Spring socializing. ((Open to anyone.))

[chiron_survivor]

It has been a long winter, made longer by the fact that Adia could not reach any of her friends in the Nexus. When spring arrives and her PINpoint starts working again, she wastes little time in sending out a message.

Hello! This is Adia. Caspar and I were locked out of the Nexus until now. Please reply if you get this message and let me know how you're doing and if there's anything I can get you?

In the interest of efficiency, she sends it as a blind carbon copy to most of her Contact List.

((Feel free to tag once, play out a thread, or handwave your muse's reponse. Also, if you want me to know specifically that Adia can't/won't get a message, feel free to share. :) ))

Comments

[alittlehinky]

You could come by while I'm working later if you want and listen to the radio and keep me company. He's quick to counteroffer. Really, unless she can solder or weld he'd rather do the work himself, but he never turns down friendly company. It might be nice to have her or Caspar or both hang around while he's brewing sometime.

Thank you very much for gloves. Not sure if mine got stolen or Willie hid them.

I'll be there in a few minutes!

And so he is. He's on forearm crutches, but he's wearing one of the spring shirts Alex designed for him and it looks nice on him. Light and comfortable and suitable for the work he does. Willie, running along the ground behind him, is in a yellow dress and has a butterfly barrette in her fur behind each ear. No shoes this morning; evidently her feet are warm enough in this weather. But she's got a little bundle of quince blossoms and bluebells in her mouth and she runs right up to Adia and hops up on her hind legs as if to offer the flowers.

Whatever Cricket's carrying with him is in a backpack on his back, and he looks for a seat out of the way before he starts getting things out, grinning at his Pokemon's antics. "I picked the flowers, for you, but you can give her the credit. She's full of herself, anyway, I think Spring is her favorite."

[chiron_survivor]

Sure! I can bring some music to share.

A few minutes is enough time for her to relocate to the lobby and pester Caspar for the work gloves. As predicted, he's fine about giving them to Cricket and the only grumbling comes from having to go out to the shed to get them.

She only has a moment to worry over Cricket's need for crutches before the cutest dog in the multiverse is running towards her with flowers in her mouth. "Oh!" she squeaks, because she hasn't met Willie before, and this introduction is too adorable for words. She crouches down, petting the lillipup if she allows it and accepting the flowers. "Thank you, Cricket. And thank you, Willie! I love your dress."

Once Cricket finds a seat, she joins him, setting down her messenger bag and also digging through it. "Here are the gloves," she says, handing them over. She'll try to get a hug in there, too, once he's settled. "It's good to see you again. Caspar and I missed you."

[alittlehinky]

Cricket has some very real affection for the both of them. Adia's been openly kind, but Caspar, for all his irascibility, seems to have taken to him, too. It means a lot to Cricket. His attachment to the sandglobe they gave him has a lot more to do with his affection for the both of them than fascination with the sand and the sea.

Willie, on the other hand, is confident than anyone who gets to know her will adore her, and has yet to be proven wrong. Her tail wags frantically at the introduction, and she nuzzles into Adia's hand. She's not the type to lick, though, and she knows not to bark in the library.

Cricket has no qualms about accepting the hug, smiling warmly at her. "Thanks. I missed y'all, too. Probably for the best you wasn't here this winter, though. I think I drank my weight in pine needle tea toward the end."

[chiron_survivor]

"Ah, you're so cute," she coos to the pup as she pets her head, careful not to dislodge the barrettes. "Cricket, you really have to show Willie to Caspar sometime, he'll love her."

She's mindful of the way she hugs him, not wanting to set him off balance. There's some silent fretting as she gets a closer look at him, but she tries to keep it to a minimum, not wanting to wound his pride.

"I wish I could have helped," she says sadly. "But you're right, it's probably for the best. I've lived on rations before, but I always had the Nexus to escape to. Do you think you'll keep living here? Things like this seem to happen more and more frequently."

She sits down, rather than hovering next to him, giving him space to retrieve the sand globe. "I have some good news, too, if you'd like to hear it?"

