|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 9, 2008 4:36:08 GMT
I cough very slightly, wondering if that was an awkward topic somehow, or if I sounded too bitter. I'm far too out of practice with human interaction to be much of a judge.
"Almost there, yeah," I nod. My house is the one about a block up ahead with a massive tree blocking most of the front windows, looking somehow more sunken and dark than the houses around it. I never can remember whether it looked like that from the beginning or if Arden is right that I'm somehow sucking out the cheerfulness from my surroundings.
"He's not too heavy or anything, is he?" I ask, looking warily at the kid. I'm pretty sure that kids that big are too old to be held... but then, I'm not exactly the bigger expert on parenting here.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 9, 2008 4:42:28 GMT
Shell nods a little looking around the street before glancing back over to Fitzy. "He's not that heavy... maybe a little. He just doesn't like to leave my side is all. Never did. It's sorta funny that when he was a baby he would only smile for me and no one else. I guess he's a momma's boy really and he's my youngest so I tend to baby him more than I should." she admits honestly before looking up at a huge tree. "Is this it? I know you like your privacy and with this tree blocking the whole house... I'd say it's yours."
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 9, 2008 4:47:28 GMT
I nod to show that I'm listening although I haven't got anything to say. I laugh slightly at her last comment, glancing at the tree before looking furtively from side to side, hunching my shoulders as I unlock the door. It makes me very nervous to let someone into my house like this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 9, 2008 4:53:10 GMT
Shell lets a real smile break through onto her lips this time as she walked up the steps waiting for him to open the door. Once Fitzy had it open she walked in and frowns again once looking down at James, still sleeping soundly in her arms. "Do you think I can let him sleep in a chair or a couch with a blanket maybe? He's starting to get heavy." Shell says before turning around to face him again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 9, 2008 5:00:05 GMT
"Ah... yeah, sure," I shrug, turning away from the complicated process of relocking the door. I nod over at the largely unused couch behind her, and try to remember if I happen to have a random blanket around here anywhere. In the meantime, however, I notice how dim it is in here, and dial up the adjustable light a bit. "I don't know if I have a blanket or anything, but that's fine."
Is Melody normally awake at this time of day? Should I be hearing anything from her room or is it perfectly normal that I don't?
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 9, 2008 5:04:42 GMT
Shell nods lightly again walking over to the couch and kneeling down in front of it so she could lay James down softly on the cushion. She smiles another real smile at him before kissing him softly on the forehead and whispering a 'i love you' in his ear before getting up again and walking back to where Fitzy was.
"So, where's the infant you left alone in your house?" she asks rocking back and forth on her high heels just giving him a grin but also teasing look.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 9, 2008 14:12:13 GMT
I twitch my shoulders a little at the affection she's showing her kid, and sidle out of the room a little with the thought that I really should be checking on mine.
"She's down there." I nod down the hallway. "Just making sure she's still alive, if you want to join me."
And she is, of course. Perfectly fine, really, and still sleeping. I eye her a little bit warily for a moment after I've ascertained this, just making sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 10, 2008 1:54:20 GMT
Shell walks down the hallway to where Fitzy was standing just looking in the room with a smile. "That's a nice way of putting it. Are you ever affectionate towards Melody?" she asks softly watching him a little before glancing over at her as well. "She's really pretty though. Does she look more like you or her mom?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 10, 2008 3:20:54 GMT
"She pretty much looks like a baby, in my opinion." I shrug slightly, glancing in the crib again. Dark hair, inconclusively colored eyes, typical baby features that don't look like anyone in particular. "Maybe a little like Arden... so therefore my side of the family anyway."
I don't really see why I should have to add that of course I'm not affectionate - I never have been, to anybody. 'Oh, nothing, just wondering whether you're dead' is about the closest I'll ever get to 'I was worried about you.'
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 10, 2008 3:52:24 GMT
Shell just shakes her head a little. "Well she's still adorable." she says after a few seconds. "So, it's just you and Melody then? No girlfriend or anything? Not even a relative besides Arden that comes to visit you two?" she asks with a faint frown as she glanced up at him again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 10, 2008 3:57:46 GMT
"Not really." I laugh slightly, shaking my head. "A few other relatives, I guess, but they don't come very often. I think you're the first person I've spoken to almost a week. Well...." I glance at Melody again. "First one who understood any of it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 10, 2008 4:05:32 GMT
Shell smiles again before laughing a bit. "Understood? Is that some secret Fitzy code that means something else? Never really caught onto your statements, even in school." she says before walking out of the room and into what she would assume was the kitchen.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 10, 2008 4:11:27 GMT
I laugh very slightly at that, mainly in confusion, following her out and down the hall into the kitchen. "No, that was plain and simple English meaning that you are the first person I've talked to other than Melody, and she of course doesn't really count since she doesn't talk back." I shrug slightly, changing the subject. "So what about you? Still a social butterfly?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 10, 2008 4:18:42 GMT
"When have I been a social butterfly besides well... yeah. We both know that. But no if that's what you mean. I've been single and alone just the kids." she says softly before looking around a bit. "Think I could stay for dinner? I haven't really talked to anyone either lately."
