Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 - this.
Warnings: hurt/comfort, misunderstandings, profanity, happy ending, ooc Medicine Pocket, Medicine Pocket - them/them, gn reader.
Synopsis: Did you know that they're people too? And that they may not be perfect either? Right?
From author: This part didn't want to come out the way I would have liked at all. I was afraid to move away from the recognizable character. And I couldn't figure out how to move forward. So it was quite hard to write. (That part is not there, we will still love them, wake up and love them further).
English not my first language!
Every person has a negative sides.
As sweet as this relationship may be, we should not forget that Medicine Pocket are human beings just like everyone else in the world, and they are not without their mental and social problems.
Let's start with the fact that they are workaholics. No matter how crazy people call them, no one dares to say that they don't do anything. They devote all their time to new research and don't let their colleagues down. They don't tolerate laziness.
They often lose track of time doing experiments, filling out papers, or looking for something new. They need something to keep their attention, so they look for anything that will keep them busy. How else do they make discoveries, you ask?
That's not to say that they don't know how to rest and be fully lazy, but research does take up 60-70% of their time.
Medicine forget about food, water and etc, and can sit in their lab for long periods of time working. If you try to distract them, they will not respond, or they will first "politely" ask you to back off. If asked by coworkers, they are quickly told to fuck off.
This can last from a few hours to a few days, and when they "withdraw" they are quick to seek you out. Then the rest of their free time is spent with you, with friends and socially. You could say that research is their way of discharging, and spending time with someone is their way of getting energy for further work.
They can be docile from time to time and then suddenly become as active as if they had a thorn in one side. At one time they may be relatively quiet and harmless for a few days and then become like a raving psychiatric patient. This is when they need to let their energy out and enjoy spending time, if you and everyone else is not so busy.
About that. They don't mind if you are much quieter than they are and less mobile, but they do spend a lot of time outdoors and they would like to spend it with you. If, however, you don't like a lot (when I mean a lot, I mean a lot) of walking, well, there are going to be discrepancies here.
If they walk around Laplace, I think they get into every place they can. They'll stick their noses in everywhere and drag the others with them. It's fun to find more and more interesting places in Laplace, right? I think in their hometown, they were the most active kid too and poked around every millimeter looking for interesting things.
Medicine Pocket can't stand not being given their own personal space. Working and hanging out together is great! But they just as seriously need a few hours to themselves, just to themselves. If you don't give them their personal space - they'll start cursing and getting angry. It's not on purpose, but they really don't like it.
They are very emotional. Especially when something doesn't go as they planned. Sometimes you can calm them down with dog toys, and sometimes even those don't help. On one hand this is good - they are more open, more honest with their emotions and not afraid to show them. On the other hand... Sometimes it can be... I don't know, annoying? Tense? It takes some getting used to, I think it'll give you a headache at first.
As I mentioned, they're damn loyal partners. Like dogs, yep.
This is why they don't tolerate lies in relationships. They're open about their judgments, opinions, what they're doing, where they're going - they'll let it all out without even thinking about it, just because it's not a big deal to them. You know, like, what if you come by after work to pick them up?
But if you start lying to them often, they become resentful. They're loyal to you and they care about your opinion - so why don't you even want to tell them what you're doing? It's not that hard to tell them what you do during the day or what's bothering you.
They are in no way controlling you. Their concept of being honest is to share your opinion even if it is radically different from theirs, to warn you if you are unavailable and to tell you if you are not satisfied with something. This is the most basic thing you should at least be doing. They... Like to get to know you.
But how do you involve them in your affairs if they disappear, come back and pretend that everything is okay without asking about you? Or rather, they do, but not what you want them to ask?
You just have no choice, you know? It's very hard to get rid of them sometimes, the energy clouds their view. They've just worked so hard, now they deserve some rest! What could be better than a rest in the fresh air and with you?
But... Actually, if you say it in a more "clear", straightforward way, they will generally understand. They're not idiot, after all. The relationship will be up to both partners, actually.
