temporary home

What: Creek Fest

Bryan looked over at his brother. “So, you’ve got to get me up to date on what’s new with you,” he said as they walked through the festival towards the food tents. “Your next new big video game project. I wanna know!!” He grinned. Bryan decided to prod a bit to find out what was happening with his brother in order to distract from his own life. “Even some secret stuff. I promise I won’t tell!”

"Me? Bry, you know there's not much with me I just came back from a work thing not too long ago. It was like a gaming expo, pretty fun but maybe not your thing," Julian chuckled. "I can't say too much but we've been getting a lot of big name actors to do voice work, and I'm sort of all over the place. Riot has asked me to design some characters for them and also write a backstory and build a powerset, and I might've had a hand in getting Nicki Minaj in call of duty," he laughed. "Bryan, what are you trying to learn here, it can't all be about me, what's going on with you?"

WHERE: Creek Fest

WHEN: September, 2023

"Up for a bit of adventure?" Josh asked as he approached Julian, bright smile on his face. "I was thinking of heading out on a hayride to the farm, see about stocking up on some last of the season farmer's market goodies. Figured it'll give me an excuse to cook at least a few meals at home this week," rather than filling up on food at the festival that probably wasn't that good for him... but he couldn't say no, regardless. "I'll buy you apple cider donuts."

"Don't know about what you mean by adventure, and part of me is currently terrified to find out," Julian chuckled slightly teasing Josh in response. "That doesn't sound bad at all really, sounds pretty simple and sweet. Sure, I'd love to, and you had me at Apple cider donuts, but not too many I'm trying to cut back a bit on things of that sort."

"Why does it always take forever and a damn day for this line to start moving?" He said to no one in particular as he checked his watch. Not realizing if he said it out loud or not, he looked around to see if anyone was looking at him

"Theo, you're being loud again," Julian said as he teased his friend, smiling at him. "I have to pretty much get some stuff that's being held for me, what's your thing today?"

Typing away at her MacBook, Kaia was starting to get a migraine. In the back of her mind, she was cursing the blue light and how her glasses weren’t helping. Meanwhile, her fingers continued to power through, diligently in order to expand further on her research at a pace that appeased her brain. For a Sunday, the little cafe seemed to be bustling. Lucky for the individual who took a seat, she was kind enough to let them take up some room at her corner table away from all the noise.

“Hey, let’s look into each other’s eyes and say ’I WISH I WERE YOU’ at exactly the same time — maybe we’ll pull a Freaky Friday.” She broke the silence, her smile making it come across as lighthearted and friendly.

"Uh, I'd rather not, nothing against you or anything, but I'd be saving you from a lot right now." Julian said with a laugh. "Maybe you'll find someone really cool like an Astronaut or a celebrity who would go for that, then that could be the start of your own 90's movie style adventure."

"Mariah Carey frogs?" That gets Tommy's attention. "It's just a vido that's like a bunch of frogs in one. I had a David Attenborough video on before. Oh, man! Black rain frogs are so funny, man, you have to see-" Tommy moves into action, crossing over to his living room where his phone is. Fingers dart across the glass, the light flickering with a changing screen until it's turned for Julian to see. The black rain frog is not the ugliest frog there is, but he is somewhat akin to an angry ballsack if Tommy was to describe it. "Even my worst days aren't as bad as this guys best." Practically snickering at the poor animals appearance, Tommy sends a copy to his sister with 'you in the morning' in a follow up text. "Did you know the smallest frog is like the size of a fly fully grown? They're so small scorpions eat them."

Tommy is reading the back of the boxes as Julian insists they are for him. There's an itch in his brain that starts to build the longer he looks at the activity - it would only be a matter of time before he rips them open to scratch. "You know you've been gone like, what, ten days? You came home with more stuff than you left," he laughs, feeling awfully spoiled right now. It warms his heart when his friends care for Rue as much as he did, but right now it helps balance out the dark clouds (shaped awfully like his ex wife) that had rolled in whilst Julian was away.

"When are you going to let that go?" he laughs. "I was so drunk and your room was right next to mine - everything looked the same by that point. I don't even remember how I got home that night, so we're lucky I slept in any bed." It had at one point been a a running joke in their house that Tommy was like goldilocks, trying all their beds at some point in various drunken states whilst living there. Julian being the last in the house was simply the last to experience it, and probably the happiest to join him whilst the others would complain for the next week about how Tommy was a mess. Valid, but he didn't want to hear it at the time.

"But hopefully I don't get pierced by something, and hey it could be worse I could Nero, the pyro." Julian said without skipping a beat, never really thrown off by any of the random facts Tommy threw at him. It was something he had taken notice of when he first moved in, but he never found the man odd. Just all the more interesting.

