(you’re needle!)

pencil fidgets with her eraser, pretending to sketch strategies in the dirt. her usual confident demeanor seems off. she keeps glancing at needle but quickly looks away whenever needle (you) notice(s).

pencil: “s-so, needy— uh, i mean needle, um… what do you think about the alliance? you know, like… us sticking together and…stuff?”

you tilt your head, her usual quiet but sharp presence making pencil’s eraser feel unusually heavy in her hand.

pencil continues nervously: “not that i mean us sticking together-together! i just… ugh, never mind. what do you want to talk about?”