(2019-01-25) Sticky and Sweet
I can't even, too much going on.
Players:
anthony..august..katherine..nolan..sevin..teija..

August sits at the counter, perched on a stool, a familiar open box of cinnamon rolls. She has apparently used some piece of equipment in this room to heat it, because the entire kitchen smells like warm (not burnt!) cinnamon rolls. She's ripping one to tiny pieces on a paper towel, not a plate, and has a couple of cups of to-go cups in a little drink holder next to her. Like she was lying in wait or something.

*

Katherine pads into the kitchen, obviously either having gotten a late start, or got a very early start and took a nap. Either way, she's wearing a tee-shirt that just covers her upper thighs, and a pair of skin tight cotton shorts. She mumbles a sleepy, "Hello, love." to August as she shuffles to the coffee pot. She pours herself a rather large mug of coffee, adds two squares of dark chocolate and enough half and half to make her drink au lait. She takes a drink, her eyes closed, and then when she opens them she looks slightly more focused. "Holy shit. Last night is a blur."

*

"Hey, Katie." The greeting is soft. August's lips quirk in a little lopsided smile. "Have a good night?" She chuckles then, watching Kate go through the ritual of making a coffee. She pulls one of the to-go cups from the carrier, and slides it across the counter to sit near the next stool down. "Dirty chai." Double-strong hot chai latte, no water, extra foam, shot of espresso.

*

The tattooer is dressed in her usual skinny jeans and heels, though today she wears an oversize BROOKLYN hoodie, one usually found on a different occupant of the B&B. Well, perhaps former. There's a semi-moved-out quality happening in the Garage Suite, at least for one of them. August sips from her own cup, then chases that with a ripped off piece of cinnamon roll. "I mean you look like you had a good night, even if it's kinda fuzzy." Aug certainly looks happy about it.

*

Katherine blinks a few times, nodding at August. "I ..didn't drink, but I also didn't get a lot of sleep. She grins a dirty little grin. "It didn't work out well when I had to get up at four in the morning for the morning show." She grunts and takes a deeper drink of her coffee. "I swear, distracting him from grading papers was fun." She glances at the cinnamon rolls and then back to August. "They any good? I haven't had any of them before."

*

"You literally get up when I usually get off." August replies, over the lip of her to-go cup. She sips again. She stifles a yawn, and sips again. "I'm glad you had a nice time last night. I was halfway in the toilet for most of it. I had to call for a late night rescue." She seems okay now, if a little bit wan. She's always quite fair-skinned, so it's hard to tell, really. Plus the makeup's still on point. "Yeah, they're crispy on the edges, which is how I like 'em. Want?" She's not gonna eat all dozen herself. "My legs fell asleep, I spent so much time on the bathroom floor."

*

Kate eyes August, an eyebrow quirked before she leans in, her voice quiet. "Woman. When you need help. Call. If you need me to not get laid because we gotta sit on the bathroom floor and chat about boys and problems? Call. I can tempt Sevin anytime, or we could come here, cook soup and keep you company." She shakes her head in regards to the cinnamon roll. "No thank you, love. Just tell me what you're in the mood for, for dinner."

*

"Always get laid, Katie." August says. "I can get off the floor most of the time. I just didn't have it in me last night. It was sad, and I was so sick. I was kinda rude to Sevin, but I think that worked out okay since he didn't throw his phone." August puts her cup down and stretches slowly, arms over her head, giving her back a slow arch. "God. My body's been hijacked and I just lose control of my impulses." She pauses, them mms, coming out of the stretch slowly. "I mean maybe that's just me. I used to think I got into all the trouble I do because I was high quite a lot of the time." She pauses again, looking to Kate. "I'll call next time. But I did have a lot of fun texting you last night." The smile's flirting its way back, lurking at the corners of her mouth. "This sweet pea better stop fucking with mama though. I need to eat or I get hangry in the extreme."

*

Kate aims a look at August, frowning as she shakes her head. "It is just a good reason to have Sevin come and stay here more. I always go to his place." She leans against the counter, a finger dipped into her warm coffee. "You got..what, another eight months of this? The good news is that you won't be sick forever. Another two months at most, and then it'll be right as rain again." She pushes her fingers into her thick hair, groaning softly. "Call me, please, because now I'm going to be worried about you. I'm gonna start checking in on you. I'm gonna end up being a second Sevin with a better attitude."

*

"The internet tells me like maybe… most people do for like two months? But I don't know what that means, most people. If it's really most people, or the terrifying baby industry just wants us to keep pumping out tiny humans for the marketing." Aug idly rubs her belly under her hoodie. Still flat and smooth, but that could change at any second, it seems like. And then she has to kiss those skinny jeans goodbye. "I'm hungry and horny almost constantly, and it's starting to make me feel like I'm losing it. Touch me, don't touch me, touch me if you feed me at the same time, pardon me, I have to go throw up." She laughs then, at the idea of a second Sevin with a better attitude. "Oh god. Girl. I will. I will. No more Sevins. One is quite enough, thank you." She sits up and pops another bite of pastry into her mouth. A small bite. A careful bite. "I was thinking about the show, which was hilarious. I think we should swap questions next week maybe? I wanted to know your and Sam's answers to mine."

*

Katherine grins over at August, eyebrows raised slightly. "Baby industry is something I would like to think less about." She wrinkles her nose and makes a face. "Also, I'm hungry and horny almost constantly and I'm not pregnant. I'm just..really keen on sex on a regular basis. I never really had that before? So.." She giggles softly and props her chin up on her palm. "So..when should we try to get together to tape that? What should our general question be? I was thinking of something having to do with public sex. Think that will scandalize Claire?"

*

"God, me too." Baby industry. August nods. "I know what you mean." She reaches up to run her fingers through her long hair, pulling the grey strands away and combing them out. Her long nails are still sporting the white hot rod flames on glossy black. She pulls her hair back into a tail, then drops it. "Feed the beast and the beast is hungry nigh constantly." She mms and thinks a moment. "I think Sam is hilarious, so I'd be down pretty much anytime. Maybe a mid-week behind the scenes online episode, pull some Youtube following. Monetize the channel and put it back into local business. I don't know what Heather's plans are, though. Just an idea. I've done some work on Youtube before, as a guest." She lifts her hands in a shrug, then pulls the zipper down on her hoodie, now that she's warmed up some. "Claire will give you a very sweet answer somehow touching on her rodeo prince. They're adorable. I might have taken them up on it if they took my proposition seriously." Well, they almost kinda did, they just passed on it. Her smile is soft. "Public sex is a good one. Things you're hesitant to tell your partner. The best thing you'd never admit to about being an adult."

August thinks for a long moment, her hand on her belly. "Korean spare ribs and stir fried string beans."

*

Katherine moves behind the counter, grinning as she opens the freezer and fridge. "Done. I love cooking Korean food." She pulls out some meat, and hunts through the pantry to find string beans. "Wonder if anyone might stop by tonight." She murmurs softly, her head tilting as she starts to pull spices and makings for sauce from her cupboard. "Public sex is fun to think about, and I've only kind of done something that could be considered ..public sex. Mostly, sex on that couch out there." She jerks her chin toward the great room. "Though, and never tell that evil man this, but I'd probably be okay being herded in any corner of a place. I don't know what it is about him, August. The more time I spend with him, the more ..this is just all so weird. I'm just trying to shove the bad parts out of my mind, focus on the good. It's probably more repressing, but…it's working for me."

*

August turns her head to glance into the Great Room. She grins. "I would love to have sex on that couch over there, but I usually try to take it back to the Suite, since I never know who's gonna stumble in at 3am. But by the fire." The woman lifts a hand, three fingers touching. "Amazing. Good for you."

"I think he's so locked down that you get to him and it feels amazing that he loses some control for you." Aug looks over, her chin resting on her knuckles, elbow once again perched on the counter's edge. "You fed the beast, and the beast likes what it's getting." She mms, then clarifies, "The beast is your ladybit." In case Kate didn't fully get that memo. Which of course she did. Aug's just being Aug. "So best public spaces are outdoors at night. Find a dark corner during the spring or summer. I've done it on a fire escape, in an alley, the rooftop of a building, a few times in elevators, a laundromat, a stairwell or two. I haven't done it on a plane, which is disappointing in the extreme. It seems like a thing I should have done a long time ago."

*

Katherine glances toward the great room, and then back at August, and then toward the couch again. "Yeah, that was pretty much my mindset, lucky for me, nobody stumbled in at one am." She rolls her eyes, and a slow blush creeps across her cheeks.

"I don't know what it is, but I like it. So.." Kate starts to mix a few things together, making a red sticky sauce. "My ladybit is a beast?" She glances down her body, from the loose tee shirt to the snug short shorts. "I suppose I should be glad that I can keep it contained in these shorts." She listens to August for a few moments, her eyes on the remainder of the cinnamon bun between her hands. "Jesus, woman. I can't compete with any of those. I was having a near panic attack doing it in my great room." She pauses from meal prep, moving to the sink to gather her hair into a pony tail, washing her hands before she continues prepping the spare ribs. "You like these more hot than sweet?" Kate says from her place behind the counter. She eyes August, a slight grin on her lips at the tattoo'd woman across from her.

