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 Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:42 pm
No, it really wasn't their fault-- not one bit-- and Vince was dead set on sticking to that claim. Even if they had technically gone into that tavern of their own volition and even if maybe they'd intentionally pissed off the Princess Brigade with a friendly neighborhood mauling, they hadn't asked to be drugged! Or have some apparently passionate night because of said drugs! Or wish for their supposedly defunct girl parts to spontaneously kick in with unfortunately perfect timing on the aforementioned night!
... Yeah, totally beyond their control right there. They were the victims of cruel fate and circumstance, really!
"Ah, really now?" The woman, sweet as ever, just nodded and smiled pleasantly, passing a glance back at Vincent... who hesitated briefly-- god why did ALL women give off an aura of DOTING?-- before he, too, forced pleasantness. "Well, I'm thrilled to finally meet your charming young... friend, truly. He's just darling."
Okay, this? This was just getting ridiculous. Why did EVERYONE say that?!
Poor Vince's masculinity was just doomed to die horribly before the day was through.
"The eggs were gathered this morning with the milk," the vendor added, charming gaze back on Alex. "From our own coops, naturally. You should know my chickens are the best in the city." Or the country, for that matter, where she seemed to hail from (perhaps she lived just outside town?). "If you're after a dozen to go with that milk of yours, it'd be three silver-- and you should take a jar of honey with you while you're at it! Nothing goes better on a chunk of buttered bread in the morning. All from our own hives."
... Honeyed and buttered bread? s**t, that actually sounded kind of good too. Stupid stomach making him all vulnerable to swaying-by-foodstuffs.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:55 pm
Well that was true. He did know a thing or two about her chickens (If one ever got any of her or her husband's poultry it was to kill for. Seriously. Alex would have to look into getting some eventually, if only for Vince to try it!), so he definitely had to trust her advice of it.
He looked to the stands on either side of her booth. Mmmm.... Non-food wares.
Smart, she knew to not put her eggs anywhere near foods that could 'taint' their taste. And further more, it looked as though his man-mate was being tempted. Like a good husband, however, he'd entertain the idea.
"Vince, pick a jar of honey."
Alex, while he continued to look over the eggs continued his conversation with the woman. "Do you have butter or cheese in your wares today?"
Better to get it all in one place, afterall.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:49 pm
O SHI-- looked like he'd been caught in his guilty WANT thoughts of the sugary stuff. Not that Vincent was going to complain about it or anything (why would he?), though there was a sheepish pause for just a split second or two before he nodded and mumbled a "sure" to his dearest darling hubbikins, fishing through a few jars to... er, awkwardly check to see if there were any different kinds in there.
Seriously, he still didn't know jack s**t about this stuff. Was he supposed to assume it was all the same? The milk hadn't been, although... No, he couldn't tell one container of this stuff from the next. Which meant that it was okay to just pick one jar at random and pass it off to Alex, yep.
Because poppa-mom-man-mate-wifies didn't pay for stuff. Siiigh.
"I do, in fact," the woman beamed (she seemed oh-so-entertained just by seeing the two boys interact in their 'adorable' little ways), making a gesture to the faaar end of her little table, where, sure enough, there were some closed ice-chests and the like. "Butter's in there, good batch, too. We've got a pretty fair young cheese, too-- just matured enough to sell. It's a little on the mellow side, though."
Oh god, more random food knowledge to pack away on poor Vince's end-- and what, how did cheese mature? Why did that effect its flavor? WHY DID AGE MATTER AND WHY WAS IT FAIR?
"Here, why don't I get a nice sack for you boys and all this mess of yours?" she added on, disappearing below the stall for a minute to fish up- aha! A burlap bag! "No need to cart around so much open-armed, alright? Just make sure your fragile pieces aren't set on the bottom."
Why all this niceness and charity? WHY? IT WAS SO DAMN STRANGE.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:34 pm
Alex, naturally, was all over the ice chest, looking through it and carefully pulling out one of the jars of butter (lack of wax paper made stuff FUUUUNNN), looking it over before setting it where he'd be able to retrieve it again.
But now he sent his gaze to Vince in a sort of 'summoning' as he looked at the cheese.... Mmmm.... Cheese was cheese... and while mild wasn't bad, he did have to make inquiries in terms o-... Hmmm, actually.
