Fandom Island Museum, Tuesday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

Steven wasn't late for work. Not at all. Remembering to come in on Tuesday instead of Thursday had not at all been a problem for him. Perish the thought, things were fine.

Ahem.

Ignore if he seemed a little out of breath as he settled in behind the welcome desk. Totally normal, nothing to see here.

[open!]

Comments

[mylandmyrules]

Nell came in with a small green plant in hand. Not an aloe plant. A succulent.

"Morning," she said with a shy smile. "I thought you'uns could use a plant at the front desk. Brighten things up a little."

[hasaknightjob]

"Morning, Nell," Steven said with a smile. "That's kind of you. Cheers. How are you?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I'm good, thank you," she said, setting the plant gently on the desk. "You don't think the owl will mind, do you?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Not at all," Steven said. He leaned in so he could get a better look at it. "He loves new things. Probably talk your ear off about it once he sees it. Or mine. Enjoys sharing what he knows, that one."

Steven could relate.

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh, I'd like that," Nell said with a smile. "I love when people - or beings, I suppose - share what they know and what they love. I think that's partly why I love books so much."

[hasaknightjob]

"Plenty of books at the flat if you're interested," Steven said. Granted they did skew more towards one single topic, but still. "Welcome to help yourself while you're about."

[mylandmyrules]

"I'd like that very much," she admitted. "Books are one of the best things about living here. I can read whatever I want and as much as I want, long as I get my other work done."

[hasaknightjob]

"Do you need anything while you're staying?" Steven asked. "Don't mind getting it or setting it up for you. There's no problem."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell shook her head. "A room and a bed and access to a bathroom is more than I would have ever asked for. You're letting me bring my plants. I don't own much beyond some clothes and books, which I couldn't have brought home with me anyway."

She smiled down at her toes. "I've already got more than I could imagine."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled as well, glad to see she was happy. "All of those things you shall have. Bed's already made up, since Marc never used it. Do your plants need anything? We've not done anything with the balcony so that's all yours if you like."

[mylandmyrules]

"Just space till I can move then to my apartment," she said. "Oh, and Lana has asked me to come along with her when she goes home over the break. Says she'll show me all sorts of alien plants."

[hasaknightjob]

"She did?" Steven didn't know why it hadn't occurred to him that Lana might invite other people. "Is - er - anyone else going? Do you know?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I don't know," Nell said, "though she did say she invited you and Marc."

[hasaknightjob]

"She did, yeah," Steven said. He frowned as he puzzled it over. "Which, I mean, have to tell her how that works if we go, won't we? Which I don't mind. Planning on doing that anyway. But if there's others going that's different, isn't it?"

[mylandmyrules]

"It would be," Nell said. Which was a shame. She was quiet for a moment. "What if only one of you went? Or at least for all intents and purposes that's what it looked like?"

[hasaknightjob]

"One of us would still be missing here, wouldn't they?" Steven pointed out, though he did give her suggestion thought before saying it. Granted Marc didn't keep to a schedule like Steven did, but still. That was really more reason why Marc would be the one to go, and then it'd be obvious Steven missed work.

Steven sighed. "And it's more lies on top of lies, isn't it? Don't like how much we've been doing that."

Even if people kept saying they didn't mind, Steven still felt guilty.

[mylandmyrules]

"I can understand that," Nell said. "Both the problem with the trip and problem with not being able to share the truth and the reasons why."

Her smile was a little rueful. "I wish it could be different for you."

[hasaknightjob]

"Give it time?" Steven said, as much to himself as to Nell. "Everyone's been so nice. Might get to where we don't have to hold back about it. 'course we've no idea how that would work. Not like we'd walk around wearing a tag with both our names on it."

Unlike the name tag Steven was currently wearing, which was rather nice actually.

[mylandmyrules]

"I don't think anyone here would mind," Nell said. Not that Nell was very upfront with most people about her abilities.

"Maybe someday. And at least this means even less time that I'll be underfoot in your place!"

[hasaknightjob]

"You're not underfoot at all," Steven said. "Or you won't be. Oh! I could mind your plants for you while you're gone. Do they need minding? I've not had plants before."

[mylandmyrules]

"Most of them will be fine, but if you don't mind, I can show you and leave you notes for when I go."

She smiled at him. "Thank you."

[hasaknightjob]

"Don't mind at all," Steven assured her. He made a broad gesture with his hand to indicate it all being taken care of. "Leave it to me. I'll follow the notes to the letter. They'll be happy as - well not clams, I suppose. What sort of plant is happy by nature? Sunflower? They seem cheerful."

[mylandmyrules]

"Sunflowers are cheerful," Nell agreed, "but luckily I won't be bringing any of those. Far too tall to grow inside. Violets, though, I have some of those and they always seem cheerful to me "

[hasaknightjob]

"And our little friend here seems happy as well," Steven said, indicating the succulent. "Perhaps it's always wanted to live in a museum. All sorts of exhibits to see and learn from. Very scholarly, as plants go."

[mylandmyrules]

"Very quiet and self-contained," Nell agreed. "Maybe you can bring him around, leave him in a different spot each day, so he can see it all."