Bad Luck - Personal Growth

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Staring into the mirror in his dorm bathroom, Seb was fairly certain that he was sprouting another nose. Over the years he had occasionally gotten a spot or two but this was absolutely ridiculous. The huge zit sat perched on the end of his nose like a beacon, and no matter how much he had tried to get rid of it or cover it up it just seemed to get bigger and more painful. It was getting to the point where he was becoming even more wary than usual of attending classes; he really didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to himself.

With a soft sigh he poked it again, wincing slightly at the discomfort. It happened every time that he poked at it but it was like some kind of morbid compulsion, like he had to poke it to see if it still hurt or not. Common sense told him to leave it alone, but it wasn’t like he had a whole world of experience with dealing with zits this size. It must have been all the marshmallows he’d had lately catching up with him.

A knock sounded at the main doorway into the dorm and Seb panicked slightly, trying to think of some way to disguise the boulder-sized spot on his nose. Nothing at all came to mind, and he pouted in frustration for a moment before leaving the bathroom and heading to the door to see whom it was. “Oh, hello Tomer. It is lovely to see you! Would you like to come in?”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

Tomer was by nature a very kind person who strove to decrease worldsuck by working consciously on being considerate and polite. He was probably the only student at Hammel who managed to say 'please' and 'thank you' to Erik Stewart unsarcastically. And it meant he was drawn to other nice kids. Like Sebastian.

And it meant that when the older boy answered his common room door with the mother, father, and pet whale of all pimples smack on the end of his nose, Tomer looked him in the eye. Not in the zit. Which was harder than it seemed. Because wow.

Words failed him for a moment, but only a moment. Tomer smiled. "Hi Sebastian. Sure, if you have time to visit."

Crutching in, he let his expression and voice mirror his concern. "Are... you okay?"

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Even though Sebastian currently looked and felt about as pleasant and welcoming as the contents of a used handkerchief, he was still glad to see Tomer. The younger boy had never been anything but kind and friendly to him, and Seb felt like he got along better with Tomer than he did with any of the other students at Hammel. Of all the people who had to see him like this, Seb was glad it was Tomer and not one of the more vocal or outwardly antagonistic students.

“Of course I have time. Please, come in.” Sebastian stood to the side, holding the door open so Tomer could make his way inside. Thankfully Sebastian's dorm-mates were currently out so the place was quiet. “Would you like a drink of something?”

At Tomer's question Sebastian chewed his bottom lip for a moment. He didn't want to lie and say he was okay, because he quite clearly wasn't, but at the same time he didn't want to seem like he was making a big drama out of what might be a very small thing. On the other hand, Seb was all too aware that this could easily be the first step towards him becoming a full-blown freak like so many of the other accursed people in here. “I think I am okay, yes. I seem to be growing another head out of my face, but other than that I have no complaints. How are you?”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

"Oh, no thanks, I'm good," he said at mention of a drink. "But I brought some carrots for Dust and Storm. They're in my pocket."

Reading up on bunnies, pellets were supposed to be given minimally, only to supplement a rabbit's diet. For the most part, it should be made up of grass hay and then fresh vegetables. There was a bin in the dorm fridge of his common room, and Tomer hoped it would stay unsullied. He thought it would be unpopular considering it contained carrots, celery, and mixed leafy greens, but with Erik... he had no idea. Maybe the guy would pee in it or something. Tomer didn't know. But he had found out that gerbils could also eat carrots, so he'd brought over some.

Now that Sebastian had mentioned it, Tomer felt like he could look at the pimple without being rude about it. He inspected it mildly without staring too hard. "It look pretty painful," he said sympathetically. "Have you been, like... messing with it?"

It was hard to avoid, picking at your zits. Tomer still hadn't had any, but he was about to be fourteen and he stressed a lot, so he was fully prepared to be covered in them. "I'm pretty good. I've been busy with Clover. You should come visit, he likes you. Can I see your gerbils?"

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Despite the concern muddling around inside his mind, Sebastian couldn't help but give a small smile as Tomer spoke about the carrots he had brought for the gerbils. When he had gone on the camping trip Sebastian had left Dust and Storm with Tomer, and the younger boy had seemed to have gotten along with them very well. Even Storm, who could be very fidgety and difficult at times, seemed to behave pretty well for Tomer. “I'm sure they will love them. They haven't had their feed yet today, so you timed it very well.”

Sebastian closed the door after Tomer made his way through it, tucking his hands deep into the pockets of his slacks in an effort to get himself to stop picking at the seemingly weather balloon sized lump on the end of his nose. “I am trying not to fuss with it... but it is proving rather difficult. I can see it all the time, and it is very distracting.” Sebastian went cross-eyed for a moment as he looked at the spot, shaking his head slightly as he focussed back on Tomer. “It is a strange feeling. I know it will hurt if I poke at it, but... I keep finding myself poking at it to see if it does still hurt.”

