Clint Barton Is Eating Crow Again (purpleman) wrote in angellogs, @ 2017-11-24 20:18:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, aedan vael, noah fon ronsenburg |
Who: Noah, Clint, Aedan, Sebastian
When: Current
Where: Craigcrook Castle, Edinburgh
What: Noah invites Clint over to join in on watching an animal documentary. They end up talking about Balthier’s set painting (the play went well,) and if Steve might be interested in seeing the results. Noah’s just off of about a nine hour shift, and he’s basically falling asleep.
Rating/Warnings:
Status: Complete
It’s not noon yet, and Noah had a night shift that turned into an early morning shift, and the owner more or less told him that he got the next day off. They did get all the petit fours done, but now he’s - mostly tired, but still too tense to sleep. So, the thought of Aedan and some mindless TV -
He’s in the main castle, because it’s a lot safer to toast some bread there instead of sitting on the comfortable stool and waking up to cold toast and a stiff neck. Which - means it’s a bit surprising to see - “Cupid?”
Cupid’s hanging around, lying half under a table, though his tail starts wagging a little as he hears his name.
“Hey!” Clint waves from where he’s got things set up on said low table, and happens to be sorting out feathers and a few other supplies right now. “Fletching lesson for the laird of the…” and he looks thoughtful. ‘What WOULD fit here? Glen?”
“Good question.” Sebastian’s heading back from the other room, a few tubes of glue balanced on top of some packages of what appear to be stickers for...glowing in the dark, and then a few balls of twine. “Hello, love. Did you get any rest yet?”
“I’m mostly down here so I don’t drift off in the middle of making toast. Not really yet.” Noah waves. “Hello, Master Clint. It’s good to see you again. I was offering to your son that I could try again with -” He trails off. “For context, we sometimes watch documentaries with - the sort of light thing where small fluffy animals get haloed by sunlight a lot. Meercats, in this case. You’ve probably seen all of these.” He hesitates. “You’re both welcome, assuming Aedan doesn’t mind more people. I was mostly planning on eating a little and then trying to doze off.”
“Meercats?” Clint blinks a little. “Actually that one’s...it hasn’t come up. I’ve seen they have stuff sometimes. Animal Planet, but they got weirdly fixated on sharks in the last ten years or so. Which, I mean, I don’t always want to watch blood in the water, you know?”
“If I won’t be too loud or…” Sebastian smiles. “It’s good that you two are...you’re really really good for him.” He tells Noah, very seriously, despite the smile. ‘I think it helps that you’re more making suggestions as opposed to him feeling like he’s stuck.” He’s not positive that Aedan necessarily would want him around. They haven’t had any out and out arguments, but given the tension that was floating around here, he doesn’t want to reignite something. “Do you think he’s really fine with that idea? I know I’ve been taking on a different role in his head the last couple months, and…”
“And I can check in if he’s changed his mind,” Noah offers, digging out the phone to type something in. “I’m assuming you two want to do some work here, so there’s some time for him to turn it over while I fumble through toast. Would either of you like some?”
“I’m all right. I think.” Sebastian says. “We were going to put on the kettle if you’re interested in that too. And that’s...probably a good idea. Haytham was around the other night for a minute, mentioned that he seemed to be feeling more himself after some work and talking to Arno, so I wouldn’t want to...if he needs space, I respect it.”
“Would it actually be weird if I borrowed a couple dog treats?” Clint asks, aware that’s a little bit crazy. “Cupid’s had kind of a long day and I GET it’s not exactly the way we think but...I sort of want him to know I appreciate it?”
“That’s not all that strange.” Sebastian doesn’t think so anyway. “Good dogs are valuable. They should know that.”
Noah points to the right shelf. “There, I think?” He snags his toast and catches himself flexing his hand. It’s not an ache as much as he’s tired. Probably should keep an eye on long nights though. “I got in to work at - nine, and it turned out we had a rush order for petit fours. The owner said we’d do as much as we could. And it was - eight in the morning when we got done? She’s saying that she’s not taking on the client again, or they’re getting an inconvenience fee, and I got - I think it’ll be two days off, because she’s putting the grumpiest one on the staff in charge for a while and letting us get some rest.”
