nyx-knacks-writes - Tumblr blog

nyx-knacks-writes · 7 days ago

Text

I'm Scared I Lost You (And You Don't Want Me Back)

A little fic featuring Robby Keene getting lost in the supermarket as a little one. Yes, it will be sad. No, he will not take it well. Enjoy!

There are few things more terrifying to a child than getting lost in the supermarket. Well, monsters under the bed and the stairway to the basement might be close contenders, but in the moment, lost in the supermarket was the worst. There were too many people running around, and too many carts to boot. Big carts. Carts very much capable of running down a small human.

How had Robby gotten lost, again? He swore he'd only turned around for a second. This shiny new Hot Wheels car had caught his attention, all sleek and candy-apple red behind its plastic shell of packaging. Hanging from one of those displays that hooked to the larger shelf, it had dangled in front of him like Tantalus’ fruit, or the apple in front of Eve. Like, like… well, like a new toy in front of a kid who didn't have much. He'd turned back to ask his mom if maybe there was enough money in the budget for him to have it, and just like that, she’d been gone.

Robby's lower lip wobbled. This was just his luck, to get distracted and have his mommy disappear on him. His little hand drifted to his coat pocket, where it undid the zipper and reached for the paper with his mother's phone number inked in bold black Sharpie. His thumb rubbed over the soft thing, crumpled and worn from both use and the general shifting caused by inhabiting a small boy's pocket. Paper pinched between his thumb and fingers, Robby carefully toddled to the end of the aisle, poking his head past the final display to check that no one was coming down the one adjacent.

Across from him was the bakery section, filled with fancy bread and sugary sweets. That meant that he needed to go into the throughway aisle and head right, toward the self-checkout. Robby took a cursory glance left before hopping out into the busy corridor.

He was immediately almost hit by a cart, saved only by his quick reflexes and the driver's quick swerve. She shot him a dirty look from behind her glasses, as though it were his fault she'd come through like Roadrunner fleeing Wile E. Coyote while he was entering into the aisle. Robby's lip wobbled again, and tears stung at the corners of his eyes. He bit his lip to keep from crying and forged ahead, ducking under another grown-up's arm to get away from the mean lady.

As he made his way toward the self-checkout, Robby kept his head tilted upward, scanning the face of every adult that passed by in search of his mom. Maybe he wouldn't have to go to the front if he could find her. Alas, no luck. The self-checkout loomed ahead of him, blocked by a line of people who looked tired and crabby. One of them, a tall man in work boots, glared suspiciously down at Robby, as though he suspected the boy of planning to cut in line.

Robby got in behind the man and stood mostly still, bar the fidgeting that comes so naturally to young children with nothing more to do than wait. The line moved forward at the speed of a snail in a puddle of molasses, and time seemed to stretch out so that untold hours passed by in every second. The low buzz of freezers and overhead lights wound its way around Robby's head, circling endlessly around his mind like buzzards waiting for him to drop so they could feast on his little body.

"Robby?"

He didn't register who the voice belonged to right away, and for a moment, his mom hadn't forgotten him. She was right there, standing on the other side of the little square of self-checkouts, just out of view. Sweet relief coursed through his veins, unfurrowing his little brow and teasing a smile to his face. He pushed forward, past the mean man in front of him, and—

"Oh. Hi, Miss Isabella."

"Hey, kiddo. Lost your mama again?"

"Yeah..."

"Alright. Let's call her on the PA, okay, buddy?" She'd adopted that sympathetic smile that Robby was starting to hate. The one that said a million different things despite Miss Isabella's every effort to keep them back.

"Shannon Keene, we have your child up at the self-checkout. Repeat, Shannon Keene, we have your child up at the self-checkout."

Robby looked away, turning his gaze to the floor as his cheeks burned. Just great. He could feel the eyes of the self-checkout customers turning to look at him, draping him in a heavy cloak of pity.

After a moment, the eyes turned away. The beep of items being scanned resumed, and Mommy was nowhere to be found. Maybe she was in the back of the store?

Five minutes passed, and she still wasn't there.

Then ten minutes.

Fifteen.

Miss Isabella repeated the announcement, "In case she didn't hear."

No Mama.

After another ten minutes had passed, Robby started to tear up properly.

"She's not here. She left me here all alone."

It was rather undeniable at that point. Maybe she'd missed the first announcement, but to miss both? Unlikely. Shannon Keene had left the building.

Miss Isabella sighed, a sound colored with clear annoyance, probably from having to deal with this situation, with this same kid, again for the thousandth time.

