But Tonight, I'm Goin' Home...

[Michael O'Conner]

Leigh was excited. No, in fact, that was altogether to weak a word. It took some pouting, a few tears, and the odd spot of blackmail, but finally, finally Michael was coming home to visit. She had already helped her mom clean the house (twice), and had made every single favorite food that she could think of, most of which wouldn't even be consumed that night and was resting rather uselessly on the table (and in the fridge).

And it still wasn't quite time. Leigh was unsure of whether her nervous energy was getting on Sera's nerves yet, but the brunette seemed amused, which was probably a good thing. She sat, stood, walked around the house a few times, and then sat again. Even when she finally was sitting, she couldn't keep her knee from bouncing, or from twisting her hands up together.

It had, officially, been the longest that Michael had been away. And with the extra consideration that he hadn't come home for a visit since the she-bitch dumped him, Leigh was starting to endure some serious Michael withdrawal, and she wasn't happy about it at all, and she was twice as concerned about his status as she couldn't monitor it. "He's almost here!" she noted, completely uselessly to Sera. Especially as she had already informed her of such a handful of times in the last twenty minutes or so. "Soon!" She bounced a little in place, and stared forlornly at the clock. "Why won't it go faster, Sera?"

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

"Mmhm, I am aware," Seraphim replied absently, not looking up from the book that was resting in her lap. She turned the page slowly, and glanced to the clock when Leigh spoke again. "You do realize that time passes slowly when you stare at the clock? I believe we had this same discussion in seventh grade math. If you stare, then it isn't going to go any faster. Completely the opposite. It'd be best to distract your mind, as I am doing, and then you'll be less worried about how long it's taking. Trick yourself, sort of," the brunette explained matter-of-factly, looking back down at her book, and beginning on the new page.

She had come home with Leigh right after school, as soon as she had heard Michael was coming home to visit. It had been a long time since he had come home for a weekend, far too long, and she hadn't intended to miss out. She had helped out with the cleaning, and some of the cooking, but mostly had kept to her book. To do, simply, what she had just explained to Leigh; distract her mind. The more she read, the more time passed, and the less time she spent being anxious, and pacing, as her girlfriend was doing.

Leigh was doing more than enough pacing, and anxious motions, for the two of them. Sera was fine with being the relaxed one; she usually was. "I think we should keep him to ourselves tonight, but I think everyone will want to see him tomorrow. I know that the twins do, but they're both working tonight. And Rath has some date with Meghan. Which, by the by? Still freaks me out on ten different levels. My brother shouldn't date my friends. Although, weren't we planning on setting Michael up with someone while he's home? Forget about the bitch? Do we have any single friends? That aren't.. our age?"

[Michael O'Conner]

Leigh made a bit of a face at the watched-pot-never-boils note, and pouted. "I know, I know, I just want him here already!" She determinedly looked away from the clock and towards Sera, and bit her lip thoughtfully at the dating-proposal.

"Um, not really? Everyone's either dating someone...or gay...or, um, our age? Except...maybe like...Lucy or Brody? But I'm still pretty sure they're dating each other, and they just don't know it yet. And even if they weren't, I'd never do that to Michael. He'd listen to one of Brody's rants, and he'd slap her upside the head and tell her to get over herself. And that wouldn't work for dating either one of them," Leigh noted. "And I also don't want to make him think the only reason I wanted him here was to set him up. He's been a little weird about girls since she-bitch, and I just want him to relax. We'll see if we have any good candidates as things go. Unless you have someone in mind?

"And yes, he shall be ours for the evening. We'll share tomorrow. Maybe. If I'm feeling generous. Or if manages to escape, seeing as I know that he wants to see the twins while he's here. He told me so. Or, I'm reading his mind. Or some odd combination of both. Also plausible," she smiled. "I'm glad you're here."

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

"You know, the saying is that patience is a virtue, not impatience," Seraphim replied softly, still not looking up from her book as Leigh spoke to her. She listened closely, and a little frown pulled at her lips as she did. "You're right. I would suggest Natasha, but that might be strange. I don't think we have any available candidates, outside of.. yeah, Brody and Lucy. Brody's ego is way too huge for Michael to handle, and she's rather selfish as well. I think Lucy is much more calm, she could be potentially a winning combination. But she's a package deal with Brody. And if he wouldn't get along with her, or vice versa, then the entire deal would be botched. It'd be best to avoid that entire situatiuon, really. Although I think Brody does think he's hot, I recall it once at a party. She may or may not have been drunk at the time," she explained, trailing off slowly. "Also, you're right. I don't see how they aren't realizing how gay for each other they are. D'you suppose people said that, about us? You know, before? Because I totally think we're right, in saying that about them. And I bet people felt that way, for us. I know my sister did, but screw her."

