fandomtownies | Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

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Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

Thursday morning found Steven in his usual spot at the Welcome Desk, though on the phone.

"No, no, I'm afraid not," he said. "I agree it would be brilliant. I mean I don't know that they'd be terribly comfortable in here but fascinating to look at, absolutely.

"But no. No lions I'm afraid. Not that kind of special Pride exhibit. You're welcome to come in and see the one we do have, though. Lots of lovely fish included! Some even have manes. Sort of.

"Right. Cheers. Enjoy your day."

Steven didn't know if that particular person might stop by later, but he liked to think he'd made a good case for them giving it a go all the same.

Now to focus on the rest of his work.

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Nell stopped by after yoga without her usual baked goods, but with some rum and a packet of tea for Leroy's who'd had a pesky cough lately. "Good morning, Steven," she said. "Do you have a minute?"

"Nell, hello!" Steven said. "Of course. Always for you."

"Do you mind?" she said nodding toward the office as she set the rum and tea on the counter.

"No, it's all right," Steven said, gesturing for her to go ahead. Given the rum Steven was guessing this was something Nell wished to keep private, so he figured he could wait until they were behind closed doors before he asked about it.

Once they were inside with the door closed Nell smiled at him, only a little uncertainly. "Sorry about that. I just... I wanted to make sure that Marc was all right. I don't want to talk to him," she said quickly. "I was just concerned about him."

"I see," Steven said. He gave Nell credit for wanting to respect Marc's privacy in that case. "No, he's all right. Same as ever, really."

"All right," Nell said. "I've just been concerned."

She blew out a sigh. "I haven't seen or heard from him in a month. I assume I did something wrong that bothered him, but I wanted to give him his space. I heard on radio that you and Liz were talking about him and I at the gala, so I thought it was time to ask."

Steven needed a moment because while his memory could be tricky he felt certain on principle he wouldn't have discussed Nell and Marc in a public place. Then he remembered. "Oh! No. Liz asked how Marc was doing, you see. And then we chatted about you. I told her you seemed to be doing well, all told."

Steven had been a little more specific about why, and why he was bringing up Nell to Liz in the first place, but he didn't want to potentially embarrass Nell by saying so.

"Ah, all right." Nell looked a bit defeated. "I apologize. I specifically didn't want to get you involved. We'd arranged to have these baseball evenings, see, and he came to one and then cut off all communication with no warning. And lately I haven't even heard of him being out and about as usual, so I worried and then I heard that on radio. He might not want anything to do with me anymore for whatever reason - Lana talked to him and was rather bothered by whatever he said, but all she said about it was that he thought I was trying to be like him or some foolish thing - and that's fine, but I can still be concerned about a friend."

She shook her head. "Again, I apologize for bothering you. I won't bring it up again "

"I appreciate you doing that," Steven said. "I suspected you might have been. Keeping me out of it, I mean."

It was Steven's turn to sigh. Of course he knew answers to what Nell was wondering about. But there was the ever present problem of what to tell her. Some things weren't his to discuss. Others were open knowledge - such as how Marc had been out and about - but pointing it out would only be hurtful since it would highlight the issue that Marc was doing things, only not with Nell.

"I can tell you that he thinks he's doing the right thing," Steven said. He held up a hand to forestall any protest, since protest about this was more than reasonable. "I'm not saying the result is right, or his way of going about it is correct. It's not what I would've advised if he'd asked me. But he's stubborn and a wanker at times, I'm afraid. It's nothing to do with you."

Nell wasn't about to protest. She was the last person in the world to chase after anyone, much less a man.

"Of course his being whatever he is," she wasn't about to say that word without even knowing what it meant, "isn't my fault. But whatever I did is."

She sighed again. "Always hard to lose a friend, but I hope I can continue to visit you - though I'll understand if you'd prefer I didn't."

Harder still to lose the friendship of one of the first men you'd ever been able to trust - without even understanding why. And no matter what Steven said, Nell was going to assume she'd done something wrong and Steven was just trying to be kind.

"Of course we're still friends," Steven assured her. "Though likewise I'll understand if you find it hard to see me. We do look a bit alike after all."

That wasn't him being funny. Steven genuinely thought there were some differences in his and Marc's appearance.

"But as far as I'm concerned you're a friend of mine and I'm always happy to see you," Steven said.

"You're not at all the same person," Nell said, then hesitated. "Well, except for, you know. But no, to me you are Steven and he is himself."

She tapped the side of her head. "You feel completely different here."

Nell hesitated again. "But, and I don't know if this will be a problem for you... If you and I are visiting, I don't want him poking in. If he can't summon up the common courtesy to behave with basic manners then I'd as soon not have him around. I'm not comfortable with people I know I can't trust. Again, I understand if you're not all right with that, but I'd hate to lose your friendship as well."

