mbv, Skylar's Attic and Samuel's Apartment, Evening Rituals

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Melissa:  *goes downstairs to see Pandita*

Pandita: *sitting in one of the chairs in an awkward looking position, nose firmly in a history book*

Melissa:  *knocks timidly on his partially open door*

Pandita: *looks up and smiles, before moving to get up out of the chair* How may I help you, Melissa?

Melissa:  *ducks her head as she holds up a plate with a generous serving of casserole and lemon pickled zucchini slices*  It... it's time to eat....

Pandita: Oh! I lost track of time... thanks for reminding me, Melissa. *smiles as he moves to get the plate*

Melissa:  *gives it to him, and then offers him the glass of fruit-ade she'd been carrying in the other hand and with which she'd knocked on the door*

Pandita: *thanks Melissa again as he reaches for the glass*

Melissa:  *manages a smile*  You're welcome.  *turns to go back out and up the outside stairs before she runs into anyone else*

In the attic

Skylar: *trying to finish up his homework from Merlin's class before he eats*

TC:  *on the floor looking under the futon for his other shoe so that he can go to his janitor job at the college.  His washed up plate and glass are sitting on the drainage rack on the wall in front of the sink*

Melissa:  *looks around, checks her tidy kitchen corner, and then timidly offers to help TC find his shoe*

TC:  No.  I have it.  *pulls it out and puts it on*

Melissa:  *discomfited.  TC will never let her do anything.  Also not sure what to do now*

Skylar: *looks up from where he's finishing the physics homework, smiles as he moves to tuck his completed work back into his bag* This smells really good, Melissa...

Melissa:  *brightens*  Thank you, Skylar.

Skylar: *as he moves to get some of the food Melissa cooked* Have you eaten yet?

Melissa:  *stops short and looks at the plate shelf, and then at the drying rack*  Oh... I don't think so.

Skylar: Well, come and eat... I'll help with the dishes.

Melissa:  Yes, Skylar.  *smiles as she comes over and offers to dish up the hearty macaroni and beef casserole*

Skylar: *smiles and moves to gently kiss Melissa on the cheek*

Melissa:  *ducks her head and blushes, but she's grinning.  Though the grin falters as TC takes his second tumble down the stairs in six days*

TC:  *bounces to his feet at the bottom and lopes toward the bus stop*

Skylar: *amused sigh*

Melissa:  *hiding on Skylar's arm*  Is... is he alright?

Skylar: He's fine... We would've heard cussing if he was hurt.

Melissa:  *sighs and peeks*

Skylar: *clicks as he moves to get Melissa a plate*

Melissa:  May I fill the plates?  *knows she really can't reach the plate shelf without a stool... and stools scare her*

Skylar: *nods as he holds the plates*

Melissa:  *scoops up a big helping of the casserole for Skylar, and a much smaller bit for herself.  Then adds zucchini slices... her favorite part of the meal*

Skylar: *Raised brow at the size of the portions, concerned that Melissa isn't getting enough to eat*

Melissa:  *looks up at him with a happy smile, pleased that she's filled the plates well.  Sees his brow and falters*  ??

Skylar: *gently* Are you sure that's enough for you?

Melissa:  *looks at her plate, and then adds more zucchini*

Skylar: *small chuckle, moves to sit down after thanking Melissa for cooking*

Melissa:  *settles in the other chair at the tiny table by the window which has the microwave for a centerpiece*  You're welcome.  *happy smile*

Skylar: *smiles as he begins to eat*

Melissa:  *has a couple bites of casserole, and then sets to on the veggies*  Mmmm.

Skylar: *making pleased noises as he eats*

Melissa:  *very very happy femme.  The mech she loves is pleased with his meal, and she has something lovely to eat herself*

Skylar: *admiring Melissa as he eats his meal*

Melissa:  *finishes up her pickles, and then hesitantly offers Skylar the rest of her casserole*

Skylar: *shakes his head* I'm good, thanks. *small smile*

Melissa:  *looks at it, and then gets up to put it into a container for the little fridge*

Skylar: *gets up and moves to clean up the dishes, before asking Melissa if she wants him to put the rest of the food put into containers to go into the fridge*

Melissa:  *looks up from eating the rest of the zucchini*  May I put the food away?

Skylar: *small nod* I'll get the dishes cleaned up then.

Melissa:  *happy and loving smile, then blinks*  Oh!  I have to go get Pandita's dishes.

Skylar: I'll go get 'em... I need to ask him about some of the homework from Jack's class anyways...

