[Open Log] A PLN in Tarwich

[dragoonrouge]

Date: 16th February
Characters: All members of the Network

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Tarwich Community Centre was used to hosting meetings and gatherings, though none of the staff at the facility were aware of how odd the gathering going on in one their function rooms truly is going to be. All mention of said gathering that was about to start had been kept off of the Network thanks to Sadie's insistence about safety. Some of the food was provided by the community centre, however, the many plates of biscuits were all courtesy of Ben's Aunt Rosemary. Everything was finally ready for the Numbered to start turning up.

Comments

[vernal_miss]

During her exploration of the room and those in it, she spots a familiar face and alters her course with a hard turn to scurry right up to him with a cheerful smile, "Walter!" That call of his name is the only warning he gets before two small arms latch around his legs in a hug. Nel has not seen her friend in person since the poppies appeared all over, and to her, this is the only proper way to express her joy at seeing him again.

She peers up to him with that same excited smile after a tight squeeze and hangs on, "Hallo!"

[iamnotgod]

He is pleasantly - well, not surprised, obviously, but he's still very happy to see Nel.

Maybe not as vibrantly as she is to see him, but that's only because he's not a child.

"Well hallo right back at you, Nel. Have you been all right this past month?" he asks, smile clear on his face as he looks (and kneels some) down for her.

[vernal_miss]

His legs are released the moment he starts to move, and Nel takes a step back to give him space as he comes down closer to her height level. Hands folding politely together she continues to smile as she happily replies, “I’ve not been so sleepy, so I’m much better, thank you! You alright?”

Best behavior today.

[iamnotgod]

"That's good, then," Walter says first, then, "And yes, though that's partly due to being out and about here, with friends."

Which includes you, Nel!

[vernal_miss]

Given that being out with friends is affecting his wellbeing for the better, that implies accordingly that he has been in somewhere and lonesome. She is glad for the improvement, “Yeah? Can I meet one?”

Nel does want to get to know some of the other Numbered better after all.

[iamnotgod]

"Don't suppose you know Russell Scordato? Or Ben and Sadie? Russell's my flatmate, but Ben and Sadie are closer to you in age..."

And then there's Kitty, but they're not exactly friends yet.

[vernal_miss]

Her head bobs in a quick nod, "I know Ben and Sadie! Ben fixes our computer sometimes, and Sadie told me a lot about Numbers and had a great Halloween costume. But, I don't think I know Russell..." She might remember hearing him on the Network if she heard him speaking, but off the top of her head, no so much.

"Is he nice?"

Nel is so cute. ;a;

[iamnotgod]

Sometimes he needs to be reminded about how small their world can be at times.

"Yes, yes he is."

A little awkward, more than occasionally, but that was about par for the course with most of the people Walter was close to.

"He also really likes theater, both watching and performing."

Thank you <3 ( *not so much)

[vernal_miss]

Happy to hear the confirmation, Nel bounces twice on her heels at the prospect of meeting someone nice. Not that she expects an introduction. Instead, Nel will stay attentive and try to introduce herself if she comes across someone named Russell.

“Oh, that’s brilliant! My eldest sibling Feste knows about that, but they’ve been in film lately. I like to watch plays though,” she says in a manner of relation.

“I came with my family. Lots of us have Numbers. Have you met them all?”

Re: Thank you <3 ( *not so much)

[iamnotgod]

"You might have some favorites in common," Walter says - though he takes care not to name names. It would be unfair to assume Nel's tastes!

"And I don't think Mary Ann's had to introduce me to everyone yet, though I've met her father aside from you and Feste."

And one of Nel's younger siblings, but they'd shown no sign of having a Number themselves... probably for the best.

[vernal_miss]

There would be a low chance of insulting her making those assumptions, and Nel would not hesitate to put him off of a wrong idea.

“Oh. No that’s most of us that have a Number. There’s also my Skypa, but he isn’t here yet. He’s also my grandpa but from my Mummy’s side. She doesn’t have a Number, and my three other siblings don’t either.” Seven people with a regular eight at some dinners and more cats than she can track makes for a busy household.

“Walter, what’s your family like? Do they live nearby?”

[iamnotgod]

Walter nods.