At the invite the soft smile on Sebastian's lips brightened slightly, as much as any smile ever tended to do on his face, and the blonde nodded enthusiastically. “I would like that very much, thank you.” When Tomer asked if he could see the gerbils Sebastian nodded again, leading the way from the common room and into his own dorm. Both the rodents were sound asleep, but at the sound of the tank lid being moved both gerbils pinged awake and started running around, looking for attention or, more likely, something to eat. “I think they have missed you, Tomer.”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

While almost the entire school was at camp, Tomer had dutifully cared for Sebastian's gerbils. They weren't as cuddly as Mopsy, but they were amusing and fun in their own way. Watching them eat had been interesting, like a cross between his uncle's rabbit and a raccoon. And they sure were cute. Tomer didn't know what it was about little furry creatures. Having his own certainly hadn't dulled his squee reflex. There were an embarrassing number of photos of Clover on his phone already and he'd barely had him a month.

"I only brought two apiece so they eat their other food," he said, "but they can always have more. I almost brought sunflower seeds, but the websites said they were high in fat and not good for them."

Glancing at the zit again as he entered, Tomer was entirely sympathetic. "I'm so sorry. My sister Abby gets pimples sometimes, but... well, not like that, I don't think. Are you keeping it clean? Touching it a lot gets what's on your hands in it. I know it's hard not to poke it. Maybe we can just keep you busy so you think about it less?"

Ambling in his uneven and sort of staccato manner after his friend, he smiled when he saw the familiar tank. While it was a nice thought, Tomer had doubts about whether Dust and Storm recognized him. He didn't know if Mopsy or Clover remembered their owners, though it didn't sadden him any. They were animals with smaller brains, and as long as they were happy it was fine. "Could be they just smell the carrots. I was feeding Clover."

Into his pocket, he drew out the ziploc baggie containing four small carrots, freshly washed in the common room sink. They were a lovely orange color and smelled appealing enough that Tomer had eaten a few himself. Peering down into the tank, he said, "Hello Dust, hello Storm. Sorry to wake you. I have carrots."

Baggie opened, he offered it to Sebastian. "You give one and I give one? So they don't fight."

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Sebastian could relate to Tomer's love of cuddly animals. In the vast majority of cases he much preferred the company of animals to his human peers, and he had always had a particularly fond love of rodents. They were so misunderstood and had so much bad press, but they were remarkably intelligent and their social lives were fascinating. Sebastian had decided that once Dust and Storm had passed he wanted to get a rat; he had read about just how smart they were and he wanted to see if he would be able to train one. Though he wasn't too sure about what his dorm mates might think of that plan.

Sebastian gave a small smile to his friend and nodded his head. “That is right. They can have one or two sunflower seeds every now and then as a treat, but they are not allowed them very often.” It was a sad fact that the majority of store-bought rodent feeds contained a high quantity of both sunflower seeds and peanuts, which were equally bad for them. It was why Sebastian tended to prefer buying small bags of the grains and dried fruit from a health-food store and mixing his own. It quite often worked out cheaper that way too.

The zit on his nose had began as little more than a tiny spot, and deep down Sebastian knew that his constant fussing with it was likely making it worse. He had been blessed with a complexion that tended to stay mostly clear, so the appearance of this monster had been almost as startling as it had been painful. “I am trying to keep it clean, when I am not trying to make it go away.” He sighed softly, keeping his hands buried in his pockets. “I think that might work. It is certainly worth a try.”

The blonde teen liked to think that his rodents remembered him and his friends, even though common sense told him they probably didn't really. They were clearly familiar with certain smells and sounds, but as far as individual people, Seb wasn't convinced. Still, that did nothing to stop him thinking that they knew and liked both himself and Tomer. “That is a good idea, thank you.” Sebastian reached into the baggie and retrieved one of the carrots. “Who would you prefer to give yours to?”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

Tomer liked animals mostly because they rarely embarrassed him, though being the target of one did bring attention to him. He preferred Clover to Dust and Storm, just for size, and had he been one of Sebastian's roommates he wouldn't have minded someone with a rat.

"Clover can have sunflower seeds, but they have to be hulled and only as a treat," he said. "So far he's never had any."

Smiling encouragingly, Tomer wondered what else he could offer to keep Sebastian occupied. Maybe offering some of his books? The older teen didn't seem interested in TV or movies or stuff online.

Peering into the tank, he said, "I'll give mine to Dust. She's almost the same color as Mopsy and Clover."

Far be it for Tomer to be... colorist? But Dust was also the more agreeable of the pair, and Storm seemed to be easier for Sebastian. Gently reaching in, moving slowly so he wouldn't frighten them, Tomer held out the carrot to Dust.

