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 Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:10 pm
"Yeah," Mordekai managed to say, "Yeah-- um-- yeah-- I got as much as I could done f'Duncan already, though, em, dunno what else I could do-- can y'think of anything?" He glanced more at Anita than Johan for suggestions-- at the moment, his brother was busy swirling his glass and looking out at the garden to bother paying him much attention.
"How's about getting your life together," Johan mentioned before taking another sip. Mordekai glanced over at Johan with an earnestly curious expression, and leaned his elbows against the countertop.
"Huh?"
"Forget it."
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:11 pm
She was quick to nod as Mordekai explained. Considering she didn't know all of Duncan's chores or habits, suggestions were gonna take a minute but she smiled and chewed her lip at the question before Johan interjected.
Anita propped her chin up with a hand stiffly.
While Johan and Mordekai were both looking away from her, she allowed her expression to shift and show how she was really feeling; her brows knit and flattened while her eyes widened harshly and she frowned. As soon as either of their attentions were back in her general vicinity, she returned to a more passive gaze.
”That's not helpful,” Anita muttered as she crossed her arms on the counter top. Her gaze dipped from Johan back to Mordekai before there was any chance of eye contact. Just as she forced a smile back on, Anita lightened her voice. ”Hope it's not something you already did, but maybe we can give his bed fresh sheets? It's simple but, I dunno, always a nice pick-me-up.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:13 pm
Neither of the Kantors were particularly pleased at the interaction they were having around Anita. As a result, both of them focused on settling back into silence while Anita looked at them, which went largely unnoticed. Only Johan glanced back at her once she muttered something; he offered Anita a small frown and nothing else. Just before Johan gained any incentive to speak up, Mordekai glanced between them both and managed to speak up in response to Anita's suggestions.
"Oh! Y-yeah-- did the laundry an' everything this mornin', so..." he glanced back at the kitchen sink-- a mountain of stray cutting boards and other tools from making the cornbread and chili still remained unwashed. Mordekai pointed toward them to Anita, "I'll do these while we try t'think of more things, Mordekai suggested. He grabbed his glass of whiskey and downed the rest, hissed at the burn, and threw the empty glass in with the rest of the pile.
Mordekai turned the faucet and pumped the dish soap onto a sponge to dive straight into the errand. While Mordekai fell back into momentary silence, Johan watched, then set his glass and the whiskey bottle away from him and folded his arms over the kitchen counter.
"I would like to go back to what we were talking about," Johan began; Mordekai glanced back at him but continued washing dishes quietly. "About you moving out of this house. If we're talking about things we could do to help Duncan."
Mordekai glanced back with a wary smile. "Ah... not right now..."
"Do we have any other time?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:15 pm
Anita was quick to latch onto Mordekai's positive answer. With a small smile, she perked up ”Great! I'm sure he'll appreciate it.” Her smile grew when even this small gesture fell into place.
Her gaze followed the older Kantor's indication of the sink. Nearly offering her assistance, Anita bit her lip instead and nodded. While Mordekai got the sponge ready and Johan situated himself, she pushed away from the island and sought about to looking around the kitchen, living room, and garden for some kind of inspiration on what else to do. It wasn't long before her thoughts were pulled back to the brothers and Anita found herself frowning at their backs apprehensively.
Throughout the thus far short visit, Johan's tone and topic grated on her – as was unfortunately the case at Thanksgiving. Both brothers were certainly getting friendly with their liquor, but Anita wasn't sure if the tense atmosphere was solely due to that. It was strange to see them interact like this, compared to the hospital.
”Um-- should I go take care of the sheets or...?” she pointed toward the stairs with a thumb just after Johan asked. Maybe if she was lucky it would sound like she hadn't heard him, rather than having chosen to interrupt.
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:16 pm
Johan opened his mouth to speak when Anita piped in with an inquiry of her own. He looked back at her with furrowed brows, clearly offended-- it was obvious enough to him that he'd spoken clearly enough for anyone in the vicinity to hear. Mordekai raised his brows again and looked over at Anita-- he hadn't registered her question immediately, given other distractions.
"Oh," Mordekai started; he dropped the pan he was working on cleaning back into the sink, then wiped his hands on a towel folded near the stove. While the water was still running, he walked past Anita and quickly walked up the stairs, no questions asked. "I'll take care'f that righ' now-- Johan, do somma those dishes a minute, 'kay?"
Before Johan could object to Mordekai's disappearance, Mordekai was already in the upstairs hall and away from sight. Johan nonchalantly got up from the kitchen stool and walked around the corner to greet the kitchen sink.
Johan unbuttoned his cuff links and rolled up his sleeves. He agreed to Mordekai's request and went about it without any objections, if only to get it out of the way as quickly as possible. He offered Anita another peeved look, then went on to grabbing the sponge and washing dishes himself. He scrubbed quicker and less distractedly than Mordekai was before, though that wasn't saying much.
