portalhopping | video;

[Stan has a soft smile on his face as he, literally, raises his hand and turns it into a wave. On the other side Olivia has her head against his shoulder sleepily, but she copies his movement, the other hand occupied with her thumb in her mouth.]

Hey stranger, I'm still here. Surprised to see you back but it looks like the portals are at it again - probably not done either.

[Stan gives Darcy an apologetic look for that, despite the fact that it's not his fault.]

Looks like the boys are good and wound up - you need a hand or anything when you get to the apartments?

( Darcy brightens, then shifts into pleasant surprise at how much Olivia has grown since Darcy saw her last. )

Hey, there! She's getting so big, wow.

( Darcy wiggles her fingers in a wave at the little tot. )

Hey there, little princess!

( She turns her attention back to Stan. )

I wish I was surprised, but the number of times I've been through the multiverse at this point... I think that stupid Biblical Seal marked me or something, I'm like a magnet for interdimensional travel at this point.

( Darcy huffs a laugh, rolling her eyes. )

Yeah, what else is new? Thanks, sweetie, but it kinda looks like you've already got your hands full, no?

[Stan grins at the woman and her boys in the car.]

I tried to talk her into just slowing down if not stopping, but it didn't work very well.

[He shrugs with a chuckle as Olivia lifts her head and grins with a small, joyful 'hiiiiiii' - complete with plenty of extra syllables.]

I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, but hopefully you can stay grounded here and not be tossed around until they can figure out how to get you wherever you want to be most.

[Stanley shrugs.]

I might be able to talk her into walking on her own a couple of steps before she wants up again, but you've got your hands full and have to settle in all over again for the moment and I'm pretty sure I still owe you from the last time you were here and how much you helped me out.

Ruuuuude.

( Darcy laughs a little. )

They never listen when we tell them to quit growing so fast.

( The amusement softens into something more appreciative and endeared. )

Thanks, Stan. One can only hope.

( With a little shrug, Darcy looks back over at the boys briefly before looking at Stan again. )

I mean, if you want to, I'm certainly not going to say you can't. I'm just trying to offer you an easy out. They're a lot when they get rambunctious like this, so no hard feelings if you need to gracefully bow out of that offer after thinking it through for a sec.

( She laughs again and scrunches her face up playfully as she directs her attention to the baby. )

'cause they're a lot, huh, Livvie? Two loud stinky little boys are a lot, huh? Yeah.

It's like they have to eat or something.

[Stan grins at his daughter, pressing a kiss to her forehead almost automatically.]

I keep getting offered outs for things I offer, is it something about my face? [Stan is smiling, though.] Tell you what - I'll let you settle in and then Liv and I will come for a visit - she and I just got back from a trip anyway and she's been a little fussy since we got back, anyway. I have a feeling they'll like seeing Prim more than me and Liv for the moment anyway and we can catch up later.

( Darcy laughs a little, shaking her head. )

Know, I just know that trying to help me wrangle these two little monsters while you've already got an armful of adorable baby girl is really not worth your struggle, sweetie. But yes, I would love for you guys to come visit, even in like half an hour when I can get them to settle a little bit so they can play with her without us having to worry that their adrenaline highs will make them play a little too rough.

Sounds good - I'm holding you to that, then. We'll stop by in a half an hour, just let me know what apartment you wind up in. That gives her plenty of time to get over her case of the sleepies and be up for a visit.

[Stan smiles.]

We'll see you in a little bit - and if I can bring anything that would help let me know.

By the time Darcy and Prim make it to the third floor, it's with Conner practically dragging his body on the floor while latched onto Darcy's leg and Clark holding Darcy's hand with one of his and Prim's hand with his other, periodically jumping up and expecting the women to take his weight and swing him. She's laughing when she thanks Prim as she stops in front of the door of her new place because really? Of course Clark just assumes and doesn't ask and of course Prim grins and takes it in stride. A Primrose is a Primrose, she supposes.

"Okay, okay, okay, come on, Conner, stand up. Clark, stop," she adds as the twin not attached to her leg starts hopping around in circles in the hallway, probably in an effort to shake off the adrenaline from an impromptu portal trip. "We might have to share like we shared with Claire and Allison, okay, so you need to settle down, please. Thank you," she finishes when Clark pouts, but stops jumping, and Conner stands up straighter, letting go of her leg.

Darcy brandishes her key and unlocks the front door, calling out softly.

"Hello...? Anybody else live here...?"

She's echoed by the twins out of sync also calling out "hellooo-oooo"s.

