Silliness

Who: Syn and Seph
When: afternoonish
Where: the Martens house

Seph had the afternoon off, even though he could've done with working. He'd been stuck inside all damn day yesterday, and hadn't been looking forward to it again. Funny how when he couldn't really leave the house, he wanted to, but was just fine lazing around and not doing anything on clear days. Just one of those things. Those cat-things. It had stopped snowing and the roads were being cleared, but he was still home, letting that restless feeling build. He sent his thoughts out to his sister, somewhere else in the house, trying to make trudging through knee-deep snow look tantalizing. In the meantime, a good song came on his stereo and he twisted on the bed to aim the remote to turn it up. Then proceeded to play air-guitar in his boneless-bed-flopped position.

"So wash your vice away with dirt," he sang along with James Hetfield, with eye-squeezy feeling. "It don't feel good until it hurts. So take this work and shake it! Come squeeze and suck the day, come carpe diem, babyyyyy!"

Syn happened to be up in the attic, laying photographs out on the floor as she eyed them, trying to decide which ones she was going to re-print. She smirked when she got the thoughts from her brother, and moments later, she could hear the strange sensation of a song, both faintly with her ears? And the filtered Seph-perception from their connection. They were always just a little different, and it was interesting, to say the least.

Grabbing up her camera, she headed downstairs and wandered into his room, holding up her camera to take a shot of him being ridiculous. Then she walked farther in, and climbed up onto the bed, perching on the footboard, feet on his mattress. She brought the camera up again and refocused. "You know, any other day you would be perfectly content to be lazy and do nothing." she pointed out to him, amused.

Not seeming to mind being photographed while he looked ridiculous, Seph continued to headbang -- as much as one could in a reclining position, anyway -- and play air guitar. He loved the heavier rock. Since she was in easy reach, he shifted and squirmed around on the bed until his torso was closer to her, and grabbed one of her legs, pulling it out to play guitar on it. Every day's new, sister dearest, you know that, he thought to her in the meantime, as his mouth was busy with his jamming out.

She laughed, letting him do whatever he wanted there with her, and she took another shot of him, then snapped out a couple more. Smirking at him as she tipped the camera up a little bit, holding it by her cheek as she looked at him unobstructed, she shook her head. Well spotted. So, every day is new, and you can't go outside today, because the weather is intensely bad. So you're rocking out on air guitar. Interesting. she said, internal voice terribly amused as well.

Seph gave up his short-lived rock star career as the song changed and just started pinching around at spots on her leg, looking for ticklish spots. Technically I could go outside today, he argued reasonably. It's not like it'll kill me. His expression turned ponderous as he looked up at her, pinching the underside of her thigh. "I wonder if I got frostbite and lost a limb or something, if that would heal," he said out loud. There were so many things he kind of wanted to try, to see, but then again not. ... though he didn't strictly need all his toes, did he? Just in case ...

She squirmed a slight bit and made a face at him. It wouldn't kill you but it would still hurt like a bitch, and I'm not going to be nursing you if you go out and do something stupid 'just because'. she told him firmly--even if that was manifestly untrue. She'd still nurse him. She would any time he needed her to, regardless of the reason. Whether it was his fault, anyone else's, purely an accident, she'd never let him suffer alone. "I think if you got frostbite or something, you'd have frostbite, and it would be painful, and gross, and you'd have to use all this weird cream stuff and it would be messy and stinky and generally miserable." she added firmly. She slid her foot up his chest towards his throat, toes pushing down lightly on his artery, though only lightly--she didn't want to cut off the circulation. She just wanted the photograph, which she snapped quickly.

Seph grinned at her briefly. Until she brought the camera up, then it was all serious-face, but once that was done, he was grinning again. He knew that wasn't true, that she'd nurse him no matter what. She'd just lecture him endlessly while she did it, most likely. Which he knew he would deserve if he went out and got frostbite on purpose. His hands curled lightly around her ankle, thumbs rubbing over the delicate bone bumps on either side of it. He rather liked this positioning, with her foot on his neck. You're a bad liar, sister dear, he told her, gaze warm as he looked up at her. Aren't you curious? Where my limits are?

