East Exploration Mingle (CLOSED)

[equinoctials]

characters: Aziraphale, Bucky, Crowley, Hopper, Jason Todd, Kol, Ignis, Kakyoin, M.K., Noctis, Riku
location: East of Beacon
date/time: September 9-12
content: Mingle log for various interactions happening during the expedition to explore east of Beacon.
warnings: Please put warnings in your threads if you need to warn for something!

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[lunchbreaks]

[ Ugh, not this. ]

Technically, yes.

He thinks I'm his... technician, or something, I'm a little fuzzy on the details. He thinks Crowley's his handler. Just brought him home one day, promised he could stay with us. I couldn't exactly say no, I think he's impressed upon us.

[ Like a baby kitten. It's. It's about as awkward as it sounds, Riku. ]

You won't-- you won't tell anyone, will you? About my light?

[ And he doesn't say, but means: And Crowley's darkness. ]

[equinoctials]

I kinda wondered what was up.

[ That's-

Yep, that's weird, coming from a guy prone to saying weird things about the light and dark. It's in Aziraphale's delivery, too, awkward and apologetic and considerately secretive. He mentions Crowley and Riku's eyes start to search those gathered, starting to smile.

Some say that Darkness existed first and the Light came after. Darkness chases the Light, the brighter that light is, the darker, the deeper the shadows that light casts. He thinks they're not opponents so much as partners with the longest of histories. Like old lovers time can't keep apart.

He thinks... it makes sense, that these polar opposites are hanging out. Picking up strays. This is all conjecture on Riku's part, armed with scant information, he's probably got it all wrong. ]

No one else's business. Cross my heart.

[lunchbreaks]

Well, trust me, he's been very useful on this trip but it wasn't really my idea. He thinks it's his duty to protect us.

[ This obviously makes Aziraphale uncomfortable, not the least bit because he doesn't really know Bucky and every effort he's made to know him as a person are rebuffed. ]

--Anyway, thank you.

[ he rifles through his bag and withdraws another piece of bread. ]

Would you like half?

[ He'd never had to eat before, but he quite liked it, so mealtime is a wonderful reprieve for him. ]

[equinoctials]

I'm good. Thanks.

[ Besides, he's never seen a guy seemingly enjoy a sandwich that's just bread. It's kinda... huh. He guesses that's kind of cute, though he's pretty sure if he'd said something like that out loud, Kairi would've laughed at him.

He asks: ]

Maybe he's just trying to protect what's important to him? In his own way.

[lunchbreaks]

Yes, and I'm trying to figure out what that is. Certainly, I don't think it's what he's told us.

[ But it's uncouth to be talking about anything further without his knowledge. That's definitely getting into gossip territory. ]

So what gave you the idea to come explore this way?

[equinoctials]

[ That's the kind of answer that begs a question or two, but Riku doesn't want to pry any more than Aziraphale wants to gossip. ]

We hadn't gone this way yet.

[ Pretty much as simple as that. ]

And when I asked Robin about it, she seemed pretty confident we'd find something useful out this way.

[lunchbreaks]

Oh, alright, that sounds quite solid. Though I wonder why she doesn't just... tell us things clearly.

[ Like, pretty much everything she knows. ]

Has she been... stuck up there for a whole twenty years?

[equinoctials]

Because it wouldn't be any fun, if you asked her.

[ As for Aziraphale's question, Riku nods thoughtfully. ]

I'm amazed she's held on so long. Every time I look up at that lighthouse, I can't help but wonder how much of that time she spent being completely alone.

How miserable it must get sometimes.

[lunchbreaks]

Well. She has us now! At least, through the network.

[ He doesn't say that twenty years is a drop in the bucket. It isn't for a human, particularly not one as young as Riku, so naturally it would feel like forever to him. ]

Perhaps we should... write her letters. Or a poem.

[equinoctials]

[ Most humans would go crazy in solitary for twenty years, Aziraphale.

