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 Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 1:42 pm
Maia wandered in the kitchen, looking to help Toby with breakfast. "What are we making?" she asked. She'd been unable to successfully cover the bruise that'd bloomed under her jaw line, so she'd carefully framed her hair around her face this morning.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 1:45 pm
"I thought I'd make Miss Grumpy-Pants some Belgian waffles," Toby said. He had already made the batter and was letting the first cook while he prepared the strawberries. He did not notice the bruise, preferring to forget the night up until that point, but Dari did.
"Lori could help you with that," the alien said, gently lifting Maia's hair to slow the bruise.
Toby happened to glance over the clicked his tongue. "Awh, hon, I'm sorry. Does it hurt?" he asked. He might have approached were his hands not coated in sticky juice.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 1:57 pm
"I'm just tired," Maia protested, with a shake of her head. He didn't have to make anything special for her. "I stayed up late to finish my book," She said; it was only a half-lie, she had finished the book. "I wish they hadn't had to kill the dragon. They said he was the last one."
Maia covered the bruise again. "I'm fine, it doesn't hurt. How do you make Belgian waffles?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:10 pm
"Well, it's just a book," Dari reassured the selkie. Obviously he hadn't been the last, either.
Toby's mouth pushed to one side. She was trying to deflect it, trying to not worry him. Sometimes he could read her like a book. "Let me see." He brushed back her hair as she came closer. "Yeah, you know, he's right. Lori probably could help you out there. I'm still sorry it happened. Anyway, we have a 'maker for them. You just need to make the batter and it does the rest."
The timer went off and Toby flipped and opened the waffle maker to produce a fluffy Belgian waffle.
"First one's yours," he said to Maia as he plucked it quickly onto a plate with the tines of a fork.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:17 pm
"It was good. But he wasn't really doing any harm by being there, it was only after they bothered him that he attacked things." The dwarves could've found a new home, then no one would have needed to die.
"I'll ask Lori," she promised. "And don't worry about it." She didn't want Toby feeling bad over something that wasn't his fault. "Thank you," She added, as she took the plate.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:25 pm
Toby just smiled softly as he laid the strawberries over Maia's waffle and swirled a heavy helping of whipped cream atop. He knew it wasn't entirely his fault that Maia had ended up with a bruise but he still would rather it have not happened at all.
"You're welcome. I'll be right out." Waffles took a little bit of time when you only had one waffle-maker.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:33 pm
The strawberries delighted the selkie, and she wasted no time making her way to the table. So with Belgian waffles, you didn't put syrup. She'd have to remember that, she decided, as she took a bite.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:47 pm
Dari followed Maia out, knowing that Toby may be a minute or two, and sat across from her with a smile. He saw progress between them, but did they see it themselves?
Another week had passed when Toby was struck with an urge to spend some time outdoors again. Frolicking in the yard was usually the last thing he thought about after work unless it was to enjoy a handmade cocktail, and that was what he felt like tonight. Of course Dari would accompany him, but what of Maia? He mixed himself a drink and moved out to the patio, having told both of his roommates what he planned to do as he went about doing it.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:52 pm
Maia joined Toby out on the patio. She wasn't fond of alcoholic beverages, even the ones that were supposed to be made from fruit tasted awful. How did one destroy a grape so it tasted like wine? Bleh. But she did sit near Toby and smile at him. "I wonder if we'll be able to see the stars tonight," she said.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:07 pm
"Mm, maybe," Toby replied, titling his chin up. They were in a pretty well-populated area. You could see the bright stars, but it was nothing like out at the lake. He sipped his drink and suddenly saw a flicker. Ooh!
"Did you see that?" Toby asked.
Dari perked. "What?" He didn't have to turn his head to look around."
Another blip.
"There!" Toby pointed.
"Yes!"
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:12 pm
Maia saw it too. Immediately interested, she stood and wandered towards the source of the light. "What is it?" she asked, looking towards Toby. "Tiny stars?" No, stars wouldn't fall this close to earth, not without it being a huge production on the news stations anyway. And they weren't this size, certainly.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:23 pm
Nothing would visibly be there when Maia arrived.
Toby took another sip from his drink, put it down, and rushed inside. He went for the kitchen, rifling through cabinets for a mason jar. He knew he had a few!
"Coleoptera Lampyridae," Dari said, "'Lightning bugs'. Or 'fireflies'." He was watching closely for another one. Just then a little black beetle landed on Dari's arm and he froze, not wanting to startle it. It didn't blink before it took off again.
"That was one, I think."
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:29 pm
Maia was fascinated. Lightning bugs? Bugs that lit up! Huh. How'd they do it? "Why do they light up?" She asked. And why had they stopped blipping when she'd come near? "Hey Dari. Come help me find some," she beckoned him over.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:35 pm
"They are trying to attract each other," Dari said. He specifically left out the part about attracting prey. "To them, we're dangerous."
Toby emerged from the house then, mason jar on one hand and its lid in the other. He stood still a moment, eyes scanning, then saw a little blink of light and lunged for it, snapping the lid on the jar. He looked inside. Nothing.
"Nope." So he waited to try again.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:50 pm
"Oh, so tonight's like a blind date night," Maia smiled in understanding. All sorts of creatures had ways of attracting mates. Lighting up seemed to be a lightning Bug's--what an impressive ability. Surely any lady lightning bug would be smitten?
Toby seemed to be trying to catch one. Maia smiled at him. "Think you'll get one?" She asked.
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