nobody pray for me

the middle man of it all, ignored & useless. what more could you expect?

[aalwaysforgotten]

starter for: @justeeyore

location: the jukebox.

Call it clingy, maybe even obsessive but Nuka enjoyed accompanying Eeyore at work. Especially when business was slow and she could sneak in a few kisses at his booth. Even when it was busy she was able to manage an endearing smile from across the room. Fuck, he was so in love with her. He sat with a notebook in front of him, headphones probably blasting a little too loud for anybody's liking. He hadn't even noticed she had scooted into the booth on the opposite side of him. Completely entranced on the art he was making on paper. When his eyes flickered up for a moment and noticed her there he immediately jumped, flinging his headphones off now resting loosely around his collar bones. "God please tell me you didn't see, I'll die of embarrassment." His cheeks reddened trying to cover up the page with his hands, but it was probably no use. He was sure she had already seen.

[justeeyore]

When he spoke, it jumpstarted her heart. Eeyore had thought of him every day since she'd been gone. She wasn't sure how long it had been; she hadn't counted, or if she had, that was forgotten. But it had felt like an eternity. Another lifetime. The strangest part was, as she stood outside of her old home, staring at her parents dancing through the windowpane... smiling and laughing, much happier than they had been when she was still there... she didn't feel angry. She didn't feel the kind of sadness she thought she would. Among the nostalgia, the soft ache, she felt relief. Because it had hit her then, how much she didn't want to be there. She had found a new home, a place that she actually longed for. She didn't see her family and wish they missed her, she didn't even think to knock on the door, to speak to them again, as deeply as she loved them. There was no point now. She had never felt more at home than she did in Evermore. Than when she was with Nuka.

The thought that she had realized it all too late, that they had been practically worlds apart as she finally realized just how deep her feelings went was almost too much to bear. She would rather never face it. There had been too much heartbreak in her life, and Eeyore wasn't sure she could take this one. I should've been there for you. Her tears refused to be blinked away. Could it be true? Had he really missed her while she was gone? Melting into his embrace, Eeyore swallowed the lump rising in her throat, shaking her head. "It is not your fault." She pulled away enough to look into his eyes, wanting nothing more than to get lost in them. She didn't want to ruin this moment, she didn't want to speak words that she would only come to regret, but part of her worried she would wake up any second now. That this would be some cruel dream, or he actually would vanish in front of her... or maybe she would, again. She could not do that again without putting it out there. It would be the biggest regret at all. "Nuka," she spoke after a moment, her heart pounding in her ears. She thought back to what she'd asked Sibella over half a year ago. How do you know that you love someone? It usually happens without realizing it, she had said. "I think—..." She shook her head again, hair falling in front of her face. She didn't think, she knew now. "I love you."

[aalwaysforgotten]

For some two months went by in a blink of an eye, and perhaps before Eeyore disappeared he would've agreed. Instead without her each minute that passed felt agonizing. Not knowing what to do or how to help. How could you search for someone in a place you couldn't escape from? Constantly blaming himself and placing more weight onto himself than he could bear. But he'd HAVE to bear it, because he had to think of Eeyore. What if she was going through worse? He had to be strong, and that was the one thing he could never be. There was so much relief when the news broke, but yet again he felt shame. That he couldn't be that knight in shining armor.

