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“Yeah, sure, no problem!”

Had he done something wrong? No, Abzu didn't think that was the answer, not with the way she was acting and not with the way she wanted Encke's attention elsewhere. He didn't need her to intervene on his behalf, but he wouldn't stop her from pulling him away, especially because Encke didn't resist. Abzu couldn't quite tell if it was if it was because He thought they were getting supplies together that only the two of them are going to be using, or if he had picked up that she had something to say to him specifically.

Encke, for his part, had definitely figured out that it was something he had done. He just wasn't sure how much he wanted to back off it.

He had opened his mouth to start with he keeps flaunting it Even though that wasn't quite true so much as Ignacio was painfully aware of it because Michelangelo was very flirty. Very. Flirty. But the expression on her face didn't miss him.

… Aw ******** mean, it does make me happy to be here! And if you do want to not do the picnic right now, and you want to actually work on this part of your wonder I didn't realize you had, I'm down for that! I just know he wouldn't be.”

Encke could think of a lot of reasons why he wouldn't be, and none of them were particularly charitable so he kept his mouth shut about it. There was no reason to consider him a lazy hedonist, even though Encke would think that would be a correct statement and it wouldn't be wrong. He wasn't even sure that Abzu would actually disagree with the statement!

He rubbed his neck. “It is awkward he's with Luke. And it's not necessarily the fact that he's with him so much as I know what they do, like. I know that he's with him in a way that's not romantic. It's odd to wrap my head around.”

And also, Michelangelo started it.

Non-traditional was certainly a way of putting it. And he was sure these sorts of things happened all the time! Beyond his view! And not with his father(-in-law)! And not where he was aware of it with his father-in-law! Encke had gotten better with it, he guessed, because Abzu wasn't exactly unintentionally rubbing it in his face anymore, but–

The whole situation was odd and it had left a bad taste in his mouth, but evidently his reaction to that bad taste was leaving a bad taste in Pendour's mouth, and maybe that was worse. Probably. ******** ran a hand through his hair.

Pendour was clearly looking for him to drop it, especially because she would rather do the picnic overall. Looking for him to leave Abzu alone. He was opening his mouth to say Michelangelo started it, but leaning on that was silly at best. He was almost thirty-two, not actually two.

And Abzu was only like what, thirty-seven? Wasn't Garber’s new interest older than he was?

He shook his head out of it.

“Fine.”

And that was that as he watched her pluck up the otter treats and head back toward Abzu. Encke would take a moment to breathe and centre himself before he followed.

Abzu's eyes lit up when she mentioned the concept of giving the treats to otters. “Your wonder has so much interesting wildlife.” All he had really seen on his was, well…

Actually nothing.

He'd ignore the part where he hadn't even quite found the edges yet in all the dark and didn't have much interest to at the moment, actually.

Honestly, the otters sounded like the stars of the show! Adorable little creatures, that were known for being cute, even their equivalents on Earth, that would swim up to people and take their treats for lap cuddles? Adorable. He always liked a cuddly animal. Whenever anyone had a dog or a cat or even a rabbit Michelangelo was delighted.

The fact that the Bells had both was a bonus. Well. Kind of. Luz was a dog, in full, but Viatrix was only a cat in body shape–

“Bugs aren’t cuddly,” Abzu chuckled, “but they can add to the beauty of things. Have you seen some beetles?” Beetles, of course, almost all butterflies and moths, some worms and caterpillars and to be honest, there was a lot more beauty to the insect kingdom than some people gave them credit for. He wasn’t exactly an insect stan, but he did enjoy looking at some of the tighter photos of the prettiest ones as the backgrounds that rotated onto his laptop.

Oh, his wonder?

He rubbed his neck. “Y’sure? Not quite as pretty as this.” Well, maybe it was! He saw signs of that in the flashlight light and the candles he had put up. There were designs in the tiles below, the walls seemed to go on forever, and he swore he saw steeples and other architecture that gave the impression of something artistic and grand. But it was also painfully dark. “Honestly, haven’t even gotten too far on the plans I’ve mentioned.”

It was hard to make a room sexy when, a: he couldn’t even find the damn room he wanted to make that way, and b: when it was so dark it couldn’t even be made more appealing.

He glanced back in the direction where Pendour had left Encke, noticing he wasn’t rushing back out to join them. Was he going to be good? He supposed Encke wasn’t frustrated enough that Pendour was staying back with him. There was probably no need to bring that up as he tried to keep his focus on what was ahead.

“Not even convinced my wonder has creatures, to be honest, but I suspect if it does they won’t be where the people would be, anyway.”

I]Adorable.

Abzu was honestly eager to get one of the otter’s attention too. After seeing how one of them reacted to Pendour, he eagerly took the treats and squatted facing towards the water. He shook out the treats, trying to mimic Pendour.

When it got the attention of one of the otters, he was delighted. Abzu rewarded it with more treats, naturally.

“Visibility definitely needs to be the first priority. The funny thing is, in my memories it didn't used to look so dark. I feel like there should be some way to bring the light back…” Not that he could really tell how. Or where. Maybe if he explored a bit more, he would have had a better idea, but he wasn't eager to do so.

