Overland Park, KS, An Afternoon in May [Friday Fandom Time]

[vanillajello]

Big surprise, Kate had run away from Fandom to Overland Park again. It was starting to become a thing with her, but she didn't care, sometimes it was good to be elsewherer. She'd been here since Wednesday night – or, they had, since Bod had come along with her, but right now he was on his class-and-diner trip back to Fandom. Or getting takeout, if you looked at it from the official OP standpoint that was oblivious to portals.

And Kate? Kate was glueing lace and fake gems and sequins to headbands, because Charmaine had decided that was going to be her new business. Making tiaras and selling them on Etsy. Generally, Kate might have mocked the idea (even if she was pretty sure it came from when she'd shown off her own prom queen tiara) but right now it was just kind of nice to be working with her hands.

And when she watched Charmaine and her big belly out of the corner of her eye, she couldn't help thinking a little about Alice. Not that she got very far with those thoughts, because Char was in a chatty mood. "-- and I don't want you turning this place into a den of sin," she was saying. "With your James Bund of a gentleman caller."

Kate snorted. "What?"

"Well, you know," Charmaine said, with what Kate assumed to be her best trying-to-be-an-adult voice. "There's going to be a baby in the house in a few months. I don't want you corrupting her."

"The baby you got pregnant with while dating someone who wasn't the father?" Kate checked with an eyebrow raise. "Tell me you're joking."

Charmaine deflated. "Okay so I don't really give a rat's ass what you two get up to as long as it's in your room, I was just trying to be, y'know, assertive and and authoritative and motherly. How'd I do?"

Kate just snorted again and shook her head.

[ooc: NFB, but open for calls/texts, and that guy.]

Comments

[vanillajello]

"Okay," Kate replied, with a brief smile, and leaned in on a whim for another quick kiss on his cheek before going to take her seat at the table.

"You guys are sickening," Charmaine informed them, luckily not entirely serious.

[therewaslife]

"I've been called worse," he said, laughing and retrieving both Charmaine and Kate's plates. "Did you both want helpings of both the stir fry and the empanadas? Or one or the other? None at all and I should just go get a pizza?"

He hoped they didn't choose that last one.

[vanillajello]

Kate chuckled a bit, while Charmaine made a sweeping motion in the direction of the food. "Everything, everything," she said. "Eating for two, remember?"

"And I'm just hungry," Kate supplied with a little smile. "Both, thanks."

[therewaslife]

"Yes, ma'am," Bod said, carefully heaping both stir fry and several empanadas on both their plates before settling each plate in front of each woman again. He saved his own for last and made sure to give himself plenty as well.

Even with those big servings, there was still plenty left. Luke's Diner was very good to him. Bod carried his plate back and took his seat next to Kate.

"It smelled very good when I was retrieving it so I hope it tastes just as good when eating it."

[vanillajello]

"I'm sure it will," Kate replied, glancing over at him. "It usually does."

Charmaine was already digging in, so she had no comment.

[therewaslife]

"Eat, eat," he encouraged at Kate, starting in on his own food because he was fairly hungry too. "I won't even laugh at you if you get some on your shirt."

[vanillajello]

"I'm not gonna get any food on my shirt," Kate protested as she started in on her plateful too. "I spilled coffee on my shirt at work but that was a one-off accident."

[therewaslife]

"You're going to jinx yourself," Bod pointed out, just barely resisting flicking some chicken at her. That wouldn't be any good as a guest in her aunt's house. "And if that does happen, I didn't bring enough shirts for you to share."

[vanillajello]

"And you're not getting any of mine," Charmaine cut in from across the table. Kate rolled her eyes. "I didn't want any of yours anyway and besides, we're across the front lawn from the house that still holds the majority of my old clothes. I'm not exactly running out of shirts to wear here."

[therewaslife]

"If you go over there, don't mention the be -- " Bod stopped himself right there, unable to believe that he'd indirectly admitted something in front of a relative of hers even if her aunt wasn't her father.

His cheeks reddened and he covered his face with his hand, unable to do anything but laugh into his hand about that faux pas.

