Feb 1, 2021
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Subservient by Ninet - Directed by John Wynn
I was bored in class and thought, “I wonder what Talyn and Nate were like when they were young and just beginning to be friends?” This was my mind’s answer. Enjoy!
“Just be yourself! Make us proud!” Nate smiled brightly at his mother, but as soon as he turned his back to her, his face dropped into a neutral expression. It was all he could do to not roll his eyes. Just be yourself. He scoffed. How am I supposed to be myself when I have no idea who I am? Deep down he knew that wasn’t true. He knew that when it boiled down to it, he was a fake. He was a series of masks on rotation, putting on whichever one he thought would get him what he wanted. He was a good student, a good son, a charmer, a role model. He was a popular kid, a nerd, and a jock all at once. He was everything everyone needed him to be, and yet he wasn’t any of those things at all.
He walked down the hall to the silver doors of the elevator and pushed the lower button. The hallway was quiet, but Nate knew that behind each closed door people were beginning to get ready for their mundane daily lives. It was monotony and unbearably boring. Anything could happen while no one was watching, but he knew exactly what they all were doing. Every single one of his neighbors were far too predictable, so Nate preferred to keep interaction to a minimum.
The small ding of the elevator brought him out of his observations. He was about to walk into its capsule, but he was startled back by a sudden invasion of his routine. A smile much less strained than the one he gave his own mother appeared on his face as he recognized the invasion as his best friend, Talyn Edwards. Nate could never quite figure her out, and it fascinated him. “I thought you usually wait in the lobby. Mr. Peterson likes seeing you down there,” Nate said.
“I’m in the lobby everyday,” she whined, “It gets sooooo boring. And you were late.” Nate looked at his watch. The only way he’d be late was if Talyn had changed their meetup time without telling him again, which wasn’t uncommon. “Anyway, I’m thinking it’s about time I make my mark on the class.” She raised her arms to the back of her head and leaned back against her hands in a relaxed way.
Nate side-eyed his friend. This was the same girl who had shown up on the first day and declared herself to be the resident problem child and that her goal was to give the teacher a nervous breakdown before year’s end. “It’s only the second week. Give it time. I’m sure the opportunity will come up.” Nate had no doubt that whatever she did, it would surprise him.
Once they reached the ground floor, Talyn practically leaped out of the elevator. She ran over to the doorman, Mr. Peterson, and gave him a high five. Had she not looked back and called out for him to hurry up, Nate would’ve thought she had completely forgotten him. Nate stifled a laugh but couldn’t do much to keep the smirk off of his face as he watched Talyn mess around with the bell on the counter. There was only one thing he wished he could change about his friendship with her, how easy it was for his mask to slip when she was around.
157 Nathan Moore, UNC stuggles at the hands of Wyatt Sheets, OSU
Guys guys guys guys!!!! Due to a really cool thing my DM is doing for the campaign I’m in next semester, guess who I made into a D&D character? It’s my boi Nathan Moore!! He’s currently a level 2 rogue with the noble background (wanted a break from spell casting). I renamed him because he’s a high-elf and Nathan isn’t really an elvish name. His new name is Ellias Lomion. I’m so excited to role play as him especially because his ASPD is going to be a fairly big game mechanic. I love my DM!
Nate had no idea what the hell a photo booth was until Talyn took him to the arcade she works at and shoved him into one. He started posing like he would for a family portrait, all professional and stern, but Talyn just wrapped her arms around his head and pulled his face into a smile. The rest of the pictures ended up depicting the ensuing wrestling match. Now they go every weekend.
Nate Moore plays the piano really well, but if his parents come by while he’s practicing, he’ll either just keep playing the same note over and over again or Mario’s theme until they leave.
Nate Moore used to believe superheroes were real when he was younger. He wanted to be one, in fact. He wanted to help people, to help everyone. His family taught him better than to believe in heroes. And so he grew up scoffing at the idea that anyone could ever be altruistic. That is until Talyn Edwards entered his life. He watched as she stood up to the entitled bullies in his school. She watched her take punches for the smaller kids at no profit. She made him believe in heroes again, but never would he tell her this. She’d only try to get him to be her sidekick.