Overland Park, KS, Tuesday Afternoon (Late August)

[vanillajello]

The living room smelled like glue. And if sequins and rhinestones had a distinctive smell, it would've probably smelled like those, too. It was the usual afternoon scene in the Craine-Gregson household. And Charmaine was in the middle of a big speech about her business philosophy. "Urban Duchess isn't just a company about making tiaras, Kate," she said, as she worked on her latest product. "It's about making every woman feel like a princess." (Kate resisted an eyeroll. She'd felt like a princess for a while. It hadn't exactly worked out well for her.) "The website is getting... moderate traffic, and I feel like I am teaching women like you how to be women."

Riiight. No eyeroll, but Kate did have a dry question, looking up from her fake tiara at hand. "By gluing sequins onto headbands and selling them on Etsy?" Her aunt looked at her like that was entirely the wrong question, so she just shook her head. "I've been sending out my resumé. I think I need to get a real job." For many many reasons. But Charmaine didn't look like she liked the idea at all; her chipper air of can-do attitude vanished in an instant. "Well, if you get a job, who's gonna take care of me?" she asked, frowning. "I'm fat and my feet hurt, and I can't fit into the nook next to the fridge to reach the Diet Cokes that my doctor thinks I should cut down on."

"If you need someone to take care of you," Kate sighed, "why don't you just ask N-E-A-L?"

Really, it was ridiculous. The guy was the baby's father. Who wanted to marry Charmaine. And who Charmaine had basically sacrificed her previous attempt at marriage for. It didn't make much sense to Kate. "That's not how he spells his name," her aunt muttered, before seeming to pick up some of her previous empowered energy. "Look, we are independent women, Kate," she started. "We don't need to be married, or engaged, or owned. I am gonna raise a baby by myself. It'll be just us three girls... Me, you, a baby. It's a revolution."

... What a horrifying idea. Kate had never been as glad to have someone drop in unannounced as she was right then, as her mother waltzed right in the front door, all cheer and bright yellow cardigan. "Hey, what say, ladies?"

"Whoa, sexy nerd alert!" Kate crowed in reply. Hey, her mom looked stunning! Cute in a totally professional way. And the reason became clear soon enough, as Tara spread her hands and smiled: "Tara Gregson, student... Ted got me in!" She was obviously excited over it. "I picked my classes, just got to fill out some paperwork, but..."

"Holy fuck," Charmaine drawled, clambering up from her seat, to walk past Tara towards the fancy ribbon stash across the room, "you were serious."

"Yeah," Tara nodded, smoothing her skirt. "I've got an interview in about an hour with a psych prof whose class is actually full, but if he lets me in, color me matriculated."

Kate grinned, getting up as well. "That is an act of unconditional motherly love," she declared, as she went to hug her mother. "Thank you for getting you off my back." She gave Tara a firm squeeze, but she could already see there was maybe going to be some tension between the two sisters, and she wanted no part of that. "Ladies," she said, as she let go of her mother and pushed away, "I am off to continue the basement project."

---

The basement project was... basically a lie. The claim Kate had made was that she was reorganizing the basement, since they still had a lot of Mr Hubbard's old crap down there, along with some of their own. And, well, she had reorganized some of it, but mostly to make more room in the middle for her makeshift practice dummy. It was a good place for it because Charmaine absolutely hated the basement, and wouldn't come down unless forced, and no one else really had any reason to visit. That didn't mean Kate didn't keep her stuff hidden way in the back. She didn't need to risk getting questions.

But she kind of found she needed this. While it was awesome that everything seemed o be on track with her mom, at least, things had been a little off for the past few weeks, pretty much since the weekend in Fandom (and definitely since Luke's visit and her own little trip to try and relax Bod), and it didn't help that she knew she'd technically be eighteen this Saturday, except that was in Fandom time, and she still had about a month to go here. It was weird, and she needed to start feeling at least somewhat balanced again.

