#Draal still becomes a basement bro btw because Claire only has an attic

[avirxy]

Hi! In the First Frost AU, how did Strickler and Barabra wind up meeting?

They originally met at the hospital, Strickler was visiting someone, who he claims was his cousin but had actually been attacked by Bular and he was checking to see if they recalled anything particular that wouldn’t be in line with an animal attack or the gnarly wounds they received.

He caught Barbara in the hall, asked her a few more questions about his ‘cousin’ out of concern, said cousin unfortunately passes away some weeks later out of the public eye.

They bumped into each-other again at a bookshop while Barbara was attempting to find good cook books for Jim, because this would be around early sixth grade and he’s really start to show his interest in cooking more complex meals and Barbara’s at a complete loss. Strickler offers to help, having a little experience in worldwide cuisine, this is where she learns he travels around in the winter months.

They spend an hour finding the best and most unique ones.

It becomes a bit of a pattern, bumping into one another in-town, the grocery store, the cafe, things that spiral into a coffee date, then two, three. Barbara hesitates of course, because Jim is her priority, her family, and she didn’t want to openly trust someone again just to be hurt.

Strickler is adamant that they’ll go at her pace, or even break it off if she wants to. They don’t and it takes a little more time before Barbara invites him over for dinner, to meet Jim, things go so smoothly it almost feels unreal.

That is until sophomore year, when her son and his friends start really getting into trouble, sneaking out, their basement has been rearranged several times and lightbulbs are starting to go missing from lamps in the house. Ophelia’s daughter even has some strange amulet with her, the weird glow it casts gives Barbara the indication something’s truly amiss. Wasn’t that the amulet Walter and Nomura recovered some time ago? Supposed to be in the museum.

And then it comes to a head, one final dinner between her, Jim and Strickler breaks it all.