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

Oh man, did you go right from that to a place like that? No wonder you're not sure what to do.

[Kind of hard to form deeper relationships in a place with only one gender unless you're attracted to said gender, and he's just going to guess that that's rare where she's from, considering her reaction to his own relationship status.]

I was first enrolled when I was four and have lived there ever since. Other than what we read in our books or heard over the radio the only reference point we had was from the gossip of the older girls.

[It wasn't all that bad really, but growing up with the same class from such a young age is more like gaining many sisters than accessing a pool of potential romantic interests. At least that's how she's always thought of it.]

Oh man, transdimensional boarding school. That's always fun.

[She doesn't sound unhappy about it, so he shrugs his shoulders.]

Well, my advice still stands- I don't think it can hurt to try.

[Sabriel nods with a small smile. She'll wait and see what happens...perhaps something could work out. Sitting up as the door chimes with new customers she looks a little bashful as she remembers she's supposed to be working.]

Oh- I should probably get back to work, is there anything else you'd like from the kitchen?

[Billy follows her gaze to the door - oops, he's kind of monopolized her attention - and smiles, waving her off.]

I'm okay, thanks. I should think about heading out soon anyway. I appreciated the company, though.

I'm glad I could sit and talk with you. And...thank you for the advice.

[With a warm smile she collects her tray and heads over to the door to lead the new diners to their seats.]

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