[img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/e636816c-1bf6-4a0f-b56c-4e907b79c203.png[/img]

Danni hummed, happy to finally relax for a second, with Amélie curled up on his chest. It was amazing that an actual dragon hatched out of that egg. He wouldn't have put it past Aggie just to give him something to stress about for the fun of it - she was always a little kooky but that's why he loved her! If he had any magical talent (or focus really), he would have loved to be in her classes. 

His phone's alarm screeched suddenly and he startled from his drowsing, Amélie protesting with an absolutely adorable and disgruntled chirp. She only bothered to open one eye, glare at her warm bedding, and clammered off. [color=E948FC] “I'm so sorry, baby! Do you wanna ride wit-”[/color] Amélie dragged his pillow under the blankets and let out a satisfied grumble before curling up. [color=E948FC] “Aw, so sleepy! A growing dragon's gotta get ‘er rest!”[/color] Danni cooed, kissing her little snout, taking a quick pictures, and skipping out the door. 

He wasn't certain what Beanie wanted to meet up about, but he was always happy to see her! It'd been a while since they'd had a chance to hangout together just the two of them. Maybe she wanted to dance! The haunted tree was a weird place to do that but hey, he'd done weirder!

Sabine had been dreading this conversation, but she knew it was necessary. She had been learning that keeping things bottled up and not addressing concerns didn’t help anything. In fact, they often made the situation worse. April’s mental health concerns were a catalyst of sorts and her own session with Maeve had opened her eyes somewhat.

So she texted Danni to meet up at the haunted tree. A sort of “where it all began” moment when the first cracks in their relationship started to appear.

Sabine had been waiting. When she looked up she waved over to Danni. Damn, she still cared for him. This was going to be rough.

[color=E948FC]“‘eeeeey, Beanie!”[/color] Danni shouted, bouncing up to her and throwing his arms around her. [color=E948FC]“It's been so long! Why ‘aven't we ‘ung out in so long? We def shouldn't wait so long next time! I missed you. What’cha been up to? ‘ow’d t’erapy go? Maeve’s real nice! She even made some coffee cups, really liked that, cause ot’erwise it was kinda lifeless, ya know? Yeesh. Who wants ta suffer in a borin’ room when you’re baring your ‘eart and soul.”[/color] Danni chattered. 

[color=E948FC] “Aaaanywho, what's up? What we doin’? We dancin’, we doin’ someth’in’ new? Oh, wait lemme show you Amélie! She steals my pillow and curls up under my blankets when she's sleepin’ and I got a great photo of ‘er today, look!”[/color] Danni shoved the phone under her nose like the proud dragon parent he was.

Sabine was reminded of why she loved Danni so much. He made it so hard to be upset with him, which admittedly was part of the problem. She knew from experience Danni didn’t like talking about stuff that upset him, preferring to avoid it. She wondered how his own therapy session went. [color=A2797E]”Hey Danni!”[/color] She smiled warmly as Danni took a picture with them and his new dragon. [color=A2797E]”Therapy went well and yes, I agree, I like Maeve. I didn’t think her office was lifeless. If anything, she opened it up for whatever I wanted. Did you know that’s her power? She can make tactile illusions. Very cool.”[/color]

Ok Sabine, time to get real.

[color=A2797E]”And no, Danni. No dancing. Not yet at least, though that does bring up one thing I wanted to talk about. It’s about the conversation we had in Coulson’s office about the new teams.”[/color] She waited, seeing if Danni had even an inkling on what she was referring to.

[color=E948FC] “So cool! I ‘ad ta ask ‘ow long t'ey lasted when she wasn’t around ‘cause t'ink of ‘ow easy it'd be ta decorate! Christmas lights? No ladders, no mess, no storage. But looks like it reverts pretty quick, t'ough I didn't really get an exact number.”[/color] Danni realized, frowning for a second before shrugging it off. 

