The Park, Thursday Morning

[doesntstophurting]

There was a paint-splattered guy sprawled out on one of the park benches, using his backpack as a pillow.

...look, Booker kept meaning to get housing sorted out, he did. It was just that he didn't feel like he deserved a hotel room stuff kept coming up. And now here he was. Covered in paint. Sleeping on a park bench.

((For one, but open to all!))

Comments

[grenadesandohana]

And Steve grew up in Hawai'i, with the highest homeless population per capita in the US, so when he was cutting through the park in the morning, he recognized what a guy sprawled on a park bench with a bag of all of his possessions meant.

"Hey," he called from a safe distance. "You can't sleep out here like this, man. There are wild animals."

The porgs would definitely poop on you.

He sent a quick text off to Danny asking for backup and a clean shirt for the guy.

[hatesparadise]

He was lucky that Danny kept those at the station anymore. "What the heck, Steve?"

[doesntstophurting]

Booker opened his eyes and stared at the sky for a long moment, wishing he was in danger from the wild animals. He deserved for a porg to poop on him! Then he swung his legs around and sat up, saying, "Uh, you don't have to worry about me, really." Something was itching by his eyebrow. He scratched it and watched blue paint flake away.

Oh, right. That.

Being immortal made one bad at dodging, it seemed.

[grenadesandohana]

"Uh huh," Steve said, clearly not buying that at all. "Do you have a place to stay?" he asked.

That wasn't bench-shaped and outside?

[hatesparadise]

Danny sighed and debated whether or not to hand over the shirt. "The housing market isn't that bad here."

As opposed to O'ahu.

[doesntstophurting]

Booker had slept in way worse places than a park bench in a temperate climate. Just sayin'. "Yeah, I keep...meaning to do something about that." But not doing something was so much easier!

[grenadesandohana]

"Well, the big castle is a school, but there's a hotel here, too," Steve said.

He didn't stay at it because he'd just camped on Danny's sofa. "It probably doesn't have a pool, but it definitely has a bed and a shower."

[hatesparadise]

"Definitely a shower," Danny suggested. "Look. You got a job here or something?"

Because this place did that to people. Also, he could probably convince Duke to hire the guy.

[doesntstophurting]

"Yeah, I know about the castle," Booker said, staring straight ahead. "I'm." Oh, God. "The new French teacher."

[grenadesandohana]

"Well, then you definitely can't live out here," Steve said, nodding. "The kids'll see and might not be that understanding about it."

[hatesparadise]

"French teacher. Oh of course," Danny said like it made perfect sense. And didn't at all cause him a migraine.

[doesntstophurting]

"Sleeping on park benches is a time-honored French tradition?" Yeah, no. Booker needed a drink, but he also needed these guys' opinion of him to not get any worse than it already was. Also, he was pretty sure his flask was empty.

"I don't suppose you fellows know who I should talk to about getting an apartment or something?" Booker asked. "...maybe when I'm less covered in paint."

[grenadesandohana]

"I haven't been in contact with my FORFUSCO buddies in a bit, but that doesn't sound right," Steve said, forehead furrowing. "And there are a few apartment places around, too, right, Danny?"

[hatesparadise]

"Yeah, yeah," Danny grumbled. "If it'll keep you from sleeping on a freakin' park bench, you can skip the first month's rent and just... maybe get some new clothes. That aren't paint stained."

[doesntstophurting]

"You're the apartment guy?" Booker asked, brow furrowing. "That would be great." And very easy! See how easy actually dealing with your problems was, Booker? "I can pay rent, I promise," he said. "It's just...been a rough couple of weeks."

[grenadesandohana]

"Looks like," Steve said, not without sympathy.

[hatesparadise]

Danny held up his hand to head him off at the pass there. "Don't worry about it."