Stan hears a voice from the door and his brow furrows - Bev's not here anymore (though she had a key and a welcome to come by any time when she was) and the voice is decidedly not-Eddie. "Who's that, hm?" Stan asks the child in his arms, looking down at her round face as he stands up from the comfortable chair that he was sitting in with his daughter, it's the same one that he reads her stories to her in before bedtime and tucking her into her crib.

Olivia lifts her head up at the sound, clearly curious as Stan moves to come out of the bedroom with Olivia beating him in calling back a girlish, squealed, "Haiii!" As Stan grins. "Hello - Darcy!" Stan almost feels it's her before he sees her, coming out of the hallway and into the main living area, spotting the twins and the beautiful woman who helped him so much early in his fatherhood journey. The toddler in Stan's arms seems to brighten seeing the boys, patting her father excitedly on the shoulder as she waves and points at them.

"We live here.... hi boys someone's excited to see you." Stan chuckles and looks back at the bedrooms - there's one open. And he's pretty sure that he and Darcy are going to come to that same conclusion very quickly, and there's a bit of disappointment that there isn't another bedroom free because Stan knows that he likes her company, and the boys'.

To Darcy's surprise, even though she doesn't get a verbal response, Stan rounds the corner into the living room with Olivia squealing happily in his arms. "Oh, wow, huh..." Darcy pauses. "That's weird...you probably only have one bedroom, right?" she asks, holding up the key to him so that he can clearly see the tag with their apartment number on it. If she misread it or went to the wrong door because she wasn't paying enough attention given the boys' behavior as Prim had headed back down the stairs to her own apartment, then Stan will be able to point that out to her.

"We need two...that's so weird," she marvels almost dumbly. They never made that sort of mistake in Lawrence and she's never heard anyone mention that sort of thing here, either. She catches Olivia's movements in the corner of her eye and shifts her focus to the baby. "I guess you're gonna have some playtime while Daddy and I figure out what the heck those dumb dumbs were thinking, huh, little princess?" she asks.

"Can I hold the baby?" Conner blurts out

Darcy smiles, shaking her head. "No, baby, she's bigger than Rae and Ash; you're too little, why don't you see if you can find something you can play with her with gently?" she asks, finally looking back at Stan when Conner runs off to do just that.

"Does this happen a lot? These kinds of mix-ups?" she asks.

"I have a feeling someone either made a clerical error or a mistake in forgetting the number of occupants in the apartment." Stan offers, a small sympathetic look crossing his face. He really wishes the apartment had enough bedrooms for them all, but that through is brushed away because wishing for another room to appear won't exactly do him any good. They've got to come up with a practical solution up until they can figure out a solution for Darcy and the boys.

Either way, Stan is just happy to see the familiar faces - grown and growing.

"But yeah there's only one room open - I have Liv set up in the one on the right and I'm in the master." Stan explains - already thinking that he could offer the master up for the boys, the other up for Darcy, and he could room in his daughter's room with her for the night. Or the couch. And then tomorrow they could always figure out things on the clerical side. Somehow he has a feeling that it's all going to work out and it won't be too bad, though, so he doesn't feel the creep of stress along the back of his neck.

"Conner there's a basket by the door over there - there's foam blocks and some other toys in there that shouldn't be too heavy for you, buddy, you guys can play with those with her." Stan offers as he moves to pull out the mat and sets Olivia down in her little corner of the living room that he's made before his attention turns back to Darcy.

"I've never had a roommate here, honestly - but I've never heard of it happening either." Stan offers apologetically. "This could be a first, honestly."

Darcy nods. "Well...it is what it is, I guess. Do you mind if the three of us take that extra room for now?" she asks. "I'll get in touch with the DoDS on Monday morning and see if they can give me a key to a different place that can accommodate us." She pauses and looks over Stan's shoulder to make sure that Clark isn't getting himself into trouble while Conner is looking for toys per Stan's instructions.

When she turns her attention back to Stan, she gives him an impish sort of smile. "I could go back tonight, but if it's all the same to you, I'd really rather not..."

She looks over and smiles a little as Conner dumps an armful of foam blocks down and then sits down beside Olivia. "Do you want to build a Watchtower with me?" he asks her, offering the little girl a block. "It's fun."

Clark has flopped himself onto an accent chair a few yards away, sprawling in what looks like an incredibly uncomfortable position wherein his body is draped over one of the arms of the chair, upside down. "Do a Stark tower, Watchtower is ugly," he offers.

Darcy looks back at Stan and presses her lips together in an attempt not to laugh, shaking her head. "Coffee?" she asks, or maybe she's offering; she's not actually even sure, herself.

"My stuff is in the master, but we could put the boys in there and you take the extra and I'll bunk with Liv or on the couch? That way they can have enough space for the moment." Stan suggests - feeling like they wins definitely need enough of their own space considering there are two of them. Then there's the fact that he can't quite help but be, at least a little bit, of a gentleman. Darcy should have some space for the time that she's stuck here, even if it's only for a weekend.