"How have you been past... that?" he asked. "Have you checked on the koi since it started snowing? I haven't gone out. I... trip too much."

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Sebastian nodded and smiled as Tomer spoke about Clover and the sunflower seeds. “That does make sense. It is easier and safer to give them vegetables as a treat, and they usually seem to prefer them to sunflower seeds anyway.” The gerbils were no exception to that. In the very few times they had been given sunflower seeds they had enjoyed them, but Dust would jump though hoops for a piece of broccoli and Storm would only ever get food-possessive when raisins were involved.

After moving the tank lid out of the way Sebastian used his piece of carrot to lure Storm away from Dust, so they could snack separately. He wasn't surprised Tomer had picked Dust, most people who knew the pair would have done. “Thank you again for this, Tomer. It is not often they get visitors, and it's good for them to meet people.”

Watching Storm nibbling at the carrot, Sebastian chuckled softly as the black pied gerbil tried to wrestle it out of his fingers. “Aside from this I have been rather well thank you. I wrote to my parents a few days ago; hopefully I will hear from them soon. I hope you have been good too.”

At the question about the koi Sebastian gave a small shake of his head. “I have not been out there for a few days, but I plan on going soon. I might go out tomorrow, if the weather allows and if... this has gone down a little.” Blue eyes flicked over to Tomer. “Do you think I might be able to help you? I could support you while you walked, perhaps?”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

"Clover would take fruit over sunflower seeds, I think. He has almost as bad a sweet tooth as S... Dr. Neville." Poop, he had to watch that. Still, it was true. Most bunnies had tremendous cravings for sweet things, with for them would be fruit. Clover hadn't met a banana he hadn't adored, and the second Tomer opened his ziploc-ed bag of craisins he was practically crawling up his legs. Bunnies often ate way more fruit than they should, Tomer had read various guidelines that suggested as little as one teaspoon of fruit a day for every two pounds a bunny weighed... and Clover was only a pound and a quarter.

"Maybe if they get less of it they don't want it as much?" Tomer had doubts about this, though a lot of medical studies on people said that the less of something bad for them they ate (like salt or sugar), the less they wanted it. For him, the less of something he really liked, the more he thought about it. And if he got a great deal of something he liked, then he didn't mind not seeing it again for the rest of the year. Kind of like with latkes.

"Oh, you're very welcome. I like getting out of the dorms." Unspoken was also getting away from Erik. "And I like visiting friends... and their animals."

Some bunny owners took their bunnies outside. Tomer was not one of them, and it wasn't just because he had a pair of crutches to worry about besides any leash. There was getting Clover past Erik for one, and worrying about any trouble his bunny got into for the second. Bunnies liked to dig and nibble, and Tomer didn't want him messing up the landscaping or eating something that would make him sick. He'd seen videos online of pet rabbits frolicking in the snow; he'd thought about bringing in a bit for Clover. But it would make a mess.

Tomer blushed a little when Sebastian mentioned supporting him. He let go of the carrot, little more than a stub now, and Dust happily ground away at it. But he smiled at his friend too. "I don't know if you could prevent me from falling," he said honestly. "But having you around to help me back up would be nice." If humiliating and selfish. "I'd like to go with you, if you wanted. The dry air outside might help dry that out," he added, nodding at the... projection. "Or at least the cold might help with it hurting."

Because there was no way that thing didn't hurt. Good grief.

[Sebastian Bolstad]

Seb gave a small polite smile when Tomer mentioned Doctor Neville, but it was probably quite evidently put on. Sebastian had never properly encountered the psychiatrist but in the few brief times their paths had crossed, the man had made him feel incredibly uncomfortable and even a little afraid. Tomer always spoke well of him of course, but that did little to ease the unsettled feeling he had about the Doctor. “I am sure that he does; but at least you have a good idea of what you could use as a reward if you ever decide to try to train Clover to do tricks or something.”

As Tomer came up with his theory Sebastian nodded slowly, pondering it over in his mind. “I think that makes sense. If they rarely – or never – have it, they don't become reliant on having it.” He supposed that was in a way how his dietary preferences might work. Since Sebastian had arrived at Hammel quite a number of people had expressed that they thought it was strange that he never got cravings for pizza or cookies or fries; but really, why would he? He had never experienced them to begin with so what was there to miss?

Tomer's next statement caused a faint smile, genuine this time, to curl the corner of Sebastian's lips and he looked over to where the younger boy was feeding Dust. “Well, all three of us are very happy to have you here whenever you like.”

When Sebastian noticed the blush creep onto Tomer's cheeks at the offer of support the blonde was just about to apologise, but he noticed the smile too and hoped that Tomer had not taken any actual offence. He hadn't meant to seem insensitive and only now did he realise that his offer might have come across that way, but Tomer's words were reassuring. “I would very much like to visit them with you. I am interested to see how they are coping in this awful weather, and exploring is always far better when there is someone else there too.”