*

"Babe, everybody's ladybit is a beast once it's been fed properly." August sits at the counter next to a huge box of cinnamon rolls. She has one on her plate, mostly decimated into tiny bite size pieces, ripped by hand. She's sitting with a drink-carrier of to-go cups, though one of the cups is in front of her, half gone. She is perched on a stool, legs crossed. She nods to the question, "Definitely more hot than sweet." She pops a bit of pastry into her mouth. "It's easier in the city, to get creative about your locales. Sometimes you stumble out the back door of a club and it just seems right. Alcohol helps. Car's a solid go-to if you want to start slowly. Just don't park off of a heavily patrolled highway."

"How many guests would you think is our maximum to cram up a that table?" August licks a bit of frosting off of her thumb, and rests her hands on her thighs. "I was thinking the last fundraiser I did for the kids charities didn't go off like I'd hoped. I'm used to pulling in several thousand in places like New York or Jacksonville. So I figured maybe something more rodeo and old west would go down better here. We could pull in a few guests related, and then host an event in that little Saloon. I mean, if anything's gonna go over in this town, it's a benefit disguised as a costume party with some high stakes poker at the center of it. Right?"

*

The front door of the Stone Bed & Breakfast was manipulated by the deft handiwork of a man who'd been through the door more than a handful of times. The familiar clicks of pricey European dress shoes echoed as Anthony walked through the great room and toward the Kitchen. His nose knew the way, and his body knew how to follow. Despite the generally fanciful air of Anthony's attire, today he seemed to have, for him at least, toned it down.

A black cashmere sweater worn over a simple white buttondown, sleeved cuffed at mid forearm over the sweaters ends, matched with a pair of pinstripe blended-wool trousers that features thin, faint chalky white stripes. "Evenin' Ladies, how's the two most lovely ladies in Calaveras doin' ?" he remarked with ease, jostling something about in the pocket of his lengthy leather overcoat, the same he'd worn the other day for Marine-Blue strippers and taco's on Tuesday.

*

Katherine aims a mild look at August, taking in the information about her wild ladybits with an amused smile on her face. "More hot than sweet. Got it." She starts working, smiling over at Anthony when he arrives. "The lovely one is doing good, I think. I'm just ..average, and I'm doing okay." She adds some red pepper flakes to her sauce. "We can fit twenty two maximum at that table, we got it because..well.. seven kids, you know? Plus my parents. It was a wild ride every night for dinner." She looks thoughtful about the talk of charity and benefits, a smile curving her lips. "I think that could be awesome. I …really want to dress up." The wheels in her head are turning, she's thinking chaps and leather and flannel. "Hey Anthony. You like Korean spare ribs? The sticky kind?"

*

August glances up as she hears the door open, and the telltale approach of those expensive shoes coming this way. She waits till he's in the doorway to turn, though, pale grey eyes turning to Anthony. She gives him a slow once over, then glances to Kate as she answers first. That little quirk of her lips is threatening again. "Any excuse to dress up, right? And gamble." She falls silent for a moment, gaze doing from Kate to Anthony now.

Auggie is wearing a large BROOKLYN hoodie unzipped over her skinny jeans and a fitted tank top underneath, lazed up the sides like a corset. This is, of course, hidden, until she shrugs the hoodie off and drapes it across her lap. It's warm enough now that Katherine's firing up the oven. And if it's not? She can just do her usual body-toasting move. "Good company, warm kitchen. Dirty chai. Food happening." She nods to Kate. "What could be better?"

*

The out-of-place but not out-of-his-comfort-zone Italian man leaned into the frame of the passage between kitchen and great room and grinned at Kate with a bit of a shrug, glancing over toward August as she spoke, "Jesus, and here in America we only got enough ribs, Korean's are sellin' their extra's for meat. Little slant-eyed bastards" he remarked, though the lazy glance toward August that trailed her as much as her own moonlight eyes did him flittered back toward Kate.

"Dressin' up? Whatta' we doin? Halloween was a few months ago…" he commented with a purse of his lips, hands seeking out the confines of his hip pockets and he pushed off from the passage, meandering over toward August as he did so, leaning down to whisper something into her ear, "How you been, Kate? I heard the new show went good, huh?"

*

Kate pours half of the sauce into a container, dumping the ribs in for a quick marinade. She tosses the ribs around with her fingers, and then moves to rinse off her hands, putting a lid on the container. "C'mon Tony. When do girls need a holiday to have a reason to dress up? I can already see myself in a corset, some belts, a nice flouncy skirt. Get me a cowboy hat and maybe a shotgun, and …perfection." She nods and stuffs the ribs in the fridge. "Show went great, now people really want to be on, and they want dates. We haven't even aired yet, it's just people talking that has folks interested." She dumps the string beans in the sink so she can start cleaning them. "Life is pretty good right now though. Thanks for asking."

*

August pops a piece of cinnamon roll into her mouth. She watches Tony for a moment as he offers his opinion on the offering for the evening, shaking her her head slightly. She leans back a little as he approaches, reaching up and back with one hand to slide it alongside his neck. Her fingers brush his collar. She turns her head to respond quietly to whatever he said, voice soft.

"I was just telling Kate about how I want to try again doing a charity event for kids. Maybe start a scholarship for some kids interested in the arts, or raise some money for community efforts. Small towns like this can always use more funding for kids programs. The tattoo shop doesn't pull down nearly enough for any of those things." Auggie's feelings about this are a bit complicated, but she keeps most of them to herself for now. She does seem a little tired, perhaps a tiny bit pale, but otherwise fairly good. Could also be the makeup helping out with that, flawless as per usual, with those black-painted lips and dark-winged liner. "Saloon, old west. Colorado. Rodeo people. Themed pastry. Bandits, pay bar." She mms and then adds, "The show's entertaining, even if it threw me a couple of curveballs." A faint smirk at that.

August's phone buzzes several times in her back pocket, but she doesn't check it, at least not yet.

*

Anthony bobbed his head toward Kate's words, and further at Augusts, leaning into the scratching of his nape like a cat does head scritches. "Ahhh, I mean, sounds like a good time, sure. Anythin' you guys raise from it, I'll match the donation to…" he paused, shrugging, "Wherever you wanna'donate it to. I was meanin' to donate to Stan over at the youth center anyway, so mind as well have a more elaborate plan in motion" he smiled, tight lips parting pepper flecked coal-black whiskers of his shadowy beard, his peridot eyes squinting at August as he straightened himself back upright, "Threw *you* for a curveball? Are you sure the show's suited for public consumption? I mean you put a full sized human skull on display in my house as an art piece…" he muttered, shaking his head, adn then forming an 'o' with his mouth, "Oh yeah, and I put the paperwork in on a new car, it should be here sometime this week, maybe early next week, so we can stop sharing the damn truck."

*

Kate starts to mince ginger and garlic, squirting oil into a wok that she's placed on the stove. "I think a charity event is a great way to break up the winter monotony. I'm all for it, and having bandits? That would be amazing." She scrapes some ginger to the side, mincing more quickly. "When do you think you'd do this thing? We can probably get some rodeo folk to pose as the bandits if ..we talk fast?" She scoops up the garlic and ginger with her hands and the knife, setting it in the deep pan. It starts to sizzle and she adds the beans, pouring sherry and soy sauce into a shallow bowl. "What kind of car are you getting?" She asks, eyeing the wok for a few moments before she pours the contents of the bowl inside, steam rising. Anthony and August are on one side of the counter, near and sitting on the stools over there. Katherine is across from them, standing near the stove where she is currently cooking stir fried string beans in a wok.

*

"Matilda is a full disarticulated skeleton. She's also very sensitive, and I found her in an attic at an estate sale in Ithaca. She's very dear to me." August says to Anthony, that smile finally curving her lips. "Show's good. It's just sometimes, some things… you don't expect to be asked on the air. And your brain pops a neuron and then things, Tony, things come out of your mouth." Things are always coming out of Auggie's mouth, and half the time she doesn't know what they are until she says them. She glances up, head tipping back, all those throat tattoos on display. "You don't like sharing the truck? I don't mind sharing the truck." She smirks a bit at that and smooths her fingers over his lapel. "Matching bid's a generous offer. How about you put your boots on and buy into the game too?" She mms. "I'll look into the Community Center."

"After talkin' to Claire and Warren the other day, the rodeo's been on my mind. Oh," August looks up again to Anthony, who's standing behind her. "They said they'd send us some complimentary tickets to check it out, by the way." And then she continues, "Their opening events are in February. February seems as good a time as any to do it, maybe work with them, link up to their opening series, or whatever horse people call their," she waves a hand lightly. "Season. Though the ice factor in this town does seem prohibitive. What cowboy doesn't secretly wanna play a bandit?" She watches Kate at the stove, breathing in a slow breath at the sizzle and scent of ginger coming up from the pan.

*

Anthony laughed a low, genuine sort of chortle at the mention and description of the disarticulated skeleton which was now in a glass display case in his living room that was once intended for shelves of things like signed sports memorabilia, helmets, or coins, though was part of the growing bit of 'August-y flair' that was slowly creeping across his new mountain abode like a cancerous fungus of all things weird and beautiful. Much like August.