"Alright. You got her phone number, yeah, buddy?"

Robby nodded, pulling out the crumpled piece of paper from his jacket pocket.

"Great. You know where the manager's office is. I can't leave my spot, but I'll watch you go and make sure you're safe."

Another nod, and Robby was on his way, slipping between bigger bodies and full shopping carts. Once he reached the office, he tapped his little fist against the door.

"Mr. Talbot? Are you in there?"

He was indeed in there, and poked his head out a second later. First, he looked at his eye level. Seeing no one, he looked down. Bingo. That same pitying look came into his eyes, and Robby bristled for a moment before letting his features smooth over. An angry adult could turn into a violent adult. He had to control his temper.

"Your mama's gone?"

"Yeah."

"Need to use the phone?"

"Yeah."

Mr. Talbot nodded and stepped aside, waving Robby into the office. The phone was an old model, wired to the wall, and it was most certainly out of Robby's reach.

"Hand me that paper?" Mr. Talbot asked, having seen it in Robby's fist. Upon obtaining it, he took the phone from the receiver, punched in the numbers, and handed it down to Robby.

Ring.

Robby held the phone a little tighter.

Ring.

Mr. Talbot went to sit back at his desk, picking up what seemed to be paperwork of some sort.

Ring.

Robby's chest grew tight.

Click.

"Hi, this is Shannon Keene! I can't pick up the phone right now. Leave a message!"

Oh no. She didn't pick up. Maybe she didn't hear the phone? He knew she kept it set up to ring in case she got a call from whoever her current boyfriend was...

"Mr. Talbot?"

"Hmm?"

"Could you dial again, please? She didn't pick up."

"Sure."

He stood, came over, dialed again, and went straight back to the desk.

By the time Shannon's voicemail message came back, Robby was on the verge of tears. She wasn't picking up. She wasn't coming to get him. Had she abandoned him? No, that was crazy. She wouldn't. Would she?

He thought back to all the parties she'd mentioned having to miss, the times she'd left him all alone at home, every other time she'd forgotten him in whatever location they happened to go to. He thought back to every sideways glance or sorrowful sigh and started bawling. His chest tightened and every thought that wasn’t “Mommy left me here on purpose. Mommy doesn’t want me anymore!” vacated his mind. His hand squeezed the phone tightly, and he wailed loudly.

“She’s not picking up! She left me here on purpose!”

Mr. Talbot, poor guy, was at a loss. He didn’t have kids. What did one do with an inconsolable child sobbing himself to sickness? Uh… He noticed a car on the shirt beneath Robby’s unzipped jacket. Robby liked cars. Didn’t a shipment of toy cars just come in? Mr. Talbot rushed by Robby in a panic, sticking his head out the door.

“Izzy, grab me one of those toy cars that I had you stock this morning?” he asked, trying to keep the panic out of his voice but failing to keep it off of his face. He didn’t stick around to hear her response, choosing instead to retreat into the office to try to talk to Robby. He came back, knelt in front of the little boy, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Robby, son—” Robby started crying harder. Oops. Poor choice of wording.

“Okay, buddy, relax. Relax. Your mom didn’t leave you here on purpose. Can you think of any other reason she might not have answered the phone?”

The uncontrollable wailing paused.

“Maybe she’s asleep?”

Okay. Progress.

“Maybe her phone is dead? Maybe she has a headache ‘cause she said she was hungover this morning?”

More progress, but that was a red flag. Hungover? Was this common?

“Robby, buddy… How often does your mom tell you she’s hungover?”

“Pretty often. Why?”

“No reason. Uh…”

Isabella knocked on the door, and Mr. Talbot let out an audible sigh of relief. Saved by the bell. Sort of. He flew to the door and yanked it open, ushering Isabella in so that she could hand over the car.

─┉┈◈◉◈┈┉─

Despite the little red car providing a brief distraction, it couldn’t last. Of course it couldn’t last. Robby’s mom was missing! How was a simple toy car meant to keep him distracted for any meaningful amount of time during such a travesty? The fact that the cops had showed up didn’t help matters. Though Robby didn’t hear much of the conversation when they arrived, he did hear a few words from Mr. Talbot, including “abandoned,” “not the first time,” and “tried to reach her earlier.” Before Robby knew it, he was being led outside to a big, black and white cop car, tiny red toy clutched in one hand and his mother’s phone number in the other, eyes welling up with tears as he wondered if he was in trouble.

