Thorn is unaware of anyone in the house putting out a call for a cab, and initially worries it may be some sort of mistake. In his experience cabbies are not always friendly, and likely to be even less so when being informed they're in the wrong place. Rather than open the door and go out to greet the driver, he approaches the front window and peers out between the drapes, attempting to remain hidden as he does so. He fervently hopes someone else will take care of it all.
Even Thorn's appetite may be unable to keep up with the volume of Sarah's baking, and since Thanksgiving he's making some small effort to keep his weight in check. "'aven't s-s-seen much of th-the city."
"I didn't hear you complaining earlier," Sarah teases, giving Daniel a tiny elbow nudge as she walks with him inside. She has been making many cookies, but plenty of those will be sent off with Christmas gifts or given to the free clinic downtown. She's always happy to make more, though.
"I hope he does," she adds, to Markus. "The beach is so pretty when it snows."
Schreber blushes and grins and squeezes her shoulders. He can't resist her baking either! He knows they'll give lots away but Rat always looks like he needs something to eat. "It is, I love all the things he does that make... the city really seem like ours." It helps a lot that he isn't too cold all the time like he used to be. "You're right Thorn, we've never really shown... you around."
Even though he's seen the Strangers that brief time realities crossed, he has a hard time really thinking of the city as theirs. John and the Doc are so proprietary that it's easy to see the city belonging to them. They deserve it more. "I guess I wouldn't mind it at all, this year." He follows Thorn up the porch. I know the city pretty well, I'll show you whatever you want. I'm not sure what your city was like, compared to ours."
"Dirty. U-u-ugly." Thorn simply shrugs and offers to hold the door. There is nothing of Middle Area that he misses, even the conveniences of modern technology it offered were beyond his reach and therefore no personal loss. He could settle all too happily in this vision of an earlier time, where drug dealers are almost unheard of and a high value is placed on manners and kindness to others.
Sarah smiles softly at the shoulder squeeze, but she can't help but feel a little sad at Thorn's description of his old city. She is glad to hear him take an interest in going somewhere beyond the newspaper stand, however. "You should go downtown, Thorn. All the trees are decorated with lights, and the store displays all have a Christmas theme. There's even a large evergreen outside City Hall."
"Oh yes, can... we go see that? I meant to but I always get busy and miss... half the things I help plan for the city." Now he's excited to think of seeing the city all dressed up! And maybe one of the days Sarah's at work Rat can take him Christmas shopping in the city. He usually does most of it online.
"Sure we can! I've barely looked at it, I was so busy getting stuff set up. You should see the park, Thorn." Rat figures Thorn should get out more in general, but he's tactful enough not to say so. The ride will be more fun with cookies and coffee in his stomach though. Chances are he's skipped breakfast, and maybe lunch too. Getting the cab set up wasn't cheap, and he's trying to save what he's got left for gas and presents.
"J-j-just d-din't want to walk th-that far. S-s-sounds nice though. Ye w-w-wouldn't've l-liked me c-c-city. I didn't." He's quite definite on that, as Middle Area had horrors to offer that went well beyond the surface, as if the place were imbued with some sort of dark energy or far-reaching curse.
"I haven't taken a proper look yet, either." Sarah retrieves her apron and slips it back on, tying its strings behind her. "I was in the middle of a batch," she explains, "But I have some chocolate chip cookies cooling. I have a few decorated sugar cookies, too. Markus, would you like me to put some coffee on?" She figures Thorn will make tea, as he does it best.
"Then it's decided." He looks pleased and excited. He wasn't really getting much work done today anyway. Cookies and tea and a ride to see the lights sounds like a much better afternoon!
"Coffee would be wonderful." He beams at Sarah as he ducks inside. This is breakfast as far as he's concerned. "I'm glad you came to ours, Thorn. I heard rumors about you moving out, but I hope you'll stay close. I hate pinpointing, and I'd miss you." He still keeps to the city as much as he possibly can. It's great to know the Nexus is there, but that doesn't mean he wants to hang around in it.
In the kitchen Thorn does indeed go about making tea, unasked. It's something of a familiar ritual for him, and a habit. "'M g-g-glad 'm here now, too." His stutter seems to be lessening these days, at least when he's feeling reasonably relaxed. "I'd l-like to stay, i-i-if there's s-someplace I can af-fford."
If Sarah had known Markus skipped breakfast, she'd offer something a little more substantial than cookies. She starts the coffee maker and gestures for Daniel and Markus to have a seat at the table. She and Thorn have got things covered.
"We'll help you find somewhere nice, Thorn. Do you think you'd like to stay on the beach, or live in the city? Tom has an apartment close by, it isn't too expensive there."
Schreber would rather have tea too so that's good. He's going to miss Thorn when he has to make all his own tea again. "You... could always try to share a place with one of... our friends..." He looks at Rat. "But things are cheaper here I think, then... in the world you came from."
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"I hope he does," she adds, to Markus. "The beach is so pretty when it snows."
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"It is, I love all the things he does that make... the city really seem like ours." It helps a lot that he isn't too cold all the time like he used to be.
"You're right Thorn, we've never really shown... you around."
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Even though he's seen the Strangers that brief time realities crossed, he has a hard time really thinking of the city as theirs. John and the Doc are so proprietary that it's easy to see the city belonging to them. They deserve it more. "I guess I wouldn't mind it at all, this year." He follows Thorn up the porch. I know the city pretty well, I'll show you whatever you want. I'm not sure what your city was like, compared to ours."
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"Oh yes, can... we go see that? I meant to but I always get busy and miss... half the things I help plan for the city." Now he's excited to think of seeing the city all dressed up! And maybe one of the days Sarah's at work Rat can take him Christmas shopping in the city. He usually does most of it online.
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The ride will be more fun with cookies and coffee in his stomach though. Chances are he's skipped breakfast, and maybe lunch too. Getting the cab set up wasn't cheap, and he's trying to save what he's got left for gas and presents.
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"We'll help you find somewhere nice, Thorn. Do you think you'd like to stay on the beach, or live in the city? Tom has an apartment close by, it isn't too expensive there."
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