"Uhh-Huh…" he muttered toward August, who had mentioned 'things' on the show and he squinted a bit, uncertain of what to expect about that, "So when do I get to show up on the show and talk 'things' then?" he smirked and leaned in to smooch August's cheek, though took a step toward the hallway, "That sounds miserable, about the rodeo thing, I saw Warren do stuff at the Christmas festival. I think I'd rather watch that Calvin guy sing again, and I don't even like country…" he muttered, slipping his cellphone from the pocket of his overcoat, "I need to make a call, ladies. I'll see you in a bit for dinner"

*

Katherine is lost in cooking at the moment so she's distracted through most of that conversation. She is also singing to herself, and rumpled from sleeping until early afternoon. She's just kind of out there right now people. What she isn't doing is burning the string beans. They are scooped out of the wok when the skin gets the perfect crispiness and deposited on a plate to the side. She moves to start chopping ginger for another batch, setting this one on the counter while they're hot and crunchy. "Well, we're booked right now, but I don't see why we can't have you on the show sooner rather than later. We're still working on the format of things, we have some ideas, and ..I know what shot we're doing for the next opener." She looks like a teenager with that high pony tail, gazing at August and Anthony with a winning smile on her face. "I should ask Calvin if he wants to be on the show. He can talk about groupies, and how far they'll go for some celebrity dick."

*

"Babe, do you have a fifty on you?" August asks, glancing up to Tony again as he slips out his phone to make a call. She touches his shoulder, then laughs softly at his commentary on the rodeo and country. "You wanna come on the show?" She glances over at Katherine, grey eyes intent on the brunette for a moment. Seems like Aug didn't really see that coming. She really has no idea who Calvin is, but the name pings a bell in the back of her mind for… some reason. It'll come to her sometime. Brain's a little slow today, probably due to last night's escapades. "Sure, babe, you can come sit by me if you like." On the show. "You could—" Nope, August isn't going to say celebrity dick to Anthony. Nope. Noooope. "Uh… take your call, babe." Just run. Because there's no telling what she might say next. Either of them, really.

*

Halfway through dialing the numbers into the touchscreen of his phone, a coal-black eyebrows arched toward Katherine with a flash of a smile, "That could be fun, I'd be intrigued, for sure" he remarked and glanced toward August, placing his phone against his ear, he squinted at her a bit and fished a thick wad of bills folded over from his pocket and tugged it free from the silver metallic clasp which held it together.

A series of sounds which equated to paper brushing paper as Tony thumbed through bills and counted out two-hundred dollars which he then sat on the bar in front of August, his phone conversation having picked up. "Hey, Paul, it's Tony down in Colorado. Yeah, yeah, everythin's fine, listen, I need you'se to do I's a favor, kiddo…" he muttered into the phone and took a few steps toward the hallway, the professionally well-spoken demeanor of who was a reputed multi-million dollar financial investment banker had seemingly transferred to that of a wiseguy off Mulberry street.

Raising a hand, he jockeyed it side-to-side at Kate and winked at August as he walked down the hallway and out the back door.

*

"Who are you lowballing tonight?" Kate asks August, her lashes sweeping down to kiss her cheeks for a moment, as she dumps another batch of ginger, garlic and string beans into the wok. "So, I need your completely honest girl advice, August. No holds barred." She moves away from the counter, picking up her coat and pulling a bag from underneath it. She sets it on the counter, and opens it slightly. "I'm thinking of showing up at someones door tonight, wearing only that, under a heavy fur coat. Thoughts?" Inside the bag is an angelic, but almost completely sheer, white lace teddy. Now that she's asked for girl advice, it's back to the wok so she can make sure string beans don't burn. She moves to the fridge, pulls out the ribs, and begins to get them ready to cook.

*

There is a little rumble of a car parking outside, followed by relative silence from that vector. A number of seconds later, the door opens, and a tall darkly clad woman steps inside, a small, polished redwood box with celtic knotwork forming a circle in the center of the lid, surmounted by a small family crest featuring a breastplate w/greathelm over a shield featuring three fleur de lis. She's gives the place a sort of T-800 sweep before moving off toward where August and Kate are being chummy over dinner fixin's.

*

August glances after Anthony as he ignores something she said quietly to him, her eyes narrowing slightly. If her expression is any indication, whatever that was about is probably gonna be amusing for someone later. Still, she says, "Thanks, babe." Tony doesn't really do things exactly as he's asked, but he does certainly get the job done. She reaches for the cash, flips through it, and while $150 goes into her back pocket, a single $50 is folded thrice and tucked down her top. She grins at Kate, but says nothing about it, save to fold the bill slowly when the other woman is looking, juuuust so she sees it.

"I thought I'd keep my options open on the balling front." Aug smirks back to Kate. She drapes an arm across her lap, resting atop the hoodie folded in her lap. She leans in as Kate opens a bag on the counter, peering into it. Her long hair sweeps over her shoulder, and she reaches up to tuck it behind her ear. "Yes." That's all she says. Aug looks over at Kate, her pale-grey gaze sweeping down Kate's figure. She smiles, then glances over as Teija makes an entrance, all gothy and sweeping into the B&B. "Hey, girl." She leans in against the counter briefly before she turns slightly, one stiletto hooked into the cross-bar of the stool. "Oh, whatcha got in the box?"

*

Kate's cheeks get pink and she snatches the lace and tulle off of the counter, groaning softly as she drops it out of sight again. "Yes seems good." She scoops out the second helping of stir fried string beans and moves to take a seat as the ribs start to cook. "Teija, right? Welcome. Get comfortable, I can get you a drink and we'll be having ribs soon if you're hungry." She picks up her mug, taking a drink as she eyes the pair. "Pretty box." She leans a cotton clad hip against the counter, her long legs bare. "Mm it's getting nice and warm over here now." She turns her dark eyes toward the oven, another sip of coffee taken. She might be daydreaming about her coat escapade.

*

Continuing to sweep her way across the way, she smirks a little and returns, "Oh, y'know. Presents for all the bad little girls." Teija chinlifts at Katherine with a, "Hey, Katherine, that'd be great, thanks." and continues on till she's about alongside and settles into a seat and sets the box in front of August.

*

"That's definitely me." August grins, eyes on the box. She nods in Kate's direction. "I mean lately that's coming to mean Katie too." She lifts her hands as the box goes down in front of her, fingers laced in a clasp. She flashes that pearly grin and looks askance at Teija. Though she still looks a little tired, she's very clearly pleased by the appearance of this box. Both hands tip forward to splay over it, long, claw-tipped nails clacking against the redwood. "You should stay for dinner, Teija. Our lovely hostess is makin' Korean ribs and stir fried string beans. Spicy as you like." She clearly wants to, but she doesn't open the box. Not yet.

*

Kate looks briefly surprised. "Bad little girl. Oh boy." She brushes a stray lock away from her eyes, gazing from Teija to the ornate box she sets in front of August. She is standing behind the counter, cooking Korean sticky and hot short ribs and stir fried string beans in a wok. She's wearing a filmy white tee-shirt that drapes off one shoulder and a pair cotton soft black linen boy shorts. The food simmers merrily in the background, filling the kitchen steamy goodness.

*

Teija crosses her ankles and leans on her elbows and sighs with some small satisfaction, as some tension in her back finally lets go and she wonders, "How's that ink mendin', Kate?"

*

The door to the B&B opens and the chill air ushers Nolan inside. He's wrapped up in his usual peacoat, but dressed casually as he's just here for a nice hot meal that doesn't taste like it came in a paper bag. He walks in to where the kitchen is, shrugging out of his coat, gloves and scarf, revealing a cableknit grey sweater and jeans with his winter boots. "Is dinner being served tonight?" his familiar voice comes as he steps into the warmer space with a smile. "It smells divine." The former action star looks well, but definitely hungry.

*

"The tattoo is healing nicely, and it looks pretty good too." Kate flashes a grin at Teija, setting out a mug for her in case she wants coffee. "Dinner is going to be served, another thirty minutes tops. We're having spicy Korean sweet and hot short ribs and fried string beans." She gestures to the center of the counter where two platters of freshly cooked string beans are cooling slightly. "How you been Nolan? Enjoying things in the city so far?" She shoots a look at Teija, indicating that the question includes her as well. Tell her about your fun times!

*

A few moments later, August returns from the bathroom, drying her hands on the seat of her jeans. Some girls are just classy like that. "Katie, babe, I'm gonna go change real quick." She leans in to kiss Kate's cheek, saying something quietly to her as she wanders by, sneaking a string bean off the platter as she passes.

Auggie glances over to Teija, smiling, "I'll be back in about fifteen, tops." And then she notices Nolan, whom she has yet to meet. "Pardon my hello and run, sweetheart," the tall tattooer slips by to touch Teija's shoulder, her eyes on the goth, then that silver gaze flicks to Nolan. "Don't go anywhere, okay?" Halfway to the back door she calls back, "August Lexington! I'll meet you in a minute." That's probably to Nolan since she seems to know everyone else. Behind her, she leaves a box of 11 cinnamon rolls on the counter, and a couple of to-go cups of dirty chai. She shrugs into her hoodie and slips out the back door, stilettos reporting every single step she takes.

August whispers: Pants are feeling a little tight. I think I gotta swap out to dress with more breathing room. Lord help me.

*

Teija straightens up again with a couple of slightly jigglish, forceful shrugs, she slips out of her coat to bare her tats and hogleg, peacestrapped, of course and settles forward on her elbows again in time for August to touch her. She nods her way with a, "Hold ya to that." and she looks to Katherine, "It's been alright, busy-busy-busy, y'know." With the hail to the new entrant, she twists and looks that way with a once over and a, "Hey."