Except sometimes it feels like they're the only one in the relationship, and you're... Well, a ponytail.
Just like lying in a relationship, they do not like control. They are free-spirited and liberated, and controlling this dog makes their opinion of you... Questionable. They do not control you, and they will not tolerate the same for themselves.
They also don't tolerate being made jealous. Pocket are not the kind of people you can lead such an emotional roller coaster with. The only reaction you can see on their face is indifference or annoyance.
It doesn't mean that they are completely indifferent to you. They are not ready to share you with someone else, it's true. For them, fidelity in a relationship on both sides is the most important thing, but deliberately making jealous, flirting with other people is not their style. And they hope it's not your either.
They're just good at other emotional merry-go-rounds, okay?
They are lovers of spending money. They don't care about money, however they need it. Spending a huge sum of money is no problem. They don't leave themselves with empty pockets, but why would they look at something cheaper when the first option is expensive but the best option? It's easier that way.
And so they will not tolerate it when you reproach them too often for spending money on sometimes, frankly, not the most understandable things. Especially when their superiors have already squeezed them for funding for a new project, and they have nothing to surprise their investors with. They need it, you know?
Sometimes they do not take your words seriously. Not just words, but complaints, annoyance about certain things, etc. How can you be angry with them? It's such a small thing, well, calm down.
But compare this their lack of understanding of your claims as slowly putting stacks of poison on a character in a game that slowly destroys you.
Only when they see on your face a sincere expression of anger, misunderstanding, or, even worse, tears, will they realize that they have devalued your feelings and given you a reason to be truly offended by them.
Then the situation gets more complicated because they don't know how to apologize. No, I don't mean apologizing for the sake of apologizing. They don't know how to sincerely apologize and admit a mistake.
They're not ashamed of it, but... It's hard for them. They're stubborn to the end. Until you have a final fight and the situation gets out of their control. Then they too will start to open up all their emotional gaps and realize how much they may have hurt you with their comments.
Hey, that doesn't mean there won't be an apology. There will be. "I fucked up. And... You don't deserve it. I was an idiot."
It will take a long time, but they'll learn to apologize to you genuinely, and the sincere "I fucked up" will evolve into an equally sincere "..I'm sorry. I really miscalculated. You... You don't deserve it."
But if you've already offended them, they expect an apology. They will think over all your pretentious actions and words against them and point out exactly what offended them. It is often quite difficult, but not impossible, to hurt them. Keep in mind.
Speaking of comments. They tend to pick up on small details in you or your behavior. Sounds like a good thing, doesn't it? They'll be the first to notice if you've trimmed your hair a few millimeters or something. But it also means they might misunderstand some of your claims.
They often want what's best, but don't consider the factors that get in the way of that "best".
Like, you can tell them one thing and they'll chew it up into something else entirely. It's like talking to a toxic parent who can both hear you and turn the situation in their direction. Sometimes they do it on purpose, for the sake of a joke, and sometimes they don't notice how such jokes can hurt you.
Sometimes they can be very annoying. But they will understand if you don't want to hear from them for a while. Just say so. In fact, they always hear you. They just don't always understand exactly what you're trying to convey.
Just accept the fact that fighting with them is like putting out a fire with gasoline, i.e., it's best not to even start.
They also sometimes don't respond to messages, they just read. You know that type of person who reads, mentally replies and closes the chat? That's them.
And if you have any personal problems because of this, tell them right away. It is not a fact, of course, that they will try and constantly answer, but silence of problems pisses them off as much as presenting them.
They're the ones who work in a large circle of people every day. They're the ones who aren't afraid to speak their mind, to say what they want. They're loud and quick to lose their temper.
They're also the type of person who, even after all that, won't let people get close to them. Seemingly ambivert and etc, but they are the type of person who is as open as they are closed. You can tell you know them, but do you really know and understand them that well, do you think? They'll argue.
No one can ever truly look into another person's soul, but they will be truly grateful if you at least try to understand them.
