Test Drive Thread

[k39zzz]

Joshua, as usual, got up early, and is rummaging around in the kitchen making breakfast. As everyone woke up, they would smell eggs, waffles, bacon, and pancakes.

Artie and Steve are out on a ping and won't be back at least until tomorrow.

By the time anyone else got up, he's already set the table for breakfast.

Comments

[pitchingcurves]

Pete wanders downstairs from his room, rubbing his eyes as he yawns real wide and real loud. He grins brightly at the sight of breakfast on the table, and grabs a piece of bacon off a random plate as he circles around the table, chewing on the bacon as he surveys.

"You've been up awhile, man. Cooking to impress the missus?"

[damncompass]

"Some people try to keep a schedule, Pete." Joshua rolls his eyes. "I've always gotten up early. Anyway, don't be saying missus around Helena if you value your balls. Marriage and her haven't been friends for over a hundred years, if ever."

[pitchingcurves]

"So we ain't gonna see a ring on that finger anytime soon." Pete pulls out a chair and plops down in it. "I bet you're glad for that money saver."

And because he's not ungrateful, he pauses and then adds, "Also, thanks."

[damncompass]

"Oh, yeah, sure. Money saver." Joshua shakes his head and goes back into the kitchen and returns with more bacon.

When he comes back, he has a better expression. "Hey, no problems. Sometimes I have to shake things up a bit."

[pitchingcurves]

"Heyyy," Pete's face lights up even more. "You are the bacon wizard."

What? He loves bacon!

[damncompass]

"I just happen to know that you eat a lot of bacon, Pete, and if there's none left for Claudia, she's going to be really grumpy. Speaking of...." He goes back into the kitchen and returns with a glass of Mountain Dew.

"Now she'll wake up faster."

[thebettersort]

Myka enters the scene, not sleepy at all considering that she is an early riser as well. She has been up reading for about two hours, but eventually her stomach growled loud enough at her that she realized that she should chase the smell of food. She smiles at Joshua when she sees the spread on the table, peeking around the kitchen to see if she needs to brew tea.

"Pete," she scolds, taking the bacon from his hand as she passes behind him. "Don't eat all our food, Mister Rude."

[pitchingcurves]

"Hey!" Pete frowns at her and grabs food off what he assumes is going to be her plate. "There's enough bacon here to build a pig out of, so calm down."

[damncompass]

"I tried to tell him that, but clearly, he's not going to listen to me." Joshua smiles at Myka, waving a hand at a chair. "What do you want to drink, Myka? Coffee, juice?"

When he's halfway to the kitchen, he stops, smirking. "Technically, Pete, the bacon probably comes from half a pig." Yeah. It's that kind of morning.

[thebettersort]

"Is tea possible, perhaps?" Myka takes the chair and directs her smile at him, thankful. "Are the others awake, yet?"

[pitchingcurves]

"Okay, there's enough bacon to build half of a pig. Whatever." He steals Myka's toast. "And naw, they're slowpokes."

[damncompass]

"Helena was in the shower when I came down, actually. I think she was almost up." Joshua returns with a pot of tea, steeping merrily, which he hands to Myka.

"Claud won't be up for a while, as per usual."

MAINE LOBSTER POTS - HELENA AND PETE

[timelessinventor]

Maine is actually quite lovely this time of year. The ping came from Portland, not too far from the airport.

Helena somewhat begrudgingly let Pete rent the car (always better to let the person with an actual background do the legal work, darling) but once they got in, she made a bit of a face.

"Pete, your driving is almost worse than Artie's today for some reason."

VALLEY FORGE - JOSHUA AND MYKA

[damncompass]

The Philadelphia airport is terrible on a good day if you're comfortable flying. If you're a skittish flyer or hate crowds, it's hell.

Unfortunately, Joshua hits both of them, so by the time he's rented a car and gotten out of the airport grounds, he's almost sullenly quiet. Oops.

BOARDING HOUSE - CLAUD AND DOUG

[notalegacy]

Doug hasn't slept yet. His reasons for starting to go without sleep are the same as Claud's, but he didn't even go to sleep when Claud went to sleep. Instead, he'd been kept up by what's been keeping him up most nights lately - a frenzy of his nerves, stress, and an awkward pang in his chest for a sense of home.

It's not that Eureka wasn't his home, but lately? After everything he'd given up, it doesn't feel like it as much. He's distant from everyone because he's embarrassed of the foolish sacrifices he's made, and though they claim they're not judging him, he knows they are. He knows what judging feels like. He's used to it.

In the end, Doug decides to do something with his time and instead of hanging around, he ends up packing up a bag and heading for the Warehouse. Claud won't mind an unexpected guess, right? Riiight? :D

Well, one hopes so. By some jingle jangle of technology, he ends up there sooner than he might otherwise, though he's exhausted and almost sleeping on his feet as he knocks at the door. Hoping that Claud's there, that she won't get mad, that she might actually be happy to see him.

[claudiometer]

Actually, she was just about to head out the door and get her research-fu on (so nice of everyone to ditch her with the dishes; at least Leena chipped in), so she opens the door before he's done knocking.
"...Doug! Hi. You didn't... mention you were coming."
She's not mad, far from it. Just. Surprised.

[notalegacy]

"Yeah." Doug pauses and shifts a bit on his feet, both excited to see her and feeling incredibly awkward. The Fargo way. He brandishes up a container that holds all her favourite desserts, something he obtained at the cafe before leaving Eureka. "I... bring treats?"

[claudiometer]

"Flatterer. You could teach Pete a thing or two about the proper transit of snacks. Get in here, have you slept at all?"
The research-fu can wait a little bit.

[notalegacy]

Doug steps into the boarding house, taking stock of it in his mind, trying to judge who might and might not be around.

"Depends, does closing my eyes for thirty seconds count as sleep?"

He's slept TONS if that counts!

[claudiometer]

"Nnnnnnot so much, no."
She knows that look for what it is, so as she closes the door, she adds, "Everyone's off on pings and I think Leena already headed over to do her thing. I'm research-fu today, but that can wait for now."

[notalegacy]

"That gives you enough time to eat desserts and have the empty containers to wave in Pete's face."

And makes sure Doug doesn't have to socialize right now. He really doesn't feel up to it yet. Or like, ever.

[claudiometer]

"Damn right it does."
...Now she's not really sure where to go. Doug could clearly use a bed, especially if Artie and Steve get back first (Artie would explode and Steve would just want to know who was zonked out on the couch), but is that awkward?
Well, it's better than standing around in the hallway like a dumbass, at least, so Claudia heads for the stairs. "C'mon, you can sleep or ramble at me, whichev."
After all, if it comes to it she can do the research-fu from her room.

[notalegacy]

Doug pauses for a moment as his stomach rumbles.... really loudly. "Uh... can a sandwich be involved in that mix?"

[claudiometer]

"Sandwich, tasty snacks, take your pick." He did get the tasty snacks in question here in one piece, so Claudia doesn't mind sharing.
"I don't think Pete and Joshua have cleaned out all the sandwich fixings yet."

[notalegacy]

Sugar on an empty stomach doesn't sound like a great idea, so he's going to opt for the sandwich. "Uhhh, where to?" He's trying to remember where the kitchen is.