[vanillajello]

Charmaine raised an eyebrow at him, then shifted her attention to Kate. "I can't believe you're dating someone that shy," she said. "Even after that stuck-up business guy, Brad...?"

"Zach," Kate supplied, in a tone that may have suggested that wasn't a subject she wanted brought up. Charmaine waved a hand. "Anyway, you guys are gonna have to get someone to take that thing away 'cause I don't want it laying around my house. If you're trying to avoid Max then you probably won't be able to borrow his truck."

[therewaslife]

"I just don't want to die," Bod explained, peeking out from between his fingers and making a face. "I'm sure we'll figure out a way. I promise, it won't be here for long, no matter what. Beds can be taken apart and moved piece by piece if necessary."

[vanillajello]

Kate reached over to gently pry his hand away from his face. "Yeah, we'll get it sorted," she said. "No problem."

Charmaine just looked amused at them. "Come on guys, it's not like Max hasn't figured out you're sleeping together."

[therewaslife]

"Logically, I know that," Bod admitted, letting Kate pull his hand away and hoping his cheeks only looked pink now instead of bright red. He gave Charmaine a smile and laughed at himself. "I'd just rather not give any of Kate's family a reason to dislike me considering that I love her and wouldn't want to complicate things."

[vanillajello]

Again, Charmaine's gaze slid to Kate for a reaction. Sorry, Bod, but at least her words were really good. Even if it was just the one.

"Keeper," she said.

Kate looked down at her plate and hid one of those kinds of smiles Charmaine had probably never seen on her before. "Yeah," she said almost softer than she meant, then looked up again, trying not to seem like she'd just been mushy. "So, Bod, um, anything in particular you wanna do today?"

[therewaslife]

Bod wanted to ask about that particular interaction but it seemed like a good thing since Kate was hiding smiles and her aunt wasn't laughing at him.

"Nothing in particular, no," he answered, taking a few bites of his food. "Kansas is your territory so I put myself in your safe and assured hands."

[vanillajello]

"Well, I guess we could take the car," Kate mused. "And just drive around for a while to see if anything catches our interest, not that I'm holding my breath for that to happen."

"Or you could go do my grocery shopping?" Charmaine suggested, helpfully.

[therewaslife]

"We could do that," Bod said, nodding. Of course, he didn't know if Kate wanted to do that but he didn't really want to see her hugely pregnant aunt having to do anything that was too strenuous. It couldn't be good for her.

[vanillajello]

"Guess we could," Kate shrugged. "Would take us out of the house for a part of the day anyway. I'm pretty sure Mom said something about wanting us all to come over for... snacks or something, in the evening and --"

"Is Neil gonna be there?"

Kate raised her eyebrows at her aunt. "How the hell should I know? Text him and ask."

[therewaslife]

Bod didn't know much about Neil so he just stayed quiet before adding, "Snacks sound good. I'm sure we could pick up something at the local store if we're to bring anything. I now know what good snacks are because of Kate."

Hey, he'd thought celery was a good snack previously.

[vanillajello]

Oh, if only he'd have said that out loud. The staring would've been quite epic.

"Bet that's not the only thing she's taught you," Charmaine remarked, idle but teasing. Kate gave her a look, and shook her head. "Well, it's a really educational relationship."

[therewaslife]

Poor Bod hadn't been expecting that and choked on what he had in his mouth. He ended up coughing several times and turning red (again) before thinking to reach for his water to try and stave off the coughing.

"Educational," he croaked, nodding. "Yes, indeed."

[vanillajello]

Charmaine snickered – not unlike how her niece tended to do in similar situations – whereas Kate reached to briefly rub his back. "No tormenting the boyfriend, Char."

The accused held up her hands and laughed some more. "Hey, I didn't even mention the bed!"

[therewaslife]

"I apologize for that," he said, rubbing his back and giving Kate a grateful look for the brief back rub. "I'm rather easily surprised and apparently, I can't properly chew my food either. I apologize for that."

[vanillajello]

"Don't apologize," Kate said, wrinkling her nose. "Auntie dearest here isn't gonna apologize either. Are you?"

Charmaine snorted. "No. I'm pregnant and gross, you are my entertainment. Besides, it's nice to know he has flaws."