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[acautionarytale]

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[acautionarytale]

There is quinting from the Observer. "... September?" Then he quickly looks at the mess, then back at Astrid and his former colleague. "I--"

Astrid doesn't know Peter is back, yet, as he appeared behind her. October, however, does see him, and freezes, the carafe slipping from his hand and hitting the floor, splattering even more coffee and sriracha.

[tookhishand]

It's a lovely shiny surprise. Someone friendly made it through.

And it's dawning on him that October can move through time effortlessly. That includes the year 2167...

"How did you survive?"

[acautionarytale]

October is still staring at Peter, but manages to force himself to move his gaze back to Donald.

"I... It was very difficult," he starts. Then the coffee machine spits out a glop of mess and he actually startles.

"Ah-Apologies, Peter Bishop. I believe it can be repaired...."

Peter? What? Huh? Astrid turns and looks behind her and there's Peter.

"Peter!" She squeaks, startled. "You have an Observer in your ho--You were keeping an Observer in your home?!"

[tookhishand]

Wait, keeping? He'd naturally assumed October broke in. As Observers do.

Looking to Peter now, less upset, "Were you?"

[emotionisweakness]

Thanks, October. Peter was planning on just slipping quietly away when he had the chance, but then you had to go and say something! He meets Astrid's and then Donald's gaze evenly, but there's less of an apprehensive look in his eyes now, something more like defiance. And anger. It's... almost an answer to their question.

"We were supposed to meet in the park," he chides Astrid quietly, as if all this is her fault.

[acautionarytale]

October takes a step back. He almost looks as though he wishes he could just vanish but knows that he doesn't dare.

Astrid, on the other hand, returns Peter's stare with the disbelieving eye that she'd cultivated over years of dealing with him and Walter and Olivia. A sort of Did you really just say that? look.

"True, but I suspected something was wrong. I'm sorry I was misleading, but neither you nor Walter ever fess up to things," she says with that firm but gentle tone of a grade-school teacher that she so often adopts around these people.

[tookhishand]

"Peter, what is going on?" Stop it, both of you, is implied in his tone. October is a good guy, sort of, not just any Observer and obviously Peter should have said something.

"He's worked with me. He's not a danger."

[emotionisweakness]

Yes, Astrid, he really just said it. You're the one trespassing.

"Walter's gone," he says to her flatly, and then turns to Donald.

"Just like the Observers should be. If October's here, if you're still here... there are likely more of them. You can't assume they are all harmless."

[acautionarytale]

Walter's gone. That's really kind of been one of the spikes that's driven them apart. Astrid turns away and finds herself looking at October. She watches him silently as he very carefully mops up the coffee and hot sauce.

For his part, October has found a way to distance himself from all of these emotions swirling in the air around him and feels almost beck to his usual calm self, carefully cleaning.

[tookhishand]

Ouch, Peter. He falters for a moment too at the mention of Walter.

"No. October is, though." And more importantly, he can help Donald time travel. "I realize you didn't know who he is, that isn't your fault... he's no different than I am."

[emotionisweakness]

Hey, Astrid started it. And don't go Bogarting October, Donald-- Peter got there first!

"You're no longer one of them," he points out to Donald. "That makes you pretty different in my book."

[tookhishand]

"I started out like him. You both have to believe me when I say he isn't an invader." He isn't raising his voice, he isn't even angry. Earnest and almost pleading.

[acautionarytale]

The individual they're arguing over has managed, somehow, to get this part of the kitchen cleaner than it's been in ages and is now reassembling the coffee machine. He looks up at them occasionally, and while he's much calmer than he was, there's still a trace of trepidation to him.

Astrid, who had been watching him during this exchange, looks back at them. "I believe you, Donald," she says quietly.

[emotionisweakness]

Peter, for his part, doesn't look as reassured. But it isn't really October he's worried about, yet. It's the threat of more of them.

"People on the street might not have that same kind of faith, Donald. We need to keep him hidden."

Isn't it great how they're talking about you like you're not even there, October?