The mention of the miniature mountain sprouting from his nose caused Sebastian to glance at it again before shaking his head slightly to try to distract himself from doing that. He didn't want to get stuck cross-eyed through looking at a mammoth spot. “I had not thought of that; it is definitely worth trying. I am tiring of trying to come up with new ways to try to make it go away again.”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

It wasn't hard to notice how Sebastian's expression turned a little wooden at the mention of the school psychiatrist; Tomer had seen it before. A lot of people didn't like mental health professionals for whatever reason and he understood that, but at the same time it made him feel sad because Sean only wanted to help people. But he readily agreed with the subject change. "Yeah. I don't know what sorts of tricks I'd teach him though."

Tomer had seen videos of bunny agility courses, but he didn't know if Clover would be interested. That, and he wasn't agile enough to train him. "Can gerbils learn tricks?"

"That's true," he said. "You can't miss what you haven't had. But I'd want to try as many things as possible. Why not, right? It's good to have a lot of experiences."

The younger boy smiled back at the compliment. Really, Sebastian was the nicest guy at the school. "And you should come visit me and Clover whenever you want too."

No, no offense taken, just embarrassment that he might inconvenience and impose upon a friend in such a way. Even if he was offering. "Then we'll go tomorrow. After class?" Looking at the pimple again, he said, "Maybe you could try putting a little snow on it. Ice might hurt too much, but snow's soft."

[Sebastian Bolstad]

It wasn't that Sebastian disliked mental health professionals, more just that Doctor Neville in particular terrified him. Sebastian had heard about the psychiatrists power and it was a deeply unsettling thought. As far as freaks went, that was a seriously gross violation of nature. No one should be able to hear the thoughts of another; it was deeply wrong and unethical and... just plain rude! Sebastian was grateful when Tomer didn't seem to notice the falter in his smile, and he gave a small nod. “Bunnies can learn lots of different tricks. I've read that it is just a case of finding something that motivates them and slowly building up from the very basics.”

Sebastian let the little stump of carrot he had left go, watching Storm grab hold of it and drag it down into one of the little burrows they had dug out in the wood shavings. At Tomer's question about the gerbils, Sebastian was quiet for a moment as he thought it over. “Hmm... I do not see why not. I think they aren't quite as intelligent as rabbits, but they might be able to learn simple tricks.” He gave a whisper-quiet chuckle. “Well, Dust might be able to, anyway. I doubt Storm has the correct temperament.”

Giving a soft nod of his head, Sebastian supposed he could see Tomer's point about trying lots of different things, but it went against everything he had been taught as he was growing up. Diet was such an important part of being pure, of being human, that it seemed silly to risk it for a quick sugar or fat fix. Then again... since he had become broken he had been a tiny bit more adventurous. First with lemonade, introduced to him by Tomer, then even with marshmallows! Still, he realised there was absolutely no need to push it. “It is good to try different things, yes. But sometimes I think it does not seem to be worth the risk of what it could do to you, long term.”

A faint smile glanced across Sebastian's lips. “Tomorrow after class sounds wonderful. There should still be plenty of light to see them easily then.” As Tomer commented on placing snow on the pimple to see if it would help, Sebastian gave another soft chuckle. It was not a sound often heard from his lips at all, but it was one that his friend seemed to bring out of him far more often than most. “I could try that, but perhaps I shall make sure no one is watching first. That would be a very strange sight to witness, I would think.”

[Tomer Berelowitz]

A lot of people avoided Sean for various reasons. He was a doctor, he was a psychiatrist, he was a telepath, he was the one they saw when they were in trouble. Tomer didn't know which of those things (or all of them, maybe) made Sebastian uncomfortable, but he was becoming used to it. People being a little iffy about Sean, not Sebastian's discomfort. "I don't know if Clover is a trick type," he said. "I might try later when we've gotten to know each other better."

Unlike Dust, Storm burrowed under with her carrot end. Tomer smiled. It was fun to watch them dig around. They were a little like puppies in that way. "I've never heard of anyone teaching gerbils tricks," he admitted, "but if anyone could do it, I bet you and Dust could."

He agreed about Storm. She was quite independent. That was alright, as long as it didn't mean she was also unhappy, but the older boy treated his pets so well Tomer doubted it.

"That's true too, it's best to eat healthy stuff for most of the time," he said, "but I like trying new things too."

Tomer smiled. "I'll meet you in the hallway, then." He chuckled a little. "Everyone here is so weird all the time, I doubt anyone would look twice at someone holding snow up to their face. But I can cover you." Looking into the tank, both gerbils had dug into the shavings to disappear, for whatever it was gerbils did down there. Thinking more about how to keep Sebastian occupied, he suggested, "Why don't we go visit Clover?"

And the pair left the room to the ladies.

[END]