*Peeks in*
Screwdriver it. I'm gonna post here anyways. Just dust off the ol' post button because I had a story come to me last night. It's another 2nd World Tale so let's go!
----------------------
It's been a long while, but 2nd World is still at peace.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NEqF3t4C6cGTS3O7BvGUCJAnRiopSKlGgMzJXljkWyYjOWhQqUmsXAIVIodWP_sn8EEjmHEGrBLxwNZLw3SbQZpKCSVTE6W0SEiC863gRLuxQkLSFlbFw9Ixcy3mLc1ZAC0_gQcRjRPlYjaJTZT96PedEV6YTdgH4YtqvyjXjTbhvT8OacSdwS_Pl8zKH7G-3YxyS8UvHpxBAPSldKNJ2zajs93oQlqull6f4DHigjJ8907hCJHULSGcUHANSEh3yQQ2vbQZ3FtXuc3ya7ZOkCWNRBnRFd5pdCOojnbmEr3ghz4vWAQCaRlXrqi5ZoVZYND2MFEv7P2fni4b9LzY2xBmRHH21t_YRS381g8dDT_p4htPQy3niGcDSYHVXzObqGZ25zS5TNhDYuO8FOXah1swvwS5-D2djPRhQ2x3vOfWN9ggckxngjgmce7ReQfHeqoGMo0tGQEW_3rE7-imjDrJdS9xlBvqa4Ks5cQOiE2kripEH55w6KtPh7OiLe2_uDlBb8vcWQg2HFM9_2KApk9F6icr_tCPgOmUMLrA3GN5ntOH9F_apMYi1erhDpHfHeRm_kTxhUhjcCgG06iPYVh41dK7KdnPrB9CktySjJv_-dc66XU99DLvT4Zsb6ymjW6ehw31B4KoraRo0QU96Ivj_C1UYMayECAgS4hkt-wUIgaVjEEVXAz68lXUxw=w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
"Seriously! I still can't believe I missed all the anti-AI undertones in her writing. Makes me feel so terrible reading her books now."
"Isn't Emma writing a book as sort of a response to A.D. Rockies anyways?"
"She was supposed to. But honestly she hasn't really talked much about it since."
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EPNltAFx8e4OJRCukIdCOxfUk9mvSUXbPqXxdc__HtBAI6oJx8-f82XKy52S9Uvq8T5rHLNrHTyGE3v0-9h1lmL0x-HL98NTPh0Ym3863Jb7IwiCnClZzC7KNrYRclvYXvSilza5Sn237_suc5kMLcVowB1-xKK6UNih5XsaGv3STfA-D7gLhBDvRiEb3hYOE2iM8kPij32NUqqvaUfD2E_e6g2fcTbVuGU9wXvhwYcaprU-0n0DuiuogFZ6V9Y40T0X5xh7q7NxxGA76R84VlD8msCVwO8aacrcBbzEe7F8XdHmleOQEdWjCi_Z3uhdtHwVbINAmjGDuKgoCcAN8QB4RY01I3h5lTYsGRjdqCwtR1wyGqbqTWdsxHuUtzEXIEuR40FP9TF7DJo9u-3MveCSLn6AH0HIiVR7_KyglSkGMAEJp7rFCHV1Ne4v3Ouz_VFrR4ZH0qBTPMdnDEU4bDL23_yM4K71E_fJGp5mtLtgPKJJGORnwq73_KaZsC69b88jgEM_Y_1Roc39JeMflqel5fs1fYkgLB5cSRpAGuwxu2ZkuaZxf-nLuDGtSdt7C_8_snVqvy3BZ3XHRHV8GCjNwuwx6gZK-dA86XO64H-39O2fB3opXor3T-3FckT3BOQbKNuI604VJa1vDWpwOYWHV6dwKxy-CpHeHo-1qj2oaBiFgVOu9U808x8kSw=w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
And Julia is still the typical teenager.
"One for the Simstagram...Oh hey! Text from Gramma!"
