Taking Root 26
Authors: Marina and Casey
Story: Taking Root
Challenge: Coconut 10 (I want my money back), Tangerine 24 (delegating) [Marina]; Blueberry Yogurt 10 (across the miles), Apple Pie 20 (my first place) [Casey]
Toppings/Extras: Caramel, Chopped Nuts, Smoothie
Word Count: 2,061
Rating: PG
Summary: Two years down the road…
Notes: Fluffity fluffity fluff also just one more side piece and we’re done with Coconut/Blueberry Yogurt! Also counts for my team for the Olympics today.
Roommate Rules
1. No guns
2. No knives, except for the purpose of cutting up food or in your case, carving awesome things
3. No using anything in the apartment as a weapon of any kind, unless someone breaks in, in which case grab whatever you can in self-defense, but this is why we have a security system
4. No smoking. Not that I think you would. I’m just saying.
5. Carrie does not sleep over unless it’s the kind where we all bust out sleeping bags, pop popcorn, and marathon Fruits Basket all night. Not that I’m saying you two are…you know. Just if you are, I don’t want to know about it, EVER.
6. There will be one night a week just for doing awesome things like watching Avatar (The Last Airbender, not the blue people) and playing board games. You can choose which one since your course load’s bigger than mine.
7. You don’t cook, I don’t drive. Deal?
8. …I’m out of ideas, so I guess it’s your turn.
***
Dean planted his hands on his hips and studied the partially put together room. The only good thing about the mess was that classes didn't start for another two days. It was the main reason he and Chase had decided to move in to the new apartment in Long Beach over the weekend. This way they wouldn't have to worry about all this crap after they started. "Where in the world do we start?" he asked, mostly to himself.
"No idea," Chase said, from behind his left shoulder.
Dean turned and flashed him a grin. "I guess the furniture is probably our best bet."
"We can do furniture!" his friend said brightly. "Bookshelves?"
He again scanned the room thoughtfully. The beds were fine and most of the furniture was usable and the bookshelves would allow them to unpack a bunch of the boxes.
"Yeah, sounds good."
Chase armed himself with a pair of scissors and hopped over to one of the two IKEA boxes they still hadn't opened. Dean trailed him, scooping up their screwdriver and hammer on the way, not sure what they'd need. Chase made short work of the packaging and eyed the dark stained boards and the instructions pamphlet distastefully. "My mother was so wrong about this being easier," he muttered.
"Should be quicker," Dean said, hefting one and eyeing it.
Chase mumbled something not quite indecent and got to work laying out the parts for the first step.
Dean finished opening the smaller parts and studied the directions. "Okay, so those go together like so," he said, picking them up.
The next several minutes passed quietly as they put together the bookshelf and carefully set it up against the wall. The two of them usually didn't talk as they worked, except to say things like "can you pass me that" or "where's the screwdriver?" because the time passed more efficiently that way. It was a routine they had established in Woodshop over the past two years, and carried over even to pre-packaged furniture.
In short order, they got the job done. "Okay," Chase said, eyeing the tower dubiously.
"I guess now we put stuff on them?" Dean reached out and nudged it. "That seems awfully wiggly to me."
Chase nodded, his eyebrows furrowing. "Mom said it's like that sometimes but we've had our bookshelves in the living room for...I guess ten years? I don't know."
He shrugged, snagging the scissors and turning to a box of mixed DVDs and books, slitting it open. "Here, try it," he said, handing Chase a pile of his friend's collection. Chase gingerly began to place the DVDs on the top shelf, the one with the most room. Dean watched him, handing another pile over once he was done with the first batch.
"Maybe this is going to work," Chase said, still eyeing the setup.
"Well, people do swear by IKEA and that only happens if their stuff does work."
"I guess you're right." Chase finished putting up the rest of the DVD cases and turned, brushing his hands together. "So-"
Of course, the shelf chose that moment to fall apart dramatically.
Dean stared at the pile of DVD cases and wood for a handful of seconds and then, "We so should have just made our own."
Chase groaned. "That's what I said."
"Remind me to listen to you next time," he said, crouching down to extract the DVDs from the mess. "Maybe we can make one when we're home next...not that that helps us right now."
"We can just stack 'em and make one at your dad's house next weekend, I guess." Chase bent down to help.