"I think I've met him too; we talked about one of his sermons."

Albeit one that had inadvertently gotten on the Network. As for the question in turn - that makes Walter chuckle, just a bit.

"The thing is, we used to live here, but now my folks are in London. My sister, too."

Explaining about the cult, and how Haley had been born there, rather than in Mossgate, might be more than Nel really needs to hear...

"We keep in touch, though; we're all close."

[vernal_miss]

That sounds like her Skypa.

Nel smiles when he answers about his family, especially hearing that they’re still close even though Walter is grown up, “That’s good! And you can hop on the train to visit, which must be nice.” Convenient at least. Nel herself is quite used to the bustling atmosphere of her large family and likes that it has stayed that way.

“Why didn’t you go to London?” follows as simply a question of curiosity.

[iamnotgod]

For a moment Walter is surprised - then realizes what he forgot to clarify:

"I came back here, after completing uni, and that was in 2016. We'd moved out when I was five, and only moved to London a decade after that. The rest of my family's been there since."

[vernal_miss]

“It’s good that you came back then,” she states. “It would have been very hard to meet you otherwise.” They certainly could not have fed the birds together and drawn that day along with others without that choice having been made.

Rather than asking further about family or friends, Nel briefly looks away to watch other Numbered moving about the room. Bouncing on her heels a few times she asks, “This is exciting, isn’t it?”

[iamnotgod]

"It would have, yes."

Also, ow. That was uncalled for, Nel.

Walter looks about the room in turn, a touch more restrained.

"And yes, though we're far from being like the United Nations."

Still, a room full of people they can relate to and - more relevantly for him - aren't being eased into some sort of mental mold, does have its benefits.

[vernal_miss]

One of the hazards of friendship.

“But we’re less stuffy and we have biscuits!” she counters with amusement written in her face. Then there is the literal magic that seems to have been gifted to the members of of the Network. A sly glance is given to her chair with the waiting cup of dirt that will be a testament to the magic should the opportunity arise.

“I hope we get to see everyone more from now on.”

[iamnotgod]

Walter chuckles.

"There is that," he agrees. His gaze briefly flickers in the direction Nel indicates, but he refrains from commenting on the dirt for now.

"And... I think I'd like that too."

But not to the extent of excluding the rest of the world - Walter knows how that can end up.

Whoops had two “of”s there

[vernal_miss]

“When the weather improves, we can have a picnic at one of the parks!” she suggests hopefully. Her grandfathers and any older Numbered individuals can relax while the younger members can play around. Perhaps on a weekend or a holiday to work around the busy schedules they keep.

S'awright. (I mean, we can backtrack for editing purposes?)

[iamnotgod]

"That does sound like fun."

Walter makes to stretch back up from where he'd been near-crouching.

"And a good way to keep people together; when in doubt, bring food."

His voice ends up a bit more whimsical on that last note.

Nah, too much effort

[vernal_miss]

Nel drifts back a step to compensate once Walter stands up so she can look up to him without craning her neck so far as to be uncomfortable.

"I think that's why dinners at home are so important for us. Everybody gets to talk and catch up," at least regarding the mundane portions of their lives. It would be nice to have more of an outlet to talk in person.

"What's your favorite food for a picnic?"

XD Fair. Also, this is my favorite tag so far:

[iamnotgod]

"Crisps," Walter answers simply, as wry as it is joking.

"Though you can't really go wrong with things that go 'crunch.'"

Mundane moments are great!

[vernal_miss]

Nel nods in consideration and appreciation of the selection. "Do you like the kind with flavor or the ones that are best for dips? Oh, and which dip?" follows naturally.

Clearly if she learns more about the favored foods for a picnic, she can help spur it into happening.

Re: Mundane moments are great!

[iamnotgod]

Walter takes on a sheepish expression.

"It makes nigh-on no difference to me, really. Crisps rarely last long in my house. Which means plain dips are generally safer," he adds.

"The less sodium, the better."

[vernal_miss]

Then Walter must like crisps as much as she likes biscuits!

“My mum says that too,” she says in echo of the sentiment about controlling sodium. It’s apparently quite important, especially for her grandfathers.

“So you even like the pickled onion crisps? Or the prawn cocktail ones?”