*

"That sounds fantastic," Nolan declares, as he hangs up his coat. "Anything I can do to help?" he offers. He rubs his hands together to warm them as he looks over the food being prepared with appreciation. "I finally closed on a townhouse on Saminaw. Just what I needed, right amount of space for my needs, small yard I can maintain without hiring someone, and just enough room for a dog maybe." His smile is infectious. "Plus I can walk to work, once it's not ridiculously cold out." He watches August breeze through with amusement, then offers a hand to Teija. "Nolan Lenox, Katherine's co-host on 'Wake Up, Calaveras.'"

*

Katherine shoots a look at August when she speaks quietly in her direction. She nods lightly toward August and then turns to smile at Teija and Nolan. "Oh you're gonna get a dog? What kind of dog?" She lights up at that, smiling toward Nolan. "Congrats on the townhouse." She gestures to August as she walks toward the garage suite. "That's August Lexington, one of my co-hosts for Naked Voices, and this is Teija. Gunsmith and engraver. I've looked up some of her work, it's quite something to look at." She glances around briefly, eyebrows lowered slightly as she considers. "I don't think I need any help at the moment. Get comfortable, let me know if you need a drink. I've got most anything one might want."

*

Teija straightens and turns to face him more fully before clasps hands firmly, her intent to introduce herself preempted by her newish acquaintance. She gives a toss of her head Kate's way, "We only met a little while ago. My Grandma loves your show, by the way."

*

"I'd love some hot tea if it's not too much trouble," Nolan replies to Katherine. He finds his way to a chair at the kitchen table and settles in. He chuckles at Teija's words. "Well tell your grandmother thank you for me. It's good to know people are watching us. The show is mostly Katherine's hard work though. I'm still learning my way around it. It's definitely different than a movie set, or even a nightly news one."

*

Kate has the fixings for tea, pretty important when you have people around who drink it almost constantly. She pulls the kettle from the stove, pours some hot water into a cup and sets out several tea bag options. "Is this the same Grandma who looked like me in her bridal picture?" She asks, dark eyes finding Teija as she smiles. "Let me know if I can make her anything one day. I'd love to maybe stop and say hi to her or something." She blinks, turning to the oven so she can check on the ribs. The spicy sweet scent assails the room when the door is opened and Katherine looks happy about what she sees. "Five minutes."

*

"The same." Teija replies with a vague smile, "I'm sure she'd love that." She looks to Nolan and she gives him a nod as well, "I will." She reaches out for the coffee and pauses, "Had a gunner who cooked something that smelled something like that…" she says thoughtfully, "His was a little smokier, though. Not so sweet."

*

Nolan mixes a green tea up for himself, with no sugar or cream in it. His nose twitches at the smells coming from the oven and his stomach rumbles. "I skipped lunch today, I apologize if I eat like a Neanderthal when the food gets put in front of me," he notes.

*

Katherine gazes at Teija for a few moments, a smile forming on her face. "Mmm excellent." She glances down at herself, frowns and her lips purse slightly. "I should probably go put on more clothes." She says, more to herself than anyone. "There is a lot of food, so please, eat and be messy. It's always better that way." She pulls her tee-shirt way from her chest briefly, it's white and a little translucent from being well worn. On her legs are a pair of short black boyshorts. "Give me a moment you two, talk among yourselves as I go find a pair of jeans." She pads through the great room, and after about five minutes she reappears, clad in a pair of dark blue denim jeans.

*

The gunsmith pours herself a cup of coffee, sans anything else, really and looks to Nolan as Kate goes to get 'decent'er. "I've seen too many big eaters to even worry about something like that, sugar. Hurt the buffet!" she grins. She might, too.

*

Nolan rises as Kate departs, like he always seems prone to do at a table. Then he resumes his seat. "So, a gunsmith?" he asks Teija curiously. "I've handled my share of them on movie sets, and shot some live rounds for practice for roles, but don't own one personally. Might be something I should pick up for home security?"

*

Some fifteen minutes later, the back door opens and in slips August again. This time, when she walks into the B&B, her shoes are no more reasonable, still those black Louboutins, though this pair has a peep toe and a platform. Still five inch stilettos, because it's a short walk and why not. She wears a deep wine colored dress, a low V neck showing off most of her chest tattoo, that jeweled piece alight with foliage an a couple of prominent moths, as well as various other insects and small ropes of teardrop pearls. It would be a rather fancy ensemble for dinner, but she's thrown that Brooklyn hoodie right back over it for warmth. The dress is short, showing off quite a bit of leg, also tattooed. "Sorry, sorry. Things, you know." Things, she says. That's a polite way of saying don't ask, you don't wanna know. She didn't change her makeup though, still the black lipstick and winged eyeliner. Still the black claw-tipped nails. She closes the door behind her, shivering a little. It's effing cold out there. Effing cold.

*

Katherine starts to pull things from the oven, a pan of spicy sticky Korean ribs, some stir friend string beans, sweet corn bread and something that looks like a casserole of sorts, though she sets that one aside. She starts to set things up buffet style on the counter, plates and silverware set out beside the pans. In go the big spoons for serving, and once she sprinkles some seasoning on everything set out, it's done. There is a slight smile on her face, one that grows when August reappears. She doesn't get herself a plate right away, she steps aside to allow people space to build themselves a plate, pulling her phone from her back pocket.

*

"Have'n not need beats need'n not have in any lifetime." Teija replies with a shrug, glancing down at the holster on her thigh, then meets his eyes again, just in time for everyone to come on back in, "Welcome back, girls."

*

Nolan rises again as August returns and he gestures towards the set up buffet. "Ladies first, please, before I do some damage to my appetite." The man waits patiently and courteously, just like his mama taught him. Maybe not common for a Hollywood type, but he wasn't always one of those either.

*

For her dress' safety's sake, August zips up her hoodie halfway, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. She mms and takes a deep breath. "Smells like meaty heaven in here, Katie." She slips over to slide am arm around Kate from behind, giving her a little one-armed hug. "I see you found some pants." She kisses her shoulder, a brief peck of lips. Her matte-black lipstick doesn't budge. "Shame." And then she releases her to finish prepping the buffet, leaning against the counter. She grins to Teija, with whom she seems to share some taste in cosmetics. She smirks a bit at Nolan's gesture that the ladies should go first because of the damage he might do. "You're cute." She looks to Kate. "He's cute." She reaches for a plate. Let the damage begin.

*

Katherine glances down at her jeans, giving August a look as she dishes out her affection. "It would be rude to parade around my kitchen in shortie shorts around company." She stage whispers, putting her phone in her back pocket. She shifts a look at Nolan, her smile getting brighter. "It's nice to wake up (ha ha, get it) and get to sit next to him for a few hours every morning. Good company, good manners, and it's easy to keep the conversation flowing now that I don't have a co-host who keeps trying to look down my top." She watches August step up to the buffet of food, fingertips tapping her lip. "Go easy there, mama. If that makes a reappearance, I'm gonna be sad."

*

Their defenses are broken-LET THE SLAUGHTER BEGIN!

Ahem.

Teija slips gracefully out of her seat, coat draped over in a manner suggesting she was seated when she took it off, and proceeds toward the 'start' of the buffet setup to begin The Big Hurt after August. She likes her current limb count.

*

Nolan looks amused at being called 'cute'. That's not a term he's used to having applied to him. He wasn't the lead in any romantic comedies, that's for sure. He shakes his head at Katherine. "How you didn't punch Mitch in the face on air is beyond me. He deserved it," he notes. He's watched past broadcasts in preparation for being on the show. He lines up after Teija, but first offers to wave Katherine in as a courtesy.

*

Sevin doesn't bother knocking before entering, on account most likely of being on a first name basis with the proprietress. Dr. Khan looks like he's put some actual effort into his attire this evening, even if his hair is its usual mess of scruffy curls: a charcoal grey vest and trim pants in the same shade that look either tailored to his lean frame - or, more likely, he simply spent a bit of money on them. Crisp white shirt under the vest, and heeled boots that put him a little over six feet.

Led perhaps by his nose, he trails into the kitchen to see what's on offer; one hand remains in his coat pocket, while the other lifts lids on pots and pans. Kate, if she happens to look over, gets a little grin in greeting. As does August. The others, a polite nod.

*

"Don't you worry about me, Katie," August murmurs, scooping up more string beans than ribs, a small portion compared to her big words, but of course there's a reason for that. "Slow going, going slow." She smirks a bit though, and says, "You wait for the weather to warm up and I'll be in short shorts all damn day." She mms and glances over to Nolan again. "Oh, right. The co-host." She's never up in time to see Wake Up unless she's not been to bed yet, and the last few times that happened, well. She was otherwise engaged. "Okay then. Nolan. Pleasure to meet you."

August glances behind her to Teija, "I left y'all some." She winks and carries on, heels lightly clicking her slow pathway down the buffet. She finishes off pausing to step over to put her plate down at the dining table. She steps away and asks, "Would anyone else like some mango juice?" She turns to look over to Sevin as he enters the kitchen. "Sevin."

