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#i did not want a gross kepler in the car
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Kepler went on another hike today, this time to a trail we haven’t been on before. There were some absolutely beautiful views! It was our first time walking on a trail that allowed horses, and I was afraid Kepler would spook, but Kep did great watching the horses pass by and wasn’t afraid at all. It was pretty muddy and I was also (albeit much less) worried Kep would step in horse poop or get super muddy, but he was really good about going around the gross sections of the trail. He didn’t even need a bath when we got home! Now that I know he’s not going to bolt at the sight of horses (or walk right through horse poop), I think I’d be open to taking him on more hiking trails that allow horses in the future! That opens up a lot more trails for us to explore.
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lovely-necromancy · 3 years
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A Cure for Insomnia CH 14
Somehow someway you had ended up spending the night in Toby's room. What had started out as sitting next to him turned into laying down next to him. And after a while of no talking or movement, just the steady sounds of breathing. You more or less closed you eyes for a minute.
Before you knew it you were waking up to sun in your face. And found a blanket haphazardly thrown onto you. Though honestly you probably just moved a lot in your sleep. A quick glance around the room tells you you're alone and by the looks of it have been for a little while now. Weirdly there doesn't seem to be a clock in the room and when you go to check your phone the battery is dead.
'Oh God what time is it?' you worry as you gather yourself to leave the room in search of a clock.
Even though you have the strongest suspicion that you're already late for work. Fuck Nate is gonna kill you. You hope you don't get fired for this. That doesn't really seem like the Cowell way but you really don't want to risk it. No where else in town would pay the bills plus give extra cash for doing jack shit.
Just as you closed the door behind you you see Toby and Connor walking up the corridor. Toby has two bowls in hand and his steps falter a bit when he sees you.
“Shit did I wake you up?”
You can see the veins in his arms as he tenses, poor guy must have a tic coming on. You hold your hands out to give him the option of handing them over so he can relax. With no hesitation on his end he does just that.
“No? I don't think so, I just woke up. What time is it?”
Toby's hands jolt in place. A large tremor of movement, thankfully you took the bowls from him so he wouldn't have splashed...cereal? Your confusion must have shown because you get a nervous laugh in response.
“It's like eight twenty or something.” seeing you visibly deflate he adds, “Barry told me to tell you you're excused from work today.” He took a bowl back from you and placed a hand at the small of your back to push you back towards his room. Apparently done with having a conversation in the hallway and letting your breakfast get soggy.
“Barclay.” you remind him, your efforts award you a shrug, “and are you serious? Because making me late for work wouldn't be very funny.”
He plops on his bed and a bit of milk sloshes out of the bowl dropping on to the sheets. In the back of your mind you think about how Barclay more than likely is going to ban Toby from the lodge for anything other than an emergency. At least if he ruins the bed by dropping food all over it...actually you're pretty sure Jake's mentioned there being a rule about eating in the rooms.
“I'm serious, you can go ask him yourself.” his face flushes as he shovels a spoonful of Captain Crunch into his mouth, “twey shed somfingu bot ah ahpawawgee for da kid”
You give Toby a sneer as you process what he just said. Even normally your brain didn't always process what was said to you properly and Toby speaking with a full mouth certainly didn't help in any case. But you can kind of gleam a bit more context from his red cheeks that your spontaneous three day weekend is thanks in part to Jo hanging out with you yesterday.
Really you didn't mind that she hung out with you. But you would accept the apologetic day off for her attempting to give you a love life. You aren't one of her gossip stories nor do you wish to be.
“First, gross dude. Second, I'll take it.”
He snorts, “Watching me chew through the hole in my face is ne-neat but me talking with my mouth full is where you draw the line?”
“Honestly I never even thought of that.”
You can't help but let out a chuckle at how dumb that must have made you look. Geez you were such a dork sometimes. On the other hand it seems like that must have been the funniest thing Toby's heard in a while as he roars with laughter. Soon your chuckles turn into full blown laughter from Toby's contagious mirth.
“I'll get out of your hair after I finish eating.” you finally say when the two of you calm.
“...you don't have to do that. I-i thought we cou-cou-could hang out?” he says sheepishly.
Toby tends to stutter when he's nervous you notice. Maybe this was to be expected you kind of did solidify that you both wanted to be friends. Of course that would mean opening up to hanging out together on purpose more often.
“I'd like that! Did you have something in mind?”
The room goes quite, well more accurately Toby goes quite as you finish your cereal. Looks like someone hadn't thought this far ahead. At least you aren't the only dork in this room or this friendship for that matter.
Toby's dark eyes scan around the room, not really looking for something while he thinks of something you could do today. Instead of just staring at him like a creep you turn your attention to the rottweiler looking at you with hopeful eyes. Connor's eyes briefly moving towards your bowl where a tiny bit of milk sits and then back at your face. Licking his chops as he looks you dead in the eyes.
Having a pretty good idea of what he wants you look for Toby's bowl. If it was on the ground that'd be a good indication that Connor's allowed a bit of cereal milk if it was on the bed well then you'd still have your answer.  And sure enough right next to Connor's butt is an empty bowl.
Yup, Barclay is so gonna ban Toby from the lodge.
Throwing out any thoughts of the lecture you'd get if Barclay were to find out you let a dog eat from his bowls you place the bowl in front of Connor. Who sits in his position and won't stop making eye contact with the bowl. Tail going a mile a minute as he stares at his prize in anticipation. God he really is the best boy in the whole world.
“Thank you Connor.” you whisper to the dog before he attacks the bowl.
As the pup rips into the left over cereal milk, which wasn't even that much, you can't keep yourself from flapping your hands right by your chest. The fast movement seems to catch Toby's attention and brings him out of wracking his brain for ideas. Giving you a moment to just enjoy the happy stim he just watches. It isn't until Connor has bounded over to you letting you pet him as a 'thank you' for giving him a treat, that Toby speaks up.
“Is there...what's there to do here?”
