mnt_mike | (no subject)

(no subject)

Mike is in his element: Surrounded by happy family.
It doesn't matter that he's elbow-deep in dishwater with a stack of plates and flatware nearly taller than he is to his left, his family is here and safe and happy, and that's all that really matters.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Do you?

Think it might be best. Your place or mine? Your ba is out.

You should come here, that way I can have a shotgun and a snifter of brandy ready and on hand.

...

Oooh, and I'll need a rocking chair too...

Ugh. This is going to get uncomfortable.

Two minutes later, Sallie is at Mike's door, pausing before walking in.

Inside the room, ensconced on the Love Sack sits Mike. In one hand is a Looney Toons tumbler of fruit punch complete with crazy straw, and by the other is a Supersoaker-style water rifle.

He waits.

All that image elicits is one hand ending up on Sallie's hip.

"Bad time?" Is all she starts off saying.

"Hmm?" he says, raising an eyebrow. "Oh no no, please. Come in. I've been expecting you."

"I just wanted to talk to you a bit. Felt like we didn't get a chance to finish up earlier."

The enormous bag Mike uses as furniture puts Sallie off now and then. Today she toes off her shoes and sits down near Mike's perch.

"What did you think about what. I told you?"

The red punch dances through his crazy straw as Mike pauses to take a sip.

"What? Oh about you making an honest man of my father?"

Now he's just playing with her.

Sallie can tell, and she's none too pleased with it. At least one of us is havin' fun here, I suppose.

"Always hated that phrase."

It's nothing Sallie talks about overmuch, but the whole making something 'honest' never worked out well in her world.

"It never really made a whole lot of sense to me either, but...after I while I just sort of stopped trying to make sense of people things. It was easier to just move on ahead."

He takes one final sip from his straw before holding the glass out for Sallie.

"Want some?"

Sallie nods, coming over to take a swig.

Eventually, "I haven't talked to him about any of this. Not really. So there is probably nothing for you to worry about."

"A. Who says I'm worried. And 2. Why not? If you don't mind me asking?"

Both valid questions. Neither are easy.

"The first was more an assumption, then? And the second...some awkward-ass mix o' uncertainty and concern for looking a gift horse in the mouth."

"Well...it's not an incorrect assumption, but...let's not dwell on that, and instead move into correcting your use of animal analogy. Gift rat in the mouth."

"That is maybe not the point, you think?"

"It could be?"

Right?
Ehhh?

Okay, fine.

"You think he'd say, No?"

"Of course."

Or that he wouldn't understand why I would even ask.

"I couldn't see him saying, No to you, but I can totally see him being confused as all get out. I mean, it's not like he doesn't understand the whole concept, right? Shen and Yoshi were married, and what with all the Soaps he watches.

I just think he'd be weirded out by the level of normal involved."

Glod knows I am.

"We invent our own normal.

"I know that he would understand the concept. But he can't be beholden or somethin', sayin' yes without meaning to and such."

"There's saying that, and then there's actually living it though."

"Think that's where the word 'avoidance' comes in."

He opens his mouth to say something, but...at the last second he realizes it'd be just that: avoidance.

So instead he snaps his jaw shut.

He loves you.

"I am not questioning that a jot."

Except for how, now that Sallie's thinking about it, isn't she? In worrying about Splinter having some sort of bad reaction to her even bringing up the idea?

That's uncomfortable, she thinks at herself.

"Would you have a problem with it?"

Yes.
No.

I don't know.

"It's...complicated," he says finally, trying his best to keep his thoughts under the tightest of control.