*

Katherine holds up a hand, smiling at Nolan, her nod an indication that he should load up a plate first. "I'm not inclined to violence, as a rule. I think the last time I punched someone was in high school, and coincidentally, it was our boss." She smiles to herself at that, her gaze drifting to August and Teija as they gather food on their plates. "Oh I'm not worried about you." She exhales slowly and glances down at her jeans. "I mean, I'd like not to freeze." When Sevin enters, she offers him a smile, pointing to a pan on the stove set off to the side. "Made something special for you." She gets a plate finally, but instead of going for the ribs, she scoops up a small portion of the casserole she indicated to Sevin, and some cornbread before she moves to the dining room table. "I'll take some mango juice, just to see what all the buzz is about. You keep drinking this stuff like it's water."

*

Teija starts racking up some ribs, hints of green stuff, some other not-meat, that other unmeat, etc on her plate. She looks to August at her question and, "Got a coffee, thanks." That done, she ventures back to her seat and settles in to nom.
Ahem, ladylike.
Because she's armed.

*

"Nolan Lenox," the cohost finishes for August, and as an introduction to Sevin, accompanied by a nod to the man. "The pleasure is mine. I hear you're on Kate's new show as well?" he asks the tattoo artist. He fills up his plate but pauses to stare at Katherine at her punching admission. "You punched Heather in high school? Now that is a story I need to hear," he says with a bark of a laugh.

*

Clang, clang…. clang. "Good evening, August." Lids are lifted and set back down as Sevin travels the line of food warming on the counter with casual curiosity, and steps around the inked woman in the short dress eyeing the pitcher of mango juice. To Kate: "I thought I told you not to make me special things. I don't want to put you out." He doubles back dutifully though, and goes to check out the contents of the pan before fetching himself a plate.

Sevin looks over briefly from his task of food acquisition as Nolan provides an introduction, and takes a moment to assess the man thoughtfully. Then back to heaping food onto his plate.

*

"If you'd like me to punch him," August calls from the fridge, "You invite him back and I can put him in the floor in one." All those tattoos, maybe she rolled out of a dumpster behind a biker bar. Never know. Showers and cosmetics go a long way. "It's a little thick, so it might throw you off, but it's pretty great," she says, pulling the mango juice free, and hip-nudges the fridge closed. She finds a couple of glasses and pours them, carrying those in one hand and the small pitcher in the other.

"I could stand to hear a story about punching Heather." Aug has no hard feelings, really, but high school punching stories are always entertaining. "I do not understand how y'all get up that early in the morning every day." She takes a seat at the table after passing a glass of mango juice to Kate. "Especially in this winter cold."

*

Katherine grins over at Nolan, letting out a soft sigh. "Heather and I didn't get along in school, she was awful to me. One day I boiled over and took a swing. I might have hit her, but it didn't do any damage and she she just doubled down on the hate after that." She rolls her eyes, gesturing to the casserole pan as she speaks calmly to Sevin. "I cook, a lot. I might have made this two days ago. I might have made it at two am last night. Just say thank you and enjoy it. It's moussaka, I made the bechamel special for you." She grunts softly and digs her fork into the casserole, her nose wrinkled. "Heather used to have a crew, and they used to knock stuff out of my hands, and say mean things. She just was a little too mean one day and I took a swing, winged her on one cheek and fell over because I didn't plant my feet. It was more embarrassing than empowering."

Kate looks thoughtful for a moment or two before she smiles at August. "If Heather wasn't paying me so well, I wouldn't get up that early." She admits.

*

Sevin is half listening to the story about Heather and the off-kilter punch while he fills his plate with moussaka. Which, once it's revealed, causes him to look a touch amused.. for some unspecified reason. "Thank you," he murmurs low, dutiful but sincere. Then a glass of wine, and he sips on his way to a seat at the table. Teija is greeted with a somewhat diffident 'hello, again' as he settles in, and a glance that doesn't quite achieve eye contact.

*

"I'm not sure she has enough money to make me get up that early," August murmurs, crossing her legs as she settles down in her seat, stilettos finally falling silent as she picks a spot and stays there. There's a soft chuckle from August right after Kate says 'thank you for last night,' but it could be a coincidence. Maybe stir fried greens make her happy.

"I dunno, going after someone with a crew seems pretty empowering to me, even if you fell on your ass. The try matters." August picks up her mango juice and raises it to Kate, smiling. She takes a sip, then forks up a pair of beans, nibbling them first. "You should give Naked Voices a watch, Nolan. See what you think. I feel like Heather's gonna edit it a bit, but what could go wrong."

*

"I get up even earlier than that to go to the gym. I'm used to it. Most of the movies I was in had ridiculous call times to the set. First morning light is like catnip to a director and principal photography," Nolan explains. "So I just got used to being up that early and made it part od my routine." He finds his way back to his seat and delves into the food, making an appreciative sound. He dans his lips with a napkin and calls out to Katherine, "Are you sure you aren't supposed to be opening a restaurant somewhere instead of making sure I don't forget my lines on a morning show?" He snorts at the tale of punching Heather. "So she was one of those mean girls? I can see that. Also remind me not to get on her bad side, so she doesn't start smacking notes and pens out of my hand at work." He grins, amused.

*

"Oh, that bitch." Teija muses softly, a smirk, "I vaguely remember hearing about that." She's about the right age, after all. She looks to Sevin as he settles in and she gives a, "Hey, been a while." With August's musings, she nods, "Sometimes the giraffe takes a chunk out of the lion."

*

"I used to be in bed before nine every night, like clockwork. Life has ..shifted a bit. Now I drag myself out of bed around five and hate the world." Katherine looks thoughtful for a few moments before she adds. "I mean, until I get a shower." She takes a bite of her casserole and flutters her lashes at Nolan. "If I opened a restaurant, I couldn't feed people all casual like. I'd have to insist on payment. I like things this way a lot more." She coughs at the comment about Heather. "Turns out she was mean because she wanted to see what color my panties were. She's.. special. She is teaching me to be a little more mouthy and opinionated, among other things." She laughs and points her fork at Teija. "She would be proud to be the bitch. That's Heather. Take no prisoners, know no shame. She blames it all on me, of course, and I let her."

*

Sevin shrugs out of his coat once he's settled in. Flecks of melted snow bead lightly on the shoulders and lapels, and here and there through his dark hair and beard. His pale gaze roves from Kate to August to Nolan, where it lingers again a moment, then shifts to Teija when she addresses him. "I'm sorry, Tina, was it?" They only met briefly. That or he's terrible with names. The sleeves of his shirt are turned up to his elbows as a matter of habit, and Kate's comment on Heather's motivations garners a fractional smile. "So you're saying she liked you."

*

"Teija." she corrects, then takes a sip of coffee. The explanations around Heather don't warrant a batted eye over her sip of joe. Something about the rest makes her shake her head, but she stifles any contributions she'd make to the conversation by gnawing on some ribs.

*

"Well, then at least I don't have to worry about the boss harassing me about the color of mypanties," Nolan quips. "When I was on that news show in Denver, one of the producers was just relentlessly about getting me alone for an, ahem, personal autograph." He rolls his eyes. "She was about 85 years old." He shakes his head in amusement.

*

August's amusement at Katherine's words is clear. "Heather's opinions are certainly clear and often on point." Often, not always. She sips her juice. "I'd prefer she be on my side in a fight, verbal or physical." She glances over at Katherine, and then to Nolan and back as they discuss that potential for a restaurant vs home cooking. "Introducing the career element does add a certain amount of pressure and structure to your passion, which… isn't always a great thing, unless you thrive on that too." Says the creative type who monetized her art.

August glances over at Sevin, briefly eyeballing the contents of his plate. She uses her fork to spear one of the ribs on her plate, shredding off the sticky, spiced meat to take a bite. She glances over at Nolan at his panty story. "I suppose that's only a problem if you wear panties."

*

Katherine nods at Sevin, not saying anything else about that. It didn't come out until somewhat recently, and she's still working through her feelings on it. "My mama used to tell me to dream big, don't live in a circle, and always have a back up plan. I'd like to think that she's looking down on me right now, pretty happy because I have my fingers in a lot of pies." She crosses her legs at August's words, and aims a mild look in her direction. "I'm kind of curious how the evening show is going to go when Heather is in the fourth seat. She's used to being in a position of power, and I'll be putting her on equal footing. You could see the rivalry reignite or Heatherine will come out again." She loses herself in thought for a moment before she takes another bite of casserole. Aiming a look at Nolan, her lips twitch, but she doesn't smile. "Just wait, our weather woman is secretly lurking in hopes of a…autograph. She's kind of mousy though, a strong wind could bowl her over."

*

Sevin looks like he might have something to say to Nolan. Possibly on the subject of the colour of his panties. But it's quite possible he's not yet drunk enough for that comment, and it's left unspoken. A sip of his wine instead, fork carving off a section of moussaka, and his eyes flick August's way when she ogles his plate. "What?" is muttered in an aside, before he shovels the eggplant-based pie into his mouth.

*

Nolan chuckles between mouthfuls of food. "I need to get an agent down here. Mine threw his hands up in despair and quit when I decided to move here and take this morning show gig. But I just need some more peace and quiet in my life than I was getting in a big city." He nearly chokes on his tea when August announces her disdain of undergarments. He's wiping his face again and he arches a brow at her, then looks to Katherine. "I think with this one on your show, you're going to have the highest ratings for the channel. She has no issues with speaking her mind or the truth."

