Pigment (Millard Nullings X Reader)

Water You Waiting For?

Why is it that the one time I'm actually winning (I think) at a game of croquet, Emma has to bug me? She kept pulling on my arm, and was downright begging for me to go to the beach with her and Jacob. It was a group activity, really, but she said she wouldn't invite anyone else unless I came.

"Go on without me," I told her. "If I were to go swimming after that big lunch we had, I'll puke."

Emma went around to the other people, and they responded the same. After the rejections,  she just slowed to a stop, and looked a bit down.

I watched my opponent get his croquet ball into all six of the hoops, and sighed. I was going to regret my next decision later, but at least it would make Emma a bit happier. I dropped my mallet, and announced my defeat.

I found Emma inside, smacking Hugh, Fiona, and Horace with a pillow. I believed that her intention was to wake them up, but now they  just seemed grumpy. I grabbed the pillow from Emma, and sighed tiredly. Napping actually sounded like a lot of fun.

"I guess I'll come," I told Emma. "But if I end up throwing up, I'm going to make sure I do it on you!"

Emma gave me a bright smile, and said, "I knew I can count on you! Although, it seems as if it will just be you, me, and Jacob, unless someone else-"

"Never mind, I'm going too!" Millard interrupted. "I don't trust the three of you alone."

"I'll be going, too," Hugh piped in. He was snuggling with Fiona (awe) but sat back up from the couch. "I don't trust Millard to supervise (Y/N) supervising Emma and Jacob. That'll just end in two pairs of teens snogging, and as the good and mature person I am, I can't allow that."

It was my turn to hit Hugh with a pillow, and Fiona giggled. She decided to join our swimming adventure, and Emma challenged Bronwyn to a competition she apparently wasn't allowed to back down from. It was just like my first week at the house, and sooner or later, we got Horace to join us as well, once we began walking out of the house.

"Best spot to swim in is near the harbor," Emma told Jacob, who then went into Panic Mode as we set off towards the town.

"What about those crazy drunks who think I'm a German spy?" he asked. "I don't feel like getting chased with clubs today."

Emma snorted, and began doing what she normal did to people she cared about: insult them. "You twit, that was yesterday. They won't remember a thing."

"Just hang a towel 'round you so they don't see your, er, future clothes," Horace said.

I watched as Jacob looked him up and down, and smugly, he said, "You're right. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was dressed weird."

Horace seemed more disgusted at the insult than embarrassed. "If it's my waistcoat you're referring to, yes, I admit that I am a follower of fashion. Go ahead, laugh at old Horace's expense! Call me a dandy if you will, but just because the villagers won't remember what you wear doesn't give you license to dress like a vagabond."

"None of us are going to call you a dandy, Horace," I said. "That's a term they use for men who at least has normal standards. I'm sorry that no one here is as gay as you are when it comes to fashion."

A few people laughed at this, but Jacob actually wheezed. He thought it was the funniest thing he ever heard, and I was really scared about how low humor must be in the present to make him laugh at that. It was more of an insult than a joke. But neverless, I leaned over to Horace, and told him, "That's what you get for ruining my favorite blouse, you prick."

We continued on our journey, when we got to the street. I made our crowd duck, as someone threw a glass bottle out of their window and towards us, angrily. Thank goodness I checked the time before we left! I told everyone they would be fine afterwards, and we kept walking. Jacob whistled at the broken bottle.