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Having taken a certain chaplain's words to heart about needing a vacation, Rikki has decided to stay at Mililways for a few days. Or a week. Or something, she's not sure yet. And it's going... really well, actually. It's nice, having days at a time when she doesn't have to worry about where she's getting her non-school-provided meals or fighting evil or even algebra.

Today, Rikki can be found in one of several places.

Sometime before noon, she's camped out by the lake with a copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, two of the books that didn't exist in her reality that she's been meaning to get around to reading. Today seems like a good day to fix that.

In the afternoon, she heads to the dance studio she found off the gym for a little practice. It's been... well, way longer than she'd like to think about since she took some time to just dance. It used to be such a huge part of her life - not that it isn't still, exactly, but being Captain America's sidekick definitely took precedence. It's nice, having a chance to work on it again.

And finally, that evening finds her at a table with dinner, people-watching. Because Milliways has the best people to watch.

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"Miss Rikki." Athelstan offers her a slight smile of greeting, stopping at her table. "You look much recovered."

He... looks worse. He's cleaned himself up, and the rope is around his waist instead of his neck, but there's still something much changed about him.

"Hey."

Rikki's friendly smile fades a little when she takes in how he looks, because wow. Um. "You... Are you okay?"

"Much has happened since we last spoke", he tells her softly. "Many, many things have changed."

Not good things, she's pretty sure. "Did you want to talk about it?"

He hesitates - because she had something awful happen to her not so long ago, even if he doesn't know exactly what, and he doesn't want to upset her - but then sits down.

"My home was attacked by raiders."

Hoo boy.

After a moment, Rikki pushes a plate with some fries on it towards him. "I'm kind of hiding out from my life here right now, if you want to join me."

He lets out a half-amused breath, and takes a fry.

"Then I will join you in hiding from my life."

"Cool."

Hiding from your life should include something pleasantly distracting, Rikki thinks. "Did you know there's a library here?"

"Yes!" That gets him to brighten fast. "A wondrous place, even the great libraries of my world can't compare."

"Read anything interesting?"

After all, she could put together a Vacation Booklist. She's not a bookworm or anything, but seriously. Books from different universes? How can you say no?

"Many things. I looked first for books that are lost to my world."

One of those people is watching her, only slightly hesitant in her approach.

"Rikki," X says.

And --

"Hello."

"Hey!" Rikki says, and then after a moment, she adds the name she remembers. "X. I haven't seen you in a while."

"I have been busy," X offers. Carefully.

"At home."

Beat.

"You are okay?"

"Uh, yeah."

No. But. "I'm kinda on vacation right now. Um, if you want to join me."

Did that make sense? She's guessing it didn't.

X's nostrils flare slightly, scenting the air.

It helps with figuring out emotions. And lies.

(Thank you, biochemistry.)

"I can. If company is not terrible."

"Of course not."

That one definitely isn't a lie; X was nice when she first came to Milliways, there's no reason Rikki wouldn't want to see her. "I'd ask if you want anything, but I'm kind of using the minors' tab right now."

"It is okay," X replies, settling into a seat across from Rikki.

"That is what it is for. The fund."

"I know, but it still feels weird."

Like she should be leaving it for other people to use. Except that she's pretty sure kids especially in her kind of situation are what it's for.

"You can give back. When you can."

X's shrug is one-shouldered and quick.

And awkward.

"Sometimes it helps."

"Yeah. I wanna try, it's just." She rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "Kinda hard right now."

Beat.

"So how are you?"

"I know," X says. Then --

"I am okay. Babysitting genius inventors is difficult."

In case Rikki was wondering.

Edited 2014-09-10 22:56 (UTC)

"I've babysat geniuses before," Rikki answers in a commiserating tone. Because when you're a teenage girl, that somehow ends up being your job even if you're Captain America's sidekick. "Who was the genius inventor?"

"Valeria and Franklin Richards."

It's like that explains it all.

Somehow.

"I babysat Franklin, too."

Of course, that was... directly before she sacrificed herself to take down Onslaught. So yeah.

X's nostrils flare again, just a little.

"You like him?"

The sides of her mouth twitch upwards. "What's not to like?"

Sure, he can be a handful at times, but who isn't?

There's a snow leopard out the back, sprawled on a rock, enjoying the last of the tepid Indian Summer.

It's quite a big leopard, yes. And very fluffy.

So... what are the rules of safety around leopards? Is it freeze up and don't move a muscle in case it notices you? Cause that's the tactic she's using.

After a moment, her blue-as-blue eyes open wide and she looks directly at Rikki.

What she sees makes her laugh to herself, a low rumbling purr with music behind it like a coda.

I don't eat people, you know.

It's not quite in Rikki's head but it's not exactly speech, either - after all, leopards don't really have the vocal cords for it.

O... kay.

"That's good. Cause I wouldn't want to be eaten, or anything."

Hey, she's done weirder things than hold conversations with snow leopards.

She laughs again.

I was under the impression that there are rules about that.

"I've learned it's better to have a little paranoia about someone breaking the rules and be pleasantly surprised than not at all and have a surprise of a different kind."

Her ears flick backwards and forwards once, like miniature radar dishes.

Such cynicism for one so young.

She sounds amused, if rather wry.

In someone else's territory, it isn't wise to break their rules. Even for me.

It's common courtesy, after all, if nothing else.

Mark's gone off to school and William's feeling restless as the house is quiet.

When he found a door, he did all his chores in the stable and is looking for a nice place to sit down and read when he sees Rikki, "Hello?"

Oh hey! Cute guy! Rikki can always make room for more of those in her lift. She offers him a friendly grin. "Hey. What's up?"

"Not much. Readin' anything good?" He smiles back, her grin's welcoming.

"Yeah." Rikki flips her book up so he can see the front and the title. "It's pretty cool. The main character's having a dream about going to a place called Wonderland and she keeps changing shape and stuff. Weird, but cool."

He sits down on the grass and looks at the book, "Sounds like Milliways."

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