(no subject)
Title: Semantics
Author: scientivity
Rating: G
Spoiler Warning(s): ... None, really, due to wonky timeline.
Summary: When he turned around, Apollo was still talking, hovering in the doorway and looking very pleased with the amount of research he'd done on Cordyline stricta.
A/N: Christmas present for aphonetic! The timeline is thus all wonked out here (aka, it's Apollo and NOT hobo Nick).
It was simple and straightforward. Or it should've been, at least. Plants weren't all that complicated in the first place, and Charley even less so. He just sat in his pot by the window and soaked up the only source of real sunlight in the whole office, happy as a plant could be, for years. All he needed was water a couple times a day, and he was set. Phoenix had always figured that the Chief had liked him for that reason; he was colorful, but still easier to manage than a dog. Better suited for an office environment, too.
“Mr. Wright....” His hand tightened a little involuntarily around the handle of the mug designated as Charley's. “Are you sure that's enough?”
He fought the urge to grimace. It was less than successful, but he did manage to grimace at the wall instead of at the rookie behind him. “I'm going to get him one more mugful.”
“Well... yeah, I know, but.” Apollo was at Phoenix's side now, leaning down and frowning at the dirt. “I didn't really think much about it before, but this plant's a really important part of the office, isn't it?”
“This is the same amount we've always been giving him.” Phoenix straightened and tried to sidle away towards the kitchen. “He's been fine so far, hasn't he?”
Sure enough, Apollo was trotting after him. “I guess so.... But, Mr. Wright, I did some research, and now I think its leaves look kind of droopy, you know? Just a little, but I think since it's a part of the office it's important that--”
Phoenix filled the mug just over three-quarters of the way, like Mia had always showed him. When he turned around, Apollo was still talking, hovering in the doorway and looking very pleased with the amount of research he'd done on Cordyline stricta.
“He's Charley.”
Apollo had been in the middle of saying something about an article he'd read in the paper about plants and client report. “... Huh?”
“His name. It's Charley.” He didn't remember it feeling that awkward to say when he was talking about it with Mia. He shrugged it off. “That's what we call him.”
“Mr. Wright... It's a plant.”
“I-I know that! It's just...” Phoenix brushed past him, back into the office and stooped next to Charley's pot again. Apollo lingered in the open doorway with his arms crossed and his mouth twisted like he couldn't decide if he wanted to smile or not. “He's Charley. That's the way it's always been.”
Apollo looked skeptical - confused, even. After a second, something close to understanding passed across his face... and disappeared just as fast as it had come. He shrugged, and they were back to square one. “If you say so. ... but that doesn't answer my first question, Mr. Wright.”
Phoenix sighed, and held up the mug in defeat. “... Never mind. Just get him as many more mugs as you want, Justice.”
Author: scientivity
Rating: G
Spoiler Warning(s): ... None, really, due to wonky timeline.
Summary: When he turned around, Apollo was still talking, hovering in the doorway and looking very pleased with the amount of research he'd done on Cordyline stricta.
A/N: Christmas present for aphonetic! The timeline is thus all wonked out here (aka, it's Apollo and NOT hobo Nick).
It was simple and straightforward. Or it should've been, at least. Plants weren't all that complicated in the first place, and Charley even less so. He just sat in his pot by the window and soaked up the only source of real sunlight in the whole office, happy as a plant could be, for years. All he needed was water a couple times a day, and he was set. Phoenix had always figured that the Chief had liked him for that reason; he was colorful, but still easier to manage than a dog. Better suited for an office environment, too.
“Mr. Wright....” His hand tightened a little involuntarily around the handle of the mug designated as Charley's. “Are you sure that's enough?”
He fought the urge to grimace. It was less than successful, but he did manage to grimace at the wall instead of at the rookie behind him. “I'm going to get him one more mugful.”
“Well... yeah, I know, but.” Apollo was at Phoenix's side now, leaning down and frowning at the dirt. “I didn't really think much about it before, but this plant's a really important part of the office, isn't it?”
“This is the same amount we've always been giving him.” Phoenix straightened and tried to sidle away towards the kitchen. “He's been fine so far, hasn't he?”
Sure enough, Apollo was trotting after him. “I guess so.... But, Mr. Wright, I did some research, and now I think its leaves look kind of droopy, you know? Just a little, but I think since it's a part of the office it's important that--”
Phoenix filled the mug just over three-quarters of the way, like Mia had always showed him. When he turned around, Apollo was still talking, hovering in the doorway and looking very pleased with the amount of research he'd done on Cordyline stricta.
“He's Charley.”
Apollo had been in the middle of saying something about an article he'd read in the paper about plants and client report. “... Huh?”
“His name. It's Charley.” He didn't remember it feeling that awkward to say when he was talking about it with Mia. He shrugged it off. “That's what we call him.”
“Mr. Wright... It's a plant.”
“I-I know that! It's just...” Phoenix brushed past him, back into the office and stooped next to Charley's pot again. Apollo lingered in the open doorway with his arms crossed and his mouth twisted like he couldn't decide if he wanted to smile or not. “He's Charley. That's the way it's always been.”
Apollo looked skeptical - confused, even. After a second, something close to understanding passed across his face... and disappeared just as fast as it had come. He shrugged, and they were back to square one. “If you say so. ... but that doesn't answer my first question, Mr. Wright.”
Phoenix sighed, and held up the mug in defeat. “... Never mind. Just get him as many more mugs as you want, Justice.”