capeandcowllogs | [closed] It's all Relative

Entry tags:

[closed] It's all Relative

WHO: Midii (

halfwitch ), & Max (

futurebatwoman )
WHERE: Midii & Max's apartment
WHEN: The day after Midii's latest Network Post
WARNINGS: Precocious Children
SUMMARY: Gretel comes to visit her best friend at home, and in the process, gets to finally meet Max in person.
FORMAT: Prose to start, anything goes from there.

It had been Boyd's idea, and a fairly good one at that. Unfortunately, it required a lot of research to implement, which is what Midii was doing that particular afternoon. She'd been to the library twice already, checking out the necessary reference books. Making copies of those she wasn't allowed to bring home. It was a lot of reading, especially for someone who was still learning the written Language, but she considered it to be worth it. Besides, at least two copies were in French.

Which made sense, considering she was researching ways to contact the French Embassy.

TIme was of the essence, considering it seemed like every day there were more an more countries turning against ImPorts. They needed a reason to take sides, and as of yet, the ImPorts couldn't seem to give them one. Midii wasn't 100% certain what she could do, but it was better than sitting back and watching the entire World close her out. Again.

Unfortunately, she let the time slip away from her, missing both breakfast--her eggs went cold, though she did at least have her morning tea--and lunch before the sound of the apartment doorbell finally drew her away from her studies.

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Gretel stood outside the door with her hands stuffed into pockets that were bulging with sweets. She hadn't been about to go bother a friend without having a proper offering to distract them with. In fact, distracting Midii had been her primary motive for arriving today. While she knew Midii was working on something important, she believed a few hours could be spared for a visit. As they say, all work and no play.

She rung the bell again and after a moment, knocked.

Max, meanwhile, was spread on the floor of the living room with papers spread around her, one pen stuck behind an ear and another in her hand as she clipped out articles and took notes. The doorbell interrupted her, and she cast a look around her, grimacing at the mess as she started to get up before she saw Midii already heading towards it.

"Gonna eat lunch sometime?" she said, staying standing. She might still need to get out of this maze she'd constructed to see whoever it was.

"Hmm?" Midii paused just long enough to spare a glance at the clock on the wall. As if on cue, her stomach let out a loud grumble, betraying a hungry she hadn't realized she felt until then. "Yes, I probably should."

But first things first; she opened the door, smiling when she saw her best friend on the other side.

"Hello, Gretel."

"Hi, Midii." Gretel greeted, gingerly glancing at Max. "Haven't seen you in a while."

Max recognized Gretel from the network, but other than Midii's occasional stories about her they'd never actually met. For the moment she remained in her maze of newspapers, not wanting to make her any more wary than she looked.

"I don't think I've gotten to meet you yet, Gretel. I'm Max."

It didn't take empathy to sense the tension in the room. Faint, but also understandable. Understandable for the place they all lived in, and the people involved.

The 10-year-old stepped back, inviting Gretel into the room. "Max is my m--" she caught herself in time, however, and self-corrected: "...my Guardian. Like Boyd is for you."

Gretel was always wary around new people, especially adults, but she forced herself to keep calm. This was someone Midii trusted and she didn't want to do anything that would anger the closet friend she had.

"It's nice to meet Midii's, uh, Boyd," she glanced to Midii, smiling faintly. Gretel could tell the two were much closer than she was to her guardian. "She talks about you sometimes."

It was a slip of the tongue Max only halfway registered as she picked her way out of her papers, heading to the kitchen.

"Likewise," Max said with a grin. "I've been hoping I'd get a chance to meet you someday. Did either of you guys want something to drink?"

"Juice, please." Midii called over her shoulder, already heading back to her previous spot on the floor. But at the last moment, she thinks better of it and follows Max into the kitchen area, taking a seat on one of the stools. "Do we still have any Apple left?"

