coordinate brain and mouth (for Cosette)

[doublethepain]

It's not unusual for Spencer to sit cross-legged on the floor in the middle of the library sitting area, surrounded by the newest shipment of books and the texts he's meant to as he meticulously organizes everything before placing them on his reshelving cart. He does this on slow days and goodness knows, this has most certainly been a slow day. He suspects many people are still recovering from the incident with the Hydra--Spencer spares a quick glance toward the window to his far left where he'd placed the small, blue crystal Joel had given him that day as a protection charm for the building--and besides that, the summer is really starting to begin so people hardly want to spend their time in the library.

He takes a sip of the cream soda, his favorite, that always seems to be miraculously well-stocked in the break room refrigerator and shifts his gaze to where Cosette sits a few feet away, entering cataloging data into their automated system--Spencer's idea, for the record, as around the age of 21, he'd gotten quite tired of doing everything by hand. They've both always been content in their quiet, save for the short bursts of humming from Cosette or the occasional random murmurings from Spencer. Today is no exception.



"I'm thinking about getting a dog," Spencer says suddenly, and he's not really looking for a response but he supposes he could use the second opinion if Cosette decides to give it.

Comments

[suchgoodluck]

"Glad you approve," she grins at him. It's fun, conversing with him like this in a more carefree manner. She loves when Spencer relaxes enough to joke, or indulge in one of his dorky fantasies. It dispels the overwhelming weirdness of Siren Cove, takes away from the supernatural calamities happening just outside the doors.

"See, I knew you were a man of sense," she nods, raising her mug in his direction. "Yeah, I can get on board with that. Plus, what good does Spandex do anyone, for that matter?"

[doublethepain]

"Have I ever shown myself not to be?" he counters, though the smile that's coming easier now dispels any sincerity in the question. Though he may not readily admit it, he tends to enjoy the effect Cosette has on him when she's around. Her brightness, her easy smile, they serve to make Spencer feel much more comfortable--not always an easy task--and willing to be a bit more playful. He's the person he sometimes wishes he could be more often.

"Actually, Spandex does quite a bit of good for purposes other than, er, being on people. It can be used in place of latex in rubber tubing and hosing, its elasticity makes it excellent in the making of things like knee or back braces, it's often used in modern interior decorating, and--"

Of course, as soon as he starts to function as person capable of easy conversation, he reverts back to his usual state. "I mean, you're right, Spandex doesn't do any good at all."

[suchgoodluck]

"Your terrible collection of Christmas sweaters, for one," she snorts, rolling her eyes playfully. Spencer provides her with a calm she normally doesn't get in her life, much like Joel. As cheerful and bright as she strives to be, sometimes, she knows, she needs to remember to pause and take it all in. Spencer's good at reminding her to take her time through life.

"And? Do go on." She smiles at him encouragingly, always liking how enthusiastic he gets with his knowledge of various subjects. He certainly makes life more interesting.

[doublethepain]

He raises an eyebrow at Cosette but it's accompanied by a smile. It's kind of her, really, to be so earnest in her pretending that his ramblings are actually things she wants to hear. "I think we can do better than Spandex talk," he says, though he's counting on her to come up with whatever that is.

"And for the record, my Christmas sweaters are excellent, I don't know how you could possibly disagree."

[suchgoodluck]

"Let's talk about the fact that we live in a town that was attacked by a goddamn Hydra? Like, did we stumble into Greek mythology on accident or?" It's an awkward subject to be sure, but Cosette really wants to hear what Spencer has to say on the subject. He's always able to provide her with new insight at any given time of day.

"Excellent in the sense that only a mother could love them," she points out.

[doublethepain]

The Hydra. Spencer still can't quite believe that there'd been an actual Hydra attack on the town, even when he walks past the rumble and destruction every morning on his way to work. The building across from the library had been reduced to nothing but one huge pile of debris and the sheer amount of work it'll take to rebuild, Spencer knows, will be astounding. "Well," he starts carefully, "I definitely don't think it was an accident. You remember the myth, right? Hera raised the Hydra with the sole purpose of killing Heracles, the Hydra was released with that specific goal. Stands to reason, if that's what you can even call it, that someone sent this one specifically to destroy Siren Cove. Whether it was targeting one person or anything in its path, I obviously don't know but... I suspect the attack only means we should all be on our guard for whatever else might come our way."

He wavers a bit at her last comment. His mother had loved them. She's responsible for the fact that he owns most of them, actually, and he smiles fondly to himself at the memory of all the times he and his brother had opened up another gift box that they'd already known would be another awful sweater to add to their collections. Cosette hadn't meant anything by it and it isn't as if he breaks down anytime his mother or brother are mentioned but steering the conversation away from the subject doesn't seem like a terrible idea either.

"We're lucky the library is still standing," he tells her, glancing around the room. He can't imagine what things would be like without this place.

[suchgoodluck]

"You think our town has a Hera?" She quirks an eyebrow, though she can actually believe it, considering all the crazy shit that occurs in Siren Cove on a daily basis. "Shit, we're kind of fucked."

Cosette only realizes what she says when she recognizes the flicker of pain in Spencer's eyes. "Oh, shit, that was rude of me. I'm sorry, Spencer."

[doublethepain]

He gives her a stern look when she apologizes, though it doesn't last long before the wrinkles on his forehead smooth back out and he shakes his head. "It wasn't rude, apology not accepted. I can hardly expect people to tiptoe around the use of the words 'mother' or 'brother' for the rest of my life, after all."

He does much better now, he really does. It had been difficult for most of the first year to move past anything that would even remotely remind him of them but yes, he thinks it's better now. It's when he's truly caught off-guard or when people are being actively malicious that it affects him most but in cases like this, he's not as bothered now as he might have been this time last year.

"As for our own town Hera, who knows? But the curse on Siren Cove, as far as I've read, was bred from revenge and that's what Hera's ultimate goal is so often portrayed to be." He shrugs a shoulder, though he narrows his eyes in thought. "No matter what's going on, though, just promise me you'll be careful, okay? I know you can take care of yourself but..." He trails off, holding up his can of cream soda. "Nobody else is going to take care of me."

[suchgoodluck]

Cosette still feels bad, regardless of what Spencer tells her. She hates causing anyone discomfort, but especially Spencer, who has suffered through more than most people experience in life. But she also doesn't want to cause him more discomfort now by refusing his refusal of her apology, so she nods. "Alright. I just didn't mean to make you sad, alright?"

"Wow, I've never even thought of it like that," Cosette muses, again impressed by the level of Spencer's perception. He should be a professor, she thinks, imparting his wisdom to students. "Alright, I'll do my best. That goes for you too, dork."

[doublethepain]

"I know," he tells her, tone softening. He has a tendency to become a bit defensive when it comes to this sort of thing, simply because he doesn't like being treated like glass. That's not what Cosette is doing, he knows that; but it happens more often than not that he forgets. "Maybe next time I'll use it to my advantage, coax a coffee run out of you."

He rolls his eyes at her comment as he stretches out his legs in front of him, careful not to kick at any of the books on the floor. "I'm always careful, you must know that by now. My entire life is careful."