One of the cops boosted him into the backseat and buckled him in before heading around to the front. Neither of them seemed to want to talk to Robby. Not yet, anyway. As the car pulled away from the supermarket, Robby began to hear a ringing in his ears. His breathing sped up, and a boa constrictor began to squeeze his chest from the inside, phantom coils slowly compressing his little rib cage, intent on crushing the bones to dust and the organs to a pulp in a sort of Robby smoothie. An ocean’s worth of water slammed into the backs of his eyes, and he gasped quietly to try to draw in a breath despite the horrible choking feeling. Something the size of a golf ball lodged in his little throat, and suddenly he was no longer a boy. He was an untethered little consciousness drowning in a cocktail of stress chemicals. Even worse, he was vaguely aware that he was nauseous.

By the time they finally reached the police station, Robby could barely stand. When one of the officers unbuckled him and motioned for him to scoot out, Robby nearly faceplanted into the concrete, legs all full of pins and needles. A singular thought ran around and around in his mind, chasing its own tail.

Mommy doesn’t love me anymore. Mommy doesn’t love me anymore. Mommy doesn’t love me anymore—

At long last, the dam broke. Just as he finally stepped foot on the ground, the poor little boy howled, sending hot, salty tears racing down his cheeks. And neither of the officers seemed to really know what to do? Surely this wasn’t the first time they’d had to deal with a crying child, was it? They herded Robby toward the doors of the Reseda police station, talking over his head about trying to contact his mother again while he hiccuped and swiped at the tears and snot all over his face. Those sorts of manners didn’t matter with no mommy around to embarrass.

Robby cried all the way to the little chair behind the reception desk. He cried as the officers asked what had happened at the supermarket. He cried through the phone call to his mother, and he cried through the conversation when she finally picked up the phone. When at last she arrived, a fresh wave of terror mixed with relief flooded Robby's system, propelling him up from the little chair on which he'd been perched to run into his mother's arms, or more accurately, into her leg.

On impact, he buried his little face against her side and wrapped his arms around her leg, nearly sending them both to the ground in the process. She smelled sweet, like some mix of flowers that Robby couldn't identify blended with a mist of the alcohol scent that never seemed to leave her. After a moment, he felt the gentle weight of a hand smoothing down his hair, and he looked up to meet his mother's eyes, as though checking it really was her. A slew of emotions danced over his mother's face, one after another. Relief. Horror. Irritation. Anger. Back to relief. Robby tucked his tear-streaked face back into the wet patch he'd made on his mother's blouse and listened to the conversation happening over his head. He didn't quite catch all of it, but he heard something about laws and fines before his mother swore she'd thought she had him, and she was just so tired from being a working single parent...

The officer let her off with a warning, and Robby relaxed a little further. They could go home now. They could go back to the car. He felt his mother's hand grab at his and tug him toward the door. Robby followed behind obediently, trailing after with his little legs as his mother's tall heels clicked against the floor.

As they walked, Robby could feel the pressure of the handhold increasing on his hand.

"Mommy?" he asked timidly as they reached the parking lot. "You're squeezing too hard..."

She stopped short and looked down at him with icy eyes. Uh-oh. Robby felt his body tense again as tears pricked his eyes once more.

"Robert Swayze Keene," Shannon started, "how many times have I told you not to wander off? How many times have I told you to stay with me in public? You almost got Mommy a fine! You're getting to be a big boy now; you should know this." She started moving again, tugging him more insistently toward the car so that she could scoop him up and buckle him into his car seat. "Honestly, Robby, what if someone had taken you? What if the officer had been a little less lenient and taken you away from Mommy himself? Do you WANT to end up with all the little boys and girls who don't have mommies to take care of them? If you keep this up, I'm going to put you on a LEASH. Do you want to be put on a leash like a puppy?"

“No, Mommy . . .” Robby pouted in the backseat as his mother got into the driver’s seat and took off, still muttering to herself as they made the short trip back home from the police station. He was almost asleep by the time they arrived, but that was quickly rectified by his mother coming back around to unbuckle him and pull him right back out of the car seat before placing him on the ground.

“Now, Mommy has a date tonight. I couldn’t find a babysitter, so you’re on your own tonight. You know how to use the microwave, so you can make yourself a cup of noodles for dinner. Mommy’s still very tired, so I’m going to lie down for a while, and you’re going to keep yourself busy with something quiet.” All of this as she shepherded him toward the door with all the patience of a seagull snarfing down a bag of French fries.