Shifting her position on the couch, the brunette pulled her legs up, and moved to rest them up onto the coffee table; simply because she knew Bella was busy in the kitchen, and she wouldn't be caught. She had her shoes off, anyway! Finally looking up from her book, she closed it over, but kept her finger inside to mark her page. "Mostly, I think you're right. We shouldn't force anything on him, otherwise he might think we're only out to set him up, and that isn't true. Just because we're enjoying newly-wed bliss, doesn't mean we should shove it down his throat. Particularly since he's still sore about.. her. Relaxing sounds good, and just taking it one step at a time, I do believe."

Turning to glance at Leigh, she smiled fondly. "I have a feeling that if we try to keep him tomorrow, he'll just escape. He always got up much earlier than us, and I don't suspect it's changed over the last couple of months, if it hasn't changed in sixteen years. We'll take him to see the twins, and all will be well. Although I expect everyone else will want to see him, too. Perhaps we should just hold a little party, except.. only invite our good friends, not the entire school, as usually happens. My parents will be working, we could have something at my place. We'll see how it goes," she suggested, before pausing when Leigh smiled at her, and stated her gladness. "Well, I'm glad that I'm here too, mon amour. Did you really think I'd miss out on Michael-ness? Plus, Leigh, added bonus. And your mom's cooking on top of all of that."

[Michael O'Conner]

"Huh," Leigh noted. "Suddenly I feel like watching The Mummy. The Brendan Fraser one, obviously. I can't help but giggle incessantly at the original one.

"And Brody probably did think he was cute. I mean, hell, he's my brother, and even I can admit his cuteness. He's a tall, blonde, muscular guy who's also apparently got the fluffy-kitten gene, too, considering temperament. He's a male me, except wherein I get hyperactive and crazy, he's just mellow. And I have much better boobs. And hygiene," Leigh noted with a wry grin. "And I don't do gross things with my toenails, either, or," the blonde shook her head. "Never mind that. Brothers, jeez."

Leigh leaned comfortably back into the couch, considering Sera's question. "I'm not sure about people talking about us," Leigh answered, "I mean, everyone knew we were close, and yeah, a startling number of our students are freaking gay as hell, but I mean, Lucy and Brody call each other their wives...we were never that bad. I'm pretty sure we're not that bad now...except in private. And that's different. Somehow. I think.

"And, frankly, even if they did, it's not like I really care. People talk. People are stupid. It's a series of the facts of life," she grinned. "And I know you wouldn't miss it. I mean, the trifecta of me, Michael, and Mom's food? M-cubed, if you will. But allow me to be grateful!" She stuck out her tongue at Sera.

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

"That was a terrible movie," Sera replied simply, with just the hint of a shrug, as she shifted her book around in her lap again, still holding her spot, although she had turned to face Leigh now. "Anyway, if I weren't so crazy for you, maybe I'd think Michael was cute. I think I did, for all of a week, when we were younger. And then he did something gross, and ruined the entire thing, in that typical brother way. I like you better anyway, and I like the hyperactive crazy, most days. I like the boobs, and the hygiene, best of all. They're like icing on a very beautiful blonde cake," she mused, with a little chuckle.

"I don't know if anyone did, outside of Tatum and Ophelia. And probably some of our other friends, too, but I don't know outside of that," Sera agreed, shaking her head. "You're right though, a startling number of Parkdale's population is pretty flaming. I suspect they're putting something in the water, Rath and I had the conversation about it once. We were going to ask mom, since she works for Birkin, and they're into all.. well, you know, obviously. They're only the biggest company in town, medical technology, medication, blah blah. We're thinking maybe they're dumping their messed up pharmacy stuff into our drinking water, and turning us all into gays. But if her shows are any indication, Brody only drinks bottled water, oh-la-de-da, and so she has no excuse. She and Lucy just need to get over themselves, and kiss already."

"And no, we weren't that bad. We are now, but it is different, totally. We're a legitimate couple, for one. And we're also younger, for two, as much as I hate to use that for an excuse. And it is only one year. They'd make a cute couple, at least. Although, I think they have an abuse marriage. They're always calling each other names, just for starters. I don't think you should greet your friend, or wife, as 'slut'."

