#{ samtal med: iris thatcher }

[swedethings]

@iristhxtcher

With Gunnar in tow, Agnes made her way through the many vendors of Duckie's Farm Market. She was fortunate that the market was within walking distance of where she was staying in the converted barn on her former host family's property. It made it so much easier to get locally grown produce as well as other pantry staples in support of local farmers; and that made it so much easier to ensure she and her son ate a balanced diet. But its distance from the converted barn wasn't the only thing that made Duckie's location ideal. It was located right next to the station that housed Cape May's EMTs. Whenever she'd go browsing for produce, the brunette could keep an eye out for a particular blonde paramedic. Just catching a brief sight of those braids made her heart flutter...

Currently, Agnes was in the process of searching for the best lemons to add to her basket. With a toddler in her arms, it was a feat much easier said than done. Gunnar wanted to help; but he was also starting to become cranky from a lack of nap that day. His 'help' was more of a hinderance. And ultimately, he ended up knocking several of the lemons out of their display crate, sending them rolling onto the floor. "Jävla fan..." This was not what his mamma needed to deal with right about now. She needed to have her stress relieved, not be given more of it.

[swedethings]

The instant the realization hit of who it was she'd just offered a Midsommar flower to, Agnes's face lit up. Iris... Her beauty matched that of her name. There had always been something about the particular blonde, about the way she carried herself that was so very beautiful. And now after all these years, here she was in the flesh. It still felt like some sort of dream, one the Swede feared she wake from only to learn this Iris was nothing more than a figment of her mind, left over from memories of high school. But that wasn't the case. She wasn't some figment. She was real.

"Sverige kommer alltid att vara mitt fosterland. I must bring a piece of it wherever I go." The fact it was Midsommar aided in doing just that. There was so much history and so many traditions surrounding the holiday. It made the brunette almost feel like she was back in Dalarna with her pappa and her siblings, like she was able to connect with them through the celebrations despite the ocean that separated them. "It is unfortunate; men I do not have big plans to celebrate this year. I could not find a majstång..." The Maypole was the true icon of Midsommar. Without it, the holiday was incomplete. "I will still have a feast with Gunnar tonight. Potatoes och köttbullar och strawberries and grilled vegetables. Maybe he will give me a Midsommar miracle and eat his vegetables for one time." A soft chuckle escaped her lips at the mere thought before she fell silent, now finding herself lost in the skies Iris dared to call eyes.

She could've sworn she had to do a double take of some sorts, hell she even pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming & this was actually.. actually real. She was REAL. Iris quickly composed herself, mentally counting to three before finally making her way to the door of swede things with a playful raise of her brows. ''Great to see you're still keeping up with traditions, Ag.'' Her smile infectious at this point, hands moving into the pockets of her EMT jacket. ''Are you celebrating when you're off?''

[swedethings]

@iristhxtcher

Having planned to meet up with Iris at the Cape May Independence Day Carnival, Agnes was scanning the crowds for the particular blonde. The two had made plans; but they'd not actually finalized where to meet up. Her phone was in her pocket; and given her hands were currently preoccupied with a sleeping toddler who'd just crashed from an ice cream sugar high, she couldn't exactly dig out said phone in order to confirm a meeting spot. So scanning the crowds was her best option.

Fortunately, she could spot those braids from a mile away. Amongst the crowd forming in front of the ring toss game, Agnes spotted her. Making her way over to the game, she shifted Gunnar's weight in her arms before sneaking up behind her favorite blonde. "Hej hej, väninna... Do you want to win me a bear?"

[swedethings]

Of course Agnes's smile widened at Iris's words. She couldn't help it. Her smile always widened at Iris's words. It widened at the blonde's mere presence. There was just... There had always been something about her. A soft chuckle fell from the Swede's lip. She shook her head, sending a brief glance to the still sleeping toddler in her arms. "Have you seen where we are living for now?" The prizes at the Ring Toss were some of the biggest prizes at the whole carnival! There was no way she'd be able to comfortably fit two of the giant bears in the converted barn space. "We will have room for just one. Me and little man—" She opted to utilize the nickname Iris had used for her son. "—can share." Then there was the fact she doubted the blonde's ability to actually win even just one bear. The game was notorious for being near-impossible to win.

Ring Toss was the best game she had her eyes on by far, and damn she was determined to walk away with her arms full of prizes. For decoration purposes, of course and.. thoughts are coming to a screeching halt, the idea of using any prize she collects from here out the window. ''A bear?'' Looking over her shoulder to meet familiar eyes, her face is scrunching playfully. ''I'll win two. One for little man, and well.. you as well of course. Only because you want one.''

