Cookies 'n' Cream 14: Nice People
Title: Nice People
Main Story: In the Heart
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Cookies 'n' cream 14 (scream), malt (the twelve days of christmas prompts) (yes, all of them), pocky chain, fresh peaches (Even you will come under the influence of the erratic. It's too hard to get much done with all the commotion.).
Word Count: 1200
Rating: PG.
Summary: Danny spends Christmas with the Warminds, or, ways you know you've joined the family.
Notes: Why is it that whenever I'm in a rush to post, I post in the wrong journal? Last of the purely fluff pieces, unless I decide this doesn't count for Lars.
1. Twelve Fists a-Flying
"I'm feeling a little weird about this," Danny said, staring up at the house.
"Don't," Lars said. "It's only my family. You've met half of them already."
"Not all at once."
"Don't worry," he said, patting her shoulder. "They're nice people. Nothing bad will happen, I promise."
At that precise moment, the front door burst open and two young men came flying out, pummeling at each other with more strength than precision. Someone inside hollered, "And stay out there until you cool off!"
"Um," said Lars.
Danny rolled her eyes, and slung her backpack over her shoulder.
2. Eleven People Screaming
It was a madhouse inside. All of Lars's brothers and sisters, minus Elliot (still fighting in the snow), his father, several of his aunts and uncles, numerous cousins (minus Elliot's opponent), the spouses and children of most of the others, and at least three dogs getting underfoot, and all of them talking over each other.
Lars took the luggage up; Danny stayed at the doorway and tried not to cover her ears. The noise was incredible, worse even than that damn disco club.
She'd be lucky if she remembered half these people's names tomorrow. And stayed sane.
3. Ten Wolves a-Howlin'
Danny wound up next to Mortimer during caroling. She had no idea how that happened, but she was grateful for it, because Mort sang bass in the San Francisco opera, and no one else in the Warmind family could sing.
Well, that wasn’t true. They could all sing fine, just not with each other. Only Lars and Mort had any idea what "harmonizing" meant-- the rest seemed to regard group singing as some kind of competition.
Danny stood next to Mort and mouthed the words and thanked God for his deep, rolling voice blocking out everyone else.
4. Nine Candles Burning
Dinner went better than she'd hoped, mostly because she stuck by Lars's siblings. Elliot, sporting a black eye and a cheerful grin, went on about stocks; his twin Elisa told rather more interesting stories about the stuntman's life. Christine shared embarrassing anecdotes from everyone else's childhoods; Anna commented with her characteristic dry wit. The others were too hard to talk to over the candles.
Lars's siblings, Danny decided, were good people. Easy to like, easy to talk to. She could live with them fine.
She just didn't think she could ever call the intimidately handsome Theodore "Teddy."
5. Eight Skirts a-Fallin'
She got drafted for cleanup. She wasn't sure how that happened, but Lars said it was a good thing. Something about being regarded as part of the family.
Not so long ago, Danny would have said that she'd had quite enough of families. Now she wasn't so sure.
She thought about it while she carried the tablecloth to the laundry. There were things you got in families that you couldn't on your own. Good conversation, big dinners...
...naked people on the washer...
Ah, yes. Occasionally walking in on people having sex.
She definitely hadn't missed that part.
6. Seven Buttons Buttoning
Theodore of the intimidating good looks had claimed to be a fourth-grade teacher. Danny had been politely skeptical, because quite frankly, anyone who looked like that and lived in Los Angeles had to be some kind of model. But then, fleeing the laundry room, she nearly tripped over him patiently shepherding children into winter clothes.
"Danny!" he said, in the same cheerful voice Gail used to get people to do her bidding, and shoved a small child of indeterminate gender at her. "Will you button Taylor's coat, please?"
Yup. He was a teacher.
She buttoned the coat.
7. Six Hags a-Cacklin'
Having barely escaped chaperoning the children's sledding party, she wandered, shell-shocked, into the kitchen. She wasn't sure what she wanted, but she resigned herself to not getting it the moment she saw Lars's aunts raise their heads and stare at her with calculating eyes.
"So," one of them said. "You're going to marry our Lars. Planning on children soon, I hope?"
Danny wasn't usually a coward, but she didn't even try to explain that neither she nor Lars was interested in either marriage or children. She mumbled something noncommittal and fled the sound of old women laughing.
8. Fi-i-i-ive Shades of Pa-a-a-a-int!
There were more children in the living room. How many kids did these people have, anyway? At least she knew a few of these.
Christine's youngest, Annelise, came up to her, grabbed her leg. "Aunt Danny," she said, "we're fingerpainting. Wanna paint too?"
