SKYSCRAPER BUILDINGS

“are   you   excited   for   break?   it   feels   like   every   second   i’m   in   here,   the   walls   close   in   inch   by   inch.”  / @komorcbis​ . 

eyebrows   raise   –   it   was   a   joke,   kind   of,   so   he’s   sure   the   other   didn’t   get   it   or   doesn’t   understand.   is   it   his   fault?   maybe,   but   also,   he   can’t   help   but   still   feel   a   bit   confused   over   the   fact   that   people   can   be   so   scared   of   a   baby.   or,   well,   dog.   “well   …   no.”   he   doesn’t   know   how   to   express   the   amount   of   temperamental   scooby   isn’t.      “he   used   to   be   a   service   dog   -   he’s   gentle.”

there’s   a   blink   when   samuel   speaks   to   him   in   another   language   —   maybe   he   should   pay   more   attention   to   the   one   he’s   taking,   it   could   be   useful.   “yeah?   good   enough   to   not   get   knocked   on   your   ass?”   he   vaguely   remembers   kids   last   year   getting   knocked   out   cold,   despite   training   in   this   specialization.   maddox   supposes   no   amount   of   training   could   keep   you   from   getting   your   ass   kicked.   “it’ll   be   okay   i’m   sure   —   hopefully   things   don’t   end   up   like   last   year.”

"i   didn't   say   lying.   maybe   fibbing   is   a   better   word   for   it."   not   that   he   believes   her   in   the   slightest,   because   actions   negate   words   and   blah   blah   blah,   maddox   wouldn't   normally   care   but   in   scooby's   case?   he'd   burn   down   all   of   gallagher   if   someone   said   something   negative   about   him.   "probably   just   was   around   temperamental   dogs.   that's   all."

the   sound   of   someone   yelling   as   if   scooby   had   just   stabbed   her   in   the   gut   is   what   makes   him   turn   around   fully,   low   whistle   has   the   shepard   return   to   his   side   in   less   than   a   minute.   “if   you   think   screamin’   is   what’s   telling   me   you’re   genuine   about   that,   then   i’d   rethink   what   you’re   saying,”   he   leans   against   the   edge,   elbows   leaning   against   the   material   even   if   it   digs   into   his   skin.   “what   ----   you   pull   out   all   their   whiskers   or   somethin’?”   he’d   only   imagine   what   it   took   to   make   a   dog   like   scooby   dislike   you.

he   blinks   —   not   really   understanding   the   context   of   her   words   until   blue   eyes   glance   down   to   the   joint   in   his   hand,   shrug   as   he   holds   it   out.   “all   yours.”   mostly   because   he   hadn’t   planned   on   smoking   it   anyways.

all   he   does   is   hum   –--   because   the   dog   is   pretty,   even   if   a   little   bit   scary,   but   no   dog   will   ever   top   scooby’s   in   his   eyes.   purebred   or   one   of   a   kind   or   whatever   else.   “oh,”   maddox   nods   and   plays   with   the   unlit   joint   in   his   hands.   she   doesn’t   seem   like   the   type   to   smoke,   so   he   doesn’t   offer   despite   not   wanting   it   himself.   petty   theft   thrills   only   lasted   for   so   long,   now   he’s   just   depleted   all   over   again   -   the   mental   effort   conversation   takes   up   is   exhausting.   “it’s   nice   over   there.”   yeah,   duh.   “well   he’s   just   watching   mine,”   a   hand   moves   to   lightly   pet   one   of   scooby’s   ears.   “so   i   get   it.”   there’s   no   doubt   in   maddox’s   brain   that   the   large   dog   wouldn’t   fight   for   him,   against   the   other’s   or   someone   else.

“why   not?”   he   figures   that   people,   no   matter   where   they   come   from,   like   expensive   things.   maddox   likes   fancy   things.   maybe   it’s   because   he’s   not   used   to   them,   but   he’s   also   kind   of   selfish   when   it   comes   to   gifts.   “well   it   can   count   for   both,   i’m   sure   -----   it’s   kass.   i   think   she’ll   be   happy   you   even   showed   up   at   all.”   kass   is   just   a   happy   person   like   that,   and   they’re   friends.   “you   think   they   didn’t?   i   dunno   ‘bout   val,   but   kass   for   sure.   i   think   val   would.”   moreso   for   tilly   than   for   him,   but   it’s   all   the   same   in   the   end.   “it   looks   more   professional   than   somethin’   like   a   necklace,   too.”

