33 Apocalypse Ave., Thursday Morning

[not_in_the_book]

Waking up early, Ronan slipped out of bed -- being careful not to wake the other occupants -- slipped on some pyjama pants and a t-shirt, and opened and closed the door as quietly as possible as he left the room.

Coffee first, he thought, and then he might as well get started on breakfast.

[For the housemates! Or anyone else who wants to call/drop by/whatever.]

Comments

[not_a_whiner]

Well, Kaidan's head was pounding - he was really hoping that whatever the others had been up to last night hadn't triggered another migraine attack. And... that was as far as he wanted to go with that train of thought. What they did was their, uh, business.

Though he was kind of wondering if maybe he was intruding by having moved in in the first place.

None of which were things he said out loud as he came downstairs that morning, eyed Ronan, considered starting a conversation in about three different ways, and settled on...

"Coffee?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan nodded. "Coffee," he said, pouring Kaidan a mug from the French press.

After a beat, he added, "... Sorry?"

[not_a_whiner]

"Yeah," Kaidan started.

Then he reached for the mug.

"I... should probably buy some earplugs."

They were going to make him feel old.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan winced slightly. "I, uh. If it happens again, I'll make sure to soundproof the room first. I should have thought of it last night."

[not_a_whiner]

"No, it's fine, it's your house," Kaidan said. He took a sip of his coffee. "Sorry. Haven't had my caffeine shot yet."

[icecoldfrost]

"We weren't that loud, make Ronan shield your room if he hasn't already, and don't be a moron. If we minded having you here, someone would say so, and it's not like we hold regular orgies."

Sorry, Kaidan, but Emma's blunter-than-usual - and less willing to try and block out basic narrative - before her fifth (or sixth) cup of coffee. Hazard of living with her.

[not_a_whiner]

One of these days, Kaidan was going to stop doing the mental equivalent of jumping when she did that.

One of these days.

Today was not that day.

"...Morning, Emma. Uh... sorry about the static."

Yes. Stellar, Kaidan.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma waved one hand negligently as she headed to the fridge to root for leftovers to take to work for lunch. "Thank you, darling, but I don't expect people to be completely alert and static-less in the mornings. Not before food."

"Just not loud. Loud bad. Idle musings fine."

[not_a_whiner]

"I'll try and keep that in mind."

Going to try and do it, too. Not just because of her, but because he liked the challenge of the discipline required.

"You want another cup of coffee?"

It seemed like the go-to thing this morning.

[bitten_notshy]

"Hi," Jack said, a bit sheepish. He honestly disliked dragging anyone he wasn't sleeping with into his sex life, but he supposed if he felt that way about it he should avoid threesomes in occupied buildings from now on.

None of which was what he said.

"Do you need cream?"

[not_a_whiner]

... Jack, that was terrible.

Which made Kaidan chuckle briefly in an awkward sort of way. "No, thanks. I'll stick with plain coffee," he said. "And morning, by the way."

[bitten_notshy]

It was a thing. That followed logically and did not involve discussing the particulars of what anyone did in bed.

It could have been much, much worse.

"Morning," Jack seconded, a bit dryly. "Do you have plans for the day?"

[not_a_whiner]

"Take a run around the island, finish up some reports," Kaidan said with an idle shrug.

He didn't voice his relief that they weren't going to talk about that, but it was kind of visible in his stance. "Nothing really exciting. How about you?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Coffee."

Emma, most people start with 'hello' or other such niceties in the morning.

[not_in_the_book]

Oddly enough, 'coffee' seemed to be the day's greeting of choice.

In fact, Ronan wordlessly handed over a steaming, freshly-poured mug.

[icecoldfrost]

The speed at which she chugged it before handing the empty mug back was considered a crime in some countries. Or at least inhuman.

"Fight you for the shower next?" she asked as she reached for the pot to pour them both another cup. "I have to be at work by ten."

[not_in_the_book]

"All yours," Ronan assured her, taking the mug and refilling it with the last of the coffee from the press. (Don't worry, Emma, there'll be espresso momentarily.)

Hey, he had nowhere to be today.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma made a face and swatted at him. "Not fair," she decided. "No one else has to do a damn thing today, and I have to go all the way to Dite's."

...it was all the way around the corner from the house! Away from pillows and naps and things!

[bitten_notshy]

"Morning," Jack said, looking cheerful and more than a bit smug. He'd showered and dressed before he came down; the entire household might know with intimate precision how he'd spent his evening, but damned if he saw reason to make it yet more obvious.

[not_in_the_book]

"And good morning to you," Ronan replied, holding out a mug of coffee.

What? It did seem to be the day's greeting.

Smirking, he added, "Sleep well?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack dumped cream into his coffee and took a long sip before answering. "Better than I have been, actually," he said. "Did you?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan nodded. "It's funny -- I always wake up a lot when I'm... not alone? But I always seem to end up more rested than normal anyway."

[icecoldfrost]

Emma had - luckily - caffeinated enough by then that she was able to stick her tongue out at him with decent humor. "If you used up all the hot water, the rest of us might mutiny," she warned.

[bitten_notshy]

"I wasn't in there that long," Jack protested. "Morning, love. How are you feeling?"

[icecoldfrost]

Emma gave a small pout and fluttered her lashes at him. "Like I wouldn't mind your company over breakfast to give my coffee a bit more flavor."

Emma wasn't generally a very PDA type of person, but despite the highly enjoyable evening, she did still need want some assurance this morning that she was still Jack's favorite.

Vanity, thy name is Frost.