Laughing some, Sera leaned closer to Leigh, grinning widely. "The fact that you just properly used the term trifecta? Is so a turn on for me, you have no idea. I think I just ruined my jeans. I love it when you use big words."

[Michael O'Conner]

"Aw, I liked it," Leigh answered. "Besides, I used to have a crush on Brendan Fraser...or...the George-of-the-Jungle version anyway. And Rachel Weisz was gorgeous, too. And it was fun. Explosions and beetles all eating the inside of you? The only part I couldn't stand was when that one American archaeologist...the one who got his eyes and tongue removed? When Benny brought the Mummy to him, and he was all...spilling his tea and stuff," Leigh sniffed a little, "that always makes me feel so terrible. So sad. I'd hate for that." She paused idly for a moment, cheering herself up.

"But, yeah, the water here will turn you gay, if you're a teen, anyway, 'cos none of our parents really are affected. It's the truth. Except for Brody. That's just how she came. It was probably different, too, for her and Lucy because they really deny their coupleship. We were never accused, and if we were, I don't think we'd have been so adamant about it. Even pre-dating." Leigh paused and grinned, "knowing us, we would have just played up to the accusation for fun.

"As for abusive relationships, I dunno, for some reason, I think they think it's fun, Brody and Lucy that is, to insult one another. I try to save my insults for the people I don't like. And that's a pretty short list, really, as you well know."

Leigh grinned at Sera's notation, and made two mental notes. The first was to not ruin it by telling Sera she'd heard the term from Rath playing one Zelda game or another, and secondarily to look up more words in the dictionary. Often. And being that Sera was there, but she dropped a kiss on her lips. It might have led to a very satisfying make-out session, but there was an interruption as a car door slammed outside.

Leigh grinned widely. "EE!" she cheered, jumping to her feet, and hauling ass outside of the house, not bothering to close the doors behind her, despite the freezing temperature outside, and her own lack of jacket.

Michael grinned in relief as finally, finally, he made it home. He opened the door, stepped out, and promptly stretched -- he'd been driving for hours. He leaned forward, popping the trunk (he'd brought a mountain of laundry), he then tossed the door shut. As expected, within seconds, a blonde whirlwind came flying outside the house, in short-sleeves and shoeless. Michael, without even realizing it, prepared himself for impact, and when Leigh landed, he wrapped his arms around her and swung her in a circle.

"Michaelmichaelmichaelmichael!" She chanted, and he laughed. "You're back!"

"I'm back," he agreed, amused that she was still wrapped around him, instead of standing back down. "You froze your feet off, didn't you?" The half-whimper and arms and legs tightening around him was answer enough. Laughing again (nothing really cheered him up like Leigh did) he decided to save her first and attempt to get his laundry out of the car second. Keeping his arms around her, he carried her back into the house. Leigh, however, didn't seem keen on letting go, hugging him still.

"Okay, jeez, I'll visit more," he answered, and grinned again when he saw Sera. "Will you please get your woman off me?" He asked her.

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

Sera had been quite happily leaning into the kiss, more than content to waste some more time, and she had barely even registered the slamming of the car door, until Leigh was scrambling up from the couch, and out of the front door. Mood successfully destroyed, but Michael was finally there, so it was rather irrelevant. Finally moving to place her book down onto the table, beside the empty mug she had been drinking mocha from after dinner, she stood up from the couch and stretched some, as she vaguely listened to the exchange outdoors.

When the two blondes finally came lumbering back into the house, clung together as one, Sera couldn't help but grin. "Sorry, I don't think I can help you. For one, I don't have a crowbar, or that stuff for moving rusty hinges, and for another, she'd actually kill me," the brunette informed him simply, with a little shrug of her shoulders. She waited only a moment before she advanced on him with the same excitement, wrapping her arms [as best she could] around both him and Leigh.

"Welcome home. You took your time."

[Leigh O'Conner]

Leigh grinned at Sera, not moving from being wrapped around Michael -- she knew well enough that he could probably carry her indefinitely if he wanted to. "I'd never kill you. You're too damn cute. But there would be tears. And pouting. And raspberry in your mocha until I decided to forgive you, regardless of the fact that it would take, what, a day? Probably less." She rested her head on Michael's shoulder. "Hee! Michael's back!"

"Sorry, Sera," Michael answered, leaving off one hand around Leigh to hug the brunette back affectionately. "But, y'know. School, travel-time, getting dumped. All time consuming things." He could actually feel Leigh's annoyed grimace before she spoke; he understood that she was annoyed with Kelly, but he wasn't ready yet to hear his little sister's wrath. Not when he hadn't dealt with his own.