Looking at Toby as you shake Connor's ears around, you don't immediately say anything. Honestly thinking of just what the two of you could do in this small town. Something that wouldn't prove to be too distracting and maybe give the two of you a chance to get to know each other better. Something without too many interruptions or things to get you off topic.
“Wanna go get a slushy?”
Toby's brown eyes cut as he stares at you unimpressed.
“I kno-rrow that we're in a small town but, 's not that small.”
“Oh no it's actually smaller.”
He rolls his eyes with a huff ready to bite in with a snarky remark no doubt until he catches your eyes and the serious expression. He stares at you, eyes darting across your face looking for a sign that you're joking.
Thankfully you aren't one to leave a friend in the dark.
“Tobias, the gas station Tim works at is the only one for this town.”
“That can't be right, it's not even in town. What about...” once again Toby's eyes shift as he tries to think of any other gas stations within Kepler.
When he comes to the conclusion that you are indeed not fucking with him and Kepler does just have the one gas station his shoulders slump. Almost like he's in shock that he hadn't caught that sooner. You can feel the tinkling sensation of a tic coming up, at the base of your neck. Timing it mentally as you watch Toby go through the stages of grief you miscalculate and ruin your tic.
Head jolting into your right shoulder rather than jerking above it. Letting out a small “fuck” at the fact that you're about to be in an uncomfortable sensation, not totally unlike when you chase off a sneeze but still do need to sneeze. You feel the tic at the back of your head but know it won't be going away anytime soon and all thanks to your hubris.
Looking back at Toby you find he's moved on from the single gas station fact and is looking at you mildly amused. Briefly you wonder if he's ever chased off a tic and felt the uncomfortable sensation you're now dealing with. That leads you to ponder if he's ever even felt the anticipation of nerves before a coming tic. It's not really a painful sensation but discomfort sometimes goes in hand with pain so maybe CIPA affects that feeling too. You'll have to ask, but first you have to shut his stupid face up.
“Shut it.”
“Didn't say anything.” he smirks.
His smiles are really growing on you. They feel special and very genuine despite the awkward nature of his facial movements.
“Hey wait, the mini mart doesn't even have a slushy machine.” he says as the realization finally sets in.
“Yea we have to drive to another town for one. So far Franklin has the best slushies but it's like two hours away.”
You lean your weight back onto your hands watching as Toby's wide eyes stare at you in disbelief. Actually in this light you really can't tell if Toby's eyes are blown wide or in their normal state. Judging from the way his lips curl over his teeth you figure they must be as he stares stunned by something you've said.
“Do you seriously drive two hours for a slushy?” the disbelief in his voice is thick, but not thick enough to cover the thinnest hint of amusement. Maybe even pity.
“Not all the time, sometimes its only like thirty. One night I actually drove five hours without realizing it...though to be fair I did get lost.”
Lost in your thoughts on that particular night some how you'd ended up in Point Pleasant. Instead of a slushy you'd gotten a Mothman themed iced coffee. A nice trip over all but one you didn't want to go on at the moment.
Coming back to the present in time to catch Toby flopping back on the mattress his curls bouncing up over his face as he did so. He let's out an exaggerated groan.
“Still, Brian's got the car today.”
Pfft that's not an issue.
“I have a car.” you say plainly.
That must not be the issue because Toby raises himself onto his elbows to look at your lax form on the carpet. Leaning back on your hands with Connor splayed across your lap looking ready for a nap. Toby opens his mouth to say something before shutting it and looking off to the side. He seems to collect himself quickly but not enough to look at you.
“Uh..I, that's not really the...” well maybe he hadn't collected himself that much.
Brow furrowing as you squint at the man before you. The two of you don't know a lot about each other but from what you've noticed Toby has some hang ups about drivers and driving. Although he's let you drive him home once that doesn't mean he was comfortable with it or wanted a repeat performance. And while you don't consider yourself a bad driver you'll spare Toby the difficulty of admitting he isn't comfortable with you driving.
“You can drive.” dark brown eyes are on you the instant the words spill from your lips, “You've driven my car before. Plus I don't mind I like not driving.”
His eyes dart from you to Connor and back up into your face. Even though they're darting slightly you know he isn't such evaluating your expression. He's thinking and weighing his options.
“You sure?”
And with no hesitation at all, “Absolutely, you've driven it before.”
Though he hadn't been thinking of that particular issue with being given the choice of driving your car. It did bring up another insecurity before hastily stomping it into the ground. He has driven your car, albeit once, before and you are giving him explicit consent to drive it again. Regardless of his tourette's, Toby honestly can't believe you have such blind faith in a person you've just befriended. Then again that's friendship isn't it.
“Ok then...let's go?”
After a nod from you Toby grabs Connor's gear to get him ready for the drive. Meanwhile you take the dishes back downstairs to the kitchen, letting Toby know you'd meet him by the door. Unsurprisingly Barclay is in the kitchen when you get down there to place the bowls into the sink.
Seeing as it's just the bowls and spoons in the sink you decide you can wash them before placing them in the sanitizer rack.
“Mornin'.”
“Good morning.”
“Basket's on the table.”
“Thanks.”
A quiet settles over you two and you can feel Barclay's brown eyes trail towards your form every few seconds. Finishing the dishes you turn, leaning your butt onto the counter, to face the lumbering man.
“Can I help you?” you raise a brow at him. Clearly he had something more he wanted to say.
“I, I just thought we were closer than that.” he sighs.
Okay what now? Your confusion goes ignored as he continues to speak.
“Seriously YN, you didn't need to sneak away last night if you wanted to spend the night here, and with your boyfriend. I wouldn't have judged.”
“My who? Tobais? He's a friend!” you whisper scream in case Toby is near by. God could at least save one of you this embarrassment.
“Really YN? From the things I'm hearin' you two are a bit more than friends.”
“Ok seriously where are you getting your info from? We haven't done anything. Like just YESTERDAY we agreed we were friends. We've known each other maybe a month?!”