Stan waves the offer that Darcy makes after her peek in on the boys away automatically. "It's already a lot coming in, going through everything, and lugging you and two kids here - I think we can make this work while you settle back in. So that's not even on the table, don't worry." Stan's eyes twinkle a little with the smile pulling at his face, the scars around his eyes wrinkling in places as he reassures Darcy and looks over at the boys, watching as Olivia takes the block from Conner and shakes it excitedly before placing it carefully in front of her before clapping - babbles with plenty of 'dad' and 'da' and 'ed' syllables thrown in for good measure.

"I have no idea what she's suggesting as an alternative, but I'm sure whichever tower you decide on will look great." Stan grins at Darcy and then nods, gesturing toward the kitchen. "I always keep a pot on, actually." He moves, hand hovering near her back to escort her into the kitchen area, or rather toward a seat, well within line of sight of the kids. He slips around her after she nears the island and the stools and pulls her a mug down, pouring it and then moving to place it on the countertop of the island. "I've got half and half, almond milk, or a little bit of hazelnut creamer left - preference?"

In spite of herself, Darcy laughs a little. "Stanley," she says significantly, lifting her eyebrows and giving him a firm, maternal look. "It's two nights. I'll survive sharing a king-size bed with two five-year-old boys. They'll end up in bed with me tonight, anyway, if I know them as well as I think I do," she says evenly, shaking her head. "We'll take the spare and I don't want to hear another word to the contrary," she finishes firmly.

Conner looks smugly up at his twin. "She said Watchtower, so," he says decisively, holding up another block for the little girl.

"Whatever," Clark mumbles, rolling his eyes and shifting in the chair to curl up in it.

Darcy follows Stan to the kitchen and makes her way in, smiling a little to herself, face warming slightly, when she can sense that he's close enough that he's just shy of doing that thing Dex used to do — he's hovering as though he wants to put his hand at the small of her back to guide her forward. Something tells Darcy that if they were closer or knew one another for longer, he probably would've just done it. It's endearing either way.

"Ohhh, I haven't had hazelnut in an age," Darcy replies with a smile, settling onto the seat he's guided her toward. "Oh, thanks," she adds. "I used to do that, too. Keep a pot on," she goes on, "except now I have a Keurig, so I don't need to."

Clark wanders into the kitchen. "Mama?" he asks.

"What, baby?" Darcy replies, getting back out of her seat and slipping around the island before crouching with her arms out to her son. He's tired; she can see it in the way he's holding his earlobe as he moves toward her. It's a thing Florence noticed even before Darcy did; he's been doing it since he was a baby. "You sleepy, bubby?" she asks and he doesn't bother answering her, instead moving straight to her and circling his arms around her neck. "Yeah...I know, it's been a big day, huh?"

Clark nods against her shoulder as she stands again, having scooped him off the ground with a little grunt. "You're getting too big, my love," she whispers into his hair as she kisses the top of his head. Then, she looks up at Stan. "I'll be right back. I'm gonna go put him in bed and lay with him for just a few minutes until he nods off...do you mind keeping an eye on Con for me? He'll drop right off. He always does when he gets tired like this."

"Yes, ma'am." Stanley holds his hands up in a mock surrender (and an eagle eye might notice the distinct lack of a wedding band on his left hand) - knowing that he won't be winning this particular argument. And Stan has learned not to second guess his sense of knowing over the years. Still, as he drops his hands there's a warm smile on his face for the brunette. "I know better than to argue something I can't win." Stanley sends Darcy a wink.

He's doing a lot better, feeling a lot better too, than he was when Darcy was here before.

There have been a number of changes in his life since, though. Olivia definitely made a difference here, but Stanley also has been working to come to terms with the fact that he has to make a life here and leave behind what he can no longer have. As much as he hates that he and Patty can't be together anymore... he knows that she'd never be able to handle being brought here even if he wanted to push someone to try. She wouldn't thrive, she'd never understand all of this, and it would probably slowly drive her insane. She'd be miserable. He, himself, still struggles, but it's either accept and move forward or don't and waste this opportunity.

Stan is not wasteful.

"Hazelnut it is." Stan nods, pulling the creamer out and sitting it out on the counter so that she can pour her own. A chuckle escapes as Stan rubs the back of his neck. "Some habits die hard - for as much as I've adapted this is one of the things that I haven't let go of yet." He shrugs before retrieving his own mug from the sink where he'd left it for later and pouring his own coffee, adding a small splash of the half and half as he tracks Clark's journey over into the kitchen and smiling warmly at the mother and child interaction before waving her off immediately.