Those self deprecating thoughts seemed to melt away once she was in his arms again. "Maybe you're right. But I wish I had been there. Anything, to prevent it." He replied in soft choked sobs, trying not to completely show that he had been a complete and utter fucking wreck without her. Not remembering how he survived before she entered his life. It felt like double edged sword. He had something to live for but having that thing ripped away was the most soul crushing thing he ever had to experience. He wasn't sure he could survive another absence. He continued to cradle her against his body, not wanting to lift his head from hers so she wouldn't see him crying like a child. However once she spoke his name he felt his posture straightening to look at her through blurry eyes. "Yeah?" He sniffled, letting out a soft humorless laugh. Those three little words had caught him off guard. So much so he could only blink in response. Trying to register the high intensity of emotions he went through in the span of an hour. He felt like he was going to collapse, but it would be worth it to hear say those words again. Maybe this was the dream and he was the one who was lost. He met her eyes, tucking a stray hair behind her ear as a large smile consumed his entire being. "And I fucking love you. So much that it physically hurts. You can't disappear on me, not again." Nuka choked on his words but they came out with more grace than he thought they would. Without hesitation he leaned down to press his lips against hers. It was soft and probably more delicate than he usually went for, but he was scared of breaking her now that she was finally back. He kept kissing her lips over and over, a spree of mini kisses against her lips as if one wouldn't be enough. "Would it be too late to ask you to be my girlfriend?"

[justeeyore]

LOCATION: the river FOR: @aalwaysforgotten

Eeyore wasn't really aware this wasn't just a personal thing, that other people had woken up in other places as well, ripped away from the town they'd come to call home. It didn't seem unlikely, seeing as that was how the majority of people ended up here, but if this was the world being against her personally somehow... she wouldn't be shocked. It wasn't until she was standing by the river, trying to remember how she'd gotten there, watching people run to each other that she put the pieces together. It hit her like a ton of bricks, the realization that they all had people to miss them, and no one was showing up for her... or probably even noticed she was gone. Not that she expected anything else. But then she saw him. Her entire face lit up, only to fall half a moment later. She was ridiculous to think he was running towards her and not one of the people behind her. It had been two months since she was last in Evermore. Whatever he might have started to feel for her, whatever she had fooled him into seeing was special about her, her place in his life had obviously been replaced by now. She was a fool to think anything else. "Sorry, I thought you were..." She couldn't finish the sentence, unsure if she was more embarrassed or broken-hearted. She only glanced at Nuka's face briefly before her eyes fell to the ground, feeling tears well in them, suddenly wishing she could disappear all over again.

[aalwaysforgotten]

Nuka was already off the couch and on his feet and out the door when the emergency alert popped up on tv. Two months. Two months with no updates, no trace of anyone left behind, and here they all were. Back. He almost didn't believe it. Who wanted these people? What did they do to her? It felt like an unfair game of cat and mouse, but it didn't matter. He would lay those theories to rest and come back to them another time. All he could think about was her. Nuka's breath was getting shaky as he approached the river bank, his head and body were spinning as he tired to scan the area for Eeyore. Now his thoughts were clouded by an anxious storm cloud, worried that she wouldn't be here amongst survivors. That she'd be the only victim unaccounted for. His heart was beating rapidly against his chest, knowing if he didn't find her soon he'd collapse due to a panic attack. Resorting to calling out her name blindly over the large buzz of reunited loved ones.

That's when he saw her smile, a light in the dark. Home, Home, Home. He was running now. Chest colliding with hers as his arms enveloped her, holding onto her as if she was his sanctuary. She was real, he was hearing her voice for the first time in months. Not being able to hold back tears that cascaded down his cheeks due to overwhelming amount of emotions that were arising. There was a lump in his throat and his heart was still beating wildly fast, but she was home. "Why are you apologizing?" He murmured as he sunk his face into the mass of her hair, laughing in a choked up way. One arm wrapped around her waist, and the other one cradling her cheek with his palm. "I'm the ones that sorry. I should've been there for you. It should've been me, not you."

[lioncssv]

"No, you haven't." When the words come out, this time she intends them to be harsh, to really get the point across. "Our parents fucked everything up." It's unlike her to say anything bad about them, but is it bad if it's true? They both know it. If not for them, Zira, mainly, the two of them — and Kovu — could have had a chance, a real chance at a future. At being something they wanted. It had never really occurred to her until seeing the way people behaved in this town that there was a life outside of what she'd known. She knew she wasn't treated the same as other kids in school, but she hadn't realized the extent of it, and while it still felt foreign to her, she couldn't deny a part of her longed for that. So she understood, why Nuka would allow himself to get close to someone only to lose them. To put himself in this position.

