|
Post by Mirage on Feb 5, 2012 12:07:27 GMT -5
Month 7, Week 3, Day 2, semi-private
Addison has gone to a lot of trouble and expense for this dinner. He arranged for the suite to be cleaned top to bottom, for the dinner table to be set impeccably, and for the chef (a very attractive and accommodating lady) of a local upscale gastropub to cater the meal.
The delicious smells coming from the kitchenette are borderline obscene. Addison is busily setting up a small bar and trying to decide which wine to pair with which course. Maybe he should just serve beer.... He looks over at his sister.
"Lynn," Addison's voice is almost pleading, "Please, he is a very good sort and I care quite a bit for him. You know I don't ask you to meet my companions often. I would greatly appreciate it if you would try to be sociable. He won't laugh at you, I promise."
|
|
|
Post by Lynn Deanna Payne on Feb 5, 2012 12:26:59 GMT -5
Lynn pulls out her soulless HPad, which is like an iPad, only 150% more SOULLESS EFFICIENT MACHINE and types out, You know that I do not speak in public. She holds it up for Addison to read and then adds, I can use the text to voice app if you really want.
What if the chef walks in on them and hears her? That would be a disaster.
Anyway, beer pairings with food have become pretty hip and trendy.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Feb 5, 2012 13:28:08 GMT -5
Addison puts the wine back in the cooler and begins to sort through his collection of microbrews. He pauses and looks over at Lynn's tablet.
There is only the slightest bit of exasperation in Addison's expression, exasperation Lynn may be immune to after so many years. Because Addison doesn't give a rat's patootie about her speech issues, he doesn't understand why other people do. He understands why she won't speak when they are out- people are such total boors sometimes-, but they are in their own home! So much as a snicker from the help and Addison will toss the offending person out on his or her ear.
"This isn't public, this is home!" he insists lowly, "It's just the help!" When one grows up with servants, one does tend to not consider them as People all the time.
He sighs, "If you refuse to speak, then yes, use the... whatever it is." Addison is woefully technologically challenged. He uses it. He does not really pay attention to what it is, all the time. He sits down on a bar stool, runs his fingers through his hair, and continues, "I'm sorry. I just really want this to go well."
Addison is nervous which in itself is a novelty. Never mind that he will hopefully find out if he's right about just who Lynn is, Human Addison genuinely wants his sister and Rodney to get along, because he really likes Rodney. Robot Mirage knows that Bambi doesn't like Rodimus for some undefined reason, and that knowledge just makes Addison even more nervous about the evening.
|
|
|
Post by Lynn Deanna Payne on Feb 5, 2012 13:49:29 GMT -5
Because Rodimus sacrificed her and then a temple got covered in lava while they were adventuring and he still hasn't let her scientifically document the Matrix.
Car robots bad.
Treating The Help as Not People is all fun and games until one tells the rag sheets that the Payne family is covering up the shame of its youngest member being an idiot, which isn't even true, but that is what people would say, and... and... okay, Lynn doesn't want to have to break a chair, here.
Addison reeks of nervousness, though. She types out something and then keys up the text to speech app, so that the HPad says in a pleasant voice, "Thinking about seriously settling down with this one?"
Because if he is, she'll behave. She doesn't much see the point if the expiration date was only a week or so from now.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Feb 5, 2012 14:21:59 GMT -5
Car robots bad, but super sexy spy car robots tolerable?
Addison looks startled at Lynn's question. "I...," he starts, then quiets and busies himself with the bar.
Addison could see himself "settled down" in a way with Rodney. They both have an understanding of the etiquette involved in open relationships and they are certainly fond of each other. In a perfect world, they might be the media's darling couple, poster children for a poly lifestyle, and a happy family with various extended families.
But this isn't a perfect world, and Rodimus Prime might like Mirage well enough, but if Rodimus "settles down" with anyone it would be Arcee. Or Springer. Or both of them, if they were willing. Aside from that, Mirage- if he is truthful with himself- isn't sure he can handle that level of commitment with anyone, no matter how much he loves them.
"I have considered it," he says at length. Truth. "We are.. uniquely suited to each other."
|
|
|
Post by Lynn Deanna Payne on Feb 5, 2012 14:44:30 GMT -5
Lynn watches Addison and his reactions closely. Then she types, and the HPad says, "Very well. I will behave. Still not speaking, though. You want to keep this one, not scare him away."
Doesn't matter how down-to-Earth this Rodney is.
"Will he move in with you? Will I move away?"
He is only her brother, after all, not her father. He deserves his own life, free of looking after a child that isn't even his.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Feb 5, 2012 15:14:40 GMT -5
Relief shows on Addison's face when Lynn says she will behave. Lynn can be every bit the lady she is being raised to be, when she wishes, but when she does not wish to be so, she can be a holy terror. And not just because she is a were-raptor.
"Darling no, of course you would not have to move away!" he exclaims at her last question. He drops to his knees in front of her and tries to bundle her into his arms. "You can stay with me as long as you wish to. I promised to take care of you and I will." He tries to look her in the eyes, "Because I want to and because I love you, not because I have to."