[tookhishand]

October isn't speaking for himself, for whatever reason, so Donald will. Kinship.

"I realize that. We will."

[acautionarytale]

Sorry, guys, October had kind of entered a state of cleaning zen. Now that he's finished with that, he joins them near the door. Astrid looks up at him but doesn't step back from him. Closer to, one can see he looks worn and tired and thin, his suit looking a bit large on him. Some of that fear is back in his eyes but he focusses on Donald.

"I came to find you," he says quietly. "You... know how to survive here. I--I do not know why I am still in this time or why I cannot leave it. I need a safe place to work on how to leave it again. And... we must find the others. Some of them are..." He pauses, blinking, trying to find the right words. "...in trouble."

[emotionisweakness]

"What kind of trouble?" Peter is quick to ask. And yes, there may be a note of skepticism in his voice. As well as a healthy dollop of 'who cares?'. Hey, he has his reasons.

He's placed the bag of sandwiches on the table, by the way. If October's still hungry after all that horrifying coffee.

[tookhishand]

Donald's helping himself to a chair, medicated and a bit beat. How Peter can be skeptical about an Observer who doesn't look as healthy as he should is a mystery.

"You're trapped in time? When did this problem start?"

[acautionarytale]

Astrid peeks inside the sandwich bag and then pulls one out, handing it to October and then shushing him into another chair so he'll sit down before he falls down. He murmurs a quiet "thank you," before returning his attention to the questions at hand.

He keeps his gaze on Donald even though he answers Peter's question, first.

"November had been captured by a group of humans, but I do not know how long he has been imprisoned. May has been captured, as well. I could not free them, as I did not know where I could bring that that would be safe, and I suspect they... are not fit to travel for very long." His voice is only just audible and sounds more... numb than truly emotionless. He stares into the middle distance, the still-wrapped sandwich in his hands.

"I have found July, but... I cannot find the other five."

Astrid stands nearby, arms around herself, a pained expression on her face.

October doesn't notice anyone's reactions. "I found... that I could no longer move through time when the others, the... Invaders... disappeared."

[emotionisweakness]

Astrid may look pained, and surely Donald, by this information. Peter, on the other hand, looks pretty much the same. Skeptical and that's about it. Expressionless otherwise. He listens to October's story, head tilted slightly, arms crossed.

"Walter and Michael must have disrupted your timeline just enough to prevent anyone else crossing over," he muses at the end of it all.

[tookhishand]

Yes, he's more than disturbed, running a hand through his hair. There goes his hopes of hitching a ride to Michael, and what they must be doing to his friends... because he has to admit that's what they were.

"You're safe now. We'll get you a change of clothes..." Suits are taboo for good, he's sure. "And I promise, I will help you."

[acautionarytale]

There's a pause as the statement sinks in. Something creeps into October's mind that had been hovering at the edges for a while, now. Something that creates a small, tight ball in his chest. He blinks a few times. One hand comes up to his chest absently.

"I... was told you would not wish to aid me," he whispers. His eyes flick to Peter for an instant.

Astrid looks at Peter, waiting to see what he'll say.

[emotionisweakness]

Seriously, October? Now you're tattling on Peter? Aware all eyes are on him, he contrives to look contrite.

"I wasn't aware of his intentions," he says. "And Donald was... vulnerable."

[tookhishand]

He's floored, utterly speechless for what seems like a long time as he tries to process. That stings--who would say something like that about him?

...Peter. He caught the little flicker of October's eyes towards the man.

"That's... not true. Peter didn't know we knew each other... and spoke out of turn. Just a inconvenient misunderstanding." Surely there's nothing more to the lie.

He stands up from the chair, touching the back of his neck in an old nervous habit. "I have a lot of questions, October. Why don't we get some fresh air?"

[acautionarytale]

Astrid puts a hand on Donald's shoulder, pressing down gently. "No, you're recovering, and it's not safe for him to go out right now."

She eyes Peter, then sighs.

"You two do need to talk, though."

"Come on, Peter, let's see what's in your closet."