put a smile on your face

[likewatson]

Who: Harry Truman & Albert Rosenfield
Where: The Justice Farm of Science Sadness
When: April 21
Summary: #HELPING
Rating: G
Log:
So everything kind of sucks right now. It's sucked since Coop left, and it continues to suck — with Carmen and the kids gone and Ziva out cold, the house has been unnaturally quiet, save for the noises made by the poor Pokémon who've been left to wander through the haze of misery that's permeated the whole damn place.

And Harry. Harry's been wandering with them.

It's annoying at best and infuriating at worst, the way Albert's literally locked himself away from everything. Harry's tried knocking politely, tried coaxing him out with food, tried this, tried that, but nothing's worked.

So.

Drastic times, and all.

This is why Albert may be alarmed to find that Rosie, Harry's Ursaring, has just yanked the knob of the lab's door clean off and is headed straight for him.

If he's not quick, she's going to pluck him up before he can even blink, then carry him out into the hallway. Even if he is quick, the same will probably still happen. She is on a mission, okay?

One way or another, he's going to eventually notice the present Harry bought him sitting outside the lab's door, whether Rosie has to dangle him upside down by his ankles to see it or not.

(And before Albert can yell, sitting off to the side of the mat is a new doorknob in its packaging.)

Comments

[worktodo]

[Albert Rosenfield has work to do.

That much is a simple fact of life. There is always work to do. This is the constant that keeps him steady even through the roughest moments — and all things considered, this has been a pretty rough patch, lately. Coop up and disappearing after the big hullabaloo out at the secret resort thing. Miss Scarlet taking off in a fit with no warning. The kid beating feet not long after. Ziva's down for the count. And there's a carnivorous snowflake chained up in the yard.

None of these things can affect Albert, so long as Albert has work to do. And there is always work to do. His lab is quiet and methodical and repetitive. It's familiar. Whatever catastrophes are taking place outside, there is stability in the lab. Everything is fine here. He's got work to do, dammit.

Though it's pretty hard to get his work done when A GIANT GREEN SPARKLEBEAR JUST RIPPED THE DOORKNOB ACTUALLY OUT OF THE DOOR AND IS ADVANCING ON HIM HOLY SHIT

Kicking and snapping, he is hauled unceremoniously out of the lab, which means this is probably somehow Harry's doing, which means he is going to verbally eviscerate the man the next time he sees—

...oh.

Or.

Or maybe...not.]

[likewatson]

[When Harry hears the commotion, he casually drifts in from the kitchen, mug of coffee in hand, then blinks at what he's seeing like he wasn't expecting any of it. Wow, how weird is this, seriously, why are all of his pokémon so out of control —

Wait.

The smirk on his face is probably an even deader giveaway than the rest of it.

OOPS.]

Albert. Nice to see you.

[worktodo]

[THIS IS NOT WHAT THE FOUNDERS MEANT WHEN THEY MANDATED A RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, HARRY.

He is still dangling from Rosie's big fuzzy grip, too, when the most withering glare in the world engages. Although possibly the big green sparklebear part tends to dampen the effect a little.]

What, so you send in the Jolly Green Giant after me?! You could knock.

[likewatson]

[YOU LEAVE INTERPRETING THE CONSTITUTION UP TO THE LAWYERS, MISTER.

Harry waves a hand at Rosie, indicating that now would be a good time to set Albert down.

So, she does. Gently. And even dusts his shoulders off!]

I tried that. I even stood here and called — Albert! Hey! You in there? — and nothing. You want some coffee? I made a fresh pot.

[worktodo]

[Big dumb bear. Who needs big dumb bear hugs, anyway.

ALBERT DOES]

Maybe I was ignoring you for a reason.

[Or maybe he just couldn't hear you over the full-volume musical stylings of Journey.]

The hell is this thing doing here?

[He means the mat, obviously. And it's not like he doesn't already know, but whatever.]

[likewatson]

[Maybe SCREW YOU, MAN. Where were you when Harry needed you? Blasting Journey. Please.

Harry makes a face.]

I put it there.

[worktodo]

[HIS WORK NEEDED HIM MORE. Except not really. What becomes of the brokenhearted, etc.]

...For me.

[His raised eyebrows add the right? as silent punctuation.]

[likewatson]

[No, Albert, for the other grumpy shut-in who lives in the lab.

But no, Harry's not going to say that. Instead, he just shrugs a shoulder.]

Well, yeah.

[worktodo]

What's next, you gonna pick out some new curtains? Get my carpet cleaned? Repaint the kitchen?

[There's supposed to be malice there but it's not quite hitting properly, and as a result he really just ends up sounding kind of...hollow.

Coop's gone home and they're stuck here playing house, huh.]

[likewatson]

[He knows what Albert's intent was with that — or can guess, anyway — but he'd really rather not play that game right now. So, instead, Harry asks a genuine question in reply:]

Do you want me to?

1/3

[worktodo]

[...]


[. . .]


[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[worktodo]

[worktodo]

[MOURNFUL SOLIDARITY MANHUG TIME.]

[likewatson]

[It's almost like he was prepared for this, given the way his arms open as soon as Albert starts moving.

What happens in return is less of a hug and more of a squeeze that gives way to a hug. A really tight hug.]

[worktodo]

[SOLIDARITY.

LIKE MEN.

HANGING ON TO EACH OTHER IN A MOMENT OF SUPPORT.]

Glad you're still here, Harry.

[He will concede sappy and sentimental this one time. Just this once, while it's muffled against Harry's shoulder and nobody else is going to hear.]

[likewatson]

[Harry would very much like to say he's not goin' anywhere, but he knows he can't promise that. Now would be a very bad time to bring up that point, though.

And it's kind of weird, how he doesn't think to say he's glad Albert's here, too. Maybe it's that he doesn't have to say it, given the way he's squeezing him, but maybe it has a lot to do with the steadfastness Albert has in spades. Maybe it's that Harry can't imagine Albert not being here.]

[worktodo]

[likewatson]

[Rosie, who has been standing there this whole time, thinks this is really sweet.

And you know what?

MOMMA BEAR WANTS IN ON THAT. So: Yes.

Yes, she's going to pick up the two of them mid-hug and nearly crush them both against her furry, sparkling green bosom. BEST GROUP HUG EVER Y/Y?]