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 Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 4:02 am
It was a new month and that meant that it was a new block of leave ripe for the taking and Lawrence had arranged a trip off-island for all would-be inhabitants of the house he’d been working on. Everyone looking to live in the house was invited to tag along (including Horace who had been sent a text accordingly inviting him to join the group and detailing plans)
It looked like Lawrence had arranged for them to go to the largest ikea in the world in Stockholm in Sweden. Despite him not normally being one for any sort of cheap or mass-produced furniture he was aware of the needs of a new property and the limited budgets many of the inhabitants had and had chosen accordingly. They could upgrade later and maintain a decent quality of living until then.
He'd arranged for everyone to be able to stay overnight In a hotel, making reservations for the full party to be accommodated if they showed and making clear that they'd be picking up the furniture in a hired lorry which would be brought to an arranged portal for retrieval of their items.
Aware shopping wouldn't take all day, he had booked them in for dinner at a very upmarket restaurant of swedish cuisine in Stockholm and left the rest of their days free for sightseeing.
Controlling Lawrence was, disorganised he was not.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 7:14 am
posting for work banes
Arrival
In Stockholm it was 80 degrees and the weather was beautiful, much to Lawrence’s satisfaction as they stepped through the portal, it was neatly hidden in a quiet industrial estate not far from their destination and parked by the kerb were two rental cars hired in advance. “I hope no one minds driving on the opposite side of the road.” He said with a faint smile.
Lawrence was dressed like a civilian with a small travel suitcase in tow with a change of clothing and various toiletries inside. It felt good to be out of his official coat and to be loosely dressed for the heat. For a change he had the strange necklace he always wore with its back and very faintly glowing runes on the outside of his shirt, in the light they just looked like they caught light unusually and had no supernatural origin. For appearances sake he had wrapped his missing hand in a clean bandage to avoid distressing anyone over the scar.
As far as the cars, he had his own ideas about who he thought would end up where, expecting Rodney and Melvin to both want to drive and anticipating that he would likely say with Rodney as Melvin’s recent behaviour left him a little concerned for his life.
Mikael would be put where he was not, because the idea of being stuck in a car with his son was one of the least appealing things he could think of.
At the very least he was looking forward to a bit of driving again, the sun shining and the wind making an absolute mess of his hair.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 9:26 am
Arrival
[Melvin always enjoyed the opportunity to get off island and into civilian clothes. The weather was warmer and he wore longer khaki shorts and a t-shirt. There was no turtle neck or scarf but he managed to being a light windbreaker just in case of rain (and go hide his scar as best he could.)
What made him the most giddy and anxious was being able to drive, having been months before he drove anwhere. Most trips only called for a taxi.
Duffle bag hanging from his shoulder, he toons deep breath and looked about. He really hoped Lawr rented something fast but he'd drive a minivan into the ground if that was their only option.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 11:00 am
Rodney had less leave time than Melvin or Lawrence, but was very happy to spend it in Sweden, and especially to spend it helping with the house.
He had a little saved up at this point, and although he had found ways to occupy himself, there were several things he missed. Including having a computer and a digital camera he could upload pictures from. He had gotten a lot of reading done since he got to the island, but maybe with a room of his own (and a bed of his own), he could really and finally get settled.
Rodney pulled his hat a bit closer to his face at the already bright and hot morning.
"Did anyone want sunscreen?" He asked quietly, fishing a pocket-size sunscreen out of his bag. "Mikael?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 11:11 am
When he'd received the invitation, Horace had stared at his phone for sone time, brow furrowed. He started several replies, erased them, started again. Finally, he texted Lawrence back. baneful TEXT TO: Lawrence Why would I come? With a sigh, hetossed hisphone onto the desk and headed out to the training field instead.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 12:27 pm
HoraceLawrence wasn't surprised to receive the response he did, Horace didn't embrace anything about the communal life he sought, he wanted singularity and exclusivity. Still, it wouldn't have felt right to him not to invite him at the very least, to give him the chance to be there if he swallowed his pride and just decided to go for it. He sent back a simple text, no coaxing, no cajoling, no condolences. Quote: Because you were invited.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 12:33 pm
Arrival
Mik hurried over to Rodney and thrust his smiling face at the other man, eyes closed. "I do!" he called out, holding still and expecting to be sunscreened rather than doing it himself. Lawrence didn't move from where he was unlocking one of the cars, already well prepared for the trip and aware in advance that the weather was due to be hot.