“See that's why this is confusing, you don't touch just anyone. And suddenly you're handsy with some new kid.” Barclay had the decency to start whisper screaming with you. He's gesturing vaguely towards the rest of the lodge before bringing his hands before him and flailing them away. As if to say 'what am I supposed to do with this now?'
“He's neurodivergent!” you say bringing your palms up in front of you.
“So are Jake and Aubrey.”
“And I high five Jake so much.” throwing your arms outward to indicate how much you two high five. “Plus he gets a hug nearly every time I see him.” hands brought back to emphasis this point.
Barclay thinks on that for a bit, “Point taken,” he stands from his hunched position and crosses his arms over his chest, “so y'all aren't dating? Nothin' happened last night?”
“No and no.”
“Don't have to deep clean the sheets today.”
“Gross and no.” best keep the milk droplets out of this, you'd really like to leave the kitchen sooner rather than later. Preferably with no lecture about hygiene and the importance of respecting other's property.
Barclay looks down at you scanning your face for something you aren't quite sure of. But you have a feeling he's treating you like a child for a very specific reason.
“I'm not a virgin.” you deadpan as the man before starts to sputter.
His eyes wide with disbelief. So he really thought you were a virgin this whole time? You wonder who else thought this, you hoped they wouldn't try to confront you about your nonexistent relationship.
You'll just never understand why people assume you're a virgin and why they try their hardest to butt into your life when they think that way. This topic tends to put you in a sour mood and you can already feel it on your face. It's disgusting how people can't mind their business about baseless assumptions.
“Jeez sorry YN,” he does look it as he rubs the back of his neck, “it's just you've never shown an interest and I guess we all got swept up in the possibility of seeing you happy.”
“I am happy?”
“I mean in a relationship, happy in a romantic relationship.” He claps his hands gently on your shoulders. A touch you've gotten used too, had you not wanted it you would've taken a step back.
“Kirby's not in a relationship.” you point out.
“Kirby's gross, and you're adorable.” he chuckles at your glare, “a-dor-a-ble.”
“I will bite you.” he lets go of you with a laugh.
“We're just...trying to keep you safe.” he sighs, and though you don't understand what any of their weirdness has to do with “keeping you safe” you nod. Just to get this over with faster.
“Can I leave now? Tobais and I were gonna get slushies.” he didn't need to know your plans but you didn't want him assuming you two were sneaking off for a date.
“Yea yea, sorry for keeping you.” he leans against the counter as you grab your basket and head out of the kitchen and towards the main door.
Toby and Connor were already waiting for you. If the swaying of his weight was anything to go by they'd been waiting for you for a bit. Seeing you coming his subconscious movement stops and he opens the door. Keeping it open for you.  You lead him over to your Soul as you look through the basket for the keys.
“Keys?” he questions as you pat your pockets.
Toby stops walking with you as you begin to panic. You've lost your keys. Before you voice that though you look through the basket once more, placing it on the hood of your car so you can use both hands to check. His eyes follow you and are caught by a gentle swaying.
“You are a serial killer's wet dream.”
He opens your passenger side door and comes out holding your keys that had been in the ignition. If the blank look he gives you is anything to go by he's not impressed.
“I,I,I was in a hurry!” you say flustered that you did something so stupid. His expression doesn't change.
“Could you pop the trunk please?” you ask not looking in his direction.
The click of the lock is all you need to hear before you rush around him to place the basket in the back. As you do you catch sight of the deer skull still in your trunk. With everything going on you hadn't been to see Madeleine for a mount for the guy. You'll have to remember to stop by her shop this week.
Toby had already gotten Connor situated in the back by the time you sat down in the passengers seat. After buckling in and plugging your phone in to charge you stare ahead of you waiting for Toby to start driving. When you look over at him you see he's staring right back at you with a brow raised.
“Yes?”
“Where are we going?”
Yes the key detail of any road trip, the driver needs to know the destination. Unfortunately for you and Toby you've forgotten to tell him one crucial detail. You drive with no sense of direction. And you relay this to Toby. He looks seconds away from getting out of the car and claiming he's never seen you before much less ever been friends with you.
He takes a deep breath and collects himself.
“Y'know what Brian's worse with directions.” he says more to himself than to you.
He calmly puts the car in gear and heads off to town. No input from Connor, you may have chosen a really good day for this drive. Your phone hits one percent as you pass Resort Row. You know the Hornet's Nest is coming up and that intersection leads to the interstate despite not having legible signs.
“Hey when you get to the Hornet's Nest swing right then drive straight, we'll end up on route 3 onto the interstate.”
“Hornets' nest?”
“It's a skate/stunt park. You'll see it after we get away from the mountain.”
Just as you said Toby saw the Hornet's Nest as he turned onto the road leaving the mountain. By the time you were on route 3 your phone had charged up to seven percent. Enough to turn it on and put on a playlist. You put on one of your sea shanty and folk punk combos.
Toby hasn't even let the song get thirty seconds under way. “No vetoed, we are not listening to sea shanties.”
So he does have music preferences, fair enough. You switch to a playlist with a more chilled electric vibe that has a few oldies tossed into the mix. Toby hasn't heard this playlist before and you are determined to learn his music tastes today.
“Wait wait wait, so you'll listen to folk punk but not sea shanties?”
“How are those even related?”
“They are literally the same thing.”
The two of you continue to bicker back and forth about how similar, or different, shanties and folk punk are. Occasionally it's broken when you read a sign, noticing Toby's horrible squinting, to see if you're on the right route to...well you don't know the destination Toby's been ignoring most of the exits for the past forty minutes though you're sure you two could find a gas station with a slushy machine at any one of the surrounding towns.
You don't mind though you're really enjoying the ride. The soft sounds of the car cutting through the wind at seventy three miles an hour. And the dull hum from the engine falling into the background as They Might Be Giants plays softly through the radio. With a majority of his focus being directed to the road  and the handful of other cars around you, your conversation is limited to topics that don't require much thinking. Really you've just ended up playing twenty questions with the other pulling uno reverse.