"Are you okay?" she asked instead, to his relief.

"Hey, I'm good. You know me," he answered. "Just gimme some chocolate cake and I'll be fine in a couple days. When are you freeing me to go see Rath and Tatum, and probably Ophelia, assuming those two are still stuck the hip?"

"When we grow bored of you!" Leigh grinned.

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

Although she smiled and rolled her eyes at Leigh's explanation, and leaned into the one armed hug, she immediately turned her attention to Michael when he spoke again. She had a grimace of her own, at the mention of 'being dumped', but she kept her lips tight, and her expression mostly neutral. It wouldn't be her place to shove her nose too deeply into that issue, even if she and Leigh had discussed it at lengths in private. "Just because you used school as an excuse, I'll let it slide. But only because it's a very legitimate worry to have, learning all of those fantastic things. How is college this year? It must be so great, going to a real school.. I'm still so jealous," she mused, exhaling heavily as she finished. Her longing was evident in her dreamy expression, and her admiring tone of voice, usually reserved only for learning. And sometimes Leigh, if she was particularly good.

She listened to the banter between her girlfriend and her brother, and felt a smirk tugging at her lips at the mention of her own siblings. "They're working tonight, although I told them you were coming. They want to get together tomorrow, I think. I was telling Leigh that we just ought to have a little get-together at my house, and invite a few people over. And I expect Ophelia will be there regardless, yes, as some things never change. Probably Meghan, too. Whom I don't think you've met, actually, but she's quite nice. And seems.. oddly, and irrevocably, in love with my awkward slice of an older brother. Strange, I know, but I suppose love works in mysterious ways," she explained, tilting her head in Leigh's direction at the last remark, smirk growing wider as she gave the blonde a wink.

"Also, don't expect us to grow bored of you too soon. We have a tea party all planned, and some dress up. We dragged the easy-bake oven down from the attic and everything.You're simply going to love the gown we've chosen for you, it's stunning," the brunette teased, unable to hold back a little laugh. "I'm so glad you're back."

[Leigh O'Conner]

Michael grinned. "School's fine, Sera. I'm in this advanced calculus class, it's awesome. Oh, and I found this brilliant statistical probability professor? I haven't had him yet for a class, but he's phenomenal. I've taken to haunting his office whenever I've got some spare time. He and I actually managed a theoretical discussion proving that two and two do not actually equal four. I mean, sure imaginary numbers were involved, but it was the coolest thing, you'd love him. You two should come visit me sometime, I'll introduce you." Math-geeking shoved aside (and a huge part of the reason that he was so excited to see Sera -- no one else really cared about his fanatic interest in math, beyond that he was happy), he listened to talk of Rath with a widening grin.

"Wait, no, you're telling me that he's looked away from the pixels long enough to realize that there are real flesh-and-blood women out in the world, and if he's nice enough to them, he can actually feel real boobs, instead of looking at fake ones? And on top of that, he's learned well enough that there are no save-points in the world of ladies, and still has managed to succeed to the point of having a girlfriend? That's unbelievable. I've gotta meet this Meghan," the blonde laughed, poking Leigh in the side, and she finally disentangled herself from him, stepping down, still bouncing on her toes.

At mention of a dress, he shook a finger sternly at Sera. "Tea is fine and all, but I refuse to wear anything a bridesmaid has ever worn, no sea-foam green, and no, absolutely no heels unless I get heel-support. Slingbacks at the very least. Last time this one," he gestured over his shoulder towards Leigh with his thumb, "got me into three-inch-heels with no backs I about killed myself on those slippery bastards."

Leigh grinned innocently, and winked at Sera.

Finally, Michael paused, and grabbed each of the girls in a group-hug, drawing both of them to him. "I'm glad to be back. There aren't enough psychotic girls at school trying to put me in drag and feed me fifteen-year-old food cooked under a lightbulb. Nothing like home at all."

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

Seraphim seemed thrilled with the math rambling, giving her rapt attention, and grinning widely at the suggestion of visitation. Until she realized one fact, of course. "As amazing as that sounds, and as much as I would love a chance to sit in on an advanced class.. if we came to visit, we'd need to miss our school," Sera replied, a bit sadly. "And plus, we'd probably need my brother to drive us. And I'm not sure how I feel about being in the backseat of that tiny car for hours, while he and my friend have happy-go-lucky love fest up front. They're still in that giggly, pet-name phase. Which I'm glad to say I've leaped and bounded over," she added, glancing toward Leigh. "If I ever start calling you sappy names, promise you'll take me out back and do away with me, please?"