[alittlehinky]

"You think so?" Cricket didn't realize Caspar was so susceptible to cute, but after brief consideration it kind of makes sense. "I'll have her bring him flowers, too."

There's a smirk there. He's being playful. But he probably will do it.

"You'd have been welcome," he tells Adia honestly. Because he really does wish she had been around to talk to, if nothing else. But Caspar would have been beside himself, as protective as he is. "I can still make you pine needle tea if you want."

No, Adia. You really don't want. "I'm not goin' anywhere. This is where I was brought to after I died. This is where I met Harley and all my other friends. This is where I met Loki. I belong here."

He gets out the sandglobe and unwraps it gently. There's a big crack down the middle, and a couple small chunks of glass missing, so all the water has leaked out. But the sand and shells are still tucked in the bottom safely. It may well be repairable. Cricket's been very careful about saving the pieces of it.

"Yeah?" He beams at her. "What kinda good news? Of course I wanna hear."

[chiron_survivor]

She giggles at the thought of Willie offering Caspar a similar bouquet. "Oh, yes, he'd love that," she says to the pup sweetly, as if Willie was the one who suggested it. "Yes, he would, he'd love flowers from such a good little girl."

Maybe he won't absolutely melt the way she has over Willie, but she's willing to bet that he'll turn at least a little mushy. And if Cricket doesn't believe her, she has countless photos of him with Anastasia and Princess as evidence.

His answer makes her smile, even as she worries internally. The Nexus seems to get more and more dangerous every year, but at least Cricket has powerful friends to look out for him. And, at least in the case of a break-in, he can take care of himself.

"I think I'll pass on the tea. Although we have pine trees on Atlantis, it's good to know we could use them for that."

She looks over the pieces of broken glass, relieved to see that it isn't in worse shape. "Miriam can probably fix this," she decides. "And maybe I can find somewhere here who can put a protective spell on it so it doesn't break again."

When he inquires positively about her good news, she smiles brightly and holds out her hand. "Caspar proposed," she says, showing him her ring. "We're getting married this spring."

[alittlehinky]

Willie's tail wags eagerly and despite her best manners she gives a soft little "Wuff!" and scampers in a circle around their feet. Yes, she is a good girl, the best girl. There may be an issue with her meeting Princess, though, because frankly she thinks she is the princess here.

Oh, well. Time will tell.

Cricket's opinion is that everywhere is dangerous, and the opportunity the Nexus provides him to make what he wants of his life makes it more than worth the risk. On the other hand, he's very young and hasn't been there long. "Oh! Yeah, almost all pines are edible. Just gotta be sure you're not takin' yew trees or any other conifers. White pine is best, though."

He will expound upon this premise if she asks but it's probably not important right now. Especially not in the light of her news. He lights up as brightly as if he was the one getting married and hugs her impulsively. "Adia! That's amazing! Congratulations!"

[chiron_survivor]

Adia beams at Willie's adorable little antics. Perhaps they will need a fashion battle to decide who can carry the title of princess, and then everyone will benefit. Caspar's always looking for an excuse to go shopping, anyway.

Any illusions that Adia had about the Nexus being a safe space have long since faded away, but the friends she has made will keep her coming back, and she'll support Cricket in whatever way she can in his plans to continue living there. "The ones we've cut down have been made into furniture, and we've used the resin for various things. We're trying very hard not to waste resources." She sighs a little and adds, "Although I know I'm not the only one tempted to take a shuttle to the Americas and harvest some cocoa and coffee beans. It'll be another two years at least until ours are ready."

He hugs a happy, startled laugh out of her, enough that one of the librarians at the front desk gives her a Look. She simmers down, returning the hug quickly but keeping that glowing smile on her face. "Thanks. I had a feeling he would, but he surprised me, anyway. Especially with the ring. Hunter made it for him back before the Winter Solstice."

[alittlehinky]

"I reckon if you replant trees for the ones you chop down it'll be a'ight," he tells her. "Although they'll grow slowly."

