FLUFF BREAK

[acautionarytale]

Astrid hadn't been kidding when she said this house had plenty of room. It's a big, sprawling, two-storey... thing on a corner in a residential district that's slowly putting itself back together. Sure the place looks a little worn on the outside....

...But on the inside she's managed to make it an actual home. The place used to belong to a Loyalist couple who, sadly, no longer need it. Astrid has, interestingly, made a habit of appropriating abandoned Loyalist property, mainly because the current provisional governmant considers them forfeit. First come first served, and it seems the Fringe team won't ever have to pay for anything again in this area. So she moved out all the Loyalist propaganda and managed to get in some real furniture and decor. It's a warm and inviting and roomy place that needs explored.

Comments

[tookhishand]

He looks sideways at Astrid, curious as to where that came from--her sudden protectiveness? If that's what it is.

"Perhaps... if someday we can find a device, an implant left behind in the world, I can find a way to modify it a little."

Honestly, he doesn't know that much about they're made. It wasn't his job, nor October's. And without the 2600s' equivalent of factory machines... it's like trying to cobble together a computer chip by hand.

[acautionarytale]

It is a bit of a protective streak, isn't it? She doesn't want to see Donald hurt... and she's starting to feel the same way about October.

Observer den-mother? Probably.

October looks a bit puzzled at the idea and Astrid sighs, leaning her head against Donald for a moment.

"Walter could have figured it out..." and then the morose mood lifts, just like that. "But we probably could, if we can find the right notes."

[tookhishand]

October's rather like a child discovering new things... so why shouldn't she be?

"We can only do so much. First we find the others... and get you all well."

[acautionarytale]

He is, isn't he? It's also strangely and vaguely familiar to her, though she has no idea why.

The look on October's face, however, stops her musings. There's something resembling... fear. He'd shown it before, in Peter's home, that deer-in-headlights stare. It's back again.

"What's wrong?"

There's a pause before October answers. "We can... save them? I have... I have doubts. They are troubling."

[tookhishand]

"With good planning, we can." He's firm on this, he has to be. "Look what's already been done, all the people they've saved."

Sure, they're down Olivia and Walter... but they can. He has to keep on hoping.

[acautionarytale]

"Exactly," Astrid chimes in. She's been trying to get her optimism to rub off on other people. Maybe it's working. "If you feel up to it, we can start figuring out where everyone is, tomorrow. Does that sound good?"

There's a pause, and then October nods once. "That will be... that is... that is good. Yes."

Astrid smiles and reaches out, patting October's hand. He looks down at it curiously.

[tookhishand]

Optimism isn't hard, if he logics himself into it. He's alive, he's healing, they can save what's left of his team, and one of them will surely be able to zip him off to Oslo, where Michael and Walter are. It can still be okay.

"Peter was mistaken about me. I won't let the others suffer."

[acautionarytale]

Astrid looks back at him, smiling. That why she likes you, Donald. You're a good person.

October manages to not so much look relieved as to cease looking worried, returning to his usual expressionless state, albeit a rather sleepy variation on it.

"Thank you," he murmurs. "It is... good to hear such things."

[tookhishand]

To hell with whoever did this to the nice few, honestly. Two wrongs don't make a right.

"Good, it should be. ... I'll be right back."

Going to get a glass of water and do the medication thing, yup.

[acautionarytale]

When Donald returns, Astrid is tucking a blanket around a drowsing October. He's mumbling something about how he can't be of any use when he's sleeping so much and she's shushing him gently, patting his shoulder.

She looks up when Donald enters her peripheral vision and smiles. October mumbles something too quiet to catch.

[tookhishand]

That.

That is a sweet thing.

Secondhand warm fuzzies.

"You like him?"

[acautionarytale]

Astrid looks down at October, who is once again asleep.

"I... don't dislike him," she answers, then looks at Donald again. "This is all really familiar, though. I... did something like this for you, too, didn't I?"

[tookhishand]

"You do like him, though."

He raises an eyebrow at her, curious. "Yes... I suppose some part of you remembers. Your subconscious."

[acautionarytale]

A thought sticks in Astrid's mind. It's a silly thought, but she has to ask on it, anyway.

"Donald... are you trying to set me up with him?" She can't keep the amused tone out of her voice.

[tookhishand]

...What.

"Of course I'm not, that would be a disaster. He's confused enough already."

[acautionarytale]

"You're right. It would." It's not her fault you sounded as though you were two inches from asking 'but do you like-like him?'

Besides, she likes you a lot more, Donald. But don't tell her I said that.

"I want him to be safe and... well... as happy as he can be, anyway, so I guess I do like him, in a way," she finally says thoughtfully.

[tookhishand]

October has a new friend. Adorable.

"He can be... something like happy. Content. I spent more time feeling alright than not."

[acautionarytale]

A very happy smile crosses Astrid's face. Very happy but with maybe a touch of the wibble she'd often evidenced around September when he was transitioning from Observer to human.

"I'm really glad to hear it," she says. Time for a hug. A proper hug, this time.

[tookhishand]

Aww, hugs. He's an okay hugger, he supposes. She seems to think so.

"Are you alright?"

[acautionarytale]

He is good at it. Also, this is all part of her plan to make up for twenty years of alone-ness by snuggling him every chance she gets. And maybe more.

"Mhm," she says, resting her head against his shoulder. "I know you miss Walter and Michael horribly but I'll do everything I can to help you feel better..."

She can't say it, right now, even though it's hinted at in her tone that there's more.

[tookhishand]

It's odd, it's bringing up things he's not sure are good for Astrid and her little family. He and October are just the audience.

"Aren't all of you? You're all in the same boat."

[acautionarytale]

"Same kind of boat, but different boats, if Peter and Olivia are anything to go by." Every once in a while she lets her frustration show, but only around people she's comfortable with. She hasn't let go of him.

"Believe me, I'd rather we were all in the same one and rowing in the same direction."

[tookhishand]

"Are you sure you don't know where she is?" He always liked her. She did save his life once, before they were actually friends.

[acautionarytale]

"I wish I did," Astrid answers, her voice small. "I haven't heard from her lately, not even about the sightings."

"I hope she isn't going after them."

[tookhishand]

"Surely she won't react as Peter did..." Angrily.