[GP] SNOW DAY

[st_ratagem]

Thor and Loki got an early start, because there was a lot to do. Almost two weeks to the day since their first small-but-successful experiment with snow, Loki was confident that he'd improved enough for a bigger experiment. Still snow, because Thor wanted it and it did seem like a decent way to try something big-ish without causing Loki unnecessary grief with the other residents. (It was an arrival day, so there would perhaps be some grief with any new arrivals, but that was entirely acceptable.)

It was before dawn when they went out into the grounds. Thor called up clouds and loaded them with water so they hung low and heavy, covering the sky so that the sun, when it rose, wouldn't ruin the event. Loki took his frost giant shape and staff (now very familiar to his hand) and concentrated on dropping the temperature. Just around the Inn and grounds, but that was enough to be serious effort.

When the snow first started, the flakes were big and wet, and melted as soon as they hit the ground, which was still on the warm side. As they melted, they cooled the ground. After an hour or so, the flakes were smaller and more powdery - real snow, not glorified slush - and they were starting to stick to the ground.

By mid-morning, the Inn and grounds were covered with a thick layer of snow, and it continued to fall.

***

Meanwhile, indoors and inspired by the snow, Hurley and Xavin decided to try and make cookies. Cooking together was fun, since neither of them exactly knew what they were doing apart from 'follow the recipe', but since the point was 'try to make cookies' they ended up with a lot of cookies. Sugar cookies, gingerbread, all kinds.

There was no way they'd be able to eat all of them.

Instead, they loaded them onto trays and hauled them to the cafe, then brought out various frostings and candies for decorating. This had been completely intentional. Completely.

Comments

Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

Mia had watched the humans at the inn and Rocket was correct. For the most part, they did seem to be like the Hawkins family. She was tentatively trusting them here, but perhaps mostly she was trusting Rocket to have her back if they turned against a synth.

So her gait was more 'human' and her expression much softer than one would have seen originally. "Do you require assistance?" Mia asked him in a soft British accent.

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

"Uh." He looked up and was immediately even more embarrassed than he was a second ago because she was really pretty and clearly saw him be an idiot. "I mean... I was just going to throw it out since it fell...." He reluctantly grabbed the funnel cake - he had to throw it out now, right?

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

There was a touch of Max in his words and his expressions that she felt a pang for her brother.

"I would be happy to bring you another if you wish. I understand that they are quite good."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

That was surprising. "Really? I mean, no, no it's okay. I can just...." He paused. "Would you like to come with me? You could try one too."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

"I would be happy to join you for another treat." Mia said, though she didn't mention trying one. She knew humans felt more comfortable with synths giving the appearance of eating.

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

He smiled and the acceptance seemed to put him a little more at ease - she hadn't told him to get lost, right?

Making sure she was following, he headed to get some cake. There was a bit of a line, so he stood in it. "I'm Ned, by the way." Since he realized he hadn't actually introduced himself yet.

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

Mia stood beside Ned and quickly calculated the risks of sharing her 'real' name with him. A select few knew her as Mia, but the humans here had shown her by their actions with each other and the staff, that they could be trusted.

"My friends call me Mia."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

"Mia. That's pretty." And he meant it, though after he said it out loud he kind of regretted it - did that come off too creepy? Thankfully the line moved and it was a good enough distraction. "So, they have three kinds. Plain, spiced, or chocolate. Which one do you want?"

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

"Which would you recommend for someone trying it for the first time?" She easily side stepped the question for now.

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

"uh, well... Chocolate is always delicious, but I guess if it's you're first time then plain is the way to go. It's like, the classic standard I guess." He smiled. "But they're all good."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

"Thank you for your advice." Mia said as she looked at the offerings. "I will keep it in mind when others ask me." She switched direction of her gaze and looked at Ned, "I don't eat food as you would." Mia paused for the briefest of moments, then continued to explain. "I am an AI."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

His first expression was surprised, but it was quickly followed up by wide-eyes and excitement. "Really?! That is so cool. Have you met Karen yet? That's my friend Peter's AI friend. She's really cool. Mr. Stark has an AI too, but I haven't really gotten to talk to her."

Why were they all 'hers'?

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

Mia tilted her head at the mention of Mr. Stark. "I haven't met Tony Stark's AI yet, but he helped me with my power supply." She didn't have to plug herself in as much as she did at home.

"I have heard of Karen from Liz Parker." Mia smiled at the memory of their first meeting.

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

"Liz is Peter's girlfriend." He grinned. "You should totally meet her. I bet she'd like to meet you too! She's nice. She doesn't tell me to stop asking questions." Like sometimes his teachers did... or his friends... or his parents.

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

"Why would she ask you to stop asking questions?" Mia was confused. To ask questions, meant you were learning deductive reasoning and learning. Both were good qualities to have, in humans or AI. Though it seemed that Ned found this an unusual trait.

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

"She doesn't, which is why she's great." He smiled. "Sometimes people back home do... I can, uh. get excited about things, I guess."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

"But that is a good trait." Mia insisted with a gentle smile. "I promise that I will answer any questions that you might have."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

Ned liked Mia a lot.

When they reached the front of the line, Ned almost ordered two, then paused and ordered one. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. "Do you, uh, you know... like it here?"

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

Instead of answering right away with a polite answer, Mia considered her time at the inn.

"I do." She answered truthfully. "I miss my family, but I am glad that I have seen that humans and AI can coexist peacefully."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

"Yeah..." His expression faltered for a moment. "I miss my family too." Though he attempted a smile. "But I'm lucky my best friend is here, so that helps a lot."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

Mia didn't have her best friend, Laura, here but she did have a purpose. Seeing humans interact with her, and that was something important that she could take back with her.

"I'm curious. Did you know your best friend was missing while he was here and you were home?"

Ned was the first person that she'd met that was close to someone that was here first. Would her family miss her, wonder where she was, or was another version of her there while she was here?

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

"Actually no.. well, sort of? But not the same way." He thought about watching the news while Spider-Man hung onto a spaceship ascending into space. "He's from a time I definitely remember him still being around. He did disappear the day I showed up, but I'm like, from his future? So I think it's like a timeline thing. Like, we're all plucked from different points in our timeline."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

Mia digested the information. Perhaps when or if her family arrived, they would be from a different time. She had tried to 'communicate' with them through her network to let them know that she was okay, but it hadn't worked.

"It must be hard to be from a different time as your friend, but also comforting for Peter to know that his family is fine."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_guyinthechair]

He nodded. "Yeah... It's sort of complicated. Where I come from Peter is going up into space on the side of a spaceship. Like, not I even inside, but outside. So it's kind of freaky."

Re: Ned and Mia

[st_artfeeling]

Mia wondered if perhaps Peter's AI kept him from dying on the outside of the ship. Like an astronaut's helmet or a deep sea diving mask.

"That would be -- freaky to see your friend leaving by ship. I can understand why you wouldn't have thought he was on an adventure." Which in a way she guessed he was.