ArchivedLogs:All Grown Up

All Grown Up
Dramatis Personae Melinda, Jax, Micah
In Absentia	15 April 2015 '
Location <NYC> {Lighthaus} - Harbor Commons - Lower East Side
Bright and sunny-light, this house lives up to its name. With a plethora of enormous windows flooding the place with light and an open layout, the ground floor feels more spacious than it is. The small entryway has a closet space for shoes and coats, and doors at either side leading to the neighboring apartments. Past this it opens straight into the living room, a wide expanse of space bordered on one side by a curved set of stairs leading up (with colourful glass tiling on the risers between each stair) and next to these, the half-wall into the kitchen. Cool pale tile underfoot and many dark cabinets with a small walk-in pantry, plentiful custom granite countertops, black and speckled faintly with rainbowy flecks, lots of hanging space overhead for cookware, a large double-oven. There's a strip of rather detailed mosaic-work in the kitchen backsplash, colourful glass tiling depicting strange fantastical herbs and small faeries and firelizards darting among them. In back of the kitchen, a door opens up to a small sunroom, wide and two-stories high with a balcony overlook from the second floor; two of the windows here have cushioned windowseats, and there's a wealth of herbs growing in hanging pots and small window-boxes. The back wall of the living room is nearly entirely dominated by windows, huge and allowing a view of the river beyond with bench windowseats lining the sills. There are plentiful paintings on the wall, surreal and fantasy-inspired, mostly in shades of blacks greys with bright bursts of colour that are mirrored in the decor -- monochrome upholstery on the couch and armchair but colourful throw-pillows, black and white huge corduroy beanbags (and one large red doggie-bed,) soft throw rugs also in mostly black and white with splashes of rainbow woven in. The hand-built furniture -- tall chairs by the kitchen/living room counter, dining table and chairs in the kitchen, low coffeetable in the living room -- has been hand-painted as well, black with bursts of colourful abstract designs. Along the living room's other wall, doors branch off to a full bathroom -- in white and deep blue with one wall of the shower done in colourful intricate mosaic too, an underwater scene full of strange mythical water-creatures; tiny water-sprites have been interspersed at random points in the rest of the wall tiles, as well. There's a small studio space beside the bathroom, large windows as well and a gratuitous amount of shelving and cabinets along the walls; this room has very /little/ colour in it, just white walls and black furnishing. The door bell rings at half past six and a woman stands before it. Dressed in a loose tan jacket over jeans, she is also wearing a tee decorated with a large, magenta star that seems to cover half of the shirt, outlined in pink -- but the star is positioned around her right arm. Pinned against her left side is a green baby who is quite pleased with gnawing on her hand, her attention drifting up and over her mother's shoulders, peeking at the lights and the small bits of flowers starting to bloom around her. Of course, Mel is prepared with a diaper bag, but she's also got a grocery bag with chips and salsa obviously displayed. She waits patiently outside, turning her head to fuss quietly over the strings of drool the child is producing onto her shoulder. Jax opens the door with a bounce, a bright smile: "Hey, Mel! Hey, tinydryad!" The smile is accompanied by a flutter of bright metallic beetle-creatures (though they have their own tinydryad /riders/ mounted atop) that zip out from behind him to flit around Tola's head. "I got stir fry. We didn't quite eat /alla/ it, if you're hungry? There's pie too -- I ain't even /cut/ that yet." Micah is slower to emerge from the kitchen where he has been tending to dishes. He's dressed evening-ish in a turquoise tee on which Toothless is sharing a book with a bevy of Terrible Terrors, patchy jeans, and socks with Tenth Doctor sonic screwdrivers depicted on them. “Mel, Tola, hi!” he greets with a bright and growing smile. “Let me get that from you. You're all loaded up.” He reaches for the grocery bag to help unload Mel's hands a bit. “You want somethin' t'drink? Got cranberry-peach juice and some sweet tea in the 'fridge.” The messy cherub turns her head around when the door opens and a drowsy smile brightens her face, waking her back up again. Melinda gives a little smile and stretches out her arms to present the