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LAq58XBcBKJGPm5IQsjDgz0RZrscR0rimh_nN0ZjGW7nsOeyr50k1LsRTJyeZEUgXd9wzCmRmZUGnO2p5MLfX5C4B80qQhuHItSItxO6CPvrjJQgMomHUIUvac2r0CrJgH_xQlCamOQn9TqGDRwdHRbQTUji0CdI67d-m7KkGGCulZvVQVbMuZ35rT2vKriz2I-Ds03uTm-8-D7XT6pVybKUAFXr0v9ugKeKDkcX5tDtTHHm0opqWhJXAkKzeJkvcJtwXo1CEr6VTFb3CfpxBbN8hNSw9GRh0brgRk3sntDKkeXG4xjxn_LKuec3Tu6-OnfIlqZH3BjwooYy7wWFdlt6VB8_-NuCHG51FH1XVUyDpV6d-ij2lRhdm7aW5pvS_R8MfeSYhZ_gk6tuwSdxO-4L1kGd_zCvpCG-iYYcaIffq0-lTqv6Qt0k7oxePKNPrbczZeCaDTplEHlcu8yP1Wli5fUVsR7XtYV7D_8cdi00Rbr16epMWo4U_KhJ4Ij4DtKa3gy23tKYRHIA5fB3IIqi7B6GgSE_WEDwahPijdY-AI3hYyzqGkwxNaTu04jmfzj926zwsRN_wtOR7i4UQEPxpxJDoxwliVcLAbtdTPKm0TwlqzBIAhe7mQTmdvyjuvjzJAE1GTnE0a0Bc4iozD8q2tqCRo8gl1dcrUNGUVpjkydcrlrOeXQiZ7Zkvg=w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
Upstairs, Emma was deep into her work on the computer, although not for writing.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SnnoqnBUDzf6yxtCR17bQvjAD-mui-FRKF2DicUp2rx9aBLt6KdkzoxApEv4BkrWqV2sP1cGR4ca1U1KuFhGbFAjqOxURRvimkp079EHJJ4hXhsNHYwGeKYrtFn53eRM-ykTozO30jSdwxvUg5VsK-D-iYdtn7Ii2GqAxwFQNsVdLlkd5yX-5oVVDGY8bKuUaFcf9mMoqoag3UJz8JGJNw-g2V82QbDFzuEo58LVtMVnrFJ7OgonWTGXRelfdHkHGKqpP94KCeyVKrxb7u3x4D-BE6HNKwJJcSQ_O_fLYhqG8V6WNXedBpOG9QssT9L-RZq7vMZyJMklEV1Em5l7Tr_l_h81kOpdpEhYMoOb7F82HlKFZSAS1tYRKDJqvl7wOK36EUb3RjrhOu52B7UqArsZH_95PxcIu0X1mSK5JKYIAB-akErqeSfY074WlAuVoE3PqRXM-0YG1CLDtuKs1NAZIrIuSN06yrr8ffdpKIURoKvqI6K6J5z0Vblz1Zv6D4JtkzURsBetTPOX9XOmDpbQfdYGoSnCEi7K3CPpJb2odG5rDZXCX5MnkkE9Efe7f63aPOy3SzkO0INbr-2Vdconl5DkBpCljTEXtDmZ1Y5_-6v5ZhjlpI4eWkFEa5WB9G1e_AV83FR_i6HMv34qI0F7F0-sXOUXFiS7ZnpYblt5_U4Q4AAH1RBDlDl0tw=w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
Peter later went upstairs to talk to his mother, Julia sitting on the bed.
"Hey, Mom?" asked Peter. "Sakura and I were wondering if you were still working on "The Abby Indestructible Journeys" series you said you were thinking of doing."
"Honestly, Peter dear, that has been far from my mind. I've recently been looking into universities."
"Oh!" exclaimed Peter excitedly. "It's great you're helping Julia find a good post-secondary before she graduates then!"
Julia rolled her eyes.
"Get with the times, Pops. I'm not going to uni until I work a year. Gramma is the one going. She wanted me to help her write up her application essay."
Peter stumbled over his words.
"As...As in to teach?!"