He whistles quietly. "You know, I think I could live without chocolate, but not so much without coffee. Best of luck, there."

Cricket beams at the story, tilting his head to get a better look at the ring she's wearing now. "Hunter's awful good at that kinda thing, isn't he? He made a necklace for me, after all of what happened on Halloween."

[chiron_survivor]

"Yeah, we're trying not to overdo it, but we had to clear a lot of land just for the space. But now that our infrastructure is in place, we shouldn't have to cut down any more trees."

She can't help but laugh a little at that. "You should be wishing Caspar the luck. I'm beginning to think that Cylons run on caffeine." No wonder one of his favorite mental projections is a coffee shop. "Our coffee is recycled grounds and our alcohol is... eh, okay. At least we have honey for when my sweet tooth is aching."

Adia holds out her hand so he can look over Hunter's craftsmanship. "Oh, I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. He was grateful to have so many people help him. Caspar was his bodyguard when he was selling jewelry before the holidays, that's how he was able to plan the ring without me knowing. Nothing happened -- needing a bodyguard, I mean -- but it made Hunter feel a lot safer in the Nexus."

Oh, and speaking of safe: "Hunter texted me, by the way. He was stuck off-world over the winter, too. So he's all right."

[alittlehinky]

"Chicory roots are kind of an okay substitute for coffee," Cricket says, then pauses and shakes his head. "I mean, if you're starving, I guess. Never mind. He wouldn't like that and there ain't enough caffeine in 'em to be worth it."

He looks over the ring admiringly, then tugs on the chain around his neck. At the end of it is what appears to be a shotgun shell casing, with the word Invincible engraved on it in neat, small letters. He smiles and holds it out for her to see. "My friend Jack gave me the shell before things happened on my world. It's nice to still have it."

"I'm glad to hear Hunter's safe. I ain't really kept in touch with him, but he seemed like an awful nice guy."

"So...when is the wedding? Can I get you anything for it? You'll bring pictures to the Nexus, right? I wanna see."

[chiron_survivor]

"We have black tea," she muses. "It's not quite the same kick as coffee, but at least it tastes good. I'll keep the chicory root in mind, at least as a flavor substitute."

The importance of the casing becomes obvious to her once he explains, and when she's done looking it over, she meets his eyes with a soft, understanding smile. "I'm glad you have something so meaningful from your world. I know that our memories are the most valuable, but it's nice to have a physical reminder, too."

"He is. I'm not sure if he's going to move back into his Nexus apartment or not, but I'm sure he'll be around."

"Oh... pretty soon. No later than mid-May, that's when tulip season ends, and I want plenty of orange tulips at the reception." As for Cricket's offer, she's inclined to tell him that his congratulations are enough, but giving presents is what people do for weddings, and it's hard to buck against tradition. "If you like, but please don't feel obligated. And of course I'll bring pictures." Selfies if nothing else, although at least one of her friends will probably want to play the role of photographer for the evening.

[alittlehinky]

"I keep hopin' Jack will find his way here. Reckon he'd want to explore. Probably wanna talk to me a little. Only Forrest is pretty protective. Might be holding him back from it."

Cricket runs his thumb over the writing on the shell for a moment, then tucks it back under his shirt.

He smiles at the mention of tulips. "I remember you said you liked those. I hope there's more of 'em than anyone can count."

[chiron_survivor]

"Don't let Forrest talk to Caspar, then," she jokes, smiling hopefully. It'd be nice for Cricket to see Jack again. Hopefully not too weird? "But if Forrest made it here, there's no reason he can't."

"It's the only thing I've got planned so far," she admits, her eyes twinkling. "Thanks."

With that, she makes a quick check of the time. She'd love to hang out with Cricket and Willie some more, but her time in the Nexus is unfortunately always on a budget. "I need to get going, there's a few things I have to do before I head back home, but as soon as I do, I'm going to see about getting your sand globe repaired." And maybe a couple other souvenirs from Atlantis for him to enjoy.