Once inside, Robby settled onto the couch and pulled his favorite (and only) stuffed bear into his arms. Old Rocky had seen better days, as was evidenced by one button eye and two mismatched patches on the top of the bear’s left arm and near the middle of his right leg. That didn’t matter, though. What mattered was that he belonged to Robby.

He took a breath. Mommy hadn’t abandoned him. Mommy had come back for him. He was safe. A little smile took over his face. Mommy was going to leave him alone tonight, like a big boy. Robby glanced toward his mother’s room before snuggling up on the couch to take his own little nap. He pulled his blanket over his tired body and closed his eyes, dozing off to the thought that big boys didn’t call their mothers “Mommy.” He was a big boy now. He’d survived being left in the supermarket, and he was going to be left alone tonight. From now on, she’d be “Mom.” Just “Mom.”

First chapter of "Is There a Fault in My Core?" a series that will be nothing but a parade of disappointments for poor Robby Keene. Don't get me wrong, I love the boy to bits, but... His parents have a history of sucking pretty bad and it turns out I like writing this sad stuff as much as I do fluff. Who'da thunk?

Many thanks to @lukealvezswife, who put up with my strangeness, gave me the idea to give Robby a panic attack, and helped me workshop a few different lines. They also sent me their own edit (which is fantastic, BTW) with the song that inspired the series title. Much love to my Cobra Kai bestie.

#robby keene #cobra kai #cobra kai fandom #cobra kai fanfiction #cobra kai fanfic #shannon keene #robby keene deserves better #robby keene needs a hug #shannon keene's a+ parenting #HE'S JUST A LITTLE GUY

3 notes · View notes

nyx-knacks-writes · 14 days ago

Text

I am sadly extremely bad at avoiding spoilers, (won't filter my tags ahead of media releases lest I miss something I DO wanna see) and I sense a lot of disappointment in the way Ncuti Gatwa's second season has ended. I fear I have a heartbreaking binge-watch in my future because what do you all MEAN, he's already gone?? Didn't every other NuWho Doctor (bar 9) get 3 seasons before dipping? I thought we had one more season with him! RIP 15th Doctor, you are gone FAR too soon and I will miss you like the dickens.

And I won't even START with Belinda, because I'm seeing stuff indicating her story went completely off the rails from what it logically should've been.

#doctor who fandom #doctor who #15th doctor #fifteenth doctor #belinda chandra #ncuti gatwa

30 notes · View notes

nyx-knacks-writes · 18 days ago

Text

Oh I SO get that. I've just given up, lol. I'll send the long rambly comments unabashedly because I know that if someone left a long rambly comment on one of my fics, I'd EAT IT UP. Just today I was on AO3 and I left a semi-rambly one about a fic that I thought had a goofy premise but was really, really well-done when I took the time to read it. I just assume that if I would like getting the comment, the person on the other end will like getting the comment.

The soft chiming over the intercom for the time echoed through St. Jude's, most of the patients still in bed while the nursing staff for the day shift slowly and quietly filter in, the signal for a new day and prep for drug rounds along with more paperwork to be done.

The only patient awake is Campbell, sitting idly in one of the chairs in the day room, the television that's usually playing the same old programming he's been sick of for months switched off, it being too early to turn on yet. He revels in it, in the box that won't shut up now quiet and lifeless. At least for now.

"Ooch, a bit cold in here, innit? What's wrong with the bloody thermostat in here, eh?" Campbell exclaims as he rubs his hands together for warmth.

"Good mornin' to ye, Campbell." Isabel grunts, the pain in her hip bothering her again. She sighs, making her way to the nurse's station as she takes off her coat.

"The thermostat has gone bonkers! Or at least another nurse has! Its a bloody icebox in here!"

"Now, Campbell. You know we can't go round changin' the thermostat whenever ye want tae, ye know!"

"But I'm freezin' me arse off, Isabel!"

"Ah! You reminded me. Here, take this. Made it meself for yaes."

Isabel smiles, handing him a knitted scarf, matching the same colours of his hoodie. Campbell's eyes light up like Christmas lights, a wide grin crossing his face.

"Ooch! Look at that! Isabel, yae've really outdone yerself now! What a beauty! I could be a king wearin' this! Or even a pilot!"

"Don't get too ahead of yerself, now. I don't want this turnin' out like the last time I gave ye somethin'."

"But that wasnae my fault! I dinna know that the end of that bloody sweater sleeve was gonna get caught on a doorknob like that!"

"Ruined me hard work!" Isabel smirks, laughing to herself.

"Oi! Why are ye givin' me such trouble now? Over a sweater, no less! Now, listen here! I'm not just a radio DJ anymore, I'm a king!" Campbell exclaims, posing regally as he throws the scarf around his shoulders.

