trans_9 | And We're Gonna Pull Through [Bendytimed to After System Shock]

It's probably a solid two weeks before Christmas is due, assuming that their Thanksgiving dinner was on schedule which, given the nature of the ship, it presumably wasn't. But the robot attack was terrifying and disheartening and exhausting, and Howard wants a holiday, so according to him, it's Christmas. A nice, relaxing break from things trying to kill them.

Aside from this strand of Christmas lights doing its damnedest to strangle him, that is. Howard's managed to get it around his neck, and if it weren't for the fact that finding light strands is hard enough on Stacy, would be cutting it off with scissors.

He's still a bit beat-up, bandages around his head and his knees and one looping around his torso, under his shirt, but thanks to the healers and medical technology on Stacy he's not in much pain. His foot being in a brace is the worst of it.

He's managed to salvage an old plastic tree from a run-down building. A few packets of hot cocoa from the Warehouse sit on the table. Flossy Raptor is downstairs and dressed in a Santa hat and bizarrely, a feather boa in a shade of green too lime-ish to be Christmassy. A clunky-looking dog-sized gift for Zouichi is by the couch, wrapped in tin foil and newsprint, and another is on the table for Karis, although it's unwrapped. No one else quite makes Howard's list this year.

He pulls his way out of the tangle of lights. Christmas numero dos sans his family. Christmas numero uno on Stacy. He finds he's less okay with the former than he was last year, but more okay with the latter than he'd presumed.

Anyone who walks into the kitchen of the Susono Inn will be greeted by the rare and unusual sound of Howard humming. Go Tell It On the Mountain, actually. He even sings the section of the first verse that he vaguely remembers under his breath.

"Go tell it on the mountain, up over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain, tell them something, I don't care."

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"Water's usually not such a big thing, since there's like, bodies of water around. People know how to utilize those more than they know how to like, raise crops or slaughter cows or whatever." He looks out the window. "I mean, if Stacy stopped feeding us tomorrow, we'd be running straight into storage for food. But we'd still have the river for fresh water. Does that make sense?"

He wants to believe they're safe for now. He really does. He wants to believe that someday, maybe, he'll be capable of believing such things at all. But now he just looks sad.

"For now." He doesn't believe that either.

"It could be contaminated." Clearly, Cedric had thought more about survival and impossible situations over the past few days "But I see your point."

He keeps his head held low and finishes, gently levitating the pie from the rack. Look, ma, no gloves!

"It's ready. Did you want the ice cream?"

"Not likely with running water. Not impossible, but not likely. And most people can at least figure out how to boil it." It makes him a little sad that Cedric's obviously been thinking about it. On the other hand, it also makes him feel less like he's a paranoid whackjob that someone else has put thought to it.

"Always. Let me go get it. I actually made these last few cartons myself."

"Oh! Right." Cedric slapped his forehead. He wasn't the greatest at science. It tended to hold wizards back to concern themselves with laws of the Muggle world, or some such nonsense he'd heard.

"You make ice cream?" Cedric is seriously impressed and a little excited by this. "Show me!"

"Just stick by me if anything goes wrong." It's not an offer Howard extends to many. He's already regretting letting Diana in his Warehouse over the attack. The look he gives Cedric is one of 'and that I said that doesn't leave this table'.

He gets up and stumbles over his foot brace to the other room, returning with the ice cream maker. "I can teach you, if you help me with the cows. Our dairy's supply's kind of running rampant since the Quest for Cakelot took the Chancellor. It's all strawberry though, no variety."

Not like Howard minds, but he's sure other people do. All he knows is that ice cream's a great binge food.

"I will." On both counts. Cedric's lips are sealed. Somehow, he understands that he's reaching a certain level with Howard that most people don't. He's still amazed that the guy continues to let him in after what he's done.

"What kind of help? Do I need to round them up, or are we milking? Strawberry's fine," he adds. "I rather like it, actually."

It's those cheekbones, Cedric. They're hypnotizing.

Honestly, though, as much as it hurt, Howard's not going to forget how gently Cedric let him down. That counts for something, that kind of kindness. It counts for a lot. And if letting Cedric get close is the best way to repay that, then Howard's willing to do that as long as Cedric stays interested.

"Milking. It's kind of gross when you see it in action, but you get used to it. If they don't get milked they stop giving it and since we don't have bulls, that means a permanent reduction in the milk supply." He passes Cedric a carton and a spoon, and gets one for himself. "Good. Because it's not even good strawberry ice cream, at least, that's what I've heard."

"Oh. Well, there's a first time for everything," Cedric laughs, taking up his ice cream. The taste is...different. Not too sweet, the texture's different, but hey. He's grateful to have it at all.

"Thank you, Howard," he says sincerely. "It's really not that bad. But maybe we could work on it sometime."

"You're welcome." Howard sounds kind of surprised. He's used to people taking food for granted here.

"When I'm back on my feet," as opposed to foot and clunky brace, "I'll show you where the cows are at. They'll probably like you more than they like me. I don't think they ever forgave me for naming them."

Granted, he named them things like Burger and Mongolian Barbecue and Ribeye, but still.

"They must be smart cows," Cedric laughs, finishing up his ice cream with a smile. He'd really gobbled it.

"But I'll enjoy it. You just focus on healing," he implores, wagging a finger.

There's so much left to do out there.

"You never know on this ship. We had talking coyotes back home that could do simple math, though." And scared the hell out of Howard.

He pretends to salute Cedric. "Will do. And hey - thanks for stopping by."

And We're Gonna Pull Through [Bendytimed to After System Shock]

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