Prescribed Recreation part 3: Chillax'n with a Vengeance

[fleurdesel]

Who: House 44, House 46, House 3, Saori, Steve Rogers, and whoever wanders in
What: Movie night on the beach
When: September 9th, in the evening
Where: The Beach
Summary: After an unfortunate tussle with a Chaos God, work on a farm, a swarm of refugees and stress piled upon stress, sometimes all anyone wants is to sit back and watch classic movies.
Rating: PG for possible adult language
Something that everyone could agree on was this: the past three weeks had been several shades of stressful. What they needed, what they all needed was something mindless and relaxing shared in the company of those they care for in a neutral environment. The beach works well enough, and it's not that far a trip for anyone involved.

Comments

[neversurrender]

[Steve sleeps in a little later than he's used to and it takes him a moment to orient himself. It's similar to the moment he woke up after getting out of the ice, where waking up feels the same as usual but it's his surroundings that don't seem to make sense. It takes a moment and then it all comes back to him. The movie night. Staying over.

He hears singing coming from what he believes is the kitchen as he pushes himself up from the couch. He enters while rubbing the sleep from his eyes and watches Adele move about the room while making breakfast.]

Something smells amazing.

[redjacketthief]

[It was too early, but his own sleep had been light and fitful as late. The light humming from the kitchen drew him from his sleep. The temptation to roll over to try to get back to sleep, though great, was ignored when he heard the sound of another voice--one that shouldn't have been there.

Lupin had returned relatively early from the movie, too tired to spend the time or the effort to help with the breakdown of their impromptu theater. He knew his screen was in good hands, but he was completely unaware of Steve's involvement.

Steve's voice in the kitchen was what got Lupin to stumble from his room with his hair in a disarray and his glasses hastily shoved into place. What he saw gave him pause enough to lean back against the couch and watch idly for a second.]

It does. When did you start cooking like this?

[fleurdesel]

[Adele turns to look back over her shoulder without breaking the melody of the song and waves at Steve. Bacon's waiting to be fried off to one side, eggs rest in a plate to be cooked, and she has a bowl of thick bread soaking. Simple. Hearty. Very American, but this was something that was easy to cook and she didn't want to worry overmuch about details.

She lets the song trail off into silence as she adds a tab of butter to the frying pan, the crackle and hiss adding a faint staccato under her voice.]

Two months ago. Normally I am out before you are, but I slept in this morning. I hope neither of you object to French toast.

[neversurrender]

Not at all. It's been awhile since I've last had it. And even longer since I've had it homemade.

[He nods a greeting a Lupin before pulling out a chair at the table. But before he sits down he turns back to Adele.]

Should I keep on some coffee or something?

[redjacketthief]

No objections here.

[Lupin stayed by the sofa for a moment longer, willing his senses to stabilize from the recurrent unsteadiness that got him in the mornings. It was a part of why he slept in, and why Luke had to come get him out of bed most mornings. Once comfortable, he made his way in and likewise found a seat near the table.]

How about dishes? Forks?

[fleurdesel]

You could very well call this 'authentic' as it is being prepared by your very own, born and raised Frenchwoman.

[She huffs a soft laugh and sets the toast to cook on the griddle, checking them once before setting the bacon and eggs into a pan to fry.]

The Coffee maker is on the counter next to the fridge, and if you would be so kind as to set the table, Petite Aubergine, I would appreciate it.

[neversurrender]

Now that I definitely have never had before.

[He grins as he passes her on his way to the coffee maker. It's one appliance he took a crash course in early on in his adjustment period. Not that he really needs the coffee to wake up. He simply drinks ir because he likes it.]

Where do you keep the filters and the coffee mix?

[redjacketthief]

Petit.

[It was automatic, but said in jest. Lupin made his way to the cabinets and nodded at Steve to catch his attention.]

The filters and blend is in the cabinet above it, right in sight. Can't miss it.

[fleurdesel]

You still scream like a little girl~

[Teasing, as ever. All in good humor, and she had quite a bit of that at the moment. Three days without one of those visions. She's not so optimistic to assume that it's over entirely but it was good to be free of it for so long.

All the more reason for her to hum under her breath and continue preparing a simple, hearty, but not at all healthy breakfast. She left the eggs and bacon be while she maneuvers around Lupin and Steve, setting up a proper coffee service. Mugs, spoons, a carafe of cream for whoever might want it, sugar for Lupin.]

How do you take your coffee Steve?

[neversurrender]

[He nods at Lupin before turning back towards the coffee maker and opens the overhead cabinet. While pulling the items out he happens to hear Adele's quiet humming and turns to grin at her.]

Someone is in an awfully good mood this morning.

[He busies himself with making the coffee and responds to Adele's question over his shoulder.] With two sugars, please.

[redjacketthief]

Are you still on that?

[He chuckled as he set out the plates and silverware, just glad for a nice morning with nice company.]

Seconding Steve here, Angel. It's nice to see you smile.

