Changed my Zygentoma duo so they can create bridges together.

Working on a silverfish today.

"You already know I'm not interupting your work." He sticks his tongue out as his cheek is repeatedly kissed. "Take it easy, and have a good time." +

He smiles and shakes his head. "Like it should be." He saves the settings for the theatre before he leaves. If they want to return to that exact one together, they can. He takes everything back to the kitchen, his beetles staying with him as he goes.

"Esme..." He takes his hands in his own. "For absolutely no reason, I had this idea. Okay? It was just something that popped into my head." +

"Sounds like..." He holds his hand. "Something happening after my turn. I still owe you one. You dressed up for me, I still need to dress up for you." +

When it ends, Ted stands up and starts clapping. Audio plays that makes it sound like every seat in the house is clapping for him too. He steps forward again, leaning against the edge of the stage. His empty cup and napkin wait at his seat. "See? Nothing to worry about." +

He starts laughing. "Oh, you're starting now? Pardon me." He stands up and puts his stuff down on the edge of the stage. "I'll get a better seat in a minute. I want to hear what you want to act out. Something that matters to you." +

"Why shouldn't you? You like it. You're good at it. You're good enough at it that it helped you survive." He looks at him. "You never really stopped acting, anyway. You just haven't had a stage." +

"You can." One of the beetles crawls to Esme. It stays on his palm. "I don't mind if you borrow this place to do anything, really." +

Removed that, horrible idea.

Gave my new firebrat the ability to spit fire earlier.

"Since you asked..." It's a garden simulation. The sun is less bright than it would be. The temperature is just hot enough. There are clouds in the sky, and they're randomized so they feel somewhat real. +

"I'll be fine. I've seen kitchen monsters before. One time, I was about to pick up my leftovers from the fridge when, all of a sudden, I see Guy Gardner." The story ends there. +

"Are you kidding? This was my break. I spend hours in giant boxes trying to come up with solutions for problems beyond me, I get home, I get to put insects in teacups." He kisses his cheek. "Mine will be blueberries and cream." +

"Then I'll explain how it works." He picks up the teapot so the display is facing Esme. 
 "It changes appearance. You can split it so it displays as many flags as you want." +

Shocking news today. I'm not making a beetle, I'm making a firebrat.

"Both then." Amber and Stone fly in. They sit on the top of Esme's chair, one on each side. Two hovering cubes bring Olive and S'more in. +

"And I'm happy for you." He stops and uses his watch. Two beetles bring water and some pain reliever for him. Ted glances at Esme, and then gets a third beetle to give him a gentle head massage. +

The sound of Esme's voice replaces the function of the music; Ted uses sound to keep his emotions level while he's working. He sometimes works alone for hours. Sometimes days. Finding the right solution was a process. +

When Esme arrives, Ted is wearing a pair of headphones. They have antennae on them. His song stops as soon as he's in the doorway. "Right on time!" +

I'm building some pride flag jewel beetles for my wall later.

I made two cockchafer beetles for my desk.

"As much as you do." He sits nearby. After he sets everything he was holding down, he looks at him. "You can start anywhere you want, but if I had to make a suggestion..." He gestures vaguely at himself. Nowhere specific. +

"What're you winking at me for? That won't help you." Soon enough, they're back in The Bug. The complicated puzzle is 5% done. The pieces are hovering everywhere around the table. +

"Although it's possible to create a gradient with just one..." He takes three different colors. Red, orange, and pink. He takes some makeup wipes next. "Working with more than one is fun too." +

"I get to be your canvas?" His excitement is heavy in his voice. No hesitation, no shame. Only curiosity and enthusiasm. "I'll take you to your makeup then." +

"We can do more." He gives him another hug. "But I've already decided that I want to focus on you. If we still had some daylight to use, my answer might be different. But we don't, and you're warm." +

I'm building a shield that looks like a golden tortoise beetle.

He rests his arms around his back, pulling him into a casual hug. His hand glides across his back soothingly, releasing him before Esme kisses his hand. "I love you too, Esme." +

Ted doesn't try to pay attention. He knows this show, he knows the source material. If he wanted to seriously watch for details, he'd be doing it alone. Right now, he likes the background noise. He likes seeing Esme's interest as it comes and goes, shifting back and away from him. +

"So? Kiss me then." He points to his face. "What was stopping you from getting more before? Did you have a deadline on those cherry stems?" +

"Why apologize?" He waves off the idea. "There's only one theatrical person in your life that you'd bother not mentioning, and that's enough explanation for why you wouldn't start with that." +

Ted's expression changes when he realizes he's actually getting the full explanation. He's full of curiosity. He sits up. As Esme speaks, he nods along and smiles each time he hears something that feels familiar. "Makes sense to me." +

"You're silly." He holds up two of the stems so he can get a better look at them, tilting his head as he does. "Geez, they almost look the same too." +

He takes his bowl. "I'm done, but I'm not done with you yet. After I get these rinsed out, we can find something else to do." He leaves for the kitchen. +

"Thank you." He laughs as Esme repeats the gesture. He slips a hand onto his other cheek, holding him gently as he kisses him. It takes him three to clean it off. +

"I love you too." And he does. It takes him about twenty minutes to speak again. He silently eats his ice cream, looking between Esme and the show. Because they can't spoon anymore, not after they've used the spoons, he works on a new plan. +

"Spoiling is what happens when someone is treated to more than they deserve." He adds sprinkles to his chocolate chip cookie dough. Many of them. He takes one of the cherries from Esme's bowl and places it in his own before putting a new one in Esme's. +

"We'll have to go find out, right?" He kisses his cheek. Soon enough, they're both standing in the kitchen, and there are two bowls sitting on the counter. The ice cream containers are sitting nearby. +

"Oh, you said you wanted to have some ice cream with me while we watched the show. Did you change your mind? Because it's completely okay, I just want to make sure you have what you need before we start watching." He sits back down beside him, but he continues holding his hand.

"We'll probably talk about it again." He places his hand over his. "You don't need to say it like I'm giving up something. I have fun. I like being there for you." +

"After that, if anything else genuinely interests you, we'll do it." He takes both of his hands and rubs the back of them with his thumbs. He places them on his shoulders. "Don't hurt yourself." +

"There's nothing selfish about taking an option I'm giving you. You're not going to bankrupt me, you don't ask for anything material unless I bring it up. You only ask for kisses." He kisses his own hand where Esme kissed it. +

Gene Raslo.

"If you want to go back to Carnelian, then you already know I'll pay for it." He pokes his arm. "And you shouldn't settle." +

"You treat me so well." He kisses his cheek. "Velvet is fine with me. Everything you've given me has been incredible, so I trust you completely with all of the other details." +

"Sounds like a perfect plan." Stone crawls to rest on Ted's back. Ted hits a button on his watch and lifts Esme up, carrying him to the couch. He hits another button so the hidden leg rest is revealed. +

"All of the above?" He wraps his arms around him. "And as much as I would like to do them all at once, I suppose we can do them one at a time." He grins. "You get to pick the order."

"I know." He pulls him back in for another kiss. His hand lingers in his hair. He plays with it while he speaks. "Distract me more, I'm focusing too often."