Fandom Island Museum, Thursday Daytime

[hasaknightjob]

The warm weather of summer was upon them with no sign of stopping. As such, Steven had informational posters set up to explain what the bugs and fish around the island did during the warmer weather, be it to keep cool or take advantage of the heat.

Steven himself was fine for enjoying the air conditioning though. No reason not to enjoy simple comforts if you had them.

He was behind the Welcome Desk should any visitors need him.

[open]

Comments

[mylandmyrules]

Nell slipped in between classes to see Steven and drop off some scones for him and the Detective. "Hello," she said warmly. "I feel like it's a bit foolish for me to bring you baked goods since radio assures me that you two do quite a bit of your own, but here it is anyway "

[hasaknightjob]

"Nell, hello!" Steven said. "Of course any we make won't taste like yours. This is a treat, thank you. How are you? Have you taught your class already? I apologize I don't remember offhand what period it is."

[mylandmyrules]

"I have, yes," Nell told him. "It's first thing in the morning, so I brought scones and tea and made a few extra to bring here."

She smiled at him. "And I have a little treat to go with them." She handed him a small jar of golden honey. "Don't tell the bees. I harvested a little bit."

[hasaknightjob]

"Oh how wonderful!" Steven said, holding the jar up to appreciate the color of the honey in the light. "Please thank them for me. Very kind of them to share. I'll be having this with tea, I can promise you that."

[mylandmyrules]

"I'll do a small harvest at the end of the month, but the bigger one won't be till fall." She smiled at the jar. "I just had to give it a try and I will say they made sure delicious honey. I'm so glad you gave me the idea for it way back when."

[hasaknightjob]

"Selfishly, so am I," Steven said with a smile. He took a moment to safely put the honey into his bag so he wouldn't forget. "There. Won't get lost now. Be a tragedy, that.

"And how are you doing? We know the bees are happy. Are you?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I am," Nell assured him. "Very happy. And a bit relieved to have my first class behind me."

[hasaknightjob]

"I'm sorry I couldn't sign up for it," Steven said, in fact glad Nell had popped by so he could tell her that very thing. "I would have loved to support you. It's only, er, life these days has made it so that it's better if there's greater flexibility in the schedule, you see. To be, erm, available for things at the boarding house or the like."

[mylandmyrules]

"Is everything okay?" Nell asked worriedly. "Is there something I can help with?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Oh no, no," Steven quickly assured her. "I mean yes, everything is fine, no, no help is needed. It's the good kind of busy, I promise you that. Kind of you to ask, however. Sorry, didn't mean to worry you."

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh, all right then," Nell said with a breath of relief. "I'm glad it's the good kind of busy."

She stopped and looked at him very seriously. "Know that you can always come to me if you need anything. Large or small."

[hasaknightjob]

"Same for you in return," Steven said. "And no, in this case it's merely practical. When there are so many things that might need done which could require coordinating schedules, it's easier if things are as flexible as possible is all. As it is Llewellyn and I having our jobs sort of weights the week, you know? Bit back end heavy on where we're meant to be."

[mylandmyrules]

"That makes sense," Nell said with a smile. "I'm glad things are working out so well for you there."

[hasaknightjob]

"Me as well," Steven said. "We've wonderful residents so far. Very lucky in that regard.

"Oh! How were you this past weekend? With the 20 years? Were you and Gladio affected at all?"

[mylandmyrules]

"We were," Nell said slowly, "But I don't remember a thing about it. I listened to radio, but Lana told me that apparently everything we told people was for fun and made up - I guess maybe to avoid knowing for real?"

[hasaknightjob]

"I can understand that," Steven said. "It's like when the children appear. They're wonderful and I love seeing them. But it can be hard to know of that possible future. Can make you second guess everything you're doing in the here and now if you're not careful."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell nodded. "And I just want to be happy here in the present."

[hasaknightjob]

"Precisely," Steven said. "Me as well. Can't predict the future, can we? If that's even the future for us."

[mylandmyrules]

"What they show you might not be real, so why worry about it," Nell said. "I'm so grateful for what I have - as I know you are - so I don't want to worry about what ifs."

[hasaknightjob]

"Agreed," Steven said. "Too many factors into the future any way. Butterfly flapping its wings and all that."

[mylandmyrules]

"Even if the future was lovely... I'd rather be happy with what I have now," she said quietly.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked at her with concern. "Are you all right?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I'm wonderful," Nell said with a soft smile. "And I want to just enjoy the now. I had so little and anything could happen, but right now? Right now is all I could ever imagine. I don't want to look back or forward. I just want to be in this moment."

[hasaknightjob]

"I see," Steven said. "Living in the present. Trying not to worry about the future. Llewellyn calls that borrowing trouble when I do it. Helps me remember to try to let go of those worries about things that can't be predicted."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell nodded, "But not just not worrying about the future, not wishing for good things in the future either. Not that I don't hope for good things or want my good things to continue, but..."

She sighed contentedly. "Things are better than I could ever have dreamed. I want to be here, present in the moment, for as long as I have them, so I don't moiss any of the wonder."

[hasaknightjob]

"That sounds very nice, actually," Steven said. "And I think there's great value in it. Not - not resting on your laurels exactly. But appreciating what you have. Really taking the time to see it and care for it. Why do the work to get it if you don't allow yourself to enjoy it?"

[mylandmyrules]

"You and I are both so lucky," she said. "I think we should just... yes, enjoy it. Right now. As it is."

[hasaknightjob]

"Agreed," Steven said. He offered his hand so they could shake on this plan.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed and shook his hand.