So, knife practice. With music playing in the background. It wasn't even remotely like being in the salle in Fandom, but it would have to do.

[ooc: NFB! Parts taken from USoT S03E01. Open for phonecalls/texts/whathaveyou. It's canon that there's okay reception in the basement!]

Comments

[vanillajello]

It was all backwards but that addition made her smile a little.

you're the bf, isn't it your job to figure out on your own what i might like?

[therewaslife]

It is and I have some ideas but if there was something you had your eye on, I'd want to get it for you.

Basically, he wanted hints.

[vanillajello]

i like nice things?

She was so not helpful.

[therewaslife]

You are not helpful.

Yes, Bod agreed with her narrative.

Clothes? Movies? Something else?

[vanillajello]

i don't have my heart set on anything. let's face it i would probably be happy with a declaration of love and and good long kiss.

She could be easy like that, too. And still difficult about hints.

[therewaslife]

Well, I love you. I'll say it to you in person as well.

He'd say it anywhere and in anyway.

I miss you terribly.

[vanillajello]

For that, he received a pouty photo. Cute pouty, though.

i miss you too.

[therewaslife]

Why are you pouting? Bod wondered. Was I not supposed to say that?

[vanillajello]

i'm pouting cuz i miss you. Duh. it is very sadmaking.

[therewaslife]

You'll be seeing me soon, though. It won't be too long.

He sent that before he sent something else. Happy early birthday. I'm the younger man again.

[vanillajello]

thank you & yes you are. <3 for a month or so. except our in-universe bdays will probly line up this year.

Which was weird, and yet not, if you happened to be a Fandom High graduate.

[therewaslife]

If things line up like last year, you'll be a cat for my birthday.

Her luck around that time of the year was quite awful.

[vanillajello]

DO NOT EVEN SAY THAT. i live in op now, that can't happen anymore.

She so hoped it didn't, anyway. How could that be explained to her family?

[therewaslife]

I apologize, I apologize!

He hoped he hadn't jinxed her.

Maybe you should alert your brother to that possibility to have a plan in place?

[vanillajello]

maybe. Ugh, she really didn't want to, but considering she'd been a cat over two Halloweens already, it probably wouldn't hurt. probably something like telling the 'rents i wanted to run off to fandom and then contacting you or something.

[therewaslife]

You can say you took me to an amusement park for my birthday, Bod suggested. I've only been once so it'd be a good weekend trip for me.

[vanillajello]

actually it'd be you taking me there for my bday, Kate pointed out. according to the calendar here. i'm getting a headache from this timeline shit.

[therewaslife]

Oh, oh, right!

Yes, the timeline weirdness was enough to confuse and make him forget.

Well, I would be honored to take you to an amusement park for your second birthday.

[vanillajello]

fake take me. because i might be a cat.

There was a slight delay before the next message, as she figured she wanted to add something.

suddenly not missing fandom so much.

Because it seemed to be here with her, still.

[therewaslife]

Well, Fandom misses you. Or maybe I miss you. I'm in Fandom and I miss you. I miss you and I love you and I want you.

He even managed to send, <3 <3 on the first try.

[vanillajello]

all of that right back at you, bb. <3 i miss you & our bed misses you & our room misses you.

There was a whole lot of missing going on in general, yeah.

[therewaslife]

A whole lot of missing.

Hopefully we can share a bed soon. It's hard to sleep without you. I've gotten so used to it that doing without makes me sad and cold.

[vanillajello]

aww. if i visit saturday you can stay in my hotel room.

It was going to be her birthday. She could splurge on a hotel room even if staying at 71 Serendipity would be cheaper.

i'll keep you warm.

[therewaslife]

Thank you. :)

His skill with emoticons was fast rising, obviously.

Parent's Weekend or not, I would like to see you on Saturday. Please?

[vanillajello]

okay, i guess. for you.

But she could offer no guarantees about not bolting if Silas decided to show up.

Oh, if she'd known.