Moving her eyes from the wall they had been staring at to glance at him, relieved he didn't seem to be sobbing anymore, Vitani pulled her lip between her teeth. "I'm sorry." She wasn't really sure what she was apologizing for. For his... whatever going missing, for not being better at this, for understanding the childhood he'd had. Before she could talk herself out of it, she scooted ever so slightly closer, extending an arm to wrap loosely around his shoulder, trying not to think about Shona. "You'll... we'll get through it. Like we have everything else."

[aalwaysforgotten]

At the mention of their parents Nuka's eyes widened slightly, his heart beat taking a pause as if he wasn't on the verge of hyperventilation seconds ago. Knowing their parents were shit was one thing, hearing Vitani say it was another. This might be the first time he heard it aloud, from her lips. The fact that she was agreeing felt like a ton of bricks lifted from his shoulders. He was so stunned by those few words alone he couldn't focus on much else. Vitani, his sister, zira's cold and sharp tongued solider was blaming their parents. In that small moment the world felt like the world was finally spinning again.

"no, no, no, i'm sorry." Nuka shook his head, silent tears cascading down his cheeks. "I'm being a selfish prick, i'm not the only one that's lost someone." He never knew Vitani to make friends let alone keep them, but he knew of Shona. In small glimpses that he saw of them hanging out together. Either way, her words started to soothe the voices in his head. "Y-You're right. Maybe we can look for them? Make posters? I don't know what the fuck people do in this situation."

[lioncssv]

Vitani wasn't sure what reaction she was expecting, but somehow she didn't think he would start crying. Fuck. Fuck. She should have just left him sitting alone. The tears set off panic like an alarm in her mind, she had no idea how to handle crying. Every muscle in her body screamed for her to stand up and walk away, any sign of emotion making her incredibly uncomfortable, but something kept her glued beside of him, letting silence engulf them both. It couldn't be that hard to be helpful. She just had to ask herself, what would Zira do? Then do the complete opposite.

"Nuka, it was not your fault," she finally offered after what felt like far too much time had passed. "You can't be glued to someone 24/7. I mean, half the fucking town is gone." Somehow, the words didn't come out the way she meant them to, her tone a little too harsh to be supportive. "What I mean to say," she tried again, inhaling through her nose, "that's a lot of people. The whole PD and all the self-proclaimed detectives in town are going to be on this. And they probably suck ass at their jobs, don't get me wrong, but that's a lot of eyes. Wherever she is, they'll find her."

[aalwaysforgotten]

he was aware that he was having a complete mental breakdown, and yet he couldn't stop himself. the situation felt worse because he knew his sister like the back of his hand. she had never been the comforting type, which wasn't entirely her fault. it was how all his siblings were raised, well except maybe kovu. but he knew this situation probably wasn't making her comfortable to say the least. nuka tried to steady his breathing, taking in gulps of air as if he were drowning. trying to focus on her words instead of the impending doom he was feeling inside of his chest.

vitani was right though, it wasn't just eeyore who disappeared. but it still hurt knowing the two closest people in his life were printed in bold on that piece of paper. "it's h-hard not to feel this way, y-y'know? I've fucked up everything else in my life, it wouldn't surprise me if this was the case here too." his breathing was still shaky but his stream of words were coming out more stable than moments before. "it just hurts, without her--there's this unignorable hole in my chest. it feels like a piece of me is gone."