"Mild will probably be better for a time, actually.... in what proportions did you cut the wheel into?" he asked, before he looked to Vince to start more of his 'smart' babble.
"Cheese is 'aged' to give it a sharper flavor, kind of like wine is- " he presumed that comparison would be understood by his.... more 'noble' blooded man-mate. "So because this cheese hasn't been aged as long it doesn't have as strong of a taste. That'll make it more maliable in a sense."
Made sense to him.
Besides, cheese was cheese, right?
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:03 pm
Mmm, jars of nice, yellow, farm-fresh and ice-chilled butter, all ready for shoving down the sack! That farm woman sure seemed to have her act together when it came to decent produce, which Vince was thankful for in one sense, but... good lord, he was feeling more stupid by the minute.
Every new thing he discovered was just a reminder of how little he knew, which was understandable when one considered his lack of 'real' world experience (y'know, living for literal years on nothing but shitty bar food and alcohol and pre-prepared stuff that he just bought with his endless funds), but that didn't stop him from a twinge or two of guilt anyway. Alex just seemed so far ahead of him in everything domestic (hell, he could even speak like a perfectly normal gentleman!)-- and he wasn't even the pregnant one!
But no, no, this wasn't a time to get discouraged (stupid hormones) and the smaller male forced it all down in favor of keeping up his 'cheery cordial' persona instead.
"Ah, makes sense enough, I guess." Wine was a good comparison, actually; he knew enough about THAT to figure things out...
"We make our wheels in miniature this time of year," the vendor chimed in late, but no less sweetly, "they're just two or three pounds each, so no need to split them up. How many are you after, dear?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:12 pm
Well at least one of them was, though. So while Alex was also not so much a 'domestic figure', he was at least able to pretend as if he was.
Okay, so they were looking at smaller wheels? s**t, this was beyong Alexander's normal 'range' of expertise really. How much did a 'normal' wheel weigh? Eight pounds?
A little more?
uhh.. well, either way..
"I think two of the smaller wheels will last us until the next time we come out for groceries..." he said thoughtfully. Push to shove they'd find something cheesey to make.
Mmm.
Cheese.
Man... after that they'd definitely need to head back to the 'cabin' to unload all of the groceries. Alex, as big as his arms were, could only carry so much safely afterall.
He'd just come back out to the butcher's later....
...
And his other destination.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:39 pm
"Well then, two it is." Without further ado, the kindly white-furred woman produced a couple of little (... well, littler than normal) round objects wrapped in butcher's paper from under the sight line of the booth, obviously having been kept in a chill chest-esque storage box of some kind, and passed them over to be deposited in the oh-so-helpful sack she'd provided.
Which just left-- ...
Uh.
"'That everything we need here?" Vince piped up from his 'dearest' man-mate's side, having done another hopeless once over of the whole stand and found that, unless he was mistaken and missing something HORRIBLY OBVIOUS, they had gotten at least one of everything the place sold... which covered most-- if not all-- of their grocery list, right?
"Really?" Doing a quick count on her fingertips, their cashier went back to that doting, mushy smile. "Well then, that'll be eight silver for the lot, dears."
"..." Okay, he didn't have much of a concept for 'proper' grocery charges, but considering all the stuff they bought, he felt like they'd just gotten undercharged... again. And most likely because of him and his SPECIAL predicament being SO SICKENINGLY DARLING, GAH.
Though from the look of Alex's poor carrying arm, it seemed about time to go drop their stuff off at home or at least take a break from making more purchases, didn't it?
... If only he could've known the terrible strings of fate being pulled right then. If ONLY.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:56 pm
Yeah, Alex was quite aware they'd been undercharged as well, but he made little complaint when it came to paying for the groceries.
Which in turn he held the coin-bag out to Vince to count out the price.
Alex didn't have a free hand to do it himself at the given moment as he was holding on to a bunch of the groceries (the heavy ones). Yeah, superfun. Groceries.
Just meant they'd be eating 'properly' for the next while.
Okay, so it was a list that had been compiled by their dear next-door-neighbor's wife so she would know what they had to cook with and they wouldn't starve.