The grumpiest guy on the staff was an ex-Navy of some sort who could do absolutely perfect icing on cookies. Also sounded like gravel, and had a way of shouting “WHAT” that got people to immediately stop and look at what they were doing.
“That sounds like that’ll be interesting.” Sebastian snorts. He’s been by at the shift change a few times. “Good way of keeping order, I think. And I’m glad you are getting some rest. You more than deserve it. It’s been too long since you’ve been able to really breathe, I think.”
“It’s not been - it’s been a couple of weeks since the last rush order, but making a mountain of bread has a lot more downtime than icing a mountain of tiny things.” Noah leans to kiss Sebastian’s cheek. “I’m going to steal a mug of tea and try to stay out of the way.”
“We shouldn’t be TOO long if that helps.” Clint says. “I mean, enough so we’re not rushing you I hope, but stop us if it goes on for AGES. I can get a little....focused. Trust me, it wouldn’t be being rude if you’re worried.” Because Noah DOES seem to worry about things like that.
Noah salutes with his mug and pulls over a stool to sit on. He’s half keeping an eye on the phone. Balthier’s picked up the furniture for the new place - some older styled things, painted blue, and a couple of reading lamps, and he’s heading down sometime to check out that store with the soy foam mattress which Noah picked up for the gatehouse.
So, he can occupy the time, and it’s always fun to watch people doing delicate precise things. Noah can manage some of it, but a lot of his experience doing work on books and illuminations was that he could learn the motions, but he wasn’t remarkably fast. Then again, time and experience, right? He’s also waiting on Aedan to reply.
Clint’s settling into some explanations of a few of his personal tricks now, and there’s also the sound of Sebastian asking questions in the background to sort of relax to. Sebastian did also bank up a fire earlier, since the heating in a place as old as this can get a bit drafty. It’s amazing, he thinks, that he’s gotten used to modern convenience so relatively quickly. Spoilt, even. Either way, it makes for things being pretty pleasant, especially when they’ve added some tea that smells of...vaguely spiced things and maybe apples? It’s a good way to pass the time until they’re finishing up.
“And then I’m probably going to want to secure something that’s a little heavier with some extra reinforcement once it’s dry.” Clint’s saying, setting aside the glue. “Probably with the really strong bailing twine.” Which happens to be purple, because he’s decided to own things properly and theme them up. “If you still want to keep me around, we can finish up some of those steps another time.”
“That seems like a plan.” Sebastian goes to wash his hands, then creeps over toward Noah to very gently nudge him and plant a kiss on the side of his head. “Ready to head down?”
Noah snaps awake, and then relaxes and shifts himself to be less leaning on the counter. It’s funny how it’s gotten to be less of an automatic attempt to be ready for battle if he wakes up. “I am? I think I did fall asleep on - you got a lot of progress, didn’t you?” He’s checking the phone now. Aedan okay with having a group? He’s thinking that sort of soothing tea (which shouldn’t be a heart issue, since it’s mostly just warm and a bit of ginger,) and possibly a stack of softer cookies and crisper ones. Good for dunking, and if he put out some crackers and something to swirl them like a nut butter, Aedan might make a lunch out of things.
“We did, yeah.” Clint’s getting most of the rest of the supplies out of the way so there’ll be space for anyone else who might happen by. “I THINK I worked out what I want to do with a prototype I’m trying out on top of it.”
“And my arrows may actually hold now.” Sebastian looks pleased as he moves to grab a few things to bring down. Some extra pillows and a couple of the throws to start.
Aedan’s definitely fine with a couple others hanging around for a bit. If anything, it’ll be less pressure than the dedicated conversation he and Sebastian probably need to have about finding a compromise that works. It’s something he’s content to put off for today, at least, until he’s had time to...well. Noah’s suggestion made him want to come up with a few possible solutions to be able to send him links to, instead of flailing around and both of them getting frustrated.
For now, he’s gone ahead and made sure that the downstairs isn’t especially messy or anything, which mostly involved dumping out a trashcan, and he’s popped the disc in to queue up where they left off.