She gazed down at him as he did that, pausing as she appeared to consider the question--even if she knew her answer already, without having to think. So I'm a bad liar. she agreed. And no. I'm rather ecstatically happy just knowing that you aren't going to slide off into oblivion without me. I don't really need to have the limits tested for the sake of curiosity or in the name of science. Your limits can remain a mystery forever as far as I'm concerned. she told him, bringing the camera up again and getting a close up shot of the bottom of his jaw and lips, the focus of the shot more his fingers against her skin, his hand, her foot.

Very lightly, he moved his hands to trace the outlines of the bones in her foot. And up to her shin, and then down again. He couldn't say that he was of a like mind as far as experimentation went, but he could see her point of view. It was impossible not to. If their positions were reversed, after all, he would be saying the exact same thing. He never wanted any harm to come to her, even if she could withstand it. Now he, on the other hand ... he saw himself as more expendable. I wouldn't hurt you by hurting me, he sent to her, though the thought was more a half-formed intention than anything articulated.

"Good." she murmured aloud, eyes still down on him, and she shifted slightly, sliding her foot towards the other side of his neck, and she took another shot. She then set the camera aside for a moment, looking down at him without it there for a long span of heartbeats. Vague thoughts drifted beneath the surface, but never solidified enough to even put a mood to it. Some were about the new kid in their home, some were vague musings on if they were ever going to move out on their own, some had to do with what he was suggesting and her aversion to it.

Seph mentally followed her drifting thoughts, like light fingertip-brushes over them as he laid still and gazed up at her. His own mind wandered in a slow and dreamy sort of way, latching on to the vague notion of them moving out together and building around it. How cozy it would be, just the two of them. How like their dreams, only with fights that perhaps actually ended as opposed to the shadow-fucks. It felt isolated in his mind, but in a comfortable way. All he needed was her. He's an okay kid, he told her, in a completely unrelated manner.

I have yet to spend significant time with him. I know Teddy's been watching pretty close. Syn offered. Really her not having seen a lot of the kid was less by design and more time constraints. She really did have to set aside time to do that. She smiled a little bit, enjoying the light touches. "So he's an okay kid?" she asked. "What's he like?

"Quiet. Probably depressed. Feels abandoned. But he's okay. Skipped school to go to the grocery store with me before all the snow hit yesterday," he said out loud, following her lead. Seph traced her toes without looking at them, then the arches of her foot. "Dyslexic, apparently. The perfect stray for Doc." Which was possibly unkind of him to say, but the intention behind it wasn't. He didn't know how else to think of him.

"Well, it's been a while since he had one." Syn said reasonably. That was the thing about their guardian. He tended to pick up strays. They could possibly be considered strays. When he'd met their mother, she certainly had been. And a few of the people they referred to as 'aunts' and 'uncles' would also not be amiss to fall under that heading. It was what he did. "And time out from school to go grocery shopping, that's interesting. Either he really hates school, or really doesn't like what we had in the house for food." she mused, smiling faintly.

"I'm going to vote for really hates school," Seph said, a little amused. Since her foot was right there and his hands were too, he started to massage it absently. "We did too, at that age." Which really made them sound old, even though neither one had seen twenty yet. He just knew that they both felt far older than their years, and acted it too. Most nineteen year olds were out partying in their first year of college, enjoying themselves. The two Martens kids ... had worlds on their shoulders. ... though they had times when they enjoyed themselves, Seph was of the opinion that they needed more.

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah, we did." she agreed. Mostly she didn't have time for it. She felt that what she was learning was a little beneath her intelligence level, and she'd always had trouble connecting with the people who were only worried about pop quizzes and whether or not they had a zit. When you dealt with the kinds of things they had...that all faded into the background. It wasn't even remotely important, not really.

