In the back corner of a yet mostly empty high school lunchroom, Merton sat alone, lunch already half finished, like he was racing to make a break for it before it got too crowded. But lunch quickly becomes forgotten the moment he takes notice of a tall, lean, curly-haired, brunette loading his lunch tray up with as much chicken as he can get away with.
Absently shoving the book he'd been reading into the coffin backpack beside him, he started intently watching the guy as he flirted with a girl next to him in the lunch line. And it was a lucky thing no one was around him or seemed to be paying him much attention because Merton was not bothering to be subtle about eyeing the other boy.
The silent observation doesn't last long, as the girl and the brunette part ways and Merton catches a glimpse of what he was apparently waiting for. For just a moment there's a hint of something odd about the otherwise perfectly average-looking jock, as his ears briefly grew long and pointed, before shrinking back down again. It happened so quick, hardly anyone would have noticed. Unless they were watching for it.
Merton's eyes light up, and he waves his hand over his head as he calls out "Tommy!", trying to flag the guy down.
‘Tommy’ looks over at him, and at first, he just seems confused. Like he has no idea who this other teen is or why he’d be calling out to him. But as Merton calls out again “Tommy! Your ears!”, while pointing at his own ears, recognition dawns on him. And he looked like a deer in the headlights who would rather crawl into a hole than get caught joining the weird kid in his misfit corner.
And either Merton is unperturbed by the look, or he just doesn’t notice it, because before Tommy can think to make a retreat, he’s scrambling up out of his seat and joins the flustered jock in line, practically vibrating with excitement.
II. The Woods are Lovely, Dark and Deep [CW: Parental neglect.]
A full moon lights up the dark woods, giving just enough light through the trees for one to easily see where they’re stepping. And at first, it doesn’t look like there’s anything of interest to see here. The night’s peaceful, the only sign of life coming from birds or the occasional creak or rustle from the branches above.
Until the quiet sound of a radio crackles to life, barely picking up snippets from some old music station playing 80’s rock, that shifts to what might be a news station. Anyone following the noise will eventually find a kid, sat tucked up between the roots of a large tree, a little Walkman style radio clutched in his hands, backpack set next to him. He’s young, maybe about seven, with mussy black hair, dressed in what might have once been nice church clothes but were now smudged with dirt and grass stains.
He was speaking in a harsh whisper to…someone. Though if anyone else is there, they aren’t within sight.
Merton J. Dingle
In the back corner of a yet mostly empty high school lunchroom, Merton sat alone, lunch already half finished, like he was racing to make a break for it before it got too crowded. But lunch quickly becomes forgotten the moment he takes notice of a tall, lean, curly-haired, brunette loading his lunch tray up with as much chicken as he can get away with.
Absently shoving the book he'd been reading into the coffin backpack beside him, he started intently watching the guy as he flirted with a girl next to him in the lunch line. And it was a lucky thing no one was around him or seemed to be paying him much attention because Merton was not bothering to be subtle about eyeing the other boy.
The silent observation doesn't last long, as the girl and the brunette part ways and Merton catches a glimpse of what he was apparently waiting for. For just a moment there's a hint of something odd about the otherwise perfectly average-looking jock, as his ears briefly grew long and pointed, before shrinking back down again. It happened so quick, hardly anyone would have noticed. Unless they were watching for it.
Merton's eyes light up, and he waves his hand over his head as he calls out "Tommy!", trying to flag the guy down.
‘Tommy’ looks over at him, and at first, he just seems confused. Like he has no idea who this other teen is or why he’d be calling out to him. But as Merton calls out again “Tommy! Your ears!”, while pointing at his own ears, recognition dawns on him. And he looked like a deer in the headlights who would rather crawl into a hole than get caught joining the weird kid in his misfit corner.
And either Merton is unperturbed by the look, or he just doesn’t notice it, because before Tommy can think to make a retreat, he’s scrambling up out of his seat and joins the flustered jock in line, practically vibrating with excitement.
II. The Woods are Lovely, Dark and Deep [CW: Parental neglect.]
A full moon lights up the dark woods, giving just enough light through the trees for one to easily see where they’re stepping. And at first, it doesn’t look like there’s anything of interest to see here. The night’s peaceful, the only sign of life coming from birds or the occasional creak or rustle from the branches above.
Until the quiet sound of a radio crackles to life, barely picking up snippets from some old music station playing 80’s rock, that shifts to what might be a news station. Anyone following the noise will eventually find a kid, sat tucked up between the roots of a large tree, a little Walkman style radio clutched in his hands, backpack set next to him. He’s young, maybe about seven, with mussy black hair, dressed in what might have once been nice church clothes but were now smudged with dirt and grass stains.
He was speaking in a harsh whisper to…someone. Though if anyone else is there, they aren’t within sight.