Not life altering secrets or deep talks...well until the question was favorite romantic comedy.
“How is Venom a romantic comedy?” Toby laughs after you answer.
“They kiss!” Toby just snorts.
“No Venom in Anne's body kisses Eddie.”
“Yes Venom kissed Eddie. Romance.”
You hear the murmur of 'oh my fucking God' come from Toby as you giggle in your seat. Having been egged on by that simple phrase you continue.
“Eddie is always giving Venom chocolates.”
“Oh yes, sorry, that's very romance.” Toby laughs out rolling his eyes.
“Thank you, I'm glad I could enlighten...” you pause as a sign for the next exit catches your eye. Had you two already driven two hours? Time really does fly when you're having fun. “Hey next exit, Franklin.”
“Thanks got it.” this time he turns on the blinker to get over into the exiting lane.
“What gas station am I looking for?” smart man. He's stopped asking for specific directions and is now asking for a land marker.
“Giant baby.” the car comes to a stop at a red light and Toby takes his eyes off the road to face you.
“...is this...will I just know when I see it.” “When you see it” you say the last part in unison with him nodding solemnly.
To his credit Toby has gone a long way with your weird antics, despite being your official friend for less than a full day. Keeping up with this pattern he doesn't ask anymore questions about this giant baby, keeping his eyes peeled for anything worthy of that title. His valent efforts are rewarded not even ten blocks from the turnpike.
“Is that...”
“Giant baby.” you nod knowing he sees the giant opposum decal in the window of the beat up gas station.
Opening your glove box you remove a spare mask for yourself before offering a sealed in package one for Toby. Who readily takes it after he parks your car in front of the store. Turning to look at you, you can read all the skepticism on his face. It's funny how this is where he questions you, your destination and not like the way over here-or the moment right after you told him you had no sense of direction.
“They have the four divide mega slush.”
“What the hell is that?”
With a coy smile you put on your mask and exit the car waiting at the front for your friend to get his shit together. He doesn't take long to follow you, Connor's lead in hand, into the gas station.
For as dingy and beat up as it looks on the outside it isn't bad once you step inside. Might actually be cleaner than the mini mart in Kelper. Toby glances around taking a mental tally of all the patrons in the store and their positions. He does this a bit. Just hyper aware of everyone when in enclosed spaces.
Dragging him over to the slushy machine after acknowledging the cashier's greeting. Showing him the four divider mega slush cup you demonstrate how it works. Choosing the only three flavors you like and adding a random extra of the three into the forth slot.
The face he makes when you stick the straw in the middle is priceless.
Toby demonstrates how a slushy should be made. Grabbing the single cup and over filling it with cherry flavored ice. He doesn't pick up a straw and you two make your way to the counter.
Since Toby drove here you had no problem paying but he was quicker to get his wallet out and hand the cashier a ten for your slushies. They give him back his change and you two wind up back in the car, taking off your masks.
You take a long sip from you drink.
“I can't believe we drove for two hours for you to just wreck your taste buds.” a playful disdain in his voice.
“Not 'we', you.”
He cuts his eyes at you before shaking his slushy into his open mouth. Guess he couldn't use a straw when he was missing part of his cheek. No suction there.
“So?” you say adding the questioning lilt to your voice.
He shrugs, “It's good.”
“Worth the drive?” He shakes his head.
“Nah - drive made it worth it.”
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lopeach · 5 years
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Whats up i dont have time to write a whole fic but
Dani is Lizzie Bennet, Aubrey is Darcy. Stay with me: Indrid is Jane and Duck is Mr. Bingley. Jake as Charlotte
No Wickham or bom-boms because this is my au and i say so. All they sylphs are still sylphs, and Aubrey is still Magic As Hell but the only conflict here is gross miscommunication
Anyways: The town of Kelper, West Virginia is holding its anual Candlenights celebration. Everyone is dancing and the vibes are good.
Enter three newcomers. Duck Newton, Ned Chicane, and Aubrey Little. The dancing briefly comes to a stop, and whispers spread that Aubrey is from Out Of Town™, only here to visit a distant family friend, Duck. Aubrey says very little the entire night, and what she does say, is Bad. Dani and Jake talk about how uptight she appears, presume she must think she is better than them, and resolve to not like her. Aubrey dances with no one, and if you were paying attention, she also does not touch anyone.
Meanwhile, at the same party, Duck meets Indrid, a lodge resident and generally evasive person. During the night, Duck is captivated by his otherworldly beauty, grace, and just sorta odd mannerisms. Indrid is also taken with Duck’s kind and honest nature. They spend most of the night dancing together. Indrid will later be lightheartedly teased about this
Later, on a trip into Kepler proper, Indrid’s car breaks down, and he must walk to the nearest establishment, the residence of Duck and Aubrey. Upon arrival, he falls ill and must stay there overnight. Amnesty lodge receives a call about this, and Dani must make the treck there, as Indrid took the only car they had, and its now being repaired. Ned is not pleased to see her, but Aubrey nearly flies out of her seat to greet her, still somehow managing to say All The Wrong Things. Dani and Indrid talk about his treatment, if theyve been horrible to him and no, they have not.
While Indrid rests, Dani sits with Duck, Ned, and Aubrey. Aubrey is hand-writting a letter, and Dani remarks on how odd that is, in this day and age. They quip about it, while Ned questions Dani in an attempt to reveal things about her past, her current living situation. The like.
Back at Amnesty Lodge, the Sylvain Fam™ recieves an unexpected visitor.