*

Aug thinks about what Kate says for a moment before she asks, "Don't live in a circle?" That would be the part she picks out to ask for clarification on. She's quiet a couple of beats, and then she nods to the next part of what their hostess says. Then she lifts a hand to hide a brief smirk at the mention of Heather taking the fourth seat. "That will be quite a night, I am sure." Aug glances over at Sevin again, then his plate. "Just wonderin' what is is you're eating, and if it's any good." By any good, she doesn't mean any good. Of course it's going to be good. Kate made it. What she's wondering is if what he has is as good or better than what she has, which is unlikely, because spicy ribs, but. You know. "In life as in dinner, remain curious." She didn't eat much at all yesterday, okay. And all this food.

"I tried to do my taxes last week and almost had an aneurism. Pretty sure my monthly income is doing the backstroke in the sewer system compared to Jacksonville. I don't even wanna compare it to my returns from Brooklyn." Auggie flicks a silver-eyed glance to Nolan, smiling when he reacts. At least Nolan doesn't look like he might need intervention. "Speaking of ratings, I need to find a way to shame Sam when I win the most mentions contest." She blows out a breath then, and laughs a throaty little burst. "I only got a problem speakin' my mind when it goes in several directions at once. Katherine thank you very much for those rapid fire questions." You know what you did. Everyone else will too, whenever that show airs.

*

Sevin chews and swallows. Slowly, because he's heavily distracted by August and her commentary. Her never ending commentary. His brow arches slightly as she just.. keeps going, well beyond the point where he can respond. But he responds anyway: "It is. Good. Would you like some?" He means the moussaka. "You look familiar," he finally comes out and tells Nolan. Which might explain the sidelong looks he's been giving the man on the sly.

*

Teija continues to munch contentedly while the conversation waxes showbiz and W-2. She just busies herself with that for the time being.

*

"My mother had a thing about hiding. She said I put myself in circles, and just kept doing the same thing over and over again." Katherine winces and lets out a sigh. "I'm okay with the opinionated discussion, and I'll even be okay with a few dropped insults, but if she gets out of line, be sure I'm gonna be there to whap her with a ruler." She glances at Sevin, notes him eating quietly and steadily which is all you can hope for when yo cook for someone. "I'm hoping we do get high ratings, because then I'll push to see if we can get broadcast elsewhere. It won't be easy, but I kind of want to expand a bit, get out there." She props her chin on her knuckles, eyebrows raised when Sevin says Nolan looks familiar. She doesn't laugh, that would be rude, she simply turns her gaze on Nolan and waits for his response.

*

Nolan blinks over at Sevin at his mention and smiles at the man with a flash of perfect, Hollywood white teeth. "Ever seen any of the The Quick and the Quarrelsome movies? The Ripper Files? Any of the other non-award worthy action and adventure movies I was in?" He finishes up his meal and sets his napkin down, rising to bring his plate to the garbage, to remove any bones and then setting it in the sink. "That was absolutely delicious, Katherine, thank you. I'll bring breakfast in for you and the crew Monday, as thanks." She may not accept payment, but he can at least trade. "Hate to eat and run but I still have some things to unpack tonight."

*

"Oh, okay, circles. No, I get it now. Can we have nerf guns on set? Rulers are so Catholic school, you know. Nuns. Plus nerf guns are nerf guns." Aug shakes her head like nah, man. "Long as we don't broadcast elsewhere before I go home and have a family chat in Jax, I don't see why that'd be a problem." She really should go soon.

"Sure." August reaches right across the table and forks up a bite of whatever is on Sevin's plate. Like an utter ass. Or someone who perceives what he just said as an offer. You know. Potato-tomato or whatever. "The Ripper Files sounds like it has promise. Are you at all unclothed in that?" August's question is for Nolan, of course, as she pulls a forkful of Sevin's food back across the table toward herself. Not even looking at the Egyptian. Some people's kids. She pulls the hoodie tighter around here, because she's still cold from walking through like 15 degree weather with no pants on.

*

Sevin pauses a moment at the high wattage smile from Nolan, looking a little taken aback. Or maybe just blinded. He does a little down-up flick of his eyes like he's mentally matching the guy to a character in a movie he was only half paying attention to. "Not that I'll admit to," he finally supplies, and then goes for another forkful of moussaka. Or was about to, until August decided to carve a hunk of it right off his plate. "What the fuck are you doing? This isn't help your fucking self."

*

Kate sets down her drink with a sigh, aims a look at August and Sevin. "Children. Behave." Her voice is calm when she speaks, she goes back to her food as if this were an every day occurrence. "Rude people don't get dessert." She adds, digging into the crumbly sweet corn bread.

*

"Shirtless, if that counts for anything. But I'm shirtless in a lot of movies. They're just all from a decade ago or more," Nolan points out to August. He's aged well at least. "There was one bare backside shot in The Ageless, if that's what you're fishing for," he says in amusement as he retrieves his coat and slides it on. "Well, everyone have a good night, and enjoy your meals. Kate, I'll see you bright and ungodly early at work on Monday."

*

Teija comes back to it as Sevin suddenly sounds assertive, and she looks to see what the pro'm is. She arches an eyebrow, curious how this is gonna play, with a questioning look at Nolan, then toward she of the ultimatum. Then Nolan's off, which warrants a, "Night! Nice meetin' ya!"

*

August takes a bite of her stolen bounty, barely looking at it as the fork goes into her mouth. Sometimes it's a wonder she manages to hit her mouth considering how much she talk sand how little she tends to look at her plate when there are people around the table. She flicks a glance askance at Sevin as he protests her marauding fork. "You asked." She mms and puts her fork down, then looks to Kate. "Aw, mom, come on, I need dessert." She grins widely and rises from the table, "Apologies, Sevin." She doesn't sound like she means that in the slightest, and then the grey-eyed woman is striding over to the counter where she left the lidded cups in the carrier earlier. She pops one, and turns to the cabinets where the mugs are kept. "Night, Shirtless. Be seeing you later." That's a teasing shot for Nolan, but she waves without looking over. She pours the contents of the cup into the mug, and jams it in the microwave for like two minutes or so, leaning back against that counter, arms crossed loosely. She watches Teija from her seat, then turns her gaze to the redwood box on the counter across from her.

*

The back door of the Bed and Breakfast swung open and the presence of Anthony Malone was made pointedly and aloud as he regarded the small goat with a terrible imitation of a small, throaty bleat, "Yeah, yeah, Sparkle. I know, miss you too" he muttered and slipped inside the warmth of the rear door with both hands slipped into the hip pockets of the lengthy leather overcoat. His presence however, arrived momentarily after a declaration of 'what the fuck are you doig' and a hefty coal-black eyebrow twitched upward above peridot hued eyes.

Just in time to watch the pulled-from-a-poster Nolan, his own attire of black pinstriped pants, cashmere sweart over simple white buttondown shifted with the weight of the overcoat as he leaned into the frame of the passage from the hallway and into the Kitchen. "How come everytime I show up here for dinner, there's a guy who looks like he could be a stripper" he remarked after him and flashed a handsome, white-toothed smile. Glancing toward August as she gotu p and moved toward the counter, "I hung out in the Garage Suite for a bit for the call, hope you don't mind." he noted, raising a hand in a motionless wave toward the rest of the attendees, though regardes Sevin with perhaps more of an acknowledging nod than the rest.

*

"I made a crepe cake." Kate remarks quietly, getting to her feet to start gathering dishes and cups, moving toward the sink. "Hey Anthony, and now I'm a little curious how you know so much about male strippers." She bounces on the balls of her feet as she fills the sink with hot water bubbles, poking at the coffee pot so it will brew something fresh. "Still some ribs, corn bread, string beans and moussaka if you're hungry."

*

"Asked, not offered." Those are clearly two entirely different things where Sevin's concerned. Not that he seems genuinely all that put out by August's thievery. The shirtless comment garners a flicker of amusement that's mostly drowned in a sip of wine, and he eases back in his chair to study Teija idly. "So are you staying here at Kate's place, or just a friend?" His gaze shifts to the doorway when Anthony deigns to grace them with his presence, and the nod is met with a moment's hesitation, followed by a curt tip of his chin in greeting. That, followed by another sip of his wine.

*

August's lips quirk instantly the second she hears that New York accent talking to the goat. She can't even help it. That fucking goat. Whom she now refers to as Biryani every talk time she passes it. "You date a woman who looks like she rolled out of a biker's bed and put on some fancy ass shoes. These people are my people." She leans off the counter, her hip the last thing to leave it, and takes the couple of steps to the island which the stools ring, putting her crossed arms above the box, a small, polished redwood box with celtic knotwork forming a circle in the center of the lid. The knot is set with a small family crest featuring a breastplate w/great-helm over a shield featuring three fleur de lis.

"My mistake. Sometimes an ask is an offer. I like short cuts." And short dresses. And short stacks, because carbs are dreamy. The microwave behind her beeps, but Aug doesn't immediately turn to retrieve her re-heated dirty chai. "Why would I mind you alone in a Suite with all my stuff? I know where all the hidey holes are." Whatever that means. She turns to take the couple of steps it takes to bring her to standing just beside Anthony. "What's a crepe cake?" That's probably to Katherine, though she isn't looking over when she asks.

*

"Actually, we haven't known each other all that long." Teija replies, glancing at Katherine, "Not opposed to the idea, mind, just that level takes some time." Wink. She looks to Sevin then, "I actually came looking for Augie. Parlor said she'd be here, and…" shrug, "Ladies were kind enough to invite me to dinner."

