(Untitled)

[dale_cooper_fbi]

It was always a good day when the democratic process had been carried out without a hitch, and this day was no exception. The results of the latest Island Council election were in and it was time to celebrate, not only the results but the process itself. And given the number of hardships they endured on the island, a celebration was something that

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[plntfood]

Mathias has picked at some food, considered a drink and then decided against it and is now standing near the outskirts of the party, watching the crowd. It's a far cry from his first party on the island, the first time he'd managed to venture out of the Compound, the fact that he'd had to be drunk just to get the door open, but it's a good sort of change.

There's much he doesn't understand about the island still and even about what he feels for Veronica, but he knows she's right for the job. And he knows he's proud of her. That's good enough.

[jim_halpert]

Jim had sort of been biding his time. There'd never quite been the right moment to talk to the guy, and with this party atmosphere, he thought he finally found it. What led him over was honest curiosity, especially with the high praise Veronica gave him.

So it was while she was crazy. It was a minor detail.

"Mathias, right?" he asked, Sam in his arms. She regarded him with a curious look, hiding behind Jim's leg. She was shy around people she didn't know sometimes. Offering his hand, he added, "I'm Jim. Halpert. A friend of Veronica's."

[plntfood]

Already this week he's had to meet Veronica's dad and while that was certainly nerve wracking in a way, it's somehow worse meeting her friends. He expects the third degree from her father, but it's the friends who will judge silently rather than vocally.

"Mathias, yes," he answers, shaking Jim's hand. He doubts he looks nervous, but he can certainly fee it. "It's good to meet you. Is this your daughter?"

[jim_halpert]

He was pretty sure Veronica was going to give him the eye if he was spotted doing what he was doing. It was worth it. Turning his head to look at Sam, who was peeking out from behind his leg, he smiled.

"Yeah, she is. Come on, Sam. Come say hi to Aunt Veronica's special friend," he encouraged. Hearing Veronica's name seemed to catch her interest, but she was still a little hesitant.

"Hi," she said, looking up at Mathias with big eyes. It was a start, anyway.

"Sorry, she's a little shy around new people sometimes," he explained. He knew she'd come around eventually. Glancing back at the man, he added, "Veronica's told me a lot about you. I thought I'd come meet the man in person."

[plntfood]

"Hello," Mathias says to the little girl, giving her a smile. He isn't entirely comfortable around children, not because he doesn't like them, but because he hasn't had much experience with them.

Lifting his gaze back to Jim, he isn't sure what to make of that and he hopes whatever she's said has been good. "Do I live up to her words yet?" he asks, smiling faintly.

[jim_halpert]

"Well, a lot of what I heard was when she was hosting her tea party, so you have a lot to live up to," he said, biting back a grin. He'd gotten a hint of how much she liked him that day, at the very least. "But she seems to really like you even when she isn't crazy, so that's a point in your favor, at least."

[plntfood]

"I'm just grateful you didn't also run into me that day," Mathias admits, almost looking embarrassed. He passes a hand over his beard and shakes his head. "Veronica and I were both... excessively talkative. I did meet her friend River that day and suspect I talked her ear off."

[jim_halpert]

"It could be worse. I was interesting the year it happened to me. I'm glad I didn't get hit by it this time around,," he admitted. He likely would've just ignored Sam, and the thought of that was enough to make him wince.

Sam, meanwhile, unaware of what they were talking about, finally came out from behind Jim's leg. She looked him over again before coming closer and holding up her stuffed doll to him, as if showing him it.

"Squirrel," she said, proudly.

[plntfood]

"Yes," Mathias agrees, smiling down at Sam, looking at her doll. He feels especially awkward now, but he doesn't want to make it obvious. "Does it have a name?"

She's very cute and Mathias looks back up at Jim again. "She's very sweet."

[jim_halpert]

"Squirrel!" she repeats. She hadn't quite been the most creative sort when she first got it and it stuck. He figured it was better this way anyway. She lowered it to herself to hug it, going back to Jim.

"I'd like to think so. She and Veronica are really close," he said. It seemed only right she meet him too, just for that reason. He didn't doubt that she'd eventually be around him when she was with Veronica one day. "So you'll probably see her around a bit. She babysits sometimes."

It looked like they were getting along find right then, at least. That was always a good sign.

[plntfood]

"Really?" Mathias asks with a smile, trying to picture Veronica with the little girl. It's strange, because he can actually see it, even though someone who didn't know Veronica well might not see it that way.

"I'll look forward to it," he says honestly. "It would be interesting to see Veronica babysitting a kid. Does she spoil her?"