Page 165 of Every Almost

They were strong, sturdy walls. Made of Grade-A materials.

So, all she had to do was not knock on either.

Right?

Nope.

And so Charlie went to sleep content, going on to dream about gold constellations against a sage-green backdrop.

The first EarthNight was decided to be held in the library. Once decided, Orion prepared the space over a few days, rearranging chairs into a loose semicircle and adjusting the lighting to something warmer and brighter than the library's usual dim studious setting. A small area was cleared near the front where Charlie could talk, with space around her to stand or pace. Orion seemed to know she might need that option available.

The one and only negotiation had been about food.

The day before Earth Night, Borran appeared in the library doorway with his arms crossed, filling out the entirety of the door with his overpowering frame. Charlie and Orion watched him as he'd looked to Orion, then to Charlie, and then focusedon the semicircle of chairs. His glance returned to where Charlie and Orion stood, and said just one word.

"No."

"No... what?" Charlie asked, slightly confused.

"No event without food, Spark Plug," he said flatly, as though no arguments would be accepted of any kind. "I will cook." And then he walked away, presumably to go to his kitchen and begin planning the intended food.

Orion looked over at Charlie, and she looked back. A smile spread on Orion's face, crinkling his eyes.

"I believe we have just been upgraded to a catered event," Orion said. Charlie chuckled.

The next night at seventh bell, Charlie and Orion stood by Orion's desk as they watched the crew begin filing in. Borran was good on his word, and the crew saw trays of food arranged along Orion's reference table for their taking. Earlier that day, Charlie had helped Orion move all his materials off the reference table in order to accommodate the best place for the trays. At one point, Charlie had noticed him gently relocate a stack of data tablets with a careful hand, in order for his desk to be commandeered by invaders. In this case, appetizers.

Charlie hadn't really known what to expect. She'd originally told Orion she'd be over the moon if five people showed up. But instead of agreeing with her, he'd looked at her knowingly, saying, "I think you may want to prepare for more than five."

And he was right. As they stood there, Charlie watched as crew members kept arriving, the library soon bursting to full. There weren't enough to create a standing-room only section or anything, but every chair they had put out was occupied. Not to mention that there was this energy of anticipation coming from each and every person in the room. There were crew members Charlie worked with, crew members she'd only seen in corridors, and even a few she was fairly certain she'd never seen at all.The library had fully transformed into something communal and lively.

Tavi walked in among the crowds and made his way over to Charlie. As soon as she saw him, her grin escaped her control, and he sauntered over, bowing before her when he reached where she stood.

"M'lady," he said, rising from his bow. "I have brought you this." At this, Tavi handed Charlie what looked like a bouquet but not of flowers. No, Tavi had gone all out, having made the bouquet completely out of spare parts she knew for a fact had been lying around just that afternoon in the Engineering Bay.

"Tavi!" Charlie exclaimed. "These are amazing!" The bouquet was a tangle of plasma relay coils twisted into spiraling blooms, conduit caps clustered like buds between them, and spectral filament strands trailing through the whole thing like ribbon.

"I knew you'd like 'em," Tavi responded, the smug grin on his face entirely earned. "Did you see I got one of the conduit caps to balance right on top of that center coil? Remember how we had a bunch leftover and didn't know what to do with them? Well..." Tavi indicated the bouquet in Charlie's hands.

"This is the best way to use the leftovers," Charlie stated. She leaned down and wrapped her free arm around Tavi in a tight hug. "Thank you."

"Are we hugging now?" Maren said as she approached the two of them.

"Aw, do you want a hug, Maren?" Charlie asked, not even waiting for an answer before she wrapped Maren in a hug as tight as Tavi's.

"I am always available for hugs," Tavi said, a bit dejectedly.

"Wanted or not," Maren quipped.

"Hey, now. I am a respectable gentleman. I will never hug without consent."

"Good man," Charlie said.

"So, where do I lay my claim? Where will my 'date' be for this evening's festivities?" Tavi asked.

"I'll be standing up here, so feel free to take this spot next to me," Charlie said, pointing to the seat closest to the stand she and Orion had set up.

"Works for me!"