stykera | Room 203, Friday most of the day

Stark's room was packed up. Stark did not want his room to be packed up. Being packed up meant he was now left with an even emptier than normal room. He did not want that, either. That might have been why he kept unpacking and repacking one bag at a time. Or that might have been an excuse to stay in his room longer, in the hope that he would see people. Or it might have just been Stark being his not entirely sane self. It was hard to tell.

He was fairly certain that anyone who might care he was leaving knew that this was when he was doing so. He hoped so, at least. He wanted to be able to say goodbye, and any company would have the added benefit of perhaps distracting him for a few moments. He was tired of goodbyes. But not getting to say a goodbye at all was always worse. He knew that all too well. He would take the goodbyes over the alternative, but he'd rather not have to do either.

[Meant to get this up earlier, but work and life got in the way. Repeatedly. SP is everyone's friend. Really.]

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And there was Stark, answering the door.

"Hello Summer."

"Hey Stark," Summer said, giving a small smile. "Heard you were leaving and someone wanted to say goodbye."

She glanced down at the bunny she was holding.

The bunny, apparently, was enough to get a grin out of Stark.

"She did, did she?" He bent down a little to address the bunny herself. "Thank you Pancakes. I appreciate that."

Pancakes twitched her nose in response. "I think she's going to miss you."

Summer smiled sadly. "She's not the only one."

Stark reached a hand out to pat the bunny on the head, then looked up at Summer.

"Thank you," he said again. "I will miss you. And your bunny."

"Want to hold her?" Summer asked.

Stark nodded. Maybe cuddling a bunny was just what he needed. Probably not, but it certainly couldn't hurt.

"I would. As long as she wouldn't mind."

Summer held Pancakes in front of her. "You don't mind, right?"

Then she held her out toward Stark. "She doesn't mind."

Stark took the bunny carefully. Then he cuddled her. A lot. Someone really needed to buy the poor alien a teddy bear or something.

Summer couldn't help smiling at that. "She likes you."

"I'm glad," Stark said softly.

"So, where are you gonna go?" Summer asked curiously.

"Back," Stark said. "Going to try and find my ship, from before. My friends. If I can."

"Are you gonna try to find the friend you told me about? The one who is special to you?" Summer totally figured she was more than just a friend to Stark.

Stark was still cuddling the bunny. He might have cuddled more at the question.

"Zhaan," he said softly. "I think I will. It can't hurt to try...not anymore than it has."

"I hope you find her," Summer said quietly.

"Thank you. So do I." As long as she didn't leave him again. He was certain he could not survive that again.

"I should give you back your bunny."

Summer took Pancakes back, almost wanting to let Stark take her with him. Almost. "Well, like I said she'll miss you. We both will."

She leaned over to hug him, making sure not to squish the bunny. "You take care of youself, okay?"

The hugs he was getting today were going to have to last Stark a long while. So he was taking full advantage of them while he was able.

"I will do my best," he said. "Be well Summer. And take care of your bunny."

"I will," Summer promised. "You better keep in touch. And come back to visit sometime."

"I'll try to keep in touch. I promised Anders. And I want to come back, if I can manage it. I do."

"Well, as long as you try," Summer said quietly. "Anyway, I should probably let you finish packing or whatever you have to do."

"Bye Stark," Summer said sadly before turning to leave. Goodbyes really sucked.

"The packing's done," Stark admitted. "I just keep redoing. To be doing something. Thank you for coming by Summer. And for loaning me the bunny."

"You're welcome," Summer said. "And if you visit, you can borrow her again."

She waved one last time before heading back to her room.

Room 203, Friday most of the day

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