[color=E948FC]“Oh, t'e whole we're dead in anot'er version of t'e world ‘cause a big, bad organization murdered t'e whole t'in’? ‘Onestly, I ‘ad ta ‘ave Percy explain t'at ta me ‘cause I didn't understand it. Waaaaaaay too galaxy brain for me! I t'ought they meant pruney like whe you go swimmin’’ for too long”[/color] Danni mimed his brain exploding with a sheepish laugh. [color=E948FC] “Oh, wait no, you said teams, not obliterated timestreams. Uh, yeah I guess? Why what's up? Did ya wanna try and change ‘em again or somet'in’?”[/color]

Sabine shook her head. [color=A2797E]”No not that part, though that’s why I plan on going back to therapy because honestly what the entire fuck? No Danni, I am talking about how we treated Zelda. One word from Coulson on teams changing because of what happened and you booted Zelda out. I get wanting to be a team together with April and Dorian, hell it’s all you guys talk about, and it was nice to include me, Leah, and Percy, but there was no attention paid to Zelda. She was put on our team and I thought during training and the fight we were in we worked well together. It didn’t seem fair to just….kick her out without a discussion or seeing if she even wanted to be on our team or not.”

“Other people’s feelings are valid Danni. Sometimes I think you forget that.”[/color]

Danni frowned, trying to figure out what Sabine was talking about. [color=E948FC] “But like, doesn't Zelda just not want ta be ‘ere? Like, she only wants ta do fashion. I coulda swore she'd mentioned ‘ow she only does t'e contest, or even comes ‘ere, ‘cause she's expected to. And like, she didn't even show up ta t'e meetin’, she was one of t'ose little camera t'in'ies and even when I went ta ‘er room later ta give ‘er th'e friendship bracelet, I ‘ad t'at leave it in a little baggie on t'e door ‘andle.”[/color] Danni giggled a little though. [color=E948FC] “You know, you sounded a lot like Maevie. She told me ta remember my feelin’s are valid. Sorry l, t'is is super serious, gimme a moment.”[/color] 

It took a few moments for his giggling to get under control. [color=E948FC]“Oookay, you t'ink I'm a jerk for kickin’ Zelds out and… tbf, I only kept Leah and Percy ‘cause I'd figure y'all were gunna kick a fit if you didn't ‘ave your significant ot'ers on a team wit’ y'all considerin’ ‘ow ‘ard it's been ta ‘ang out wit’ ‘ow obsessed y'all've been wit’ each ot'er.”[/color] Danni curled in on himself a bit, kicking the ground as he tried to gather his thoughts. [color=E948FC]“I just wanna win. Zelds and Leah-t'ough she's just confusin’ me cause like, she said she didn't wanna do it and t'en suddenly wanted ta do it but only ta be wit’ y'all, I don't really get ‘er-and I t'ink even Percy aren't really… motivated ta kick ass, Beanie. We can't ‘ave people who don't wanna put in a 100%, right?”[/color]

Sabine felt herself grow more frustrated. [color=A2797E]”That’s the entire point though Danni, it wasn’t a conversation we had. Yes, Zelda may not want to be on the team, yes Percy and Leah may not care enough or only care because the people they are with care. But we didn’t talk about it at all. You just decided for everyone. I would be totally okay if April and/or Leah were on the opposite team because I recognize enough about myself to understand that it doesn’t mean I don’t care about them or want them to fail.”[/color] It was true, to an extent. She wouldn’t be super thrilled about it, but she wanted to win. But she also wanted to ensure that the people who wanted to be there, in whatever capacity, was there.

[color=A2797E]”Also, real rich coming from you talking about ‘kicking a fit’ considering your feelings about Dorian and Percy being together.”[/color] As soon as the words left her lips, Sabine hated herself. [color=A2797E]”Shit, I didn’t mean that Danni! I’m sorry!”[/color]

Danni had been thinking real hard, hard enough he could feel his brain hurt because honestly, he was having a hard time wrapping his head around what Sabine was saying but Danni thought he was doing something nice. He gave them a present, right? Danni hated doing things he didn't really want to so would-

Danni took a step back, eyes wide and mouth agape. It felt like she'd slapped him and everything in his head came to a screeching halt. [color=E948FC] “Um… I, um…”[/color] Sabine wanted to have a serious conversation and here he was, lower lip quivering and tears prickling at the edges of his eyes. He couldn't hold it back though, and he curled himself into a ball and sobbed. 