"Go for it - I think Olivia and I can handle him for a few minutes." IF what Stan remembers is accurate Con is the easier twin to watch anyway, not that Clark is bad, but he can't see it being difficult. Taking a sip from his coffee, Stan then leaves it on the counter to return to as he moves into the living room to check on the other two children in the apartment - seemingly both content stacking blocks if Olivia's toothy smile and occasional squeal and trill are any indication. Now, the stacking could probably use some work, but the toddler is clearly happy to have a playmate handing her blocks at the ready. It's natural and automatic that he perches himself on the arm of the couch to watch the two of them with a grin.

Though it does make Stan regret not getting her involved in some daycare to make more little friends, considering the lack of small children in the Displaced Supers population. Darcy will be around until they figure out how to send people back, and he knows he shouldn't be glad to have her back, but he is anyway.

It only takes about ten minutes to get Clark not only settled into bed but to fall asleep. Darcy smiles down at him and pauses in the doorway to watch him sleep for a moment before she opens the bedroom door just enough to slip out and close it again behind her.

Her eyes meet Stan's across the room and she gives him a small smile before moving toward him. "Our stuff is in there," she announces, looking almost apologetic. Is it really a clerical error if all of her and the boys' shit is already in the closet and drawers? Darcy has no idea.

Darcy looks over at the kids playing with the foam blocks on the floor. "Well, they're getting along swimmingly," she observes before looking back at him. The angle at which the recessed light above him hits Stan's face highlights a line of thin scars that circles his face like a dotted line. How had she never noticed that before? Maybe she's just especially alert tonight because she also noticed the ring of pale skin where a wedding band used to be. She can't help wondering if that's because he's ready to move on or because he already has and this arrangement is going to end up being a huge imposition he isn't willing to admit to.

With a little nod toward the kitchen, Darcy reminds them both that there's coffee to be had, along with playing catch up in conversation. "I can't believe how big she's getting. I mean, I can, 'cause that's all kids ever seem to do is grow, but...you know," she says with a little shrug. "So what have you two been up to? Anything fun?"

"Huh - maybe they forgot about Olivia...?" Stan tries to logic through the decision to pair them in the same apartment. It doesn't really make sense, unfortunately, to the accountant. It could still be a clerical error, but having five people in a three-bedroom apartment, even when two of them could share, isn't going to be ideal no matter what way Stan spins it. And there's a little bit of disappointment there because he wouldn't mind sharing with someone like Darcy who he can't help but feel like would be a respectful roommate who understands the whole parenting thing. "I'm not sure, but we'll figure it out - I'll help."

Stan offers shooting Darcy a smile.

"He's really good with her, actually." Stan notes, looking up at Darcy from his perch with a smile. "I haven't gotten her much play time with other kids, honestly - outside of the park." Stan admits, uncrossing his arms and lifting a hand to the pack of his neck to rub lightly before he stands and heads back into the kitchen and toward the seat he put his coffee mug in front of. "I get it - I can barely believe how big she is when I think back to when she first came home." Stan smiles to himself as he lifts his mug for a sip and looks over toward the kids.

"We just got back from Atlanta not that long ago, actually - I went up there for some business and... I guess because I missed it, that's where I lived back in my world." Stan explains with a shrug. "Other than that... not much of excitement. She loves hanging out with her Uncle Eds - though my other friends have all gone back, unfortunately." Stan sits his mug down, knowing that he won't be seeing any of them any time soon, which is sad because he would rather have them here.

"What about you - what have you and the boys been up to back home? Did you get pulled away from anything important?"

Edited 2022-10-13 02:38 (UTC)

Darcy shrugs a little. "Maybe..." she hedges. How can they forget about Olivia when she was a wish baby? That's like the Seal forgetting Rae and Ash and Darcy can't wrap her head around that. "I appreciate it. And yeah, we'll figure something out. I'm not that worried about it."

In spite of herself, Darcy smiles a little shyly at the compliment of her son, and she looks back at the five-year-old as he reaches to put his pudgy hands over Olivia's, guiding her to move the block she's just placed so that it doesn't fall off from its original precarious position. "Yeah...he's really good with my friend Jo's girls, too," she replies. "Jo was pregnant with her twins while I was pregnant with them but because of the Seal shenanigans, I got sent home and then sent back to Lawrence. It had only been a month in Lawrence, but it had been years for me, so Jo was still pregnant, but the boys were two," she explains like it's the most normal thing in the world. "They grew up hearing stories about my friends back there so when we showed up in Lawrence again, I explained that time was different, so the baby girls were going to be running a little late and they could still play, but they would have to be so careful. Clark is hot and cold about it, but Conner loved holding the babies and helping Jo feed them and everything." Long story short, Conner is used to being gentle with baby girls when they're playing.