They do care, but in their own way. More brutal, more... It's not even a hint of caring. But a lot of people just don't look at the bottom line, they just pick up on superficial words. For them it is not difficult to ask you to be more attentive to yourself, to eat, to sleep and everything like that, but because of the immediately following unpleasant words - it is not clear what they mean.
They're not the kind of people who cry or whine a lot about something not working out. But I don't think it doesn't happen at all. They cry, it's just that no one ever sees it.
I think they only cry when they don't have a chance to let out absolutely every emotion. It's as if they have to be pinned against the wall on all sides and not given a chance to get angry, bite someone, or speak out. It's as if their feelings are deliberately shoved into a barrel so that they accumulate and accumulate until the only way out is to cry.
Their noise, screams and bites are like a way to get rid of unnecessary, heavy emotions that only exhaust them even more. And when a person is shoved into a glass flask of water and corked, leaving them gasping for breath, you have to do everything you can to break it and break free. Medicine Pocket cry because it's their way of dealing with suffocating emotions and feelings.
Like I said, they don't like being seen by anyone. They're not too pretty when they cry, and yes it causes new problems due to their reluctance to open up to someone with that sensitive side. But... If it's you?
I guess it doesn't take a lot of words. No action either. Sitting down and being quiet is the best help, that's all you can offer right now. They'll talk to you when they're ready. When it's not so hard for them.
We all know that Medicine Pocket are amateur at testing drugs on themselves. Not amateurs, professionals.
Have you ever considered how dangerous it could be? How many times do they put themselves in danger? Countless times.
How do you usually hold up because of all this? Hard to say.
Usually, when they are testing something on themselves, they don't let you near them and they don't approach you themselves. Because sometimes it's not the most pleasant sight (amazing resilience in their colleagues, actually). All it takes is one or two people to record everything that happens to them. And Medicine don't like to be disturbed or interrupted.
Then you find them in a hospital bed. How does that make you feel?
Especially when they may be near death. Or in such a serious condition that it's easier not to even go into their chamber, because it's so hard morally.
But I think fate has favored them in such a way that even if they're on the verge of death 100 times, they'll still make it. And yet it can make you very uncomfortable.
So if you don't accept it right away and often discourage them from experimenting etc, you're sure to have a lot of arguments.
Relationship them is a ticking time bomb. In every sense. Especially in health, both physically and mentally. Without realizing it, they can smack you around on all fronts and not feel guilty about it. No, they're not assholes who like to play with other people's feelings.
It's just that they've been used to dealing with their own feelings and problems for so long that now digging into other people's is an unknown luxury they want to touch, but that luxury is crumbling before their eyes.
Like... Like they want a relationship, but at the same time they feel good enough. There can be serious misunderstandings because of this, because most of the time they might act like you're friends and not lovers.
They're really trying. They try to understand you when you talk about something, they try to accept the fact that they can hurt you as well as you hurt them. They try to consider even the silliest (or not) reason you resented them for and not repeat it. They are learning how to run this experiment next, and this is the first time they've had it so difficult.
They are often lost and angry because all these feelings are a novelty in their familiar life. Give them and yourself time. Medicine Pocket... really love you. And they will try, even through their own resentment.
Do not approach them when they are angry at others. They can bite when they are too overexcited. They almost bit your hand once in that state, and they've been staying away from you ever since when they're so angry. After all, they don't want you to forbid them from biting.
They are clearly the kind of people who can often bite their lips in anger, but it happens so rarely that it's not even a bad habit. But reworking is a serious and bad habit.
They never immediately talk through problems, if possible. While they are working, their thoughts still return to this or that conversation, and only then do they start to draw conclusions and make logical chains. Then they put their work aside and with an angry "damn it" they start thinking.
And they're usually just as quick to go solve the mystery. The first thought is the right thought, you ever heard of that? It doesn't always work with actions, but... I think you get the picture.