"And I know, we were pretty shocked, too. It's like.. the idea of Rath, really interacting with people outside of the internet, and all of the people we grew up with? Seems pretty absurd to me. I'm still waiting for the punchline. But Meghan is a bit of a nerd, too, and they met at the party that the Wainwright's had for Halloween, and she was dressed as one of the chicks from Guitar Hero, and.. well, in short, they've really hit it off," she tried to explain, although it was a tad difficult, since the situation was awkward and strange to her, at best. Not to mention the fact that she'd heard about five eye witness accounts, as well as two different sides, from both Meghan, and Rath himself. "They even ditched out early, and went to eat. He's only supposed to take me to McDonalds in the middle of the night. It's like, our thing. He didn't even bring me back an apple pie, that bastard."

Her attempt at sulking was cut short upon Michael's immediate agreement to dress up, and his contract agreement for shoe type. She couldn't help but laugh, allowing herself to be drawn into the hug, and smiling widely against it. "I was only kidding, you prat. Although, we did find that easy-bake, if you really do want light bulb food. I think your mom made some food that's a lot more appealing, but I'm willing to try to make you something special. With mixes that are older than Leigh and I, or just about, anyway. It might not even poison you! Really, you never know."

[Leigh O'Conner]

"No, no, see, there's a thing called a weekend. You could come then, when there are no classes," Michal laughed, and dodged as Leigh whacked him on the arm for being rude. "Kidding, well, about the teasing. You should come up on a weekend anyway, I'll just make sure that I tell Dr. Porter that I need to meet him. He really won't mind, since he's always at the school anyway. And I suppose I could come pick you up, but I demand bribery to do so.

"Well, dating should be good for him, although I'm not surprised he swooned over a girl dressed up like a game character. It's...well, it's Rath. Good for him." The blonde grinned, draping his arm over Leigh's shoulder, and he started towards the kitchen.

"However appetizing your lightbulb food sounds, I'd hate to skimp out on Mom's food. She'd be insulted, and as little as I see her, I just can't do that."

"I can't call you pookie?!" Leigh pouted dramatically at Sera. "Or shnookums? Cupcake?" the girl paused, and had to break into laughter. "Yeah, I can't hold that face at all. No pet names. That's creepy, sir. Although I'd never do away with you," she added. "I'll just sex you until your brain melts and you'll forget all about it."

Michael made a face, and glanced at his sister. "Damnit, my sixteen-year-old sister is getting more regular sex than I am?" he demanded.

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

Sera gave him a deadpan expression, as if he were truly daft, as she followed the siblings into the kitchen. "I know what a weekend is. I tutor on them, for one. And then I use them to study. So, in essence, I'd be jeopardizing my own education. But, I suppose, if you were going to come and get us, and if Leigh wanted to go.."

She eyed the blonde, already knowing the answer to her rhetorical question, before glancing back up to Michael. "What kind of bribery? We haven't got much. Except for lightbulb food, and some old costumes. And Leigh might have like, twenty dollars of her pay left."

Mentions of potential pet names made her deadpan expression return, as she gave Leigh a serious glare, and rolled her eyes as the other girl began to laugh. "Cupcake? Honestly? That isn't even funny. There will be no pet names, and no.. other creepy things. I like us as we are, a mature relationship," she replied. "And the sex helps, for distraction."

At Michael's reaction, Sera had to break her serious expression, looking up at him, with a rather smug smile. "You know, my brother says the same thing. Tatum too, actually. I guess Ophelia isn't quite as.. needy as Leigh. I do see a fair bit of daily boobage, sir."

[Leigh O'Conner]

"You asked for it," Michael said, mostly unaffected by Sera's expression, especially considering that he was, by then, head and shoulders in the fridge looking for food to eat. He emerged triumphant with a half of a turkey sandwich, which he promptly began eating where he stood.

"And you should come up, Leigh's been badgering me to let her visit, and you're hopeless students can manage a single weekend without you. Besides, aren't you technically going to learn?" Michael spoke between bites of food. "I think your education will be just fine."

"I'm not into nicknames anyway," Leigh noted. "I can't even call Michael 'Mike' with a straight face, and that's a whole different world. The closes you get to a nickname from me is 'boss lady', and even then," she shrugged, "that hardly counts.

"And yes, I get more sex than you," she added, turning to Michael. And ignore her neediness comment. She starts it whenever you get half a glass of wine into her, I swear it."