So pleasant to have such a helping hand.
However, once the price was counted out, the coin-bag was put promptly away into his pocket. Yep, nice and away. NO need to keep it out.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:34 pm
OHAE, HE GOT TO PAY!-- ...
Okay that wasn't really true; it was still Alex's money and everything, but... at least he got to play a slightly more worthwhile role than 'Darling Domestically Retarded Pregnant Arm Cling-on', which helped (if only a little) in the SUCK and FAIL feelings department.
Counting out the appropriate pieces and handing them over (which only earned him another doting smile, uuugh), Vincent passed the coin-bag back like a good little 'other' and mumbled the usual cordial thank-yous for their kind, discounting patron. Finally, they were FREE TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE AND MOVE ON, YAY!
... Or so he thought and hoped. AH HA HA.
"So... uh, you wanna head back and drop that stuff off, I guess?" he asked as soon as they were out of earshot and back in the messy crowd, already backtracking a little in the direction from whence they'd come. "I mean, can I... y'know, help carry something?"
Aside from the man's CHILD, he meant.
But sick humor and punnage aside, there was other mischief (or sorts) afoot and, in a seemingly harmless and random occurrence, the gingery male came a bit too close with someone passing in the other direction-- absolutely mundane-- and brushed shoulders with some fellow, mumbling a quick apology of, "sorry, man, didn't see you th--"
"Holy s**t, Vincent, is that you?"
... Oh ******** no. ******** NO that was absolutely NOT THE VOICE HE THOUGHT IT WAS. Don't turn around don't turn around FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T TURN AROUND--
Why the hell had he even glanced over his shoulder?
"Ah! It is you!" the person-- young and male and WAY too enthusiastic-- affirmed cheerfully, before... he burst out laughing, and Vince's heart SANK to his knees. "I can't believe it! What the hell're you doing down here-- and who's the guy with skin issues?"
"... Hello to you too, Grayson," he mumbled gravely, having turned a very peculiar shade of of-white the MOMENT he saw the other tabby's face-- of whom appeared to be a fully furred ginger tabby with bright red hair and jewel-green eyes. "We were just heading out, actually, so we'll be on our way now--"
Poutpoutfroooown. "Aw, what, not gonna turn around and greet your dear cousin properly? After all these years?!"
SOB. IT HAD BEGUN.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:46 pm
He officially had too many things in his arms to actually be able to deck anybody... but like a good hubbikins he was at least carrying the bulk of the weight. However, it was plain to Alexander that the current situation was 'do not want'.
He hissed lightly at the comment about his skin, but it was passed without even a frizz of the tail.
No, it was a simple little hiss under his breathe. Mmmmm.
"Nnnn, is this someone we should be concerned with?" he inquired in a low whisper, not even bothering to look over his shoulder at the 'guest' they seemed to have.
..
'Grayson'. Family perhaps? If they hadn't been mentioned before, Alex had a feeling that he shouldn't even care about it. Or at least not be 'fond' of it.
He'd leave it alone.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:34 pm
Well damn, what a time to be without any punching arms! Poor Vince was just stuck between a rock and a hard place right then; he could've easily broken the frilly (yes, his satiny clothing screamed of SHINY and RICH) latter tabby's jaw himself, except that... y'know, that would've required him turning around to do so, which was the biggest DO NOT WANT of all.
For various reasons.
"... He's--"
"'Someone we should be concerned with?'" Oh, goodness, it seemed that 'Grayson's' big satellite-dish kitty ears were pretty perceptive, tail fluffing up a bit as he huffed and pouted childishly. "C'mon, Vince, are you seriously just walkin' off? What happened to fa--"
"He's nobody worth bothering over," Vincent suddenly announced-- OUT LOUD-- in response to his dearest 'hubbikins's' question, shooting a rather unhappy GLARE over his shoulder and willing one eye to stop twitching. "Let's get out of here."
And with that, he practically took off into the crowd, actually giving ALEX a desperate arm-tug for once as the very confused (and also unhappy) cousin attempted to pursue them, whining all the way. "Heeey, wait up, man! Why are you so damn jumpy?! I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A FRIENDLY CONVERSATION WITH MY DARLING LONG LOST COUSIN, IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!"
