2019-08-13 - Flannel, Frogs, and Friends

Isolde has been a relatively good patient. Staying in the house aside her little walk the other day. Luigi has likely been loving it because she spoils him TV-wise. Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, History Channel, Travel Channel. Giving him all kinds of ideas for world domination while she reads, or does Origami, or sleeps, or tries to teach him French words.

Today has been a little different though! Because Isabella just left not too long ago after a surprise visit! And Isolde now has pretty cellphone papers laid out neatly on the coffee table, trying to decide what she wants to do with it exactly. She's laying on the couch, half snuggled up with the giant frog whose name is Fred. Because Fred the Frog is clearly the best name. There's the lingering smell of hot chocolate permeating the house and she is watching 'Ghost Adventures', Luigi likely lingering nearby and her having to warn him away from the cellophane.

In contrast, Alexander has been gone a lot. In part, trying to rustle up money by doing a few odd investigative jobs here and there, trying to make up for how his 'extracurricular' research projects have been eating into his employment time. But also on more of those extracurricular research projects, and when he comes in, he's tired and hot, and looking thoughtful. He also has a gift! Sort of. There are scratches on one side of his nose, and one arm is bandaged, but he's smiling as he comes in and offers her a wrapped plastic bundle, with the tattered and bloody remnants of her flannel shirt inside. "Hey, Isolde. Was able to get your flannel back. It's...not in great shape, but we might be able to fix it up, get the blood out."

He looks up, and sniffs the air. "Why does the house smell like chocolate? Does it? I'm not just imagining that, right?"

Isolde looks up from her show when Alexander comes in. It feels like she hasn't seen him in forever! Her eyes narrow briefly at the sight of him injured and she gives him that look like she wants to know what happened. However! She doesn't ask, and anything she might have said vanishes when he hands her the bundle. Her expression is hard to read as she slowly takes it from him. Hesitantly. Like it might disappear. Quiet as she studies it - not attempting to take the flannel out of the plastic yet. She barely hears him asking about the chocolate.

Then it registers. "Thank you Alexander." She leads with and then smiles. "It does! There is more. " A sly sort of look crosses her features then. "Isabella came by to visit me." She hugs the flannel in that plastic tightly for a moment and then gently sets it back on the coffee table. "She brought hot chocolate things from the patisserie. She's a nice lady."

Alexander just smiles at the look, then takes a seat beside her on the couch, in whatever space is left between Isolde and the giant frog. Which gets a quick pat. Luigi arrives in a fluttery heap, landing on his shoulder and walking quickly up to start chuckling quietly in his ear. Alexander reaches up and tickles the conure's neck feathers, gently. "You're very welcome. It wasn't really useful evidence, so it wasn't hard to get. They were gonna throw it out anyway." His eyebrows go up as she continues. "Oh? Well, good. And yes, Isabella is pretty nice. I'm glad you two have met."

"I thought that they would." Isolde laced her fingers together, lightly resting in her lap, staring at the package again. "Maybe we will run it in the washer and dryer first to see what comes out and if it stays together." Brow furrowing. "Can I use your computer? Not. Now. But, next time you go out." She elaborated, shifting to face Alexander better. "Me too! I think she is a good thing and we will be good friends! Also I gave some vegetables to Corey. Did you get to try the crepes?" Resting her head lightly against the back of the couch.

"Will you let me handle it?" Alexander asks, quietly. "I'm pretty good at getting blood out of cloth, and I might be able to do some repairs, too. If you'd like to take care of it yourself, though, I can show you how to do a good cold soak. If you don't already know," he adds, a bit hastily. As if remembering that he's not supposed to be treating her like a child. Speaking of, to the question, he nods. "Sure. I'll set you a login of your own so you can get on whenever you like. And yeah, the crepes were good. Corey...that's the delivery kid, right? College student?" He smiles at her. "And should I guess that this," a pat of the frog, "is from Itzhak?"

Isolde thinks about it for a moment and then nods. "I would like you too. Please. I don't..." A quick glance to the flannel and then back to him. "I don't know if I can." There's a fleeting look of distress. "I trust you and thank you. I need to research something." Leaning her head in her hand lightly, smiling again. "I am glad you liked them. He is. He lives on Oak. He seems nice, I think Yves and I scared him though." She looked a little sheepish at that. Then brightened once more. "Yes! He won it for me at the Boardwalk on our date. It is very snuggly."

"Yves? Your boss? He was here?" Alexander doesn't quite frown, but he does go a little still and thoughtful. "I wish I'd been here. to meet him." He reaches up and scoops Luigi into his hands, which would seem weird for a bird to like, but this one seems to. Alexander gives him head and neck scritches while he watches Isolde. "I'll take care of the flannel. Get it as clean as we can." A flicker of a smile. "So. Will there be another date with Itzhak? Once you're in good shape for it, I mean."

