Bernard
characters: Spot, Tilly (oc) words: 641 warnings: bug mentions
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“ ’ Scuse me I just- I gotta get-”
A little arm wriggled its way in front of Spot, dodging the other bodies in the room, as it reached up towards a cup on the edge of the bench behind him. He took a small step back, turned, and handed the cup to the still wriggling arm.
“Thank you!” A voice called in response, the source still obscured by people bustling through. That didn’t mean he didn’t know who it belonged to though. As the arm retracted, Spot took a step to the side, blocking the path of a small girl, big, brown eyes peering up at him from under messy red curls.
“Tilly,” he began, voice soft but stern, “Didn’t I tell you to wash up half an hour ago?” the little girl twisted her face up, deep in thought, and looked away.
“Yeah…” She not-so-subtly brushed her hand over her dirt-streaked face, trying to hide the mess still left.
“So why are you still covered in muck?”
“Posey found some roly-polies in the dirt outside, so I had to go see!” Tilly rolled the cup slowly between her hands, casting glances towards the rickety staircase to the left. Spot rolled his eyes affectionately.
“Alright, well go wash up, dinner’s starting soon.” Tilly’s eyes lit up, a toothy smile splitting across her face.
“I’ll be quick!” Spot flashed her a grin of his own, reaching one arm up to ruffle her hair. Instead, he was met with a firm, wriggling mass. Quickly removing his hand, he frowned slightly in confusion, opting to gently work whatever it was out of Tilly’s hair without touching it. A large, black beetle floated in the open space between Spot and Tilly, legs kicking slowly, trying to inch slowly back towards the girl whose hair he just crawled out of. Spot looked to Tilly, who was now staring at the ceiling, very clearly running through her extensive list of excuses.
“And what’s this?” He asked, watching the bug in his peripherals. Deciding she didn’t have one to fit the occasion, Tilly gently plucked the beetle out of the air, stroking its glossy back with one finger. Nervously-formed fangs poking out slightly as she bit her lip.
“That’s Bernard! He’s my friend.” She stated, cheeks turning a soft red. Spot snorted quietly, amusement dancing in his eyes. He knew how to deal with these situations.
“Well, better get him washed up too, I’ll get HotShot to set up another place at the table.” The small girl beamed up at him, nose crinkling in delight.
“Aw, thanks Spot!” she cried, throwing herself into his arms, careful to avoid crushing Bernard. Spot took this opportunity to run his hand through her hair once more, and in finding no other friends, gently returned the hug “We’ll be right back!” and with that, the wild-haired girl took off up the stairs, still dodging the ever-moving sea of people. Spot sighed, shaking his head slightly as she disappeared, before swinging around to find HotShot.
“We have one of Tilly’s guests joining us tonight.” He announced. HotShot rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
“Another? Every creepy-crawly critter’s had dinner with us by now.” Yet he grabbed another plate and set of cutlery, laying it out next to Tilly’s preferred seat. Tick, who had been sitting in the seat adjacent and was a known hater of Tilly’s guests, immediately stood up and moved the opposite end, furthest away from where Bernard would soon be sat. Spot smiled to himself as thunderous footsteps sounded down the stairs, a bouncy Tilly rushing past- few dirt smudges still visible across her cheeks. She zipped to her seat, and carefully placed Bernard beside her, clawed fingers tapping excitedly on the wooden table-top.
“Gotta love her.” He muttered under his breath before turning back to help out with the dinner rush.
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@gendistic42 @cutesiewooren @the-cowbi asdfghg more magic au bc im now at least 87% caffeine and my brain is doing things