Breakfast of Champions [RP for lapsedsaint and <lj site="livejo

[aesthetic_mojo]

Charlotte barely slept. Between the upcoming holiday, her discoveries about her family and Farah's impending visit, there was no way she could close her eyes. She sat up for hours just watching John sleep, petting one or the other kitten as they rotated in and out of the warmest spot between them.

Before even going to bed, she'd run out for the best pastries she could find as well as fresh sausage. She even bought fresh coffee even though they had excellent coffee in the apartment. When John woke, Charlotte had been up from the bed for almost two hours. She made a fruit compote, re-cleaned the kitchen and made sure all the Christmas lights were on.

She wasn't really sure why she was so frantic about it all. Farah was easily the sweetest woman Charlotte knew. John was certain to love her. How could you not? And John? He would smile and be gracious and Farah would blush. All would be well. And then, of course, the women would shop and all would be even better than well.

She paced the living room, waiting for John to wake, randomly abusing kittens as she went. As she wandered, it occurred to her that she had no idea if Farah would arrive right into the living room or outside the apartment door.

Comments

[lapsedsaint]

"Shopping? No. I will not be going. The monsters and I will be sleeping and watching bad tv." He stepped back and gave the ladies room to come all the way in. There was no sense in everyone hovering around the front door.

"You two sit. I'll get it."

[no-rainbows.livejournal.com]

She laughs softly, "I'm sure she will be." Farah hadn't been eating as much as she should normally, but she couldn't help it since everything tasted like cardboard to her lately. Following them into the house, she smiles as she moves to take a seat at the table.

"Juice is fine for me, I can't drink coffee that much anymore, at least not right away." She sighs a little bit, "I get way too jittery."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"Are you sure, honey? I think just about everything is ready." She kissed John lightly, but used her magic to goose him. "I'd like coffee, of course. I never get jittery." She said it with a laugh, knowing she'd be called on it.

She took over to the table, grinning. "Now, the question is, do we take a cab or should I spring for a real driver today? How badly do you think we'll abuse the shopping privilege?"

[lapsedsaint]

"Right. Never jittery." He looked at Farah. "Ask her about how she was pacing when I got up."

He went into the kitchen and got their coffee and juice. Then he got his own coffee and joined them at the table. The second he sat down, Al was in his lap, sniffing at his coffee, then at the food on the table.

[no-rainbows.livejournal.com]

Farah chuckles, looking at John, "It's okay, I wasn't going to buy it."

Then she looks back at Char, smiling a little as she listens to the question, "I think a real driver would be a good idea, I can help pay for it." She had a little bit of money now.

"Thank you." She nods to John as she takes her juice.

[aesthetic_mojo]

"I only paced for a few minutes. It's not like I wore a hole in the floor or anything." She knew it sounded lame, but they were going to laugh at her anyway. "Just a slight groove."

She waved off the offer of payment. "No, I've got that. You can buy lunch." As she picked up her coffee, Viv joined the party by appearing directly on Charlotte's shoulder. She was so used to it, she just reached up with her free hand and started petting her.

[lapsedsaint]

John glanced over at Viv and raised an eyebrow. A second later, the kitten looked at him, meowed, then appeared with her brother in his lap. He nodded once, then went back to his coffee with a smile.

[no-rainbows.livejournal.com]

"You didn't have time, that's why." She teases her friend with an easy smile. Then she nods her head, "Okay, I'll buy lunch then, to even us out."

That's when suddenly she notices the kittens, watching one appear behind Char before suddenly appearing on John's lap. "Ah, the famous jumping kittens." Her mouth curves a little as she watches them, "Very cute."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"John distracted me, bless him. He's very good at it." She lightly caressed his cheek with her magic. "He's also good at keeping the monsters under control." The next touch was more of a pat, gently chiding him for bossing Vivianne around. "They are much less cute when they jump onto plates or into bathtubs, but they are learning."

She rubbed her hands together. "Should we make a plan of attack or just...hunt?"

[lapsedsaint]

John smirked at the pat, then leaned back. He was not used to watching women interact in a setting outside the office, so this was a learning expereince for him. It also gave the kittens a chance to climb all over him without him really chiding them.

"I think you should just hunt."

[no-rainbows.livejournal.com]

Farah chuckled softly, watching them quietly for a moment. They were cute together. She hadn't seen Char with another man, or even anyone else as they talked more over the phone and the computer. Smiling softly, she sips her juice.

Then she nods, "I'm with him." She motions at John, "We should just hunt and see what we come up with. Between the two of us, the stores don't stand a chance."

[aesthetic_mojo]

Charlotte kept touching John. If he was going to give her that look, then she could abuse him just a little. Her touch moved down his chest, nails pressing his skin from under his shirt. "We'll have to hunt you up something particularly wonderful, then."