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/InKoe_sqaJj4I0PAYnjqSbSLAEfWMsMlWiSEBPMBsEPPMhFQje8kFKwlm1WusIxpnLsMF_ZAji3dJXD0J3eQGwVRRd_Zusemzpad5gnSxr0Aa9chaekw1RmVrtqlXjlKqLTWOzqyTSAT2p4AMbUg_OcOVQEDWNyPrSRhJ2N0HQablXAOGqu8hMu5cVvuJLzdiTA5JcO-exSJXOSNdHoA3GElI-eYG9Tc5EVUQH90Ppn52vbR67cyANxdFJBPXWrHE-8Va_YZnyeZ1O8CCJ63VG-klzS03o6lYcujP0uf1CnZzzZtUuvUWNFiouxa7oL2n3Dbv5iNp03_L-z88PHR-qNgUo3WPC1U2tzKhYeYvlq41ddprABzKrieadY3u9bgO4VW8GeJpLmoPLdaQHSXzeYmN4ZrghFk-REYMyOLFNoCZhppD7mz73z-k6gKrdH9NagTXQclO5nw8jjAEJBZExvBNi5HKpenFGouWG8vdAcXljRL5duZ1qhcRdO2jMI0CyLCP_2Z0bZAneZXCWmLYeQ2CYFWPH69jjJOuZiIeoDYg45x6WQf4NelXR1fxOK-nv8_PdZUdeKgbgkN7v0bgzfnKwaSwaklTqn29ZR-Tgk28NGGlZXdwEHpDTQIInOdHfHttObAjrNtbBWakRK5hidn1jVQBrJPR2ijkpmHYiyG-yc564_0nBSbwzcCUA=w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
"As in to study, Peter," said Emma. "I haven't been finding the fulfillment I've wanted through writing and looking at any available jobs, they just seem dry and boring. So I'm looking into universities to get a degree."
"Yeah but those can take a while, Mom?"
"Peter. Julia is a teenager now and will soon be finished school. I'm not staying around here as a babysitter."
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/N-BriyT4AXtF-SonGfQfxGEVrZWNiywTxgr6IZz8UcdScT7vrw681Yqn6rCUzmWScFsfAlCRw4JWBMnja2HgvaDMIOOCmVoeYYgr2jXP9t1ffoN0PIUDYhCmhyZr-vlgZR-4VzCjRSnU5fbG_o1_IwqKrPMMxYfTTJT1UlNXkENRk0LV0ZWNtKEUmCq0j0hBzS3mXxPqeV5Y4dxtvTlT6Y10DwdDUeKUtUAfpU93TSsqCYSiUUyeyLER_SwfFdIOjFTCFajivKvQOrNG-G9KSkj14fWsOOQdxH0kS4vcu8TeuPUg2uN5jO3xoa_w08_BiGFiAldY3QnWxNPxRrvEq5a1bAyDJJG069MPu4IgDppPgweztovRnsR-w_BUraobeck84mRKDGOfPGG1VFM3S80ciyMY2kfylqBnIImHm0ZMyCnK_sz7sgmIV8HXEeLhYSYC0IBwpNoZ4VATFqT1-H2xRVCFTzkw5b3aJT8bl6Mh7Ar0SWi7FHDUxv2LjBOYlu-Ghl_sewJlWYWkgN0QMOv3RGXiOQKlpT0FSZBhpf3mSKc17EAvS7d4d8wDlQgaSAPAfQlyVQRvaa_zyCbAdc4HdgY5tHHxO9J5LwlFQtKjpPmE5RoNt26F9ps9ntfnPfNSFfENIe7m5HPKf6bxuXz7-vOJwAFxGUh7OhgyNmR8ihn4-qnG7aT9HgVHdA=w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
"It's not that, Mom!" said Peter. "It's...Well..."
Emma chuckled.
"Go on, dear. Say it."
"C'mon Pops," Julia teased. "Gramma can take it."
"Well...You're not...You're not exactly young anymore...And...Well...I'd miss you."
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qmm7J9pYyzJKOL9AveKvo68-DBPhlN0tsJSWTtMxqgbXkGCPSYo2jNkuGgaAX9ugGfpogULvN5bGj39hYL-UkA-aBV_LDqe45Qql8U5EEvss_mRBdXpYLCiSgJLfwOOOjugoIBJrDNqmSMSKyBIVSRaDNrWSO40lmd-iCht89Tv6NDg7XV70fotgh2NX7xIclbK__7VGZmL2wB8xcT3GzOnGXtO1i3WhxLtGw4dt6DdZek-vhTosqW0s3MOe00J67qVtYXceIxcwjblAO_xnHJ8-zXPdn_nzFt5Bi8OcdimledHV7AjXSDOEIhsOJownzGUV7syDdQFl9cYBBwzI5MfnEecrJErjUWfSFXrDJ-J5w411U-MdXOfWbN90CqEvFoHYrZP3IGaEfeXIahBY3FYM7-rwbpR4c8QzQYvuqBsXQnOWsvnlRv2sLXDgi7Ksn4Ao_XDHE0H1Cf0gR5uUGgD93GGn9E73SGe03ZZYlfFC8e_sFQKXyUUwWC1tL4huBQBp7yOta4vTP29Xv6dt2Ohx5YmdWK2EiPfvX8X8M--0REnCL8TufIrUX9N9kZIDPBUdKs4T-joubJEQTMhRukoE5NCV4PUSQizlhtK9AVFdgqpfzsaLXy50shdaiYeMn5CqPrs4iIkOtOOgnxaovvuoJH_nOexjj5ZDdfKGnMmsyXoaUMUYbfEd6iMJQ=w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
Emma and Peter went to sit on the bed.
