Alicia Spinnet + Mordecai Roberts + cameo by Dash Parr
Mention of kidnapping | Complete
“Coming!” Alicia called out as she headed to the door after hearing a knock. Scuba hadn’t left her side but Starsy was barking at the door and wagging her tail so hard Alicia almost wondered if she’d fall over.
Things were just weird. Alicia was pretending she was fine, even with Clarke earlier that day she had struggled to pretend she wasn’t fine. It was a little bit easier but she still felt like she had to put on a good face. She was worried about Laura, she was trying to figure out her own emotions and nothing was clicking.
“If it isn’t my favorite Mordy,” she smiled opening her arms up and motioning him in for a hug. “What brings you by?” She knew the answer to that but she asked anyway.
Julia had healed enough of Mordecai's injuries that a hug was possible, if still one-armed, although he was relieved enough to see Alicia, that it wouldn't necessarily have mattered otherwise. “I don't care for this habit you've developed,” he said with false levity. “You gave me a scare.” He'd come to see how she was doing. “I wanted to make sure you were in one piece.” Physically, at least. He didn't truly expect her to be all right emotionally, not after being captured by COS for the second time in a year. Mordecai didn't anger easily, but he'd developed a bitter grudge against the so called Committee of Safety over his time in Atlantis.
A small sad laugh escaped her. “It’s not the highlight of habits to pick up,” she admitted, she wasn’t really happy with it herself. At least this time it’d been shorter. “You were worried?” She could tell he had been but she asked lightheartedly anyways. “Come in, want something to drink?” Alicia looked him up and down. “What the hell happened to you?” She ignored the comment about her being in one piece.
“Always!” said Mordecai to the offer of a drink. He stepped the rest of the way into the house, and closed the door behind him. “A few broken bones,” he answered lightly. “Mostly healed now. COS attacked homebase the day after they took you.” He still wasn't easy with discussing that. Julia had refrained from blaming him, and they were all back home now, but he still felt he should have done something to prevent it. Strengthened the wards earlier. He looked down at the overly-attentive dogs. “I think there are some very indignant animals around Atlantis right now. Throgmorten very pointedly destroyed my pillow in front of me the day I got out of Medical.”
Alicia barely managed to hide a wince. It sounded like something COS would do. “How did it go?” She asked, although from what she could tell it was probably a draw, as usual. “You know it wasn’t anyone's fault we were taken,” Alicia smirked. “Not just pups, I think Laura’s really struggling too. Marcus left, Strange left, and I was kidnapped.”
Mordecai lifted his good shoulder in a shrug. “We turned them back, eventually.” He wasn't going to discuss the subject of blame anymore. He frowned. “That kind of uncertainty is worse on a child.” It was one of the downsides of Atlantis. “Some extra time with her may help. I don't know of anything else that ever really improves that kind of loss of trust in the universe,” said Mordecai who had never had much to begin with. Most of the children in his orbit hadn't: Christopher, Millie… his own son, even if Mordecai had not been there for Temple's childhood (and he hoped very much to avoid that future). “Is she still enjoying the zoo?”
Alicia nodded. “I’m trying, but from what I’ve been told and seen she’s been spending a lot more time in her room.” She frowned. “I wish I could adopt a lion for her, but they aren’t exactly house pets.” She smiled softly. “Maybe it’s good it’s just the two of us now, we get to adopt more animals.” She tried to say lightly but there was a hint of pain in it.
Mordecai didn't miss the sound of underlying hurt to the words; covering painful topics with a joke was his own modus operandi, after all. Not to mention how very close to home the situation hit. That sympathy - and perhaps a touch of unintended bitterness - was most likely what made him say, “Sometimes it's best to know where one stands.” He cleared his throat and added hastily. “Likely not on the lions, although I can offer a cat nearly as fierce as one.”
It was a joke. Much as he might complain about Throgmorten, Mordecai couldn't help feeling an attachment to the creature - perhaps because of the connection to Twelve-A and the Castle, perhaps because of the responsibility he bore for dragging the cat through the worlds. Perhaps because it shared characteristics with so many people he admired - particularly the certainty of self that was so very feline.
