selfhelp | [Action/Written]

[Billy has never thought of himself as one of those obsessive stalker boyfriends who needs to be attached at the hip to his significant other at all times. Really, he'd always figured they were pretty good about mutual space. A two-month separation with the potential of spending years in this place without seeing Teddy again is, however, apparently the trigger he'd needed to become one, so after one too many looks from Teddy - some patient, others not so much - he'd officially gotten himself banished from the apartment for the afternoon after too much worried lurking. Which is... not the greatest thing ever on a hot day like today, but ten minutes down the road he realizes that, yeah, he'd been a little ridiculous, either blowing off his responsibilities or dragging Teddy along for the ride. He's happy and eager to have Teddy here, but they'd lived separate lives at least half the time back home; no reason for that to not continue here as well.

It's just hard to let go after you've missed someone for that long.

Still, that's how he finds himself out and about for around five hours today, doing the following (in no particular order):

- a late lunch at Seventh Heaven
- searching around the library for comic books
- combat practice in the Battle Dome (with or without his trusty new teacher)

While at the library, a few sketches find their way into his journal, more or less like the following: this, this, and this. Some time afterwards, a scribbled message appears below.]

What are some good ways to deal with bad dreams?

[Once he's finished all his daily stuff, he'll be bringing groceries home around dinner time, in the hopes that he's allowed. Feel free to run into him at any time.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

['Sup Billy, Richard here will be your waiter today, setting the menu on the table down in front of him with a smile.]

Good afternoon and welcome to Seventh Heaven. Do you need this, or do you already have something in mind?

[Sup, blondie. Billy offers up a faint smile in return and peers at the menu.]

Um... burger and fries? I'm mostly just here to waste time, but I am getting hungry.

I'd say a burger and fries is an excellent way to address both of those issues. In fact, you could even add a milkshake to make it that much more effective.

[Milkshake? Now that Richard's mentioned it, it does sound like a pretty good idea. Billy grins, shrugging his shoulders.]

I'm already a bad Jew, might as well make it worse. Bring it on!

Now that's more like it. What flavor would you like?

[Not that Richard knows what a Jew is, but still.]

How about vanilla? It's been a while since I had that one. [That's Teddy's favourite scent, so why not give it a shot.]

Just plain vanilla with nothing added?

[Then his expression takes on a playfully conspiratorial bent.]

You know, if you take a small piece of apple pie and blend it into the milkshake, it's like a drinkable version of apple pie a la mode. I learned that much from one of Sanji's kitchen experiments.

[....

Give that a moment to sink in.]

Okay, that sounds so criminally good that to refuse it I'd have to be arrested. I'm game to try if you're willing to make it.

I think the creation of this culinary masterpiece could be arranged if you'd like to try it for yourself.

[Oh yes, where are his manners.]

I'm Richard, by the way. And you are?

Billy. Nice to meet you.

[Man, he's just making friends with all the workers here, isn't he? ~~okay so maybe just two~~]

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