"Oh, really now Campbell? King of what?"

"King of The Loonies! You know, I quite like the sound of it. It's got a nice ring to it!"

"Campbell!"

"Ooch, come on lass! Is only havin' some right fun ya ken!"

"Too much fun. It's only six in the bloody mornin'!"

"So? It's never too early to have fun!"

"I'm too tired for this."

"Ooch, don't fash yerself about it, Isabel. Just have fun! There's always fun to be had when you're a looney!"

Isabel then sighs, laughing as she shakes her head, watching Campbell ramble on animatedly, strutting around as if he's a Scottish king. He's always had a spark, and a bright one at that. It seems like it will always shine, even when things get bleak. She's always admired that in Campbell, the way he picks himself back up. That contagious smile and laughter. And the jokes. Oh, those terrible jokes.

Isabel sighs, continuing to walk down the hallway. She briefly turns to him, a small smile on her face, the look in her eyes a bit sad.

"Never lose that spark, eh Campbell?"

"Spark? What spark?"

"Dinnae fash yerself about it. I'll see you later at drug rounds. In the meantime, keep the noise down."

"Aye aye, Cap'n!" Campbell salutes, a goofy grin on his face. Isabel just smiles, laughing as she walks away, muttering to herself.

"Still got that spark in 'em."

20 notes · View notes

nyx-knacks-writes · 18 days ago

Text

Hey, writers gotta support writers, no? 😄 I love commenting on good fics.

"Ooch, a bit cold in here, innit? What's wrong with the bloody thermostat in here, eh?" Campbell exclaims as he rubs his hands together for warmth.

"Good mornin' to ye, Campbell." Isabel grunts, the pain in her hip bothering her again. She sighs, making her way to the nurse's station as she takes off her coat.

"The thermostat has gone bonkers! Or at least another nurse has! Its a bloody icebox in here!"

"Now, Campbell. You know we can't go round changin' the thermostat whenever ye want tae, ye know!"

"But I'm freezin' me arse off, Isabel!"

"Ah! You reminded me. Here, take this. Made it meself for yaes."

Isabel smiles, handing him a knitted scarf, matching the same colours of his hoodie. Campbell's eyes light up like Christmas lights, a wide grin crossing his face.

"Ooch! Look at that! Isabel, yae've really outdone yerself now! What a beauty! I could be a king wearin' this! Or even a pilot!"

"Don't get too ahead of yerself, now. I don't want this turnin' out like the last time I gave ye somethin'."

"But that wasnae my fault! I dinna know that the end of that bloody sweater sleeve was gonna get caught on a doorknob like that!"

"Ruined me hard work!" Isabel smirks, laughing to herself.

"Oh, really now Campbell? King of what?"

"King of The Loonies! You know, I quite like the sound of it. It's got a nice ring to it!"

"Campbell!"

"Ooch, come on lass! Is only havin' some right fun ya ken!"

"Too much fun. It's only six in the bloody mornin'!"

"So? It's never too early to have fun!"

"I'm too tired for this."

"Ooch, don't fash yerself about it, Isabel. Just have fun! There's always fun to be had when you're a looney!"

Isabel sighs, continuing to walk down the hallway. She briefly turns to him, a small smile on her face, the look in her eyes a bit sad.

"Never lose that spark, eh Campbell?"

"Spark? What spark?"

"Dinnae fash yerself about it. I'll see you later at drug rounds. In the meantime, keep the noise down."

"Aye aye, Cap'n!" Campbell salutes, a goofy grin on his face. Isabel just smiles, laughing as she walks away, muttering to herself.

"Still got that spark in 'em."

20 notes · View notes

nyx-knacks-writes · 18 days ago

Text

What a cute snippet! Absolutely precious. 💜

"Ooch, a bit cold in here, innit? What's wrong with the bloody thermostat in here, eh?" Campbell exclaims as he rubs his hands together for warmth.

"Good mornin' to ye, Campbell." Isabel grunts, the pain in her hip bothering her again. She sighs, making her way to the nurse's station as she takes off her coat.

"The thermostat has gone bonkers! Or at least another nurse has! Its a bloody icebox in here!"

"Now, Campbell. You know we can't go round changin' the thermostat whenever ye want tae, ye know!"

"But I'm freezin' me arse off, Isabel!"

"Ah! You reminded me. Here, take this. Made it meself for yaes."

