First : https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1129146201/ Next : https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1129164954/ Previous : https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1129146201/ “How long do you think he has before she jumps him?” Penn chuckled lowly, not raising his gaze from his hands. “About 5 minutes.” Orchid muttered, resting her head on his shoulder again, which caused his laughter to grow in volume. “Won’t you look at that?” He smiled, resting his head on hers. “Cute lil’ satyr.” He muttered something in French, which she doesn’t understand, but it did sound something along the likes of “Je t'aime jusqu'à la lune et retour.” “Awwh, the bird man uses French! Orchid, you gon’ learn French for that? I ain’t gonna be your translator.” Jackie laughed as she rolled her eyes. “You know French? Didn’t know you were civilized like that!” Atlas gave her a knowing expression, as if he was teasing her again. “That’s it.” Jackie jumped him, putting him in a headlock. “APOLOGIZE.” Penn just rolled his eyes as he continued to fiddle with her hand, “Lies, it was a minute.” She had always liked his slight sarcasm, something that he’d always kept and something she didn’t want him to lose. “Such a minute could feel like five if you uh…” She blanked out, unknowing of what to say next, she just shoved her face into his shoulder. He laughed; his eyes seemed to have lit up the room at that moment. All she could think of were the moments when he couldn’t laugh. Every moment would have been devoid of happiness, such a shame. “Alright, into the hidey hole you go- Say, why do you do this to me?” She muttered something that sounded like “comfy” which was in fact, true. She just wanted to make up for the half a century she spent lovesick. She had longed for this man since the 70’s, and she hoped he felt the same way. “A little help?” Atlas groaned, clearly trying to regain his- everything. “Jax- ow- I’m sorry.” Penn gave Orchid her hand back and pulled Atlas up. “Are you okay?” Penn tried to contain at least some sort of seriousness, albeit, it was difficult, considering the situation. “Shut up.” Atlas muttered, rubbing his arm. Penn sighed, he felt slightly bad for the man, although, he must love her in some sort, considering he had the ring on his finger. “It gets hard when the situations contain some sort of humor.” He laughed at Atlas, the poor man, the man that always got up WAY to early, too early for his own good, the man that tried his hardest not to sound snarky, but he always did, no matter how genuine he was being. This same man was the god of adventure, how? “If you can learn to shut up, maybe he’ll stop laughing at you, Berry!” Jackie laughed, pulling him into a side-hug. She grinned sharply, giving him a peck on the cheek. “Or maybe we could just remove ourselves from the situation when you feel uncomfortable.” “Wise girl.” Atlas muttered, giving a small laugh. “I suppose you’re right. “As I am!” Jackie beamed, insane how this woman forgot a jacket in a blizzard, the two had to retrieve another, all the way back in the early 60’s, one of her first winters with them. Penn had lent this woman his trench, just long enough to get to the store and back. Sure, it was relatively worn, with a couple of burns and such, but it held something no other object would have. She talked about random things the entire way down, mostly about fond memories from her life. He had caught too many things she had said about Atlas, and he thought she was joking when she said something along the lines of how much she loved him, talking about every little thing about him that popped into mind. He just walked with her, listening to every single little detail, making note of everything. That was forever ago now. This woman was now wearing the ring to a beautiful marriage. This marriage was the same man that she was talking about all those years ago. At least, that’s what he believes. He returned his gaze back to Orchid, who was just silently watching the situation unfold. The way she stared wide-eyed at the others, attentive to anything that may happen, absorbing in every detail. Adorable. “Are you…?” She started, tilting her head. “Yes. I’m fine.” Atlas muttered; he couldn’t help letting a chuckle escape. “You better be!” Jackie teased, planting a kiss on his cheek. This woman had gotten with the man of her dreams. The man that she had talked so fondly about. The man that she now was loving with all her heart, he had recently found such a feeling.
It was all the way in the late 80’s, yes, another flashback, but Penn always held this memory so fondly. He was taking a break from the bright lights and just sat in the corner, putting his head in his hand when he noticed someone enter his vicinity. Orchid elegantly sat down and started to chat with him, laughing and getting him cheery as well. A smile crept on his face as they talked, until eventually, she led him away from it all. Then, she started talking about how she wished that she was good enough. For someone. Someone he wouldn’t know who she was talking about for the longest time. Then, as horrible as a move this was, he then started to vent to her. Spilling everything out like a leaky milk carton. The next thing they knew, they were close. A little too close, as if they were holding each other as they conversed for the rest of the night. Talking about the utmost random of things. He always held that night somewhere. That night, the night he fell in love with her. The night when he found he could tell her anything. The night when they found each other’s interests and beliefs and afterlife goals and such. Everything he found out about this woman, albeit small amount by small amount, made him care more. Such things had always carried on. Orchid laughed, “I mean- at least he’s okay!” Her giggles sent a sort of shiver down Penn’s spine. Enchanting, just seeing her happy meant everything. What is it she sees in this clustered clump of him? He’s going crazy, most definitely, no one could- no. She’s with him for a reason. He fiddled with the frayed ends of his scarf again, he just needs to stop overthinking it. How can he not? He should just back away from the situation, that’s a good idea, right? Yea! Of course it is! A couple good seconds alone, then he can get back in! Simple as that, he doesn’t need to convince himself to do this. Why is he trying to convince himself? He already agrees that he needs to do this, why isn’t he like- leaving? He should be removing himself from the conversation, instead he is frozen as he is fiddling with his scarf. The fabric feels nice. Everything’s a little loud, but it’s fine. Should be fine. Will be fine. Maybe it’s fine? He’s fine. Is he fine? Of course he is. Wait- hold on. Nod, no wait- shake your head. Damn it. He probably didn’t notice or even remember much; Orchid slid her hand in his. Was she speaking? Reply, reply! DAMN IT! Missed opportunity. She’s speaking again, please focus on her, Penn. Come on, you got this. “Are you?” Orchid tilted her head. “YES! Yes.” He quickly replied, damn it, too quick. You are SO bad at this. “I’m fine.” “I feel like we both know that’s bull.” Orchid huffed, pulling his arm. Jackie just bubbled over into laughter, “You literally nodded to committing several crimes!” She filled the room with laughter as she held on to Atlas for support. “Jax, I don’t think you should be talking that loud.” Atlas glanced at the wolpertinger of a woman, large, powerful brown wings blossomed from her back as she tried to regain her composure, her antlers at least doubled in size before eventually retracting when she calmed herself down. “See? There, now, let’s fix up your makeup, your eyeshadow’s smudged. Reminder, you have a show in like- an hour or two.” “Yea, yea, alright, National Geographic.” Jackie gave a small kiss to Atlas before rushing off to the dormitories, with Atlas staying back for a little while. “Hey, I know what you two were in the middle of, sorry she interrupted you.” He whispered as he tilted his head. “You know, it was probably a mistake, and I just wanted to let you guys get back to whatever the hell you may be doing. Not like I give a damn or anything.” He gave a quick wink before walking after Jackie, they are basically one and the same. Genuinely. Orchid waved them off, her voice carried by the not-so-melodic tones of him accidentally making dove noises. “Sorry.” He muttered, trying to take control of his vocal cords again. The constant attempts utterly failing. “No, you’re fine.” She murmured, rubbing a thumb over the back of his hand, it tickled, is this how she felt every time he that? “It’s cute.” “Don’t call my struggles cute.” Penn muttered, rolling his eyes, how could he be mad at such a woman though? “It’s difficult.” “Psh- as difficult as your struggles may be, I still find them adorable.” She leaned into him before quickly adding something for clarification, “The dove noises, that is.”
