057 ± [visual / location: around town] i like the autumn but this place is getting old

[aintnoconvict]

At roughly quarter to nine in the morning, Taxon is greeted with a video broadcast of a holo broadcast.

"Hello?"

One can tell it's not a proper arrival because instead of the usual stark arrival room, there's a tiny Glitch hovering over a nightstand. Beyond, there is a patchwork quilt covering a shifting, grumbling lump.

"DG...Cain?" From under the covers, Glitch's head emerges and he peers blearily at his tiny duplicate. "Raw?"

"Cute," he mumbles, the props his chin up to watch the show.

"Cain's going to be mad," the hologram remarks fussily. Glitch snorts. "But...no, it's not my fault this time. I was following him! I was following him! I was follow-"

"All right, enough of that." Glitch pokes his tablet so the holo replay of his arrival vanishes, then scowls when he notices that it's still broadcasting. "Guess that's the aliens' way of wishing me a happy anniversary. Morning, all."

Then he turns the tablet off and flops back with a sigh.

Three annuals. Thirty-six months. One hundred fifty-six weeks. Something like a thousand ninety-five days and he's still not sure how he survived the first dozen of them. Illyria'd basically pointed him at the door and he'd been on his own until DG's arrival. Adaptation. Coping. Moving on. Waiting and surviving, that was 90% of this place.

Today, though, he'll keep busy and distribute a few gifts. The first pumpkin from the garden for Cain with a short length of distinctive gold braiding tied around the stem. One of DG's sketchbooks for Azkadellia, a more intimate glimpse of the younger princess' life here. He's ready to let go, and he hopes it will give Az some comfort. The first volume of his organized notes on Taxon for Mayland, a drink or two with Paul after lunch, dropping a scarf off for Madelyne (the days are getting chillier and he frets), and then...then he'll take Bagoas out for dinner. Because why not.

He sends a voice message to his friend to make arrangements (Italian, Glitch decides, will be nice), gets ready for the day, loads a basket with goodies, and sets off on his bicycle to make the rounds.


ooc: THREE YEARS what even. He'll be stopping by to see everyone mentioned above (and all of that's hadnwavey if you like), but anyone not mentioned is totally welcome to bump into him too. OPEN POST IS OPEN.

Comments

[genequeen]

Madelyne is sitting on the porch swing. She does that a lot these days, not entirely feeling like being inside her house. When she is inside the house, she cooks and cleans and not much else. So, the porch swing and the airplane hangar have been more highly occupied than they usually are.

[aintnoconvict]

Tick tick whirr goes the bicycle as Glitch zips (...ha) into the drive before dismounting.

"Hi!" he calls and lowers the kickstand before rummaging in the basket to retrieve something green and fringey. "How are you this morning?"

[genequeen]

"I've been better, if I'm being honest. I'm tired and frustrated but, all in all, it could be much worse," Madelyne says as she stands up to welcome Glitch.

"Have you been to the house before? Not many people have been by."

[aintnoconvict]

"Hrm," Glitch remarks with a little frown as he appraoches the porch. "That's how I tend to deal with things: find a bright side and hang on for dear life."

He holds out the scarf. "And by random gift-giving and visit, which...no, I haven't done before here. I wasn't sure since..."

He trails off, shrugging. Not sure it was his place.

[genequeen]

"Well, if I'm here, you're welcome, Glitch. You're my friend."

Reaching out, she takes the scarf and looks at it before she looks up at him, "Thank you. This is beautiful." There is a wide smile on her face.

[location] a bar idk where LET'S DO THIS THING

[smecker]

Paul lifts a hand from the bar when Glitch enters. He's in a corner, back to the walls. Maybe it was a conscious choice, maybe not.

"Have you tried Otherside vodka?" is the first thing he says when Glitch approaches.

TWO MEN ENTER...TWO MEN ALSO LEAVE

[aintnoconvict]

"Yes," Glitch replies simply and perches on the next stool over. He's gotten used to the whole back-to-the-wall, eyes-on-the-exits thing in Taxon since it tends to attract cagey, paranoid people.

