Starbula Week, Day 3: Alcohol / Jealousy
Now for something completely different...a GOTG/Parks & Rec headcanon! (I tried to keep this relevant to everyone, whether or not you've seen Parks & Rec...though everyone definitely should, as it's a fabulous show!)
Context: I recently finished a Parks & Rec rewatch, and thanks to Starbula/GOTG being on my brain, I began imagining ways for the characters to be part of Peter's life, post GOTG Vol 3. So for Starbula Week Day 3, here’s my brief overview of how Parks & Rec characters became part of Peter Quill’s Missouri found family, and the *~jealousy~* that one of these people ended up feeling towards Nebula… 😏
Just look at how cute they are 🥺
After Peter has settled into life back on earth a bit, his grandpa has an idea. Being part of a grief support group had been a lifeline for him after Meredith’s death and Peter’s disappearance. Maybe it would be helpful for Peter to try one out, too, in addition to the therapist he’d recently begun seeing?
Peter agrees that it sounds like a good idea, and finds a new group that has space for one more. When he shows up for the first meeting, he meets...the Parks & Rec main cast, just their alternate MCU versions. (And all living in Missouri instead of Pawnee, Indiana, of course 🤓)
Side-note: I have no idea how grief support groups actually work, but in this fic, I'm saying people have to join a new group for a set number of sessions instead of just dropping in. It's relevant to the headcanon, and it's how the MCU in my brain works!
During that first session, while everyone introduces themselves, Peter learns about the different types of grief they're all dealing with: losing family members, friends, clothing stores (that would be Tom), etc. Ron Swanson is the only attendee who doesn't want to be there; he's been court-ordered to attend a grief support group, probably after some kind of crazy shenanigans with Tammy II 😆 And of course, April Ludgate is only there because she's fascinated by death and observing grieving people lol
After the first session, led by none other than Chris Traeger -- who seems like he'd be delighted to do something like this -- everyone (aside from Ron) is pretty shocked by how cathartic it was, and they all decide to keep coming.
The support group keeps meeting weekly and grows very close, and once the official term of the grief support group ends -- let's say, after four months -- they all decide to continue meeting together, just unofficially. And like in the show, this eclectic little group becomes a lovely found family. It's so sweet to think about Peter having amazing people on earth and Knowhere who love him so much. And I love thinking about how, even so, he still eventually decides the place he truly belongs is back on Knowhere. Somehow, I feel like his decision to be on Knowhere, and (eventually) with Nebula, is even more special knowing that he also could have had a happy life in Missouri.
I also love the idea of the P&R characters gradually observing Peter's journey of healing/moving on from Gamora and his growing feelings for Nebula. I love imagining him getting advice from Leslie or Ron about what to do with these confusing new feelings, and what to do with his life in general.
Ok, onto the Starbula Week stuff...
All the while, April, who's only in the support group because she wanted to observe/enjoy everyone's grief, ends up staying in the group and growing as a person, just as she does on the show. And in a similar vein, she develops a major crush on Peter. (Also, she's in her mid/late-twenties instead of in college because that age gap is Too Much.)
Unfortunately for the April of this universe, of course, Peter just sees her as a good friend and remains oblivious to her growing romantic feelings for him. Sorry April :((
The jealousy (and alcohol) of today's prompt come to a head when Peter's support group friends and his Knowhere family all meet for the first time, about a year after his arrival on Earth. Peter has just finished his GED and, after his graduation ceremony, everyone (aside from his grandparents) goes out to celebrate. Thankfully, Peter is no longer tempted to numb the pain with alcohol anymore, so he can have a drink or two with his friends. He's just excited to dance with them -- overjoyed to finally have both his earth and his space friends together in one place.
In the meantime, April's feelings have been growing stronger for Peter over the past few months, and she's decided that tonight is finally the night she'd confess her feelings to him. She is scared but excited.
Throughout the day, Peter had been focused on being a good friend to everyone, and to spend time with everyone equally -- even though he really wanted to be near Nebula whenever possible. Peter wanted everyone to get along and have a good time, and that had been his main focus. Now, finally at the bar and able to relax and have fun, Peter finds himself naturally gravitating toward Nebula. He finds that he really wants to dance with her, to tell her about the weird new earth musiians he'd been learning about that were currently blasting on the dance floor.
After dancing by her side in the larger group for a while, Peter couldn't resist. He reaches out and grabs her hand, trying to make his voice teasing when he asked, "Dance with me?" Nebula, of course, desperately tries to hide how flustered she is, and the two begin dancing.
Of course, this all is taking place while April was at the bar getting a round of shots for everyone. She's still formulating her plan of how she'd hint to Peter of her feelings, walking back to the dance floor, when she spots Peter and Nebula dancing. And her stomach drops.
The dance moves aren't intimate, per se, but their eyes. The two can't take their eyes off of each other as they move together, in sync to the music. The blue alien's lithe form moves smoothly and quickly, and April can't look away. Neither, of course, can Peter.
All of the sudden, April understands what was happening -- what had been happening for months and months, as she'd heard more and more mentions of Nebula's name. How could she have been such an idiot?
Leslie notices her younger friend staring and comes to check on her, giving April a knowing, sad smile. "You okay?"
April scoffs. "Dammit, I can't even hate this bitch -- I mean, look at her, she's fucking awesome."
Leslie nods, staring back at the pair dancing. It's clear that neither Peter nor Nebula were seeing what every single one of their friends did, and she has no idea how. It's pretty obvious, from her vantage point over here, that the two are absolutely head over heels for each other. They'll figure it out eventually, she thinks. My main focus is being there for April tonight.
Putting an arm around April, and ignoring her cries of protest at the unwanted physical contact, Leslie lays her head on April's shoulder. "You know, you're pretty awesome, too."
The two drink a shot in solidarity, watching Peter and Nebula dance together until the song ends.
Ok that's it -- sorry for the Starbula-light content, but for any fellow Parks & Rec fans, I hope this was fun to imagine!
Just think of how fun all the P&R cast would be at a future Peter/Nebula wedding... because I definitely have lol
And in closing, it's time to bask in these amazing characters being adorable together, imagining that all the photos below are actually post-Vol 3 Peter Quill instead of Andy Dwyer... 🥰