child for Jax to take, her little legs wiggling in anticipation, but her eyes and face turning to watch the bugs. "Hey," She leans in and presses a kiss near his ear before turning to look at Micah, nodding her greeting, hopefully mid-child-passing. She hands Micah the bag a moment later, inhaling deeply. "Well, I know better than to come to your house full. If you didn't tell me you what you were cooking, I would likely be able to smell the delicious aromas and want some anyway. Cranberry peach sounds lovely." Jax hugs Mel tight with one arm before scooping up Tola. He gathers up the child with a small peck to the forehead, holding her at his hip where she can still watch the brightly coloured insects. "Wait there's still cranberry-peach oh my gosh I thought I drank it all," PROBABLY he did, possibly Micah just had the foresight to restock. At any rate the sudden excited GLEAM in his eye implies Mel better get in on the juice quick because it might be about to get all drunk up /again/. One foot nudges the door closed again; the other nudges back Obie from where the pup has APPEARED to frisk eagerly around his feet. Sniffing. Tailwagging. He's also excited to see Tola. "How y'doin', honey-honey?" Micah sneaks in a little half-hug back-pat to Mel where he's able considering all the goods and child passing going on. “You did, sugar. That's why we keep spares in the pantry. Ain't like they're gonna get a chance t'go bad.” This last comes with a smirk and a teasing nudge to Jax's shoulder as he passes to deposit the grocery bag on the table and fetch Mel's drink. When he returns, it is with /two/ tall glasses of red juice, three-quarters filled because it's never a good idea to have full glasses around small children and animals in combination. “See? Totally set.” Melinda gives the two gentlemen hugs before she squats down to ruffle Obie's ears and give him a slightly more lavish greeting. This hopefully stalls the dog's desire to jump pounce up Jax to get to Tola. "Oh. Me?" As if surprised by the question, she gives a little shrug and a half smile. "Oh, I'm okay. Been busy. Spring is bringing out more customers and a reduced staff. The college kids are finishing their semesters and ... oooor just being flighty due to the nicer weather. It's been good revenue though." She stands back up and stretches, hands pressed against the small of her back, her lips pressing together. She takes a step toward Micah and takes a glass. "How are you two?" "Feel actually alive again every time spring rolls around. /I/ want t'just get up an' take /off/ I got so much energy again so I can't say I blame 'em." Jax bounces happily, nabbing the juice from Micah and depositing a kiss on his husband's cheek as payment. He takes juice and Tola both to settle himself on the couch, settling Tola comfortably in his lap as Obie soaks up attention from Mel. "Otherwise I don't know. I think I'm in denial that it's the pups' last term at school." “Busy can be good,” Micah agrees. His smile returns only brighter and broader for the kiss from Jax. “I'm just ready for it t'get really /warm/ out. I'm gonna live in the garden for a /minute/!” He chuckles at his husband's bounciness. “Just let me know when y'want food an' which, sugar. Got stir fry an' pie like Jax said.” For the moment, he's leaning himself on the couch arm beside Jax and Tola, making faces at the little one. “All kindsa denial. Less 'bout the last term an' more 'bout the goin' away t'college.” "Aww. Your babies are all grown up. Mine... well, mine's turning a year on Sunday. Where does the time go." There is a small note of confusion on Mel's features as she considers her words and shakes her head. "I don't know if it was the long winter or what, but I feel like I was just pregnant with her." She takes a sip of her juice and settles into a seat on the couch next to Jax, reaching out her free hand to brush lightly against Tola's exposed arm. "Ah, she's perking up now. A few months ago, she'd be fast asleep almost as soon as I got home." She wets her lips. "So, what schools are they going to?" "Oh /gosh/ the time does -- jus' /go/, don't it? You doin' anything for celebratin'? Look at you all /big/ now," Jax adds down to Tola. "Be teachin' /you/ t'drive too 'fore you know it -- oh. Well." The mention of college and question about schools dims his smile. "/Officially/ they ain't decided nothin'. But B was accepted jus' about everywhere she applied so I'm sure it'll be MIT. That's been hir dream forever." “Not all of 'em!” Micah reminds, eyes drawn upward to Spence's room. “We got some time yet 'fore they're all grown, at