Or maybe it just makes people cagey and paranoid. Either way.

"I'm working on a motion detector thing that'll tag whatever sets it off with some sort of tracker," he continues because business is an easy starting point. He raises a finger for the Extra bartender to convey that the "yes" was a yes and also please. "Still working the bugs out, but..."

He trails off, sort of like the way he used to, but instead of going into a fog it's pretty clear he's thinking of bugs as in tiny things with sticky legs that would easily attach to clothing and could easily carry bitty transmitters. Hrm.

DUN DUN ...dun?

[smecker]

Paul tilts his head at Glitch's words of the motion detector, hooking a stool with his foot and pulling it out for Glitch.

"How so? Like, a digital tracker, or a physical tracker that flaps out and sticks itself on the person?"

[aintnoconvict]

"I was thinking sticky," Glitch replies with a little shrug. "If you want something more...techish you might wanna check with Tony."

Someone's realized he's brought a flintlock pistol to a nuke fight, as far as invention capabilities go.

Moving on. "So how are you? Ready for Halloween?" Is the doom bunker stocked for fending off a mummy attack?

[smecker]

"I'm good with sticky," Paul says with a shrug. "So why are we tracking people? Wherefore art thou, Spy Romeo?"

Paul takes a sip of his vodka, runs a hand through his hair.

"Extra-extra holy water. Crossbows and stakes and garlic, oh my. Which means they'll probably throw, I don't know, monkeys at us instead. No wait, we had those, didn't we?"

Veteran Taxonians know to fear the holidays.

[location: Cain's house]

[hasaheart]

The first thing Glitch gets when the door opens is a bright if slightly bittersweet smile and a bear hug.

Yeah. That's just the way it is. Tough luck.

"Don't tell me that vivid orange thing is for me," murmured fondly, close to Glitch's ear.

[location: I think you mean "Hugglyville"]

[aintnoconvict]

The smile and the hug are returned, along with a barely-there laugh.

"I won't, then." Which is to say yes, yes it is. He pulls back and quirks his eyebrows upward. "But I will tell you it's the first one off the vine and since since you helped make it possible I thought it'd be nice to share."

Joint custody. Right.

[location: I think you're right]

[hasaheart]

"Oh, nice." He pulls away with more of a grin, patting Glitch's back before investigating said vivid orange thing.

A pumpkin - sure, that's all well and good, and already he's thinking about what to do with it (pies and bread and soup and dry the seeds), but what really warms him is the golden braid.

"That isn't-- Is it?"

[location: :D ]

[aintnoconvict]

Cue a little sheepish smiling and an attempt at a casual shrug.

"Fell off when I was unpacking," Glitch says and reaches out to prod the little loop of braiding, as he's done (possibly) a thousand times before. Aside from the frayed ends it's in fairly good shape. "I'm guessing it was a sign, to return the favor."

Almost an annual late but what can you do?

[location]

[hasaheart]

Annual schmannual, Glitch's AE gift was at least ten times more thoughtful on all the levels.

"Coming full circle in more ways than one, huh?" He glances at his friend over his shoulder, weighing the pumpkin in both hands.

"Thanks, Glitch. That's... I don't know what else to say. Got time for some coffee, or you heading off for more gift giving?"

And goodness, his own annual's coming to an end soon too. He makes a slight face. "I just realized I have ten days to figure out what to do for my own 'versary."

[location: Irene's Cuisine :D]

[thepersianyouth]

Bagoas, having been up for several hours already when his tablet comes to life with a familiar voice, hurries to retrieve it from its usual place locked away in the bottom drawer, in the filing cabinet in his small study.

The sight is familiar but completely foreign at the same time; the face is the same, and the voice, even the zipper... But his demeanour changed, his posture...different somehow, looser. His eloquence all but gone, replaced by almost childlike observations.

How far has Glitch come from his very first day in Taxon.

He smiles at the Glitch he knows and loves, and wishes him a happy day of remembrance. They make plans, arrangements, and well, there went the rest of his day.