Seph laid there for another second or two, then let his sister's foot go to roll off of the bed and to his own feet. He reached for her, pulling her off the bed by her arm. The CD in his player had ended and wasn't set to loop, so they were in silence now, and he wanted to dance with her. Just because. So what should we get Doc for Christmas? he asked mentally in the meantime. Since they were going for rather random lines of conversation at the moment.

She smiled and giggled a little as he did that, and she put her arms up around his neck, letting him lead to their dance to no music. She was perfectly fine with that. She thought about that when he asked, eyes ticking up towards the ceiling before she looked back to him. What do you get the man who has higher callings, wicked superpowers and everything else? she posed. You know, I'm just not sure if he has a toaster oven and a smoothie maker.... she teased, grinning at him.

He put his arms around her waist and led, just some slow swaying sort of thing. He couldn't literally, actually dance, though now that he was doing it with Syn, he kind of wanted to learn sometime. Even if we got him some? He wouldn't ever use them. Or use them wrong, he said, grinning back at her. He sent a couple of comic-book type images along their connection to her, of Doc burning the fuck out of some toast and then making a huge smoothie-mess. And it's not like we can send him on a cruise or something, the man can fly.

She grinned at the mental imagery, and nodded. It's true. So, we have no choice. It's macaroni art, crayons and home made 'happy winter fill in the blank holiday!' cards. It's all we're left with, nothing else will work out well enough. she said with a heavy mock-sigh. She returned the mental imagery favor, and gave a few examples of garish, kindergartner's artwork. Oh! We can make those little reindeer tree ornaments out of clothespins! It'll be great.

Seph laughed. Perfect. I knew you'd have the answer, sister-dear, he told her, grinning and leaning in to put a smooch on her cheek. Brilliant and beautiful. And so much more. But she knew how he saw her, there was no way to avoid it anymore. It had been incredibly freeing, in a way. So what do you want for Winter Fill In The Blank Holiday? He already knew what he was giving her, but kept that thought far away from the surface. It was supposed to be a surprise.

I am in fact, multitalented. Syn thought towards him, amused. I'm just useful on all sorts of levels. Whatever would you do without me? You never would have come up with reindeer tree ornaments on your own. And that's the kicker, you know. That's the crowning achievement to the whole thing. It wouldn't work without them. she continued, absently playing with the hair at the nape of his neck for a moment. And I suppose a fully loaded underground bunker with full military capability is out of the question.... she teased.

He whirled them around in a circle and tried to look ponderous for a moment. Every girl I know has a fully loaded underground bunker with full military capability, he thought to her, sounding exasperated. Don't you want like a necklace or something? Seph grinned at her, still keeping his real present buried deep. Really, given Doc's expertise and Teddybear's ability to move funds around, such a thing wasn't out of the question. It would just draw attention. I think we need to tweak the van up some, he mused, mind wandering off elsewhere. A van-tank? Would be awesome.

I know, I'm so ashamed I'm so cliche and everything, but...well, I suppose I could deal with jewelry. But it'll make me stand out so much! Syn protested, letting him lead as they danced. And a van-tank. Hm. That might be cool. Would it have a periscope? We'd want one. And what kind of artillery would we be dealing with? she asked, tossing out very tank-girl mental imagery with it all.

Seph chuckled internally and outwardly. I'm just trying to save you from being a poser, he informed her, and tacked on the mental impression that he was a very good little brother for doing so. Which she obviously should already know. He murred his agreement and nodded at her unarticulated ideas. You can't have a van-tank without a periscope. And a cow-scoop thing on the front like they used to put on trains. And like ... two extra sets of tires. Kids will be begging us to ride them to the prom, we can open up a business for when the killin's slow.

