Appointments

[aerialassault]

Cliff here. Looks like we've missed eachother, so drop a note and we'll talk soon.

[please note date/time/type of interaction.]

Comments

[aerialassault]

[Albel earned a sharp look from Cliff too, though it only lasted a moment before Cliff shook his head. Whatever arguments he had simply weren't worth it at this point.]

Yeah. Shower. [He glanced down at his muddy boots.]

That sounds like one helluva decent plan. I could go for something hot right now...

[etherealblast]

Soup and sandwiches sound like a plan to you? [It was simple, tasty and hot, easy enough to get ready for all three of them in short order.]

I can have that ready by the time you guys are done cleaning yourselves up.

[urallmaggots]

Perfect.

[Albel sneezed again, though less feathers sprayed out this time.]

...I'll return shortly.

[He made a quick retreat at that, letting out a sniff as he reached the stairs.]

[aerialassault]

[Arms folded, Cliff watched Albel's retreat with little more than a shake of his head. The space between them felt like a rare gift that he wanted to cherish for the brief time he would have it.

After Albel left the room, he cast a look around the room, internally cringing at the mess, before settling his gaze on Fayt.]

Man. I dunno if the shifts can handle all this. Want me to send The Vac out?

[etherealblast]

[Fayt cringes as well, not exactly happy with the chore of cleaning up mud and blood of all things. He'd need a mop at least.] Yeah, send it out if you aren't in too much of a hurry. Might help speed things along, at least.

[Hopefully the little thing could handle it, but it was pretty powerful. He shoots Cliff a quick grin before he walks over to the kitchen closet, pulling out the necessary cleaning items.] Mess or not though, I'm glad to have you guys back. It's been way too quiet without you.

[aerialassault]

Hah-- as nice as it was to get out, that guy is something of a pain.

[He jerked his head off in the direction Albel went when he got to 'that guy', just to add further emphasis to his point.]

...It's good to be back.

[Cliff snorted in almost fond amusement, wondering when this cozy little bubble had become so homey, before he angled his gaze at Fayt as he was struck by a thought.]

Say. You didn't get too bored or anything with the quiet, did ya?

[etherealblast]

Well, he has been cooped up for ages now. I don't envy you the babysitting duty during the mission.

[He laughs a little, before shrugging and carrying a bucket over to the sink to fill it with soap and water.]

As for me, I kept myself entertained. Trained, hung out with Aleos, watched an old movie in the rec center with Souji. Nothing as exciting as what you guys were doing, but I was fine.

[aerialassault]

Just that?

[Cliff gave Fayt an appraising look, a part of him expecting to find his bedroom overloaded with the paper animals that were Souji's hallmark prank. The thought of Fayt and Souji teaming up chilled him.

He may never be able to get all of the origami paper out of the corners of his room ever again.]

[etherealblast]

[No team up this time....

But there might be a sheet of bubblewrap carefully concealed under Cliff's sheets. What can he say, he was a little bored.]

Just that.

[aerialassault]

[The simple reply was more than enough to satisfy Cliff's tired, adrenaline-addled mine. He offered a quick nod, satisfied.]

That better be. Or, so help me, I might make us a firepit to make hot dogs over later.

[At this he turned off, stifling a yawn. After the shower and meal, he knew exactly where he was headed.]

I'll send the Vac out shortly. It's a pity we don't have a cleaning service here, isn't it?

[etherealblast]

A fire pit? [He raises a brow.]

And yeah, guess so. Then again, if there was a cleaning service I think we'd have driven them up a wall by now, don't you think? [His gaze trails over to the blood and mud covering the floor. Really, they'd driven inn maids crazy back on Elicoor....] I'll have the food ready by the time you guys are done, so take your time.

[aerialassault]

[Cliff chuckled.]

Yeah, we would've. I'm sure Souji's little presents would have too.

[Because, seriously. All of that paper was a fire hazard.

Stretching his arms, Cliff started off toward the hall.]

Thanks ahead for the food. You won't believe the rations they give their volunteers...

[etherealblast]

No problem. One sandwich or a couple, doesn't make that much of a difference, you know? [He pulls the now full bucket out of the sink, setting to work on cleaning the floor. After that, he'd wash up and get started on the soup and sandwiches.]

[urallmaggots]

[It was some time later that Albel coming downstairs, no longer covered in blood and his hair still soaking wet. He let out a soft, pleased sigh, still toweling his hair off.]

Mmm... is lunch ready?

[etherealblast]

Almost. Soup just needs to finish heating. [He had a pot of soup heating on the stove, and there was a plate already set out on the table, piled high with warm, toasted sandwiches. Albel could grab a plate to put his on if he wanted.]

Feeling better?

[urallmaggots]

Mm... very much.

[He let out a soft sigh, letting the towel drape around his neck before settling down in a chair.]

It's been awhile since I've been clean.

[etherealblast]

I can guess. What were you even doing, rolling in blood? [His tone is rather deadpan as he finally lowers the burner, giving it just enough heat to keep the soup warm while they eat.] There. Soup's ready if you want some.

[He reaches up into the cupboards to pull out a bowl for himself, glancing at Albel with a raised brow.]

[aerialassault]

[Cliff, padding in with damp hair and bare feet, with the Vac trailing behind him, had to stifle a snort of wry laughter at Fayt's idle question.]

He may as well have, [He said, cracking a grin.] It was like trying to keep tabs on some kinda wild animal out there!

[etherealblast]

[He eyes Albel up a bit, before grinning in amusement and shaking his head as he spoons up a bowl for himself.] He looks like a cat that caught the canary, so wild animal seems pretty accurate.

[He laughs a little and glances over at Cliff, shrugging in the direction of the stove.]

Soup's ready, if you want some. There are sandwiches on the table. some are grilled cheese and ham, others are roast beef.

[urallmaggots]

[...what, he wasn't going to serve him? Earthlings had such horrible manners.]

Shut up. [That growl was mostly aimed at Cliff.] You very well know the only way to kill those things was to relieve them of their heads. Decapitation is not exactly clean.

[etherealblast]

[Fayt personally didn't see anything wrong with it as he settles into his seat. It wasn't exactly a formal meal. Take what you want, eat what you want.]

The shift hunters? Yeah, they're messy to deal with.... but I didn't come out of the draft on terrace painted head to toe in blood after dealing with them, either.

[urallmaggots]

Then you obviously weren't doing it right.

[Fine, he'll get his own meal; he pushed himself up, going for the food and not sitting down again until he had a full bowl and three sandwiches.]

[aerialassault]

[Grinning at the exchange, Cliff plopped himself into an adjacent chair and eagerly helped himself to some of those sandwiches. Soup would come later-- for the moment, he was starved.]

Whatev. Dead shift hunters are still dead, and the job's still done. It could'a been a little cleaner...but, all things considered, I'm more glad that no one got hurt.

[etherealblast]

Same here. [He glances at them both over a grilled cheese sandwich he's taken to dipping in his soup, once again checking for injuries now that they were clean of blood, mud and who knew what.] So neither of you need any healing?

[urallmaggots]

Nothing immediate.

[Albel was wearing more than usual... hiding the cuts on his arms and stomach and legs. No need for the house wife side of Fayt to kick in; he wasn't in the mood for it just now. Right now? The sandwich and soup he was stuffing into his face was more important.]