SpellBound

“So, I bought my boyfriends one and seein’ as you’re like a son to me…” He trailed off before pulling both alpacas from behind him, showing a baby pink and a baby blue. He bounced a little with them, giggling a bit. “Go ‘head an’ choose one! Th’one y’don’t want, I’ll take. Sound good?” He was in such a cheerful and good mood today.

@julianwxde

Julian looked up to see Sterling holding two really pretty alpaca plush toys and a hesitant smile broke onto his lips. He had been having a down day but the presence of a father figure made him feel a little better. “The pink one is really cute. Could I have that one?” He wasn’t used to receiving presents. He didn’t reach out to take the stuffed animal though he trusted Sterling he didn’t want to assume that he would really get it. His parents would play this game sometimes when they were bored. Offering things just to take the away when he reached for them. 

“How many times are you going to read The Lord of the Rings before you’re satisfied?” Sparrow couldn’t help it, she had to tease him about it- but not in a mean way. Instead she did it to try to lighten the mood, to cheer him up. After all, there was nothing wrong with having a book or a series that you enjoyed reading. And if she couldn’t hug him to comfort him? Then at least she could lighten the mood with a little humor.

“It’s a good thing that I don’t mind a little bit of horror once in a while,” the witch mused, tilting her head slightly to the side in thought. She hated gory stuff, blood and guts for the sake of blood and guts. Not that she minded a good slasher flick from the 80s or the 90s but when the whole torture porn genre started? She had jumped ship. “But you should broaden your reading choices, absolutely. I can bring you a few things I’ve read that I thought were pretty good if you want me to, my dear.” Smiling she lifted the teacup towards her mouth. “It doesn’t have to be horror if you don’t want, I promise.”

“I will never be satisfied.” Julian answered quickly maybe too quickly. It wasn’t just about the books it was about his life in general. How could he ever be satisfied with what he had in life when there was so much he wasn’t allowed to have anymore? So much he couldn’t accomplish because of how he was raised. His magic was sad and pathetic. His social skills nonexistent. His life was a mess and he was so unhappy with it it hurt. No one could see how much he hurt though. He was so good at faking his smiles that even he believed them sometimes. “Some new things to read would be nice. Please nothing with horror in it. Or murder. Or anything like that. Maybe just a nice romance book or something.”

Uriel: Am I? Are you sure? That doesn't sound like me.

Uriel: Well, that's easier said than done now, isn't it? Crying is distracting and unpleasant.

Julian: Stop Uriel you know you love me.

Julian: At least I'm pretty sure that you do.

Julian: Maybe.

@julianwxde

Armed with his favorite four-legged friend and a salad to-go (with extra croutons), Arizona headed over to Julian’s bookshop. It was a nice day to be out and about, even if the fact that he’d been ignoring his schedule gave him a bit of anxiety, and he was looking forward to seeing his friend in the flesh. It’d been way too long. 

Pausing outside the door, he adjusted his hold on the salad and Jules’ leash before entering, searching for any sign of the owner. “Julian? I brought your salad! Managed to get forty croutons on there before they told me off,” he called out, raising his voice but not so much that it was legitimately yelling. Arizona wasn’t someone who yelled often, it just seemed obnoxious and rude to him, even when the situation would typically call for it. 

Julian had made himself busy by baking up some peanut butter and oat dog treats for Jules and some cookies for Arizona. He wanted to show his appreciation for his friend going to get him food. He had been having a lot of trouble leaving his store that day so he didn’t think he could have successfully made the trip on his own. 

When he heard them come into the store and Arizona call out for him he jumped just a bit from fright. He hadn’t forgotten that they were coming he just hadn’t remembered in that moment. He had just taken everything out of the oven and set them on the cooling racks. Moving through the store he found them quickly. “Hi Arizona. Thanks for coming over. I’m so sorry that you got yelled at because of me. Are you okay?”

“Don’t worry- you not reading will be our little secret.” It was hard for Sparrow to turn off the worry and the concern- and the desire to comfort Julian in some way. It was an instinct of hers, to take care of the people she cared about- to comfort them and try to help them overcome whatever was hurting them or bothering them. But as much as she had the desire just to wrap him up in a hug and help him? She also knew that pushing him would do him no good- it would probably only cause more harm. He would talk only when he wanted to; he seemed to be less comfortable with her touching him unless he initiated the contact like he had with the hug he gave her when she came in. It felt strange not to sit there and try to do whatever she could to ease the demons haunting him but she would respect his boundaries in that moment. It was the least she could do.