She looked back at Farah. "I have a long list in my head, but I'm sure we won't get any of it. It'll all be totally different."

[lapsedsaint]

As she neared a nipple, he turned her fingertips cold. And continued to smile at Farah. "So, who are you two shopping for, anyway?"

[no-rainbows.livejournal.com]

"That's why I didn't even bother with a list, I have no real idea. I mean, got a couple of things but the rest is completely just..." She shrugs a little.

Then she glances at John again, "Christmas gifts. I have to find a couple more things for Grady, I got him some cigars and a tickets to two hockey games but I have some other stuff in mind. Then there is my uncle and a couple friends." She wets her lips.

[aesthetic_mojo]

Charlotte's eyes went a little wide. Besides her practically begging him not to use his gift until they saw Trevor, turning innocent fingers half to ice was just unfair. She rubbed her hands together again, trying to warm them up. They would discuss that later.

"So we have a blank slate, a full day and more money than sense? John's smart to stay home and abuse the kittens." She shook her head. "Wait, you got Grady hockey tickets?"

[lapsedsaint]

He winked at her, then went back to listening and petting the kittens. His input wasn't required for this part, so he enjoyed Charlie plotting to spend money. He wasn;'t going to ask where said money came from, he didn't care.

And he kept the smile, even as he felt a headache start to come on. He really did need to stop.

[no-rainbows.livejournal.com]

Farah purposefully ignored any playing and flirtation between the couple. She played oblivious.

"He wanted tickets, he said he hadn't watched hockey for a long time and so I got him tickets. Two games, right on the ice pretty much. Should be fun, or at least I'm hoping."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"I don't understand hockey, but it should be fun. You'll get to see him screaming at refs and the like. His face'll go all red..." She shook her head and sipped at her coffee, easily seeing her friends enjoying the game. The image did leave her with even less idea what to get for John, though.

She reached over and patted one of the kittens who looked up at her a little crossly. "This shouldn't be so difficult, but this is the first Christmas I've ever really bought presents."

[lapsedsaint]

John gave a soft chuckle. "I hope one of the people are are planning on buying for isn't me. I don't really need or want anything."

After a moment of Charlie petting him, Al reappeared on John's shoulder and laid down draped over it. He started purring and fell asleep a few moments later.

[no-rainbows.livejournal.com]

"Well, I wasn't sure if I was going to go at first but then I realized he would probably be yelling at refs and going red in the face. Thought it would be kind of cute, so I'm going to go too. I used to watch hockey with my uncle, so it'll be fun." She nods her head, "The goals and the fights, that's what I like."

She thinks for a moment, "This is my first real Christmas...elsewhere." She wasn't going to think about it, she didn't want to start to feel sad. So she clears her throat, "Plus I have a feeling Grady won't let me cancel."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"He won't. I asked him what he wanted and he said you with no stress anywhere. I'm pretty sure that meant behind doors with a tree. And egg nog." Charlotte looked around their apartment which was blinking everywhere. "I think we've failed rather spectacularly at my usual ignoring it."

She smiled gently at Farah. "I think you'd regret blowing it off, in the end. You'd feel the lack of it in ways you don't expect." She bit her lip. "First years away from home were filled with that. Weird things."

[lapsedsaint]

John nodded at this, even though he couldn't really remember his first years away from the home he'd known. Still, this was his first year spending Christmas with anyone and he still wasn't used to the idea of decorating, or being social, or buying presents. He, too, was failing at it.

[no-rainbows.livejournal.com]

"I think because me being stressed out is starting to stress him out. As stressed out as Grady will let himself appear to be." At least to her, he always tried to seem fairly calm. "But that sounds like a good idea." Just staying in behind closed doors and perhaps egg nog for her and bourbon for him.

Looking around the apartment, she smiled a little as she studied all of the different decorations, "It's kind of nice though." Looking back at Char, she nodded, "I know. I...it'll be fine next year." She tries to brighten. "Morsel will be eight months by then, not doing a lot yet but still."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"Maybe next year we should have a party? Show we've all survived a year of domesticity." She bit her lip. "Why does that sound so terrifying?"

The moment the words were out, she turned to look at John and her expression softened. It was more than a little terrifying, but she didn't like saying it. It wasn't enough of the truth. She leaned over and kissed John lightly enough for company, whispering "I love you" just before pulling back.

"Forget all the rest of the crazy stress. Today is about having fun, getting shiny things for people we love, and scaring a driver." She grinned at Farah. "I consider it part of my gift to you and to Grady."

[lapsedsaint]

He returned the kiss, then had the decency to blush as he looked back at Farah. He was not used to this, to being affectionate in front of someone who could be called friend.

He still had the good sense to smile and looked down at his hands. "You'll both have lots of fun.