The Park, Saturday morning

[stykera]

It was snowing. Normally Stark disliked snow. Since it wasn't cold and the snow was both sparkly and sweet he wasn't bothered by it this time. The sky looking the way it did was something that might be worrisome if it caused anything other than glittery sugar falling from the sky. But it hadn't. Yet. The tremors had been concerning the first few times but as they hadn't yet caused the ground to open up and swallow any bits of the island or its inhabitants they were also currently not deemed a threat. As far as unusual island events went this one seemed harmless. So far. Safe enough to go outside, anyway, so he did.

As a result there was a sugar-glitter dusted Banik walking in the park with a coffee that had been sweet to start with and was rapidly approaching hummingbird food levels of sugar as the "snow" fell.


[open, obvs, for your Park or Stark needs]

Comments

[sith_happened]

"Sensors on the clothes," Anakin said, nodding. "And there's no bruising except for tripping and falling over things--they play in the dark."

[stykera]

"So the lights are visible," Stark said, nodding. It sort of made sense. "Or to make it more challenging? Both? Do you play with them?"

[sith_happened]

"So they can see the lights, yes," Anakin said, "and I play with them as long as they let me. They're poor losers."

Anakin was an obnoxious winner.

[stykera]

"They are children," Stark pointed out. "I don't think they're meant to enjoy losing."

Did they learn it by watching you, Dad?

[sith_happened]

They learned so many inappropriate things from watching Anakin. "Oh, probably not," Anakin agreed, "but it happens very, very often in life."

[stykera]

That got Anakin something of a Look from Stark, who was very familiar with the concept of losing.

"It does," he agreed after a moment. "More often than any of us would like."

[sith_happened]

"Best to get them used to it, unfortunately," Anakin said.

[stykera]

"If only it weren't necessary."

No. He was not going to start with that sort of thinking while being coated in sparkly sugar snow. He was not.

"For now they seem to be enjoying themselves. And the sugar."

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled. "It was a good idea to move back here, for all of the ridiculousness that it sometimes brings as well."

[stykera]

"It is a good place. Mostly. Not always. No place is, always. But here is better than most everywhere I've been." Admittedly that was a fairly low bar to clear.

"I'm more...content here. Than I thought I would be anywhere."

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled again. "I absolutely understand that feeling. This is home."

[stykera]

"It is. As much as anywhere. That could explain why I keep coming back," Stark said with a hint of a smile.

[sith_happened]

"It can get under your skin," Anakin said, nodding.

[stykera]

That particular turn of phrase seemed to Stark like something that shouldn't be said in case the island could hear you and get ideas. Still, it was accurate enough.

"It can, for some of us." And others were gone and never heard from again. "I'm glad to be here again." And to stay, he hoped.

[sith_happened]

"I'm glad you're here, too," Anakin said with a smile.