For the past day the reports have been hovering around the lab like a black storm cloud, sometimes rattling with reminders of deadlines and a strong wind in the face of other colleague's discontent, and they don't give you a moment's peace of mind. Your temples are pounding, your thoughts are glued together, and the time hasn't even reached lunchtime, the sun is only just knocking on the window. The earliest morning, an ordinary morning, a familiar morning. A morning that didn't portend a grand change in plans.
That's what you thought while you were putting another stack of papers to other stacks of the same kind, and they only grew and grew exponentially.
Everyone is bustling around. Everyone's working. Everyone...
"Hey, Y/n! Where'd you go?" — of course. Everyone. Except for your partner, who apparently decided to distract you from your work since they finished it themselves. Unless something new and uncharted was found that they could study for a long time.
Your gazes crossed, and you smiled tiredly. Still, it's nice to see someone smiling in this room, not in a strained way, but from the heart. There is something about it, something good, and it colors your day with warmth and joy.
"Oh... Medicine, it's you. You scared me," — and though you say it sluggishly and without mimicking their vigor, as if you don't need them here, Medicine Pocket know you're always glad they're here.
They wave off the fake scare, standing up next to you.
"Yeah, yeah, but I haven't started scaring yet. What's up?"
The casual conversation should distract you a bit from the impending wave of work yet to be done, and you're willing to slow it down for the sake of this conversation.
"Not bad... Working as usual."
If 'as usual' can refer to the stacks of papers that look more like endless, skyward-facing pillars, then yes, it's working fine. But from the sour look on the researcher's face, it's not hard to realize that they don't like any answer. Where is it seen that this is the norm?
"And you like taking longer than you should with all that paperwork... You've got to moderate it, you know. You've got such circles under your eyes... Terrible," — first they examine the paper, then you, from top to bottom with a loud whistle.
"They're always like that."
Well, they're obviously not going to leave it like that.
"And now it's gotten many times worse. Have you seen yourself in a mirror? You definitely need to take a couple hours away from all this nonsense!"
They raked all the papers into one pile, pushing them to the opposite end of the desk. Now you should be devoting all your time to them, not to the boring report you have to hand in... This evening.
But... you don't have time for fun now.
"Hey... I'm working," — it sounds so lame, it's not even a complaint. You're just tired, honestly, no energy to argue or figure out what they suddenly need.
But it's not on Medicine Pocket radar, and they pull you from your workplace towards the exit by force, and you can't say anything - they interrupt you faster than you can digest it.
"You'll work later. I'm sure Lucy won't complain if you take these papers later. Dump it all on me, as usual. A deal?" — enthusiasm is in the air as you and them walk down the hall.
Only this enthusiasm doesn't reach out to you at all, on the contrary, you scare it with your ominous and tired atmosphere.
What else is there to say? You were hoping that you wouldn't be dragged somewhere, but just distracted for a few minutes.
They started talking again about something new, about what they were up to and the workers were about to bring it to them, walking you through the winding corridors. You sigh.
They won't listen if you say it anyway.
If you managed to turn in that poor musculature last time and no one reprimanded you at the last minute, it's pure luck that you probably gave it your all. Other times, it's unlikely to fly.
You seemed to have a little fun, your brain cooled down and ventilated, it was easier to breathe and think. And then you came in and you just sorted everything out real quick. Everybody's on the plus side! Right?
That's right. Everything worked out fine that time.
Now you're sitting with Medicine at the same table with a bag of cookies in your hands. You can't even get food down your throat.
Not because you don't want to eat, but because you would be doing something else right now instead of sitting in a public place listening to other people with their vague, obviously useless to you, conversations.
Medicine Pocket are saying something, loud and clear, and your head is starting to hurt from their voice. Their voice is very beautiful, pleasing to the ears at any time, but not now. Now it hits them like a jackhammer or a drum, no pauses or breaks, just a monotonous chewing of another of their projects.
The tea had gone cold, too. Not a sip was taken, even the sachet was left in the glass.