Darcy takes a little sip of her coffee and realizes belatedly that she never actually got around to putting the creamer in after he'd gotten it out for her. Her nose wrinkles and she goes about doing just that. "Wow, Atlanta...I always wanted to live down south, even just to say I had, so this doesn't really bother me, but I'll be honest, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Miami were the only places on my radar. Is Atlanta as nice as it sounds like it is?" she asks, sipping at the now properly prepared coffee. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry, Stan..." she adds sympathetically.

To his question, she gives a soft huff of amusement. "Oh, never a dull moment in Lawrence. Also seldom a safe moment. I know they're working at it, but I really wish they'd get that damn thing closed. The sheer volume of demon possessions alone..." she groans, rolling her eyes and getting to her feet. She lifts the side of her shirt a little with one hand and pulls down the waist of her jeans a little with her other, revealing a small tattoo on her hip. "Easier than trying to remember to keep on the anti-demon amulet they give us when we show up. Unbelievable, right? Demons are real...it's crazy." She shakes her head. "So no, we're not getting pulled away from anything important. Just another demonic pest control situation. I'm actually kind of okay with the timing."

Her eyes move back to the children and she laughs a little noticing that they've run out of new foam blocks and now Conner is making silly faces to try to get the little girl to laugh. Her peals of giggles are contagious. "She's so damn cute, Stan. She's gonna grow up and be a real heartbreaker, someday."

"Honestly me neither - in terms of someone they could put in here with us you and the boys are one of the better choices, even temporarily." Stan shares with a small smile. He's not sure if it's okay to admit that or not, but there are very few people that Stan thinks that he could live with, truth be told. Darcy, though, makes the cut and maybe Eddie - there are a number of other people here, though perfectly nice, Stan can't imagine being comfortable sharing space with them. And that's just the truth of it.

Stan is organized - to whatever degree he can be with a small child now - and particular in some very specific ways. He's not entirely OCD, though there are moments - at least he manages to keep it from getting too bad, though he might have Olivia to thank for that.

"It's got to be sort of hard for them getting bounced around as much as they have - you must be doing a hell of a lot right for them to wind up as well adjusted as I've gathered they do." Stan compliments, thinking about how different it could have been for them had they not had a great mom. Hell, Stan's one of the lucky Losers, but then you think about Eddie or Bill and it's a miracle they turned out the way that they did.

"Patty and I were pretty happy in Atlanta - and we went down to Charlotte a few times and it's gorgeous there. Miami... I could probably take or leave, to tell you the truth." Stan grins a little before giving a shrug. "It's okay - as long as they're happy I'm good and they're still alive there, so... it is what it is." Stan decides, lifting his mug to take a sip and sitting the mug back down.

"Sounds like your time back home was way more eventful." Stan notes as he leans to the left, looking at the tattoo that she shows him before realizing he probably shouldn't look very long, all things considered, and he sits back upright. "I can't imagine needing something like that - and at least it's mostly calm here even with incoming people." Stan shrugs before a laugh bubbles up.

"Don't I know it - she's already got me and Eddie wrapped around her teeny tiny fingers. I know I wasn't sure about doing this when the opportunity came up initially, but it's probably been the best decision I've ever made." Stan shares, his eyes drifting over to his daughter with so much love.

With a smile, Darcy looks back at Stan. "Oh yeah? Well, that's nice to hear. It certainly makes me feel a lot less guilty about us staying with you for the weekend," she replies. Being in Eglaf is always inherently more uncomfortable than being in Lawrence if only for the fact that Darcy owns a house in Lawrence. A sizable one, at that. So, needless to say, the idea of apartments is unappealing, but at least the company is good, here.

Her cheeks warm and go pink as she looks back at Conner still making silly faces for Olivia. "For now, it's not too difficult because they're young, so they haven't started school yet. They don't have a whole lot of friends to miss, just yet, so usually if I can make it into a game, they're happy to play it. They're pretty resilient. If this keeps up for much longer, though, I don't know if I'll be able to say the same..." she says and then looks back at Stan again. "But thank you so much," she adds to acknowledge the compliment for what it was.

As Stan leans to look at her tattoo, Darcy watches his face, curious both for a reaction to the design as well as how long he lets himself look. She can't help her self-satisfied smile when he takes a little longer than she would've expected Stan, of all people, to take observing it. He doesn't stare for too long, but he's not exactly quick, either. "Yeah, I don't love the idea of needing it, either, especially after seeing people I care about being possessed and proving the necessity, but at least it's just a one and done. Plus, this one turned out pretty, I think," she replies, shrugging as she lets go of her clothes and allows them to fall back into place.

