"Donald is certain that it's October, someone he used to work with."
And then, from the other side of the room, there's a loud THUMP. The Observer is no longer in the chair, but stretched out on the floor as though he'd just hit the deck.
"What was that?" Clearly, it was loud enough for Astrid to hear over the phone. "Is someone there?"
October. Peter's eyebrows shoot up slightly. So he was part of the original scientific team.
"That's--" He's just about to say 'interesting' when October throws himself out of the chair, causing Peter to nearly jump out of his own skin. As it is he phases slightly out of instinct, the reception on the phone staticking briefly. He catches the tail end of Astrid's question: --meone there?
"Uh... I don't know. Must have been something outside," he says hurriedly, even as he's crossing the room to check on the Observer.
There's a pause on the phone. "Sorry," Astrid says contritely after a moment. "You're right. I hope everything's okay, though, that was pretty loud."
October, meanwhile, blinks cluelessly at Peter, and looks at the chair. Then looks behind the chair. Why is he motioning at it? Does he need something?
"Everything's fine," Peter confirms, nestling the phone between shoulder and ear as he reaches out for October's shoulders, to gently but firmly sit him down in the chair.
Maybe it's time to change the subject a little. "How's our friend doing?" He doesn't want to use Donald's name, not in front of October.
October falls into the chair with a bit of a plop. A cloud of dust comes up from the chair. He doesn't cough on it, though. He simply looks a little frightened again. Oh, boy.
"He's good," Astrid answers brightly. "He's..." A beat. "He's ready to leave, now. Huh. When they said 'soon,' they weren't kidding."
"That's great." Even if his voice is soaked in enthusiasm, on the other end Peter isn't smiling. It is good news, because it means Donald will be less of a sitting duck out of the hospital. But she can't see him smile, so what's the point?
"How's... everyone else?" He can't bring himself to directly ask about Olivia. Not by name.
"Good, good," she says enthusiastically yet evasively. "You know, I haven't seen you in a long time, and neither has Donald. Maybe we'll stop by sometime today. I'll bring muffins."
He doesn't even know why he bothered to ask. Did he really want Astrid to give him details? And the bigger question: does he want Olivia to be 'good' or not?
Thankfully he has more pressing matters to occupy his thoughts. Such as Astrid wanting to visit. Today.
"Uh. Maybe later. I'm pretty busy today. Won't even really be around..."
It's best October has no idea what's going on in this conversation, really. Peter rubs his temples again; this is going to be a long day.
"I'm fine, Astrid. Look, why don't I meet you somewhere instead? You could bring the muffins. I'll bring..." He thinks about his refrigerator, how there's not much in there besides mustard and Sriracha. The Observers really liked their Sriracha, so there was a surplus after the occupation ended.
"Sure," Peter says distractedly, "Sure. See you then, Astrid."
After he hangs up he returns his attention to October. How's he going to keep him from leaving the apartment? If only he'd thought to make some stasis runes...
October would, frankly, rather hide out here, for now.
And he's starving. He blinks at Peter, though, as the question was definitely not something he expected. A tiny part of his mind that grew there very recently finds the question a bit suspect, but the rest of his mind is as practical and as ludicrously honest as always, so he simply answers, "Yes."
Peter may not be a monster, but October is just the tiniest bit paranoid, now. Then again, it isn't paranoia when the humans really are out to get you.
Still, he tilts his head slightly. "Thank you," he says softly. "You are right. I would be safer here, out of sight."
October is alone, now. He sits quietly for a few moments, no sound anywhere save for a clock ticking.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...
Then he stands and walks quietly around the room, peering at things curiously. It's something Observers have never really rid themselves of. He'll pick things up and look at them, peek out the window, run a finger over some upholstery or other....
And then he wanders through the doorway and into the kitchen. There are a few more things in here. He peeks into the fridge, then notices the coffee machine. Pokes at it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
And then, from the other side of the room, there's a loud THUMP. The Observer is no longer in the chair, but stretched out on the floor as though he'd just hit the deck.
"What was that?" Clearly, it was loud enough for Astrid to hear over the phone. "Is someone there?"
no subject
"That's--" He's just about to say 'interesting' when October throws himself out of the chair, causing Peter to nearly jump out of his own skin. As it is he phases slightly out of instinct, the reception on the phone staticking briefly. He catches the tail end of Astrid's question: --meone there?
"Uh... I don't know. Must have been something outside," he says hurriedly, even as he's crossing the room to check on the Observer.
no subject
"Apologies," he says. "I saw someone and it appeared as though he were looking in the window."
Aaaand Astrid picks up on that, because she clearly has the hearing of a bat. "Who's that?"
no subject
"It's nobody," he says quickly. "Just a neighbor. Can I call you back?"
no subject
"What's going on?"
no subject
Meanwhile he motions for October to sit back down.
no subject
October, meanwhile, blinks cluelessly at Peter, and looks at the chair. Then looks behind the chair. Why is he motioning at it? Does he need something?
no subject
Maybe it's time to change the subject a little. "How's our friend doing?" He doesn't want to use Donald's name, not in front of October.
no subject
"He's good," Astrid answers brightly. "He's..." A beat. "He's ready to leave, now. Huh. When they said 'soon,' they weren't kidding."
no subject
"How's... everyone else?" He can't bring himself to directly ask about Olivia. Not by name.
no subject
"Good, good," she says enthusiastically yet evasively. "You know, I haven't seen you in a long time, and neither has Donald. Maybe we'll stop by sometime today. I'll bring muffins."
Oh, dear god, she sounds too happy.
no subject
Thankfully he has more pressing matters to occupy his thoughts. Such as Astrid wanting to visit. Today.
"Uh. Maybe later. I'm pretty busy today. Won't even really be around..."
no subject
... Anyone who knows Astrid Farnsworth knows she's lying through her teeth when she uses that light and airy tone.
October is no help, though, simply watching Peter carefully.
no subject
"I'm fine, Astrid. Look, why don't I meet you somewhere instead? You could bring the muffins. I'll bring..." He thinks about his refrigerator, how there's not much in there besides mustard and Sriracha. The Observers really liked their Sriracha, so there was a surplus after the occupation ended.
"I can pick something up," he finishes lamely.
no subject
October, for his part, just looks puzzled. If Peter is leaving, what is he going to do? Staaaaaaaare.
no subject
After he hangs up he returns his attention to October. How's he going to keep him from leaving the apartment? If only he'd thought to make some stasis runes...
Well, they have another hour to figure that out.
"You hungry?"
no subject
And he's starving. He blinks at Peter, though, as the question was definitely not something he expected. A tiny part of his mind that grew there very recently finds the question a bit suspect, but the rest of his mind is as practical and as ludicrously honest as always, so he simply answers, "Yes."
no subject
"Okay, so am I. I'm going to make a breakfast run. You should stay here until I get back; it's probably safer."
no subject
Still, he tilts his head slightly. "Thank you," he says softly. "You are right. I would be safer here, out of sight."
ha, he rhymed
"I'll be back soon," he promises. "This won't take long." And with that he vanishes.
He'll go on to develop those mad rhymin skillz. Become DJBaldo.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...
Then he stands and walks quietly around the room, peering at things curiously. It's something Observers have never really rid themselves of. He'll pick things up and look at them, peek out the window, run a finger over some upholstery or other....
And then he wanders through the doorway and into the kitchen. There are a few more things in here. He peeks into the fridge, then notices the coffee machine. Pokes at it.