DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THESE CHARACTERS AND MAKE NO PROFIT FROM WRITING ABOUT THEM

Unbeta'd

Finally updated this, boy am I lazy. Less sections than normal, but they are longer than normal so yeah. It means the next five should be up in the next few days (read - week). It's not even like I'm busy, whoops.

ANYWAY

I'm taking requests on here + on tumblr, so go to my profile to find how to contact me. If you'd like to see something written then let me know as I love writing to prompts! I'll write personalised stuff too! :)

And, like always, reviews are appreciated (greatly, it encourages me to write!) Tell me which bits you like / don't like, and let me know your opinions on the ideas expressed. I love a good discussion!

Last but not least, please enjoy! :)

Creative Visualization

"Creative visualization is the basic technique underlying positive thinking and is frequently used by athletes to enhance their performance."
Abed becomes something of a good-luck charm for Troy. Although Troy is no longer under the pressure of a college scholarship, he still wants to fill the neurochemical high of being a winner. So he insists that Abed is present for every match he plays. Abed isn't all that keen on sport, but he will make that compromise if it means that he can share in Troy's post-glory delirium.

New Growth

They are constantly being told to grow up. If it's not by the study group, then it's by their families, or lecturers. It's utter nonsense, Abed decides, after attempting to be 'adult' for a full hour, on one November evening. It's boring; Abed cannot see why maturity is so desirable. Abed knows that Troy feels the pressure to prove himself to them. Troy is at a difficult stage in his life, where he is still trying to find himself. The group's influence is therefore easily asserted on Troy, who changes his behaviours to suit them nearly constantly. Abed does not particularly enjoy this, but having vetoed this process himself, he can't truly understand what Troy is going through, so he doesn't try to meddle. Change only really brings grief, and Abed is upset when Troy says that they have to be more normal. He doesn't blame Troy though. He knows this was not his doing, but rather that of their so-called friends. (What ever happened to the notion that friends are supposed to offer unconditional love?)

He just thinks it's sad that they don't understand Troy fully; that they can't see how Troy has grown in his own way. Two years ago, Troy was the mindless jock. Now, he's the all-around nice-guy. It's an over-used trope, but Abed is astounded at how Troy's character development has been handled. And he is thankful to whoever it is that writes the screenplay for their lives, because Troy has been written with Abed in mind.

Flash Flood

When Troy joins the air conditioning repair unit, he is afforded a glimpse of what post-college life will be like. It's a pretty damning experience, truth be told. Air conditioning repair isn't exactly exciting, and doing it as a nine-to-five would be downright dull. (Although, he concedes, most jobs generally are).

At the end of the day, it's a case of company over circumstance; what really gets to Troy is the lack of all things Abed. It takes him only a few days to realise that it is Abed that brightens up the tedium of living a black and white existance. Without Abed his life is fifty shades of grey (and not in the way that Annie's secret- but-not-so-secret favourite book would have you believe). It has to be said that, if people were measured in saturation, Abed would be a flash flood of colour.

Stars

Troy surprises Abed on his birthday. He switches off the lights and waits for Abed to come home from the shops. When Abed does arrive, he drops the milk in shock. The expression on his face barely changes but the slight backwards tilt of his head is enough to show Troy that the desired effect has been achieved. Troy leaps out from behind the armchair and spreads his arms, "Happy Birthday Abed!"

Abed is still looking at the room. Every inch of the walls and ceiling is covered in tiny glow in the dark stars. They all fight for attention, on lampshades, on the back of chairs, and on any flat surface that Troy has deemed in need of decoration. Even the cake that sits on the counter is covered in them. He can't even begin to imagine how long this must have taken Troy and he feels a little overwhelmed that Troy has probably spent all day painstakingly preparing this. In lieu of the words that he cannot find to express his love and gratitude, Abed sends a large, honest smile Troy's way.

Abed walks slowly around the flat, with Troy's eyes on him at all times, to inspect this wonderland that Troy has created for him. Troy awaits his opinion but Abed can do nothing but stare, in a euphoria-induced haze, at his very own synthetic sky.

Where No Man Has Gone Before

It's just an ordinary evening the flat 303. The opening sequence of 'Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan' can be heard emanating quietly from the TV. Abed mouths the words under his breath, "Space... the Final Frontier. These are the continuing voyages of the starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life forms and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."
Troy, whose head is resting on Abed's chest, snuggles closer to his best friend; wrapping his arms tightly around his skinny waist and giving him a gentle squeeze. It's an unconcious movement, Troy is already snoring gently against Abed's neck, making the collar of his pajama top flutter with every breath.

Thanks for taking the time to read. Drop a review in the little white box and have a nice day! - caelum-et-infernum xoxo