fandomhigh | Finding (More) New Hobbies, Thursday Period 2

Finding (More) New Hobbies, Thursday Period 2

Hobby class, today, was meeting in a generic classroom. Stark was standing at the front of the room with some books on the desk by him along with a stack of squares of colorful paper. Stark was also dressed in what could charitably be described as 'threadbare' clothing today. There were holes. He hadn't even known he still had this shirt.

“I’m Stark,” Stark said. “If you don’t know me by now. Welcome to a workshop on finding new hobbies. More new hobbies. We’ll try out something new each week and maybe find something we want to keep doing. Or not. Easy enough to never try something again after the first time.”

“I’m looking for ways to help keep myself busy.” Moreso right now than at the beginning of the summer, even. “So I thought I’d share that. I do better when I have things to do. And today’s thing to do is folding paper into shapes. It’s called origami, it’s from Japan, and it’s you make little paper sculptures.”

He held up a small paper frog. “Like this frog. It jumps.”

He demonstrated, then held up a few other shapes including tiny stars. “So, try some things out. And…I suppose we can do introductions? In case not everyone knows each other. If someone would like to start before we start folding? Or you can fold and talk. No reason not to do both.”

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He's here. He can talk while folding. Or at the end of class. Whatever works.

Steven waited until the end of class to talk to Stark because he didn't want to interrupt the lesson. "Stark! Hello! How are you?"

Steven looked extremely happy. Moreso than you might think someone with a tea stain on his shirt would look. No, he hadn't had time to go home and change before coming here.

Someone not having stains on their clothing was more exceptional at this point, wasn't it?

"Well enough," Stark said. "How are you? Your trip went well?"

"It went brilliantly," Steven said. He was smiling from ear to ear. "Llewellyn and I got married!"

Yes, he'd been trying to figure out the best way to present that information and in the end blurting it out had won no matter what the rankings of the other options were.

That was not what Stark had expected to hear but his expression passed through startled very quickly before settling on pleased. Other expressions might come later.

"You did? While you were away? That's...congratulations!"

"Sudden decision," Steven explained. "While we were away. Eloping. Happened all in a rush, really. But yes. Married. Thank you. We're well thrilled."

"I'm happy for you. Both of you," Stark said. And he meant it. Of course he did.

"I didn't know that was something you were thinking of doing." He'd wondered but it was none of his concern.

"We both wanted to," Steven said. "I was the hold up. I didn't want to do it without Marc. How could we have something with all our friends and loved ones but not him? Didn't feel right. Then I realized it could work if we went the opposite direction. If it was just Llewellyn and me, that was different. Small, private.

"We will do something for friends and loved ones though," Steven added, gesturing towards Stark to indicate he was on that list. "Not sure yet what or when, but something."

"Always good to have an excuse to celebrate," Stark said. "And if you wanted something small I'm glad that's what you got for yourselves. Very glad. When did you do it?"

"This past Sunday," Steven said. "We extended our holiday. Got back last night. Didn't want to miss your class."

"I'm glad you're back," Stark said. "And in the class. It's good to see you."

"Glad to be taking the class," Steven said. "Sort of regretted not doing it last go round. Pleased you're doing it again. How are you?"

Steven had not caught up on any radio from when he was on holiday, no.

"I'm fine," Stark said with a small shrug.

He was! Generally speaking.

"Trying to keep busy. Wondering where my clothes have disappeared to."

"I wasn't certain if I should ask," Steven admitted. "I take it you didn't intend to dress like that?"

"I didn't think I owned this anymore."

He might not have. It might have just appeared today!

"No. I try not to look...like this. If I can help it."

Years of having no spare clothes would do that to a man.

"Long as you're all right?" Steven asked, looking at him with concern.

"I'm fine," Stark repeated. "Or I will be. Just a thing the island does, sometimes. The clothes. And the laundry machines."

And the people leaving but he wasn't talking about that right now because his friend had happy news and happy news was a much better topic!

Of course, he was going to end up in his leather pants with no shirt soon enough, but he'd still be fine.

"I did spill tea on my shirt this morning," Steven said, indicating the stain. "Thought it was just me being me."

It possibly could have been. Hard to rule out.

The poor girl in the library had ended up wearing half her milkshake. So sad.

"No, it happens."

It was more fun when there were people you enjoyed seeing in various states of undress though.

"Things spill more than usual and things just disappear and sometimes they return and sometimes things just get ruined. It usually ends in a week. Or about a week."

"I see," Steven said. "It's been going on for a bit then? I've not caught up on radio."

"It tends to get worse as the week goes on. Or maybe you just notice more because options for clothing grow increasingly limited. You haven't listened to anything since you left? Steve and Tony had a party, for Steve's birthday. And other people have had clothing difficulties this week. I think Anakin is a cat at the moment so Jaina tormented us yesterday in his stead."

"I knew about the party," Steven said. "That was from before. I apologized that Llewellyn and I wouldn't be able to make it. Rest of it, no. We got in last night and had things to catch up on. You know how it is."

Somehow mentioning the part about not telling Marc until they got home felt too personal to share with anyone.

"I suppose there's some luck that we're in at the tail end of whatever's going on with the clothing?" Steven said. Not that his currently stained shirt would agree, but luckily this was not an event where clothing could talk.

"And all the new classes have started," Stark continued. "Of course. I nearly won paintball this week. Nearly. Raiden opened a brunch restaurant. And...Summer's gone. On a trip. Not gone."

"A brunch place? Oh that sounds nice," Steven said. "Have to give that a go."

Then the rest of the news caught up with Steven. He frowned. "She's on holiday?"

"The brunch was very good," Stark said. "And...she's trying something new. Somewhere else. For a while."

And that was fine everything was fine.

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