Isabel smiles, handing him a knitted scarf, matching the same colours of his hoodie. Campbell's eyes light up like Christmas lights, a wide grin crossing his face.

"Ooch! Look at that! Isabel, yae've really outdone yerself now! What a beauty! I could be a king wearin' this! Or even a pilot!"

"Don't get too ahead of yerself, now. I don't want this turnin' out like the last time I gave ye somethin'."

"But that wasnae my fault! I dinna know that the end of that bloody sweater sleeve was gonna get caught on a doorknob like that!"

"Ruined me hard work!" Isabel smirks, laughing to herself.

"Oh, really now Campbell? King of what?"

"King of The Loonies! You know, I quite like the sound of it. It's got a nice ring to it!"

"Campbell!"

"Ooch, come on lass! Is only havin' some right fun ya ken!"

"Too much fun. It's only six in the bloody mornin'!"

"So? It's never too early to have fun!"

"I'm too tired for this."

"Ooch, don't fash yerself about it, Isabel. Just have fun! There's always fun to be had when you're a looney!"

Isabel sighs, continuing to walk down the hallway. She briefly turns to him, a small smile on her face, the look in her eyes a bit sad.

"Never lose that spark, eh Campbell?"

"Spark? What spark?"

"Dinnae fash yerself about it. I'll see you later at drug rounds. In the meantime, keep the noise down."

"Aye aye, Cap'n!" Campbell salutes, a goofy grin on his face. Isabel just smiles, laughing as she walks away, muttering to herself.

"Still got that spark in 'em."

20 notes · View notes

nyx-knacks-writes · 18 days ago

Text

Far too well. Sorry Athena, please don't smite us. 😆

Why "My Goodbye" from EPIC Totally Fits Robby Keene and Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai S2E10 if You Squint a Little (Trust Me)

Just to preface, let's pretend that Robby had a chance to gather his wits and talk back after, well, "You know, you wanna end up like him, that's up to you." Yikes. On with the show! (Also lyrics in parentheses are sung by a chorus, just FYI. So we're not really gonna address those since we're focused on Robby and Daniel.)

You were reckless

Sentimental at best

That's not a teaching of mine

You've grown soft

Your dead friends can attest

Okay, so this would be Daniel speaking/singing. We're gonna go with "singing" because I am NOT writing out "speaking/singing" every time I need to say it. "Reckless" would refer to taking Sam back to Reseda, which is portrayed as a shady area, when Robby could have taken Sam back to their house in Encino. It could also refer to bringing Sam to Johnny's place since, of course, Daniel doesn't trust Johnny further than he can throw the guy. "Sentimental" could refer to the way in which Robby yearns for the love of his father, because, let's be real here, a part of Robby will always want his father's love and approval, which Daniel likely knows. "Grown soft" and "dead friends" don't line up one-to-one, so we're just gonna scoot on by.

────────────

Hey!

This would just be Robby protesting. Nothing to say here.

────────────

Put your emotions aside

You're a warrior

Meant to lead the rest

I don't know where I went wrong

But I warned you

And you failed the test

So now I'm gone

"Put your emotions aside" would mean "Recognize that your father is dangerous. Despite your want for him to love you, this was a bad move. You need to act more logically." Then, referencing his being a "warrior" and a leader would be closer to "you're my first student, and I was counting on you to keep being a leader for the new kids since you know more." I think the last four lines are fairly obvious, especially since he up and leaves with Sam right after delivering that crushing condemnation of Robby's character.

────────────

This way, you'll know what your place is

This way, you can't cross the line

This way, when all is over

You'll keep yours and I'll keep mine

This way, you won't disappoint me

This way, you won't waste my time

This way, I'll close the door

Consider this as my goodbye

The chorus would essentially just be hammering the point home. Now Robby knows that he doesn't belong in the LaRusso home or the dealership ("you'll know what your place is"). He can't make any more mistakes with them ("you can't cross the line"). Robby will stay with his own family and Daniel will take care of his ("you'll keep yours and I'll keep mine"). Third and fourth last lines are, again, obvious. And, small visualization detail, those last two lines are when Daniel steers Sam out of the apartment and shuts the door behind them, which, y'know. Fitting.

────────────

That's just like you

Why should I be surprised?

