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[raw_youth]

"What's the fuckin' difference between a big T and a little T?" Dodge muttered to himself as he read the book on the counter. There was a pretty picture of a muffin and he was going to make that muffin if it killed him. He'd figured out the C in the recipe meant cups. But a big T and a little T...no fuckin' clue. Tablesppon? Teaspoon? He held a

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[patriotqueen]

Guy smiled and set the pile of books he was carrying on the table. "Of course not. I'm sure you were just having a perfectly ordinary conversation with the soup spoon. As you do."

He sat down at the table and though he opened one of the books, he continued to Dodge. "What are you making?"

[raw_youth]

"I'm making muffins. I thought I'd give them to Miss Shirley if they aren't shitty," he said. He had the same light in his eyes that he got around Anthony and Guy when they taught him things. He was finding that he liked learning shit.

"She's helping me with reading in that class I'm taking. I read the whole recipe by myself."

[patriotqueen]

Guy made an appreciative 'oh' sound. "And what would I have to do to be allowed a little taste? Though I do wonder what it is you've been doing with that soup spoon..."

[raw_youth]

Dodge snorted. "No, man...that was for measuring. You know, spoon of baking powder, half a spoon of salt. And then I had to stir. Haven't you ever cooked anything?" he asked- as if he were suddenly some sort of expert.

[patriotqueen]

"Never using soup spoon as measurement, no." There was always a sardonic tone of voice to everything Guy said, and it was there now, but it was amused as well. "But then again, I've never cooked anything for the purpose of it being eaten by someone else. "When will they be ready?"

[raw_youth]

"Like twenty minutes or something," he said as he began to spoon the batter into the pan. He had very high hopes.

"So, you know. Have some coffee or whatever and hang out. You can have one when they're done. The rest are for Miss Shirley, though."

[patriotqueen]

"I know my place," Guy assured with a grin. "So, that mind of yours is still soaking up knowledge like a sponge and you fancied a culinary turn?"

[raw_youth]

He didn't know what culinary meant but rather than look like a dipshit he latched on to what he did understand.

"I'm working hard in class. I can read more stuff now. I can even read some of those books Anthony gave me...if I have a dictionary, too."

[patriotqueen]

"And do you understand what they say?" Guy asked, honestly with less malice in his voice than one might expect.

[raw_youth]

"Most of the time. SOmetimes I have to look up the words in the definition of the word I'm looking up. It's fuckin' work," he laughed. There were only a few people he would be honest with about just how hard he struggled to succeed.

[patriotqueen]

"You're ambitious, certainly," Guy said, and was that fondness in his voice?

He stood up, took a cup of tea but poured only the contents of his flask in it. Brown transparent liquid and who cares about the details?

[raw_youth]

Dodge glowed under the praise. It didn't take much to make his happy. Anthony and Guy just seemed to have a knack for making him feel like his hard work was worthwhile, like it meant something and wasn't just him trying to fill the days with something other than smoking.

He got the muffins into the oven and then turned to Guy. His sweet little smile hadn't faded.

"Can I have a drink? I'll use a glass," he asked.

[patriotqueen]

"Darling, you've seen where I live," By which he meant his half of the house he and Anthony shared; by which he meant, the pigsty that was his room. "Do you honestly think I care if you want to use a glass or not?" He passed him the flask sliding it over.

[raw_youth]

"Fair enough," the kid replied. He opened the flask and tipped it back,

"Way better than tequila," he chuckled once he had swallowed. "Tequila tastes like punishment."

[patriotqueen]

Guy laughed. "I think you are referring to industrial antiseptic, bottled to pose as a drink. Next Island Extravaganza - I think we're due one in December - I'll get you real tequila. You will have to review your statement."

[raw_youth]

"I don't know, man," Dodge said reluctantly, but he was smiling as he said it. He looked young and sweet rather than the normal tough and jaded look he often wore.

"You going to get me drunk or just make me taste stuff that's top shelf?" he asked. "Because I'm not really a top shelf kind of guy."