#boundtosuffer

The exact opposite of subtle ; A Dakota sat with a drink in hand, gaze unwavering from the television screen meant to keep patrons occupied, his facial expressions couldn't have read any clearer : ANNOYED. SLIGHTLY PISSED. BACK TO EXTREMELY ANNOYED. In many cases, a familiar face would have been welcome - but that PARTICULAR face? It was enough to push Dakota to extreme measures. The man who was usually quiet, happy to keep to himself, was willing to do the unthinkable ; make small-talk with a stranger, all for the sake of giving himself permission to complain. “ Who's the douchiest celebrity you've ever met? ” He would ask the first unlucky soul who happened to veer into his periphery. “ Mine is THAT guy. ” As an accusatory finger pointed towards the screen, a sound of disgust left parted lips, just to really drive the point home.

To make a little extra money on the side when he wasn't selling his art, Steve taught drawing and painting classes at a rec center in Brooklyn. This was the second session he was teaching but so far he hadn't had that many people sign up for it. So here he was on a Sunday afternoon, passing out flyers for the class outside of his favorite coffee shop. He felt pretty silly doing it but so far no one had told him to fuck off.

As a woman came out of the shop, he smiled. "Hi, I'm Steve and I teach night art classes at the rec center. I'm starting a session on Thursday nights. I was wondering if you or if you knew anyone that might be interested in taking it."

“Or what? What if I don’t?”

Thea didn’t hesitate, “Then I will make you and, trust this, you won’t like how I go about it.”

@boundtosuffer

She didn’t really get it. Back when she could’ve been a fangirl, she was too busy with her traumas and all the crap that life had fed her. So she wasn’t a fan of anyone, and had never asked for an autograph or a picture. Never got that feeling of excitement, and didn’t quite grasp it, especially when directed at her. Good thing it didn’t happen all too often. The feelings she normally inspired were the opposite, more often than not.     

“. . . Why would you feel guilty of playing baseball? Like, sure, it ain’t the greatest sport ever and some of y’all baseball boys’ styles are questionable at best, but what is so deeply wrong with it that you feel guilt?” She asked, a questioning eyebrow raised. She may not understand his motivations, but she could relate to how he dealt with guilt. Although she didn’t throw money away like it was Christmas, she tried to bury her guilt one case at a time. “Oh, boy, you’ll regret this. But since you offered. . . That guy, the one you were super mad about. What’s really going on with him? Or, rather, with you two.”

It may have been her tone,      or just realizing that maybe he wasn’t 100% cool with opening up to a stranger      -      either way,      regret was quick to start as Dakota was met with his first question ;      A question which he’d agreed to answer,     along with any others.

“      I      don’t      feel      guilty      about      the      sport      itself,      that      would      be      fucking      insane.      I      just      .   .   .      I      dunno,      I      guess      I      just      know      that      plenty      of      people      could      be      doing      what      I      do,      and      doing      it      better      than      I      do      it,      but      I      was      lucky      enough      to      get      a      shot.      Just      doesn’t      seem      fair      to      them.      ” 

It was all just a big game of chance.      He was lucky enough to be at the right school at the right time,      and that’s all it took.