"Yeah, I think that's our best bet. Remind me to avoid IKEA like the plague in the future too," Dean said wryly, moving the wood so they could nicely stack the pile of videos.
"Seriously, although we can use the coffee table as long as it's still standing."
Dean reached out with a foot and gave it a gentle kick. It held strong. "Guess not all their stuff is crap, seems to be holding up all right."
Chase nodded. "Let's take the bookshelf back tomorrow."
"Good plan. No way am I not getting my money back on that sucker."
"So agreed."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Let's shove it all back in the box," he said, before his cell phone went off from where he'd left it on the coffee table. "That better not be Dad. They just left an hour ago," he muttered, reaching over and snagging it. He instantly smiled at the caller ID and clicked it on. "Hey, Care!"
"Aaaaaand I'll be leaving the room until it's my turn to talk to her," Chase said, and beat a hasty retreat for his room.
"Hi, you," Carrie's voice said, warmly.
Dean bit his lip to keep from laughing. "How's it?" he asked.
"I'm okay! Just wanted to see how you two were getting on."
"Fairly well, although our lovely bookcase just disintegrated on us."
"Ah, of course, furniture fail. Poor you," said Carrie, not sounding very sympathetic.
"Hey, now, we paid good money for that bookcase."
"And I'm sure you're getting your 'good money' back ASAP, so I'm not particularly worried for you there."
He grinned. "I will admit, I'm tempted to take popcorn and just set Chase on them."
Chase’s head appeared around the wall. “I heard that!” Dean only smirked and waved him off, and he disappeared again.
Carrie snorted, as if she were trying to suppress a giggle. "If you do, please videotape that and put it on Facebook so I can see."
"Yes, ma'am, with pleasure."
"Excellent." He heard her snicker slightly. "So, I have a question for you: has Chase made any lists yet?"
Dean's eyes darted towards the thumb-tacked Roommate Rules that already hung prominently on the wall. "Gee, how did you ever guess?"
"Wait, really?" She started laughing outright. "I was sort of joking, I didn't think he'd actually...what's it of?"
"Guess."
"Rules of some sort, I'm sure."
"That doesn't count. You have to guess more specifically than that."
"That's just mean, mister."
"I just want to see how well you know Chase, that's all."
He heard the smirk in her voice. "You're not supposed to be giving me tests this late in our relationship. Um, house rules, I guess?"
"Roommate Rules, which are a bit more specifically aimed at me, obviously. And I knew you'd pass with flying colors," he said, grinning as he flopped back on the couch.
Chase’s eyes slowly appeared around the wall, narrowed at Dean. He waggled his finger semi-menacingly before slinking away once more. Dean only rolled his eyes and returned his attention to his phone call.
"I have got to hear about this," said Carrie, and he could hear the grin. "What are the rules?"
"You're only allowed to sleep over if we have popcorn and marathon anime. I sometimes wonder if he remembers all three of us have practically lived together the past two years."
"Somehow I don't think that was the point of that particular rule," she said, sounding very amused.
"Oh, of course not. Don't worry, he included footnotes, just in case I was dense."
She began laughing again. "Such as?"
"The fact he's not insinuating you and I sleep together, but he doesn't ever want to know if we are."
"Oh, of course," she said, between snickers. "Well, I'm not insinuating that we are, or will be, at any point, but if we did, it would probably be better that way anyway."
"Yeah. My point was that I wouldn't do that to him, even if we were innocently just sleeping in the same bed."
"I know you wouldn't. You're a good friend."
Dean smiled. "And he insulted my cooking ability." Not that he minded. He had eaten enough of Chase’s cooking over the past couple of years to know that his friend’s standards were understandably high when it came to food. He was half-convinced that both Chase and his sister possessed magic powers in that regard.
"Sorry, Dean," said Carrie lightly, putting his thoughts into words as she so often did. "Compared to the Mitchells, we all suck at cooking. It's not personal."
"Trust me, only tasting it once was enough to convince me of that."
"I'm glad you agree."
For a moment, he really wished she were there too, or at least closer. As much as he logically knew that this was a good relationship test, among other things, he not so logically didn't like the separation at all.
"You okay?" she asked, when he didn't immediately reply.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just wondering what it'll be like not being able to chase Chase out of a room just by looking in your direction a certain way," he said lightly.
