x
I’m always hoping that I knew more about you than just your name
Or how my friends always spyin’ to know your deal and all your game
Yeah I’m loo-looking around for some sweet escape
From my own introvertedness, but then- [original parody of greedy - Tate McRae]
Nickolas sighed, tossing his pen off his desk. He had no idea what it was like to be that introverted. How was he supposed to write a parody of a song, with the central theme being introversion? Glitchy wouldn’t begin to describe his grammar, what with ‘introvertedness’ being a new word he coined. Or was it already a word to begin with?
“Gallus,” he called in front, a sheepish expression on his face, “Can you pass my pen?”
Gallus, who wanted to focus on the elemental manipulation class, mandatory for all students with science-related majors, quickly said, “Sure,” and handed the pen back to his friend. “What are you up to?” he asked. He knew Nick wasn’t nearly as careless with his pen.
Nickolas took the pen and twirled it between his fingers, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I’m trying to write a song parody,” he confessed, “But it’s about introversion, and I’m struggling to get into that mindset.”
Gallus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Introversion, huh? That’s a tough one, and, d you’re not nearly introverted as me. But you know, it’s not just about being shy or quiet. It’s about finding energy in solitude, preferring a good book to a loud party, or having meaningful conversations with a few close friends rather than making small talk with a crowd.”
Nickolas nodded, thinking over Gallus’s words. “That’s a good point. I was focusing too much on the stereotypical aspects. Thanks, Gallus.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, Nickolas picked up his pen again, ready to give his song parody another shot. This time, he would try to capture the essence of introversion, not just the cliched stereotypes. And who knows, he might even coin a few more words along the way.
“You know what?” Gallus said, “The professor’s just ranting about noble gases anyway. Only Aurelia would have to apply this.”
As Gallus turned around to face Nickolas, he glanced over at Aurelia, who was completely engrossed in the professor’s lecture on noble gases. He decided to strike up a conversation with her, curious about her interest in the topic.
“Aurelia,” he said. “What’s so fascinating about noble gases?”
Aurelia looked up from her notes, pleasantly surprised by Gallus’s interest. “Well,” she began, “noble gases are unique because they’re stable and don’t readily react with other elements. It’s like they’re content in their own solitude, much like an introvert.”
Gallus chuckled at the comparison, appreciating the reference to Nickolas’s song parody. “That’s an interesting way to put it,” he admitted. “I guess there’s a bit of introversion in all of us, even in the elements.”
Nickolas, overhearing their conversation, smiled and jotted down a few more lines for his song. As Gallus and Aurelia continued their conversation, the professor’s usually dull voice suddenly rose in excitement. “And now, for the grand finale of today’s lecture, we will be conducting a live demonstration of the properties of noble gases!”
The class buzzed with anticipation as the lab assistant brought out a set of gas-filled tubes and passed them around. Each tube was filled with a different noble gas, and when an electric current was passed through them, they glowed with different colors. The room was filled with a beautiful, ethereal light, casting a magical glow on everyone’s faces.
Aurelia’s eyes lit up with excitement, her earlier conversation with Gallus making the demonstration even more meaningful. Gallus, too, was captivated by the spectacle, his interest in noble gases piqued by their conversation.
Meanwhile, Nickolas, inspired by the beautiful display and the deep conversation between Gallus and Aurelia, found the perfect ending for his song. He wrote down the final lines, a smile of satisfaction on his face. His song parody, which started as a struggle, had turned out beautifully, much like the glowing noble gases in front of him.
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Later that day, Gallus was seated at his desk, deep in thought. He didn’t feel like talking or doing anything, for that matter. He was reflecting on the day’s events - the lecture on noble gases, the enlightening conversation with Aurelia, and Nickolas’s struggle and eventual success with his song parody. It was a day filled with learning, not just academically, but also about life and human nature.
But with thoughts about life came thoughts about death.
His inevitable, earlydeath to his own powers.
He glanced at the small box of pills seated in the corner of the table. Selena’s words in the observatory echoed over and over in his head.
And Gallus agreed with her, that he would live his life to the fullest. He picked up his pen and began to jot down all the things he wanted to do with his life in his favorite spiral-bound notebook. He began to write a bucket list.
LEARN TO CONTROL MY FRANCIUM ▢
Socialize more ▢
Travel to a distant country ▢
Start a vlog ▢
Beat a world record ▢
Build a robot ▢
Try writing a song, or a parody ▢
Eat a triple patty burger ▢
Describe a ‘thief’ to a police officer with the same features as myself ▢
Sled down a mountain ▢
As Gallus was engrossed in his thoughts, there was a knock on the door. He looked through the peephole to see Selena and Aurelia standing at the entrance, their faces lit up with excitement. He opened the door, and smiled at the girls. “What are you two doing here?”
“Hey Gallus,” Selena greeted, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “We were just passing by and thought we’d drop in. What are you up to?”
Gallus glanced at his bucket list, then back at Selena and Aurelia. “Just jotting down some things I want to do,” he replied, a small smile playing on his lips.
Aurelia’s eyes widened in interest as she spotted the list. “A bucket list, huh?” she said, moving closer to take a look. “That’s a great idea, Gallus. Mind if we help add a few things?”
“Sure,” he replied, before spotting a sheet of paper in her hand. “What’s that for, by the way?”
Aurelia looked down at the sheet in her hand and then back at Gallus, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “Oh, this?” she said, holding up the paper. “It’s a… relationship contract.”
Gallus raised an eyebrow, intrigued, trying to stifle a laugh. “A relationship contract? For who?”