*

"Crepes are like thin pancakes. The crepes I made are chocolate. You put a crepe layer down, frost it, and then put another down. The frosting is kind of marshmallow-y. So..basically I made a very many layered s'mores cake." Katherine blinks and glances at Teija, a startled smile forming on her lips briefly before she nods. "We eat dinner every day. You're welcome anytime, though..usually the fare is a little more sedate in case people aren't in the mood for a party in their mouth."

*

The look which Anthony regarded Katherine as one of a telling, and yet not entirely transparent appearance of just why DID Tony know so much about male strippers, "That's a story quite unsuited for a wonderful family dinner" he replied with a smirk, though that formerly arched brow was quick to arch up again, as if it was his natural inflection added to any question of his that wasn't business related, "Whatta' fuck is Moussaka?" he remarked with a bit of a squint, shaking his head as if to dismiss it to the fact that it didn't matter.

The further commentary of Kate brought a laugh as he leaned over to peck August on the high of her sharp cheekbone, "There's people who -don't- like parties in their mouth? Those poor, unfortunate souls" he remarked as he made his way toward the kitchen, eyes glancing over the offered array of dishes.

*

"I could think of a few, but that would get dark very quickly." This from the GOTH, in answer to Anthony. She waves a rib a little bit and mentions to Katherine, "I appreciate the offer. This is really tasty, what'd you put in the sauce?"

*

Sevin sends Kate a bit of a look, like, what's wrong with having a party in your mouth? Right about on cue with Anthony blurting it out. Which seems to amuse him very slightly. He digs back in to his moussaka, which is actually rather good, thank you very much. He regards Teija a moment more, and then his lashes sweep low as he focuses on polishing off what's on his plate. The man seems thoughtful about something.

*

Kate leans against the counter as she washes dishes, happy now that her hands are soapy and something is getting done. "Korean hot sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, lager and sesame seeds." She gazes over at the coffee machine, still chugging away as it brews. "Moussaka is eggplant, potatoes and usually a meat sauce, but ..I didn't put meat in mine. Try it. It won't make you sick, and you might actually enjoy it." She remembers something and uses her foot to open the fridge, squinting inside of it. "If you don't want any of what is out there Anthony, still some chicken and dumplings from yesterday." She kicks the door shut and continues washing the dishes.

*

August glances over her shoulder to Teija, a smile at the woman's words. "Special delivery, you could say." She leans into that kiss from Anthony, her cheek a bit warm. "Oh, I… I've had crepes before, I just didn't know you could make a cake with them." She's still not sure you really can, but Katherine says so, so she's game to check it out, of course. "I'll put anything in my mouth at least once." Yes, she meant it like she said it, so she leaves it there.

"I have a plate already if you want to try the ribs or spicy beans, babe." Aug says this quietly. She didn't actually eat much of it, but she's up for her milky, caffeinated beverage, so there's that at least. Just a little wan today, our August. She touches Anthony's wrist, just a graze of her fingernails.

"I'm not sure what Moussaka is, but it looks like shepherd's pie and tastes like eggplant." Which is an interesting combination, one she doesn't seem to find unpleasant by her tone. She doesn't move for a moment, then glances over at the microwave, and turns that way to retrieve her tea. She rests a hand on the counter, then leans against it a moment. She thumps the microwave closed again, after pulling out the mug inside.

*

Stare. Blank processing of what Kate described to Anthony as just what Moussaka was - "So you made an eggplant cake…" he commented and pursed his lips, glancing toward Kate in a 'am I wrong?' motion, then trailing those eyes around the room in the same '…right?' motion before shaking his head and serving himself some of the Korean spare ribs and beans, "Thanks, Augs, if you don't want them cause they's gonna' upset your stomach, I'll eat them for you'se. But I'm pretty hungry, so I'll grab some of my own, too" he smiled at the woman as he grabbed his silverware and made his way back out of the kitchen, pausing to smooch August on the lips in passing, stolen and fled with!

HE made his way to the table, where he sat his plate down and relinquished his overcoat to the back of the chair, insuring his sleeves were still rolled to approximately mid forearm, though with a little shove they become more like 'just above the bend of the elbow' as he sat down at the table, "I miss anythin' too terribly exciting? Besides Mr. Gorgeous?"

*

Sevin has finished eating, meanwhile, and is briefly responding to a message on his phone while the others chit chat. Judging by the sigh, and the slight furrowing of his brows, it's nobody he's particularly fond of. Message sent, he slips his phone away and gets to his feet. If there are any other dishes that need to be brought to the sink, he'll gather them up with his own and start rinsing them off. Either his mother raised him right, or he simply prefers to keep his hands busy. "What's in the box?" he thinks to ask after a moment.

*

Teija seems to be taking mental notes on the ingredients. Maybe she'll experiment at home. She probably knows how to cook, right? The question about the box draws her eye, but any potential remark is still by her sip of coffee.

*

"I mean. It has a name for a reason. If you want to call it eggplant cake. Call it eggplant cake." Katherine turns her head to regard people, with what can only be described as a sardonic grin on her face. "You can blast em with knowledge, but you can't force someone to learn." August is rubbing off on Kate. She finishes up the dishes, bumps the dishwasher closed with a hip and pulls said cake from the fridge. It's not terribly tall, and there seems to be a lot of chocolate. She moves closer to Sevin, leans in to say something quietly before she grabs her coffee mug.
You whisper, "So, do you mind company for the weekend, or am I finding something else to do?" to Sevin.

*

August doesn't react at first, she's a little slow when Tony leans in to steal the kiss, too. Her fingers again brush his arm as he goes, and then she's lifting that mug, still stood by the microwave at a lean. As the mug is still steaming, she tips it to dump the liquid back into its original to-go cup with the heat sleeve on it. She caps it with the lid and then glances over to Sevin perhaps several beats after he asks the question about the box. "It's a gift. A little collaboration with Teija, actually." Tattooer: distracted.

Aug leans off the counter again, frowns slightly, the steps out of her stilettos. She kicks them under one of the kitchen stools with the judge of her toe. Then she picks up the little redwood box, fingernails ticking over the lid before she grasps and lifts it, her chai in her other hand. It doesn't seem to be very heavy. She wanders that meandering walk over to the table, bare feet quiet. She resumes her previous seat, and sets the box on the table to her left, halfway between her seat and Anthony's.

*

Sevin looks over when Kate murmurs to him, and blinks slowly. His expression is briefly puzzled. "Come here," he murmurs when she leans away to fetch her coffee mug. Normally he might just pull her in closer, but his hands are soapy and that hardly seems considerate. Yes, this is his razor for appropriateness. Whether he'll make a mess of someone's clothes. Something's intimated back to the brunette softly, and then he resumes washing the dishes. There's clearly some lingering curiosity in regards to the box, but with it having migrated to the table, his answer will have to wait.
Sevin whispers: I would like you to spend the weekend with me. Can Charlotte mind things here until Monday?

*

"Uh, huh…" Anthony replied toward Katherine who had attempted to utilize the wity lashings ala August against he who likely bore the most experienced set of armor against such things, and instead stabbed his fork into a tactful position of spare rib and raised it to his lips to eat at the meat thereof. His eyes traced August as she finished heating up her drink and toward the box when Sevin mentioned it, which he then equally attuned his eyes toward its presence, which he had missed due to August being before it earlier.

As it was sat between August and himself, Tony finished his first bit of spare rib and relieved his fork of its presence, fishing about for another, he glanced toward August beside him, "It's a very beautiful box" is what he had to offer on the matter, his eyes wandering over it for a moment, then glancing toward August, "If this is a urn for which you plan to place my ashes now that you've found you're on my life insurance, I will be both impressed, and a bit offput…" he smiled.

*

Katherine raises her eyebrows and listens to Sevin as he speaks quietly, her fingers tapping quietly on her coffee cup. There is a soft chuckle, a shrug and a nod before she leans in to offer a quiet reply. That done, she gets herself some coffee, and cuts a thin slice of the layered cake. She doesn't move to find a seat, staying close to the man who's washing his own dishes. She pointedly doesn't add any chocolate to her coffee, she has more than enough on her plate.
You whisper, "Yes. Charlotte is already here, and the food for the weekend is already made." to Sevin.

*

August leans back in her chair, unzipping the hoodie over her dress now that she's finished eating (it seems). She then pulls it tighter closed around her, sides overlapping to leave her with a LYN hoodie. She turns her gaze to Anthony. "It is a pretty box, but I can't take credit for that. Teija's work entirely." She nods to the goth, brushing her hair from her eyes. She slips her legs crossed, darker, feather-tattooed knee on top.

Hm. August watches Tony for a couple of breaths, those pale eyes unreadable. When she speaks, it's soft, but direct: "I wouldn't put you in a redwood box, babe. I'd spread your ashes, half in Brooklyn in a certain undisclosed alleyway not too far off the police station, you know which one, and maybe most of the other half in the Mediterranean Sea. I'd keep some for myself, of course, in a little pendant, because I'm into momento mori. Speaking of, I'll be needing some of your hair next time you have a trim. Not too much, though, I like it long." She taps the lid, tap-tap with one clawlike nail. "Anyway, I'm holding out for the will, sugartits." She slides the box exactly two inches closer to Anthony. "This is for you."

*

Teija smiles and bows her head as August cedes the credit, "I made the idea happen's all." she offers, after all, she wouldn't' know what to do for this on her own. It took input. She watches then, contemplative, thoughtful…. munching.