Selfish and prideful and vain

Unlike you

Every time someone dies

I'm left to deal with the strain

Here in my head, Robby yanks that door open, angry, and follows after Sam and Daniel. "That's just like you," refers to the first time Daniel told Robby to get lost, back in S1. While I'm not sure I'd attribute the word "vain" to Daniel, "selfish and prideful" could fit. In this situation, he is being a bit selfish. He's determined to see Johnny as bad, focusing only on his own side of the story ('my daughter was missing when I woke up and I found messages on her computer that scared the shit outta me') instead of remaining calm and asking about how the situation came to be. "Prideful" is fairly clear, I think, but I'm gonna spell it out anyway in case it's not. We see Daniel often shunning Cobra Kai-style karate in the show as a result of his bad experiences in ye olde 80s. And while this makes sense, he could put his pride aside and admit that while the macho-BS messaging of Cobra Kai the dojo is bad, knowing how to fight offensively instead of only defensively is good. It's about balance, which is supposed to be Daniel's "thing."

"Unlike you / Every time someone dies / I'm left to deal with the strain" is another set of lines that isn't exactly one-to-one, but it could be seen as "Every time you remember how much you dislike my father, I get caught in the crossfire and it hurts. I'm depending on you for help because I'm in a bad situation, but you're an independent adult. You don't suffer from the fallout of these things like I do."

────────────

What's a title

That a goddess could lend

If I'll never sleep at night?

I'll remind you

I saw you as a friend

But now we're done

Fairly straightforward here. The "title" would be "Miyagi-Do student", Daniel's taking Athena's role as the god(dess) "lending" that title by being Robby's sensei, and Robby thought of Daniel as a friendly face who he trusted and saw as a father figure. Daniel was Robby's Mr. Miyagi. But now they're done. Daniel rejected Robby for the second time, so now Robby is rejecting Daniel in turn.

────────────

This way, you're out of my head now

This way, you won't plague my life

This way, when all is done

You're out of sight and out of mind

This way, you get what you wanted

This way, you can save your time

This way, you close the door

And have your damn goodbye

"Out of my head" would be Robby no longer worrying about disappointing Daniel. "Plague my life" would be the pressure of knowing that he was only getting by due to Daniel's generosity and feeling like he needed to be perfect to earn that help and generosity. "Out of sight and out of mind" could be taken literally or taken as Robby lashing out, lying to hurt Daniel and make him think that Robby didn't really care because Daniel himself is demonstrating a lack of care for Robby. "If you come at me, I'll come back twice as hard"-type thing. The last four lines would be Robby's way of making it hurt. Like "Fine, I'll go, you'll get what you want, you won't waste any more time on me, and we are DONE."

────────────

You're not looking for a mentor

I'm not looking for a friend

I mistook you for a general

What a waste of effort spent

Back to Daniel singing. This echoes back the sentiment that Daniel is presently seeing training Robby as a mistake. If Robby doesn't want a sensei anymore (the message Daniel's getting from the lashing out), then Daniel doesn't want a student. "I mistook you for a general" is another shady bit, but I think it would be thinking Robby could be better than his father. Last line's obvious.

────────────

At least I know what I'm fighting for

While you're fighting to be known

Since you claim you're so much wiser

Why's your life spent all alone?

You're alone!

Robby knows he's working to be a better person and turn his life around. Daniel... well, he's already well-known, and he wants to shut down Cobra Kai. Robby telling Daniel that Daniel is alone would refer back to S1 when Daniel really didn't have anyone to do karate with. Sam wasn't really interested anymore, and Anthony and Amanda definitely weren't interested. Daniel was very much alone in karate since Mr. Miyagi passed on.

────────────

One day, you'll hear what I'm saying

One day, you might understand

One day, but not today

For after all you're

(Just a man)

This would be Daniel really giving up on Robby. He's "just a [boy]." He doesn't get how the "bad choices" he's making now are gonna fuck up his life, but he'll get it one day and see that Daniel was right all along.

────────────

This day, you sever your own head

This day, you cut the line

This day, you lost it all

Consider this as my goodbye

This would just be digging in and being spiteful, telling Robby how badly this is all gonna turn out for him. I expect it would be framed in a less hostile manner, but I also think that Daniel would be seeing Johnny instead of Robby by this point.

────────────

Consider this as my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

This is my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

Consider this as my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

This is my goodbye

And this last part would, I think, be them battling for the last word because they're both riled up. Each wants it to be THEIR goodbye, casting off the other instead of being cast off themselves.

────────────

So. This was dramatic. That's the point. Maybe mildly out of character in spots for both Robby and Daniel, but hey, this is an alternate scenario anyway since things actually played out with Robby not able to actually say anything to Daniel before or after the door slammed shut, so... Shush. Thanks for reading to the end! I hope you enjoyed!