"I miss you, too," she said. "It's less than an hour away, though, and you'll be home or I'll be there most weekends."
"Yeah, I know. Thankfully," he said. "You'll have to chase us down in Dad's workshop next weekend, though. We've apparently got two bookcases to make now."
"You know how much I love watching you work."
"It's a good thing you do too," he said, laughing. "Or I'd be in trouble."
Again, merry laughter filtered over the line. "Fortunately for you, artsy things turn me on."
"Very fortunately," he said, always a fan of making her laugh. "Good for me."
"Indeed. So other than that, things are going okay?"
"Yeah. Just the bookcase problems, but the rules are about the easiest thing in the world to follow so I foresee no problems."
"Let me guess, the rest of them are either really bizarre things you'd think both of you could take for granted, or rules about how awesome things have to be all the time."
"Pretty much, although I wouldn't necessarily use bizarre, considering our pasts."
"Ah, that does make some sense then."
"Yup. So, you ready to start?"
"Yeah, I went and bought all my books just now. I suppose it's just as well you're both in Long Beach since it'll give me more time to draw."
A wide smile came to his face as he glanced up to see Chase poking his head around the corner for the third time in less minutes. "Yeah, man, I suspect Chase will owe you all the Twizzlers in the world every time we come home for new sketches."
"Oh, darn, you've figured out my nefarious plan," she said dryly.
"Just wait until Chase does," he said. "And speaking of, he keeps poking his head in, probably wanting to talk to you himself." Chase grinned at him around the doorframe before ducking behind it again.
"Oh, really," Carrie drawled. "I guess I should talk to him for a bit, if he's that impatient about it."
"Oh, you can imagine, I'm sure." He smiled. "Love you, Care."
Her voice took on a slightly serious note for the first time in the conversation. "I love you too, Dean."
"See you next weekend."
"Definitely. Now put the drama queen on."
"Yes, ma'am. Chase! Get your butt in here!"
Chase bounced into the room, easily lifted the receiver from Dean's hand, and trotted merrily away again as he greeted Carrie. Dean rolled his eyes, amused, and headed for the kitchen to grab a drink.
Story: Taking Root
Challenge: Coconut 10 (I want my money back), Tangerine 24 (delegating) [Marina]; Blueberry Yogurt 10 (across the miles), Apple Pie 20 (my first place) [Casey]
Toppings/Extras: Caramel, Chopped Nuts, Smoothie
Word Count: 2,061
Rating: PG
Summary: Two years down the road…
Notes: Fluffity fluffity fluff also just one more side piece and we’re done with Coconut/Blueberry Yogurt! Also counts for my team for the Olympics today.
Roommate Rules
1. No guns
2. No knives, except for the purpose of cutting up food or in your case, carving awesome things
3. No using anything in the apartment as a weapon of any kind, unless someone breaks in, in which case grab whatever you can in self-defense, but this is why we have a security system
4. No smoking. Not that I think you would. I’m just saying.
5. Carrie does not sleep over unless it’s the kind where we all bust out sleeping bags, pop popcorn, and marathon Fruits Basket all night. Not that I’m saying you two are…you know. Just if you are, I don’t want to know about it, EVER.
6. There will be one night a week just for doing awesome things like watching Avatar (The Last Airbender, not the blue people) and playing board games. You can choose which one since your course load’s bigger than mine.
7. You don’t cook, I don’t drive. Deal?
8. …I’m out of ideas, so I guess it’s your turn.
***
Dean planted his hands on his hips and studied the partially put together room. The only good thing about the mess was that classes didn't start for another two days. It was the main reason he and Chase had decided to move in to the new apartment in Long Beach over the weekend. This way they wouldn't have to worry about all this crap after they started. "Where in the world do we start?" he asked, mostly to himself.
"No idea," Chase said, from behind his left shoulder.
Dean turned and flashed him a grin. "I guess the furniture is probably our best bet."
"We can do furniture!" his friend said brightly. "Bookshelves?"
He again scanned the room thoughtfully. The beds were fine and most of the furniture was usable and the bookshelves would allow them to unpack a bunch of the boxes.
"Yeah, sounds good."