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 10, 2008 4:22:21 GMT
"Everyone is compared to me," I shrug, knowing perfectly well that I was at least partially thinking of/referring to the whorishness. I glance around the kitchen as well after this, shrugging again. "If you don't mind the fact that I don't really have any food."
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 10, 2008 4:26:34 GMT
Shell shakes her head again before sitting down at the table. "I guess we as in not leaving the baby home alone to the store and buy a few things. I could cook. I have a feeling you don't that often." she says with a slight laugh.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 10, 2008 4:32:25 GMT
"Well, I do know how to boil water," I shrug, surprising myself with a half-smile. "But other than that, not really. I have the sort of food that soldiers and astronauts eat, most of it probably expired." I don't reply directly to her offer, because I really don't know if I should take her up on it, not if I'm being a polite ad proper host. But, then again, a polite and proper host should have real food instead of the stuff he usually eats.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 10, 2008 4:41:29 GMT
"That's more than I thought you could do to be honest." she teases slightly before shrugging a bit. "Or we could order out then if you don't want to leave your batcave."
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 10, 2008 4:50:52 GMT
"Batcave?" I repeat, raising my eyebrows with another creaky-feeling smile. I say this partially to give myself thinking time, however - it is a big decision whether or not to leave my lair - and consider it a moment. Ordering out would involve giving a stranger my address, however, so that's the deciding factor.
"No... maybe I should start having proper food around here. Get used to it, right? Not to mention we're going to develop a vitamin d deficiency if we don't leave the house more." I shrug slightly, trying to ignore how often I've used words like 'we' and 'family' in the last few minutes. "So if that's all right with you...." I add, even though she suggested it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 10, 2008 4:55:00 GMT
"Yes batcave. You hide your house behind a tree and you just said that you never leave the house." Shell nods slightly. "But I don't mind, I suggest it. Think you should wake her up then." she says with another nod. "Unless you want me to do it. I think I'm more umm. baby associated no offense." she says with a small smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 10, 2008 15:36:56 GMT
"You know I will have you know I didn't exactly plant that tree there," I point out, then shake my head. "And I don't know why in the hell I'd be offended by that. You've got a dozen kids; I've got one that I didn't even want. So... yeah, be my guest." Luckily, Melody really doesn't cry much, and is unusually easygoing, so I don't have too many misgivings about having her awake.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 12, 2008 2:43:13 GMT
Shell sighs at him a little before walking back down to Melody's room and wakes her up slowly. She wasn't sure how she was going to react but picks her up and places Melody on her left hip. She walks back into the kitchen where Fitzy was and smiles up at him. "So do you want to carry her or hold James' hand?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 12, 2008 2:51:52 GMT
"I think... hold her," I say after a moment's deliberation, watching as Melody yawns once, then blinks as she looks around the room. "At least I'm semi-used to it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 12, 2008 2:59:03 GMT
Shell nods, slowly letting Fitzy take his daughter from her and made sure he had a decent grip on her. She smiles a little before walking over into the living room and waking up James now as well and places him where Melody once was. "Okay time to go to the store. Anything you want in specific Fitzy?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 12, 2008 3:01:05 GMT
I laugh slightly, shifting Melody a bit. "I live on stale ramen for weeks at a time... not really picky."
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 12, 2008 3:10:11 GMT
Shell laughs a little walking towards the door. "Well I'll make us spaghetti. It's James and even my favorite." she says with a smile before walking down to the sidewalk already. "You can lead the way to the store. So can she talk?" she ask softly looking over to Melody.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 12, 2008 3:20:28 GMT
"Fine with me," I shrug, resisting the urge to repeat one of my five-year-old nephew's recent comments on spaghetti to James. I'm sure Shelby would be thrilled.
I have to pause briefly to remember which direction the store is, then nod confidently and start walking north, glancing back at Shell. "No, she doesn't talk yet. She's only..." I pause, calculating again. "... Eight months old? Ten at the oldest. And I'm pretty sure we're all borderline autistic anyway, so she probably won't talk 'til she's three."
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 12, 2008 3:28:42 GMT
Shell nods a little. "Maybe she'll be different?" she suggests following behind him as James was looking around at the buildings and the few people on the street. "James staring talking a little at a year and a couple months I think." Shell says looking up at Fitzy slightly before glancing over at her son.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 12, 2008 3:36:16 GMT
"Precocious," I mutter, raising my eyebrows, then shrug again. "Maybe. Probably nicer for her, if so."
|
|
|
|
Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 12, 2008 3:39:03 GMT
"I'm just saying. Not really sure what to talk about seeing as I haven't seen you in a few years..." she says softly before keeping her eyes glued to James' red hair.
|
|
