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]

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?"

[acautionarytale]

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."

[tookhishand]

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

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

[acautionarytale]

"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.

[tookhishand]

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

Maybe not today. It's all very sad.

[acautionarytale]

"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.

[tookhishand]

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.

[acautionarytale]

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.

[tookhishand]

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.