least.” He nods agreement with Mel's assessment on the time. “It's the winter going so long, it feels like it should still be March at best. But a year! Your life's gonna get real interestin' soon. Walkin' comin', 12 to 14 months on average. Pitter patter of little flower feet!” He reaches over to give each of Tola's feet a tiny tickle. “Been feelin' that way, m'self. Almost wrapped up the motion capture phase for the new prosthetic with Taylor. That boy is positively /amazin'/. We're gonna have /such/ data to work with b'fore we even start computer models for this thing.” Another nod agrees with Jax's assessment on B. “An' Shane got into Julliard. He seemed a little odd about it, though. I dunno if it was just that he was talkin' t'me b'fore m'class. Kept sayin' he didn't this-that-the other with teachers. So I didn't get a lot outta him.” "I... I don't know. I don't know if there's a point. She's not going to remember it. She doesn't really have friends to invite yet. Jim is difficult to predict when he'll show up and Hive..." She just trails off, staring at a fuzzy on Tola's onesie and reaches out a hand to pick it off. She lets it drop on the floor before turning her attention to her glass. "I might just fake some pictures to send my parents." She wets her lips once more then switches topics. "MIT and Juilliard? Wow. I knew the twins were talented, but I had... well, I mean, , family always thinks the absolute best of their little ones and then mix in reality. It's just amazing when huge names like those agree with your judgment." "Taylor's fantastic. An' Flicker'll be so happy if -- I don't think his rehab's going so good," Jax admits with a small frown and a glance towards Geekhaus. "I ain't sure his current new-arm's workin' out for him right." His head shakes, and he takes a sip of his juice. His eye lingers on the open door to Geekhaus, hand rubbing absently at Tola's belly. "... I guess the first birthday's really for you more'n her, though. But." He tears his gaze away from the other house. "I could make cupcakes or somethin'?" His teeth wiggle at a lip ring, head giving another small shake. "The pups is amazing, but Shane -- I think he's in a complicated place. I don't know if he's gonna go or not. Don't think he feels there's a lotta point." "Oh, there's a point! It's an excuse t'have a party an' have ev'ryone fuss over her an' get new clothes t'fit since babies grow like weeds. An' some int'restin' toys an' books. Plus, good food an' cake. An' pictures for the baby album. What's not t'like?" Micah wiggles his fingers around for Tola's amusement. "Shane...often doesn't see a point in doin' things, it's hard... Prob'ly he should go just 'cause he /loves/ t'play an' t'compose an' they can help 'im do those things." Micah's brows dip in concern at the report on Flicker. "Oh, that's...I didn't know he was havin' trouble. Should maybe meet up with 'im sooner'n we'd had planned. It is /hard/ at first with myoelectric prostheses like this. Y'have t'retrain your brain t'move dif'rent muscles t'get the same movement from an arm that ain't like the one y'used t'have. When we do finish this new one, it's gonna work from the same interface. So at least if he's puttin' in the trainin' on this one now, the next one'll be easier t'start with. M'goal's t'make it easier in /general/, but we'll see how that goes 'fore I go makin' promises." "Ah, yes. Well. Maybe. I don't know. I'll think about it. And of course, Jax, you can make cupcakes, no matter what." Mel's expression warms up a bit when she makes her concession, wetting her lips. She listens quietly to the other discussion before turning to glance toward the kitchen. "Well if that dream I had was any indication, the new prosthetic will be extremely helpful to him." She gets to her feet and heads toward the kitchen. "I think there was talk of food? My stomach's starting to grumble." "I'm fair sure that lovin' to play is exactly why he /don't/ want t'be excited about goin'," Jax mutters, jaw tightening faintly. "An' with Flicker B thinks maybe --" Though his thought is derailed here by mention of food. He takes another sip of his juice, setting it down on a Jack Skellington coaster on the coffeetable and adjusting Tola in his arms again as he gets back to his feet. "Food /an'/ pie. We got you so covered." “I'm hopin' so,” Micah replies to Mel's dream comment. His brows dip at Jax's talk of Shane and Flicker and B, concerned. He passes this along with a look that requests to discuss it more later. For now, there's food to fetch. “You're holdin' the baby, hon. I'll grab food an' bring in for folks.”