Her eyes move back to the kids on the carpet, now having moved on to disassembling their tower in order to start a new one. "I think we all feel that way at first. I was so sure the twins would be girls and when it was time to see their gender in the sonogram, I was crushed when I found out they were boys. Not only was it not what I had wanted, but by then, I was single and trying to figure out how to raise two little boys by myself was overwhelming to even think about. But then they came and all of that kind of melted away and I'd do it over again if given the chance."

She smiles a little and takes a sip of her coffee before looking back up at Stan. "Fatherhood really suits you, you know that?" she asks. "The way you look at her and interact with her...you were made to be a dad, Stan, I really think you were."

"If the apartment were a four-bedroom it would be a non-issue, honestly." Stan notes with a bit of a shrug. Lifting his mug to his lips, Stan takes a small sip of his coffee, not really regretting the admission because it's the truth. And he gets the sense that it's not a bad thing to admit anyway - in fact there's a piece of stan that can feel the settling of knowledge that they would be able to cohabitate really well. And maybe that's the part of him that can't help but wish that they had the room for them to stay.

That and the fact that he genuinely enjoys the company.

"You're welcome - and we'll just have to hope that this isn't a continued habit because you and the boys deserve the dimensional stability... even though I know you're sort of a pro by this point." Stan smiles at the single mother, a bit in awe at how she does it with not one...two children, and not just a couple of inter-dimensional trips on top of that fact. She's been through this so much that she's unflappable in terms of the transition from one world into the next and it's both impressive and admirable - and yet Stan finds himself little sad for Darcy because it has to be a lot on her shoulders, and it can't be easy. He can't imagine what he would do with just Olivia in her shoes. He wouldn't handle it as well, he knows that.

It's taken all of this time for him to feel settled here with his one child and any change to his routine or life here would be just as hard for him to swallow as his arrival had been. It'd taken him months, so long, to just get used to the idea that he was alive again and that he needed to live. And even though he's doing better with that now it doesn't mean that he isn't still working to embrace his new life in some ways, but he is trying.

"It's nice - I wouldn't know it were more than just you choosing a design you like had you not said anything." Stan offers, putting his coffee mug back down and trying to keep his eyes somewhere much safer than Darcy's bare skin. "And I mean this as least offensively as possible, but I would not want to be where you came from, I just can't imagine myself managing in a world like that, so you're much stronger than me." Just like his friends are all much stronger than him.

Stan is nothing if not self-aware.

"Guess parenthood knocks all of the expectations and extra crap out of its way eventually for some of us - it definitely has a way of changing people in some way or the other." Stan smiles at the kids and then at Darcy, looking down as his hair falls forward a little on his forehead, having gotten a little longer since the last time that Darcy had seen him. "Well thank you - I really wasn't sure it was ever going to be in the cards for me, but now that it is I'm really happy. I think that she's the reason I'm accepting and moving forward with my life here now." Stan shrugs.

Oh no - the portals really aren't working right again... you're like the third or fourth person to come in that definitely wasn't intended.

[Prim worries her lip for a moment with a sigh but manages a smile to follow up with as she waves at Darcy and the boys.]

I'm still here - hi boys. [Prim smiles at Darcy in particular, lowering her voice.] Peter's still here - there are two of him, technically now, they're from different universes.

So, same shit, different day?

( She gives the teen a wry grin. It's so weird trying to separate Prim here from Prim back in Lawrence, living with Cindy; Prim on the cheerleading squad, gearing up to take the head cheerleader role next year in her last year of high school cheerleading; Prim who nannies for her. At their core, they're the same person, but this one doesn't see Darcy the same way and it's kind of a bummer. It doesn't make her less partial to checking in, though. )

I'm glad you're still here, especially.

( They both know why.

The twins, hearing a familiar voice, pop their heads into view, one over Darcy's shoulder and one climbing onto her lap from under her arm to greet Prim with excitement.

Darcy, on the other hand, leans a little closer to the camera, eyebrows rising quickly. )

Wait, what now?

They had them under control for a little while... nobody who didn't choose to come through had come through until these past couple of weeks.

[Prim shrugs with a bit of a tilt in her head as she tucks her hair behind her ears. She gives Darcy a smile as well.]

I'm not going anywhere, this is my home - I think Steve and Stanley are the only other people that you were looking for that are still here, though. There have been a number of people that chose to go back home for different reasons, I'm sorry.

[Prim offers a sympathetic look that melts into a smile at the boys.]

I'm not sure, but he's older and from a different universe where different things happened, I guess - and Peter, the one we know, knew him.