Smiling she thought for a moment. “You have a thought there,” she turned a little bit. “Maybe there is a domestic cat that looks a bit like a lion?” She knew it wouldn’t be the same but Laura was always pushing for more animals and they didn’t have a cat… yet.
“Or is that a bit much?” She added with an unusual touch of insecurity to her voice.
“I wouldn't be surprised if the shelter has something of the kind,” said Mordecai. “And I never call anything too much,” he added lightly, but his gaze was a little bit keener. That hint of uncertainty was completely understandable with everything, but it was also a signal that she was really not all right. “But if you want to test out the idea, the two of you can come over and visit Throgmorten and Symba.” The offer was made as much for Alicia's sake as Laura's. The little girl was not the only one who might suffer from too much time alone. Besides, Clarke would be there (if she were not visiting Oliver), and Clarke had been through the same thing that Alicia had.
Alicia nodded as she thought about it. She was usually the dive in think later sort but that sounded a bit more logical and she wasn’t really sure how the dogs were going to get along with cats, although they did fine with goats and bunnies apparently. “Yeah, that’d be brilliant, if you don’t mind, and don’t think Clarke would.” Alicia was pretty sure Clarke would be okay with it.
Mordecai was fairly certain that Throgmorten, for one, could hold his own against anything up to and including a lion, although that wasn't necessarily a recipe for peaceful coexistence. Of course, not even all Temple cats were Throgmorten (thank heavens). “I'll never turn down your company, and I'm sure Clarke would be willing.” He smiled. “Are there any particular treats I should have on hand? For Laura?” he added, although he'd track down any of Alicia's favorites that he could, as well.
“She loves pancakes and ice cream, and really any kind of food.” Alicia ate a lot, but Laura ate more than Alicia even understood sometimes. “She’s into food, well usually.” She felt like lately Laura wasn’t into anything like she was before. “But I think a cat test might be a good idea.”
“Pancakes and ice cream can be arranged,” said Mordecai. “I'll talk to Clarke about a date.” He smiled. “Maybe we can even talk Will into bringing out the dragon for her.” That might be a hard sell, but Mordecai suspected Will had a softer side than he liked to admit, and he'd recently lost a brother (of sorts) as well. He might not be able to fix the situation - remove Alicia's memories of her experience or return the departed friends to Atlantis - but company and the comfort of distraction he could provide.
“You actually think you could talk Will into it?” Alicia asked sceptically, she didn’t know him all that well but from what she’d seen he didn’t seem too keen on being a dragon, she didn’t really blame him but Alicia would have loved to be able to turn into something. “I bet Laura would love it.”
“I don't know,” Mordecai admitted. He wasn't entirely comfortable with his housemate's dragon form, either, but it was easier to think of Will as simply having an unfortunate transformation problem than being a dragon in the sense of Temeraire or Mr. Weasley’s charge (Although Mordecai would still endeavor to keep him away from poachers if it came to it). “But it's worth a try. For Laura's sake, maybe.”
“I’ll try anything to help cheer up the kid,” Alicia admitted. She felt lost about what exactly to do, heck she was struggling to figure how to handle anything herself too. She sighed leaning back. “We should order pizza.” She was a little hungry and the thought of cooking didn’t sound like fun at that moment.
“That sounds like an excellent idea,” said Mordecai. “And sparkling cider, perhaps? I’ll send a message to Mr. Parr.” He grimaced very briefly, but smiled again quickly. “What toppings would you like?”
“Pepperoni? Keep it simple, and yeah, cider, the good stuff, not the good for you stuff,” she said with a smirk. She noticed his grimace but she wasn’t sure she should comment on it so decided not to.
The smirk made Mordecai smile, if only for being slightly more familiar. “You always have good taste.” The pizza was ordered, as was the cider, although it would have to arrive by less speedy means. He was not entirely sure how long they would have to wait for the pizza, for that matter. The confirmation notice did indicate an expected time, but Mordecai hadn't been on the best terms with the delivery service for a few months now. In the meantime, he noticed another message, this one from command. He skimmed it, replied, and then set his tablet aside. “Cider sounds wonderful,” he remarked.
Alicia tilted her head curiously. “Something going on?” She’d left her tablet in another room and she was perfectly content not having anything to do with it. If someone really needed her they could come get her. “Or just more of the same?” She asked.
