Overland Park, KS, Sunday Afternoon (Late July)

[vanillajello]

It was the last day of July, and a sunny Sunday afternoon in Overland Park. Tara had wanted to throw a party in the Gregsons' backyard for the end of summer and the return of her daughter and every good thing she could think of, and so it had come to pass. There was food, and people (some neighbors, some friends from a little further off, and Bod who'd already shown up last night), and a karaoke machine set up under the arch that had been prettying up the back yard ever since Charmaine had failed to get married, earlier in the year.

Everything was pretty perfect. All that was missing was the hostess, though, because no one actually knew where Tara was, but... They were sadly used to that. So, Max was grilling, Charmaine and her belly were off to the side having a Diet Coke she shouldn't have been drinking, Ted was mingling with some people, and Lionel was filming Kate and Marshall.

And the aforementioned Gregson siblings? Were singing their hearts out, doing an enthusiastic karaoke version of Mmmbop. They looked to be enjoying themselves.

It was looking to be a good day on Oak Avenue.

[ooc: NFB, and for the boooy up there in the narrative, and myself in various guises. Bits and pieces taken from United States of Tara S03E01, '...youwillnotwin...'.]

Comments

[therewaslife]

They did look like they were enjoying themselves and Bod enjoyed watching the both of them look as happy as they (especially Kate, of course). He was standing off to the side, trying not to get in anyone's way while he drank some water.

Seeing them happy made him happy and he liked feeling carefree and content. There was no way he was going to sing but he was a great member of the audience.

[eyelidkisses.livejournal.com]

Lionel was wandering around with the camera, trying to get different angles of this epic performance. This process led him to stand near Bod, and he glanced over at the other boy, inclining his head towards the little stage.

"They look pretty happy for people singing a Hanson song, don't they?"

[therewaslife]

"Indeed," Bod said, deciding against asking who Hanson was since he actually didn't know. He didn't want to give anything about himself away that might lead to questions.

"It's a very enthusiastic performance," he added. "I could see Kate doing this but it's even better that someone as reserved as Marshall was convinced to get up there and sing."

[eyelidkisses.livejournal.com]

Lionel looked towards the stage again. "Sometimes he comes out of his little turtle shell," he said, and it was... maybe a little softer, fonder than he'd meant. So, it was natural that he was half smirking when he immediately glanced over at Bod again. "So are you gonna go up there and rock out?"

[therewaslife]

"Absolutely not," he said and laughed. "That would be pain for all those involved. I'm much more apt at standing in the audience and cheering. Are you going to join Marshall for a duet?"

[eyelidkisses.livejournal.com]

"Mm, I don't think so, no," Lionel replied, shaking his head. "No, that seems too corny. And I like to be in the wings, not on the stage."

Further away, by the grill, Max brandished various grilled meat products in the air. "Come on, dig in everybody! I got hamburgers, hot dogs --" Yeah, he didn't know what this one thing was. "-- weird shit that Charmaine brought over?"

[therewaslife]

"I'm much better in the wings as well," Bod agreed, glancing over to where Mr. Gregson was getting everyone's attention for food. "I wonder if that's the singing siblings cue to end their song so they don't miss out on food?"

[vanillajello]

"Oh like you've never seen Kate miss out on food."

But, it didn't seem like she and Marshall were finishing up their song. With a loud "Thank yoooou!" from her, even, as if there was some huge applause coming from the party guests who for the most part hadn't been paying any attention at all.

[therewaslife]

Bod was clapping though. Clapping and beaming in her direction because he'd quite enjoyed the performance even if no one else had been paying attention.

"I tend to tell Kate that food's the way to her heart," Bod told Lionel with a brief laugh. "I guess I wasn't entirely mistaken, was I?"

[vanillajello]

"The way to her hips, more like," Lionel snarked, though not maliciously. He had no time to add anything, as Kate bounced her way over, followed by her brother, who was... slightly less enthusiastic, yes. And he went straight for Lionel and the camera, wanting to see what he'd filmed.

Whereas Kate greeted Bod with a quick kiss on the cheek and a big big smile. "How was it?"

[therewaslife]

"Brilliant," he said, returning her smile and looping an arm around her waist. "I've never heard that song before but I think it was quite suited for a brother and sister duet. I'm very impressed and entertained."

[vanillajello]

"You're always very impressed and entertained," Kate murmured, nuzzling his shoulder a bit. "Whenever I do anything."

[therewaslife]

"Perhaps," he relented, dropping a kiss atop her head and smiling, "but I really was impressed and entertained. That's not something I'm going to soon do and I thought you and your brother were very infectious with your excitement. I enjoyed it."

[vanillajello]

"Flatterer," Kate smirked, getting her own arm around his shoulders and tugging him closer to a nearby table where she'd left her drink, while Marshall and Lionel were wandering off.

"Kate, Mom's here," Marshall called out to her before they got far, pointing to where their mother had just appeared from inside the house. "Hey, you should ask her if she wants to do a song soon."

"Aye aye, captain," Kate replied, using her free hand to snag her red party cup, then smiled at Bod again. "Kind of an okay party, right?"

[therewaslife]

"It's brilliant," he said, glancing around before his eyes went back to her. "It's outside and everyone seems quite content and relaxed. There's no tornado lingering around and perhaps I'll even get by with only a light sunburn. I couldn't ask for a better afternoon. It's quite enjoyable."

[vanillajello]

"Sometimes we get it right," Kate replied, taking a sip of beer from her cup. "Rare but sometimes it totally happens. I'm glad you came."

[therewaslife]

"Thank you for inviting me," he said, rubbing her back with his fingers. "It looks like everything's going quite right today. Your dad's cooking, your mum's arrived, your brother seems to be enjoying himself and your aunt...is still pregnant."

Poor Charmaine.

[vanillajello]

"Won't be for too long, anymore." And thank fuck for that. Kate may have been a little lacking in empathy when it came to that, even if she helped out. "Shall we go say hi to Mom?"

[therewaslife]

"All right," Bod replied, nodding. Perhaps not being all over her daughter would make this conversation a little less awkward than previous ones. "Let's go say hello."

[vanillajello]

No, he wasn't going to be all over her, but she was going to keep her arm around his shoulders because... She just wanted to, so there.

"Look, there come the lovebirds," Charmaine said as they approached her and Tara. She couldn't help it, poking fun at people was about the only entertainment she had right now.

[therewaslife]

"Hullo, ma'am," Bod said, nodding at Charmaine before turning towards Kate's mother. "Mrs. Gregson. Thank you for letting me attend your party. I hope you're both enjoying yourselves."

Yes, he was always going to be proper and polite. He couldn't help it.

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

And this once, Kate was going to look on and smile and approve of what gentleman he was.

Tara approved, too, though she waved a hand at the formality. "Tara, please," she said. "But thank you, Bod. We're very glad to have you, you're practically family."

[therewaslife]

Bod actually didn't know if he was going to be able to use her first name despite her assurances that it was all right. He'd just been raised by old, old ghosts who were all about the etiquette.

"I'll do my best to remember that," he promised, nodding. "Did you need any help with anything? It seems that everything's in hand but I wanted to offer in case."

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

"No, I think everything's done," Tara said, glancing around. "But thanks."

"Mama," Kate chimed in, raising her cup. "Uh, Marshall wants to know if you guys are gonna sing a song."

Too bad the cup raise caught her mother's interest more than the question. "Are you drinking beer?"

[therewaslife]

Yes, Bod was just going to stay quiet on that one and let Kate answer. It was her own fault for drinking alcohol in front of her mother. He wasn't disappointed or anything like that.

No, he was amused that she'd been caught red handed.