[wildcstwinter]

bloom wasn't an idiot — okay, maybe in some regards, some would say she was a little bit of an idiot . . . but the fairy knew a sad man when she saw one !! immediately lifting herself from her seat, not waiting for an invitation, the woman slid into the empty chair across from the stranger and reached a hand across the table to rest comfortingly upon his. " oh my god, i am — i'm so sorry, " bloom said, sincerity and earnest laced in her voice as empathy plucked at her heart strings.

his rambles didn't land upon deaf ears, and bloom looked at the stranger with a glaze of sorrow in her eyes. " i'm sure she's missing you terribly. that's — oh, that's awful. " bloom rolled her tongue along the back of her teeth, retracting her hand in lieu of the girlfriend comment, instead pressing palm to her chest where her aching heart swelled beneath. the fae wished she had something more profound to say but, alas, the words were not finding her. " i know how it feels to have someone you love go missing and . . . and the pain that comes from not be able to find them. i just keep telling myself they have to be out there, somewhere, and we'll find them. eventually. "

at least she hoped.

[aalwaysforgotten]

nuka was surprised at her kindness, something he still wasn't always used to coming from a broken home. "don't be, not your fault." he offered a small smile, trying to wipe away the dampness from his cheek with his free had. it wasn't this strangers fault, but it sure did feel like his. not to mention it wasn't just eeyore missing, but judy too. and how many times did he fail her alone? this just felt like some cruel twisted joke invented by the universe for all the wrongs he committed in this lifetime.

"my ex, she's on the list too." he swallowed, taking in a deep breath as to stall another wave of tears he felt incoming. "it's hard for it not feel targeted but i know i'm not the only with missing loved ones." he wasn't sure if it's because he was being delusional or that he actually had a small amount of hope that her words lightened the load a little. he leaned up a smidge in his seat, eyes conveying concern at her mention of someone she loved. "is someone you love on the list too?" he hoped they weren't because he'd feel mighty selfish, but it'd also make him feel less alone.

[lioncssv]

LOCATION: their place FOR: @aalwaysforgotten

She would claim it really didn't affect her, hearing about all of the people that had disappeared; if anyone asked, she would say she wasn't close to anyone and she didn't fear it happening to her. Neither statement was true. The thought of being back home wasn't pleasant, even though she knew how to roll with the punches, and there was a name on that list that made Vitani flinch. Luckily it was absent of the one name she wasn't sure she could handle. She knew he wasn't on it, because she could see him from where she stood in the kitchen doorway. Crouched on the couch like a timid animal, like the life had been drained from him. She could boast. She could tell her brother she had warned him not to get attached, that it never ended well. But — for once — she didn't feel like rubbing it in. She didn't feel any amount of pride, she only felt completely helpless, unsure how to make this better. Besides, she would be a hypocrite with the knowledge Shona was among them. She didn't care about people, usually, but she did care about Nuka. He was the one person in the entire world she was sure wouldn't screw her over in the end. He had a good heart, and it was a weakness, but she was starting to see that didn't mean it was a bad thing. Shuffling across the room, she lowered herself into the empty seat beside of him, lips pursed for a moment as she tried to figure out what she was meant to say. She wasn't the best at being a comforting presence, she had never learned how. No one had ever comforted her. After a moment, she gave up, instead turning to a useless question, one she already knew the answer to. "Are you okay?"

[aalwaysforgotten]

it was counter productive. wanting to go out and help aid the search for eeyore and judy and yet he couldn't remove himself from his spot on the couch. everything felt useless, espcially in a town he couldn't escape from. what if they had made it pass the border, what if they couldn't come back in? Nuka wasn't sure how long he was glued to the couch for, staring at the wall in front of him. he hadn't felt this numb since living under his fathers roof. this feeling, eeyore's absence brought him back to that time in his childhood where he felt defenseless, hopeless against all odds. he should've had the strength to fight for her, for them, but he just couldn't. he fucking couldn't. he failed them now, and he was failing them again.

he wasn't sure when vitani came home, he wasn't he even aware of her presence until she spoke up. his thoughts were consuming every part of his being that it was hard to notice much else. he shook his head indicating 'no he really wasn't'. licking his lips, he laughed as a few tears trickled down his cheeks. "its my fault, its my fucking fault. i should've been with her, it should've been me...i-i-i." at the end of his sentece his breaths were coming out as hyperventilating sobs. "i left h-her al--lone. i'm s-s-such a fucking idiot v-v." he clenched his fist around the fabric of his shirt, feeling a weight of guilt crush against his chest.

