LOG: Restock, Aisle Every Single One

[protective_logic]

Who: Delta Ai (Native), York (Native)
What: Delta restocking the Ai household with York's help
Where: Grocery Store
When: Afternoon 1/9
Warnings:

It's not that they were eaten out of house and home. But they were pretty much eaten out of house and home. With a family that often has to have shopping done every day, keeping food stocked for bad storms isn't easy. There is always a supply of extra rice, beans and canned veggies when things go bad, and they've almost run out.

Which is why Delta's here, and not just with a little cart. If York wants to spend time with him, it has to be on a timetable that doesn't ruin Delta's carefully managed schedule. Which means getting things together. And York has a damn car. So it is that Delta leads his friend through the grocery store with two carts. Bless the thing for already having restocked after the storm.

"We need more bread, and definitely peanut butter and jelly."

Comments

[protective_logic]

"When we get a new place we'll also get a car and maybe I'll only have to go shopping maybe four times a week. Who knows, maybe even three."

That's just how it goes, right?

[depthlesslock]

'That'll make things easier and free up some time for you,' he says, picking out a broccoli. 'You passed your test yet?'

[protective_logic]

"No. Driving is stressful," Delta groans. "And Tex has been frustrated and tense lately. I don't want to bug her for lessons."

[depthlesslock]

'Want me to teat-sh you?' he offers. It would give them time to hang out and something to talk about to make it easier to avoid certain topics.

[protective_logic]

"I'd like it, but... Tex feels we're cutting her out lately. So I need to do this with her," Delta explains. He doesn't know how to handle everything everyone expects of him as well as his grief."

[depthlesslock]

'Oh, okay, fair enough. Well, the offers there if she can't do it.' Might have to stick to shopping unless he can think of something else.

[protective_logic]

"I would appreciate company, though," Delta says softly. "I'm... really tired of shutting myself out. I hate this. I don't... he's okay. He seems okay. So it's maybe okay for me to start living my life again."

[depthlesslock]

'I'll gladly keep you company,' he says. This is a step, this is progress.

[protective_logic]

"You should come drinking with me sometime," Delta suggests. "Maybe... I have a friend that wants to go drinking soon. Maybe you can meet us there. I think he'd enjoy your company. He seems the type."

Washington might enjoy York's lighter mood as a counterpoint to Delta's darker one. And with York there he might be less flustered by the older man.

[depthlesslock]

'I'd be up for that. Who's your friend?' It's not TC, Delta would have said if it was. Which means Delta has another friend. Good.

[protective_logic]

"Friend might be presumptuous," Delta admits a bit nervously. "I met him at the mall, he was looking for clothes and I have so much experience shopping for it that I helped him out. He took me for smoothies after and..."

Right, he's a lot like another Washington. Maybe he should come up with another name to refer to him as. Shit. That could be awkward.

"We're just starting to know each other. In fact, it's the first time he's contacted me since then..."

[depthlesslock]

'Okay.' Someone to keep an eye on then. 'Sounds like a nice guy from first impressions.' Maybe that would be another good reason to go to the bar with them, scope the guy and make sure he's safe.

[protective_logic]

"He's kind," Delta notes. "New to the planet. Came here for a security job... He's... kind. A little lost. You know how I like to rescue people."

[depthlesslock]

'Good place to get a security job.' Delta seems a bit caught up on him being kind. 'Yeah. Sounds like he helped you a bit as well.'

[protective_logic]

"I was having a bad day and he was gracious and he didn't do anything for me beyond the smoothie but he wasn't an asshole either," Delta sighs. And the conversations seemed easy enough.

"York... this is going to be awkward, but his name is Washington."

[depthlesslock]

Oooh boy.

'Okay. What's he like?' How much does Delta know?

[protective_logic]

"Shy, awkward," Delta provides as he leads them to the cereal aisle. They'll come back for dairy later. And he is not mentioning the broad chest or strong arms thank you very much. "Very unsure of himself in the world. I think if I wasn't there he would have just grabbed random clothes off of racks and left with them, as if he didn't understand sizing."

That makes him chuckle and shake his head. "He's grateful. I was just helping to distract myself and he insisted to repay me with the smoothies. He was considerate of my concerns of getting one with him, it was so soon after Sigma. I think the guy used to be UNSC or something. And he keeps moving, despite how worn out he clearly is about somethings. He wasn't even bored when I told him about how pear juice is used as a filler in many juices. That being said, I think he's got some social anxiety issues. I can understand that myself..."

[depthlesslock]

Fuck, now what? It seems Delta doesn't realize who Wash is, which makes sense, he's only met the native Wash a couple of times, not enough to learn his face properly, let alone when it's different like other Wash. And he seems to like him.

Why does he keep ending up in difficult situations like this?

'Sounds like an interesting guy,' he says, helping look through the cereals. 'And clearly you had some good talks with him. If he used to be UNSC, he might well either not know or have forgotten some of the things about civilian life, including clothes sizes. I'm not surprised he was grateful.'

[protective_logic]

"So my real question about him, of course, is why he looks so much like your friend Washington," Delta notes. "It's almost eerie."

[depthlesslock]

Kill him. Just please let the ground swallow him up.

'Long lost twins? Alternate universes? Government have discovered cloning?'

[protective_logic]

"Given the claim of Nida and Roxy that they aren't from our universe, I begin to suspect that might not be far off," Delta says, looking at his friend from the corner of his eyes. "The thing is... I'm not sure I care. I hardly seem to fit in to this one. He is who he is, and he was kind to me. He didn't mind listening to me, he didn't mind talking back, and since we both seriously need a drink, I'm going to be going to Eagle and Asp with him."

[depthlesslock]

'Nida still owes me a free ice cream,' he mutters mostly to himself.

Delta doesn't care. But would he? If he knew who Wash was? Obviously, he wouldn't tell the whole story, but would he still not care at even just the basics?

'That's a good balance. Is this the night drinking you want me to join you, or is that some other time and this is just you two?'

[protective_logic]

Delta considers York for a minute, then shakes his head. "This guy clearly needs a little lack of stress in his life, and you seem tense just listening to me about him."

Besides, he doesn't want to ambush Wash like that.

[depthlesslock]

'Am I?' Fuck. 'Sorry. Maybe some other time? You two have a good time together though.'

[protective_logic]

"It will be nice to spend time with someone who isn't involved in my life much. I mean, he knows some vague things, but I can't drink with TC without it turning into me whining. I should spare this guy that."

Because who wants to hear someone is hung up on some asshole?