Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

Once again, Steven had a hungry cat to thank for making sure he woke up in time to make it to work. Of course Steven still had to run over to his flat to get ready and quickly eat some cereal for breakfast.

He ran out so fast that he forgot to bring a cup of tea with him. So he was actually grateful for the polar bears who had set up outside of the museum and were currently handing out bottles of soda.

"Cheers," he told them. "You're not related to the ones who were performing out here a few months ago, are you? No? All right then. Laters gators!"

With that Steven set himself up inside behind the Welcome Desk. He tried to focus on work, and not any nerves he felt about who may or may not be stopping by that day.

Though of course anyone who wanted to stop by was welcome, planned or not.

[open!]

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[pocketpretzels]

Come lunchtime, there was a particular planned visitor. Though as per usual, said visitor wasn’t here for the exhibits so much as the fellow behind the welcome desk.

“Hello, you,” Watts greeted, arms full with both the takeout and the bottles of soda the bear outside had insisted he take.

(Friendly as it seemed, Watts wasn’t about to turn down something a polar bear handed him, no sir.)

[hasaknightjob]

Steven smiled back. He immediately went to put the sign on the desk that said he was taking lunch. "Hello, you. Bears still outside?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Indeed they are,” Watts reported. Honestly, it was a small miracle he’d managed to dodge the bears up until arriving just outside the museum, or he’d be stuck with more than just two soda bottles.

Hands full as they were, he awkwardly stuck one elbow out for Steven to take, completely forgetting the fact that his hat was still upon his head.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was happy to take the offered elbow, though he still had to ask, "Can I help with carrying anything?"

[pocketpretzels]

“If you would,” Watts said gratefully.

[hasaknightjob]

"Poor Llew," Steven said. He reached over to take the bottles. "At least the bears are generous?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Perhaps too much so,” Watts said as he gratefully handed them over. “I spotted several folks on the way over with their arms overflowing with bottled beverages.”

[somethingwithturquoise]

Summer couldn't imagine why anyone being nervous about her stopping by. Look, she even brought donuts!

"I brought donuts," she announced, by way of greeting, coming in and dropping the bag in front of Steven on the desk, before taking a moment to look around just a little, because she'd never actually bothered coming in here. "Although I will say now that if this whole 'squirrel-proof' location you've got is just an attempt at trying to murder me, my boyfriend does know my location and who I intend to be with and has a relatively fool-proof Turing test ready to go if you try to replace with me with a robot."

Just to get that out there.

[hasaknightjob]

"I don't kill anyone," Steven said, as though that was the point. "Don't know how to make robots either, for that matter. Am I all right to say thank you for the donuts? I can see you got vegan, cheers."

[somethingwithturquoise]

"It would be extremely dumb of me to bring donuts that weren't," Summer pointed out, but at least Steven didn't hit her with a look who's not a moron! You!, or something.

"And you don't need to know how to make robots," she added, because apparently that was the point. "You just need to know someone who does. But, hey, I'm sure you're super busy here at the museum, so let's get this big, weird secret thing out of the way and get on with our lives."

[hasaknightjob]

"All right if we go upstairs?" Steven asked, pointing to the staircase not far from the welcome desk. "That's the art exhibit. It's a bit more private than out here in the lobby."

So were the other exhibits but Steven got the impression that Summer would prefer efficiency to options.

"With that and the little rum bottles I've brought we should be all right far as radio and all."

[somethingwithturquoise]

Summer shrugged. "It's your big, dark, dramatic secret, man," she said. "Not mine. Whatever floats your boat."

[hasaknightjob]

"Right," Steven said. Luckily he hadn't been in such a rush that morning that he'd forgotten to put the various things he needed today into his satchel. Case in point, the tiny rum bottles he lined up beside the brochures on the counter. That done, he led the way to the stairs. "There we are. This way then. How's your day been by the way?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell stopped by to visit, carefully setting her armload of coke bottles by the door to retrieve later. "Morning," she said to Steven. "I'm going to have to go home and look up things to make with coca cola."

[hasaknightjob]

"Morning, Nell," Steven said. He peered at her armfuls. "Need a hand with that? They're very generous, aren't they?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I think I'm okay for the moment as long as you don't mind me leaving them here for now," Nell said with a smile. "They're very sweet, aren't they?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Thoughtful even," Steven said. "A sight better than those ones earlier this year. I was thinking about how you came by that day as well and we could hardly hear ourselves think over the music."

[mylandmyrules]

"Much nicer," Nell agreed. "The noise from those was overwhelming."

[hasaknightjob]

"Impressive they could play at all, granted," Steven said. "But volume was a bit much. How are you otherwise?"

[unusual_sith]

Lana would definitely be stopping by. With several bottles of Coke, which she was just going to set down for now.

"Hello, Steven. How are you today?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Lana, hello!" Steven said. "I see the bears are still about. No idea where they're getting all the bottles. Recycling, maybe?"

[unusual_sith]

"Probably the same place all the rest of it comes from, wherever that is." Lana shrugged. "They hug about as well as wookiees, so I'm not complaining, though. How have you been?"

[hasaknightjob]

"You got a hug?" Steven asked. "Not sure if I should be jealous or concerned. And all right. Yourself?"

[unusual_sith]

"Not bad." Lana shrugged. "Thought I'd give it a shot. They're warm. Not that it's exactly Hoth here, but winters still aren't my favorite."

[hasaknightjob]

"I'm looking forward to seeing what one here is like," Steven said. "But I know you're not alone in dreading the cold. But here, before I forget."

Steven rummaged in his satchel, where he'd fortunately remembered to put his gift for Lana. "Now as I say, just a little thing. Literally. Got it during the trip back home. But thought you might appreciate it. For a laugh."

With that he handed her a small package.