You just stare somewhere behind Medicine Pocket, trying to take in their loud speech, but it doesn't work. Words fly out of your ears in milliseconds. It made the task more difficult and just cluttered your head more.
"You're kind of creepy today. Did you get off on the wrong foot?"
You flinch when someone walks noisily behind you, or maybe it's because of an unexpected question from someone you're talking to. Or both.
"Sort of," — is the short answer that doesn't go without detailed scrutiny. From the look becomes more grave.
"Give me a clear and articulated answer, not an undeveloped piece of it."
Oh, there you go. It's your fault. This time they dragged you off the lab under the pretext of going out to eat or you'd be only skin and bones. It's great on the one hand, they care about your health!
On the other hand, you almost fell asleep on that couch, even though it wasn't too comfortable. But Medicine didn't care too much about that.
"I just didn't get enough sleep, what else is there to talk about?" — and that's the truth. Maybe they'll remember why you didn't sleep well.
But instead only a chuckle follows.
"Of course you haven't slept, you're trapped in a castle of papers and files! I really appreciate your hard work, but you don't live on work, or it will suck you dry."
Do you often take your own advice? you really want to ask this, but you hold back because you don't want to start a fight over nothing. It'll be even harder to clean it up. The packet of cookies is discreetly put on the table. It's redundant in this ridiculous conversation.
"...Uh-huh," — it's easier to agree than to ask them, seriously! What are you gonna say now? You went with them. There's no excuse. You could've said no and moved on to a pleasant dreams.
"..." — they stop talking, too, but stare at you absently, as if waiting for another answer.
This can't go on like this. You're too tired, and it's strange that they haven't figured out why.
You move away and stand up, catching the surprised look on your face. You shrug.
"I'm going to go lie down. Good luck with that project," — you turn around and walk away towards the exit. To be honest, you weren't even listening to what they were saying. You'll try to get it out of someone later.
Medicine Pocket tense their shoulders, but say nothing. They just stare at you. For a long time, until your figure disappears through the doorway. Only then do they return to your empty seat.
"...Have a good rest, I guess."
Today you would like to lose yourself in the fog and never return to the place where you work.
Sometimes you get the impression that people are either too dumb or want to test how dumb you are. Either you have done something wrong to someone and now you are being tortured like a child to a parent in a store, or today the planets have got into the most disgusting position and decided to kindly take out all their accumulated anger on you. Otherwise, there is no other way to explain why you are being yanked around more often today than anyone else in the room. Even if that is, to some extent, your job.
Would you like you to get the files from desk because they really need them right now? Uh, fine. Record data while someone's doing an experiment? No problem. Help them set the temperature for boiling? Okay.
At the end of the day, everyone is tired but they did a good job. Well done, what else can you say to them and to yourself?
Now, sitting at the table in your room, you have to finish some work. Thankfully, there's not much to do! You're a lightning today. That's something to be proud of.
But as soon as the pen is between your fingers and your head is set up for productive work, gathering the rest of your strength in all departments, of course you are interrupted.
You don't have to imagine them.
"Hey! What's going on?" — you sigh. The whole mood is killed with one ball, a three-pointer. But with that comes misunderstanding.
"What else do you need from me today..." — you cling to their facial expression. And what happened today that was so unpleasant that their eyebrows drew together into a house? "Did something happen?"
"Did something happen? Are you serious? That's what I want to ask you!"
You frowned, pushing away from the table.
Medicine Pocket take the nearest chair and sit down across from you, staring firmly into your tired eyes. There's no reproach or the usual irritation in their gaze. It's incomprehension.
"You haven't responded since yesterday morning."
Oh, they mean you haven't answered them for such a long time..
"Check if you don't trust me."
The smartphone in your hands turns on, and... You see about 25+ messages blinking reproachfully on the screen. That said, your phone was not in silent mode.
The chat opens, and your finger slides across the screen, reading the messages in passing. You seem to have missed a lot of important stuff.
