vastblueskies

[vastblueskies]

"Hah, tell me about it," Kalapi gives him a smile. "A lot of people take the normal life for granted, I think. There are things out there that so many are blind to... Amazing we live in such a world, but I think apathy just... Took the intrigue in such forces away."

Not that they could talk about their personal experiences... Their statement would be found sooner or later, but for now, it was nice to feel a little normal.

"Sorry if I'm stressing you out at all. Not my intention..." they remarked, noticing the drumming fingers on the desk.

“Ohhh, you can’t begin to imagine the ones I’ve read. And the ones I’ve done research for! Back before Jon became Mr. High-and-Mighty Archivist, me, him n’ Sash would do fieldwork together. Safe to say, we’ve all seen stuff that’s hard to forget.”

He exhales, chucking, before taking a sip from his cup once more. The pace of his fingers on the desk seems to be getting faster.

[vastblueskies]

"Look. I... It's complicated? What if he finds out? Like, not everyone is into... You know..."

They gently gesture to all of them.

"I can't exactly keep it a secret, forever."

"It's been a while since we last hung out. C'mere Martin."

Kal grins, offering a hug to one of their besties.

-@vastblueskies

*He practically throws himself at Kal. He seems to have forgotten he's not...exactly a small guy*

"Hi!"

[vastblueskies]

"Huh? Uh..."

They blush softly.

"Things with Tim? Normal? Normal. Normal, for sure. I don't understand what you mean."

They blush a bit more.

"It's been a while since we last hung out. C'mere Martin."

Kal grins, offering a hug to one of their besties.

-@vastblueskies

*He practically throws himself at Kal. He seems to have forgotten he's not...exactly a small guy*

"Hi!"

[vastblueskies]

Luckily, being an Avatar has its perks, Kalapi more than happy as they catch him, holding him tight with a laugh.

"I've missed you, too... It's good to see you, Martin..." they croon happily.

"It's been a while since we last hung out. C'mere Martin."

Kal grins, offering a hug to one of their besties.

-@vastblueskies

*He practically throws himself at Kal. He seems to have forgotten he's not...exactly a small guy*

"Hi!"

[vastblueskies]

"The little things add up."

They nod in agreement, leaning against a wall to catch their breath, body relaxing as they think for a moment.

"So, how many of these statements have you read, Stoker? Any really gnarly ones?"

“Thanks! Been meaning to broaden my horizons a bit anyway.”

He takes a sip, giving a satisfied hum once he swallows. He tilts the cup in his hand, angling it towards himself.

“This is pretty good, actually. What is it?”

[vastblueskies]

"A Whipped Dalgona. It looked interesting, and I thought it could make a fun treat," they hummed, looking rather proud.

"Still getting used to a big city, but I think everyone is satisfied with their drinks, which is good enough to me."

“Thanks! Been meaning to broaden my horizons a bit anyway.”

He takes a sip, giving a satisfied hum once he swallows. He tilts the cup in his hand, angling it towards himself.

“This is pretty good, actually. What is it?”

[vastblueskies]

It's a bit more than thirty minutes, but they are true to their word, Kalapi knocking on the doorway to the Archives and handing out coffee and supplies to those who needed them, before setting Tim's down on his desk.

"There we are. Surprise, but not decaf," they hummed, wiping their brow a bit.

“See you.”

He gives his own nod/salute gesture as they leave, smiling all the while. Ever the extrovert.

[vastblueskies]

"Oh! Uh, alright. I'll be back in thirty for real, then."

Teasing humor had never been their strong suit, but hopefully they could adjust, giving Tim another smile and a wave as they left for the shops down the way. New job, new habits.

“I can share that sentiment. And my own personal theory? Jon does believe ‘em, he just doesn’t want to show how they affect him. Trust me, I’ve known the guy for a while. That’d be very in character for him.”

Despite how cheerful he sounds, it’s clear there is some part of Tim that’s a bit mournful when he says he’s known Jon for a while.

“And, trust me, you can absolutely keep me from work. Any distraction is a good distraction. We can play it off as me keeping you to help.”

[vastblueskies]

"Oh!"

They look surprised, and a bit apologetic as they read Tim's body language, red dusting their cheeks.

"I shouldn't speak ill of anyone, especially my bosses. It was a light jab. I figure he probably believes at least one or two of the statements."

Another gentle shrug of the shoulders, standing up as straight as they can.

"What would you like to help me with, Sir?"

“I can share that sentiment. And my own personal theory? Jon does believe ‘em, he just doesn’t want to show how they affect him. Trust me, I’ve known the guy for a while. That’d be very in character for him.”

Despite how cheerful he sounds, it’s clear there is some part of Tim that’s a bit mournful when he says he’s known Jon for a while.

“And, trust me, you can absolutely keep me from work. Any distraction is a good distraction. We can play it off as me keeping you to help.”

