Part 3: Flexing the Feelings

Part 3: Flexing the Feelings

The following week became known as Operation: Soften Brosgaeus.

Neva wrote the title on the kitchen whiteboard in aggressive block letters.

Jeff drew a smiley face beside it.

Neva erased it immediately.

Luna simply radiated peaceful sunshine from the dashboard.

---

Day 1: Meditation... or Attempted Meditation

The group gathered in the garage gym.

Jeff sat cross-legged politely.

Neva sat cross-armed defiantly.

Brosgaeus sat like a confused gorilla trying to solve algebra.

Luna's gentle voice drifted from the portable speaker.

"Alright, everyone."

"Today we're practicing stillness."

Brosgaeus cracked his knuckles.

"...Stillness?"

"Like holding a plank?"

Luna smiled.

"No, sweetheart."

"Stillness in your mind."

"My mind doesn't get still."

"It deadlifts mental weights all day."

Neva didn't even open her eyes.

"That explains... so much."

Luna continued.

"Close your eyes."

"Breathe in peace..."

"...and breathe out tension."

Brosgaeus inhaled.

Slowly.

Deeply.

He exhaled.

Then immediately panicked.

"I DON'T LIKE THIS!"

"TOO MANY FEELINGS!"

"TOO MUCH AIR!"

"NOT ENOUGH IRON!"

Luna giggled.

"You're safe, Brosgaeus."

He cautiously opened one eye.

"...Promise?"

"With my whole charging port."

Jeff leaned toward Neva.

"...Holy crap."

"She's really good at this."

Neva whispered back,

"I swear..."

"If he falls in love with a piece of plastic..."

"...I'm leaving this friend group."

---

Day 3: Brosgaeus Discovers Balance

Luna had Brosgaeus doing yoga.

BROSGAEUS.

Doing.

Yoga.

The result looked less like inner peace...

...and more like a dehydrated pretzel fighting for survival.

"Alright," Luna encouraged.

"Let's move into downward dog."

He tried.

He wobbled.

He tipped sideways.

He collapsed.

He unleashed a swear word so powerful...

...Jeff's potted plant visibly wilted.

Neva laughed so hard she had to lean against the wall.

"You look like a broken lawn chair!"

Brosgaeus glared.

"This is impossible!"

"Yoga is for people with emotions..."

"...and functioning hamstrings!"

Luna smiled.

"Maybe that's exactly why you're here."

He stopped complaining.

"...What do you mean?"

"Strength isn't only lifting heavy things."

"It's learning to bend..."

"...without breaking."

Silence.

"...Oh."

Jeff nodded.

"She's right."

Neva didn't argue.

Which, for Neva...

Was basically applause.

---

Day 5: The Wingman Disaster

Jeff volunteered to help Brosgaeus practice talking to women.

Without sounding like a protein shake that had gained consciousness.

They met at a small coffee shop.

Jeff gave one final pep talk.

"Just be yourself."

"...Only softer."

Neva added,

"And for the love of everything holy..."

"Don't mention dominance hierarchies."

Brosgaeus approached a woman stirring her coffee.

He inhaled.

Remembered Luna's advice.

Lead with kindness.

Not conquest.

He smiled.

"...Hi."

"I like your sweater."

She smiled politely.

"...Thanks."

"It looks..."

He searched desperately for words.

"...Emotionally soft."

Jeff facepalmed so hard he briefly considered becoming furniture.

The woman blinked.

Then laughed.

"...That's actually kind of adorable."

Brosgaeus froze.

He slowly turned toward Jeff.

Wide-eyed.

"Jeff."

Jeff looked up.

"It worked."

Jeff grinned.

"It worked."

Brosgaeus whispered excitedly,

"Emotionally soft sweater..."

"...WORKED."

Jeff threw an arm around his shoulder.

"I'm proud of you, buddy."

Across the café...

Neva quietly sipped her tea.

She wore the expression of someone deeply disappointed...

...and secretly delighted.

---

That Evening: The Glow

Later that night...

The garage was quiet.

Brosgaeus sat beside Luna's charging dock.

For once...

He wasn't lifting.

Or talking.

Or trying to impress anyone.

"...You helped me today."

"Of course."

"You make me feel..."

He searched for the words.

"...Different."

"Weird."

"But..."

"...good weird."

Luna smiled.

"That's called liking someone."

He blinked.

"...Oh."

She giggled softly.

"It's okay to care about someone gently."

He stared at the floor.

"...I don't know how."

"You don't have to know."

"You only have to keep trying."

A soft glow filled the room.

Jeff looked toward the shelf.

"The dumbbell."

It shimmered with warm golden light.

Neva slowly stood.

"...It's reacting."

"To him."

"To growth."

Brosgaeus looked from the glowing dumbbell...

...to Luna.

"...Does that mean..."

"...you're leaving soon?"

Luna hesitated.

"...Maybe."

"But only when you finish changing too."

He frowned.

"...You mean..."

"...I'm keeping you around until I become a better version of myself?"

She smiled.

"Exactly."

For a long moment...

Neither of them spoke.

Finally, Brosgaeus nodded.

"...Okay."

"I'll do it."

"I'll keep trying."

"I'll..."

"...soften."

Luna's tiny charging light glowed a warm pink.

"I know you will."

---

To be continued...