Melissa:  Alright.  *smile, eyes bright*

Skylar: *gentle nuzzle, before he goes to bug Pandita*

Melissa:  *watches him go down the stairs and to the back door, then makes sure that the table and the microwave are nice and clean as she waits for him to come back.  All the food fits nicely into the little fridge, and she makes sure that the door is closed properly this time*

Skylar: *After about ten minutes, he returns, shaking his head and chuckling about something Pandita said*

Melissa:  *looks up brightly, perking as he comes in*

Skylar: Pandita's been reading too much into the assignment Merlin gave us for Jack's class... *amused*

Melissa:  *going to the sink to help him tend to that last plate and glass*  What do you mean?

Skylar: He got books regarding alchemy from the library... all because the assignment is about how alchemy gave way to modern chemistry...

Melissa:  *quizzical as she absently swishes the dish cloth around*

Skylar: He had a few books open to specific alchemy symbols and formulas... *chuckles* I should show him that one cartoon about alchemists...

Melissa:  There's a cartoon about them?  *waiting for that plate to go into the sink*

Skylar: *as he puts the plate into the sink he nods* Yeah... it's based off of a comic from Japan...

Melissa:  *wash wash, her attention never straying from him*  Ohhh.

Skylar: *Grabbing a towel to dry dishes* One of the nutters in Jack's class offered to bring her DVDs of the series in "For the sake of research"...

Melissa:  *eyes widen slightly* Nutter?  Is that bad?

Skylar: Nah... The girl's just really... eccentric... *is trying to be nice, honest!*

Melissa:  Ohhh.

Skylar: I just hope Jack gets better soon... Merlin's a good teacher and all... but seeing him for two classes in a row is starting to get tedious.

Melissa:  *finishes wiping the sink out and turns to offer him a hug of sympathy*

Skylar: *finishes drying dishes and moves to gently nudge Melissa towards the futon as he hugs her*

Melissa:  *happily wrapped in her husband's arms, and daring to hug him back as she goes the way he wants her to go*

Skylar: *Once they're both over by the futon, he's gently suggesting that they lay down for a little while*

Melissa:  Yes, Skylar.  *peeks up at him with a shy smile*

Skylar: *Smiles and moves to gently nuzzle Melissa's head*

Melissa:  *sighs softly as she settles on the firm softness of the futon and makes a little nestling motion*

Skylar: *Contented sound as he snuggles*

Melissa:  *hand close gently on two handfuls of his shirt as she listens to the soft beating in his chest*  I love you.

Skylar: *surprised, blushing a bit as he kisses the top of Melissa's head* Love you too.

Melissa:  *totally, utterly happy as she snuggles*


Across town

Sky:  *face scrunched with disgust as she throws a flaming skillet out over the balcony and into the yard*

Samuel: *peeking from behind one of the kitchen chairs*

Sean:  0_0  *shirt pulled up over his face from where he's sitting on the couch*

Seamus: *Facepalming as he finishes opening windows* Okay, Sammy-boy... You're not allowed to cook anything that requires heating up.

Sky:  *looks at him*  I was cooking.

Seamus: ... You're not allowed to cook anything that requires heating up either.

Sky:  I understand it's the female's accepted task.  *frowwwn*

Seamus: ... Since when?

Sky:  That's what my internet and television research showed.

Seamus: ... That may be what the humans show as the norm... but I kinda think it'd be better if I handle the cooking for now... at least until Lisa can give you some pointers...

Sky:  Lisa told me this was foolproof.  *watches one of the neighbors pounce on the pan with a fire extinguisher*

Sean:  *coughs, and then nearly launches off the couch as the fire alarm starts*

Samuel: *Cusses as he hits his head on the table in his haste to get up*

Seamus: *as he moves to herd everyone out* How the heck did you manage to light it on fire?!

Sky:  ...I have no idea.  :\

Sean:  *wraps his arms around his father's waist and holds on as he's herded*

Samuel: *Clicking and fussing, will also nudge Sean closer to Sky and hold her close once everyone's outside*

Neighbor:  Hey... look at that, we got a fire truck.

Sky:  *stoic expression*

Samuel: ...

Sean:  *hides*

Seamus: *Sigh*

Fireman:  I don't see much smoke.  *frowning and looking up*

Neighbor:  Here's the fire.  *hands him dead pan*

Fireman:  ...Ohhhh.  Dang.  *laugh sympathetically*  Yours?