Gretel trailed behind Midii, twisting her head to look around the apartment. She opted to stand off to the side rather than sit. "Do you have any milk?"

"We've got both," Max said, pulling them out and snagging a couple of glasses to fill. "Do you guys have any plans for today?"

Midii searched her memories for a moment before arriving at the answer: "I did promise Gretel a few tips to help with her new apprenticeship." But she paused, glancing at her friend out of the corner of one eye. "...you did officially accept, did you not?"

"Sort of?" Gretel replied, keeping her eyes on Max. "I asked to help out with a conference he's planning and he's going to let me help with a presentation."

She shrugged. "It won't teach me anything about the company, but it's a start."

An internship? Max blinked, but gave an impressed glance at Gretel. That was a lot more than she expected out of someone her age, but then after Midii that probably shouldn't surprise her. She held their glasses out to them across the counter.

"If he's presenting about his company, you'll at least learn what he wants other people to know about it," she said with interest.

"This is what I told her. By working alongside him, she will be able to gain more knowledge and experience of what he does each day. And it is something they both want."

Smiling, Midii gave a quiet thanks as she accepted her glass, holding it in both hands as she began to drink. She spoke of Gretel's newest position as if it were no big deal, which said a lot about the both of them and their relationship with one another. Possibly even how said relationship formed.

"Thanks," she took the glass and downed half of it. "He wants it more than me, I think. But if it makes him happy, I can deal with it. And it might be fun. At least the conference will be."

It was a good thing Midii didn't fuss over it; it would have embarrassed her. She was already worried enough about whether she could live up to the expectations she perceived Boyd to have for her.

"What sort of conference is it?" She didn't want to be too much of a bother or interrupt their time together, but she did want to talk to Gretel a little longer. Get more of a feel for her. Midii spent a lot of time with her, after all.

"It should be fairly interesting, I think."

Midii didn't particularly mind. She even found it interesting watching how two of the most important people currently in her life interacted. So she remained silent, turning back to Gretel with equal amounts of curiosity. Waiting to hear how she answered.

"A thing to help get support for us imports since all these countries are shutting us out. He wants to show foreign businesses what the community has to offer, that we're not bad. That kind of thing." Gretel shrugged again. "Conference might not be the right word for that."

"Then let me wish both of you good luck, that's something that I definitely hope goes well." The more good will the better, in her opinion. "It should be interesting for you to see, though."

"Oh, yes, he and I talked a little about that as well." Midii gave a nod, thinking back to their last conversation. "He suggested I attempt to contact the French Embassy. That is what I have been researching all morning." A hand motioned towards the papers and books gathered in her corner of the floor. "I told him I was not sure what good it would do, but that it could not hurt to try."

"It might be open to the public." Gretel hinted. Considering the nature of her demonstration, she would like having others there to show off to. Especially since she wanted to reassure Midii, and to a lesser extent Midii's caretaker, that not all of her spells went south.

"What are you going to say to them?" She asked Midii, eyebrows raised.

"Contacting the embassy sounds like it could be worth a try." She hopped up onto the counter to sit, watching them both.

"And if it's open to the public, maybe we could come. If you're available and want to that day, Midii?"

"I think I would like that very much."

"I'll tell Midii the date whenever Boyd decides on it. I promise I'll make my presentation really interesting." Gretel smiled.

"I believe it," Max said with a grin. "We'll do our best to be there. I'll stop bothering you guys now, if you want to hang out together."

"So do I," Midii smiled back, before turning to her Guardian. "You do not have to leave, Max. Unless we are keeping you from your work?"

"You're not bothering." Gretel offered, fiddling with her cup.

"Okay then," Max said with a grin, pleased. "What tips were you planning on offering, Midii?"

She bit her lip, hesitant. "I am not too sure. It depends on how the conversation goes. For all I know, a ban is already in the works and has not yet been publicly announced yet."

"That's, at least, the first thing to ask about."

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[closed] It's all Relative

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