[vastblueskies]

The gesture gets a hearty laugh from them, their nose wrinkling as they try to calm again with a sigh.

"Oh, don't worry. I've seen and been in my own fair share of spooks, Mr. Stoker. Been out on the sea much too long, and seen too much of the depths to say there isn't a ghost story in here that doesn't have a truth to it, Mr. Sims believing it or not," they say, beaming up at him again with a playful wink.

"I shouldn't keep you from your job, though. So I'll be back in thirty with your coffee."

“Well, hope the stuffy academics and cramped halls are treating you well. Some of us aren’t that bad. Others might snap or bite though.”

He says that last bit while making a gesture of snapping his mouth shut and holding up his hands as if they were claws. It’s clear he’s teasing.

“And as far as getting to the spooky stuff, don’t worry about what Jon thinks! The guy acts like he has a stick up his arse half the time. Especially with this new Archivist position.”

[vastblueskies]

"Oh! About a week, maybe? Grandpa and Elias are friends, and I've needed a job since I moved recently. So, here I am," they give a light shrug and a chuckle, eyes alight with excitement.

"Right. No decaf," they carefully scribble it down on a notepad, other orders for supplies scrawled in messy font on the paper. "Give me like... thirty minutes, and I'll have that order to you in no time flat. I'm pretty fast at this supply run business. But, I'd love to read some of the spooky stuff in the files. Mr. Sims didn't seem to like that idea."

"Hey! Mr... Uh... Stoker, right! New intern here. Name's Kalapi Fairchild, very nice to meet you."

They grin, offering a hand to shake.

"Came to get your coffee order, I'd you drink coffee. If not I could get you some crisps from the shop down the way? Or like, office supplies if we're out of paper or clips or the like."

-@vastblueskies

“That’d be me! Nice t’ meet you, Kalapi.”

He shakes their hand with zero hesitation. His grip is a little too firm and he moves really fast for some reason.

“I do take coffee, not that picky, however. Surprise me, eh? Whatever you choose will probably be fine. So long as it’s not decaf. How long have you been working here?”

[vastblueskies]

"It wasn't... And I think Grandpa would get mad if I tried..."

They close their eyes.

"Here is better..."

It has been a bit of a day, so a small, cat-sized Kalapi gently crawls up into Martin's lap with a tired huff.

-@vastblueskies

*He holds out a hand, gently starting to scratch underneath their chin, without even thinking about it*

[vastblueskies]

A little nod, burying their plush snout gently into his arm, little ears flattening against their head. A long, long day... But, now it was pleasant with company.

It has been a bit of a day, so a small, cat-sized Kalapi gently crawls up into Martin's lap with a tired huff.

-@vastblueskies

*He holds out a hand, gently starting to scratch underneath their chin, without even thinking about it*

[vastblueskies]

Ohh, that is very nice... Their tendril tail sways as a huff escapes their gills, and a soft croon escapes their little jaws, relaxing fully into Martin's scratches. Part of them hopes they aren't getting in the way of work, and the other is enjoying the pampering a bit too much.

It has been a bit of a day, so a small, cat-sized Kalapi gently crawls up into Martin's lap with a tired huff.

-@vastblueskies

*He holds out a hand, gently starting to scratch underneath their chin, without even thinking about it*

[vastblueskies]

"Oh!"

They pause, thinking their words over carefully.

"It's been beautiful weather these past few days. No rain, or smog, so I've been liking the sun. What about you?"

"Hey! Jonathan Sims, right? Nice to meet you. Kalapi Fairchild. New to running around these parts, mostly just for coffee. Thought I'd say hi, and nice to meet you."

-@vastblueskies

“Oh, ahm— Yes. Wonderful to meet you too. But, Fairchild? As in— The Fairchilds?”

[vastblueskies]

"I mean, yeah. We're semi co workers, right? Even if I'm just running errands, mostly? Get to know one another. People still... Do that, right? I'm still getting used to being on land, again, so..."

A little nervous fidget again. They were never really this open, before.

"Hey! Jonathan Sims, right? Nice to meet you. Kalapi Fairchild. New to running around these parts, mostly just for coffee. Thought I'd say hi, and nice to meet you."

-@vastblueskies

“Oh, ahm— Yes. Wonderful to meet you too. But, Fairchild? As in— The Fairchilds?”

[vastblueskies]

"Oh! Well, yeah! Probably around the 1940s and 50s? Since that's when I became an Avatar."

They are a bit more hesitant to speak, but do so slowly, scratching their arm nervously.

"Not wanting to talk all business, though. You know? Unless you aren't wanting to take this casual."

"Hey! Jonathan Sims, right? Nice to meet you. Kalapi Fairchild. New to running around these parts, mostly just for coffee. Thought I'd say hi, and nice to meet you."

-@vastblueskies

“Oh, ahm— Yes. Wonderful to meet you too. But, Fairchild? As in— The Fairchilds?”