Mordecai laughed a little uneasily. “I'm not certain yet. I've been requested at the base. Perhaps they want clarification on my report. I don't need to be there yet.” There had been some speculation about changes to be made in the wake of the trouble of the past month, but such rumors were common in any organization whenever something went wrong. If he were in trouble, Mordecai thought he would have known by now.
A curious expression crossed her features. “Is there something I don’t know about?” Alicia wasn’t as up to date on all of the rumours lately, she’d focused more on how the people she cared about most were handling things.
Mordecai waved his right hand dismissively. “Just the usual anxiety to bolt the barn door after the horse has run away. There's talk about reorganizing, security has been working overtime filling gaps, and everyone else is still settling back into a routine after so many were incapacitated by COS's fear attack - we assume it was COS, at least.”
“A shake up?” It sounded like a question the way she said it but it wasn’t as much one. “Well, I guess there hasn’t been one in a while and we have been getting a lot more people arriving the last few months.” She shrugged thinking back to when it had just been her and Jemma. Everything seemed a lot less complicated back then.
“I expect so,” said Mordecai. “And you're right, it has been awhile.” He added lightly, “I wouldn't be concerned except that Command persists in the unaccountable notion that I'm suited for responsibility. Sooner or later that's going end poorly.” He shrugged. “But with all the comings and goings, I understand the need to allocate resources to where they’re most useful.”
“What do you mean it’s going to end poorly?” narrowing her eyes she shifted in her seat. “You’ve been here for ages, it’d make sense to put you somewhere you could do the most good.”
“Oh.” Mordecai waved a hand again. He would have preferred the comment be laughed off. “I'm a specialist, or I was before Atlantis. I've always found it better to leave the rest to the administrative types and not have to worry about what losses are acceptable. No sense in the blind leading the blind. But I fumble my way through one way or another.” He picked up his tablet again, rather hoping to see an update on their order. “Almost done, it appears.”
Alicia nodded, she got the impression she shouldn’t push it anymore so decided not to. “Any word on the food?” She opted for instead. “I’m starving.”
“It should be here soon,” Mordecai said. “Provided the delivery boy doesn't take the long way round - or even if so.” In fact, there was a knock at the door sooner than he expected. “I believe that is it.”
Dash Parr was not - all right, he was petty where his friends were offended, but he wouldn't sabotage his own job to spite a customer, either. Especially since he had recognized the address as Laura's house, and Atlantis had given her an awful time of it, lately. If anyone deserved a pizza fresh from the oven with extra pepperoni, it was her. As such, he arrived at the house right on time.
“Finally,” alright, so she didn’t really think it had taken that long, but she was starving. Getting up she headed to the door opening it. “Hey Dash,” she greeted with a small smile. “What do we owe you?”
Dash checked his records. “Looks like it's paid for. All yours!” He handed over the box with a big grin. Dash was certainly aware of the recent kidnappings and the strange sleeping sickness that had come over so many people. He was glad to be able to help out, even if the only way he could do so was by running errands. Besides pizza usually made him feel better.
Mordecai was aware that there might be danger in having an account where one could make a payment merely by pressing a few buttons, but it was a convenience of Atlantis. Besides, paying for the meal was the least he could do (he could just imagine what his father would have said if he did anything else). He followed Alicia to the door. “But we still owe you a tip,” he said.
Smirking Alicia turned her head and looked up at Mordecai. “Thanks,” she said softly as he headed towards the door.
“Yes, we do,” she said looking back to Dash, she didn’t know how much the pizza was but reached for tin by the door that held some currency and grabbed a little bit more than was probably necessary as quickly as possible and handed it over to Dash.
Glancing back at Mordecai she smirked. “You got dinner,” she added.
Dash grinned at the large tip. “Thanks!” he said. He glanced past the two adults. ‘Say hi to Laura for me?” He couldn't stay. He had other deliveries to make, but he added a, “Good night!” before heading on to his next stop.
Mordecai shrugged awkwardly. “I try to be a gentleman occasionally,” he said lightly. “I've been haunted by my father before. I'd hate to repeat the experience.” He turned away from the door. “And I’d hate to let this pizza grow cold. What say we eat before I find out what they want me for at the base?”