[wildcstwinter]

open starter: @evermorehqsstart !!

" woah, okay . . . that's — okay. that's a lot. . . " bloom frowned at her screen, swiping at it with an acylic nail, the list of names documenting all of the people who had mysteriously vanished seeming to only get larger the longer she looked at it. concern flashed in the fae's features, a flush pricking the apples of her cheeks, upset clear in the downturned curve of her lips.

glancing up, bloom rolled glossed petals together in contemplation, catching someone's eyes and clearing her throat to get their attention. " excuse me !! do you know . . . do you happen to know how RECENT this list is ?? i mean, my friend stella isn't on here and she's been missing for like . . . five years. who do i — ya know, talk to about getting this updated ?? "

[aalwaysforgotten]

nuka had been checking up on evermore's news updates every ten seconds. re-freshing the feed as it would miracoulsy change, that eeyore wasn't missing. one moment she was here, the next just gone. she wasn't the type to runaway, at least he was certain she wasn't. this was a big chunk of people missing. what if something bad happened to her? and he wasn't there to protect her, this was HIS FAULT! nuka cleared his throat when the stranger spoke up, frantically trying to wipe away the tears with the long sleeve of his sweat shirt. "pretty recent." he responded voice hoarse and shaky. "my girlfriend is on the list, i just saw her two days before. i mean--i never got the chance to ask her out, fuck--i should've just told her." regrets, so many regrets were eating him alive.

[notadxmbbunny]

closed starter: @aalwaysforgotten !! location: outside the jukebox

it was easier to convince yourself that you were the problem than it was to convince yourself that you weren't... and that was the very predicament judy found themselves in as they watched their ex-boyfriend walk out of the diner with a smile she hadn't seen since they met for the first time. it was like a hard punch to the gut, feeling responsible for being the reason someone stopped smiling like that, and as much as judy's friends had tried to reassure her that she wasn't to blame... she couldn't help but feel like she was. judy made an effort to move past, to jump ship, her appetite suddenly squashed and an ache in her chest so intense it felt like her chest was concaving in on itself.

no one tells you when you're young how isolating a breakup can be, especially one you were still getting over all this time later. at its surface, judy knew the explanation could be as simple as they weren't right for each other... but to judy's core, she had failed him. she had failed THEM. unfortunately, judy didn't move fast enough, and her eyes were finding his before they had an opportunity to make a clean breakaway. stiffening their posture, though trying to look relaxed, judy waved awkwardly; ❛ h-hey, nuka. wow i uh, i almost didn't recognize you !! ❜

[aalwaysforgotten]

Nuka seemed to be living at the diner lately, showing up to eat or visiting eeyore on her breaks. But even he knew that he was being too much, or maybe a little bit overly excited. Leaving with a smile on his face as he dropped off a box for Eeyore from one of his favorite thai restaurants. that smile suddenly wiped clean from his face when he noticed judy standing there. it took everything in him not to run from the situation, to find some rock to crawl underneath. it wasn't her, she had never done anything wrong. not now, and certainty not back then. it was all him. he had realized that when getting close to eeyore, the effort he hadn't put in with judy, the trauma he hadn't healed from. it was sad but he had learned to become a better person because of judy and if it wasn't for her he wasn't sure if he'd be in the place he was now. unfortunately he had come to this epiphany a little too late, and their relationship failed because of it, because of him.

