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]

Imagine the things he could have gotten up to when he was younger and better looking.

"He needs it more than I do." Shame to have a huge appetite and no sense of taste. It also sucks to have to watch your diet, at fifty.

Donald trails after her, wearing socks (and a whole outfit) that doesn't really feel like his yet.

[acautionarytale]

Oh, gosh, the things he could get up to, now... It doesn't help that Astrid is getting all blushy around him.

"True, but it isn't the same without something to munch on."

Still, there is some left when they make it into the cozy living room. October looks more comfortable than he ought to in black sweats and a grey t-shirt, a fuzzy blanket around his shoulders. He's munching on a colourful hot pepper.

Astrid plops herself on the sofa next to him and motions Donald to sit on her other side. That way they can share the food and the warmth and maybe feel less alone in the world.

[tookhishand]

Some part of him noticed. It's strange, he's at least a decade and a half older than her... and he knows she's forgotten their silly days with Walter as he learned humanity. Yet it's like the friendship hasn't died.

He sits, smiling again. It's coming a bit easier. Peter and Olivia are missing... he's not sure where Olivia is and Peter isn't normal. Cartoon rat movies are a good distraction, at least, it should help.

[acautionarytale]

Astrid sees this smile and leans slightly against him. There's... a small part of her memory, entirely subconscious, that feels right with him, that remembers the feeling of the friendship they'd formed. She's comfortable with him. And now, maybe a little bit more than comfortable.

"I really am glad you're here," she says softly.

On her other side, October munches another pepper, raptly watching the screen.

[tookhishand]

So much talk of food and flavor! October can't be understanding a thing about tastes and cooking. Food is fuel to Observers, like the one rat says.

They just need a lot of calories. Hence so much meat, the most filling possible.

"That... helps, I think." He's quiet, not wanting to distract October. Very First Movie Ever time is important.

[acautionarytale]

October does look about as puzzled as an Observer can, and occasionally glances at Astrid when she giggles at a funny bit. Still, he's obviously taking in all the data and processing it. Objectively, he knows the definition of 'taste,' 'smell,' colour,' et cetera, and can just about correlate it with the sounds presented, but really putting it together will require extrapolation that's beyond his scope. Observers have no imagination. He will have a lot of questions. It's surprising that he isn't peppering them with them now.

Astrid is a warm, gentle weight against Donald's side, occasionally chewing on popcorn. It's quiet in there, save for the film.

[tookhishand]

It must be bizarre, listening to descriptions of senses you can't imagine. Like watching a movie full of colors you can't see... like being blind.

Walter would probably offer October LSD to 'help'.

Donald's just highly amused when the old lady shoots up her own house. Overkill! Kinda like how he blew his apartment up. It's a good thing Astrid and the others never knew.

[acautionarytale]

It doesn't even occur to Astrid to ask what happened to Donald's apartment. She assumes the Invaders destroyed it on the assumption that he was in it at the time.

Occasionally, she looks over at October, wondering what his reactions are. He continues to stare raptly at the screen, head tilting to the side every once in a while.

"We're going to have to explain a lot, aren't we?" she whispers to Donald.

[tookhishand]

Yep. Nice of them not to hurt the neighbors he had though. He made sure that would never happen.

'We'?

"I think I'm going to be the one he asks--for obvious reasons."

Poor him.

[acautionarytale]

"You're probably right," Astrid whispers back, an amused smile on her face. "But I'll help you with it."

She curls her fingers around his hand, unconsciously mirroring what she did the first time she ever tried to explain emotions to him.

[tookhishand]

He does have a good memory, for a human. Some things never changed--good, useful things. The Fringe team are so nostalgic to be around, as if 'September' was his childhood. So's October, as a matter of fact.

"It's not easy. Walter solved the problem by all but throwing food in my mouth and explaining after."

[acautionarytale]

Astrid makes an amused sound into her hand and then buries her face in Donald's shoulder in an attempt to avoid distracting October with her laughter.

"That is such a Walter thing to do," she giggles as quietly as she can.

[tookhishand]

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

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

[acautionarytale]

"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.

[tookhishand]

Sideways glance to October. How many peppers are left?

"Mostly running after Walter, I remember."

[acautionarytale]

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.

[tookhishand]

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.

[acautionarytale]

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.

[tookhishand]

Idly rubbing her shoulder for a few moments.

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

[acautionarytale]

She nods, head moving against his chest.

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

[tookhishand]

"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.

[acautionarytale]

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.

[tookhishand]

"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...

[acautionarytale]

"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."

[tookhishand]

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