Aurelia hesitated for a moment before replying, “It’s for Nickolas. I thought it might help clear things up between us.”
Gallus couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Well, that’s one way to handle it,” he said, shaking his head in amusement. “Good luck with that, Aurelia.” He then turned his attention back to his bucket list, ready to add more items with the help of Selena and Aurelia.
“Thanks,” she said, “I’ll need it. Where is he, by the way?” she asked.
Gallus gave Aurelia a knowing smile, “Nickolas? Oh, he’s… around,” he said, deciding to keep Nickolas’s whereabouts a secret. “I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”
As the trio sat around Gallus’s desk, they began brainstorming ideas for his bucket list. Selena suggested a few adventurous activities like skydiving and bungee jumping, while Aurelia recommended more intellectual pursuits like learning a new language or reading a series of classic novels.
Meanwhile, Nickolas had returned to campus, a small package in his hand. He had managed to find a perfect gift for Aurelia - a beautifully bound copy of her favorite book. He hoped it would serve as a peace offering and help smooth things over between them after the confession.
As he approached the dorm, he could hear laughter coming from Gallus’s room. He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Gallus looked up from his list, surprised. “Come in,” he called out, wondering who it could be. The door opened to reveal Nickolas, holding a small package. “Nickolas! You’re back,” Gallus greeted, a smile on his face. “What’s that you’ve got there?”
Nickolas looked at Gallus, then at Selena and Aurelia. “It’s… it’s a gift,” he admitted, a blush creeping up his cheeks. “For Aurelia.”
Aurelia looked surprised, but also touched. She accepted the gift from Nickolas, her eyes beaming as she unwrapped it to reveal the book. “Nickolas… this is… wow… thank you,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.
Nickolas gave her a small smile, relieved that she liked the gift. “You’re welcome, Aurelia,” he replied, his heart pounding in his chest. “I… I hope this can be a new start for us.”
“It is,” she replied, before pausing for a minute to collect her thoughts. “Speaking of which,” she continued, glancing at him from the corner of her eye as she unfolded the sheet of paper she held in her hand. “I have something I need you to read,”
Nickolas, intrigued, took the sheet of paper and begun to read the contract. It was written in a rather formal manner. He smiled, as he read the title, ‘Draft Resolution Nickel Oxide’, and scanned through the preamble quickly. As he read each clause, his facial expression seemed to gradually shift from amusement to a slight gloominess.
Nickolas wasn’t amused by the contract because it was a stark reminder of the complexity and seriousness of their relationship. It was no longer just a casual friendship, but something that required rules and boundaries. This sudden shift was a bit overwhelming for him, making him feel a sense of unease and apprehension.
As he continued to read the contract, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. The carefree days of their friendship seemed to be replaced by a formal agreement, which, although necessary, felt somewhat restrictive. He missed the spontaneity and freedom that their relationship once had.
Moreover, the contract also brought to light some of his own insecurities. He wondered if he could live up to the expectations set in the contract. The fear of disappointing Aurelia or failing to meet the terms of the contract weighed heavily on him.
Despite these feelings, Nickolas knew that this was a necessary step in their relationship. He appreciated Aurelia’s effort in drafting the contract and her attempt to make things clear between them. He wanted to discuss his feelings with Aurelia, hoping to find a middle ground where they could maintain the essence of their friendship while navigating their new relationship, but he couldn’t.
He was too afraid.
He forced a smile, and pulled out a pen from his pen stand. He decided to sign the resolution anyway. After all, who knows, maybe he could find the courage and make amendments.
[And... pic uploaded! It looks beautiful, no? I love art generators... (since I can't pay for actual art and copilot's free)]
Draft Resolution Nickel Oxide:
PRE-AMBULATORY CLAUSES:
Recognizing the over-convoluted nature of human relationships,
Noting with regret the fact that both parties ended up crushing on each other,
Realizing that this is the next plausible step in this ruined friendship,
Having studied various United Nations Resolutions,
Welcoming this contract, for a more content life overall,
OPERATIVE CLAUSES:
1) Accepts the fact that our friendship has evolved, as of yesterday, the 3rd of August, 2024,
2) Expresses its hope for a peaceful relationship which does not get in the way of either party’s academics, values or interests,
3) Emphasizes that both parties shall not betray each other’s trust,
4) Adopts court trials to resolve conflicts, with Selena Platina, Lead Carbon, Thalia Cobalt and Gallus Siliconson as the honorable jury,
5) Urges both parties to maintain a minimum of one ‘date night’ per month, subject to change based on academic workload, extracurricular activities, and the availability of good movies or food,
6) Encourages the mutual sharing of food, except in the case of fries or drinks, where each party retains exclusive rights to their own order, or in the case where either party is unwell, and could pose risk to the other’s health,
7) Insists on the establishment of a ‘no spoilers’ rule, applicable to all forms of media including but not limited to movies, TV shows, books, and sports events,
8) Promotes the use of rock-paper-scissors as the primary conflict resolution method for trivial disputes such as who gets the last slice of pizza or controls the TV remote,
9) Demands that both parties shall alternate in choosing the music playlist during road trips,
10) Mandates that both parties shall split bills equally, except for when it comes to special occasions where one treats the other,
11) Strongly condemns physical displays of affection, crazy stunts performed by one to impress the other, cheesy gestures which are more desperate than sweet, and other such cliché acts,
12) Dictates that both parties shall respect each other’s space, understanding that everyone needs a little time,
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13) Further condemns any ‘good morning’ messages, allowing for a peaceful sleep for both parties.
ns 18.68.41.175da2