Hey, you left your bag in the cafeteria.
If you don't pick it up yourself, it'll stay with me until tonight.
Yesterday, 9:28 a.m. reading
If X comes to you with another request to participate in the experiment, fuck him. He's been on everyone's ass today.
Yesterday, 11:47 a.m. reading...
Hey, when a person writes, it's nice to respond.
But not silence, that's gross.
Yesterday, 8:00 p.m. reading
Are you kidding? You always answer.
I won't believe you broke both your hands on pen and papers at once.
Are you holding a fucking grudge against me and you don't even bother to tell me about it?
The messages fly by one after another, while you try to think of something to reply to them.
Because you did ignore them deliberately to some extent.
Well, you had a difficult and hard day without them, and you had no energy left to answer, you didn't even want to pick up that rectangular box and type your answers.
Although you'd think they'd be more concerned about the fact that you're not responding to them rather than the fact that you've suddenly disappeared.
Out of the corner of your eye you catch a glimpse of Medicine Pocket watching every your move, the movement of every eyelash and breath, in an attempt to find something that will lift the veil of mystery and reveal the truth that they have already realized they will absolutely hate.
They weren't worried. It's just that you almost always respond. Almost instantly.
And now you've been silent for two days in a row, after leaving the cafeteria with a cloudy expression on your face as if you were about to throw up, but it's unclear why: they were sure you only see food 1 time a day.
Of course they'll resent the sudden change in attitude.
"So what the hell is this all about?" — they deliberately say indifferently, as if they came to you because you owe them something, but you know the true emotion hiding behind the facade: impatience.
They look directly into your eyes, trying to guess your emotions. They can't. It's all clouded by fatigue.
You sigh and look away. You think about how to start a conversation.
"Remember when you asked me how I was doing. I lied," — the hoarseness comes out before you can collate the words into more or less coherent sentences.
Your fingers clench awkwardly and carelessly, you don't know where to place yourself.
"Like I'm blind. I noticed something was wrong with you from the start."
"And why didn't you ask?"
This sentence comes out so abruptly before you even realize it.
Their eyes widened, their brows furrowed even more. Like you didn't tell them how you felt, but something unpleasant, and now they're reconsidering their attitude toward you-that's how you felt.
"What? Why should I ask when I can already see that you can't even perform simple actions anyway?"
Really. If they can see that you are unwell, why ask? They have eyes and other senses that allow them to assess your already waning, volcano-like state.
You sigh involuntarily, deep and long, because the air around you has compressed to the point where you're about to be crushed to the floor.
"Clarify," — even though they seem to know what you're talking about, they want to hear specifics.
The fabric of your work uniforms is so uncomfortable. It's heavy, just when a discussion reaches its peak and demands an immediate response. You should have changed.
"You see, but you don't understand. I'm tired of you too," — you say it in one exhale because it's the unpleasant fact you don't want to talk about.
Medicine feels bitter on they tongue.
It's to be expected that you're tired of them. They get tired of themselves too, rarely of course, but tired. But... They didn't expect you to say it like that.
Straight up. Hurtful, yeah. Unpleasant.
That's what they usually do.
"How could you be tired of me if you've been ignoring me for so long?"
"That's why I didn't answer. It was horrible of me, I know... But otherwise you wouldn't have let up for a while."
Let up? What do you mean, they're let up? Oh, come on.
"I'm a human being, too. And I get tired, too. I thought you understood that," — you confession begins uneasily. The corners of Medicine Pocket eyes squint and they lips stretch into a wry streak. "I'm sorry, but sometimes I just don't want you to drag me on rest, because it's not a vacation at all. You can be totally the wrong kind of rest for me sometimes."
"You sometimes are absolutely not the rest I want," — the last phrase crashes into them very hard, and sticks in their heads like a cheap record in an old vinyl player, and with that squeaky, cliffy noise keeps playing, sounding only worse with each turn. Unpleasant.