Hollis, leader of the local Ruffian Gang, accidentally did a bad stunt and broke something on lodge property. They volunteer to get a group together and fix it if Mama dosent report it. Hollis meets Dani and super misinterprets a comment she makes about thier bike. After a super awkward conversation, Dani realizes whats happening and interupts them to shout “GIRLS” Next thing we know Hollis and Jake are doin Rad Stunts into the sunset together
The lodge decide its time to Get Silly and throw a Ball. Everyone is invitied, but you gotta come decked out, dressed to the nines, all that. Dani avoids Hollis the entire night and Aubrey asks her to dance. Surprised, she says yes. Jake shares with Dani that hes worried Indrid is being too reserved. Either Duck will discover the sylphs, or the relationship will end
During the dance, Aubrey says More of the Wrong Thing, and implys she thinks Danis family is a little too wild, a little too rambunchious, and maybe a little too different. Big Argument. Dani stops in the middle of the dance floor, Aubrey right there with here. Aubrey, getting increasingly flustered by Danis anger and the big crowd, just straight up says she thinks Dani is the prettiest woman shes ever seen and just wants whats best for her
Dani recieves and invitation to dinner with Jake, Hollis, and Hollis’s aunt, Victoria (is Hollis also magic? The world may never know). At dinner she discovers that Aubrey is there. She has a Very Large Rabbit with her. Ned, who is somehow also here? Spills the beans that Aubrey split up Duck and Indrid. She makes a dramatic exit, pursued by Aubrey. They catch up to each other in a small gazebo. They fight. Aubrey declares that she has a crush on Dani “against her better judgement” Dani gets real upset about that and does the “you are the last man in the world i could ever be prevailed upon to marry” rant. They -almost- kiss.
Now everything is fucked. Dani and Aubrey, for all intents and purposes, hate each other. Duck and Indrid are no longer on speaking terms. The next evening, Aubrey arrives at Dani’s door, silently gives her a hand-written letter, and then leaves. The letter details Aubreys personal history with magic, how shes talked to Mama and she thinks she might be part sylph. More research is needed. She says she intervened on Ducks behalf because she was scared Duck was not in a good emotional state to be thinking about a relationship, having just lost his own connection with magic.
Later, Dani decides a walk in the woods will help clear her head of all the drama. She finds herself walking to the gate, but finds Aubrey already there. Aubrey catches Dani spying and chases after her. When Dani hits a dead end, they are forced to have a conversation. Its awkward, stilted and Dani accepts her invitation to dinner, maybe a little too quickly.
At dinner, Dani receives word that Hollis has run away with no warning, leaving Jake alone and heartbroken. She leaves for Amnesty with Barclay and Mama.
Aubrey and Duck find them in the closest Big City, and persuade them to come back to Kepler. At the reunion, Hollis revealed they had left to buy an engagement ring, and had wanted it to be a surprise. Jake tells Dani Aubrey helped pick one out.
Shortly after Jake and Hollis get their shit back together, Duck and Aubrey show up at Amnesty. Duck asks to speak to Indrid alone. You know the rest.
That same evening, Victoria arrives and demands to speak to Dani. She says she requires knowledge that Dani and Aubrey will not enter a relationship together, as Aubrey has other, much more important things to focus on, such as her studies, which cannot allow time for romance. Dani says she can promise nothing, and insists that Victoria leave, for she has caused enough stress on her family as is.
Unable to sleep, Dani begins to walk through the woods, reaching the archway clearing. Aubrey does the same. Aubrey reveals that she believes her mother was a sylph, based on the necklace she gave her before she died and ya know. Fire magic. She says Victoria introduced her to someone who has begun training her to use her Real Boi Magic, and is generally just very protective and overbearing. She says that she is still in love with Dani, but if the feelings are still not returned, shell never see her again. As she is rambling, Dani takes her hands- stopping her mid-sentence.
“You feel like home”
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lovely-necromancy · 3 years
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A Cure for Insomnia CH 14
Somehow someway you had ended up spending the night in Toby's room. What had started out as sitting next to him turned into laying down next to him. And after a while of no talking or movement, just the steady sounds of breathing. You more or less closed you eyes for a minute.
Before you knew it you were waking up to sun in your face. And found a blanket haphazardly thrown onto you. Though honestly you probably just moved a lot in your sleep. A quick glance around the room tells you you're alone and by the looks of it have been for a little while now. Weirdly there doesn't seem to be a clock in the room and when you go to check your phone the battery is dead.
'Oh God what time is it?' you worry as you gather yourself to leave the room in search of a clock.
Even though you have the strongest suspicion that you're already late for work. Fuck Nate is gonna kill you. You hope you don't get fired for this. That doesn't really seem like the Cowell way but you really don't want to risk it. No where else in town would pay the bills plus give extra cash for doing jack shit.
Just as you closed the door behind you you see Toby and Connor walking up the corridor. Toby has two bowls in hand and his steps falter a bit when he sees you.
“Shit did I wake you up?”
You can see the veins in his arms as he tenses, poor guy must have a tic coming on. You hold your hands out to give him the option of handing them over so he can relax. With no hesitation on his end he does just that.
“No? I don't think so, I just woke up. What time is it?”
Toby's hands jolt in place. A large tremor of movement, thankfully you took the bowls from him so he wouldn't have splashed...cereal? Your confusion must have shown because you get a nervous laugh in response.
“It's like eight twenty or something.” seeing you visibly deflate he adds, “Barry told me to tell you you're excused from work today.” He took a bowl back from you and placed a hand at the small of your back to push you back towards his room. Apparently done with having a conversation in the hallway and letting your breakfast get soggy.
“Barclay.” you remind him, your efforts award you a shrug, “and are you serious? Because making me late for work wouldn't be very funny.”
He plops on his bed and a bit of milk sloshes out of the bowl dropping on to the sheets. In the back of your mind you think about how Barclay more than likely is going to ban Toby from the lodge for anything other than an emergency. At least if he ruins the bed by dropping food all over it...actually you're pretty sure Jake's mentioned there being a rule about eating in the rooms.
“I'm serious, you can go ask him yourself.” his face flushes as he shovels a spoonful of Captain Crunch into his mouth, “twey shed somfingu bot ah ahpawawgee for da kid”
You give Toby a sneer as you process what he just said. Even normally your brain didn't always process what was said to you properly and Toby speaking with a full mouth certainly didn't help in any case. But you can kind of gleam a bit more context from his red cheeks that your spontaneous three day weekend is thanks in part to Jo hanging out with you yesterday.