He fished out his expensive sunglasses he'd worn at the beach barbecue and put them on.
"Two cars." he said. "Rodney in one, Melvin in the other I think, unless there are objections. Mikael will go with Melvin, and Melody, I'll go with Rodney. We will meet up at the ikea. I hope you all at least know how to use a GPS and to drive. I would drive myself but.." and he held up his left arm.
Mik glanced over to Lawr as he spoke briefly, breaking his sunscreen encouragement, but other than a fleeting look of mild sadness, he seemed unphased by being seperated from his father, but he had for the most part learned to deal with the rejection.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 1:56 pm
"Sure, I'll drive," Rodney said.
Rodney squeezed out some in his own hand, and lent Mikael the bottle. In spite of the heat, he had on a long-sleeved t-shirt. He used it on his own hands, face, ears, and neck.
"Did we get a truck?" Rodney asked. Maybe they got two trucks. ...He missed his truck. Did they have trucks in Sweden? The general size of vehicles in Europe seemed on average...halfish.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 2:06 pm
The cars were decent European numbers that did not scream anything aside from functional and recent. He had wished for something more sportier and had hoped Lawr's usual eye for extravagance might have slipped into his selection. Then again, rentals were limited.
Rodney asking for a truck was surprising as he didn't think of a truck as the first vehicle he visualized him driving.
"Nope. But it had four wheels and a engine so at least we have that." He said, taking the keys from Lawr and popping open the trunk for Mik and Melody to out their luggage in.
"Alright, all M names in this car."
He glanced at Lawr. "So no extra member?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:17 pm
"No." Lawrence said flatly. "I didn't expect him to, but one can always hope."
He moved to put his suitcase in the back of the other car before opening the front passenger seat.
"And no trucks Rodney. This is Sweden, petrol costs a lot of money and we are simply using these to get from A to B. There will be a rental transport tomorrow. Please do drive safely."
He got in and closed the door.
Mikael took the bottle of sunscreen, looked at it attentively and then sincerely handed it back to Rodney again. He didn't know what he was doing with a lot of things and asking for help was just a bother. He didn't really need sun tan lotion, he'd be all right.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:54 pm
Arrival
Melody dragged her large trolley bag up to the trunk of the car, no qualms at all with the arrangement. Honestly grateful at all to be included. She was dressed in something a bit more simple than her usual affair, clearly aware of the need for swift walking. It was a lavender slip with a small matching clutch and darker violet pashmina covering her shoulders for added modesty.
She pushed the handle of her bag down, clicking it in place and tried to turn it in several different directions to make it fit the trunk while still allowing ample room for everyone else's bags.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 6:51 am
"Oh, um, is it not the right kind?" Rodney asked as Mikael stared at him blankly and handed him back the bottle.
"Or...do you need help getting it on?" He asked, very shyly.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:15 am
Mik nodded sadly. "I don't know how to put it on, my mother always did it for me. You don't have to, I can go without."
While speaking he moved over to put his own little case (white with a single defiantly rainbow sticker on it) into the boot of the car. He turned back to Rodney.
"I would be grateful if you would though." he said dejectedly.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:43 am
"S-sure. Here, hold out your hand. I'll do one side, and you do the other one, okay?" Rodney asked, not sure how he felt about rubbing suntan lotion into someone else's arms this early in the morning.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 8:04 am
Mikael extended his hand with a big smile. "Thank you!" he said but didn't promise anything as far as doing any other side of his arm.
The minute Rodney touched Mikael, Lawrence had slunk out of the car to stand behind them both. "You are very capable of doing it yourself." he said sharply in Swedish to Mikael.
'Don't let him sweet talk you into doing it for him." he said to Rodney. "Just give him the bottle."
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