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]

Sad as in unhappy or pitiful?

"It's rather like... being half a person. I don't know. It was a long time ago."

They missed twenty years of his life, and they've forgotten the first year of it.

"You don't remember my change."

[acautionarytale]

If he asked, she'd say sad as in unhappy.

She can only imagine what it'd be like, having no emotions, only a job--a very important job, but still... just wandering through life witnessing things but never connecting.

She blinks when Donald mentions her not remembering his change, especially when she finds she was unconsciously stroking October's cheek with the back of her fingers in a soothing gesture. It seems... oddly familiar, though.

"No, I don't remember. I didn't even know I was there for it. I thought Walter..." she trails off, confused.

[tookhishand]

He finds himself sitting back down, nowhere else to go.

Distantly and haltingly, "I was around for almost a year before you Ambered yourself, I couldn't avoid meeting up with all of you."

"And I wanted to see you and the other again. But then the Invasion came around... we all choose to suppress your memories of me and of the plan so that you couldn't be read. It was your decision more than mine."

[acautionarytale]

Astrid's eyes are wide and sad, her lips pulled into a slight frown. She sits down next to him.

"I'm so sorry. I know it was the right thing to do under the circumstances, but... I feel like we all abandoned you."

She reaches out and curls her arms around him in a warm hug. "We'll make some new memories, okay?" She looks up at him with the same expression she used to use with Walter when determined to make things positive. "This is your home, now."

[tookhishand]

That's absolutely not what he meant. Shame on him for making things sad.

"I'm not blaming you, I suggested it originally."

What is it about sitting down that makes the hugs so awkward? "Yes, it's going to be fine. No need to save the world anymore."

[acautionarytale]

Bah. You have to deal with the sad in order to make room for the happy. Astrid hasn't exactly let go of him, and she squeezes him gently.

"Exactly. Just between you and me, I think we can all use a break from saving the world." She stands, looking over at October again, a grin stealing across her features. "And if I'm going to start collecting Observers, I'm gonna need a lot more food."

[tookhishand]

"The four of you did do it more than the average person does." Juuust a bit.

"More meat, more pepper. One side effect of all the technology we crammed into ourselves... something has to power it." Bioelectricity from the stomach!

Astrid, have you overdosed on weird humor yet?

[acautionarytale]

She hasn't overdosed, really. In fact, she kind of misses it.

A giggle results. "Good thing I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy."

After a beat, she impulsively leans in and kisses his cheek. "I'm glad you're here, Donald."

[tookhishand]

Don't they all. He'd love to be watching goofy musicals with Walter again. Oh, the nostalgia.

"No shortage of meat and pepper as it is, I'd think." Observer restaurants were weird.

He's caught off guard when she does. It also drags out a smile. "Glad I chose to move into your home."

Was that really only this morning?

[acautionarytale]

It was, wasn't it? Then again, it was early this morning. Maybe they'll watch something later and Donald and Astrid will get to explain comedies to October.

"I'll be back in a little bit," she says. "Keep an eye on that kitten, he's a tiny terrorist."

Said kitten is, at this moment, chewing industriously on a curtain cord.

Astrid then bustles out of the room. There's a few noises from the kitchen and then the front door closes.

The kitten rolls about on the carpet. October snores. Exciting, no?

[tookhishand]

Her sudden departure makes him suspect he didn't react the way she hoped for. Who knows, who cares, there is kitten wrangling to be done. He's going to scoop Nutmeg up before the cord is bitten in half... and make his way into the kitchen.