[fleurdesel]

It's been a good week, I'm well rested, I've wonderful company in the house, and for the first time since the incident with Apep I feel as though for just a little while longer everything is going to be alright.

[An extra measure of sugar is added to the bowl she sets on the table. Not a shadow of fear or anxiety present. While he'd been almost painfully oblivious the discussion with Ben the night before had given her some hope for the future.]

[neversurrender]

[He leans casually against the counter while he waits for the coffee to finish being made. Glancing between Adele and Lupin when he hears the unfamiliar name, he figures there's no harm in asking.]

Apep? Who's that?

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin's smile faltered at the question as he remembered that day--and the following weeks.]

...about a month back we had a bad run in with a chaos god. He...caused chaos. Not in a good way.

[fleurdesel]

The one that caused the...[Her smile fades a bit as she gestures to her eyes and head.] Unpleasantness you had asked about, Steve.

[She turned back to the stove, flipping the eggs and bacon, adding more toast to the griddle, voice light.]

We fought the god, and the god won.

[neversurrender]

[His posture stiffens as the happy atmosphere seems to fade away little by little. He almost regrets asking by the time Lupin begins to answer.

Steve listens silently to them both. He knows the kind of damage a god can do. Loki isn't exactly a chaos god but he does an awfully good job at acting like one.]

What happened after that? Where is he now?

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin pursed his lips into a thoughtful frown at the request for more info, and was almost tempted to lie. He refrained, but he reached up to rub his wounded shoulder. It had mostly healed, but there were still some lingering issues with pain and mobility. It would decrease with time, but it was mostly a nuisance for now.]

People were hurt, Steve. In more ways than just the physical. We managed to get the problem contained, with help...

It was still very hard.

[fleurdesel]

Another god we know sealed him away. We're safe from his influence now.

[For a moment she focuses on flipping the toast, quick little motions of her slender wrist. Fluid. Practiced. Mundane and welcome for it. They're fine. They've survived this. There is no need to brood.]

Was being the operative word, Steve. It's over and done. I've moved on at the very least.

[neversurrender]

[He considers the two of them carefully for a long moment. It's over and done. That's what they're telling him. But it doesn't make him feel any less upset at what they've been through and the fact that he hadn't been there to help. Even if he hadn't know them too well at the time.

Finally his gaze settles on Adele.]

Have you, really? Because it wasn't that long ago that...that thing happened to you. [He doesn't even know what because she never really got around to explaining it to him.]

[redjacketthief]

Don't worry too much about it, Steve.

[His tone was quiet, and his smile was bittersweet. He appreciated Steve's retroactive concern, and couldn't help but quietly admire how much of a nice guy he was.]

What's done is done, and there's nothing we can do to change it. At least there was a relatively good ending to this tale.

[fleurdesel]

Part of the reason I'm in such a good mood is because it has been three days since I've last had a vision like that.

[She starts plating the eggs and bacon, the toast crisping up quick enough.]

What happened...what happens is that I get lost. I'm here, but my mind is elsewhere. I see visions of people I know and have come to care about- and they're injured horribly. And I cannot save them. It's been happening long enough now that I can see how improbably the visions truly are. They're more irritating than anything else.

[Her voice is low and even as she slides Lupin his plate and starts serving Steve his portion.]

There's nothing to be done to cure it but wait. It's almost faded entirely.

[neversurrender]

[The coffee finally finishes and Steve busies himself with taking removing the pot and carrying it to the table. He pours all three of them a cup while listening to Adele.]

Well, I'm happy for you then. And very relieved. That seems like a terrible thing to have to live with. [He's had plenty of nightmares about being unable to save the people he cares about. The last thing he'd want is to experience that while awake as well.]

[After setting the pot down, he slides into the chair next to Lupin.] And you're both sure he's been taken care of for good?

[redjacketthief]

Barring an unforseen catastrophe or a nasty Shift? Yeah.

[His voice was light, as if he were trying to shove the experience aside. Lupin reached out and poured coffee for Steve and himself; Adele's would come when she arrived, so it was hot when she sat down.]

They're gods, Steve. Their ways are hard to understand, but Saori's informed us that the seal on Apep is solid.

[fleurdesel]

[All three plates piled with eggs, bacon, and the sweetened toast Adele slides Steve his portion and sets her own in her place. It takes a moment more to fetch maple syrup and powdered sugar and soon enough the table is set.

It's almost disgustingly domestic.]

I've managed. We all have. Helios is well and Apep isn't something we'll have to worry about for a long while, if ever.

[neversurrender]

[He thanks Adele for the food as she sets it down in front of him and stares at his food hungrily. The plate was wonderfully piled up, which was a relief for Steve's enhanced metabolism. One things for sure, he'd have plenty to eat.]

Then I guess that's that. I'm no expert on seals or anything so I'll just have to accept what you've told me. [Suddenly he looks up from his plate to the both of them and grins.] Let's eat!