good is good enough

Bucky smiled when she nodded; a rare, genuine smile. It wasn’t like he was in as deep as he was pretending, but he did like Dee Dee. She was pretty. She was different. And she was fun to be around. The innocence could get old eventually, but it might be fun to see how easy she was to corrupt. “Of course I want. I just said whatever you want to do, silly.” He pretended to wipe sweat from his brow, as if he was actually stressed over her answer. He’d been pretty confident she would say yes, but he would have been pretty letdown if he’d had to deal with the rejection. “As long as you’re prepared to get your ass whooped in mini golf. That is something I take seriously, and I’m not gonna go easy on you just because you’re cute.”

✿

It was strange for her to be feeling actual you know, feelings, for a boy. This was Dee Dee I-Don’t-Need-Nobody McPherson. Most of the time she was the one telling her friends to be single and enjoy their independence. Women were better on their own anyway but this one seemed nice. Maybe it could be different, though she had yet to be sure. Either way she loved a good round of mini golf. “You never know if someone’s actually fun or just says they’re fun,” she said a matter-of-factly. She was glad to hear he was one of the legit ones. “Oh, you talk big for a guy who’s going to have a cute blonde girl totally kick his butt. I’ll see you on the course and we’ll settle this.” Even though she talked seriously a smile started to spread over her lips as they joked. Maybe this wasn’t so bad. 

It had been a quiet day so she was glad Ryan offered to stick around after and hang out with her. As the music played they both danced across the floor with each other, laughing as they sang loudly to Taylor Swift out of tune. He was one of the only people she could have this much fun with. She wished more people weren’t so afraid to have fun these days. “If she ever heard us she’d sue for defamation,” she said through laughter as the song came to an end and they both sat on the floor.  “I’m honestly kind of glad today turned out to be a bust with classes.” It was nice to relax a little since her life felt so all over the place lately.

She hadn’t really thought anything was going to come of her flirtations with Bucky, not really entirely believing that he could actually like her that way. Not that boys didn’t but she never actually noticed most of the time. Except for the ones she never wanted, more specifically Mandark who never seemed to take a hint. Now she was being asked out by him like one a date-date. For a second she didn’t know what to say before the girl just gave him an excited nod. “Well, I mean sure, if you really want to! Sounds like fun to me.” Dee Dee didn’t want to seem like too happy, just in case. “Any of that sounds fun to me, maybe we could do something like mini golf or we go do games at the boardwalk.” She liked to keep it interesting, dinner and a movie always lacking any real substance in her mind. “If you want,” Dee Dee added in case he wasn’t down. 

@buckaye

The more he was starting to hang around, the more Dee Dee was starting to like it. As much as she convinced herself that she didn't have time for feelings seeing him always made her feel a little warmer inside. Sometimes she'd get knots in her stomach when he talked to her but those had been getting better. That didn't mean those butterflies were behaving though. "What? You wouldn't be interested in going with me, would you?" She said raising an eyebrow as she looked to him. The last place she thought he'd want to company her to was to go paint pottery but Dee Dee wasn't complaining. "I'd be nice to have someone to talk to while I inevitably fuck it up, you know if you're interested."

@colincubby

Dee Dee was staring intently at her laptop as she tried to fix the schedule for practice, someone having sent the entirely wrong calendar to everyone. Most problems at work she usually ended up solving. She was good at it, that's basically all she did at home anyway. Sometimes she really thought her parents only wanted her to stay around so they could use her as a free pair of hands. Dee Dee had been feeling like her time wasn't being appreciated by them for a while now. The idea of moving out sounded great but telling them was just as terrifying. "I know..." She said with a heavy sigh, finally looking away from her screen. "I feel like I barely even have time to breathe lately. It's probably time to start looking for a place to live but with what time." Dee Dee released a heavy sigh, leaning into the palm of her hand. "Growing up sucks."

@weirdgwen

She wasn't sure why Gwen always tried to push at her, unfazed by it whenever she did. This had been nothing compared to Dexter. Dee Dee really didn't notice it and saw Gwen as a cool girl she was happy even talked to her. Maybe she wasn't the type that she'd usually hang out with but Dee Dee took it as a compliment that Gwen let her hang around. Another thing she had in common with Dexter. "And that's all that matters!" She said with a wide smile. "You wouldn't be so awesome if you were like me, that's what makes you Gwen!" And to Dee Dee, that was pretty cool.

@luckeyflik

Dee Dee knew he hadn't intended to spill his entire drink the moment the waitress set it down but it was kind of funny. The girl was fighting a giggle as she looked across from him now that the mess had gotten cleaned up. It made sense why he might be embarrassed, though Dee Dee found it more amusing than not. "Not at all, it's kind of funny if you think about it..." She said with a small smile forming as she tried to cheer him up too. "I've like totally done that before with my takeout once I get it home. One time I cleaned up an entire tub of curry, part of my floor is still stained from all the turmeric." Things like that happened to her all the time so she started to laugh at them whenever she could. That's how she got through a lot growing up with Dexter, anything could be turned around as far as she was concerned.

