acautionarytale | FLUFF BREAK

FLUFF BREAK

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.

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So warm and cozy... and rats. Rats are adorable.

"It's a mystery how I never ended up fat."

"Running around after Walter and Peter and Olivia was what kept me thin," Astrid replies. Not that she isn't still thin, now. She looks at the screen again, watching a rat season a pot of soup. Mentioning the others has made her a little wistful.

Sideways glance to October. How many peppers are left?

"Mostly running after Walter, I remember."

There are one or two left, mainly because he's stopped munching and is absorbed in the film.

"Sometimes literally." She sighs quietly. "I miss them," she whispers after a moment.

Rare is the moment when Astrid lets anyone see her even mildly unhappy.

Don't they all? He wouldn't mind seeing Olivia, but Astrid won't tell him where she is or what she's doing...

"I know." Quiet voice. They're already cuddling, there can't be any more cuddling.

Astrid will tell him soon enough.

This is the cuddliest cuddling and for some reason it's just what she needs. She sniffs a bit wetly just once, and rubs her face, but is back to normal a beat or so later.

The film progresses, and she idly wonders how October can sit so still.

Idly rubbing her shoulder for a few moments.

"I'm sorry. You woke up and... the whole world had changed."

She nods, head moving against his chest.

"It took some getting used to," she whispers. "Well, okay, a lot of getting used to."

"How are you doing for money, and in general?"

He's neglected to ask, he thinks... at least as far as he can remember. He'd been lost in his own depressing hospital world.

Astrid shifts slightly, settling a little better against him, her head on his shoulder. She looks at October for a moment, then back to the screen. She doesn't want to mention this when October is around, but he's engrossed in the film, so she does anyway.

"I'm doing all right. A lot of people... don't want to charge us any money... the fringe team, I mean... because of what we did. That and I hid some away, and... the house has a few stashes."

She's Astrid. She's going to feel bad about taking things from other people, even dead Loyalists.

"If you do have trouble, I have some savings."

Not a whole lot. The Invaders didn't trust him, after everything he'd done. But he's living here for free...

"It's okay," Astrid answers, squeezing his hand. "I'm doing fine right now, even with everyone here." He can feel her smiling. "Besides, they haven't gotten billing systems back up. The house is essentially free right now."

"It'll be there when you need it." Probably not an if, he can keep on offering. "Or... Olivia?"

Astrid goes very still for a moment, then sighs, relaxing against him again.

"Olivia.... I'm sorry, Donald. I know I should have told you sooner, but I just didn't know how or when to bring it up. She... left. Because of Peter. I hear from her occasionally, but only to let me know she's okay."

"And I take it you don't know where she's gone?"

What's wrong with Peter is the next question he wants answered.

"No, she never tells me," Astrid answers, her voice small.

She's dreading the question about Peter, but she knows it's going to have to be answered sooner or later.

"I... suppose I wouldn't have any luck asking either."

Maybe not today. It's all very sad.

"I don't think she really wants to tell anyone, just yet. She keeps saying that she'll come back when she's gotten her head in order, and I want to believe her, but... I just don't know."

She sighs again, curling her arms around him. Looks like she's serious about this snuggling thing.

Part of him wanted, and still wants to go be alone, although he knows he's needed. He can sympathize.

"She will. I'm sure."

No, he's not.

If he was going to do that he'd have to detach himself from Astrid, which would be like trying to remove oneself from under a purring cat. An... adult human-sized purring cat.

Besides, they're getting to the meat of the film, now, where all the plot elements start coming together. October looks a bit confused.

Long term alone time, like Olivia is. But... there's a world to fix and old 'friends' to save. Innocent people tricked like he was into helping the invasion.

He doesn't look forward to trying to explain how a rat controls a human being via his hair. Weiiiird logic.

Chalk the hair-puppeteering up to that particular human just being weird. Maybe he's got extra nerves in his scalp.

If Astrid knew of Donald's apparent desire to become a hermit, she'd be a very sad fluff. And would also most likely rack her brain in an attempt to figure out a way to convince him to stay... beyond a perceived duty. She likes having him around, as if the snuggling wasn't enough to tell him that.

The cuddling is nice. Nice, new, and neat. She must be terribly lonely.

And the movie wraps up with a happy ending ...

Good. Maybe he'll come to like it so much that he won't want to go be a hermit.

Why, no, she hasn't got a terrible agenda that involves him staying forever so she can snuggle him and bake cookies for him. Nope.

The happy ending is why she picked the film, after all. She didn't want to further confuse October with sad things. Still, as the credits finish, October sits back into the sofa cushions, a thoughtful look on his face.

Presently, he speaks, looking at Donald. "Do you experience such... sensations? Colours and scents and flavors? Is it true that food is an important component in human bonding?"

He knows how to think like October, if there's one thing. Walter and the others had it harder all those years ago.

"Yes, I do. All the time." To the point where he takes it for granted now. Good for him.

He nods, "And yes. One of the many ways to make someone feel welcomed and cared for."

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