Nuka laughed nervously, scared to make eye contact as he itched the back of his neck with his hand. "uh, really? have i really changed all that much? i mean I still look the same, i feel." @wildcstwinter

[justeeyore]

Eeyore knew better than to want; wanting was a dangerous thing. It had never, ever worked out for her, and she didn't think she was foolish enough to believe that could change. But here she was, anyway, wanting with every fiber of her being. She kissed him back until her lungs ached from lack of oxygen and then some, her grip around him refusing to loosen until she absolutely had to come up for air before she fainted. That would be embarrassing. "Let's go now," she breathed, not wanting to spend another second away from him today. The restaurant would not collapse without her. She never called out, she never showed up late. If she got written up or pissed off her coworkers, so be it. She was terrified if this moment ended, if she let him go, it would be over. She was too young for the amount of regrets she had; she wasn't going to let this be another one, not if she could help it. "Anywhere, I don't care," she continued, they could get milkshakes, walk to the park, go back to her place. As long as he was there, she would be fine. On her tiptoes, she pressed her lips into his again, still breathless, daring to want. "Just take me with you."

[aalwaysforgotten]

Nuka was almost as breathless as their lips parted; wondering if he had teetered on the edge of going too far. Only to quickly find reassurance in the way she didn't pull away, or look at him like a monster. This situation months ago would've made his head dizzy with nervousness. Sure, he might've still felt a bit jittery but he wasn't sure if that was nerves or just pure aderanline. He didn't want to fuck this up, it's all he kept thinking over and over. To the point he was slowly blinking at her in response finally registering what she was saying. Despite his mind, a grin took ahold of his lips. Nodding desperately. "Yeah, fuck 'em'." he replied confidently even though his words fumbled out into a stutter. Still this might've been the first time in literal years that he felt brave, spontaneous even. Besides after Eeyore's overwhelming day she deserved a break, and while he didn't think she'd lose her job over it he still wanted to help her in any way he could. Even if he was just a distraction. His very real feelings for her were becoming boderline terrifying to him; as if he could lose her at any moment. Scar had taught him such things were worthless, especially love. Nuka certainly didn't feel worthy of it, but fuck he was going to fight for it. For Eeyore, how he felt about her. She didn't need to ask him twice--hand finding hers and interlacing their fingers as he walked her to his car. He wanted to ask where she wanted to go but he figured this was one of those times where he could take that pressure off her, and choose for the both of them. Knowing Eeyore she probably didn't mind, but it was always his doubts that held him back. Placing a kiss atop her head, as he let go of her hand to open her door for her. Trying not to have a panic attack once the door was slammed shut. Hopefully V wouldn't mind the company, then again she never tended to be around the house at night anyway. Nuka climbed into the drivers seat, sliding the keys into the ignition, he glanced towards Eeyoree. Flashing a soft smile. "We can go to mine, there's no milkshakes but there might be some left over ice cream in the freezer."

[justeeyore]

It was grounding, the feeling of his lips against hers. She hadn't seen the kiss coming until she was in the middle of it, and Eeyore swore she felt warmth spread through her lips all the way down to her toes, her heartbeat thudding in her ears. Part of her had wondered if it was in her head the more time that passed, if she'd made it out to be something it wasn't, kissing him, when she wrapped herself up in daydream memories, completely delusional to reality. But it was exactly how she'd remembered it, if not more comfortable. There was something about his touch, even the hand on her chin making her skin feel like it was vibrating. Her breath catching in her throat, she let her eyes fall shut, arms lifting to wrap around his neck, pull him closer to her. She didn't care if she lost her job, she didn't care if her lungs exploded, if her boss and her coworkers and everyone in town saw them, she was far too willing to get lost in this kiss, lost in him, to care about anything else.

[aalwaysforgotten]

The moment their lips met he felt stupid for not having done so sooner. Nuka had put a lot of pressure on himself after their first kiss, it was picture perfect on that snowy winter day at the skating rink. How was he supposed to match that feeling again? Though as Eeyore arms looped around his neck he was beginning to forget that first kiss. This one was better, or maybe it was just the sheer fact alone of kissing her everytime was his new favorite. He didn’t know, but he wasn’t about to question it. He just felt lucky to have the opportunity to kiss her at all. Forget sunshine, she tasted like clouds and rainstorms, and he couldn’t get enough. Opening his mouth slightly to deepen their kiss. His hand shifting from her chin towards her cheek bone. Palm half cradling her face and halfway tangled through the locks of her hair. His other arm looping around her waist and pulling her closer.

