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

"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.

"And, er, good friends?" Steven asked, glancing in Summer's direction in a way that might have been coincidental. Maybe.

Stark saw that look and ducked his head a little in response.

"I have very good friends here. Better than I ever thought I would."

"Friends you're perhaps going to prom with?" Steven asked. He didn't to pry but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious. He'd back off immediately if Stark didn't want to talk about it though.

"Summer is one of the best friends I have," Stark told him. "That I've ever had."

"She's very kind," Steven said, after checking to be sure she was busy enough that there were fair odds she might not overhear him. "Generous as well. She's taking you shopping?"

"No she...she picked something out. I'm meant to pick it up tomorrow. And have it fitted before that. But she's taken me shopping before. She's..."

Stark glanced her way and ducked his head again. "She's a very good stylist."

"Are you having it done on the island?" Steven asked. "With that new person? Boc? He's very nice."

Skittish, but nice.

Stark nodded. "With Boc. He does seem nice enough. Very nervous though."

And that was coming from Stark, of all people, who was often convinced that the worst would happen in any given situation.

"I hope it goes well."

"Agreed," Steven said. "But I imagine you'll be wonderful with him. Nell's befriended him as well and she's brilliant at that sort of thing. Being patient and kind with those who need it."

"I try to be kind when I'm able to. He seems like he may need it more than most."

Which Stark could understand very well.

"Got the impression he's from somewhere where people treated him horribly," Steven said. "Poor thing."

"It can be difficult to adjust to people treating you like a person," Stark said, frowning. "If you aren't used to being treated like a person. I hope things become easier for him soon."

Stark would be doing his best to help with that if Boc would let him.

Steven tried to figure out how to acknowledge Stark's history and be respectful of any desire Stark might have not to talk about it. "I imagine you understand that better than most."

"I'm still surprised, occasionally," Stark admitted, "that my being a person is so readily accepted. But very rarely now. I hope he'll get there."

"Hard getting past a - what? Lifetime of experience for you? More or less?" Steven asked.

"Too long," Stark said. "But that's over with. I just sometimes forget that it is over."

And sometimes he had nightmares.

"It's never been a problem here at least."

Re: The Bar - 04/12.

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