MCA #7 - All Day Sunday

[tricksy_spy]

If being back on the island was strange, ending up in this apartment was even stranger. Aly didn't mind at all really. She'd gotten used to the extra space of her rooms at the palace, and when Lianna came to visit, the spare room would be useful

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[nomoreveruca]

A knock on Aly's door would come around mid-day. Cally had finally been able to entrust her child to the town daycare again, and wanted to check in on her newest tenant. Building up the landlord-tenant relationship was part of her job, after all.

[tricksy_spy]

Aly set down the knife she was sharpening and padded over to the door. She pulled it open to see a face that was familiar though changed. The name came to her a moment later.

"Cally! I knew the name looked familiar," she said, gesturing for her to come in. "Would you like some tea or something?"

[nomoreveruca]

"And I thought your name looked familiar, too. Mine probably just looks a little different," Cally admitted. "What with it used to being my last name and everything." She smiled at Aly and nodded. "Tea would be great, if I may join you."

[tricksy_spy]

"Grow tired of your first name?" Aly asked, a little amused at the idea. "Come in, sit down at the table, I'll put the kettle on. You caught me just starting to unpack."

Yes, the living room floor was covered with knives and nearly every other type of bladed weapon imaginable.

[nomoreveruca]

"Something like that," Cally said, still smiling. "It's been a long time since I had to leave school early. Been through a lot. But it's been really, really good to be back."

She didn't even think twice about the weaponry. "I see you brought the bare essentials," she joked.

[tricksy_spy]

"I'm old now," Aly teased back. "I like my comforts." She moved around the kitchen, plugging the kettle in and pulling out two delicate china cups from a box to wash them.

"Fandom seems to do that," she agreed. "It pulls people back when they need it. "How's the landlording business? Did you take over the apartments from Xander?"

[nomoreveruca]

"I took up the position from a woman by the name of Wilhelmina Murray," Mina said. "Technically it's still owned be her or her company or something. I'm just in charge while she's away indefinitely on business. Originally I was just hired as the building super."

[tricksy_spy]

Aly smirked. "Technicalities. It's yours."

[nomoreveruca]

"I am the senior-most employee on island," Cally said, with a smile. "I wasn't sure about taking up the position at first, I'd never really been in charge of anything before. But I need the better pay-rate. What brings you back to the island?"

[tricksy_spy]

"You're married now?" Aly asked, drawing her conclusions from Cally's statement. She shrugged easily, pouring the now boiling water into the teapot and letting it steep as she brought that and the cups over to the table. She opened a small box, removing a cloth from the top to reveal soft cookies. "I heard there was a need for teachers again, and I was free to come. My people need time on their own to know just how capable they are."

[nomoreveruca]

That got Cally's smile off her face. It was a grimace, though, not a frown. "Technically," she said. "But that's a messy story. I remember you always being a great teacher, though. The students will be glad to have you around." Then she saw the cookies. "Oooh, you are way more prepared for tea than anyone I know."

[tricksy_spy]

"Most stories are," she pointed out, looking at Cally with some concern. She smiled at the compliment though and gestured for Cally to help herself to the cookies. "Thank you. I look forward to teaching them again. Fandom students are fantastic. No one else keeps you quite on your toes so well. And these were made by my friend Ochobu. She doesn't believe in my ability to feed myself so she sends food along."

[nomoreveruca]

Cally chuckled. "With Piper and Paige gone, I'm not sure about my own ability to feed myself," she said, giving Aly an apologetic look as she sat down. "The short version of my story is my husband is an evil robot. And no, I didn't know that when I married him."

[tricksy_spy]

"You have to come over sometimes then," she said. "When I cook, I forget it's just me and end up with far too much."

She raised an eyebrow at the story. "My husband was a crow," she said evenly. "So I really can't judge though you definitely win on surprises." She vaguely remembered Anders talking about the robots in their universe and the wars they'd fought against them. "That's a pretty horrific shock."

[nomoreveruca]

Cally nodded. "But it was a shock that pushed me to come back here. Just me and my little Nicholas. He'd probably have to come along for dinner. Not that he's ready to eat non-baby food."

She gave a little smile, and awaited the seemingly requisite 'congratulations' everyone always gave her when she brought up Nicky.

[tricksy_spy]

"Ooh, congratulations! How old is he?" Aly asked, not wanting to let Cally's expectations down. "Is it congratulations?" So much of this story intriguing her spy side. "He'd be welcome to come. Don't tell anyone because it'll destroy my bomb toting reputation, but I love babies."