What's this???

[burlapbibliothecary]

The sky was brighter than 3 had ever seen. It was likely dumb luck that they hadn't been stepped on as they just stood staring up dumbfounded, given the little doll-creature stood maybe six inches at best. It was so blue! They had seen paintings that showed the color but there was something different in the color of fading, weather-cracked paints and the real thing. They likely would have stood there all day, lens-like eyes flickering as they cataloged the sky, the clouds that drifted across, the birds, the change of color as day shifted to evening, then to night-

But the little doll was distracted by someone walking a bit too close for comfort, sending them scurrying for the cover offered by a nearby bench, nonexistent heart in their throat as they stopped to watch with no small amount of amazement as people were passing through the plaza.

They should be cautious. They should avoid people they should find somewhere safe to hide. That would be the thing 1 would want them to do, the thing that he claimed was the smart thing to do.

They were very bad at doing what 1 said though.

They spent the next hour or so just skittering along paths and around corners, staying close to walls and fences to help keep out from underfoot as they just watched the people and animals that moved through this strange new place. Another half an hour spent following the progress of a ladybug through a bush.

It took some time to get up the courage to actually approach anyone, but curiosity over something near them that was just out of the little stitchpunk's field of vision encouraged them to creep close enough to reach out, and whoever they'd happened to come across would feel a light tug against their pant leg. If they happened to look they'd see the little doll creature offering a uncertain little grin and wave by way of greeting, before their gaze skipped towards the object of their curiosity, a little hop and point that they hoped got their point across following.

They want to see! Help them up?

Did they know what they were trying to get a better look at? Nope! Hope it's not someone's lunch, because this was one little stitchpunk who did't ascribe to the wisdom of 'look don't touch.'

Comments

[burlapbibliothecary]

That was a familiar form. A familiar face and a familiar voice, and 3 perked at the sound of it, freezing for a long moment as they watched 2, eyes shuttering and flashing a couple times almost like a startled blink before they seemed to shake off that surprise.

Hope 2 had his balance because 3 was just sprinting to fling themselves right at him, arms flying around him because 2, oh Scientist 2, they missed you so much-

[scavengingsackdoll]

2's glad to see them, too. He's wondered if there are other scientists here, because he might have services to offer - even if he's probably smaller than the other people they have on staff, there might be a place for a stitchpunk on something like the IRIS team, or in the observatory.

But he's too busy being bowled over by 3 to think about that too much. He returns the hug gratefully. "I missed you, too, 3. Sorry I didn't find you earlier. I was exploring this place - it's called the Nexus. Did you see the humans? There are so many of them! And the air is clear. Remarkable!"

[burlapbibliothecary]

3 is just going to cling tight to 2 and never let go. That's what's happening here, one hand skittering over burlap as if to check and make sure that their friend was alright, really okay, as they nodded their acceptance of the apology.

They had seen humans! There were so many! Also did you see the sky 2? Look at it! There's clouds and birds and it's so very blue! Don't mind 3 pointing enthusiastically at it to emphasize because it's Very Important that 2 sees how great the sky is.

[scavengingsackdoll]

2 looks up eagerly. There are, in fact, birds - and not all of those birds are modern Earth birds. Some of them are...odd-looking. But 2 knows things and people find their way here from all over the universe. Or universes, as the case may be.

"Maybe we'll get to meet some of those humans at some point. Won't that be incredible! So many humans - the world must've looked something like this once. Before the machines. There's so much to do here, so much to study and learn-"

[burlapbibliothecary]

That was part of what made it so easy for the twins to get along with 2- he had a sense of wonder and excitement about things that they could relate to.

3 nodded eagerly at the idea of meeting the humans, even if for the moment the birds had their full attention, cataloging the ones that they knew they'd never seen in books before.

If the world was anything like this before then it had been beautiful. And maybe would be again someday.

[scavengingsackdoll]

2's sense of imagination and wonder has been sparked in a big way by this place. Even though he's kept to the shadows, he's still managed some exploring, if cautiously.

There's a pterodactyl overhead - or at least it looks like a pterodactyl, with the furry body and fibrous wings. 2 watches 3 catalog them - with all the strange creatures here, they'll be busy for a while.

"You know, 3, there's a library here. An enormous one. We might want to visit it sometime, too."

[burlapbibliothecary]

3 could catalog forever just in the plaza alone, to be fair. There was so much to see after all!

The idea of the library caught their attention, the stitchpunk nodding their enthusiastic agreement, excited at the idea of how many books a place like this must have.

[scavengingsackdoll]

The Plaza is the heart of activity in the Nexus. There's always something going on there, between the people and the shops. 2 spends some of his time hiding there, watching the crowds.

"It's hard to decide what to do next here, isn't it? There's simply so much. It's very different from home."

[burlapbibliothecary]

3 nodded emphatically because 2 had hit the nail on the head. It was different, which was no surprise, but there was so much here that deciding where to start, what to explore first was making the little stitchpunk's head spin!

[scavengingsackdoll]

"The change of scenery is nice, wouldn't you say, 3?" 2 appreciates the blue sky and sunshine, not to mention the living creatures. It's almost overwhelming how many people and animals there are.

[burlapbibliothecary]

3 nodded in such enthusiasm that their hood slipped down over their face, leaving them momentarily scrabbling with it to push it back where it belonged before they cast a beaming smile 2's way.

It really was wonderful here. Everything was so bright and alive and nice!

[scavengingsackdoll]

2 manages a smile back. The Nexus truly is an amazing place, with so much life and creatures to see.

"There's so much to explore here, isn't there!"

[burlapbibliothecary]

Were you comfortable where you were 2? Too bad! Because 3 has spied something they very wanted to get a closer look at, expression brightening as they grabbed for 2 by the hand to tug him along as they took off running towards a grassy patch dotted with trees and bushes.