Nora was sitting on a particularly comfortable rock just by the gate to Aster Memorial Park. The park was beautiful, thanks to the spirits that inhabited it, and the patrons, careful to always keep it clear of litter.

She was taking in the scenery of the park as she waited for her husband to arrive. The park really was an amazing thing to see, even through the blindfold. Each and every plant and animal existed in perfect harmony. It almost felt like a dream to Nora, every rock and insect was always right where they needed to be without being planned. Natural, was the only word that had ever felt right to describe it.

Nora just sat by the gate separating the city and the serene nature surrounding her. With her area of awareness afforded to her by the blindfold Nora sank into the sensation of the forest moving around her, teeming with life. Feeling it, as the sun warmed her skin, and the insects skittered through the soil. To feel each leaf that slipped from the branches of the trees, following their tumbles and twirls as they drifted gently to the ground.

Slowly, Nora pulled the blindfold off, and let her area of awareness fall away. It was just her and the sounds of the forest as Nora let herself be herself, without the blindfold, for a few moments. The minutes flew by as Nora let herself relax for the first time in a long while.

Nora was shaken from her reverie when she heard light footsteps approaching her from behind, followed by significantly heavier ones. She left the blindfold in her lap, she didn’t need it to tell who was approaching her. She felt a hand gently come to rest on her shoulder.

“Guess who?” Logan’s voice asked, followed by a giggle not at all matching the persona he put out for the public. “It is you Gravitas.” The synthetic voice of Druid chimed in. They cocked their head. “Have I succeeded in the exercise?”

Logan sighed, “Hah not quite, but you did good Drew.” Nora smiled at Logan’s latest attempt to give the plant-Android hybrid a nickname. “Who is Drew?” Druid asked. “You are, buddy.” Logan replied. “Incorrect, I am DR-001D, publicly designated as Druid.” Druid recited, same as every other time.

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“But that’s so long!” Logan mock-whined, throwing his head back like a child. “You’ve said that for all my other nicknames! Like ‘plant robot’ and ‘robot plant’, and my personal favorite, ‘the mechanical botanical’!”

“Logan, honey.” Nora said, as she got up from the rock, blindfold in hand. “Those aren’t really nicknames, more just frank descriptions.” “In addition.” Druid added, “These ‘nicknames’ have more synonyms than either of my official designations.” While the two argued, Nora put her blindfold back on.

“Yeah, well, I'm not saying your friggin’ alphanumeric string, or whatever.” Logan argued, “And you can’t use your hero name in public!” “Why not?” Druid countered, “You just can’t!” Logan cried, “It’s like, an unwritten rule of being a super!”

Druid paused, “There are… unwritten rules?” They asked. Nora suppressed the urge to facepalm herself. “What are the unwritten rules Logan?” Druid asked.

This time it was Logan’s turn to pause, “Why didn’t you call me Gravitas?” “I do not wish to break the unwritten rules Logan.” Druid answered. With the blindfold back on, Nora could sense it when Logan failed to resist the urge to smack his forehead.

“Nevermind,” Logan let out a defeated sigh, and turned back to Nora. “Honey, were you able to get Marco to finish the bag?”

“Oh right!” Nora cried out. “I completely forgot! Marco was supposed to send someone with the gift! He better have sent someone, or I swear, when I see him next…” Nora was cut off by the appearance of a new person entering her sphere of awareness.

“I do hope you can forgive my lateness Mrs. Cassidy.” Doorman walked into Nora’s awareness, his coat swaying in the breeze. He held up a paper bag stuffed with tissue paper, decorated in a striped pattern. “It took a certain amount of effort to convince Mr. Perry to hand over the gift.”

Nora beamed at Doorman, “Thank you so much! You’re a lifesaver!” She snatched the bag from his hand, and peeked past the tissue paper to check the gift. She looked back at Doorman, “It’s perfect, tell Marco that Layla will love it.”

“Of course.” He nodded, “Please give the happy couple my congratulations, but I’m afraid I have other matters to attend to..” Doorman turned on his heel and walked out through the doorway behind him.

“I don’t think he likes me.” Logan said. Druid nodded. “I concur.” “Hey! C’mon m, we’re a team buddy. You’ve gotta back me up!”

“But he clearly holds an unfavorable opinion of you, I was merely agreeing with your sentiment.” “No, you’re supposed to be encouraging!”

Nora ignored the pair’s bickering, it was par for the course with how long they had been working together. Slowly, she tuned out their voices and took in the park.