At this point Danny was ready for any sort of stress relief, and the kids proved to be surprisingly good company. She did a painting, helped the littlest hang their masterpieces up to dry, and left, feeling pretty good.
Until she realized that Annelise had left a multicolored handprint on her nicest slacks.
9. Four Toothy Beasts
There were four dogs, it turned out. Two golden retrievers, an overenthusiastic German Shepherd and a Chihuahua that she'd missed before because it was so small.
All of them were staring at her now, panting hopefully.
"Shoo," Danny said, unnerved by four steady gazes. "Go away."
The dogs stared, and panted more.
She held her mug of cocoa protectively to her chest, in case that was what they were after. "I don't have anything! Shoo!"
One of the goldens cocked its head; no reaction from the others.
Danny raised her eyes to the heavens, and whispered, "Help."
10. Three Empty Cans
The dogs left eventually; Danny stole a beer and fled to the back porch. She'd assumed that the cold would give her a moment of privacy.
She was, she realized when Henrik Warmind came out, mistaken.
"I don't blame you," he said, and sat. "It's overwhelming for me too."
Danny, wary, held her can tight. "I'm just not used to this."
He nodded; she wondered what Lars had said. "It's all right. One more thing?" He leaned forward. "Hurt my son and I will take you apart. No offense."
"None taken," she said, and drained the beer.
11. Two Flashing Lights
"It's not that one," Anna said, and pulled the string of lights towards her.
Danny tightened a bulb, and sighed when the lights remained dark. "Why can't they make these things so one blown bulb doesn't kill the whole thing?"
"Too logical," Anna said. She brought a bulb close to her face. "Aha! I think I've got it!"
"Finally." Danny released the string and sat back while Anna replaced the bulb. The lights flashed on--
--and off again, with a small popping noise.
"Missed one," Elliot said, from the couch.
Danny threw a pillow at him.
12. And a Remedy For A Bad Mood
"Hey." Lars sat down next to Danny, kissed her nose.
"Hey." She returned the kiss and settled back. She was so comfortable right now, tucked into the corner of the couch, watching the tree lights twinkle in the dark. "This is really pretty."
"Yeah," he said. "It's nice just watching it."
"Peaceful," Danny agreed. "Good cure for family. I was really pissed off five minutes ago, and now I'm feeling all calm."
Lars snorted. "Just wait until presents tomorrow. I guarantee you'll lose the calm."
"If you say so," she said, and smiled.
Main Story: In the Heart
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Cookies 'n' cream 14 (scream), malt (the twelve days of christmas prompts) (yes, all of them), pocky chain, fresh peaches (Even you will come under the influence of the erratic. It's too hard to get much done with all the commotion.).
Word Count: 1200
Rating: PG.
Summary: Danny spends Christmas with the Warminds, or, ways you know you've joined the family.
Notes: Why is it that whenever I'm in a rush to post, I post in the wrong journal? Last of the purely fluff pieces, unless I decide this doesn't count for Lars.
1. Twelve Fists a-Flying
"I'm feeling a little weird about this," Danny said, staring up at the house.
"Don't," Lars said. "It's only my family. You've met half of them already."
"Not all at once."
"Don't worry," he said, patting her shoulder. "They're nice people. Nothing bad will happen, I promise."
At that precise moment, the front door burst open and two young men came flying out, pummeling at each other with more strength than precision. Someone inside hollered, "And stay out there until you cool off!"
"Um," said Lars.
Danny rolled her eyes, and slung her backpack over her shoulder.
2. Eleven People Screaming
It was a madhouse inside. All of Lars's brothers and sisters, minus Elliot (still fighting in the snow), his father, several of his aunts and uncles, numerous cousins (minus Elliot's opponent), the spouses and children of most of the others, and at least three dogs getting underfoot, and all of them talking over each other.
Lars took the luggage up; Danny stayed at the doorway and tried not to cover her ears. The noise was incredible, worse even than that damn disco club.
She'd be lucky if she remembered half these people's names tomorrow. And stayed sane.
3. Ten Wolves a-Howlin'
Danny wound up next to Mortimer during caroling. She had no idea how that happened, but she was grateful for it, because Mort sang bass in the San Francisco opera, and no one else in the Warmind family could sing.
Well, that wasn’t true. They could all sing fine, just not with each other. Only Lars and Mort had any idea what "harmonizing" meant-- the rest seemed to regard group singing as some kind of competition.
Danny stood next to Mort and mouthed the words and thanked God for his deep, rolling voice blocking out everyone else.
4. Nine Candles Burning
Dinner went better than she'd hoped, mostly because she stuck by Lars's siblings. Elliot, sporting a black eye and a cheerful grin, went on about stocks; his twin Elisa told rather more interesting stories about the stuntman's life. Christine shared embarrassing anecdotes from everyone else's childhoods; Anna commented with her characteristic dry wit. The others were too hard to talk to over the candles.