Steven took in what Nell said and needed a moment. For starters there was the "you know" which in fact he wasn't entirely certain what he was meant to know in that context. Then there was the implication that Nell had some sort of telepathy? Mind reading? Other ability? That she'd been using on him and Marc without mentioning it.

And while Nell did not seem the sort of person who would pry into another's thoughts without asking, it did make Steven wonder about the extent of whatever this ability was and just how much privacy he and Marc had had.

Which tied in with Nell's request, which honestly got the bulk of his attention due to what it implied.

"Poke in?" Steven asked. He was confused more than anything, but still felt strongly about making things clear. "We don't poke in. We've never spied on each other's conversations or been dishonest about who has the body, or - or - " Steven gestured towards the reflection of himself in the tank of the water cooler, even though he couldn't remember if Nell knew what reflections meant for him and Marc. "Never. Not ever."

"No, no, I didn't mean spying or dishonesty," Nell said quickly. "But you've both told me that you can both be present at the same time and aware of everything going on and I'd rather just talk to you. It's not that I thought you would be doing anything underhanded, just that I wanted to be clear about it - which I see I wasn't. I do apologize. I didn't intend to suggest any of that."

As to the 'you know', if Nell could read the narrative she'd have explained that they were totally different people except for, you know, being in the same body. And she'd thought they both would have remembered the time in the woods when she'd been startled by a switch in presences she'd felt through the land. No mind reading thank the good Lord! But maybe she'd only explained that to Marc. In any case, alas, she could not read the narrative.

"I see," Steven said. "Then yes, that'll not change. But in fairness and honesty you do know that if one of us is in danger or there's a need the other will come out. So if for your comfort - and I'd understand if this was the case - you need a promise that he'll never appear without warning, that I can't give you. The way this island is it's not possible to guarantee it'll never happen.

"I mean happened on Monday, even, with the portal going sideways. Him coming in to keep an eye on Llewellyn and me. So while I understand what you're hoping for here, I don't want to lie to you and promise something I've no ability to guarantee."

"Oh goodness!" Nell said, "In an emergency all bets are off! I'd never expect him to stay away if you were in danger or had need of him, of course not. I just meant in the general scheme of things. If should he want to contact me he can text or call like anyone else would." Not that she expected he ever would, but that was too sad to think about at the moment.

She tilted her head. "I didn't know you had trouble on Monday. You both left the general area so quickly. I stayed to the back and kept an eye out for Jo and Libby while Lana tried to get us a portal back, but I'm sorry if you were in danger and I didn't relaize it."

"All right," Steven said. "As I say, didn't want to promise anything I couldn't deliver. And it wasn't danger like you might be thinking. No life and limb or anything. Just a bit unpleasant is all."

Unpleasant wasn't exactly the right word for it, but Steven figured it was up to Llewellyn to share those details if he wanted Nell to have them.

She nodded, accepting that there had been cause without needing to know the details.

"I have faith in you, Steven," Nell said quietly. "I wouldn't be here talking to you'un at all otherwise. Once I realized he wasn't going to forgive me or let me try to make whatever it is right, part of me wanted to just make an excuse and not see you either so I couldn't offend you the way I did him. But I didn't think that was fair to you - to not at least try."

Her lips quirked in a sad half smile. "And I would have hated to lose you as my friend."

"I'm glad that we were able to work it out then," Steven said. "And I do understand that it's not easy on your side. If you need time or anything like it, I promise I won't be hurt."

"I don't need time from you," Nell said. "You've been talking to me all along. And I appreciate your understanding and acceptance more than I can express. ... Besides, the bees would miss you."

"Just... if you do decide you want nothing to do with me at some point?" She tried to say it lightly almost as a joke. "Send me a text or something? You know, 'Done with you forever!' or something."

"I'll promise if you'll do likewise," Steven told her.

That got a laugh, small though it might be. "As if I'd ever!" she said. "But yes, I promise. I would never just disappear from your life without a word - not from anyone's, but especially not yours because I know you worry about not remembering things and it would be just cruel to do that to you."

"That's extra kind, Nell, thank you," Steven said. "I'm glad we were able to have this chat. Get it all out between you and me at least."

"Nothing extra about it," Nell said. "But I'm grateful as well. Been sick to my stomach off and on since Saturday thinking about coming and talking to you and not knowing what you'd say."

She'd been fairly certain that Steven hadn't been just pretending to be his usual self and smirking at her behind her back these past few weeks when she'd talked to him, but there was always that part that was afraid.

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