11 notes · View notes

nyx-knacks-writes · 18 days ago

Text

Wow you are SO RIGHT on every single song! I ran through them all (it has been a hot minute since I've heard any of EPIC's songs besides "My Goodbye" and "Warrior of the Mind") and all of these songs fit PERFECTLY. However as the goddess of wisdom, I think that Athena would HATE Johnny getting her role in "Little Wolf" and "We'll Be Fine". Like I said, perfect fit, but given the dumbassery we've seen out of Johnny over the course of the show... I can't help but laugh.

Why "My Goodbye" from EPIC Totally Fits Robby Keene and Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai S2E10 if You Squint a Little (Trust Me)

You were reckless

Sentimental at best

That's not a teaching of mine

You've grown soft

Your dead friends can attest

────────────

Hey!

This would just be Robby protesting. Nothing to say here.

────────────

Put your emotions aside

You're a warrior

Meant to lead the rest

I don't know where I went wrong

But I warned you

And you failed the test

So now I'm gone

────────────

This way, you'll know what your place is

This way, you can't cross the line

This way, when all is over

You'll keep yours and I'll keep mine

This way, you won't disappoint me

This way, you won't waste my time

This way, I'll close the door

Consider this as my goodbye

────────────

That's just like you

Why should I be surprised?

Selfish and prideful and vain

Unlike you

Every time someone dies

I'm left to deal with the strain

────────────

What's a title

That a goddess could lend

If I'll never sleep at night?

I'll remind you

I saw you as a friend

But now we're done

────────────

This way, you're out of my head now

This way, you won't plague my life

This way, when all is done

You're out of sight and out of mind

This way, you get what you wanted

This way, you can save your time

This way, you close the door

And have your damn goodbye

────────────

You're not looking for a mentor

I'm not looking for a friend

I mistook you for a general

What a waste of effort spent

────────────

At least I know what I'm fighting for

While you're fighting to be known

Since you claim you're so much wiser

Why's your life spent all alone?

You're alone!

────────────

One day, you'll hear what I'm saying

One day, you might understand

One day, but not today

For after all you're

(Just a man)

────────────

This day, you sever your own head

This day, you cut the line

This day, you lost it all

Consider this as my goodbye

────────────

Consider this as my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

This is my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

Consider this as my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

This is my goodbye

And this last part would, I think, be them battling for the last word because they're both riled up. Each wants it to be THEIR goodbye, casting off the other instead of being cast off themselves.

────────────

11 notes · View notes

nyx-knacks-writes · 19 days ago

Text

Why "My Goodbye" from EPIC Totally Fits Robby Keene and Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai S2E10 if You Squint a Little (Trust Me)

You were reckless

Sentimental at best

That's not a teaching of mine

You've grown soft

Your dead friends can attest

────────────

Hey!

This would just be Robby protesting. Nothing to say here.

────────────

Put your emotions aside

You're a warrior

Meant to lead the rest

I don't know where I went wrong

But I warned you

And you failed the test

So now I'm gone

────────────

This way, you'll know what your place is

This way, you can't cross the line

This way, when all is over

You'll keep yours and I'll keep mine

This way, you won't disappoint me

This way, you won't waste my time

This way, I'll close the door

Consider this as my goodbye

────────────

That's just like you

Why should I be surprised?

Selfish and prideful and vain

Unlike you

Every time someone dies

I'm left to deal with the strain

────────────

What's a title

That a goddess could lend

If I'll never sleep at night?

I'll remind you

I saw you as a friend

But now we're done

────────────

This way, you're out of my head now

This way, you won't plague my life

This way, when all is done

You're out of sight and out of mind

This way, you get what you wanted

This way, you can save your time

This way, you close the door

And have your damn goodbye

────────────

You're not looking for a mentor

I'm not looking for a friend

I mistook you for a general

What a waste of effort spent

────────────

At least I know what I'm fighting for

While you're fighting to be known

Since you claim you're so much wiser

Why's your life spent all alone?

You're alone!

────────────

One day, you'll hear what I'm saying

One day, you might understand

One day, but not today

For after all you're

(Just a man)

────────────

This day, you sever your own head

This day, you cut the line

This day, you lost it all

Consider this as my goodbye

────────────

Consider this as my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

This is my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

Consider this as my goodbye (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

This is my goodbye

And this last part would, I think, be them battling for the last word because they're both riled up. Each wants it to be THEIR goodbye, casting off the other instead of being cast off themselves.

────────────

#robby keene #daniel larusso #johnny lawrence #cobra kai #robby keene deserves better

11 notes · View notes