*

To be fair, Sevin's resigned himself to washing other peoples' dishes, too. He's careful not to spatter food on his nice clothes, and he leans in again to tell Kate something quietly. Quick curve of a smile when he's done, and his forearm is lifted to scratch at an itch on his nose. Because soapy hands. Brief glance over his shoulder as the contents of the box are presumably about to be revealed, and then there's mention of a will. Thoughtful, he returns to washing dishes.
Sevin nuzzles Kate's ear with the tip of his nose, then murmurs, "Good. You'll come over tonight, then. I miss having you in my bed."

*

Kate watches the exchange at the table while Sevin leans in to speak to her. She takes a deep breath and pins him with a look for a moment, her cheeks pink. She responds and then leans against the counter, taking slow bites of her cake, a thoughtful look on her face.
You whisper, "Well you'll have me all weekend, and by Monday you'll be happy for me to leave you to some peace and quiet." to Sevin.

*

Anthony surveyed the two lovebirds dancing their vying battle for proximity in the Kitchen for a moment with silent amusement, in the meantime managing to devour another spare rib of his own. August's words however, bring him pause, and he sets the fork down atop the edge of his plate, prongs facing downward. The tall Italian man turned in his seat, draping his right arm partially over the backrest as she spoke, his pale eyes studiously for a beat, and then another. "Hm…" he mulled, a soft, gentle sort of note that conveyed a subtle sort of 'I get you' before giving what could only be interpreted as a very sincere smile, raising a hand to place the large, calloused palm atop it, trailing the intricate detailing with his fingertips.

"Thank you. It will look lovely in my office." he remarked, glancing toward the box, Teija, whom he offered a slight nod of approval, and then back to Auggie, "Later, okay?" he noted, tapping a fingertip atop the box in mention of opening it, though leaned toward her to brush his lips against the hinge of her jaw in a kiss.

*

Sevin gives Kate's backside a swat. With a soapy hand, to boot. Presumably, it's well deserved. Then he runs the faucet over his hands and forearms, and begins rinsing the dishes in the sink, once it seems Anthony isn't going to show them what's in the damned box. "So what's with this Nolan character?" He doesn't seem to have any real beef with the guy, though there is a touch of amusement when the name is mentioned.

*

<TXT> From Katherine to August - Think you'll be okay if I go spend the night with the man who just put a soapy handprint on my ass?

*

The goth bows her head again and swallows the last bit of ribmeat in time for Sevin's question, "Directed Batman, didn't he?" she teases. She collects her dishes and brings them up to take care of business, as it seems the thing to do. The good news, as far as the box is concerned, she knows what's in it, so the nagging anticipation aren't going to be an issue for her.

*

August leans her head back against the chair, the whole line of her body languid except the pull of her arms across her body, arms crossed over the closed hoodie. She rubs her right hand lightly up her left upper arm, her left hand under the table. She reaches up, briefly, to brush the back of her fingers over her cheek, pausing briefly before she rests that hand against her throat. She turns her head to Anthony as he turns to face her, and her attention goes to his mouth when he smiles. Her fingers come off of her throat to reach over to touch his cheek, knuckles just grazing a his beard. She smiles when he takes her hand, and lingers over it. She says something quietly to Anthony.

August tips her cheek to him when he leans in for that quiet kiss to her jaw. Though her makeup is flawless and shows no flush, her skin is quite warm against his lips. "Later's fine, Malone. Later's probably better."

"You can put me in your will at any time." August, so sweet, so rude. So rudesweet? She takes a long breath, rubs her hand down her arm again, her eyes going for a moment to watch Kate and Sevin across the room, her grey-eyed gaze a bit unfocused. She turns her gaze to Teija and says, "Anytime you'd like new ink, come see me, okay?" Her words are soft, but pitched to carry to the gothling. Her phone buzzes in the hoodie pocket.

*

Kate clears her throat, pushing away from the counter to pad toward the great room. "Be good for a few minutes ya'll, I'm going to go pack an overnight." She hums to herself as she disappears into her bedroom.

*

"Honestly Kate, you should have just accidentally left enough things over there by now…" Anthony muttered, shaking his head. She clearly didn't have a good handle on how these things worked, then again, there was a distinct possibility that neither did he and he just worked on an entirely separate fashion of appropriate happenings. His eyes turned toward August gradually, pursing his lips in study of her figure and posture, "Who says I already haven't?" he mentioned in a lazy sort of offhanded commentary, coal-black brows arching over green eyes in a challenging bit of posture. He leaned in toward her again, resting a hand gently atop her thigh which he gave a loving squeeze and a soft smile.

*

Teija finishes the dishes, rinsed and all, then dries her hands before returning to her chair for her coat. That slips up over her ink and shoulders and she nods to Augie, "Soon'nough, girl." She calls out toward the bedroom, "Thanks for dinner, Kate, have a good one!" She decides on a couple things for later pursuance, then, with a wave to the couple, then the other to Sevin, "G'night everyone."

*

Sevin looks over his shoulder to watch Kate depart, and trails her for a few paces before he returns to his work with the dishes. Once he's done, his hands are dried off and he returns to the table to fetch his coat. "Nice to see you again," is pitched the goth's way as he pulls it on with a roll of his shoulders. August and Anthony are watched bemusedly, but he doesn't comment on the box or their conversation.

*

August's eyes heavy-lid for a moment, and she watches Kate retreat to the other room, headed for the suite to pick up her clothes. She shivers faintly, sliding a hand up to her shoulder, palm pressed to her collarbone. She doesn't respond to Anthony for a moment. Perhaps she didn't hear him. She blinks, then turns her head to him. Her gaze falls to his lips, then sweeps back up to his eyes. She stares at him for several beats. "You didn't." She doesn't think he did. "You didn't, did you?" Maybe she's not so sure. Her attention is taken shortly by Teija's move to leave. "Thank you. I'll call you soon about that other thing we talked about." There were a few, so it could be any one of them. "Come to the shop. Or the garage suite across the drive. That's where I live. Be safe, Te." Nickname unlocked.

August's dress is quite short, leaving many inches of tattooed thigh bare above her boot. Should Anthony's fingers rest on bare skin, perhaps the script that circles her upper thigh several times, he'll find her quite warm.

Only after Tony says something to her does she reach into her pocket for her phone, which has messages from 6pm on. She hasn't checked her phone once. Her thumb brushes over the screen, then back up. The most recent appears to be from Katherine.

*

Kate reappears, long coat on, bag in hand. She frowns as she notices that Teija has left, dropping the bag next to the counter. "Where did Teija go? I ..hope I still have her card. I want to see if she can engrave something for me." She clears her throat, taking a seat on a stool. "Pass me my cake?" She asks Sevin, and it was polite so hopefully he'll actually do it.

*

The faintest feeling of the expanding warmth which August was emitting, coupled with the active snuggling of her, or rather, his, sweatshirt caused Tony a bit of a squinted appraisal of her for a moment. Anthony pursed his lips, parted them, and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth softly. "Aug, I need you to help me find something I left in the Garage Suite, now that dinners dying down, would you mind helping me find it?" he mentioned, offering a smile as he withdrew his hand and raised with his plate, moving to the kitchen to clear and rinse the dish appropriately, dipped down to snatch up the set of overpriced heels and returning to the dining room where he grabbed his coat, leaning forward to set the pair of stiletto's before August, upright and ready for her feet to fit them.

His eyes fell toward the box, and he leaned over it, slipping it from the table and into one hand, held loosely against his hip, he canted his head toward August slightly "We'll take this, I can open it while we look" he noted, and turned toward Kate and Sevin, "Thanks for the dinner you two's, always a delight."

*

Well, it was sort of polite. Sevin sort of considers that for a moment or two, then moves off into the kitchen proper to hunt down this cake of Kate's. Is it in a box? "Home, I think," he offers in regards to Teija. Anthony gets a slight nod of acknowledgement, and a murmur of, "Evening, Malone." Lingering glance for August, like there's something on the tip of his tongue that he's not saying. Then Kate's box is collected, and he steps in close and slides his fingers through her hair. Brief murmur before she's directed toward the door.
Sevin whispers: Something seems off with her tonight.

*

August glances from Kate to Anthony as he asks her to help him find something in the GS. She remains silent for a moment. And then she moves to rise, sweeping her long hair over her shoulder. She glances at the floor under the table, then over toward the counter, apparently in search of her shoes, which she took off sometime earlier. "Yeah." Ah, and then Tony's coming back with Louboutins, and she reaches over to take them. "Thanks, baby." She reaches up to take his shoulder, stepping into her heels one at a time. "Katie, thank you for dinner." She brushes her hair out of her eyes again, and reaches down to zip up her (not hers) hoodie, ziiiiip. She zips it all the way to her throat. Her arms hooks over Anthony's and she says, "Goodnight, loves. If you're going." She seems to assume they're headed out, by the overnight bag, and something Kate shared with her a bit earlier. "I'll be." She thumbs across the way, then moves for the back door. "In answer to your text is yes." That's mooost likely to Kate. It's about 13 degrees outside. Brace for tit freezing cold. She didn't even ask for dessert to go.

*

Kate slips off the stool, picking up her bag. She nods at Sevin, and after a few moments she quietly says, "We can talk about that in the truck." She pulls a beanie and mittens from her deep coat pockets and makes for the front door.

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