fandomtownies | Caritas; Wednesday [04/12].

Even when she wasn't working at the store on any particular day, Summer had gotten in the habit of at least checking what weird holidays were set for any given day, just because if it got really weird, and something went wrong, she was going to be the one having to deal with it. So when she walked into the bar and found Tino leaning against it over a book, reading glasses perched on his nose and everything, she just assumed it had something to do with D.E.A.R. and groaned.

"Not you, too," she said, coming around to behind the bar to drop off all her jello shots and get set up for the evening. "It's bad enough I have to deal with Apu doing this every week, and now I've got--"

It was then that Summer realized that the book Tino was ready was actually just a blank-paged journal, and she frowned as he flipped a page and seemed very invested in what he was 'reading', and she blinked, considered the glasses, realized he was wearing one of those cardigans with the patches on the elbows, and felt a flash of realization for what was going on here.

"Oh.My.God, Tino," she said, "are you trying to pretend to be an intellectual? Who are you trying to impress? Seriously, though, just a blank book? Couldn't even pull out ~~meta for~~ War and Peace or anything? Ohmygod, that's so sad."

Of course, he ignored her, continuing to 'read', nodding along thoughtfully to the excellent points this imaginary book was making, and she just shook her head and got back to prepping for work.

Although now it was going to bother her. Who was he trying to impress?

Were they better off just not knowing? Ever?

Wednesday Jello Shot Specials!

First One Free with a Karaoke Song!

Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Ohmygod Why Do I Still Have So Much Leftover Easter Candy??
Seriously, It's a Problem
Cranberry Whiskey*
Strawberry Cake

Caritas is open!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Those are the only family I have," Stark said. "Ones I've found."

"I'd like family," Steven said, having no idea how much that statement was foreshadowing the upcoming weekend. "Even if it's the family of friends, you know? I was thinking that last week. How it might be nice to invite more people over for seder next year. Even if they don't observe the holiday there's nothing wrong with good company, is there?"

"I'd be happy to have it," Stark said quietly. "I don't think I ever will. But I'd be happy to be wrong about that."

"It's not easy," Steven agreed. "Everyone sort of needs to be on the same page, don't they? What they want from each other? Won't lie. Had times of trying it where it didn't work out. Then I'm sat there wondering what I did wrong."

Steven realized he was depressing himself now. He took a sip of his drink and tried to change track. "But no reason not to keep trying, I say. Just have to find the right people, don't we?"

He hoped.

Steven seemed like he was well on his way to a sort of family, at least.

"Not easy at all."

But Stark wasn't trying, either.

In fairness Steven did have a bit of a cheat code, considering that one person Steven considered family came as a package deal with Steven.

"You'll have it," Steven said. "I know you will. You're a good person, Stark. Anyone would be lucky to be family with you."

Or good friends. As for random example.

"Maybe someday," Stark said. "If I'm lucky."

He was very rarely lucky.

"For now I have friends."

"Friends can be family too," Steven pointed out. "If you'd like them to be."

"They can be," Stark allowed. "But that's not quite the same sort of family. Still good. Just not the same."

"How so?" Steven asked. Not challenging, just curious.

"I had someone, once, I was ready to spend the rest of my life with." Then she'd died. "Friends aren't quite the same. But...I'm glad to have them. All of them. I don't mean to sound like I'm not."

"No, no, I understand," Steven said. "It is different. But - for me, anyway - still worth it? Family can't always be about blood, right? Or parents and children I suppose. But as I say that's me. What I'm hoping for, anyway. Doesn't have to be what other people want."

"It's just a different sort of family. Friends are wonderful. I could always use more."

"Can never have enough friends, you ask me," Steven said, proving once again the oh so subtle differences between him and Marc. "Of any type. That's another thing that's been nice about being here. Loads of friends all for the making. And people I still haven't met yet."

Wild how that managed to happen on such a tiny island.

"There are people here I've never spoken to either," Stark said. "Even some that have been here for a long time. It just...happens. Or doesn't."

"Suppose it's like any town that way," Steven said. "People you never run into. Just happens."

Or it was related to forces outside of the island controlling people's schedules but what were the odds of that?

"This is the only real town I've ever lived in," Stark pointed out. Ships and space stations and the budong mining colony didn't count.

"Really?" Steven asked. "Not even in all your travels?"

"There was a mining colony, and a Scarran base, and a Peacekeeper base. Not anything like this. Nothing nearly so pleasant as here."

"Ahh, I see," Steven said. He considered it. "Base sounds military?"

"Very much so," Stark confirmed. "I wasn't really free to move about in any of those places."

"Doesn't sound very homey either," Steven said. "I mean - suppose home is what you make of it. But I can see why you'd say here was better."

Diabolical raccoons and all.

"Home is here and Moya," Stark said. "Nowhere else. The only two places I've really chosen to stay."

Talyn sort of counted but Talyn was dead.

"This feels like home as well," Steven agreed. "I know I've not lived here as long as you have but I miss it when I'm gone."

"It's a good place. With good people. And I feel...safe here."

Almost always.

Re: The Bar - 04/12.

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