[swedethings]

Agnes gave a swift nod, her smile widening at the fact Iris appeared to remember her love of baking. She used to make different Swedish desserts to bring to different events and functions at Cape May Regional High School. Baking had been one of her initial ways of communicating with those around her when her English capabilities consider of only a little more than 'yes', 'no', 'please', and 'thank you'. "Jaha. I still make lemon squares." She made a mental note to remember the English name for citronsnitter. It should be easy enough. After all, the dish was literally lemon-flavored square-shaped pastries. "You remembered." Her smile grew even wider. She'd not thought it was possible to smile this wide; but she was beginning to learn of the possibility the more time she spent reunited with the blonde.

As Iris began to interact with Gunnar, the brunette could feel her heart swell in her chest at the sight. It took her a moment to even register the other's words; and from there, it took her a moment longer than usual to work through her mental translations to formulate a response. One of the good things about Duckie’s Farm Market was the fact the fruit was organic. There was no need to rinse off pesky pesticides before consumption. "If he will let you, of course." While her son loved his strawberries, he could be rather picky about who he let feed him or offer him food—even with his mamma's approval. It would be interesting to see the toddler's view of the blonde.

''Shit, you still make lemon squares? That.. that is good knowledge to have.'' The low chuckle slipping out in an attempt to cover up the nerves ,setting the bag of lemons she gathered into her basket. When she mentioned the toddler eating all of the strawberries & watching Gunnar react to the mention of the fruit, she started to laugh when she saw him pointing. ''That's right, buddy. I don't know if your mom would let you have one right away, but.. I can ask for you.'' Looking up at Agnes with raised brows and a nod of her head down towards him. ''May I feed him a strawberry?''

[swedethings]

Hearing the familiar voice pulled Agnes's focus away from the toppled lemons. As ocean hues fell to the blonde EMT, her face lit up; though she quickly tried to hide her smile behind a nervous chuckle—and blame said chuckle on her embarrassment from the mess her son had accidentally made thanks to his curiosity.

"Lemons... I want to make citronsnitter. They are, uh, they are little lemon squares." She could not recall if there was a similar treat in America. There probably was; but the brunette's brain currently was not functioning properly, thus leading to the name escaping her. It was hard to focus when she got lost in those skies Iris dared to call eyes. "We need other groceries also. Gunnar finished all the strawberries again." At the sound of his name and the mention of his favorite food, the little boy squealed with excitement. “Gubbe! Mina gubbe!” He pointed to the strawberries already in his mamma’s basket.

The market had been no place for the EMT's that vowed at the entrance 'divide & conquer' to ensure they could get everything on the list. She'd been welcomed with open arms in a career she excelled in with no judgement from the outside, Agnes had been in town and.. well, it was Agnes. Her mind seemed to be short circuiting just thinking about her as of lately and maybe they'd finally find the time to properly talk abo-- the lemons rolling have her brows knitting together, not being able to help the smile as she recognizes the toddler & his mother. ''The two of you look like your having the time of your lives.'' Cooing at the toddler as she scoots closer, but also kneeling to pick up some of the lemons. ''This was actually the next thing I needed. What brings you two down here?''

[swedethings]

Agnes could hear the sheer determination in Iris's voice. The blonde wanted to win her a bear. In all honesty, she'd be okay leaving the carnival without the bear in hand as long as Iris had tried. After all, it was the thought that counted, the fact that the other had jumped so quickly at the opportunity. She watched as the blonde stepped up to the game's counter. There were a handful of rings laid out before her. Ocean hues watched as the first ring was picked up and tossed. Then the second. They watched as the rings danced around the lip of one of the bottles before ultimately settling on it. "Hur—" The Swede was speechless, mouth agape at the fact Iris had settled not one but two rings onto a bottle... And what was even more impressive was how she managed to do it again.

Unfortunately, the commotion from the other carnival goers who had gathered was enough to wake Gunnar. The toddler stirred in her arms, opening sleepy eyes and gazing up at his mamma. It took Agnes a moment to realize her son had even woken up. She was still in shock from Iris's spectacular win. "Hej älskling... Vill du välja ett pris? En björn?" She tried to direct the groggy toddler's focus to the array of prizes he could choose from; but he was clearly still half asleep despite all the noise. All he managed to say was 'gul' before resting his head once more on his mamma's shoulder. With that single word, the brunette knew which one to pick. She stepped forward, closing the gap between her and Iris. "I think he will like the yellow bear." She resituated how she was holding her son in order to gesture to the bear in question.

with determination in her icy optics, iris' lips curl slightly as she looks over her shoulder again so she could take the time to properly admire her features, then down to the toddler in her arms. there'd be a way to get two for her, she'd just work out a way to surprise her in the end. ''one bear for little man then.'' the paramedic's attention turning back to the game infront of her to toss two rings onto the same pin, then following suit with the other three that had been placed before her. when she had been deemed the winner, iris shoots a look over her shoulder to agnes again with the corners of her lips curling up. ''guess its time for you to pick a prize.''