Not that he would ever complain, mind.

~*~

At the appointed time, Bagoas has already stood a good ten minutes outside the restaurant Glitch had in mind, now rosy-cheeked and loving the chill - wearing what the lady at the establishment called 'second hand', a dark blue coat with sable-fur trim (nevermind the actual link) over a deep turquoise pair of trousers and tunic. The boots he acquired soon after his arrival, and he's been wanting to have reason for wearing them again.

[location: :3]

[aintnoconvict]

What's happen in those three annuals...is a long, strange story and while Glitch is not allowed to spoil it's biggest plot point he's determined to tell what he can. Perhaps over dinner.

His outfit's fairly standard, with the addition of his green wool coat as the weather's cool enough to warrant it and its familiar comfort. When he arrives he walks staright to Bagoas, a little smile of wonder lighting his face as he touches his friend's cheek with warm fingers.

"You're exceptional in blue, you know," Glitch says by way of greeting, and does his customary fussing with a lock of Bagoas' hair. "Thank you for coming."

[location]

[thepersianyouth]

Bagoas' heart picks up speed as Glitch approaches; a smile alights on his face at the soft touches as once again he delights in the simple pleasure of undisguised affection.

"There is nowhere else I would rather be tonight, my dear Ambrose."

He pushes up onto the tips of his toes to greet Glitch the proper way, now the tone has been set: a firm kiss to banish the chill.

[location]

[aintnoconvict]

Distracting, delightfully distracting as ever. Glitch returns the kiss with a little hum and-- yes, very effective, the cold's easily forgotten. There's a little nose-bump after to make sure it stays away.

"Good. I...I don't wanna be alone." His smile is hopeful and grateful and full of promise as he offers his arm. "Come on, dinner awaits. Have you done this restaurant thing before?"

[location]

[thepersianyouth]

He fears his chest might burst right open; but the pressure builds only to abate and settle in the most fortifying manner. He inclines his head, sliding both hands around the bend of Glitch's arm, and presses his forehead to his shoulder.

If Glitch won't be on his own, then what better company? None present, surely.

"No. Never. We've no such thing in Persia. I confess I am quite unsure what it entails."

[azoftheoz]

Azkadellia was still working on things with Jason and Remus. Neither had a quick answer and, in truth, maybe that's how it should be. Especially on anything that could affect her memory.

That day she was working to yet again find a way to make the room comfortable, to not dash away constantly because of her fears and memories. No, not her memories, those of others.

Music played and she moved around the living room, the door open as she shoved the sofa to the other side of the room where it faced both the door - she wanted to be safe, after all - and the window as well.

[aintnoconvict]

Glitch is, of course, mostly oblivious to all of these goings-on related to that thing from his head. And while Glitch has access to the house he knocks all the same on the opening door.

"Azkadee? Is this a good time?"

[azoftheoz]

Humming along with the music, something from the Other Side she'd heard at Paul's and had picked up and started playing around the house, she glanced up. The moment she saw Glitch, her eyes lit up and she smiled widely.

Straightening as she pushed her hair out of her eyes, gesturing with the other hand for him to come in.

"Glitch! Come in, come in. You don't ever have to knock. You have to know that," she said, excited to see him and it was obvious in her expression.

[aintnoconvict]

"I do, but...you know, old habits." Manners, they gt hung on to. Glitch keeps the sketch book tucked to his side as he peers around the room, one skittish glance to the stairs before he, predictably, begins bobbing his head t the music. "Okay, what is this? It's almost familiar."

[azoftheoz]

"Of course, but I want you to know that. You're always welcome here," she said, snatching up a ribbon and tying her hair back. Despite her more modern clothes, with Glitch there she took on a bit more of the princess she'd been raised to be.

"It's... I have no idea," she admitted with a giggle. "I heard it while I was over at Paul's. Between him and Cain, I've been picking up OtherSide music. Can I get you something to drink? Or truffles? Cain showed me how to make them so I've been playing with them."