"Would you seriously miss me that much?"
"I probably would! I know you deserve to be happy and if you want to go to university, then I hope it works out but at the same time...Not being able to see you reminds me that I may never see you forever...Like Dad..."
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Emma took Peter up into a loving hug.
"Dearie...I'll be home weekends and holidays! I can't spend all my time at university."
"That's true."
"And if things became that serious, I'd be home anyway. I'm not dying alone in a dorm room or some hospital bed. Right now though, I'm fit as a fiddle and so long as I can get accepted, I'm going to Britechester."
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KnYt18AftvB6vYvF-bNzAjpDRxms3LZGNqh5jmFvrD2N0dwG7YL0byyxkNZkZEshR1AWZsmTlv4GFJRoDOGHQxbirg-7YrRLbfEwszKgXJlVPf1mB1etG00b9CJxAunlm6tcg-cmQNz-gxJEAmF8S3HX-DzYF2ast9M22q9Afd3SnOYeiMO-rIUlc_84NJJyhpCQBEk4tMXjOvAGShAHTDWv16JmNuSAXO3MsXH33LlQyAie2GM5II8HSv9rbFMhCEKpLM0XHTfGoHUQymPllIhaqgaTpdKrLIye3fxk3bwzj3erIK8bCSJozLdhDZeL2r3gJviOZUDQeRFjgEdYeFqiKk_5CgN6Vr7tVA3Gc9vRZV5hF28ph7fkNxFdvn9YkGHFpUSYQhO2tGks_t0VJDA6hcqg4WpO6B3lHaD0ypn-jS5Pm7nNqZFJFVw2zMJntB4qXzMWVtdxNVTaZnOI-gFbjzd5hOYfHGWQVqCvWlIJapWrrgxbcWQNXASp08-9-JLkwut9UcCC8iS4esDbjfnyEnHCa1LdUpe88sz1fakgrB043pIoEFkvKz-MOHCdO5z3SalWvmONqjoFlXU8Po6Yt9cb2KF767Dxa61Bb-dG9xOfr-Y_MI4rfL6Hk6cQfgF2FO0ya3JPzKyCmhq5fIOwSIVHkgWON8don3xagGVz7oVS27rUu66Y4GSMGg=w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
Satisfied with his mother's response, Peter smiled.
"Isn't that the school Dad went to?"
"Of course! I looked at some other schools, but my hopes are for Britechester. Your father excelled at his nautical science courses there and was Captain of the Debate Club. Don't expect me to do the same. I'm looking more into History I think. Either that or Art History."
Peter chuckled.
"Well now you got me convinced. And if you can do that, maybe you can convince a certain someone else in this house to go as well."
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"Pops...I've already said..." interjected Julia.
"I don't think he means you, sweetheart," said Emma. "I think he means your father."
"Yeah..." said Peter. "It's been a long while now and I've tried talking to him a couple times...Offhandedly of course. But if you're going back to school, maybe you can convince Sakura to go with you. If he gets in of course."
Julia rolled her eyes once more.
"Good luck with that! From what I heard, you'd be lucky to get Dad close to even a lecture hall..."
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"Lecture hall?" Sakura said as he entered the room. "Why? Are you finally deciding on a university, Julia?"
"No, dear Sakura, I am," said Emma with a smile. "And Peter and I were discussing about you maybe joining me. You never did finish your art diploma after, did you?"
Sakura chuckled.
"Well...You don't need a diploma to paint."
