Morningstar Manor

Charlie had worked in the morning - more abusive phone calls, including one horrible one from a journalist who had dragged up all that Brandy Labarge nonsense from 2006 with the bawdy house and the lack of trousers and stuff - and was trying to calm himslf down by drawing.

Also the conservatory had a morbid fascination for him and he was reassuring himself that what he thought he might have remembered couldn't possiibly have happened.

He sat on a bench with his pad of paper on his knees and a 'field' set of watercolours, brush point darting as his unfocussed eyes followed the flow of life in the plants and the people who came and went.

Nick felt guilty - an unaccustomed and uneasy feeling for him. He didn't normally regret much about his actions. But sometimes he acknowledged that he could have done something a little differently, or not at all, and this was one of those uncomfortable times.

It wasn't that Seth was annoyed exactly - what else could Nick have done - but fighting his way through a thicket of illegal greenery every time he wanted to get into his studio must have been irritating.

So Nick made breakfast, to the best of his ability, and took it through to Seth and said yet another contrite, "sorry."

Technically they shouldn't have put it in the pool, but the Manor could afford to replace it if necessary and it had to be admitted that a genuine floating pirate ship was a lot more fun than one on the grass.

Nick tied it off securely at one side of the pool so the prow was in the shallow end and the stern over deep water for jumping in, and wondered who would be the first to find it. There were plenty of posters up, that was for sure.

{Standard party post - get your pups' scantiest swimmers on and come and say 'Aaaaar'}

There were some days when Seth just couldn't believe his luck. Living in a building like this, being able to paint for a living - and being in a relationship with Nick.

Today was one of those days. He'd watched Nick doing work in the garden - hot, sweaty work. That always got Seth a bit hot himself. That this big, gorgeous, kind man saw anything in little average Seth was still a mystery to him. But oh he was glad Nick did.

Of course a big man like Nick needed to eat so when he got home from work Seth had dinner ready - steaks and baked potatoes and salad and bread and beer - and if he was being a bit doting well, who could blame him. Sometimes he liked to dote on Nick.

"There's ice cream for desert if you want it," he said, beginning to clear the empty plates from the table.

The garden had new facilities tucked away in a corner near the gazebo. It also had a table with a bright parasol shading cool boxes of drinks and large number of small children scampering about followed by their parents.

In fact there were two inflatables, one smaller and more toddler friendly than the other, because it only seemed fair to let the grownups have fun as well.

{ooc: sorta party post. It's Nia's birthday party but that isn't generally known. What IS obvious is that anyone who wants a bounce can have one! Ladies - no stilettos, 'kay?}

Ringing Mum on Sunday while she relaxed after her Sunday roast and while Charlie was waiting for his spuds to brown was routine by now and they had had a nice long chat and, as usual, his dad had takent eh phone for a few minutes to ask after Nia and extend his best wishes to Deacon. But for Dad to have telephoned Charlie made this a bit of a red letter day.

Vastly pleased, Charlie multitasked, chatting to his father and playing football with Nia. ( Read more... )

Charlie picked Nia up and cuddled her while she boo-hooed and hiccupped, and amused himself by dribbling the ball back towards the Mocha to bbe handy for when Nia stopped crying and demanded a cookie to 'make it better'. Whether she'd get one or not remained to be seen.

Hi, whacha doing? I sent D out on the pull! Hold me!

"You are awesome."

Gabe was standing in the main room of their spa and looking up at the beauty taking shape above him. Seth had arrived yesterday to plot out what he needed to do and had even gotten to work with the base blue of the sky. Today he was working on clouds and some varying shades of blue to mix into the background and - eventually - there would be some sunlight making a few of the clouds glow as well. Already it was looking fantastic.

Laying on his back up on the scaffolding Seth grinned and glanced over his shoulder and down at the man watching him. Yep he'd been right. Gabe was even hotter in person than he was in his pictures.

"Thanks," Seth said, one bare foot swinging over the edge of the scaffold. "But wait til it's done."

"When it's done you're going to get the VIP treatment here, Mr Roth," Gabe said and smirked a bit to hear the faint whimper from above.

Kris hadn't really had a chance to socialise yet, but today the workmen had finished laying the laminate flooring and were applying a protective coating of lacquer. They had politely pointed out that he was in the way and, once they noticed, added that it would be better if he went right away rather than hanging round in the corridor.

So Kris had taken the hint and was leaning back on a sofa, coffee cooling close to hand and wondering if he might spot any of the people he had been told might be useful for him to meet. Seth and Charlie, for instance, whoever they were. Painters he understood. Someone else called Spencer. Something to do with Michaels Bros spa.

But really he'd talk to anyone who appeared to be interesting.

Charlie had worked in the morning and now it was daddy time, so he was indulging in the time-honoured occupation of lounging on the lawn and letting his offspring pile stuff on him.

They had drinks, Nia was slavered in sun-block and was wearing a very fetching hat and all was right with the world.

With Brian in the middle of his chest he chatted to Chester on his almost new iPhone, it still had the plastic film on the screen, and watched Nia chatting to her penguin as she tried to balance it on his stomach.

"So no ... no .. no announcements ... no we certainly don't want a banner and streamers!" He gave a shout of laughter. "If Maurice jumps out of a cake D would make him eat it - all! Hah, no nice try. It's all under control - I think. Oh hang on Chester, someone's coming. Talk to you again ... yeah byee."

Anastasia sat alone at a corner table of the mocha, wearing a printed grey tank dress and some black flip flops. There was a sketch book in front of her and some snapshots in a discarded drug store envelope next to her sketchbook. She was contemplating drawing some of her photographs or maybe painting them. Or maybe she could just find someone in here to draw or photograph.
She needed some sort of project after all. Preferably something that kept her out of her own apartment.

