Fralalala~.. imagine—Its easier to explain rocket science to your mom rather than explain the new "gig" you've been doing for a piggy bank of extra pocket cash.
And it all goes back to Damian's new interest, if you could call it that, was..uhm..
Its not that entomology's weird, bugs and critters alike are rather interesting and there was nothing wrong with enjoying bugs, even if they weren't everyone's forte!!
But why in goodness name was he putting his fingers, a colossal, tanned monolith of calloused flesh..into their enclosures?
..and just watching them attack him?
"I'm studying defensive postures." He explains flatly, eyes never even flitting boredly towards your direction—locked on watching this green praying mantis raise its arms and follow every movement of his gigantic hand with bulging, shiny beans for eyes.
"..is..this a project?" You ask tentatively, tilting your head slightly.
Ah..right. Because everyone loves sticking their hands and unguarded limbs before bugs that could be cupped into their palms and bite them!! (..do mantises bite?)
"..shouldn't you wear gloves? Or..something?"
The mantis stands, proudly, sizing up the predator that was damian's hand and looming body that bore holes into the little thing's body. Damian's eyebrows knit tightly. His free right hand crawls towards his open notebook, notes written in neat bullet points, a large section of the page left empty.
That's when he attempts to try and draw said mantis.
..the attempt is rather poor.
You stand, watching the ritual unfold, you peer over the open enclosure and catch how Damian's hand is littered with bites and scratches. So much for safe science..
That's when you notice how..silly the mantis looks.
Its arms are raised like it a diver before plunging into the water..or like how those absolute bears of fathers in every animated movie who only speak in grunts and onomatopoeia-like sound effects look before they give their kids a hug.
..you find yourself replicating this pose too.
You raise your arms, you stick your head out and drift your knees apart. You look stupidly, amusingly silly, and purse your lips as you stare at the mantis that remains transfixed on damians finger.
That's when damian stares at you, and he pauses.
That's that's his eyes widen in melodramatic, prophetic like revelation.
"Stay right there!" Damian pulls his finger out of the enclosure immediately, and collapses before his notebook, beginning to sketch away fervently.
You look at damian, dumbfounded, his eyes catching yours as he notices your arms beginning to lower. "Up!!"
So you stand there, locked in a staring contest between you and a mantis.
What are you even doing anymore..?
Damian's eyes catch between you and the mantis, drawing frantically.
When all is said and done, the enclosure lid clicking back on; you drop your stance, huffing a little. "..so..?" You trail off.
But he simply picks up the enclosure and walks out of the room, leaving you by your lonesome.
And he returns pushing a fistful of cash into your hands. "Be my human reference model. I wish to incorporate animal defensive postures into practical situations."
You stare at him, blinking blankly.
"And you'll be paid handsomely."
And that's how you found yourself mimicking bugs every afternoon as he sketches away.
..His new hobbies are certainly one of a kind.
(authors note: a rather silly idea, so dont take this seriously, but one I thought was funny for dami <3)