rationalization

[Fitzy Patricks]

I look up at the ceiling for a moment while James is speaking, already planning to not reply to that one, and then give Shell an exasperated look. "No, just old enough to know that a spider is an arachnid." I shake my head briefly, looking back at James. "Your mother is easily offended."

[Shelby Crescent]

James nods, watching Fitzy and Shell for a few moments. "Did I say something wrong?' he asks looking over to his mom with a curious face. Shell sighs a little returning Fitzy's expression. "Just eat your dinner James." "What's offended?" "Eat your dinner James Nicholas Chou." He sighs, looking down to his plate before putting a forkful of pasta in his mouth.

[Fitzy Patricks]

I raise my eyebrows at Shelby again, resisting the thought of just answering the kid's questions as that probably wouldn't be good for her parental authority. I don't really see what he did do wrong, however... but god forbid that Shelby ever make any sense.

[Shelby Crescent]

"Mum, please what's offended?" he asks again after swallowing the bite. "It's when mum overreacts to something that hurts her feelings." "Oooh. Do you offended mum alot?" he asks Fitzy as Shell sat down with her plate taking a bite now as well.

[Fitzy Patricks]

"Always have," I say to James, still looking at Shelby before shaking my head. "Because I never have any idea what's going to make her react."
I pause very briefly after that, shrugging and deciding that I may as well eat also.

[Shelby Crescent]

"And why's that?" "Cause men are clueless to women in the first place and I'm more complicated than most." she says with a nod before taking another bite. "Has mum offended you before?" he asks after eating some more spaghetti.

[Fitzy Patricks]

"Don't listen to her." I shake my head at James, leaning back against the counter with my plate of spaghetti. "She's making generalizations that aren't necessarily true. I'll admit that I'm clueless about people and she's complicated... or possibly insane... but don't believe in stereotypes."
It's only when I'm just about to take a bite of spaghetti that I realize Mel might be hungry - though she's still staring contentedly up at the ceiling, so maybe not - and that I haven't answered the kid's second question.
It's a good one. Have I ever been offended by anyone? Probably, but I can't think of examples.

[Shelby Crescent]

James tilts his head to the side slightly. "So girls aren't complicated? What's complicated? And stereotypes?' he asks with a puzzled face, causing Shell to smile lightly. "Don't worry James, men get confused when it comes to girls. "And as for you Fitzy, I'm not insane much to your belief." she says rolling her eyes at him almost waiting for his answer about being offended by herself.

[Fitzy Patricks]

"I just said it was possible," I shrug, then frown slightly while I continue to think through James's question. "I don't think you've ever offended me though...." I say slowly after a moment. "I don't think you've called me anything I really didn't deserve, and most of the time not even that. So I've never had reason for offense... that I can remember."

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell smiles weakly at him before looking back to her plate and continue eating. James glances over at Mel, curious at her now as well. "She okay?" he asks pointing over to Melody.

[Fitzy Patricks]

"Who, her?" I ask unnecessarily, following his gaze and his finger. Melody's looking at us when I glance over, but then looks back at the ceiling and giggles again. I still have no idea what she finds so entertaining up there.
"As okay as she can be, considering the gene pool," I shrug, already half-anticipating what his next questions will be.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell laughs a little bit at Fitzy's last comment but James just stares at Fitzy. "What do you mean?" he asks as Shell gets up from her chair. She walks over to Mel and kneels behind the highchair to see from her angle what she was looking at on the ceiling. "You sure different from your father." she says laughing again as she kept staring at the ceiling.

[Fitzy Patricks]

I shake my head slightly at James, not sure I really want to try and explain all of that. "Basically, I mean that you're mum's right, I guess. She is different from me. And her mother. And hopefully her uncle because he was an idiot. Maybe she'll turn out like Lilith, since she seems to be crazy and happy enough already."

[Shelby Crescent]

"Lilith is who?' he asks watching his mum and Mel, just laughing as it seemed to be nothing. "I think they're crazy." he says nodding over to him as his plate was completely empty.

[Fitzy Patricks]

"Probably," I shrug, glancing at Melody and Shell again and shaking my head... though I can't help but to smile at it anyway, even if they are insane. "Lilith is my sister... the one person in the family who turned out all right, so far. She's relatively smart now, but still decent, with no emotional scarring." I shrug slightly. I don't know how or if I expect him to understand half of what I say. I guess it's been too long since I talked to anybody.