Noah waves as he peeks in. “Aedan. I brought some food down, because I could stand to snack some more, and I thought you might. Do you want me to heat up something for you? I’ve got a pot of a spiced tea here. More of a herbal thing.” He’s got a teapot and a couple of packages, and the nut butter.
“I may end up doing that if I don’t think much about it.” Aedan waves and goes over to help with everything. It’s hard to make himself do it, but idly hanging around is one way that actually works for getting in the calories he’s supposed to. “Thanks.” He adds then. “Talking earlier helped.”
“I’m glad it did.” Noah smiles at him. “I’ve dozed off once already I fear. Clint and Sebastian were - what’s the term. Fletching an arrow? Working on the fletching?” He’s settling in with some blankets and a pillow and eying the results before leaning to snag one of the cookies. “Balthier sent some pictures of some new chairs. They’re very blue.” He slides the phone over to Aedan.
Aedan snorts at that. “You know, if it were anyone else, I would swear that involved a very colorful metaphor, but aye, that’s the term for it. And oh?” He scrolls to get a good look. “I couldn’t say I know much about what makes a chair a good one but these look comfortable.”
“I think Basch wanted something sturdy as well.” Noah settles in. “Thanks for agreeing to Clint joining us. He mentioned he’d never seen this one.”
“Clint’s a good guy.” Aedan doesn’t know him very well but… “He’s been around the range a couple times, when Da tried showing me a bit with the bow.” He’d been decent enough a shot, and it was sort of satisfying, but not in quite the same way landing a dagger in a target is, which he felt vaguely bad about, so he doesn’t go OFTEN, and Clint didn’t seem all that fussed about the fact it’s only likely to be a tool he can use instead of a fighting level skill. It wasn’t an attitude Aedan’s encountered with some of the people who frequent there, and it had helped.
“I should join in on one of those archery things, but I suspect it’ll be -” Noah shakes his head. “They tested me with one, in the army, and I wasn’t anything more than competent.”
“That was me.” Aedan nods. “I like the idea, I guess, of it being a special thing. The ancestral bow meaning a lot to him and all of that, but I can live with the fact I likely won’t be doing more than a bit of hunting sometimes. Well, and more likely not here. People DO it, but there’re complicated legalities around when and where and...I want to say something about Kings’ Foresters because I’ve been looking at some Robin Hood legends lately, but I don’t think they’ve got them anymore in England, probably. But I don’t MUCH mind that I’m not fantastic at it.“
He’s not sure how it’d work anymore, drawing from the left anyway. He’ll probably have to switch hands and, it’s a lot of work for something that isn’t THAT important, really. “Bit like I’m breaking something important, but I’ve done far worse than that in Starkhaven and it wasn’t quite the end of anything.”
“Just being competent at something you enjoy isn’t a terrible thing. Or even terrible if there’s no harm in it. I’m no artist, but the drawing things are - it’s peaceful.” Noah leans to spoon some nut butter on his plate and adds some options to mess with it. “Right. Get comfortable and I suspect Sebastian’ll be up here soon.”
“Coming through, actually.” Sebastian’s down the hall a little, and Cupid’s tags are jingling a little as they all head in. And okay, it’s a bit weird, given how things have gone with Aedan lately, but since they all seem to be doing well enough right now, he’s not going to dwell on mentioning it. “Everyone comfortable so far?”
Noah pats the spot next to him. “If you’re fine with me falling asleep on you.”
“Not a problem at all, somehow.” Sebastian smiles and settles in, while Clint is grabbing his own spot.
“So,” Clint nods at the screen. “Meercats. I don’t know much about them, actually. They’re cute and live in Africa? Uh the Savannah parts of it, right? And...stuff?”
“Pretty much the working knowledge you need for this.” Sebastian nods. “They’re good at explaining things other than that.”
“And I keep dozing off at the end of it.” Noah shakes his head. “More the hour that we’ve watched it than any opinion of the show.” He snuggles in next to Sebastian. “I think there’s closed captioning, though they insist on writing out what the meercats are squeaking. We could turn it on.”