maddox   just   blinks   ----   he’s   not   sure   how   to   respond   to   that,   because   had   anything   actually   happened   to   scooby   ..   well.   it’s   just   better   not   to   think   about   it.   if   scooby’s   gone,   so   is   he.   that’s   how   lifelines   work   and   the   dog   is   the   best   one   he’s   got   right   now.   a   nod,   hand   on   his   own   shepards   head   –   just   to   make   sure   the   dog   is   still   real,   alive   next   to   him.   he   seems   fit   (   if   only   a   bit   scared   )  .   “she’s   pretty.”   eyes   glance   at   the   door   for   a   moment,   turning   back   out   over   the   gallagher   campus.   “y’ever   take   her   to   the   forest?   she   might   be   more   ..   comfortable   there.   less   people.   and   other   dogs.”   maybe   more   wild   animals,   but.

well,   shit.   maybe   maddox   should’ve   known   better   than   to   expect   anything   less   from   tilly   ----   she   does   seem   like   the   type   to   go   all   out   for   holidays.   “now   that   means   i   gotta   get   you   something   expensive   to   cancel   it   out   -   like   pemdas.”   not   exactly   how   it   works,   nor   does   he   have   the   money   for   that,   but   okay!   “did   you   see   kass   on   her   birthday?   we   hung   out   a   bit   -   she   really   can’t   hold   her   liquor,   unfortunately.”   who   is   he   supposed   to   drink   with   at   the   laurine   family   dinners   now?   “that’s   like   the   really   fancy   jewelry   store,   isn’t   it?   i’m   sure   she’ll   like   it   ’cause   you   gave   it   to   her   -   not   ’cause   it’s   expensive.”

he   nods   in   more   of   a   you’re   welcome   gesture,   because   maddox   isn’t   sure   what   he   was   expecting   her   to   say   -----   it   was   kind   of   more   of   a   implied   thing,   that   he’d   get   her   something.   “yeah?   not   like,   expensive   things,   i   hope,”   he   may   cry   if   the   price   is   higher   than   fifty   dollars.   “did   you   get   val   and   kass   a   joint   gift?   or   an   individual   one?”   fuck.   no   offense   to   the   suttons,   but   he   totally   forgot   to   get   them   something   ..   maybe   they’ll   take   a   card.   “what   kinda   broach?   she’s   the   last   person   i   have   to   get   stuff   for,   and   ‘m   stuck.”

not   in   the   mood   for   ..   well,   anybody   but   it’s   the   girl   he’s   pretty   sure   wants   to   kill   him,   if   their   other   interaction   is   to   go   off   of.   “he’s   just   checking   you   out.”   it’s   typical   dog   behavior   in   all   kinds   —-   not   that   he   thinks   she   cares   (   probably   only   enough   to   keep   her   dog   from   attacking,   but   maybe   not   beyond   that   ),   so   maddox   only   whistles   lightly,   the   sherpard   coming   to   sit   at   his   side.   best   boy   scooby.   “um.   i   can   leave,   if   you   want.”   regardless   of   the   fact   that   he   was   here   first   ..   maddox   just   doesn’t   want   to   bother   her   ..   or   die.

CLOSED FOR @brandtmax … “so   …   christmas?”   he’s   assuming   max   already   has   like,   an   itinerary   about   the   whole   thing   ;   maxine   doesn’t   seem   like   the   type   to   get   there   and   not   have   any   idea   what   to   do   once   they   land.   “do   i   gotta   get   scooby   like,   paper’d   before   we   go?”

CLOSED FOR @tillylongfellow​ …  “i have a gift for you,” he says, though he doubts it’ll be something she’ll like … maddox can’t seem to put his finger of what tilly has and what she hasn’t, but some books will seemingly do the trick. he’s not loaded with cash, so he hopes it’ll be at least somewhat of a thoughtful gift in her eyes. despite what people believe, the effort is there. he just .. doesn’t know how to show it in the best ways. “for christmas.” obviously.

CLOSED FOR @samuelsongs​ …  sam is … interesting. yeah. that’s a good adjective. he’s not sure how to approach the other or what to even say, but he sits down at the other side of the table in the dining hall and figured boot camp is a mutually exclusive topic that’s fair game. “so,” scooby sits at his feet, eyes peering over the table to look at same. “are you excited for bootcamp?”