"Yes, they're so tiny and round. They look super annoyed which makes them look extremely cute. Plus they make these squeal and when one yells it sounds like a cartoon whistle tone," Julian said all too excited to be talking about frogs with Tommy. Another random topic and here he was just enabling the conversation to go on regardless of anything. Julian giggled the second he saw the frog, and it evolved into a fully heartfelt laugh the more he looked at it. "It looks like an angry y'know," Julian said pointing down before blushing. "Oh my god, they're that small? I know leeches like to feast on tadpoles, but wow they must be extremely tiny things then.

Julian sits on the floor, placing the stuffed animal in front of him and just let Rue decide if she wished to interact with him or not. No sudden movements, just patience and understanding. It was how he used to be with his siblings growing up, no matter what happened between them, he was always smiles. Part of Julian knew that Tommy would enjoy his gift, or at least he hoped. Something in him said that maybe this would get them to build some together, make a big project they could tackle so they could spend more time with one another. "Of course I did, it was an expo so I came back with plenty of souvenirs, most of which will arrive in the mail, and I might have brought you codes to download some free games as well."

"Hey it's not like I'm holding it over you, I'm just saying I wouldn't hate it if it ever happened again. Like you wouldn't need to be drunk or anything, I'd just be happily nestled with you. Besides, I could use a really good sleep, and like I said, you make that easier for me." Julian mused with a smile. "I'm also glad you got home that night, and I will say you definitely made my time living there pretty amazing. Otherwise I wouldn't be bringing you one of a kind lego sets." he teased. "Custom made just for you."

"Enough Rue," he sings in a sigh, used to the act Rue puts on where she pretends to be a big guard dog but really she's just barking for Tommy to handle the intrusion of her night. "It's just Julian," he reminds her, patting her on her head as he waits for the man to enter. Rue settles into her pet, resting her head against Tommy's thigh, calming almost instantly - something that had taken time to

"Don't stress, we were just watching a video on frogs." If this was someone else you might question why frogs, but if you knew Tommy it was just the next thing in a line of many that he'd fixated on for a moment. By next week it will be something else entirely. "Your keys are on the hook," his hand is waved towards nothing particular - Julian knew what hook he was talking about, the one that was by the door he'd just walked in, right next to the giant martini lamp that sent a pink glow against the brick wall of his entry and kitchen.

"Hmm?" At the mention of presents Tommy's gaze picks up, abandoning its focus on his dog who pads towards the bag that's being riffled through, sniffing as Rue dicovered all the smells it had picked up along it's travel. "Oh, wait these are for me?" Tommy collects the boxes, turning them over to inspect. He couldn't remember the last time he'd done anything lego, let alone a kit like this. "These are cool, thanks. What's the occasion?" Had he forgotten something? That wasn't a hard stretch with his brain, plus he'd been distracted this week. "Games? Now that's dangerous," Tommy points a finger at Julian, box still in hand, "I have not forgotten the days of no sleep because of you."

Once upon a time it was Tommy, Julian and other guys all living together. He had been used to the life of a bustling home full of people, but unlike life with his siblings, all his attention fell on Tommy. Julian just gravitated towards the man, his demeanor, his smile, everything had been the picture perfect scenario for him to stop thinking about the heartbreak he had experienced prior. The late night chats, the midnight snacks, the laughter and banter during game night. There wasn't a moment during that period of time where Julian wasn't grateful for Tommy.

"Just Julian, wow, and I thought so highly of myself prior to this," he teased, cooing slightly at Rue as she would always capture his eyes no matter what. Seeing Tommy with her made Julian melt on the spot, the patience and tenderness of their bond, it was truly an amazing sight to behold.

"Frogs, cool. Like the tiny ones that yell like Mariah Carey?" Julian didn't even question the odd hyper fixations, he just carried along as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "Thanks," he hummed grabbing his keys before turning on his heels. The décor of Tommy's abode would never cease to astound him, and how it had this unique charm to it that could draw you in.

"Yes they're for you, I figured you could have fun building them, and if you like them I've got a killer discount for them." he mused, giggling slightly. "Oh you know cause I like you, that's all the occasion that's needed here." A devilish grin played on his features. "I brought some stuff for Rue, a few stuffed animals she could use. I have a llama, a fox, and a surprisingly enough a frog as well." He didn't even remember he had a frog it was just one of those happy accidents. "Me? I'm innocent, and please you've probably had the best nights of sleep cause of me. I remember the time you stole my bed from me, and I'll admit that was my best sleep. You make an amazing pillow."