Chase armed himself with a pair of scissors and hopped over to one of the two IKEA boxes they still hadn't opened. Dean trailed him, scooping up their screwdriver and hammer on the way, not sure what they'd need. Chase made short work of the packaging and eyed the dark stained boards and the instructions pamphlet distastefully. "My mother was so wrong about this being easier," he muttered.
"Should be quicker," Dean said, hefting one and eyeing it.
Chase mumbled something not quite indecent and got to work laying out the parts for the first step.
Dean finished opening the smaller parts and studied the directions. "Okay, so those go together like so," he said, picking them up.
The next several minutes passed quietly as they put together the bookshelf and carefully set it up against the wall. The two of them usually didn't talk as they worked, except to say things like "can you pass me that" or "where's the screwdriver?" because the time passed more efficiently that way. It was a routine they had established in Woodshop over the past two years, and carried over even to pre-packaged furniture.
In short order, they got the job done. "Okay," Chase said, eyeing the tower dubiously.
"I guess now we put stuff on them?" Dean reached out and nudged it. "That seems awfully wiggly to me."
Chase nodded, his eyebrows furrowing. "Mom said it's like that sometimes but we've had our bookshelves in the living room for...I guess ten years? I don't know."
He shrugged, snagging the scissors and turning to a box of mixed DVDs and books, slitting it open. "Here, try it," he said, handing Chase a pile of his friend's collection. Chase gingerly began to place the DVDs on the top shelf, the one with the most room. Dean watched him, handing another pile over once he was done with the first batch.
"Maybe this is going to work," Chase said, still eyeing the setup.
"Well, people do swear by IKEA and that only happens if their stuff does work."
"I guess you're right." Chase finished putting up the rest of the DVD cases and turned, brushing his hands together. "So-"
Of course, the shelf chose that moment to fall apart dramatically.
Dean stared at the pile of DVD cases and wood for a handful of seconds and then, "We so should have just made our own."
Chase groaned. "That's what I said."
"Remind me to listen to you next time," he said, crouching down to extract the DVDs from the mess. "Maybe we can make one when we're home next...not that that helps us right now."
"We can just stack 'em and make one at your dad's house next weekend, I guess." Chase bent down to help.
"Yeah, I think that's our best bet. Remind me to avoid IKEA like the plague in the future too," Dean said wryly, moving the wood so they could nicely stack the pile of videos.
"Seriously, although we can use the coffee table as long as it's still standing."
Dean reached out with a foot and gave it a gentle kick. It held strong. "Guess not all their stuff is crap, seems to be holding up all right."
Chase nodded. "Let's take the bookshelf back tomorrow."
"Good plan. No way am I not getting my money back on that sucker."
"So agreed."
Dean rolled his eyes. "Let's shove it all back in the box," he said, before his cell phone went off from where he'd left it on the coffee table. "That better not be Dad. They just left an hour ago," he muttered, reaching over and snagging it. He instantly smiled at the caller ID and clicked it on. "Hey, Care!"
"Aaaaaand I'll be leaving the room until it's my turn to talk to her," Chase said, and beat a hasty retreat for his room.
"Hi, you," Carrie's voice said, warmly.
Dean bit his lip to keep from laughing. "How's it?" he asked.
"I'm okay! Just wanted to see how you two were getting on."
"Fairly well, although our lovely bookcase just disintegrated on us."
"Ah, of course, furniture fail. Poor you," said Carrie, not sounding very sympathetic.
"Hey, now, we paid good money for that bookcase."
"And I'm sure you're getting your 'good money' back ASAP, so I'm not particularly worried for you there."
He grinned. "I will admit, I'm tempted to take popcorn and just set Chase on them."
Chase’s head appeared around the wall. “I heard that!” Dean only smirked and waved him off, and he disappeared again.
Carrie snorted, as if she were trying to suppress a giggle. "If you do, please videotape that and put it on Facebook so I can see."
"Yes, ma'am, with pleasure."
"Excellent." He heard her snicker slightly. "So, I have a question for you: has Chase made any lists yet?"
Dean's eyes darted towards the thumb-tacked Roommate Rules that already hung prominently on the wall. "Gee, how did you ever guess?"
"Wait, really?" She started laughing outright. "I was sort of joking, I didn't think he'd actually...what's it of?"
"Guess."
"Rules of some sort, I'm sure."
"That doesn't count. You have to guess more specifically than that."
