[Homeplot 2009] Decompression

[forhawkeye]

See, what it all boils down to is simple: it’s been a very long twenty-four hours. Between the invasion and my own personal drama, it’s something of a relief to just relax, even if it’s only for a little while. There are still too many unanswered questions -- Why am I back? Why did they come with me? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? -- but there’ll be time to answer them later.

There are about twenty different kinds of pizza lying around -- ranging from pepperoni and cheese to some ridiculously organic vegan thing -- and the amount of junk food piled on the kitchen counters could feed an entire college dorm for at least a semester. Despite all that, Felix insisted on making enough of his 'famous chicken cardarelli' for everyone. Admittedly, it’s sort of nice having some real food to balance out everything else.

And as for Alice, well, I sent Tommy to go get her some bunnies.

It’s not a party by any means, but that’s just about the last thing we need right now, anyway, especially for the people who got a crash course in war yesterday. Copious amounts of alcohol, maybe, but a party? Yeah, not so much.

"I'm federal agent Jack Bauer, and today is the longest day of my life," voice overs Kiefer Sutherland from the episode of 24 playing in the background.

"Yours and mine both, Kief," I mutter under my breath. "Yours and mine both."

Comments

[oscaroscaroscar.livejournal.com]

"Kate, you look terrible!" Felix exclaimed, making a beeline for her as he entered, fresh from a stint spent busying himself in the kitchen. Aside from a few bruises and a general battered air about his person, he himself looked meticulous, of course, having taken full advantage of every amenity that ultra-modern life had to offer as soon he'd had the opportunity. "I mean, I understand it's been a strenuous day, but honestly! You have company over!"

[forhawkeye]

I slowly look up at him, and blink once. I believe the term for my current expression is colloquially known as bitchface. Otherwise, I don't move.

"Felix," I say, my voice deceptively calm. "Do you really want to nag me right now?"

[oscaroscaroscar.livejournal.com]

As epic as her bitchface most certainly was, Felix barreled right on, seemingly unperturbed. "I never want to nag anybody, but these things need to be said!" he said firmly, pausing to clean up some garbage from the other end of the couch. He'd never understand why some people (all right, most people) seemed so averse to simple helpful courtesies.

"I was just trying to be helpful," he added, trying not to pout.

[forhawkeye]

"How about you just try to sit down," I suggest, eyebrows raised, and my calm is quickly dissipating. "Eat something. Relax."

[oscaroscaroscar.livejournal.com]

"After the day I've had?" Felix asked, incredulous. He only barely managed not to scoff at the mere notion. "Not too likely, I'm wound up like a spring! Besides, somebody's going to have to stay on the ball just to keep on top of this atrocious mess, I don't know why teenagers can't just relax neatly..." he started off before that look on her face began to get to him a bit and he raised his hands in a gesture of peace. It was a heck of a look.

"Alright, maybe I can take a small break. Just for a moment."

He'd prefer the chance to thoroughly vacuum those couches first, but he was afraid he might just have to cut his losses for now. Hazardous amounts of potential allergens or no.

[forhawkeye]

I flash him a sunny smile that doesn't quite reach my eyes, but I'm happy enough that he'll at least consider sitting down to let him off the hook. Drawing my legs under me so that I'm kneeling, I gesture to the space beside me.

"It won't eat you, I swear."

[oscaroscaroscar.livejournal.com]

"Eat? No. Suffocate? Possibly!" protested Felix, but he sat himself down next to Kate anyway, against his better judgment. "I have to admit, this... world you come from has me just the tiniest bit overwhelmed," he sighed dramatically, finally allowing it all to catch up with him for a moment.

[forhawkeye]

Being back home has me just the tiniest bit overwhelmed, but probably not in the same sense that Felix means it. Felix Unger is a lot of things, but Killer of Skrulls is not one of them.

"But you got to use a microwave oven," I point out with a smirk. "That's gotta make up for it a little, right?"

[oscaroscaroscar.livejournal.com]

"I did, didn't I?" Felix grinned, nodding enthusiastically at the memory, all previous weariness seemingly disappearing in an instant. "It's nothing I'd trade for my old stove, of course, but gee whiz, what a riot!"

[forhawkeye]

"...yeah, it's a real riot, alright," I say, biting back a laugh, and I take another bite out of my pizza. For his benefit, I even wipe my mouth with the napkin right away, wiping off nonexistent crumbs. "So, alien invasion aside, how are you liking the future?"

[oscaroscaroscar.livejournal.com]

Nodding approvingly at her attempt at manners, Felix turned his thoughts towards the bigger picture for a moment. "It's honestly as if I've stepped into one of those old 'World of Tomorrow' attractions from the '50s, only with less plastics. Everything's so oddly foreign, but New York is somehow still the same... I feel so out of touch," he sighed.

Of course, Leonard and Edna had always accused him of being out of touch back in the present anyway, so maybe there was more to that than just the year. At least he'd known how to operate everything he came into contact without assistance.

[forhawkeye]

I'm having trouble imagining Felix ever being in touch, but I keep that to myself. There's no need to make fun of him, considering what we've all just inexplicably survived. So instead I smile a bit, and say, "I don't think you're the only one feeling out of touch. Even the people from this time look a little...dazed."