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[caf_pow_girl]

Ianto...I cleaned up the hay that the scarecrow left behind when he was here earlier. At least, I think it was a he. I mean, would a scarecrow even have gender?

Maybe they're like ships. Those are shes. So it could be like that.

Oh! I have that picture printed for you Gren! When should I stop by?

[ooc: Expect to find a huge bear with a

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[notapreacher]

Hey, Abby. Stop by any time.

[caf_pow_girl]

Great! Then I'm on my way! With your new friend! And pictures too.

[notapreacher]

Building 10, #506. I'll start the water for tea.

[caf_pow_girl]

And I've got the Caf-Pow!

[notapreacher]

Perfect. Don't mind the mess.

(I'm just kidding.)

[caf_pow_girl]

Too bad I don't have pictures of my place back home. It's a real mess right now.

Oh! Gotta lose the labcoat!

(Now I'm on my way!)

//lights, camera, action//

[notapreacher]

The apartment's small and he's never particularly been a slob, but he does put some of the stray sheet music for the song he's been hammering out into a tidy pile.

Waiting on the coffee table is a little something for Abby, as promised. She'll probably notice it as soon as she walks in but that's pretty much the idea.

In the kitchen, the kettle's on the stove and a plate full of cookies sits at the ready. And if she wants something stronger than tea... well, he's got plenty of that too.

//lights, camera, action//

[caf_pow_girl]

And she's definitely on her way, somehow managing to carry one large thing of Caf-Pow (one between them should be enough and she plans to let him know that she usually doesn't share), the pictures, and a medium sized animal.

So, when she arrives at the door she encounters the problem of how to knock on it.

Frowning at it, she finally brings her foot up to do the knocking. He'll understand the need when he opens the door. She's sure of that.

//all action all the time//

[notapreacher]

There are fresh flowers in a vase. On Mars they were everywhere; on Callisto flowers were a rare commodity. Here, they're almost a necessity: he needs to surround himself with beautiful things. It takes his mind off the clock.

At the knock -- a loud low one -- he opens the door and looks her up and down: he can't help it.

And then he breaks into a smile.

"Need a hand?"

//action day or night//

[caf_pow_girl]

"How did you guess?" She smiles at him and hands him the platypus first. "She's for you. I decided it should be a she because it looks like one."

Next are the pictures. "I framed them. Apparently we have stuff like that at the hub. So I borrowed a couple frames."

When her arms are free minus the soda, she smiles again and walks in.

//action 24x7//

[notapreacher]

It's been a long, long time since someone randomly gave him gifts and it feels really nice. "Come on in, make yourself comfortable. That girl on the coffee table is for you."

Door closed and locked -- old habits die hard -- he nods to the couch and sets the... platypus? it's adorable... on the table next to the pteranodon. "They look so at home together."

He has to look at the pictures right away, though: they're beautiful. There's the one he took of Abby when she wasn't looking, and there's one of the two of them, and there's one of her smiling and those are definitely going to go on his wall.

"Thank you so much."

//action all year round//

[caf_pow_girl]

Instantly she's looking at the pteranodon with absolute love. It's so different from other stuffed animals. And when he thanks her, she sets the drink on the table then spins around to face him.

Hoping he doesn't stop her, she wraps her arms around him in a quick hug. Nothing tight and nothing lasting. Just a quick one. Then she has her back to him to look at the animals.

"You're welcome! And thank you! She's adorable. Now she needs a name that suits her..."

//action spam all over//

[notapreacher]

At first the hug stuns him: it's been so long. The only person he's let touch him that way since he got here has been Julia and before that, well... it was a long, long lonely time. But Abby's hug is over almost before he can react and it's fine.

It's fine. The words don't touch me don't even have a chance to cross his mind before he gives her a genuine smile.

"And I need one for mine."

Carefully, he sets the pictures down and reaches for the platypus. Abby already said the little creature was a girl, and he'll think of something appropriate to call her. His eyes stray to the wall filled with photographs: that's his life laid bare for anyone to see... and it's as much a comfort as anything these days.

//action here and there//

[caf_pow_girl]

She is actually surprised she hasn't hugged him sooner. But she doesn't dwell on this as she thinks of a name for her new friend.

"Terry. That's her name. She looks like a Terry." With a nod she picks the animal up and cuddles with her as she goes over to the wall to look at the pictures.

There are so many. A life written through photographs. Memories all here. Times and people.

"This is amazing..."

[ooc: *runs off to bed but will return tomorrow!*]

//action action everywhere//

[notapreacher]

His platypus -- Ethel? Crystal? Maria, like his mom? -- tucked safely under his arm, he joins Abby at the wall. He's run his fingers over these pictures countless times over the years; all the pictures but one are in good condition. Idly, he puts names to faces that will otherwise mean little or nothing to Abby.

"My mom, when she was young... and when I was a baby. The first big-band band I played with. Me at four. My first regular solo gig. By the ocean on Mars. And Titan, when I was in the Army." There are a few others, but she can probably figure those out by herself right now.

There's only one picture up there he probably won't explain.

"What do you think of the name Polly? For the platypus?"

//action for me and you//

[caf_pow_girl]

Giving him a teasing smile, she nudges him. "Look how young you were."

There is one picture he doesn't explain and she stands there trying to figure it out. Even if she comes up with nothing to explain it.

"Polly, hm..." She leans forward and studies the platypus. "It's perfect! Terry and Polly. Five letters in a similar pattern. You know, that really works."