The walls had been made good, a new bathroom area installed and decorated and the walls painted in pleasant pastel shades in washable paint. The carpet, also fully washable, was laid and now it was time to bring in the furniture.

It could have been a nightmare but Ms Pascuale, the manager, was a very sensible woman and had made a floor plan so all they had to do was carry the pieces in and, in some cases, assemble them.

Sunday was technically Nick's day off but helping out was fun especially when Seth and Charlie were along to get involved.

"Pass me that allen key," Nick said. "No that one. The little one. yeah, that one."

The Mocha was teaming with people today.

Seth and Zack took up one table, sipping coffee and both working on their own individual things - Zack on the phone with a client and jotting down notes as he talked and Seth working on a sketch of Nick, sprawled in a hammock on a beach in nothing but shawn off denim shorts.

****

Kara was curled up in one of the comfy arm chairs with a huge mug of coffee. She'd been in Boston for a wedding she'd been trying to get out of going to but had been informed by her mother that she'd be in serious trouble if she didn't show up. So she had and was now recovering from massive amounts of family time.

****

Max was also at a table with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. For once he was dressed casually - jeans and a dark blue, tight, t-shirt. He didn't have to be anywhere until much later and had decided to take the day to relax. Maybe even go for a swim later. One never knew.

****

Erik was in the garden, tending the herbs he'd planted in one of the tenant plots. He too was dressed casually in jeans though his shirt was a button up and the sleeves where rolled up to his elbows. The great composer, usually seen dressed to the nines if he was seen at all, looked even more at ease here, on his knees with his hands covered in dirt.

****

In the gym Demitri was working out. Wearing black track pants he'd shed his shirt a while ago. His strawberry blond hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck as he took a break from the weights and went through a series of stretches on the mat to keep himself limber.

Well wrapped in tissue with a note:

I couldn't get the black ones. Hope these will do.

Thanks for listening.

xx Chas

There were two smallish blonds in the garden, one sitting on a bench and playing a guitar and the other stretched out on his belly in the grass with a sketch pad and drawing the guitarist.

"Do you have to do that?" the guitarist asked, jerking his chin at the sketch pad.

"Do you have to do that?" the artist retorted and nodded at the guitar.

"Touché," Zack replied and grinned, continuing his playing.

Seth grinned back and continued to sketch him.

Amazingly Joy had volunteered to take Nia to the loo for Charlie so he was sat with an enpty stroller and a laptop where he wasn't having to find youtube vids of Piglu or Ivor the Engine for the moment.

Instead he was checking out the crazier entries for Eurovision and whimpering quietly.

They'd tumbled in from outside about twenty minutes ago, talking excitedly - Zack with large hand gestures - and headed straight for the Mocha. Now the two small men were both sitting cross legged on the couch, huge coffees in hand, and continuing their conversation.

"But I don't remember Spock and Uhura having a relationship," Seth said and Zack waved his hand in dismissal.

"Who cares?" he said. "It was fucking amazing! And could they have possibly gotten hotter actors for Spock and Kirk?"

"Is it sad that I find myself having a serious thing for Bones?" Seth said and giggled. "Scotty wasn't bad either."

Zack shrugged and sipped his coffee. "He reminded me of someone to much," he said and Seth quickly changed the subject back to Spock and Zack perked back up.

Jason was officially at work but at the moment he could be found in the Mocha, sitting at one of the tables and drinking his coffee - bagel on a plate before him - and flipping through the local paper. A purrt made him glance down and he smiled at Isis, scratching the Siamese behind the ears and then watching her trot off. She'd become the Manor cat more than his own and that was fine. Meant he didn't have to worry about her.

Today was Friday and he was glad it was Friday. It meant that Spring Break was soon over and he wouldn't have to worry about the kids in the Manor getting up to trouble because they were bored.

Yes Friday's were good.

****

Erik had emerged from his apartment this morning in search of tea. Not because he didn't have any of his own but because he realised it had been - well a while since he'd gone out. A new piece was consuming his mind and somehow he'd let several weeks go by. Of course seeing his neighbors wasn't the only thing he needed to do - he'd been neglecting Angela as well. And that wouldn't do.

So as he sat with his pot of tea and waited for it to steep just right - or as right as Manor tea would ever get - he tried to decide which restaurant to take Angela to dinner at tonight.

****

Seth was sitting in a corner - massive cup of coffee in front of him and his sketch book out, pencil moving busily. From time to time he'd glance up at someone in the Mocha and then back down again. He was in a silly mood today and so was drawing characitures of the Manor tenants. They were really quite good - and amusing as hell.

Ruprecht would probably skin him alive if he saw the one Seth had done of him earlier.

Charlie never rushed decisions about art. He had told Anastasia that he trusted his gut feelinggs, and he did, but where other peoples' livelihoods were concerned he was always prepared to take a second opinion.

So he had shown Mrs Wentworth's portfolio to Andy and Leena and, as a control, to Sean, had listened to what they had to say and was now seated with his back to a wall having another sneaky look while he made up his mind and multitasked effortlessly by supervising Nia colouring in a drawing of a cat.

It was a fat tabby cat with an insane grin which Nia was busy making even bigger.

It was still way to cold for Seth to want to sit outside and sketch but he wanted the sunlight. So he got himself a coffee and headed to the conservatory for a bench near the the large glass windows.

Here it was warm and there was plenty of sunlight and Seth curled up on the bench with his sketch pad on his knees. He'd spent part of the day yesterday at Demitri's dance studio and had come away with some wonderful quick sketches of the gorgeous blond dancing. Now he was taking his favorite and fleshing it out. Most likely he'd wind up putting it to canvas eventually.