They don't understand. They don't understand why you're suddenly talking about it. They don't understand why you're suddenly tired of them, why you don't even want to see or hear them, why you don't enjoy spending time with them? What did they do wrong that makes you feel so... so... Lame?
Hey, Pocket don't forget about you. They don't want you to live a 'work-home-work-home' life. If you're tired, of course you need to rest. If you haven't eaten, of course you should eat.
But... Tired? Of them? After all they've done for you?
"Noted," — the phrase came out too mechanical, like a robot, old and rusty. They rise from their chair and prepare to leave as you catch them by the sleeve.
"You don't get it," — your words, on the contrary, sound more alive because you've already made up your mind to say everything here and now. "Sit back down. I haven't finished."
They obey. But now they no longer sit firmly and confidently, and sometimes fidget in the seemingly so comfortable chair.
"I'm not a child to be told the obvious things."
"Why won't you even listen to me now?"
You drop them again when they've just returned to the pedestal of confidence. Twice.
"If I wasn't listening, I wouldn't be sitting here giving you an fucking interrogation," — they snap back, because they have no more avenues of escape left.
"I still love you," — the words the researcher dares not go against. They turn their head to the side, propping their head up with their hand so that their lips are not visible. Biting their lower lip. "But you don't hear me too often."
It seems like such an obvious truth, but here it is right in front of them-and they lose their temper.
"I didn't answer you, not because I was bored with you, but because I wanted some rest. I should have written about it, but the day was terribly busy and I was tired, and it was too late to write anything, you showed up on your own."
This time they choose to listen rather than be outraged, though their eyebrows are still furrowed and their opinion of the situation is still at odds with yours.
"Why don't you just say you're tired? I'm a sentient being, in case you've forgotten."
"Because you don't give me a voice. I'm trying to say something, but you're taking it to a point where silence is the best option."
"In that case, fucking speak up."
"I tried but... You're hard to argue with. And I don't want to hear some of the less-than-pleasant things said to me in these moments."
You suddenly realize you still have them by the sleeve of your other hand, and tug lightly on it.
"I know you're trying. And it makes me feel good that you want to help... But sometimes a simple 'how are you feeling?' is enough. And the question of whether I'd like to take a break... And what kind."
"That's three questions."
You're not angry anymore. Almost. Just looking into their indignant eyes with a meek smile.
"Please... Listen about my condition too. I'm really curious about the weed you were trying to weed there, but-"
"Oh, really? What, is it a plant from the emperor's garden?"
"I don't do plants at all right now."
An awkward pause ensues, which is immediately interrupted by your crooked and embarrassed smile.
"Sorry, I was so sleepy I wasn't listening to you."
"I already understand that."
Their expression brightens, and you can even see through the hand at their mouth that they're smiling. Then they tug on your sleeve in return, but more timidly and cautiously.
"And, ahem... I get you, too. Don't lecture me again," — you construe this as 'I screwed up, sure, but I kind of get it and I'll try not to do that.' No problem. "What's so funny this time?"
You shake your head negatively.
"Nothing. Just glad you understood."
You want to add 'not completely, but at least you heard.'
"I saw you've got that annoying idiot's molecular biology experience report in there, you know, let me see," — but they didn't need to, because they decided to take the conversation in another direction.
"I want to evaluate his work."
"Please, here you go. Like he's going to outdo you."
They stare at these papers and discreetly moved a little closer, then slapped the sheet with the edge of their palm indignantly.
"And he wrote this shit? Give me a pen..." — and they immediately start filling it out with already completely different data. If you're lucky, it's not your fault and those angry words are not addressed to you anyway.
You feel better. You've been heard. Not 100% understood, but heard. And that's what you wanted to think about for the rest of the day, while Medicine Pocket "discreetly" helped you sort out those idiotic reports (probably to make amends).
This Doggo help with the reports, even though they're the reason there's so many of them? I don't think you'd mind.
At least it won't be a big deal anymore.
Dividers by @saradika-graphics