Really you didn't mind that she hung out with you. But you would accept the apologetic day off for her attempting to give you a love life. You aren't one of her gossip stories nor do you wish to be.
“First, gross dude. Second, I'll take it.”
He snorts, “Watching me chew through the hole in my face is ne-neat but me talking with my mouth full is where you draw the line?”
“Honestly I never even thought of that.”
You can't help but let out a chuckle at how dumb that must have made you look. Geez you were such a dork sometimes. On the other hand it seems like that must have been the funniest thing Toby's heard in a while as he roars with laughter. Soon your chuckles turn into full blown laughter from Toby's contagious mirth.
“I'll get out of your hair after I finish eating.” you finally say when the two of you calm.
“...you don't have to do that. I-i thought we cou-cou-could hang out?” he says sheepishly.
Toby tends to stutter when he's nervous you notice. Maybe this was to be expected you kind of did solidify that you both wanted to be friends. Of course that would mean opening up to hanging out together on purpose more often.
“I'd like that! Did you have something in mind?”
The room goes quite, well more accurately Toby goes quite as you finish your cereal. Looks like someone hadn't thought this far ahead. At least you aren't the only dork in this room or this friendship for that matter.
Toby's dark eyes scan around the room, not really looking for something while he thinks of something you could do today. Instead of just staring at him like a creep you turn your attention to the rottweiler looking at you with hopeful eyes. Connor's eyes briefly moving towards your bowl where a tiny bit of milk sits and then back at your face. Licking his chops as he looks you dead in the eyes.
Having a pretty good idea of what he wants you look for Toby's bowl. If it was on the ground that'd be a good indication that Connor's allowed a bit of cereal milk if it was on the bed well then you'd still have your answer.  And sure enough right next to Connor's butt is an empty bowl.
Yup, Barclay is so gonna ban Toby from the lodge.
Throwing out any thoughts of the lecture you'd get if Barclay were to find out you let a dog eat from his bowls you place the bowl in front of Connor. Who sits in his position and won't stop making eye contact with the bowl. Tail going a mile a minute as he stares at his prize in anticipation. God he really is the best boy in the whole world.
“Thank you Connor.” you whisper to the dog before he attacks the bowl.
As the pup rips into the left over cereal milk, which wasn't even that much, you can't keep yourself from flapping your hands right by your chest. The fast movement seems to catch Toby's attention and brings him out of wracking his brain for ideas. Giving you a moment to just enjoy the happy stim he just watches. It isn't until Connor has bounded over to you letting you pet him as a 'thank you' for giving him a treat, that Toby speaks up.
“Is there...what's there to do here?”
Looking at Toby as you shake Connor's ears around, you don't immediately say anything. Honestly thinking of just what the two of you could do in this small town. Something that wouldn't prove to be too distracting and maybe give the two of you a chance to get to know each other better. Something without too many interruptions or things to get you off topic.
“Wanna go get a slushy?”
Toby's brown eyes cut as he stares at you unimpressed.
“I kno-rrow that we're in a small town but, 's not that small.”
“Oh no it's actually smaller.”
He rolls his eyes with a huff ready to bite in with a snarky remark no doubt until he catches your eyes and the serious expression. He stares at you, eyes darting across your face looking for a sign that you're joking.
Thankfully you aren't one to leave a friend in the dark.
“Tobias, the gas station Tim works at is the only one for this town.”
“That can't be right, it's not even in town. What about...” once again Toby's eyes shift as he tries to think of any other gas stations within Kepler.
When he comes to the conclusion that you are indeed not fucking with him and Kepler does just have the one gas station his shoulders slump. Almost like he's in shock that he hadn't caught that sooner. You can feel the tinkling sensation of a tic coming up, at the base of your neck. Timing it mentally as you watch Toby go through the stages of grief you miscalculate and ruin your tic.
Head jolting into your right shoulder rather than jerking above it. Letting out a small “fuck” at the fact that you're about to be in an uncomfortable sensation, not totally unlike when you chase off a sneeze but still do need to sneeze. You feel the tic at the back of your head but know it won't be going away anytime soon and all thanks to your hubris.
Looking back at Toby you find he's moved on from the single gas station fact and is looking at you mildly amused. Briefly you wonder if he's ever chased off a tic and felt the uncomfortable sensation you're now dealing with. That leads you to ponder if he's ever even felt the anticipation of nerves before a coming tic. It's not really a painful sensation but discomfort sometimes goes in hand with pain so maybe CIPA affects that feeling too. You'll have to ask, but first you have to shut his stupid face up.
“Shut it.”
“Didn't say anything.” he smirks.
His smiles are really growing on you. They feel special and very genuine despite the awkward nature of his facial movements.
“Hey wait, the mini mart doesn't even have a slushy machine.” he says as the realization finally sets in.
“Yea we have to drive to another town for one. So far Franklin has the best slushies but it's like two hours away.”
You lean your weight back onto your hands watching as Toby's wide eyes stare at you in disbelief. Actually in this light you really can't tell if Toby's eyes are blown wide or in their normal state. Judging from the way his lips curl over his teeth you figure they must be as he stares stunned by something you've said.
“Do you seriously drive two hours for a slushy?” the disbelief in his voice is thick, but not thick enough to cover the thinnest hint of amusement. Maybe even pity.
“Not all the time, sometimes its only like thirty. One night I actually drove five hours without realizing it...though to be fair I did get lost.”
Lost in your thoughts on that particular night some how you'd ended up in Point Pleasant. Instead of a slushy you'd gotten a Mothman themed iced coffee. A nice trip over all but one you didn't want to go on at the moment.
Coming back to the present in time to catch Toby flopping back on the mattress his curls bouncing up over his face as he did so. He let's out an exaggerated groan.
“Still, Brian's got the car today.”
Pfft that's not an issue.
“I have a car.” you say plainly.