“They include the dialogue?” Clint sounds incredibly amused. “Actually, it’d probably help if they’ve got any kind of accent. You’re easier, all of you, because I can see your lips at the same time, but…”
Noah grins. The announcer, as he remembers, was a fairly smooth voiced guy, but the image of Scottish accented meercats is kind of cute. “If it annoys, we can adjust things.” He slides the cookies closer to Clint. “If you’d like to try the options. I’m trying to be a good housemate? Resident?” He looks at Sebastian. “Friend? I’m trying.”
“You’re doing just fine.” Clint assures him, “And thanks.” He’s snagging a couple of cookies now and settling back a bit. “Thanks for checking too. It’s nice when people don’t assume either way.”
“It seems like it’d be kind of - annoying? Like they’d think you weren’t used to things? I don’t know.” Noah’s got blankets and a mug of tea. “Remind me, Sebastian, that Balthier sent some photos of the play - the one that Basch and Calum posed for the set pieces. Painting trees so the branches would be a nice frame, and that kind of thing. I can pull them up if you think Calum’d be curious. Do you think Steve would like a copy too, Clint?”
“Right.” Clint agrees. “It’s hard sometimes to…” And he shrugs a little. “Half the time it’s fluctuating so I get that people might find it a little bit hard to grasp, since it’s not static but I usually know one way or the other, you know? Anyway, I appreciate it.”
“Oh did he?” Sebastian smiles. “Sounds like that would be something they’d like to see, then. It seems like it’s gone well, then.”
“You know, he probably would.” Clint nods. “Steve’s been wanting to get back into art. I think the whole wedding thing was a lot more stressful than he’s saying. Or, well. The Asgardian part of it. He’d probably like to start by seeing what somebody else came up with. Maybe they could do something at some point. I think they have those places you can go in to paint with all the supplies or something.”
“I can -” Noah fumbles a bit with the phone and leans to take some of the crispier cookies for dunking in his tea now that he’s dutifully had some of the nut butter and crackers. “First few are under neutral lighting, and then the next set is under the stage lighting. The dark ones are showing how the little LED stars came out. The last few are with the actors.”
The set’s not that complicated. Well, by Archadian standards. Some stone walls for a building and some forest background pieces, along with a lower piece to turn the shed into the castle walls for a sword fight.
“Oh that’s amazing, with the lights.” Clint sounds impressed. “His design or…” He’s not sure how that works in colleges, really. “Looks like a fun play, too.”
“We probably should have tried to see more than the set.” Sebastian admits now. “Well. I think Cal was curious enough that HE went. “
“He did?” Noah asks. “And it’s - I think Balthier was starting with some rough sketch ideas and drew up some proposed versions of them and worked from there. I haven’t asked him what the process is like.”
“Something about what he read being intriguing.” Sebastian nods. “Which works. He probably needs to get out a little, sometimes as it is. And that’s kind of amazing as something that started out that roughly.”
“It did sound like an interesting plot. Sort of - Three Musketeers style band of brothers running around, and set in rural Spain in the 1900’s or something like that. Probably could let Balthier know that asking Calum for help again might be popular? If -” Noah yawns and trails off as the film finally starts to get into animals instead of panoramas with distant animals. “Ah - there it goes.”
And, true to his track record so far, Noah drifts off, sometime in the middle of a sunrise over a large family of meercats peeking out of their dens.
The meercats are cute enough, honestly, but it’s the fact this is all happening in such a nice, low key sort of way that Clint appreciates too. It’s nice to know that it’s possible to spend time with people like this, and have things not feel like he’s the world’s biggest outsider. It’d probably be a good idea to do this again, or maybe find people who could use it too. It’s worth thinking about, anyway.
Noah does wake up just in time to catch the end of the show, blinking sleepily at a nest of baby meercats. He shifts a little to kiss Sebastian’s cheek. “I should, if I was smart, move to sleeping in a bed instead of pinning you down half the day. How was it, Clint? Is this one new for you, Aedan?”
He’s casually digging out their meal suggestion list to see what’s on there for a potential quick lunch, since Aedan’s around. Mug of soup and waking up to Sebastian working on his laptop sounds incredibly appealing, but Aedan might be sick of soup right now.