"I know, dear. But Britechester has a few good courses in Art History and even Fine Art that could help you with more techniques. And if you went as well, we could even be in same class."
Sakura gave a forced grin.
"Sure...Ah Peter? Can we talk in my studio?"
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HxhhKcnrdU8-xUunRjt14B74mNSQE7SKXuTN8cVg__O_0aE-8kbnVk3Y3wLmcmIEHa8torXy3I76QUvJc7ahyO_b1QGrGO_GdwsNm7X5jbTS7gS75eL2OlweZ2F3JDnL7lQoFUSluK79mH01CdCp5SPaINNQn6TmxBxlxkbxG238m5fwJLTn0ako2MaupGDkI7IJk6WmS4Zz5ruQkURxTGqW8FVegEt1CBvbkfoLV3xspb9tbUQ6BJ5impSNwJb1I9H6IfiSoJDeCOdRIYlcO7yuHea7kk8mW70lM_CEf81M_MCAdAoucuN6reGZzjK2PoAhm81f-85c8AeqnDY9Z8m2PeU-hfGPt7azEAHdSIL-j4JRLbsOjTVtppwb8mv48uloTtPNJ03ARiH4QUa_DhvKK-eP0oZI4-G2-6uie8EDYOaN8BZ9isd_bSkAEbgKX-vy8Qss7M8T0DReDfvjmuxP6VVRWUQTLnrTSX8VhE-pCD_i0s2NufND8mSB-HzXs1tc3wqoYH6it4Y8a3TCTMTm2GjeGrGJvKvK9lXZQ86SQpTm0KzQugd5CfXj_PKifpX50p9Mbu9--humafvWlR_uNQ1J1KQfcmBebgmCkltSP3iE9kVCKCwSuloZcOZ0pbRGMR77Vs2yikxL035HmD6hMOMeWKExcvTMhzoLzrBGClPXDZrlstU2wNQU4gbiyUN1jKs=s1258-w1258-h786-no?authuser=0
As everyone left, Milo came up to say hi.
"Oh Milo! I wish I could take you! But the dorms don't allow pets. And I think Julia and especially Peter, will need you stay here."
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Downstairs, Sakura's brow narrowed and body seethed as he spoke with his husband.
"Peter are you off your proverbial rocking horse?"
Peter raised a confident brow.
"About what?"
"You know very well what!"
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"You remember why I don't do colleges. I am quite fine painting on my own without a degree to back it up!"
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"Oh hey Milo," said Peter as the cat walked into the room.
"Peter are you even listening to me?"
"Hang on, Milo. I'm talking with Sakura, okay?"
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Peter then returned to Sakura, this time leaving the teasing aside and becoming serious.
"I do know what happened, but that was also years ago and things have changed. We know where Hawthorne is and something tells me he can't even afford tuition to elementary school nowadays. And Nick has completely changed. And I doubt you'll run into anyone from New Island College at Britechester."
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"I don't care about Hawthorne or Nick or anyone from back then. It's not them I'm afraid of!"
"Then...What's the problem?" asked Peter.
"The problem is you trying to force me to go to post-secondary and having everyone find out that I essentially flunked out of college!" Sakura finally blurted out. "If Hawthorne and the others were bad, I can only imagine what a bunch of stuck up university students are going to think! I don't want to go back to worrying about every step I take!"
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Sakura's lip trembled, annoyance becoming shame as he held back tears.
Peter carefully approached.
"But Love...You...You didn't flunk out. You were bullied and pushed to your limit. Hawthorne and them forced you to quit! There's no need to be ashamed of that!"
"You know that, Peter...But if anyone else were to find out..."
"I have my doubts they would find out. And if anyone did...I'm quite sure they would see it for what it was: abuse. You're a smart, wonderful man. I am sorry if I pressured you, but I do think you would benefit from finishing your education. Haven't you ever wanted to?"
Sakura gave a rheumy-eyed nod.
"Y...Yeah...I just...You know..."
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"I do know," said Peter, "Which is why I think you should go. And this time you won't be alone, don't forget. If both of you are accepted, Mom will be around if you ever need anything. And I'm just a phone call away."
Sakura gave a firm nod, blinking away excess tears.
"Okay. I'll go up and...and fill out an application."
"You're gonna do great," said Peter. "Don't let fear of the past hold you back."
------------
Next post, Sakura isn't the only one going back to Post-Secondary along with Emma.