[justeeyore]

"I could not hate you." At this point, Eeyore was fairly certain there was nothing Nuka could do to make her hate him or even dislike him. She wanted to ask him why he was so nice to her, what he continued to see in her, why he wouldn't mind waiting, but he must be growing tired of those questions. She wanted to ask why he had kissed her, and if he would again. But she just nodded instead, taking the one on the top of her head with a smile. "Okay. I should... get back inside." Though what was on the other side of the door awaiting her didn't sound great, the sooner she finished her work, the sooner she could leave with him. "I have milkshakes to make."

[aalwaysforgotten]

His smile widened further at her words--until his sisters words echoed through his head. 'Don't get too happy. We don't belong here.' His smile faltered for a moment, happy that Eeyore couldn't see it. Vitani was right, they didn't. But for the first time Nuka was starting to feel like home wasn't a place, but a person. He nodded, but wasn't sure how many minutes they had spent outside together. Time with eeyore seemed to melt altogether. "Okay, just one more thing." Looking down at her, he gripped her chin softly with his index finger and thumb. Lifting her chin up slightly to meet his stare, pressing his lips against hers softly. Inviting her in, something to distract her from the overwhelming thoughts. He wouldn't stop, until she told him too.

[justeeyore]

Eeyore didn't want to pull away, she wanted to stay there and forget about the rest of the world, everything waiting inside of the diner, customers that had food coming out and silverware that needed to be rolled. But eventually she mustered up the strength to, met with his smile when she did, nodding in response to his statement. She would be, she always was. Eventually. "Are you sure? It will probably be twenty minutes. I could walk home if you're busy." She was sure he had something else to do, something better and far more important than giving her a ride. Even though the idea was much more appealing than a walk in the cool air, alone, she never wanted to be a burden to him. He didn't deserve that.

[aalwaysforgotten]

If he could've he would've just told her to screw work and take her home anyway, everybody needed a break sometimes. However he didn't want her to get in trouble so he tried to shove that thoughts back into the depths of his loud and overbearing mind. "Duh, would you hate me if I ordered a milkshake though? Or make that two, that way you can have one on the way home." He paused knowing that would probably be more work for her to do so he shook his head slightly. "You can spit in my face and say no if that's too much though." He laughed into the dark mass of her hair, even daring to place a kiss atop her head. "Besides it's just twenty minutes, that's no big deal." He'd wait forever for her.

[justeeyore]

It wasn't that he was supposed to be mean, it was human nature, in her experience. No one was kind just to be kind. They were selfish, self-absorbed, cruel. And then there was Nuka. Who seemed like he may as well have been from an entirely different world, like he was made of everything good and pure. As his fingers intertwined with hers, she felt the lump leap back into her throat at once. "I'm just..." She started, but the words fell off as soon as they came out. Sad. Stressed. Overwhelmed. The words got stuck in her throat as she stared at him, like she couldn't figure out how to string them together. So she didn't speak. She pulled her hand free from his, arms lifting to wrap around him instead, pulling him in, breathing in the scent of him. "I'm okay," she whispered after a moment, and suddenly, it was the truth.

[aalwaysforgotten]

Being a son to someone depraved and malicious like scar was a big reason Nuka refused to be wicked---he wanted to be nothing like his father. There was a lot of bad in the world, but fuck he knew there was good too. At least Eeyore had showed him that--his sister too even if she was still a little rough around the edges. He bit the inside of his cheek as he waited for her answer, watching but not pushing. Almost nodding when she let out a ounce of an answer, she didn't even have to explain he could read it in her mannerisms alone. remembering the countless amount of times he had felt the same way. He wrapped his arms around her small frame, pulling her in closer by her waist. Only squeezing her tightly as he swayed their bodies gently back in forth in the silence. "If not, you will be." He reassured, smiling even though she couldn't see it. He didn't dare pull from her embrace as he continued. "After you clock out I could drive you home?"

