mnt_mike | [OOM: The Hamato Family Suite]

They're going to be here any minute now.
She's going to be here any minute now.
And Mike? Has no idea what to do with himself...so he's pacing. And Stampy, for her part, is watching him pace from the comfort of a corner cushion of the couch.

Lunch is made. Drinks are chilling. Heck even Stampy's had a bath.
All there is to do now is wait...and hope.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

slayer_fray

"It's still my job," Mel points out. "S'my money."

Well, it's Rachel's money, but she gave it to Mel."

From:

mnt_mike

"But...you just said you didn't want to do it in the first place."

From:

slayer_fray

"Yes," Mel says patiently. "But that doesn't mean I want someone else to do it."

She's not a delegator!

From:

mnt_mike

"At the moment those appear to be our only options. I'll take care of it. Really, it's okay."

From:

slayer_fray

Stampy, suddenly, finds Mel's stomach a less than comfortable place to be, and stands up, stamping up to her chest.

"And given those two options, I said I'd do it."

It's suddenly not, actually, okay.

From:

mnt_mike

Mike opens his mouth to argue the point further, to reiterate that it's not a problem, and that he can handle it...but closes it again before any of those words come out.

When he finally does say something it sounds a bit like this.

"Okay. Sure. Keep me posted if you change your mind, and I'll see what I can do."

From:

slayer_fray

Mel relaxes finally, and brings up a smile.

"I'll do that."

From:

mnt_mike

Well. Then...okay.

"Groovy," he says as he smiles back. "You want a Snickerdoodle?"

From:

slayer_fray

"Yeah."

She shifts in her chair, re-establishing her and elephant into a new position and holds out her hand for one.

"You know I'll always take one of your snickerdoodles."

From:

mnt_mike

He didn't, actually. But he does now, and it makes him smile. A real smile this time, and one that changes his entire posture.

"Oh good, it's about time my having laced them with meth paid off."

From:

slayer_fray

Mel offers a smirk in exchange, tossing the cookie up and catching it between her teeth. Taking a bite, she removes the rest with the same hand.

"That's why Steph and I can't match the recipe."

From:

mnt_mike

"Yes. Yes that is totally the reason. Totally. The reason. That is it."

And it's certainly not because Mel and Steph are dangerous in a kitchen.

From:

slayer_fray

They only set fire to pans sometimes.

And it's always put out really quickly.

Anyway, Mel doesn't think that deserves a response.

From:

mnt_mike

"The trick, I find," Mike continues, mostly because of Mel's silence. Though, he does return to the kitchen...for safety.

"Is not to eat all the dough before the cookies are baked."

From:

slayer_fray

"Yeah?" Mel replies. "How'd long it take you to work that one out?"

From:

mnt_mike

"The time count is ongoing."

Mike usually makes double batches for just this reason.

From:

slayer_fray

Yeah, she's well aware of the double batches. She remembers.

Mel turns her attention back to Stampy, tugging ears and scritching under her trunk.

"How's she doing? Still eating okay?"

From:

mnt_mike

Mike leans his head out of the kitchen to make sure the she being referred to is indeed Stampy.

"Oh yeah, she's great. She's kind of become Splinter's miniphant if we're going to be honest. He spoils her rotten, but...he does some how get her to go out with him for morning meditation which is far more exercise than I was ever able to."

From:

slayer_fray

"It's easy to get her to exercise," Mel points out. "You just chase her. Right, Bignose?"

From:

mnt_mike

Stampy toots her affirmative, but all attempts to wag her bottom just make her squirmy.

"Yeah well...I haven't exactly been up for much chasing, so."

From:

slayer_fray

"Yeah?"

That'll be a cue to fill her in.

From:

mnt_mike

He leans against the doorway between the kitchen and living room and sighs.

It's some time before says anything.

"Yeah. Life's been keeping me on my toes. And when Life doesn't, X does."