DAMN STRAIGHT it was if the 'victim's' FLEEING was anything to go by.
Although... damn, as irritating as that fellow was, had it seriously warranted bolting like a (ha PREGNANT) jackrabbit from the scene?
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:10 pm
And Alex, like a good hubbikins, followed along after his jackrabbit wife and ... like and even better male-of-seedy-business-deals and random life-fail waiting for him on every road knew exactly how to handle the situation.
Yep. Time to blade roads-and-alleys.
Alex, taking Vincent's arm, ducked down an alleyway which seemed to fork, carefully faking their 'jaunt' down the middle road (which was much shorter) by going down one of the longer pathways which cut off and continued on back to the road across the way.
Yep.
Evasion go.
If it was anything to go by, Alex's physical eptness in comparison to any richboy's lack of epic physique WIN, would keep them ahead of things.
Since he was well trained in the way of evading MORE apt beings who were out to get him. Ah ha ha.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:43 pm
... Dude, Alex was actually really good at this dodge and run thing. Just where had he picked that u-- oh, oh right, he had that weird seedy job thing that probably called for it, huh? Funny, that little tidbit of information had slipped to the back of his mind a bit over the past few weeks; shouldn't it have been important enough to keep in mind more?
But no matter, he didn't need to dwell over the reasons right now so long as they were getting the hell out of there and their less-than-able follower was losing the trail. Grayson had actually managed to keep pace (... sort of) through the crowds, but alas, like many rich youths, it seemed that he was lacking in the physique department, fell behind, and couldn't pick up any sign of them again.
Thank GOD.
Only after they'd made their way through a god-awful TANGLE of back streets did Vincent finally feel 'safe' enough to slow his pace a bit, breath just a little strained as he peered over his shoulder for a few seconds and, luckily, saw absolutely no one.
"God damn, that was way too close..." he muttered, actually having to reach a hand back for physically FORCING his tail to smooth back down. Uuugh DONOTWANT. "I can't believe one of them came here!..." Pinching the bridge of his nose, he forced out a looong sigh. "Ah, thanks, man... S-Sorry about that... uh, right-- we were heading back, right?"
Yes, back home. Home was safe. HOME WAS A PLACE THAT RANDOM COUSINS HAD NO CLUE ABOUT.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:55 pm
Alex only slowed down once Vince seemed to relax, walking along the streets calmly. It was times like this he needed his head to look less sorethumb than it did.
Majorly less sorethumb.
But for the time being they seemed to be free of the pursuit... and with all groceries miraculously intact!
"Yes, home it is." he confirmed, agreeing thoroughly on that 'home = safe' for the two of them. Mmmm, safe! It was odd, really, aiming to stay out of trouble instead of trying to get in to it.
Which was enough for Alex as he continued to walk along casually, pretending as though everything was right as Rain and nothing had gone wrong.
See?
Good hubbikins. Staying calm. Now they just needed to get home, put away groceries, and stay inside where it was safe from the 'inlaws'.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:31 pm
Oh god he still felt ready to panic at the thought of his cousin finding them WHY WASN'T ALEX PANICKING LIKE HIM AND HOW COULD HE POSSIBLY STROLL ALONG LIKE THAT!?
Although it was actually his bigger partner's casual act that kept him calm, having to force it at first just so as not to go racing ahead of him, but... as the seconds passed, it slowly clicked in his brain that, yes, taking it easy was better if they wanted to blend in and avoid drawing attention to themselves. They wanted to look natural to keep from sticking out any more than necessary...
"Sounds... really good, yeah, yeah..." Slow, steady breaths and a slow, steady pace. They were just bringing home groceries, that was all. Nothing more.
It really was ironic how they'd suddenly become so hellbent on laying low and keeping OUT of the fire instead of leaping into it head first, but then again, there were certain reasons for it (coughBECKcough) that were pretty founded, so... yeah.
"... You're pretty decent at that dodgy s**t, man," he finally spoke up once they'd reached the far end of the street that connect to their OWN neighborhood, thank god, feeling JUST BARELY at ease enough for conversation. "'Glad Grayson's a pansy a**, though... God, I should've just punched him--"
What, lack of family bonding much?
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