"If you could open the dishwasher door, please," he spoke to Anita, "And tell me why you just interrupted our conversation."
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:16 pm
As Mordekai walked off abruptly, Anita's reaction was about the same as his brother. Her mouth opened, she stammered, then closed it. Anita kept looking until Mordekai was completely out of sight, then busied herself looking at the floor while Johan went to the sink. She didn't quite catch the look but the level of discomfort in the room skyrocketed as soon as Mordekai left.
”Sure,” Anita responded quietly, quickly moving over before he continued.
Just as her hand hit the latch, the rest of his request settled and she paused. Only a second later did she open it and pull out the shelves for him.
”I didn't really expect him to duck out...” Her tone was more meek than she intended, and she kept a hushed volume though she wasn't sure whose sake it was for.
”Was kinda hoping to do the sheets myself and let you guys be but um--” Anita stepped back from the dishwasher to make room for him. Her hands found her pockets and retreated inside. ”--isn't it kind of--” she huffed quietly and looked out the window toward the garden, ”It's Duncan's birthday. We should be positive for it.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:17 pm
"I see why you would want to leave us to our conversation, but it was done impolitely," Johan responded, though his initial agreement faded into disapproval the more Anita spoke. He placed each clean piece of silverware and dishes onto the shelf and looked over at Anita occasionally. She wasn't speaking confidently in the slightest, nor did she look it, and the most Johan gathered from what she said were poor additions to the answer she gave. He frowned.
"I don't see how the topic I mentioned wasn't positive. It certainly wasn't negative." He looked back at Anita, a smidgen longer this time, "Unless you were talking about something else. 'Isn't it kind of' what?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:18 pm
Anita frowned but kept her gaze firmly pointed at the garden. It wasn't as relaxing to look at as she wanted while being stared down. She nodded in agreement; there was likely a better way and she felt bad for interrupting. Too late, now, though.
”Sorry...”
For a moment she thought that was that. Anita was prepared to stand in awkward silence with Johan in the kitchen until he either finished loading the dishwasher or Mordekai returned from upstairs. That came to a halt quick, and she looked back at the younger Kantor in time to catch his gaze. Her brows knit despite the clear uncertainty still on her face.
”Well--” she shifted her gaze again and tightened her lips, ”Maybe not that.” Anita didn't know the context, all she could judge was tone. Thus far, everything out of Johan's mouth had been harsh or pointed in some fashion. Even now, though perhaps it was warranted.
This time she tried to sound more firm. ”You've just been kind of hard on him since I got here.” She was sure of this, if nothing else.
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:18 pm
Johan scoffed, then looked over at Anita. "Am I being harsh?" He returned to washing dishes and paused a moment to gather his thoughts-- he had a few things to say about this, but most of them seemed trite. "Even if I was, it was with reason. And all of them aren't worth or are pertinent to your time."
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:19 pm
She grimaced at Johan's question. They both turned away after a moment, Anita looked back out at the garden. There was a small vague shape moving quickly among some of the flowers; either a bird or a fairy. Really, she wanted nothing more than to drop this conversation and hang out in the back yard. Her feet stayed rooted to the kitchen floor.
Whatever reasons he had, Anita couldn't see how making jabbing remarks about someone losing their car or forgetting minor details about their meeting could honestly be productive unless the sole intent was to cause embarrassment and discomfort.
”All I'm trying to say is, Duncan could be here any minute. It might be better after he's taken care of.”
Anita winced.
”Mordekai seems too distracted right now anyway...” She couldn't really blame him. Especially with the things Johan was bringing up, even if they could be said more nicely, there seemed to be a lot on his mind. Offering him up to his brother for grilling later didn't sit right with her either but this situation was out of her hands and none of her business. All she could do was try to mediate for Duncan's sake, and Mordekai's as well. The man obviously wasn't defending himself at all.
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:19 pm
Johan listened to Anita with full attention, though his eyes were set on looking at the dishes he was washing rather than at her. Hearing mention of how distracted Mordekai was today received a light and disheartened laugh-- when was he not distracted?-- but he neglected to comment.
"Would you like me to stop speaking to my brother, then?" Johan retorted halfheartedly, glancing at Anita. Just as he put her to question, though, Mordekai quickly paced down the flight of stairs and back into the kitchen, eyes intent on the fridge.
"Saw 'im in the driveway, he's here," Mordekai mentioned, looking back at Anita and Johan with one hand around the handle of the fridge. Before he could open it, though, the faint sound of door rattling came from the foyer. Mordekai let go of the fridge handle and stepped back to poke his head past the kitchen wall. He gestured toward the other two to move toward the kitchen island.
"Hide, hide!" Mordekai whispered-- Johan didn't do much other than take a few steps back to lean against the far end of the counter, nearer to the stovetop, so he couldn't be seen. When Duncan opened the door, he looked up to Mordekai walking to the hall properly and raising his arms up.
"'Ey!" he managed, "'Appy birthday, Duncan!"