“I’ve been reading a lot of Chelsea Cain lately,” she continued, watching him carefully, all but willing him to be able to calm himself- for his own sake rather than her own. She wouldn’t cast a spell on him for that. It wasn’t fair of her to thrust her magic onto him like that. But sending out positive thoughts couldn’t hurt. “Heartsick was a little…disturbing…that whole series is, actually. But it was still hard to put down for some reason.” Picking up the tea the witch shrugged slightly. “And I’m in the middle of Lights on the Sea by Miguel Reina.” Talking books with him she knew was safe, at least; talking books would keep him calmer.

Julian moved around the little store after giving her the tea and cookies. He just needed a few minutes of moving around to help clear his mind. She was so caring and understanding but he still couldn’t bring himself to be too open. He appreciated her pretending that his erratic behavior was normal though. It made him feel less like a freak. “I don’t think I’ve read anything by her. I should really expand what I read. I tend to just read Lord of the Rings over and over again.” He tried for a small smile as he moved to slowly take his seat. His hand reaching out to pick up the cup of tea he had prepared for himself he took a small sip. The warmth was soothing and he started to feel a little better. “I find that the more disturbing a book is the harder it is to stop reading generally. It’s like a horror movie you want to but can’t look away.”

Arizona: No problem! I don't know if I can fit a million croutons into a food container, but I'll aim high. How does thirty sound?

Arizona: Oh, thanks.

Julian: A hundred.

Julian: I have cookies for you. I baked some dog treats too.

Drew shook his head, almost instantly in response to the question. “I was attacked as a kid and I’ve been one since. It’s not exactly fun and I never had anyone to teach me how to be… Good at it.” He mused before taking a sip of his tea. Why was he talking about this stuff with the stranger? He could sense the other was trustworthy so perhaps that was why. Drew raised a brow and scoffed. “Sorry what? Your soulmate? God you actually believe that shit?” He chuckled before turning serious again as the other continued. “Oh… I’m sorry. But hey, I didn’t either. Not that I have powers but you get what I mean. Maybe someone can help ya? I had a witch come up to me and offer help.” That’s one way of explaining their meeting. “Maybe she can do something to help you?”

Arizona: Fair enough.

Arizona: We're on our way. Any food preferences? I'm heading to the diner.

Julian: A salad with french dressing and a million croutons sounds amazing.

Arizona: Uh, sure.

Arizona: Everything okay? I can bring Jules if you want a friend?

Julian: i want to be lazy

Julian: Will you bring me food?

Julian: I don't do outside things today.

Uriel: I'm really not. Nice isn't a strong suit, but I do enjoy your company.

Uriel: Wonderful, my favorite.

Uriel: Please don't. Crying isn't something I know how to handle.

Julian: You're nice to me a lot.

Julian: I know.

Uriel: You are not the worst. If you were the worst I'd have given up on you a long time ago.

Uriel: I don't have the patience.

Uriel: Let us agree to disagree there and swiftly move on.

Uriel: She's more a devil than anything, but I will agree with you on the beauty.

Julian: You are so nice to me.

Julian: I am making peanut butter cookies and chocolate chip cookies.

Uriel: Julian.

Uriel: I suppose you're alright as well.

Uriel: Good, let me know when you recognize your mistake and remember it doesn't make you stupid.

Uriel: Whoever told you that needs to be destroyed.

Uriel: I could eat. Mind if I take a few for Ry?

Julian: I am the worst.

Julian: I added too much of like everything was my mistake and also I never really stirred it.

Julian: No one should ever be destroyed.

Uriel: Did I say you were dumb? No.

Uriel: You're an idiot, but that's treatable. Reread the instructions I wrote you, Julian. All the way through.

Uriel: Don't apologize to me. Never apologize to me. Especially over such ridiculous falsehoods. You're allowed to make mistakes, just learn from them.

Uriel: I'll stop by on my lunch break.

Julian: I'm sorry

Julian: I love you

Julian: I promise to read them really carefully again.

Uriel: No, you're not going to die.

Uriel: You are an idiot, though, which is something I can't fix.

Uriel: Add the water. We're going to have to start over.

Julian: I added the water.

Julian: Please be nice to me I'm sorry I'm dumb.

Uriel: NO!

Uriel: Add water, for god's sake. Then tell me what you've done thus far.

Julian: Uriellllllllllllllllllll

Julian: am i going to die???