That must not be the issue because Toby raises himself onto his elbows to look at your lax form on the carpet. Leaning back on your hands with Connor splayed across your lap looking ready for a nap. Toby opens his mouth to say something before shutting it and looking off to the side. He seems to collect himself quickly but not enough to look at you.
“Uh..I, that's not really the...” well maybe he hadn't collected himself that much.
Brow furrowing as you squint at the man before you. The two of you don't know a lot about each other but from what you've noticed Toby has some hang ups about drivers and driving. Although he's let you drive him home once that doesn't mean he was comfortable with it or wanted a repeat performance. And while you don't consider yourself a bad driver you'll spare Toby the difficulty of admitting he isn't comfortable with you driving.
“You can drive.” dark brown eyes are on you the instant the words spill from your lips, “You've driven my car before. Plus I don't mind I like not driving.”
His eyes dart from you to Connor and back up into your face. Even though they're darting slightly you know he isn't such evaluating your expression. He's thinking and weighing his options.
“You sure?”
And with no hesitation at all, “Absolutely, you've driven it before.”
Though he hadn't been thinking of that particular issue with being given the choice of driving your car. It did bring up another insecurity before hastily stomping it into the ground. He has driven your car, albeit once, before and you are giving him explicit consent to drive it again. Regardless of his tourette's, Toby honestly can't believe you have such blind faith in a person you've just befriended. Then again that's friendship isn't it.
“Ok then...let's go?”
After a nod from you Toby grabs Connor's gear to get him ready for the drive. Meanwhile you take the dishes back downstairs to the kitchen, letting Toby know you'd meet him by the door. Unsurprisingly Barclay is in the kitchen when you get down there to place the bowls into the sink.
Seeing as it's just the bowls and spoons in the sink you decide you can wash them before placing them in the sanitizer rack.
“Mornin'.”
“Good morning.”
“Basket's on the table.”
“Thanks.”
A quiet settles over you two and you can feel Barclay's brown eyes trail towards your form every few seconds. Finishing the dishes you turn, leaning your butt onto the counter, to face the lumbering man.
“Can I help you?” you raise a brow at him. Clearly he had something more he wanted to say.
“I, I just thought we were closer than that.” he sighs.
Okay what now? Your confusion goes ignored as he continues to speak.
“Seriously YN, you didn't need to sneak away last night if you wanted to spend the night here, and with your boyfriend. I wouldn't have judged.”
“My who? Tobais? He's a friend!” you whisper scream in case Toby is near by. God could at least save one of you this embarrassment.
“Really YN? From the things I'm hearin' you two are a bit more than friends.”
“Ok seriously where are you getting your info from? We haven't done anything. Like just YESTERDAY we agreed we were friends. We've known each other maybe a month?!”
“See that's why this is confusing, you don't touch just anyone. And suddenly you're handsy with some new kid.” Barclay had the decency to start whisper screaming with you. He's gesturing vaguely towards the rest of the lodge before bringing his hands before him and flailing them away. As if to say 'what am I supposed to do with this now?'
“He's neurodivergent!” you say bringing your palms up in front of you.
“So are Jake and Aubrey.”
“And I high five Jake so much.” throwing your arms outward to indicate how much you two high five. “Plus he gets a hug nearly every time I see him.” hands brought back to emphasis this point.
Barclay thinks on that for a bit, “Point taken,” he stands from his hunched position and crosses his arms over his chest, “so y'all aren't dating? Nothin' happened last night?”
“No and no.”
“Don't have to deep clean the sheets today.”
“Gross and no.” best keep the milk droplets out of this, you'd really like to leave the kitchen sooner rather than later. Preferably with no lecture about hygiene and the importance of respecting other's property.
Barclay looks down at you scanning your face for something you aren't quite sure of. But you have a feeling he's treating you like a child for a very specific reason.
“I'm not a virgin.” you deadpan as the man before starts to sputter.
His eyes wide with disbelief. So he really thought you were a virgin this whole time? You wonder who else thought this, you hoped they wouldn't try to confront you about your nonexistent relationship.
You'll just never understand why people assume you're a virgin and why they try their hardest to butt into your life when they think that way. This topic tends to put you in a sour mood and you can already feel it on your face. It's disgusting how people can't mind their business about baseless assumptions.
“Jeez sorry YN,” he does look it as he rubs the back of his neck, “it's just you've never shown an interest and I guess we all got swept up in the possibility of seeing you happy.”
“I am happy?”
“I mean in a relationship, happy in a romantic relationship.” He claps his hands gently on your shoulders. A touch you've gotten used too, had you not wanted it you would've taken a step back.
“Kirby's not in a relationship.” you point out.
“Kirby's gross, and you're adorable.” he chuckles at your glare, “a-dor-a-ble.”
“I will bite you.” he lets go of you with a laugh.
“We're just...trying to keep you safe.” he sighs, and though you don't understand what any of their weirdness has to do with “keeping you safe” you nod. Just to get this over with faster.
“Can I leave now? Tobais and I were gonna get slushies.” he didn't need to know your plans but you didn't want him assuming you two were sneaking off for a date.
“Yea yea, sorry for keeping you.” he leans against the counter as you grab your basket and head out of the kitchen and towards the main door.
Toby and Connor were already waiting for you. If the swaying of his weight was anything to go by they'd been waiting for you for a bit. Seeing you coming his subconscious movement stops and he opens the door. Keeping it open for you.  You lead him over to your Soul as you look through the basket for the keys.
“Keys?” he questions as you pat your pockets.
Toby stops walking with you as you begin to panic. You've lost your keys. Before you voice that though you look through the basket once more, placing it on the hood of your car so you can use both hands to check. His eyes follow you and are caught by a gentle swaying.
“You are a serial killer's wet dream.”
He opens your passenger side door and comes out holding your keys that had been in the ignition. If the blank look he gives you is anything to go by he's not impressed.
“I,I,I was in a hurry!” you say flustered that you did something so stupid. His expression doesn't change.
“Could you pop the trunk please?” you ask not looking in his direction.