“I hadn’t seen it actually.” Aedan pauses. “I’m not actually sure I learned much, but there were babies.” Baby meercats are always a good thing. Most baby animals are. Well, probably things like fish or lizards aren’t especially more adorable because they’re tiny, since the features seem to be about the same, but…
“It was fun.” Clint says, “I sort of like the one with the darker mask the best? She seems a little...she reminds me of somebody. Not that I know how you tell your best friend she reminds you of a meercat, but I’m borrowing the dvds at some point if Nat ever turns up here to see her react to that. “
Aedan snorts at that. “Probably not the BEST thing you tell women, but that sounds like it could be fun.”
Noah yawns. “No skippable parts? I don’t remember any. I’m wondering if Basch would enjoy it.” He hesitates. “For context, again, we -” He digs out one of the plastic cases and shows the neat little note about when to skip over anything grim or bloody. “Since - some days you’re just not up for that.”
“That’s probably a really good idea.” Clint says, nodding. “Sort of like the heads up about stuff that gets to me that I’d rather avoid sort of things someday and all. And lets see. They weren’t really in any uh meercat peril or anything? I think it might be setting up for a new predator in the next one, but…”
“So he might be fine with it.” Noah stretches his back as he uncurls. “Do you want lunch, Clint? Or are you heading back soon? And -” He frowns. “Can I steal one of you to watch the pot for me, because I don’t trust how awake I am.” This was - peaceful. Noah could see doing this again. He eyedarts over at Sebastian. “I wouldn’t mind doing this again sometime?”
“I could handle that.” Aedan says, “Pot watching probably could look like some sort of a…” He glances a little at Clint. “Uh skill I’m picking up.”
“Lunch would be good, actually.” Clint smiles. “If nobody minds. “ He doesn’t really want to impose, but there’s also, well, not a lot to go back out to. “I uh...this might sound a little desperate but I feel so much better around you guys. Less like I’m the weird out of place one. Which is probably in my head, but it’s not something we got around to in therapy yet, the way I do that.”
“If I was being a nosy jerk, I’d say make a note on the phone about it, but -” Noah waves a hand. “I’m half asleep, and I’m going to use that as an excuse until dinner time.” He moves toward the kitchen. “Do you have a lot of work for later, Sebastian? Because I might be - coherent later, and I was thinking if it was portable work, you could bring a laptop over when you were almost done. Or I could help with homework in the sense of getting asked things when I wake up and snoring the rest of the time.”
He’s thinking soup - maybe the leaking chicken or potato and leek, and bread. Perhaps with something to smear on the bread. There’s a couple of options involving basil and nuts that might add some calories for Aedan, and it’d be tasty dipped in the soup. There’s one for chives and butter which sounds - interesting.
“Probably worth figuring out at some point, true.” Clint shrugs. “Nosy or not, it’d probably help. But definitely use that if you can. Plus I don’t think anybody could complain about it. Well, jerks could.”
“I’ve got a few letters to work on, possibly, but it’s nothing with a deadline for right NOW.” Sebastian pauses, then counts back on his fingers. “Our next meeting that they want the drafts in for isn’t for four more days. And then, with the fact checking, they’ll probably end up with some details shifted a little, too. You know how committees work. It would be nice to do them near you.”
“Potential. I’m thinking - this or that.” He slides it over so Clint can see. “There’s the suggestion we could make a flavored thing to smear on the bread. Remember the bright green chive one, Aedan?”
“That one worked out,” Aedan says, nodding now. It’s a little weird to distinguish between foods being things that aren’t going to send him into spirals of weird brain related issues and things he likes now, but… “I did like that, actually. Or...I think so anyway. It was good.” Which works right now as far as all of that goes.
Noah moves to pass the soup over, and leans on the counter. “So, that’s a plan. Anything you’d like, Clint?” The idea with the list was that Aedan could, casually, rate things as a yes or a no, and the food would appear at meal times. Some of the elements were things Aedan wanted to try cooking, so Aedan was slowly gaining a set of things he could cook, even if he couldn’t always eat it.