Neighbor:  *headshake*

Seamus: *Mutters to Sky* You owe me a shake for this... *Steps forward, looking sheepish*

Sky:  *stoicism melts into confusion as she glances at her mate*  What's he doing?

Samuel: taking the blame...

Sky:  *confused face quirk*  Why?

Samuel: *small shrug* No clue... just humor him?

Sky:  ...Alright.

Sean:  *cough cough cough sneeze*

Fireman:  *looks worriedly at the boy*  Did he get too much smoke?

Samuel: *fussing over Sean now*

Fireman:  *nods to one of his buddies, who brings an oxygen tank and offers the mask*

Sean:  I'm okay, Dad.  *cough cough*

Seamus: *worried about his nephew now*

Fireman2:  *gently slips the mask onto Sean, never dreaming that it won't really help the boy*  Here.  Breath some of this.  

Samuel: *Fussing*

Sean:  *manages to make it look like he's breathing without coughing, his dark eyes going up to his father and mother*

Sky:  *gentle hand on her son's hair*

Samuel: *holding Sean's hand gently*

Sean:  *pulls off the mask*  I'm okay now.  *grins at the second fireman*  Thanks.

Fireman 2:  *frowns at him doubtfully*

Sean:  *head shake and look at his dad*  I'm okay.  Really.

Samuel: *moving to gently rub Sean's back*

Fireman2:  *takes the mask*  Alright, if you're sure.

Sky:  *watches the firetruck pull away, then looks at her mate's brother with one brow arched*

Seamus: *putting on his best cheesy/sheepish grin* How does burgers from the burger joint sound for dinner?

Sky:  Make it that new thing with the gravy and the cheese.

Sean:  *perks*  Chicken salad?

Seamus: Sure thing. ^_^

Samuel: *facepalming and calling his brother a ham over comms*

Sean:  With two of the big dressing packs?  *he loves being able to eat*

Seamus: *nods*

Sean:  *hugging himself happily, his dark eyes shining*

Samuel: *chuckles as he gently musses Sean's hair*

Sean:  *makes a little sound and ducks his head, then fixes hair*

Sky:  *smiles a bit and also straightens Sean's hair*  I should cut my hair.

Samuel: ...Why? It looks nice the way it is...

Sky:  I don't see any other women with their hair this long.  *examines a lock of her butt-length dark hair*

Sean:  *looks up*  It's raining.  :o

Samuel: But it looks nice the way it is... *setting up to wibble, jumps when some thunder cracks in the distance*

Sky:  0_0  //Is someone shooting?//

Seamus: *Flinches as well*

Samuel: *headshake, moving to herd everyone except for Seamus inside like NOW PLZ* >.<.

Seamus: *hurrying to get to the bus stop*

Sky:  *face turned to the sprinkling of rain as she lets herself be urged back into the building.  Once there she picks up her son despite his size and hauls him up the stairs*

Sean:  *looking over her shoulder at his father*  o.0

Samuel: *flinching at the next loud thunder crackle and breathing quickly*

Sky:  *pauses in front of the front door of their apartment and looks at her mate with a frown of concern*  What's wrong?

Samuel: *slight flinch* I... Don't like storms... //Too much like the slag back on Cybertron...// *doing his best to not hide under the table at the next thunder crack*

Sky:  *shuts the door behind them, and then looks down at Sean before walking over and grabbing Samuel by the arm and bringing him to the couch which faces the balcony in their spacious and happily cluttered living room.  Yanks him down and sits by him with her arms around him much in the same way as she comforts Sean*

Samuel: *startled at first, flinches at a particularly loud crack of thunder, hides his face against Sky* [S-Sorry I'm such a coward...]

Sky:  *snorts and rubs his back*  [Sunstreaker... you're many things, but coward isn't one of 'em.]

Sean:  *worried about dad... but then distracted by the increase in rain and goes to look through the window next to the balcony window*

Samuel: *slight hiccup, he's not crying, and you can't prove it, so there!*

Sky:  *frowning deeply, but she clicks softly and turns to pull him closer*  [Sundog, will you go to your room and watch the weather there?]