[color=E948FC]“I know! I'm the worst! I don't mean to but its- it's so hard, Beanie.”[/color] Danni wailed, words broken up between hiccups. [color=E948FC] “Like, Princess and Dee and you all got into relationships at the same time and you all started hanging out with each other and I'm just… alone. I get left behind while you all are off and when Dee texted me tha’at t'ey ya know, did t'e nasty, I just… it was just another t'in’ t'ere gunna do and leve me out of. Just like you and Princess and Leah. You're all gunna do t'at too and you all won't ‘ave time for me anymore. And after I burned my ‘ouse down ‘cause t'e ‘cadie nightmares, I just can't ‘old it back when I get upset like t'at. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Don't be mad at me please!”[/color] Danni wrapped his arms around himself tighter, shaking. 

Sabine felt intense remorse. She knew Danni didn’t intend any harm, deep down. Yet, that was still the problem, wasn’t it? Still, Danni falling to the floor reminded her that she wasn’t innocent in this either. Danni’s words held some truth to it: when she got together with April and Leah, a lot of her other relationships fell to the wayside. She hardly posted on social media and, when she did, it usually had April and Leah in it. She had forgotten Danni. And that wasn’t fair.

Still, her feelings were valid too. Sabine walked over and crouched down, putting her arms around Danni. [color=A2797E]”You are not the worst Danni and I won’t have you talking about my best friend like that!”[/color] Sabine felt the tears come up and decided to let them flow. [color=A2797E]”Please tell me when I upset you Danni. You are one of my best friends and I never want to hurt you, but I won’t know if you don’t tell me. I know you don’t mean anything by it when you didn’t include Zelda and I know you are dealing with a lot when it comes to Dorian and Percy. But please, your feelings are valid and you need to let them out sometimes. I need to do a better job of that also.”[/color]

Danni clung to Sabine, calming down a little as he got physical comfort. [color=E948FC]“Uhm, okay, so um, we're good? Overall, yeah?”[/color] Danni asked timidly, still sniffling. [color=E948FC] “It just… it just seemed like what t’ey wanted,yeah? Like when ya give someone a present, you don't talk about it, you just do it. I t'ought I was givin’ t’em a present.”[/color] Danni whined. [color=E948FC] “I'm sorry, I didn't mean ta make t'em feel like I didn't care. T’at's why I gave t'em friendship bracelets.”[/color]

Sabine sighed inwardly. [color=A2797E]”Yes, Danni, of course we are good. I know your intention was good but sometimes even our best intentions can hurt other people and a friendship bracelet won’t make it better. That’s why we should talk more about how we are feeling and what we need.”[/color] Sabien chuckled. [color=A2797E]”God I sound like that therapist.”[/color]

[color=E948FC]"That's why I was laughin’, you sound like Maevie.”[/color] Danni hiccuped sadly. [color=E948FC]“I don't know what ta do t'en. Do you t'ink t'ey're upset? Should we ‘ave anot'er ‘angout session so t'ey don't feel left out?”[/color] Danni asked pitifully.

[color=A2797E]”I think we should get together with everyone, yes. Maybe speak about how we are feeling overall with each other. I think they are more upset that you are upset than for anything you may have done. But yeah, I think talking more with each other will be good, especially before the contest.”[/color]

[color=E948FC]“A’ight. We can do t'at.”[/color] Danni pushed himself to his feet, still sniffling. [color=E948FC] “Do you maybe wanna hang out a little more for fun? Or do you wanna go gather everyone now?”[/color] Danni asked, not quite ready to face people after sobbing in public. He probably needed to go wash his face too - he wasn't always the prettiest cryer and he was certain he was puffy and red everywhere. 

Sabine sat there a moment more, relishing in the growth that was just achieved. As much as she hated to admit it, Dr. Whitehall’s suggestion worked. Didn’t mean it would work all of the time, but communication helped. [color=A2797E]”Let’s maybe sit here a bit longer and collect ourselves. I, for one, need to re-apply my eyeliner and mascara because my face is probably a mess and I cannot see people until that is fixed.”[/color]