Welcome to Gaia! ::

Daren sat up, only to make sure that Tim's stitches didn't tear. "i'm not heavy, i'm stout," he said almost pouting. "angry people i can deal with, mad men with guns waving about and psychopathic killers, i can deal with, but angry mothers? i can't deal with that. it's just-well, you saw what happened today. i'd rather they be angry, though." the other option, them being sympathetic or trying to comfort him was worse. so much worse. he stood and patted Tim's shoulder, "but you are right. i'll survive. i just might be less of a man when they finish with me." he head into the living room and sat down on the couch, his eye on the screen but not actually watching the movie.

Taiga looked at Tim and then into the living room, "he's tired. has he been sleeping?"

Tetsu looked at Daren, "should i let him sleep on my lap like i do on his when i can't sleep?"

"He wouldn't fit." Taiga instantly supplied.

"His head would..." Tetsu looked at Tim, "should i try?"

Daren looked over at Tim when he said he wanted to try something, "ok?" He sat for a long time, just staring at Tim after he was told what Tim wanted him to do. "You what?" he heard giggling behind him, Hana and Mae grinning at the two of them like gossiping old women. "What would you want--what the heck? i mean, where did that come from? not-not that there is anything wrong with your lap," he didn't want Tim to think that Daren was refusing because it was Tim himself, "but that really came out of nowhere. why do you want my head in your lap?"

"Boys," Daren called, knowing those two well enough to know they never intended to have him sleep on their own laps. "they look innocent, but they are manipulative biggers." he muttered to Tim as Taiga and Tetsu's heads appeared around the wall, looking into the living room. Daren lifted an eyebrow, "what did you do?"

Taiga pointed at Tim, "it was his idea!"

Tetsu put on his best innocent face, "we just thought you looked tired."

Daren crossed his arms, "oh really?" both boys nodded, "you know i can tell if you are lying, even from here, right?"

Taiga looked away, a nervous smile on his lips, "we might have-"

Tetsu looked down at the ground, "suggested laps."

Daren nodded, "and?"

Taiga's voice softened as he spoke, "and maybe told him-"

"ours would be too small, but-"

"his wouldn't be."

Daren sighed, rubbing his eyes, "Thank you for being concerned, but it's not nice to trick Tim like that. what do you tell him?"

"Sorry, Mr. Timothy!" they said together before hurrying back into the dining room to finish eating.

"Brats," daren muttered, "thank you, Tim, but i'm alright for now. can't sleep on the job, can we?"

Mae sat next to Tim, "don't worry about them, Mr. Tim. one time they got Mr. Iroh to put whipped cream on his face and use it at shaving cream."

Daren started to laugh, "i remember that. they told him they were out of shaving cream, but they had this old fashioned stuff their dad collected and brought it to him in one of those old time bowls. you know, the ones with the brush? well, it wasn't until he was halfway finished that Iroh figured it out." Daren shook his head, "god, i've never seen him so red in my life...." he relaxed back against the couch, "i can handle being up like this, i'm used to it. you, however, are in recovery and need your rest."

Hana shook her head, "he asked, but they said it smelled sweet to make it so you didn't need after shave."

Daren nodded, "they're too smart. they didn't even know how to read a year ago and already are going to be put into regular classes with students their own age. and their talk of moving them forward a couple years, that's how quickly they pick up on things." he glanced at the dining room and shook his head, "they scare me with what they can do. youtube is forbidden ever since they took apart an old oven and made a place where they can light off various mini bombs." he smiled, "though i admit, i was the one to teach them how to make a sparkler bomb that started it all." he shrugged, and looked at Tim, "i'll sleep tonight. promise."

"Why show him a youtube clip, when i have the movies right there?" Daren asked, pointing to his hundreds of movies. "they are all together, on the bottom left. I think the clip you are talking about is either from Totoro or Ariety. both of them have beautiful artwork, let's just watch them, ok?"

Tetsu came running into the room at the mention of 'Totoro', "please?" he asked, his mouth half filled with pizza. he had half the slice left over in one hand and his basketball tucked under his arm, but he looked at Tim hopefully.

Taiga wasn't far behind his brother, "pretty please?" he'd at least finished his pizza, but he had sauce smeared across his face.

Both boys nodded determinedly at the conditions. Taiga ran to the bathroom and Tetsu, uncharacteristically, shoved the rest of the pizza into his mouth before following, his cheeks bulging like a chipmunk's.

Daren laughed, shaking his head at them and then stood up, pulling out the two he thought might be the source of the clip. "Arrietty might be your best bet, actually, the boys will be happy with either, though Tetsu's going to make us watch Totoro regardless. it's his favorite movie. first choice is up to you, though," he held the movies out to Tim so he could choose. "Yuki, have you watched any of these with me yet?" Yuki shook his head and Daren sighed, "my boy, i have failed you. good thing Uncle Tim is here to save you from my failure."

Yuki smiled and signaled while Hana translated, "Guess i can't rely on you anymore, Daren."

Daren pretended to look wounded, "ouch! well then, take good care of him, Tim." he winked at his housemate, hoping Tim would understand they were teasing.