Syn then had the mental imagery of them driving around batches of terrified looking teenagers all decked out in prom gear. Skirts getting torn on stray artillery shells, boys looking far too young and scared as they eyed the mini-arsenal on wheels. It had her bursting into a little fit of laughter, leaning on him heavily to keep her upright as she did so. We'll need to give it a snazzy paint job too! With skulls and crossbones and a clever acronym on the side! she managed as she was giggling. The extra tires are the kicker, of course.

He laughed with and supported her, delighted as ever to make her all-out laugh. She didn't do it for very many people, and he absolutely loved to hear it. But then, he was more or less a sucker for everything about her, wasn't he? Why yes, yes he was. PWG? Prom With Guns? he suggested, though that wasn't terribly creative. DUD. Dressed-Up Death. Seph grinned down at her, letting go with one hand to move some dark hair out of her face that had fallen with her laughing fit.

She laughed some more, grinning at him as he did that. I am positive we can come up with better acronyms. Maybe we should start with that and then come up with something that fits it. I'm sure all the best ones did that. We'll figure something fun out. We'll have to! We can't have our thriving, terribly important levels of awesome and everything without a cool name spraypainted on the side of our tricked out assault van! she cried dramatically. Like it was the end of the world if they didn't. She brought her hand up to her forehead like she was feeling about ready to swoon.

Seph pouted at her. What's wrong with D.U.D.? he wanted to know. There's irony and everything, like how y'know people call their clothes duds. He leaned in to plant a wet and noisy sucky-kiss on her cheek. It was just the thing to do when she was being dramatic. But fine, he internally-sighed in the meantime. You just go on and think of a way better acronym name, and that's what we'll use, 'cause you're the creative genius in this operation. He grinned against her skin.

She laughed again, and grinned, making a little face at the wet kiss. Now my cheek's all slimey! she cried internally. But then went on anyhow. And I'll do that. But wait, if I'm the creative genuis in this operation, what are you? You have to have a title. That's just the way it is. You need one. she told him, sending again, overly dramatic feelings along the connection. Like it was imperative.

He seemed not to care that her cheek was all slimy, because he didn't. In fact, he leaned in and licked it just to make it slimier. If you're the brains, then I guess I have to be the brawn. So my title can be ultra-sexy-and-badass-strong king of the universe, he informed her. Because that was totally an even and accurate title. He sent her an image of himself all puffy with big muscles and flexing.

Syn squeaked, and grabbed Seph's cheeks, turning his head to the side so she could rub her smiley cheek against his so he would be slimey too. It was only fair. The USBSKOTU? That's a mouthful. We'll need to come up with a nickname to kick that shit down so it rolls off the tongue better. I can't have my brother running around with an awesome title like that, and people being too lazy to call you by it. She had to grin at the mental image, and she added into the picture fawning women fanning him with big feathery fans, and at least one of them holding out grapes for him to eat.

Seph couldn't help himself any longer, he burst out laughing. The picture she sent was just so ridiculous, there was no way not to. It was a big belly-laugh that had a faint blush attached to it. Because yeah, that would never be happening, and he wouldn't know what to do anyway if it did. I think it should just be KOTU for short, he said when he'd mentally recovered enough. Sounds like some ancient and angry god. KOOOOOTUUUUUU!, he roared mentally, putting a reverb on it and everything.

Syn was happy. Seph didn't laugh like that very often in his life, so she was proud of herself that she'd gotten it from him. She imagined lights from the heavens opening up with little sparkles, cherubs, and a chorus of 'aaaahhhh!' in the background on him. All hail Kotu! Supreme ruler of all!! she added, with a fanfare of trumpets to boot. Being able to do the mental imagery projection was something that worked out, sometimes.

He really liked that picture of himself, even if it was ridiculous. Sky-sparklies and all. It was amusing, for the moment. C'mon, you just won a grilled cheese, he informed her, and took her hand to start to drag her out of the room. He had the silly but overwhelming urge to make her something to eat, and he was just going to go with it, because that was what you did when you were in love. Didn't matter who with.