I would say that's weird but it actually doesn't surprise me. It's kind of like these places have minds of their own and there's only so much you can do before they decide to do their own thing again. It's good to know that someone knows how to fix it, though, this time.

( Nodding, Darcy smiles softly. )

I know it is. I just mean I'm really glad you get to choose.

( She shrugs a little, waving off Prim's apology. That, too, is something she's used to: the people around not necessarily still being around when she returns somewhere. )

Eh, that's okay. Good to know, though.

( Eyes a little wide, still, Darcy shakes her head with surprised disbelief. )

And I thought I'd seen everything...good Lord. Wow, I mean, I knew about different versions of people and different timelines, but I've never seen more than one in the same place. That's wild...

[Prim nods, though a little sadly - as much as she likes all of the people who have come through the portal it's not great that some of them don't want to be here. And it's always sad when they decide to leave, even if it's always the right thing for those people.]

Me too. Do you need any help when you get to the apartments - I just got home and I'm happy to help?

[Prim offers, remembering that Darcy's boys were a bit energetic - and she likes kids, anyway.]

It is a little wild - Peter knows his... multiverse alternate self, I don't know if that's the right way to put it, but he'd met him, I suppose. So it didn't seem to throw him off very much. I think he's the only person this has happened to, though. I'm not sure what it means, but he might know if you ask him.

[Prim shrugs.]

You know, actually, that would be great. Stan offered, but he's already got a little one to worry about. I do have to warn you, though, in case I never mentioned before...the Prim we knew back in Lawrence was the boys' nanny for a little while, so they're pretty attached to Prim Everdeen in general. My apologies ahead.

( Darcy's expression pinches with discomfort. )

I don't even want to think about what a parallel Darcy would be like. Especially if she either didn't get pregnant or didn't have or keep the babies because these boys kind of forced me to do a total 180. I was the worst before I was a mom. God bless those poor souls in other Darcy worlds. Yikes. I might pick Peter's brain on it a little; call me curious.

Well, thank you for the heads up - I'm sure that they'll be fine though - and I like kids. They have me do all of the appointments for families because I'm more patient with the kids when they come in to find a pet at work.

[Prim tries to reassure Darcy, hoping she doesn't sound full of herself.]

I have some snack mix that I made - is it okay if I bring them some?

[Prim asks, figuring that settling in might take a moment and getting the boys a snack can help reign them in a little bit too.]

That's not a very nice way of thinking of yourself... and you never know, even if things had been different something else could have happened. I'm sure Peter will answer whatever he can, though, knowing him.

[Prim smiles and looks down.]

Just making sure you were aware so it hopefully won't make you too uncomfortable. They're not too little to understand the difference between Lawrence and here, but they're still too little, I think, to differentiate between multiverse people.

( Darcy smiles and huffs a quiet, fond laugh to herself because the Prim back in Lawrence had quite literally asked her that question a few weeks ago in almost exactly the same way. )

Of course, you can. They would probably love that.

( She lets out a dubious breath through her teeth and pursed lips, shaking her head. )

Oh honey, no, that's realistic. I was a pretty crappy person before being pregnant the boys sort of forced me to finally grow up. I was a mean, nasty, shitty person. But they made me better; traveling through the multiverse made me better. The people I met along the way made me better. I've never not loved myself, but this me does not love the old me. At all. And when I think about it, nobody else loved her, either, and I can't blame them.

( Her eyebrows lift a little with sudden interest at the way Prim looks down when she smiles after the comment about Peter. That...looks a lot like a girl who has a crush. )

Oh definitely, I know he will. Peter's kind of the best like that. And I saw that look, kiddo.

( She gives Prim a knowing glance and winks. )

I won't be uncomfortable - even if I'm not exactly the same I've got a heads up and I think I can handle it.

[Prim smiles.]

You don't have to worry, though - it doesn't have a lot of sugar, so it won't add to any hyperness that they have going on.

[Prim reassures, knowing that that could be a worry. Though there's a bit of a soft... sympathetic, maybe tinged sad look on her face at the way that Darcy talks about herself.]

I don't want to be offensive - that just sounds... sad. I'm sorry that that's who you grew into before, but I'm glad that you grew up and became you.

[Prim offers, even not knowing her as well as the other version of her but she can't help but be honest. Before very quickly going a little wide-eyed and shaking her head as her cheeks color pink.]

He is the best. And there's no look - Peter is a good friend.

( Darcy's smile is warm and amused. )

No, I know. It's just our Prim just offered the same thing the other day, back home. It's like deja vu, but adorable.

( The smile fades a little from her eyes, which turn wistful. )

No offense taken; it was sad. A lot of things contributed to my growth as a person, but hands down they were the biggest factor.