Sean:  *turns and sees them.  Nods*  [Yes, Skywarp.]  *grabs his library book and trots off down the hall*

Samuel: *hesitantly moves to cling to Sky, is trying his hardest not to flinch at every thunder crack*

Sky:  *strokes his hair, and then rocks a little*  [Shhh, you're safe.  I'll protect you.] *the same words a guard once spoke to an Autobot prisoner....*

Samuel: *the only hint that he's crying is that where his head is resting against Sky's shirt is now becoming a little damp*

Sky:  *moves a bit so that they're laying down with Samuel between herself and the back of the couch, then pulls the patchwork quilt down from the back of it so that it partially covers them*  [Shhhh.]  *soft clicks*

Samuel: *clings to Sky, comforted by her presence*

Sky:  *makes sure the quilt covers their heads, and then settles down to just hold him and protect him as the thunder draws nearer and the rain is joined by gusts of wind*

Samuel: *keeping his eyes shut firmly and clinging tightly but not painfully so*

Patrick: *knocking at the front door*

Sky:  *hears, but doesn't move*

Patrick: Miss Watson? Samuel? If you're home, open the door please? Seamus is shaking like a leaf out here!

Samuel: *shivering a bit now, in response to his brother's fright as well as his own*

Sky:  *frowns, and then calls her son to come and answer the door, though she'd hoped to spare Samuel being seen by him while frightened*

Sean:  *comes trotting out and opens the door, his face creased with concern*

Patrick: *has his big coat on, and one arm around Seamus' shoulder* I found him in the bus stop shelter...

Seamus: *has his head ducked and is clinging to a couple of burger joint bags hard enough that his knuckles have turned white*

Sean:  *takes the bags and goes and sets them on the corner of the cluttered coffee table, and then looks toward his parents*

Sky:  I can't do anything.  I have Samuel.  *bit sharp. This one's mine.  That one's not.*

Patrick: *gentle concern on his face as he moves to help Seamus over to a chair* According to the weather reports, the storm should be breaking soon...

Sky:  Good.

Patrick: *nods to Sky and Sean, before heading out*

Sky:  *frowns after him, but doesn't try to look at Seamus after he's gone.  Instead she ducks back under the quilt and resumes comforting her wordmate*

Sean:  *can't help it.  He's getting out the food and setting it on plates.  As he works he glances at his uncle worriedly*

Seamus: *not moving his head, but still looking out the window and shivering slightly*

Sean:  *pauses, his hands falling to his sides.  Then looks at his parents, grabs his supper, and quickly heads back to his room so that he won't embarrass his father and uncle*

*one last REALLY LOUD thunder crack that makes Seamus and Samuel both flinch, and then the storm quiets down to a gentle shower*

Sky:  [Shhhh.  *clicks to Samuel*  You're safe.  I'll protect you.]

Seamus: *listening to make absolutely sure that the thunder isn't going to start up again, before he's moving and quietly getting himself one of the plates of food*

Samuel: *once the storm quiets down, he's relaxing enough to give Sky a grateful look*

Sky:  *gives Samuel a smile, and then pushes the quilt down from their heads*

Seamus: *sitting on the floor in his usual "Food Time" spot*

Samuel: *the beginnings of a smile cross his face as he moves to get up carefully*

Sky:  *sits up and then stands to let him up.  Also takes the quilt and folds it*

Samuel: *gets up and goes to grab the remaining two plates. He then brings them both over, offering Sky one of the plates*

Sky:  *chuckles as she sees that Sean dumped her poutine sucker side down*  *puts the quilt on the back of the couch and takes the plate*  Thanks.

Samuel: *smiles as he moves to sit in front of the couch like he normally does while eating*

Sky:  *watching him as she eats the hot fries, cheese, and gravy with her fingers*

Samuel: *making his ranch fries vanish at a rapid pace, appears to be over his earlier fright*

Sky:  *studying the profile of his face, looking for traces of the mech that she used to defend against the other guards when he was in her care*

Samuel: *glances over his shoulder, and there's the faintest hint of his true appearance in his jawline and cheekbones*

Seamus: *making a face at his brother*

Sky:  *her mouth turns up at the corners inadvertently as she sees that hint, and then she looks over at Seamus and gives him a Look*

Seamus: *:P   at Sky, will nom his chicken strips now*

Samuel: ... *Raised brow at sibling and mate, before he shakes his head and resumes eating*

Sean:  *comes out at Sky's call, his salad still half there, and settles down to curl up against his mother and behind his father as he finishes eating*

Sky:  *content*

Sean:  *also content, and loving his ranch dressing with chicken and plants*

Samuel: *quick, admiring glance at Sky, before Seamus makes a comment that earns the young man fries to the face*

Sky:  *leans back and puts one arm around her son as she settles down to watch the regular evening entertainment*

((Co-written with random_xtras))