"Ah-- thank you!"
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:20 pm
Every time she opened her mouth in Johan's vicinity, it always seemed to make things worse. Anita's brows knit as she leaned back from the force of the question. Her lips parted but refused to open more than that, especially when her mind was a complete blank. That wasn't what she meant at all, of course he could talk to his brother, it was just... there was no way to explain her stance without sounding like she was meddling. Maybe she was. Maybe she had over stepped her bounds.
Before Anita had a chance to react more than dumbstruck surprise, Mordekai was back downstairs. She closed her lips tight and tried to right herself so the older brother wouldn't question the tone of her and Johan's conversation.
He didn't pay it any mind.
The rattle of the door made Anita smile a little easier. It would be more comfortable with Duncan around, and they could concentrate on showing him a good-- ”Hide, hide!” –or they were going to do this first.
Anita obediently dropped down behind the kitchen island. She crouched, half pressed against its side with one ear leaned out to hear Mordekai greeting Duncan. Only when she was down did she realize this was pointless; both of their cars were parked out front. Her brows furrowed but a wry smirk pulled at her cheeks as she leaned out just enough to try and peek down the hall from her current position, ready to duck back behind at a moment's notice.
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:21 pm
Johan was just as quick as Anita to drop the intonation of the conversation when Mordekai entered the vicinity. Despite the air of disagreement from just minutes before, he managed to remain relatively unfazed; he glanced at Anita as she ducked low behind the kitchen island. Mordekai, meanwhile, continued leading Duncan back toward the kitchen; the older man took off his glasses, wet with snow, and focused on cleaning them their first few steps away from the foyer.
Mordekai lightly pat Duncan on the back and smiled. "How was work, huh? How were you today?" He glanced over at Anita and gently nodded at her to hide again.
"Ah, everything was plenty fine, thank you for asking." Once Duncan finished cleaning his glasses, he put them back on and blinked wearily up at the blond. Duncan took off his gloves and set them against the counter while they were nearing the kitchen. "Was I dreaming, or did I see the familiar cars of one Anita Bishop and one Johan Kantor in our driveway?"
Mordekai froze in his footsteps at the inquiry-- with cheeks red, he laughed quietly and nodded. "s**t," he whispered, "I forgot-- yeah, yeah-- they're in th'kitchen-- I wanted to surprise you!"
"Oh-- you tried, son, thank you anyways," Duncan retorted, laughing tiredly. He took off his jacket and set it on the coat hanger-- which also happened to have Johan's overcoat on it-- and walked into the kitchen. He smiled at Anita and Johan both; the latter smiled slightly back, then stood upright to greet Duncan properly.
"Happy birthday, Duncan."
"Hello, you two-- it's so good to see you both." Duncan walked into the kitchen area to give Johan a firm handshake, then he looked between the three. With a smile, he asked: "What is all this?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:22 pm
The nod was all Anita needed to duck back into her hiding spot. She listened as the two spoke and approached the kitchen. Duncan was right on the money. As soon as Anita heard her name, that lingering smirk turned to a full smile and she snickered. Mordekai's embarrassment was heard clearly in his confirmation and Anita let herself laugh a little louder while standing. By the time Duncan made it inside, she was leaned against the counter top of the kitchen island with both arms. Smiling as warmly as she was, it was impossible now to detect any hint of previous awkwardness and, to her relief, Johan abandoned it as well.
”Happy birthday,” she offered after Johan, her voice still light with a lingering chuckle. ”Nice to see you, too.”
Anita crossed over from the back of the island to stand with the others, though she kept herself leaned against it, elbows propped on the back with her ankles crossed. ”It's a party!” Anita beamed, ”Had to cancel the live entertainment on account of the snow, so you'll have to settle for us.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:23 pm
"My! A party! I suppose I will have to, though I'm just as content with the company as present." Duncan chuckled and smiled brightly, in large part because Anita was also laughing. Mordekai stood back and watched the two for a moment before going back to complete a few little errands-- he paced between the kitchen and the front room to retrieve his, Johan, and Anita's gifts, then placed them on the kitchen counter.
"Here're our presents," Mordekai smiled; he faltered a bit afterward, though, and placed his hands on his hips, "Sorry there ain't more people here, I kinda screwed the pooch on that one..."
The Kantors looked between each other; Mordekai was worried while Johan remained quietly unimpressed. The younger brother frowned slightly.
Duncan raised his brows and marveled each gift, turning them side by side to appreciate them one by one. He looked up at the three and laughed lightly, clearly surprised at the events unfolding. "I don't know what to say, you three... thank you so much! Though--" he sniffed and glanced up at the stairway, "If it's alright, I'm going to go upstairs and tidy myself up a bit. It was quite the storm out there today."
"Oh-- sure," Mordekai replied, stepping aside so Duncan could walk directly to the stairway, "Take your time-- we got bread and chili for you to warm up with, too!"
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