"He was! For a little bit. He wanted to check on me. And he gave me ghost marshmallows and lavender spray." Isolde smiles. "I hope you can meet him some time. He is a little...strange. But I think he sees things different than most of us." Watching him and Luigi, smiling again. "I don't know if it will be wearable...but I will be glad to have it anyway." There was a look to her phone - which was also on the coffee table. Then back to Alexander. "I hope so. I think we might go to Seattle. To a jazz club, dancing. But we haven't talked more about it yet."

Alexander grins, bright and pleased. "Dancing at a jazz club! All right, then. Sounds like fun." He gives Luigi a final tickle, then sets him on the arm of the couch. The bird shakes himself from head to tail and starts the process of grooming all the feathers. "And I'm glad you like your boss. Will the farm work be a steady thing, or is it just seasonal? I didn't ask, and I probably should have."

Isolde returns the grin. "I hope it will be. I got to show him the saxophone man at the Boardwalk and we danced a little then too. But this will be different. Ish." Glancing down towards Luigi to watch him a moment. Then back up to Alexander. "Seasonal. But if Dr. Glass is still looking, maybe give me her number? I would like to talk to her. See if I could get the job. Or, try for it." Her brow furrows a bit again. She doesn't have a resume or proper clothes for interviews. But, that is something to worry about later. "Also, Itzhak said he would find a car. For me to practice with. Refresh my memories and stuff about driving."

"Sure." He reaches for his phone, and texts her the number. "We can get you some interview clothes, if you need them. I think she's had a hard time finding anyone to apply, so it might be fine that you don't have experience or paper credentials." A shrug. "Can't guarantee anything, of course. But I think you'd do a good job." He flashes a smile at her. "And that's great. Maybe it's something that you could put a down payment on, at some point. Even I'm willing to admit that getting around becomes a lot easier with a car."

"Especially in the winter times." Isolde agreed about the car. "I do need them, but I can get them. A second set of eyes wouldn't hurt. I remember I asked Harper a long time ago, but then I got the work at the Farm." She ponders a moment and then shrugged. "We will see!" Then she seems to consider something else. "...Why don't you drive?" Looking at him curiously.

"I suspect she'd love to be asked. She likes you," Alexander says, with a smile. He relaxes back into the couch, stretching his legs to put them on top of the coffee table. It's his, he can do that. "I do drive. I just don't own a car. They're expensive, with insurance and maintenance, all of that. My income is kinda sporadic?" There's a long hesitation, before he adds, "And I get lost, sometimes. I don't want to get lost while driving. Stupid way to lose a car."

Isolde thinks over that answer and then nods, accepting it. "Getting lost while driving would be terrible." She agreed, drawing her knees to her chest. "I had a car...I remember it. But I got arrested and they took it. And I couldn't get it back." She rubs at her forehead a little. "And it's hard to get another one. Especially when you can't prove who you are..." Sighing, but then a little smile again. "Would you like some hot chocolate?"

"Yeah. That's what I figure, anyway. But I've been thinking about taking the plunge myself, eventually." Alexander grimaces. "I have to travel more than I used to, with all of the things. Research. Other things. Irritating to have to borrow cars." He nods, thoughtfully, at the information about the car. "You don't have any papers, do you? Birth certificate, social security, any of that. Have to figure out something for that." His eyebrows perk at the mention of hot chocolate. "Sure. I'd say it's a bit warm for it, but hell." A flash of a grin. "We can live a little."

"Eventually, we will both be driving like regular people." Isolde giggled, though it did fade a touch when he asked about papers. "Nothing. My parents have it, maybe. Is it time to try and find them again?" She paused a bit. "There is...another place. Where maybe there is something. But I don't know if it's real. I need to research it. And try to make sure it's real."

Nodding, "Let's make it then!" Standing and going into the kitchen. "I watched Isabella very carefully." There was a saucepan on the counter that had been drying and she started to fill it with some water.

"That sounds kinda boring. Who wants to drive like normal people?" He rises to his feet, and looks at her carefully. "That's up to you, Isolde. If you want to, I'm happy to help you access records and databases. You don't have to contact them until you feel ready." Alexander looks intrigued by the idea of another place that might not be real, but he just nods, giving her the space to make the decisions she needs to make. He trails her to the kitchen. "Oh? Well, then. I'll let you take charge of this, then." A flash of a smile.

"I will see." Is all she says about trying to research and looking up things about her family. Isolde isn't sure if she'll ever be ready for it, but something you have to do things you aren't ready for. She seems preoccupied with her thoughts as she sets up the saucepan and eyes the stove like it might bite her before taking a breath and leaning over to turn the proper burner on to the right setting. Then she picks up the tin with it's little sections in it and shows it to Alexander. "Dark chocolate or normal chocolate?" Smiling again as she shelves her other thoughts for now.

Alexander nods, accepting that answer from her. He does give her a sidelong, curious look. One filled with a fond sort of concern. He's distracted from it by her question, and he leans in closer to study the tin and the sections. "Mmm, I'll take the regular chocolate. I'm not sure if I'm feeling the bitter right now. Prefer something sweet." He grins. "What about you? Dark or regular?"