For now he would stick with what he figured out.

She chose to glance behind her at the right time. Encke was emerging, finally, and Abzu watched him. What had Pendour said to him that had him looking elsewhere?

“Not your fault you just wanted something to eat,” offered Encke, half-heartedly. He wanted to say though maybe you should have just dropped it after or could have done without the excessive flirting with my in-laws though, but for Pendour's sake, he didn't bother bringing it up.

Abzu rubbed his neck. “Ah, thanks. Probably shoulda checked before strolling out of their bedroom–”

Anyway. Encke was quirking a brow at him.

Abzu cleared his throat. “Wanna feed some otters?”

Awkwardly, Encke accepted the treats that Abzu offered him, turning his attention to the otters instead. “Yeah, sure.”

“I'm glad to hear they're still friendly, honestly.” Encke was eager to stop talking to Abzu and sit down to play with the otters. “I remember when they came out of the water!”

It had taken them both by surprise, but in a good way. Probably the most significant creatures Pendour had seen until that point except for some fish. Encke still found them cute! The treats were, of course, a welcome new addition even for the otters.

… Though it seemed the otters wanted more than fish treats. Encke snorted.

For his part, though, Abzu eyed the otter warily but didn't stop it. “Can they eat those?”

Abzu was fine sharing, honestly. He loved burritos, but if the otters wanted one, he could get more. It wasn't like burritos were at a premium or anything like that…

(And even if they were premium burritos, he didn't exactly have a money problem. Sadie would know that-)

“They got beef on them, so I don't know if that's part of their diet…” of course, it seemed like the otters thought they were. Ignacio seemed amused, at least.

“They'll probably get more out of a cold burrito than you.” He seemed a bit less snide with the teasing, at least.

“Listen, Encke,” Abzu glanced back toward him, “a cold fridge snack is a time honoured lazy person tradition.” And also something he tended to lazily snatch after an all-night bender or party of some variety, but he'd leave that out. Anyway, Abzu had been trying to get a morning muffin--

Abzu's brows knit in concern. He supposed if it had a bad association for her– for him, the association was not necessarily positive so much as expected. If he was groggy after a long night, he wasn't exactly rushing to get well-made food made for himself. He was barely rushing to get anything made for himself in the first place.

That was why he had a professional chef, anyway.

“I wouldn't say like.” Abzu winked. “But I don't know, cold pizza has a certain taste to it.”

“And cold burritos?” Encke sounded like he was in a bit of disbelief for that one. Abzu snorted a laugh.

“Like I said, a lazy person tradition!”

But if Pendour wasn't going to protest the otters having a meat burrito, well, he could give one up. He plucked one out of the bag, took the wrapper off, and offered it up to the otter that had been sniffing around in the bag. Maybe it wasn't the best habit to encourage, but one of two things would happen. Either the otters would love it and try to get more, or they'd realize they weren't carnivores, just pescatarian.

Encke took the bag away from Abzu after, going for his seitan and a few ingredients for making a sandwich. He wasn't going to offer that up to the cuddly otters, though. He'd offer them a few more treats instead. “I've gone for a cold pizza slice sometimes.”

Encke offered a half-smile when she said it tasted like depression, and Abzu chuckled quietly. “Well, for me it tastes like laziness, usually after a late night bender – though I suppose it's different for everyone.” He rubbed his neck when Encke quirked a brow at him.

“Look, you know I'm a party guy. Even invited you to a couple.”

“Fair enough.” Encke rubbed his neck. Michelangelo had invited him to a couple! Back when Abzu was still regularly flirting with him, anyway. He supposed going now might be a little odd. Maybe. Did Abzu flirt with everyone at his parties or were they not chill than that- “I suppose I have only seen you go at the fridge for cold leftovers when the depression is hitting hard. Tracks.”

Abzu's eyes were elsewhere, anyway. “I guess the otters like the burrito.” He'd let them have it. “Look, the hummus has to be good if you're even willing to eat it with a spoon.” Even if it was depression eating.

“Since I've sacrificed my burrito, I guess it's time for me to try it!”

“It is good hummus,” volunteered Encke. Might work well on his seitan wrap, actually -

And for his part? Abzu was happy enough to watch the otters eat it. He could get another burrito, and on top of that it would be a warm burrito and not a cold one that made his companions give him a weird look. Burritos were not uncommon resource.

Maybe he'd make sure to bring more burritos next time he came up here. It was fun to watch the otters be content with it.

Encke gave Pendour an awkward smile, before turning to Abzu and saying, “Would you really want us-”

“Ig.”

Encke cleared his throat.

“I wouldn't invite you or Pen To those kinds of parties. Honestly, I haven't even invited Luke or Safira-”

“Gross.”

“Hey, I said I haven't!” He didn't think that would be their thing anyway– “But I could invite y'all to a fancy party if you want. Zee might welcome the distraction from the hoity toity nonsense they always have to deal with.”

Encke would consider it, though he still had to wonder why the invites had stopped… “Oh, did you find one of those local brands the co-op carries?”

To Abzu, honestly, that just meant it would be even better, and the foodie in him was eager to give it a try instead of just hearing Pendour sing its praises–