He means it. Even if this odd little girl isn't Bambi, Addison will find some way to take care of her, regardless of what form he may be in. It's a bit shocking to him to realize that, shocking to realize how twined his two lives are in his mind.
"I don't know if he'll move in with me, even if we come to that. Rodney is... rather independent. But, ah, I have considered, if things go well, putting him on the approved anytime visitor list at our various homes."
"Only if you approve as well, however."
|
|
|
Post by Lynn Deanna Payne on Feb 5, 2012 15:36:44 GMT -5
Rodimus Prime wouldn't make a very good evil stepmother, anyway.
Lynn is bundled up and tries to lay her head against him, but she is quiet for now. She doesn't really want to keep Addison from happiness, and... maybe... maybe she already drove away The One for him and he is doomed because of her.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 5, 2012 19:13:34 GMT -5
There is a knock at the door.
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Feb 5, 2012 23:54:11 GMT -5
Addison allows the head on his shoulder, hugging his little sister tightly. The knock at the door brings his head up and a smile to his face. Rodney is right on time.
After attempting to give Lynn a quick peck on her cheek, Addison stands and walks toward the door, grabbing up his sport coat and slipping it on as he does. Dress for the night isn't too formal; Addison is in dark jeans and a dove gray button down aside from the charcoal gray coat.
He opens the door and lets Rodney in, giving the FX expert a fairly chaste welcoming kiss. "Hello gorgeous," Addison murmurs as he slips his arm around Rodney.
"Rodney, this is my sister, Lynn. Lynn, this is Rodney Pryor."
Kissing w/ permission
|
|
|
Post by Lynn Deanna Payne on Feb 6, 2012 0:12:37 GMT -5
Lynn accepts the peck and then moves out the way and into the nearest shadow that she can find, so that Rodney can be greeted by the blue eye-shine of a little predatory creature girl.
Lynn, as she often does, has feathers in her hair. The feathers are actually her own. She found them while she was helping Addison clean that room. An ornithologist would likely find the feathers extremely perplexing, but there are no ornithologists here, so she is safe. She is dressed in grey, brick red, and mustard yellow Victorian Age of Adventure style clothing, though suitable for the event. It is not steampunk, and it will be a ding in her book if Rodney assumes it is.
The HPad says, "Hello."
Lynn smiles thinly. See? She is being civil so hard.
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 6, 2012 12:13:53 GMT -5
Rodney wears a red blazer over a nice yellow-orange button-down and simple black jeans, quality serviceable but nothing particularly expensive. After all, he is nothing more than an effects technician. He returns the kiss with a smile and leans into the arm that's wrapped around him. "Hey," he answers the greeting.
In one hand is a bouquet of flowers. The highlight of the grouping is a collection of tiger lilies, a deep reddish orange with black flecks. The smaller accent flowers are yellow and red, colors that tend to match Rodney's sensibilities...
But aren't too far from Bambi's color scheme, either.
He can't quite keep the surprise off his expression when Lynn chooses to "talk" through the HPad, and he cuts a confused glance towards Addison... though perhaps there's the faintest hint of a nod when he does as well. Then he looks back at Lynn and smiles. "Hello, Lynn." He pulls away from Addison and offers up the flowers. "I brought these for you."
|
|
|
Post by Mirage on Feb 6, 2012 12:35:55 GMT -5
"It's good to see you, love," Addison says to Rodney, giving him a squeeze. Addison shrugs slightly at the look. He warned Rodney that Lynn might not really speak to him. The nod passes without comment.
Addison doesn't protest as Rodney moves away. The model seems a bit more relaxed than he was prior to Rodney's arrival, but he is still tenser than normal. The flowers were a sweet touch, he thinks, but how will Lynn react?
|
|
|
Post by Lynn Deanna Payne on Feb 6, 2012 13:29:04 GMT -5
Lynn puts the HPad aside and takes the flowers with a small smile. He actually thought of her? Granted, with a very stereotypical gift for a little girl, but all the same, he thought of her? She snaps off one of the tiger lilies and tucks it behind her ear. Then she puts the bouquet in a vase. Hopefully one of the servants will add some water.
Finally, Lynn picks back up the HPad to say, "Thank you. Did you know that tiger lilies mean 'wealth and pride'?"
|
|
|
Post by Rodimus Prime on Feb 6, 2012 14:16:32 GMT -5
Well, there was some thought of, 'What sort of flowers, specifically, would Bambi like?'
Rodney probably should have gone with something carnivorous.
When Lynn, or rather, her HPad, asks her question, he shakes his head. "I'm afraid not." Then he gives her a winning smile. "I guess I do now, though."
He straightens, then looks back at Addison. "Anyway, thanks for having me over." He sniffs. "Smells wonderful."
Of course, now that they know for sure who Lynn is, the challenge will be how to get her to remember, but it sounds like there might be someone in the kitchen.
|
|