"I tried the dark earlier. So regular will work!" Isolde agreed cheerfully enough. She added the regular chocolate to the heating water. "And now we let it boil! " She closes up the tin and sets it neatly on the counter before turning to look at him again. Leaning against the counter carefully. "I think you will like it." Now she refocuses a bit on his wounds. "...What happened? Itzhak said you were upset when he brought you home the other day...Are you okay now?" Besides the obvious.

Alexander's eyebrows go up. "Did he." He breathes out. "I suppose I was. Made kind of an ass of myself with his friends. Need to apologize." He rubs the back of his neck. "We got lost. Not Itzhak, but me and a few other people. August? Did you meet him? He got hurt pretty bad, so after we got out there, I took him by his friends' house so they can patch him up." A pause. "And me. I wasn't too hurt, though," he adds, quick and reassuring. "But the whole thing was irritating, and I had a song stuck in my head."

"He said to ask you about it though." Isolde added in, which she was clearly doing right now! Listening closely as he elaborated some. "I did meet him. Briefly. I am sorry he got injured so terribly. And that you got hurt too." Raising an eyebrow. "Irritating? What song was it?" And why was it stuck in his head? So many questions. She gives the chocolate mixture a bit of a stir. "Getting lost is happening more often lately..."

Alexander lets out a shudder that is not as exaggerated as he'd like to pretend it is. "'It's a Small World'. The carousel trapped us and worms invaded our bodies. Singing that damned song." He grimaces. "I don't like to dwell on it. And," he rubs at his nose with its scratches, "it is. Summer is ending. Summer is always the best season. Things get difficult as the season turns. Be careful, hmm?"

Isolde shudders with him. "That sounds horrible." She murmured. "I will not ask you about it again." is promised as she continues stirring a moment or two longer. "I will try to be. It is hard to be careful sometimes. Because sometimes the bad things will come to you so you can't avoid them. But," She shrugs. "We will get through it." Giving him a smile.

Alexander smiles. "I know. And don't let it stop you from anything you want to do. But just keep an eye out for if things turn strange. Try not to be caught by surprise." He leans over to look at the stirring, and gives a thoughtful sort of noise. "Interesting. But how are you feeling? Your wounds healing well?"

"I will be keep an eye out." Isolde assured him, laying the spoon back down carefully. "I am feeling better. Not so tired anymore. My chest still hurts some, but I think Yves helped me a little. Speed up the process." She mused. "Hopefully I will be in tip top shape soon."

Alexander smiles. "Good. Don't feel like you have to stay confined to the house, Isolde. Don't strain yourself, but you don't have to stay cooped up in here. It always helps to get out and enjoy yourself, get your strength back." He paces past her, to the cabinets, and grabs some cups, putting them down. "Here we go."

"I did take a walk the other day. That's how I met Corey. I might go walking again tomorrow. While the weather is still pretty. " Isolde agreed. "Or work more on the gardening." She turns off the burner after the liquid has boiled for a minute or two. Soon enough, the two cups are full of the hot chocolate! She nudges one towards Alexander. "I hope you like it!"

"I'm sure I will." Alexander grins, and reaches for the cup she's nudged towards him. There's an appreciative sniff, but he doesn't try to sip it immediately, because it's straight off the stove. Instead, he blows gently on the top. "This smells delicious. Thank you for making it for me, Isolde. And I'm glad you'll be walking. It's pretty boring here in the house." As it cools, he ventures a sip, and makes a pleased sound. "Lovely."

"It is boring. But I have been keeping occupied. " Isolde giggled. She works on rinsing out the saucepan, setting in the sink for now to clean in a little bit, along with the cups when they're finished with them. She wraps up her mug and takes a careful sip. "Mm." She gives a contented sigh. "Maybe I will bring Itzhak some tomorrow. Or later tonight." Thinking it over. "I don't want to bother him."

"Just text him beforehand," Alexander suggests, savoring the hot cocoa with sips between the words. "Make sure he's home and interested in company. I suspect he would be, if he were home. And he seems like an honest man, so if it wasn't a good time, he'd probably tell you straight." He finishes off his cup, and moves to wash it off. "I should probably get some work done before sleep. But thank you, Isolde. This was lovely." A smile thrown her way.

"Yes. He is. I like that." The honestly. Isolde smiled a touch again. "I am glad you did. It was nice to see you. I feel like we haven't seen each other much lately. Work well, don't forget to set me up an account!" She adds in, taking another drink and setting her mug down. "And sleep well, when you get around to it." Though sleep was always iffy for both of them - mostly him.

Alexander places his hand over his heart. "I'll set up your account right now, and leave the name and password on the door. You can change the password to whatever you want." He grins. "And I like that, too. I like him. I'll do my best," he says after a moment, a hint of dryness as he considers how difficult it is to get a good night's sleep. But he heads into his office, whistling at Luigi on the way.