He didn't seem to think it was that important. It was just a way to pass the time, and to prove to Kang he was responsible enough for more drinks.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Sounds like something you're good at. I think that's good, you know. You finding stuff to do on your own." And Howard means it, although honestly he panics a little at the idea that Orc will stop needing him.

[paidinbeer]

"I just got lucky." Orc muttered not really thinking it was anything special. There were lots of people who were strong enough on this ship to do what he was doing. Heck he'd probably have been doing it on accident if he hadn't found the person in charge.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Don't be s-" Howard stops himself. "-silly. We don't get lucky, you and me."

[paidinbeer]

Orc didn't even twitch he just responded plainly, "We're still alive. We got food." That was as much as he could muster up, after all they weren't exactly safe.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"That's not because we're lucky. That's because I'm smart and you're strong." Howard knows Orc's right, but he's got some instinctive dislike of placing his fate in the hands of the fickle luck goddess.

[paidinbeer]

"Wasn't strong enough to fight off those Coyotes." Just the word brought him back to that horrible excruciating moment. "Wasn't strong enough to kill Drake or fight off those guys when we tried to leave."

The depression spiral was kicking in again. He was thirsty, and though he knew water would be better he knew what he wanted.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Doesn't matter, man. We're alive. You're strong enough that we're still alive."

He can sense Orc's mood taking a massive nosedive, so he tries to find something else to talk about. "So what's happening in your book right now? I only remember a little bit of the story."

[paidinbeer]

Orc blinked as if he'd forgotten why he was staring at the tablet.

"They're looking for a sword. They need it to protect their home from this evil Rat. They already have a shield." Sometimes the words were too complicated, but for the most part he was following.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I don't remember that part at all." It's possible he didn't finish the book. Howard has never had a long attention span for novels. "Is it a good book, at least?"

[paidinbeer]

Orc nodded. "Better then bored." though that wasn't much of a encouraging review. It was Orc after all so boredom usually led to black out drinking.

And so did depression.

And Anger.

Lots of things led to blackout drinking with Orc.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Yeah, well. That's the best thing about this stupid space wart. Never boring on Spacey Stacy." He pats Orc's shoulder. "I guess I'll leave you to that, then."

[paidinbeer]

He nodded and pulled the headphones back on "Kay, lemme know if you're leaving." He tapped at the screen again to continue the story letting the past few minutes drift away on the flow of narration.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"'Kay." Howard sits there for a moment, pondering whether or not he should leave or just keep adding fuel to the Awkward Fire. Then he figures it doesn't make much of a difference, so he cracks over the driver's ed manual and starts reading that, and keeps doing so until whatever time Orc becomes bored with Redwall.

[paidinbeer]

That could take awhile. As the haze of alcohol faded Orc became more focused on the story. In his head he could see talking rabbits and badgers and otters fighting Rats and weasels and foxes. It was all kind of cool. None of them had powers, but they fought with all their heart for one another. And in this world he was positive that good would triumph and evil.

Why couldn't life be like that?

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard waits a while, until he can tell that Orc's completely engrossed in the story.

"Hey, so."

No answer. Good. Howard can work with talking to a stone, at least, a stone that isn't listening to him.

"I've been thinking."

He waits again, just in case.

"I think I like guys."

No response. No slow-witted questioning of the nature of their relationship. No 'okay' or anger or even flat-out confusion. Maybe 'nothing' is the best response Howard can hope for. He's alright with that.

He goes back to reading the manual.