[justeeyore]

The way he looked at her, spoke to her tugged at her heartstrings. He was so gentle, Eeyore felt like she was holding her breath as she waited for that light to go out eventually, for him to see her... differently. She wasn't sure how she would ever get over that, when he stopped caring. "You are too nice to me," the stated softly, but she did as he said, walking past him towards the door assuming he would follow. Trying to calm her shaken emotions before they reached the sidewalk. She doubted her manager would even notice she was gone for a few minutes, and if so, she didn't care at the moment; she'd rather see Nuka.

[aalwaysforgotten]

"Am I supposed to be mean?" He teased, a small smile beginning to pull at his lips. Following behind her in suit, just happy she was willing to take a break. Once they were outside the cold air almost felt inviting, out here he was hoping she she'd be able to breathe again. He stood next to her in silence for a moment as they stared out together towards the town. Life moved on without them, and with Eeyore he felt like time was standing still. His hand brushed against her skin until he finally clasped it, lacing their fingers gingerly together. Then squeezing it gently, as he looked down towards her. "Everything okay?" He asked, but knew things most definitely were not. "It's okay if it's not. You don't have to pretend around me."

[justeeyore]

At his touch she snapped out of her trance entirely. If it had been someone else, Eeyore wouldn't feel guilty for being distant, but with it being Nuka, she suddenly felt worse. She should give him her full attention; he'd always given her his, even if she didn't deserve it. "I'm sorry," she found herself apologizing, his worry not making her feel any better, but more of a burden. She didn't mean to worry him. "I'm alright," she insisted, though the words fell flat as her bottom lip began to tremble. Her shift was almost over but she needed it to be over now, or at least five minutes to just get away from everyone. Though it was less crowded now the restaurant felt stuffy, like the walls were going to close in on the two of them. "I just... I don't like people."

[aalwaysforgotten]

He wasn't sure what to expect but her apologizing was not one of them--certainly not to him. He shook his head, an almost awkward chuckle rolling off his lips as his eyes continued to roam her facial features. "You have nothing to be sorry for." Then her lips began to tremble and he just wanted to fix this--whatever what was wrong. Whatever she needed. He knew what it was like, the panic that slithered in like a foreign entity. Squeezing at your organs until it finally felt like you were gasping for air; suffocating. "Come on. You need some fresh air. Just for a minute or two. I think this place can survive without you for a moment."

[justeeyore]

LOCATION: the jukebox FOR: open / @evermorehqsstart

She was overwhelmed. And that was putting it lightly. When Eeyore went into work, she wasn't expecting it to be quite so busy. She knew they were short-staffed and after the holidays, rush could be less predictable, but she felt like she hadn't stopped moving for the last six hours. Now that the seats were clearing out and business was finally calming down for the day, she found herself zoning out hardcore, just going through the motions. It was the only way she knew how to deal with the stress. "I'm... sorry." Blinking, realizing she hadn't caught so much as a word of what was said, Eeyore shook her head, trying to physically shake off the brain fog and catch up with the conversation. "What were you saying?"

[aalwaysforgotten]

"Eeyore." Nuka said gently, palm reaching out to grip her shoulder firmly. He had known her long enough, that look in her eye, when the quiet mind ravaged her words that something was wrong. Most people might think nothing of it, Eeyore wasn't much of a talker anyway. Nuka knew though, so much so that worry creased his brows. "I was saying maybe you should take a break, or have Carmen or Pacifica cover your shift. Fuck, give me your apron I'll complete your shift." He wasn't joking either, even though there was no way that would fly with her boss or the rest of the wait staff. He just felt helpless when he couldn't help her.