[Shelby Crescent]

James nods lightly before looking at his mum again. "Or she's just overly happy and cheerful. Seems they get along well." he says smiling faintly at him. "Are you scarred?" he asks with a faint yawn. Shell glances over at him and sighs before getting up and taking his hand. "I think that's enough questions out of you sweetie." she says picking him up and walking back to the couch so he could sleep again.

Walking back into the kitchen she looks over to Mel before glancing up at Fitzy. "Sorry about him. He always asks a hundred questions." Shell says picking up hers and James' plates and placing them in the sink.

[Fitzy Patricks]

I'm starting to wonder when or if the questions will end, and at what point I'll say something that Shelby will wish I hadn't told her four-year-old, but I guess the yawn saves me from that. Melody yawns right after James does, looking directly at me, and I raise an eyebrow at her in response. She just woke up a few hours ago. But then she looks down at the tableish part of her high chair, patting it a few times, so maybe she is just hungry. Creepy little silent baby....
"No problem," I shrug when Shelby returns, still half-eying Mell. "Maybe he'll wind up a ravenclaw."

[Shelby Crescent]

"I think he wants to be a Gryffindor though. Not sure." she shrugs looking over at Mel again. "I think she's tired and she wants out of the high chair." Shell suggests before walking over to Melody and picking her up so she could rest on her right hip and walking back over to Fitzy, simply bouncing her lightly.

[Fitzy Patricks]

"You speak baby better than I do, so I'll just take your word for it," I shrug, watching Melody yawn again and lay her head on Shelby's shoulder. "And he's got a fair bit of time to decide."

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell smiles lightly, moving her thumbs lightly over Melody's shoulder blades and back in small circles. "That's true. I think it's just because of Jay to be honest. Liese's the same way." she says softly. "Do you want to put her in her crib or should I?"

[Fitzy Patricks]

"Again, you're a hell of a lot better at all of this," I shrug by way of answering. "Remind me to never tell Mell then that her mother was in Slytherin. I doubt she'll ever want to be like me, but it can't be hard to idolize a parent that you've never met, and I wouldn't want to risk it."

[Shelby Crescent]

"Okay then. No telling Mel about her Slytherin roots, got it." she says with a nod before assuming the crib was upstairs. Walking to her room she placed Melody lightly on the bed and put a cover on her just watching her slowly fall asleep. "So. What now?" she asks turning around to face Fitzy with a curious expression.

[Fitzy Patricks]

Good question.... I shrug, somewhat mystified. "I don't know... but are you going to have to get home soon? I mean, where are the rest of your flock?"
I hope that she doesn't interpret this as wanting to get rid of her, 'cause I don't. But it is a genuine question.

[Shelby Crescent]

"Jenny's over tonight and most of them are now over the age of fourteen so I don't have much to worry about with them anymore." she responds with a shrug of her own. "Do you want me to leave or something cause I can if you want..."

[Fitzy Patricks]

"No, that's all right," I say quickly, shaking my head. "Your the first person I've seen since Arden disappeared, so...." I shrug, smiling faintly.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell smiles lightly before walking back down the steps and sitting on the couch. Looking around the room she starts fumbling with her hands, unsure what to even talk about with him. What do you say to a guy you haven't seen in a few years?

[Fitzy Patricks]

Hm... and so the silence descends.... I sit down on the other piece of furniture in here, a ratty old armchair, and whistle internally for a moment before realizing that it's a habit I picked up from Arden.
It probably was not a good idea to rely on pretty much only one person for all human contact and intelligent conversation over the last few years. now I'm not sure how to talk anymore.

[Shelby Crescent]

Shell glances over at him and smiles lightly before looking back up at the ceiling briefly and then her hands again. "So. This is a decent place you have?" she says almost like a question but bites her lip so after she thinks of something to ask, but she'll keep that to herself.

[Fitzy Patricks]

"I guess...." I shrug slightly, giving her a sidelong glance. "It's a house, anyway." Much like what I eat, I don't pay much attention to where I live. But I do know this place is a little too gloomy to meet most people's standards for 'nice.'

((Oh... there's only one floor, by the way. I didn't really bother to correct you before 'cause it's not that important... *shrug*))

[Shelby Crescent]

"Just trying to make conversation is all." she says with a shrug. "Not saying it's not decent." Shell adds quickly with a faint smile. "Fitzy. How can we get along somewhat when we're polar opposite?"

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