"That's just mean, mister."
"I just want to see how well you know Chase, that's all."
He heard the smirk in her voice. "You're not supposed to be giving me tests this late in our relationship. Um, house rules, I guess?"
"Roommate Rules, which are a bit more specifically aimed at me, obviously. And I knew you'd pass with flying colors," he said, grinning as he flopped back on the couch.
Chase’s eyes slowly appeared around the wall, narrowed at Dean. He waggled his finger semi-menacingly before slinking away once more. Dean only rolled his eyes and returned his attention to his phone call.
"I have got to hear about this," said Carrie, and he could hear the grin. "What are the rules?"
"You're only allowed to sleep over if we have popcorn and marathon anime. I sometimes wonder if he remembers all three of us have practically lived together the past two years."
"Somehow I don't think that was the point of that particular rule," she said, sounding very amused.
"Oh, of course not. Don't worry, he included footnotes, just in case I was dense."
She began laughing again. "Such as?"
"The fact he's not insinuating you and I sleep together, but he doesn't ever want to know if we are."
"Oh, of course," she said, between snickers. "Well, I'm not insinuating that we are, or will be, at any point, but if we did, it would probably be better that way anyway."
"Yeah. My point was that I wouldn't do that to him, even if we were innocently just sleeping in the same bed."
"I know you wouldn't. You're a good friend."
Dean smiled. "And he insulted my cooking ability." Not that he minded. He had eaten enough of Chase’s cooking over the past couple of years to know that his friend’s standards were understandably high when it came to food. He was half-convinced that both Chase and his sister possessed magic powers in that regard.
"Sorry, Dean," said Carrie lightly, putting his thoughts into words as she so often did. "Compared to the Mitchells, we all suck at cooking. It's not personal."
"Trust me, only tasting it once was enough to convince me of that."
"I'm glad you agree."
For a moment, he really wished she were there too, or at least closer. As much as he logically knew that this was a good relationship test, among other things, he not so logically didn't like the separation at all.
"You okay?" she asked, when he didn't immediately reply.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just wondering what it'll be like not being able to chase Chase out of a room just by looking in your direction a certain way," he said lightly.
"I miss you, too," she said. "It's less than an hour away, though, and you'll be home or I'll be there most weekends."
"Yeah, I know. Thankfully," he said. "You'll have to chase us down in Dad's workshop next weekend, though. We've apparently got two bookcases to make now."
"You know how much I love watching you work."
"It's a good thing you do too," he said, laughing. "Or I'd be in trouble."
Again, merry laughter filtered over the line. "Fortunately for you, artsy things turn me on."
"Very fortunately," he said, always a fan of making her laugh. "Good for me."
"Indeed. So other than that, things are going okay?"
"Yeah. Just the bookcase problems, but the rules are about the easiest thing in the world to follow so I foresee no problems."
"Let me guess, the rest of them are either really bizarre things you'd think both of you could take for granted, or rules about how awesome things have to be all the time."
"Pretty much, although I wouldn't necessarily use bizarre, considering our pasts."
"Ah, that does make some sense then."
"Yup. So, you ready to start?"
"Yeah, I went and bought all my books just now. I suppose it's just as well you're both in Long Beach since it'll give me more time to draw."
A wide smile came to his face as he glanced up to see Chase poking his head around the corner for the third time in less minutes. "Yeah, man, I suspect Chase will owe you all the Twizzlers in the world every time we come home for new sketches."
"Oh, darn, you've figured out my nefarious plan," she said dryly.
"Just wait until Chase does," he said. "And speaking of, he keeps poking his head in, probably wanting to talk to you himself." Chase grinned at him around the doorframe before ducking behind it again.
"Oh, really," Carrie drawled. "I guess I should talk to him for a bit, if he's that impatient about it."
"Oh, you can imagine, I'm sure." He smiled. "Love you, Care."
Her voice took on a slightly serious note for the first time in the conversation. "I love you too, Dean."
"See you next weekend."
"Definitely. Now put the drama queen on."
"Yes, ma'am. Chase! Get your butt in here!"
Chase bounced into the room, easily lifted the receiver from Dean's hand, and trotted merrily away again as he greeted Carrie. Dean rolled his eyes, amused, and headed for the kitchen to grab a drink.