Anna grinned hearing DeeDee. “Blush looks wonderful on your cheeks!” Giggling she took a step back and stuck a small pose before giving her a little spin. It didn’t take long for Anna to be right back at her side ready to just unload everything and anything with DeeDee. There was a guilt over her that she’d been making the people who were most important to her the background of everything. Almost how Elsa had always made her feel growing up. And well, still to this day. “Of course Hans is here. He’s just off socializing with some friends. I’ll hunt him down before the big countdown.” 

✿

She waved a hand as if to brush away the comment, shaking her head as she did so. “Oh, stop. If you weren’t engaged Hans better watch out,” Dee Dee said with a giggle and a nudge to her friend. So far she hadn’t been able to meet Hans personally, only going off of what she’d been told by her friend, and he seemed decent enough. Of course it felt strange never to have met him yet being engaged to her friend so quickly. She worried if it might even be a little too quick but didn’t want to overstep. “I’d love to meet him one of these days! He hasn’t gotten the seal of Dee Dee approval yet.” Not that she didn’t assume he wouldn’t. “Until then I just get to steal you for myself.”

Flik had a lot on his mind lately. It was a brand new year, which meant he was putting pressure on himself to do better, to be better. There were so many people he cared about that he wanted to help ( mostly Atta ), but he wasn’t sure how he could help everyone without hurting them. The more and more he tried to help, it seemed, the more and more things went wrong. It was why he decided to get some fresh air today — a change of scenery should surely do him some good. He was walking past one of the shops when he was broken from his thoughts, the sound of someone close by and the feeling of a dog sniffing his leg catching his attention. He’d briefly heard the name Beaker, catching a glimpse at the dog’s collar to confirm. “That’s alright, I don’t mind,” he chuckled, sticking his hand out to let the dog sniff. “Beaker, huh? I like that name.”

✿

It was nice to hear that he wasn’t upset; she knew that not everyone was a dog person. As much as she loved Beaker some people weren’t as excited when he came up to make friends, regardless of how good his intentions where. “I tell him not everyone wants to be friends but he always wants to try anyway,” she said giving a soft laugh and looking up to give the stranger a smile. Dee Dee felt a slight beam of pride at his comment on her furry friend’s name as she had been the one to name him all those years ago. “The second I saw him I knew he was a Beaker, and my brother even approved of it which was a big deal, believe me.” She knew she was rambling a little and tried to bring herself back from getting too wordy. Instead she just smiled, letting Beaker do his thing and make himself a new friend. 

♡

Bucky laughed — a genuine laugh, not even an attempt to pretend to find her funny to get into her pants. There was something so different about her. She was just… real in her quirkiness. He’d definitely think the whole warding off men gesture was ridiculous if she was anyone else, but it made her more endearing. He was drawn to her wholesomeness. It was everything he wasn’t. “I guess I was just worried she’d say no, you know?” Tapping the camera app on his phone, he turned it around so she could see her own reflection, the girl in question. “What do you think? Isn’t she beautiful?”

✿

Dee Dee knew it was ridiculous to think he really meant all that stuff but she wanted to. It felt nice to hear, feeling silly that she even enjoyed the attention he gave her. She tried so hard to convince herself she wasn’t able to fall for any of the sweet talk but Bucky seemed like he could actually be something good for her. Her track record wasn’t great, having typically bad luck picking a guy that isn’t anything but bad news. Maybe her luck had gotten better. “You never know until you ask! My mom always says no’s are free.” She stopped before she was able to say anything else with her mouth still agape. Her? It was her? Dee Dee tried to cool the warmth that rushed to her cheeks upon seeing her own reflection. “Stop it, that’s like not true...” Her head shook, still unconvinced a guy like him would have any interest in her. “I don’t think she would’ve said no.”

Dee Dee was hiding out a little longer after her walk with Beaker, knowing her parents wouldn’t even notice they’d been late. He seemed to be enjoying himself anyway as he sniffed at all the booths as they walked by. She’d stopped at a few to window shop and let him dig at the sand. Maybe it was silly but these kinds of quiet moments with her dog reminded her just how much she’d hurt if she left the house without him. She knew this year was going to be the one, she’d finally tell her parents it was time to move out, but how could she without her best friend? Dee Dee was lost in her own thoughts as she stared blankly at a window when Beaker pulled at his leash, almost causing her to fling forward and right into someone. “Oh my gosh, Beaker!” She looked down at her dog with a slight panic in her face. “I’m so sorry, he’s a sniffer.” The girl tugged at his leash to pull him back as he tried to sniff at the guy’s feet. 