The click of the lock is all you need to hear before you rush around him to place the basket in the back. As you do you catch sight of the deer skull still in your trunk. With everything going on you hadn't been to see Madeleine for a mount for the guy. You'll have to remember to stop by her shop this week.
Toby had already gotten Connor situated in the back by the time you sat down in the passengers seat. After buckling in and plugging your phone in to charge you stare ahead of you waiting for Toby to start driving. When you look over at him you see he's staring right back at you with a brow raised.
“Yes?”
“Where are we going?”
Yes the key detail of any road trip, the driver needs to know the destination. Unfortunately for you and Toby you've forgotten to tell him one crucial detail. You drive with no sense of direction. And you relay this to Toby. He looks seconds away from getting out of the car and claiming he's never seen you before much less ever been friends with you.
He takes a deep breath and collects himself.
“Y'know what Brian's worse with directions.” he says more to himself than to you.
He calmly puts the car in gear and heads off to town. No input from Connor, you may have chosen a really good day for this drive. Your phone hits one percent as you pass Resort Row. You know the Hornet's Nest is coming up and that intersection leads to the interstate despite not having legible signs.
“Hey when you get to the Hornet's Nest swing right then drive straight, we'll end up on route 3 onto the interstate.”
“Hornets' nest?”
“It's a skate/stunt park. You'll see it after we get away from the mountain.”
Just as you said Toby saw the Hornet's Nest as he turned onto the road leaving the mountain. By the time you were on route 3 your phone had charged up to seven percent. Enough to turn it on and put on a playlist. You put on one of your sea shanty and folk punk combos.
Toby hasn't even let the song get thirty seconds under way. “No vetoed, we are not listening to sea shanties.”
So he does have music preferences, fair enough. You switch to a playlist with a more chilled electric vibe that has a few oldies tossed into the mix. Toby hasn't heard this playlist before and you are determined to learn his music tastes today.
“Wait wait wait, so you'll listen to folk punk but not sea shanties?”
“How are those even related?”
“They are literally the same thing.”
The two of you continue to bicker back and forth about how similar, or different, shanties and folk punk are. Occasionally it's broken when you read a sign, noticing Toby's horrible squinting, to see if you're on the right route to...well you don't know the destination Toby's been ignoring most of the exits for the past forty minutes though you're sure you two could find a gas station with a slushy machine at any one of the surrounding towns.
You don't mind though you're really enjoying the ride. The soft sounds of the car cutting through the wind at seventy three miles an hour. And the dull hum from the engine falling into the background as They Might Be Giants plays softly through the radio. With a majority of his focus being directed to the road  and the handful of other cars around you, your conversation is limited to topics that don't require much thinking. Really you've just ended up playing twenty questions with the other pulling uno reverse.
Not life altering secrets or deep talks...well until the question was favorite romantic comedy.
“How is Venom a romantic comedy?” Toby laughs after you answer.
“They kiss!” Toby just snorts.
“No Venom in Anne's body kisses Eddie.”
“Yes Venom kissed Eddie. Romance.”
You hear the murmur of 'oh my fucking God' come from Toby as you giggle in your seat. Having been egged on by that simple phrase you continue.
“Eddie is always giving Venom chocolates.”
“Oh yes, sorry, that's very romance.” Toby laughs out rolling his eyes.
“Thank you, I'm glad I could enlighten...” you pause as a sign for the next exit catches your eye. Had you two already driven two hours? Time really does fly when you're having fun. “Hey next exit, Franklin.”
“Thanks got it.” this time he turns on the blinker to get over into the exiting lane.
“What gas station am I looking for?” smart man. He's stopped asking for specific directions and is now asking for a land marker.
“Giant baby.” the car comes to a stop at a red light and Toby takes his eyes off the road to face you.
“...is this...will I just know when I see it.” “When you see it” you say the last part in unison with him nodding solemnly.
To his credit Toby has gone a long way with your weird antics, despite being your official friend for less than a full day. Keeping up with this pattern he doesn't ask anymore questions about this giant baby, keeping his eyes peeled for anything worthy of that title. His valent efforts are rewarded not even ten blocks from the turnpike.
“Is that...”
“Giant baby.” you nod knowing he sees the giant opposum decal in the window of the beat up gas station.
Opening your glove box you remove a spare mask for yourself before offering a sealed in package one for Toby. Who readily takes it after he parks your car in front of the store. Turning to look at you, you can read all the skepticism on his face. It's funny how this is where he questions you, your destination and not like the way over here-or the moment right after you told him you had no sense of direction.
“They have the four divide mega slush.”
“What the hell is that?”
With a coy smile you put on your mask and exit the car waiting at the front for your friend to get his shit together. He doesn't take long to follow you, Connor's lead in hand, into the gas station.
For as dingy and beat up as it looks on the outside it isn't bad once you step inside. Might actually be cleaner than the mini mart in Kelper. Toby glances around taking a mental tally of all the patrons in the store and their positions. He does this a bit. Just hyper aware of everyone when in enclosed spaces.
Dragging him over to the slushy machine after acknowledging the cashier's greeting. Showing him the four divider mega slush cup you demonstrate how it works. Choosing the only three flavors you like and adding a random extra of the three into the forth slot.
The face he makes when you stick the straw in the middle is priceless.
Toby demonstrates how a slushy should be made. Grabbing the single cup and over filling it with cherry flavored ice. He doesn't pick up a straw and you two make your way to the counter.
Since Toby drove here you had no problem paying but he was quicker to get his wallet out and hand the cashier a ten for your slushies. They give him back his change and you two wind up back in the car, taking off your masks.
You take a long sip from you drink.
“I can't believe we drove for two hours for you to just wreck your taste buds.” a playful disdain in his voice.
“Not 'we', you.”
He cuts his eyes at you before shaking his slushy into his open mouth. Guess he couldn't use a straw when he was missing part of his cheek. No suction there.
“So?” you say adding the questioning lilt to your voice.
He shrugs, “It's good.”
“Worth the drive?” He shakes his head.
“Nah - drive made it worth it.”
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