At the suggestion, Riku twitches a small smile. ]

You sap. [ Riku shrugs, a little pleased in spite of himself at the idea. ]

But you're right. She'd probably appreciate a letter.

[lunchbreaks]

Yes, I think that might be well-received.

[ And yes, he is a sap. He's a being crafted from love, how could he not be? ]

Perhaps we should ask everyone to chip in some words of encouragement for her.

[equinoctials]

I don't think that's a good idea. A lot of people don't like her at worst, or are suspicious of her at best.

...Part of that has to do with how many of us were lost when she was first reconnected to the network. That night was a disaster.

[lunchbreaks]

Oh, yes. I've heard of that, but not many details.

Would you... like to talk about it?

I understand it was very recently.

[equinoctials]

Not really.

[ Oof... Sorry for that shutdown, Aziraphale.

Sensing that was probably rude, Riku tries to soften his statement, pushing a hand through his own hair and down over the back of his skull, eventually settling on his nape. His fingers knead out a thread of tension as he adds: ]

It's nice of you to offer, but I'm not really a "talk about it" kind of guy.

We should probably try to rest.

[lunchbreaks]

Oh, it's alright. Maybe people aren't. But if you ever need to... for anything, you know where to find me.

[ He offers a soft smile and says: ]

I just don't want you to think you have to deal with any of this alone, dear boy.

[equinoctials]

[ He might have felt needled by that boy, but only because some of the worst influences in his life have said that, one of them even would say things like my dear boy and how she had thought of him like her son.

In the end it's all the light that Aziraphale exudes, even as subdued as it is right now, that comforts him. ]

Well... thanks. Same goes for you.

[lunchbreaks]

[ Riku is such a nice young man, Aziraphale smiles at him very fondly and packs up the now empty containers for his lunch, before pulling out a tin and offering him a biscuit.

Why not have dessert? ]

[equinoctials]

[ Obviously hesitant at first, Riku looks for a moment. Not at the offered treat, but at Aziraphale.

That's the thing.

Aziraphale exudes such single-minded light, such purity of intention that it leaves little room for guile or subterfuge. So Riku hears things like 'boy' with such awful connotations and believes that his intentions are pure. He sees his offer and understands it for the selfless gift it is.

Which is the only reason that he takes one at all, when Riku won't so much as grab a third set of clothes from the general store because someone else might need it more. ]

...Thanks.

[lunchbreaks]

[ Maybe Riku sees the part of Aziraphale who's happier giving some things away, even as he's happiest hoarding some trinkets to himself like a crow does. But he'll keep his books and his knickknacks and happily share his food, or anything else other than antiquaries that he doesn't curate and collect. ]

You are very welcome.

Do you like it?

[ He honestly does want to know, because he made them. He is trying so hard to master shortbread.

It's a little texturally bad. ]

[equinoctials]

[ It's buttery and sweet, the taste seems like something his friends would have been over the moon for. The texture, however... if he had to pick a word, it'd be indescribable.

Riku is nothing if not adventurous in palate, and also very good at carefully keeping his expression neutral. ]

Very sweet. Is it a cookie?

[lunchbreaks]

Ohh, has it got the texture of a cookie? I was hoping for more of a crumble.

[ He looks to be disappointed by this, and tries one out himself. Yes, this is um. This is not great. ]

Suppose I was a little heavy-handed with my flour. I'll have to make another batch when we return.

Do you like sweets, Riku?

[equinoctials]

Could take 'em or leave 'em. I bet someone like Mary would love this.

[ Riku, much as he loves a new experience, feels a little guilty indulging when others could appreciate or use a thing more. ]

You like cooking?

[lunchbreaks]

Not at all. But I have to start. There aren't many restaurants around here, just The Invincible. And we have to eat.

[ So unfortunate. ]

I suppose I'll have to get Mary to come try all the concoctions I make. I do have to admit I have quite the sweet tooth.