“Well, well well! Someone get a bucket of ice water or something cause you look smokin’!” Anna let out with a laugh as she greeted her friend with a warm hug. “Seriously though, you look amazing. Not that you don’t always look amazing, and maybe it’s the lights and music, but you look a little extra amazing.” Grinning to shut herself up she just hugged her friend again. “So, you ready to dance our way into next year or what?” She let out as she grabbed the others hand and started to drag her out to dance with her. “Also, how are you? Anyone special you’re meeting up with to kiss the year goodbye?”  || @deedeeslaboratory​

✿

Dee Dee covered her face at her friends comment, shaking her head from behind her hands. “Stop it, you’re making me blush,” she said with a giggle. If there was one thing she was most excited about it was getting to spend at least a little time with Anna. Since she had gotten engaged it felt like she’d been busy more and Dee Dee was trying to not miss her too much, imagining it was time consuming to plan a wedding and have a whole fiance to work around. “You are literally a bombshell, as always.” She stepped back to get a full look at her, giving a little twirl of her finger for a spin. They always seemed to have a good time no matter how long it had been. “Just me, myself, and I. Where’s your guy anyway? I haven’t seen him around, did he come? He better have.”

“All eyes are on you tonight! I tried,” Bucky laughed, adjusting his bowtie. He liked to think he cleaned up quite nice, but he hated how stuffy he felt. He kind of hated this party, and he wouldn’t be here if he had anything better to do, but he figured he could find someone to entertain him. And he’d came across the perfect target. “You’re serious? You must be turning people down, then.” He was laying it on thick, but Deedee seemed like the kind of girl that would fall for that. And if he was wrong, oh well. “There is someone, but I was a fool and didn’t ask her to join me tonight.” Pulling his phone out of his back pocket, he hesitated. “I think you may know her, actually. Do you want to see?” 

✿

Dee Dee shook her head, waving off his compliment like it was fluttering around her face. “Oh my gosh, no,” she said with a laugh as if the idea itself was ridiculous. Even though she put effort into her outfit she knew almost no one would care what she was wearing. Dee Dee tried to always dress for herself but having him notice did make her feel a little blush come to her cheeks. “Fighting ‘em away with a stick.” The girl even gave him a visual as if she was keeping the men away from her like zombies in an apocalypse. “Back off heathens,” she joked hoping he didn’t think she was totally weird. That’s when he spoke of a girl that caught his eye and she was immediately intrigued. Dee Dee nodded and looking over at his phone that he took out to show her. “No way, why didn’t you? Of course I want to see. Who is it? Do I know her?” 

@deedeeslaboratory​

One of Berlioz’s favorite places to go was the record shop in Coolsville. They had such a wide array for a selection and Berlioz never walked out empty handed. He was browsing the rows of records, admiring them all and how different they were from each other. If there was one thing that Berlioz loved it was music. As much as he wanted to branch out and find new passions and things to love music would always hold a special place in his heart. He had just spotted a record that sparked his interest and was reaching to grab it when a hand came out of no where and grabbed it. Slightly annoyed, but not wanting to start any confrontation, Berlioz simply let out a soft sigh and offered a smile to the stranger. “You’ve got good taste. And a faster arm than me.” He let out a soft laugh and blew a blonde curl out of his eyes. “I admit defeat though. I won’t fight you for it. Early bird gets the worm, or something. Wait, that’s not right.” He furrowed his brows together then shrugged. “I mean first who gets it is the winner basically.” He mentally slapped himself for being so awkward. “Regardless, you should get that because it’s a great album.”

✿

Some retail therapy was exactly what she needed after getting into a fight with her mother that morning. As much as she loved her parents every day she stayed at their house made her fall away from them a little more. She feared telling them about her desire to leave but Dee Dee also worried how she might feel if she stayed much longer. That’s why before she went to the studio she’d decided to take the long way home and stop in Coolsville to look at her favorite record shop. Something new for her to dance to would be the perfect thing to help clear her mind. Her best choreography was born when she had the most going on outside of her studio where nothing mattered besides her feet on the floor. Without noticing as she bopped her head to the beat of the music that played softly through the store she took the record from someone else. Dee Dee looked up to say something when she recognized him from the being a pianist at a local restaurant that her parents frequented for family birthdays. Every time she’d stared at him from her table and slunk down into her seat if he ever looked her way, embarrassed to be out with her parents and seeing a cute guy. She hadn’t expected to see him out in public and certainly not taking the same vinyl he was going for. “No, not trying to like swoop in and steal your worm,” Dee Dee said trying to not get awkward herself. Most guys didn’t make her quite this bad but he was unexpected after just staring from a distance. “It’s yours, I’m like just getting into them anyway. I wouldn’t want to take it from someone who would like probably appreciate it way more anyway.” The girl held out the record for him to take, offering a small apologetic smile. “Just listen to Sticky an extra few times for me if you don’t mind.”