( Slowly, at Prim's reaction, Darcy's grin returns. )

PRIM/DARCY.
I meant to make that private before, sweetie, sorry about that but you cannot for a second convince me that you, Primrose Everdeen, a practically perfect echo of the girl I've been coaching through cheer squad for four years, who nannied my kids for a year-ish, who my best friend adopted...did not just give a look that full-fledged gives away your crush on that boy. Don't worry, I won't tell. You would be so cute together, I say go for it!

Guess I'm pretty similar across universes, then. I kind of like that, though.

[Prim grins.]

Sounds like you needed them as much as they did you.

DARCY/PRIM
I mean, I'm not a cheerleader here, but.... I like him, I don't know if he likes me. We're just friends, I've never gone for it before or anything. And I think that before he came back here he had a bit of a hard time back home. I want him to feel safe and comfortable here.

[Prim is beat red as she rubs the back of her neck.]

I don't know if he likes me like that - and I don't want to make anything weird for him or anything. Or hurt our friendship.

Yeah, I find that most people are pretty similar across universes but you...yeah. You're very similar to my Prim and I love that for you both because you're both lovely.

( She doesn't even hesitate before nodding. )

Without question.

DARCY/PRIM.
What if I could find out without throwing you under the bus?

( She lifts an eyebrow and smiles. If there's one thing Darcy loves, it's playing matchmaker and these two were practically made for each other, if you ask her. )

I don't know - it feels like it could be a little bit manipulative. And I don't want to put him under pressure or on the spot, you know?

It's not manipulative to engage him in conversation. I don't mean I'm going to ambush him. This is not a one-and-done solution to the question, honey, this is the real deal, so it's a slow burn.

Are you sure - and it doesn't put you in an awkward position?

Awkward? I live for being put in this position! I'm a million percent sure. Detective Darcy is on the case.

If you're sure.

[Prim grins - cheeks almost tomato colored.]

I'm sure. For that expression alone, I'm sure.

Whoa, Darcy? You're back?

[ though the fact that she doesn't seem altogether convinced she'd planned to come here is alarming - if the portals are acting up again, that means there's the chance that people might come and go unannounced. he doesn't want that.

a problem for a peter a few hours from now. ]

It's me! And uh, totally got your back. Tell them Spider-Man is very busy and he doesn't have time for people who misbehave. But I don't know if that will work.

[ a small smile - ] It's good to see you!

( Darcy grins when Peter's face appears. )

There's my favorite neighborhood sticky guy! Thanks, I appreciate it and I'll make sure I let them know.

( She winks conspiratorily at him and smirks before the expression settles into something softer and warmer and she shifts gears in the conversation. )

It's good to see you, too, sweetie. How are you? How long has it been here? For us, I think it's been a little under a year and we don't have a Spider-Man in Lawrence these days, so the boys will be extra excited to see you again.

It's been a while. A little over a year. But I gotta admit I just got back here myself. Turns out the portals are on the fritz again, so I guess it's good they pulled me back when they did.

[ it's easier not to mention everything else that happened - he's still getting used to the idea of May being here but not back home. reconciling everything here with home is difficult, but at least if he gets the portals fixed he might have some more control over that. ]

Are you okay? And it seems like Connor and Clark are good. My Aunt May is here, by the way - you'll have to meet her sometime. I think... well, I think you two would get along.

Yeah, seems like they are...I just kind of showed up here, like last time.

( She lifts her eyebrows slightly. )

You mean other than having my early Christmas shopping interrupted for an impromptu road trip? Yeah, and they're good. They started pre-K in the fall.

( Pleasant and excited surprise takes over Darcy's expression. She's so happy for him, having his aunt here with him instead of having to navigate it alone. )

Oh, honey, that's so great for you! I cannot wait to meet her. I'm always in the market for new mom friends and guardianship totally counts.

[ peter's brow pinches when she admits she just showed up and he lets out a little huff. ]

I'll have to go to the labs then. See what's going on.

[ his mind is far away for a moment, working out possibly problems and solutions. if the portals are malfunctioning, truly, then there's a chance the people he cares for here might be sent back home.

he doesn't want that for prim. for five. for anyone. ]

I'll definitely introduce you. Or invite you to family dinner or something, if you want? It's all kind of complicated but I think you two would get along pretty well. Even if it means bad news for me, you know?

( She gives him a sympathetic look when she realizes for sure that he had a hand in working on fixing them. )

Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you. Good luck, sweetie.

[ Darcy nods, smiling still, though the sympathy shifts into something warmer. ]

Whatever you want, I'm just happy to meet her at all. How could it possibly be bad news for you? I have nothing but glowing reviews.

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