Lars's siblings, Danny decided, were good people. Easy to like, easy to talk to. She could live with them fine.
She just didn't think she could ever call the intimidately handsome Theodore "Teddy."
5. Eight Skirts a-Fallin'
She got drafted for cleanup. She wasn't sure how that happened, but Lars said it was a good thing. Something about being regarded as part of the family.
Not so long ago, Danny would have said that she'd had quite enough of families. Now she wasn't so sure.
She thought about it while she carried the tablecloth to the laundry. There were things you got in families that you couldn't on your own. Good conversation, big dinners...
...naked people on the washer...
Ah, yes. Occasionally walking in on people having sex.
She definitely hadn't missed that part.
6. Seven Buttons Buttoning
Theodore of the intimidating good looks had claimed to be a fourth-grade teacher. Danny had been politely skeptical, because quite frankly, anyone who looked like that and lived in Los Angeles had to be some kind of model. But then, fleeing the laundry room, she nearly tripped over him patiently shepherding children into winter clothes.
"Danny!" he said, in the same cheerful voice Gail used to get people to do her bidding, and shoved a small child of indeterminate gender at her. "Will you button Taylor's coat, please?"
Yup. He was a teacher.
She buttoned the coat.
7. Six Hags a-Cacklin'
Having barely escaped chaperoning the children's sledding party, she wandered, shell-shocked, into the kitchen. She wasn't sure what she wanted, but she resigned herself to not getting it the moment she saw Lars's aunts raise their heads and stare at her with calculating eyes.
"So," one of them said. "You're going to marry our Lars. Planning on children soon, I hope?"
Danny wasn't usually a coward, but she didn't even try to explain that neither she nor Lars was interested in either marriage or children. She mumbled something noncommittal and fled the sound of old women laughing.
8. Fi-i-i-ive Shades of Pa-a-a-a-int!
There were more children in the living room. How many kids did these people have, anyway? At least she knew a few of these.
Christine's youngest, Annelise, came up to her, grabbed her leg. "Aunt Danny," she said, "we're fingerpainting. Wanna paint too?"
At this point Danny was ready for any sort of stress relief, and the kids proved to be surprisingly good company. She did a painting, helped the littlest hang their masterpieces up to dry, and left, feeling pretty good.
Until she realized that Annelise had left a multicolored handprint on her nicest slacks.
9. Four Toothy Beasts
There were four dogs, it turned out. Two golden retrievers, an overenthusiastic German Shepherd and a Chihuahua that she'd missed before because it was so small.
All of them were staring at her now, panting hopefully.
"Shoo," Danny said, unnerved by four steady gazes. "Go away."
The dogs stared, and panted more.
She held her mug of cocoa protectively to her chest, in case that was what they were after. "I don't have anything! Shoo!"
One of the goldens cocked its head; no reaction from the others.
Danny raised her eyes to the heavens, and whispered, "Help."
10. Three Empty Cans
The dogs left eventually; Danny stole a beer and fled to the back porch. She'd assumed that the cold would give her a moment of privacy.
She was, she realized when Henrik Warmind came out, mistaken.
"I don't blame you," he said, and sat. "It's overwhelming for me too."
Danny, wary, held her can tight. "I'm just not used to this."
He nodded; she wondered what Lars had said. "It's all right. One more thing?" He leaned forward. "Hurt my son and I will take you apart. No offense."
"None taken," she said, and drained the beer.
11. Two Flashing Lights
"It's not that one," Anna said, and pulled the string of lights towards her.
Danny tightened a bulb, and sighed when the lights remained dark. "Why can't they make these things so one blown bulb doesn't kill the whole thing?"
"Too logical," Anna said. She brought a bulb close to her face. "Aha! I think I've got it!"
"Finally." Danny released the string and sat back while Anna replaced the bulb. The lights flashed on--
--and off again, with a small popping noise.
"Missed one," Elliot said, from the couch.
Danny threw a pillow at him.
12. And a Remedy For A Bad Mood
"Hey." Lars sat down next to Danny, kissed her nose.
"Hey." She returned the kiss and settled back. She was so comfortable right now, tucked into the corner of the couch, watching the tree lights twinkle in the dark. "This is really pretty."
"Yeah," he said. "It's nice just watching it."
"Peaceful," Danny agreed. "Good cure for family. I was really pissed off five minutes ago, and now I'm feeling all calm."
Lars snorted. "Just wait until presents tomorrow. I guarantee you'll lose the calm."
"If you say so," she said, and smiled.