fandomhigh | Finding (More) New Hobbies, Thursday Period 2

“Last week was TV and snacks,” Stark said. “Easy. Just something to sit back and enjoy without having to do anything at all besides maybe press a button. Or open snacks. So today we’ll do something that requires a little more effort. Or at least a little more engagement? I don’t know. A less passive hobby for today than the one last week, anyway.”

Was he babbling a little today? Maybe. Just a bit. These things happened, sometimes. Especially if you were Stark.

“So. Creating something. So there’s something to show for your time and something to keep your hands busy. But you don’t have to make it all up. Just follow the instructions. And if it doesn’t work you just take it apart and start again. So. This is…”

Stark paused and gestured to the bag in front of him and then started pulling things out of it. Hooks. Yarn. Instruction books. Kits for beginners that included everything.

“Crochet. Something new for us to try. Unless you’ve tried it before and then it isn’t new for you but it’s still new for me. So…Come get your supplies. And there is a video we can watch that might explain things and then there are plenty of instructions and different sorts of things to try. Hats are popular. Blankets, but that involves a lot more time than we have. Tiny scarves. Maybe a blanket for the squirrels when they’ve passed out? Or little characters and creatures. Lots of things to try but at first we’ll just try to put a few stitches together. And if you can’t…that’s fine. No risk. Just something to do. To keep us occupied.”

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"It's good that you feel it's something to celebrate," Steven said. Since he knew someone who did not feel that way about his own. "Signs things are going well, I think."

Whoever might Steven be referring to? A mystery.

"Being alive is something to celebrate," Stark said mildly. "Rather than the alternative. And birthdays are still new, for me."

"It'll be Llewellyn's first birthday party here on the island," Steven said. Since the last one that had been planned for him had gone pear shaped. "I'm hoping it goes well. No rain, people having fun, that sort of thing."

The island did have a habit of wrecking people's plans like that.

"I'm sure it will be enjoyable," Stark said. "No reason to think it won't be."

"There's always that concern," Steven said. "Will it go well? Will people like the food? Will anyone show up?"

Steven's anxiety was building with time, yes.

"I'm only one person but I'll be there. So that's three, already," Stark said. "And you've plenty of people living in your boarding house. Why wouldn't they come as well?"

And that was like a third of the island population right there!

"You have friends. Both of you. They'll come."

Big words from someone who would probably never host his own party because, well, what if nobody came?

"Here's hoping," Steven said. Of course, being Steven, that immediately made him go on to his next worry. "What if we don't have enough food?"

"Then someone will get more. And I'll bring something so you'll already have more than you planned on having."

Stark could catastrophize with the best of them but that also made him good at countering the what-ifs of others. Sometimes.

"Right. Right." Steven took a deep breath. "I'm borrowing trouble, aren't I?"

"Borrowing trouble?" Stark echoed. "I dont think I've ever heard anyone say that but... maybe? You're worrying. I do that too. Too much. I know what it sounds like."

"It's a phrase Llewellyn came up with," Steven said. "Means worrying about things that might not happen. Upsetting myself for no reason, really."

Finding (More) New Hobbies, Thursday Period 2

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