Carpathia IV: Episode 117 - Bacon
Andrast, Amenaru's house
Amenaru staggered down the stairs, mouth wide open in a gaping, toothy yawn. The sun was only just rising over the hills and blanketing the town with its warmth. Waking up this early would have been enough keep him groggy for a good while, but he never went to bed, instead staying up all night keeping an eye on a sleeping Kit. Rather, a better way to put it was a passed-out Kit. The first floor of the house was quiet aside from the gentle sound of frying eggs coming from the kitchen. Sleepy though that he was, the smell made his ears wiggle and perked him up, if only just a little.
James: Not like you at all to be up this early. Eggs? Bacon?
Amenaru's ears pitched forward, as though steering him toward the bacon.
Amenaru: Both, if you don't mind. I actually didn't go to bed at all last night. Just keeping an eye on Kit.
James: You deserve a rest after yesterday. Sit and I'll make you breakfast. Where's Tiggy? She might want a bacon slice.
Amenaru plodded to one of the seats behind the counter that divided the kitchen and the dining room and plopped himself wearily into it.
Amenaru: She's sleeping in the bed. She seems to like Kit a lot. He's the only person she's never hissed at.
James: Kit must be a good one, then. Remember that bully you had in sixth grade? She tore him to shreds.
Amenaru: I'm just glad he was too embarrassed that he got beat up by a housecat to call animal control after that. What's Sylvar up to? Has he been down yet?
James: He's in Meri's room in the basement. She said she needed someone to model some of her costumes to check fit and make adjustments. He volunteered.
Amenaru: That's very nice of him. He's really getting into the family life.
James: You mentioned his situation a little before you got here and he told me things while we were cooking together. Sure likes to talk a lot, that one He's had a tough life, that's for sure. No family. He doesn't even have a last name. He said it was forbidden. I suppose you know quite a lot about that.
James put a plate of bacon and eggs on the counter and Amenaru started sleepily nibbling at a slice.
Amenaru: Quite a bit, yes. I also know that when he first came on our ship, he was like a little kid in a toy store. Kit's life hasn't been wine and roses either. I suppose I should ask him how much he's comfortable with me telling about his life, but guess I can tell you what I've seen. His dad is a monster. I had to stop Kit from jamming a broken chair leg through his dad's chest and believe me, I wouldn't have blamed it at all if he'd actually gone through with it.
James: The guy from the news with the same last name as Kit? He did seem like a piece of work, but I didn't realize it was that bad.
Amenaru: He's the one. Believe me, he couldn't be much worse than he is.
James leaned onto the counter with both hands and sighed. For awhile, he was silent, which was typical for him when he was thinking about something. Amenaru knew the best thing to do was to just let him be, and that he did, whilst nibbling on his bacon and slicing up his eggs. Amenaru was halfway through his breakfast by the time his father spoke again.
James: How's your heart?
An unexpected question at this time, but one that Amenaru knew would come eventually.
Amenaru: I manage pretty well. I'm required to get a monthly injection to remain on active duty. My next one is in a few days and the doctor gave me what I need to do it myself. I'm pretty close to normal, really.
James said nothing as he simply nodded. With a little grunt, he pushed himself away from the counter and rounded the corner out of the kitchen and into the dining area where Amenaru sat.
James: I know I haven't been father-of-the-year with you myself, especially when I forced you into that band and made you go on tour. If I hadn't done that, you wouldn't have dead spot on your heart.
James picked Amenaru up from his chair and gave him a big squeeze.
Amenaru: What's done is done. It was ultimately my choice to get into all those drugs, so I can't blame you for that.
James: Ah, well, you know, sometimes I can't stop dwelling on my mistakes.
Amenaru: If you want to apologize for something, how about for booking us into the smelliest dumps in Shenah? Really, half those places smelled like pee.
James: Ha! I'm sorry I made you smell pee, then.
Interrupting their conversation was a dainty shuffle from behind them, coming down the stairs.
Mrs. Tiggywinkle: Mao!
James grinned and took a piece of bacon from Amenaru's plate.
James: Hey there, Tiggs! Would you like a piece of bacon?
Amenaru: Oi!
James: Don't worry. I'll make you another one.
James squatted in front of Mrs. Tiggywinkle and held up the slice of bacon, just out of her reach.
Mrs. Tiggywinkle: Mao!
James commenced to playing a game of keep-away from Mrs. Tiggywinkle, pulling the bacon away from her every time she reached for it.
Amenaru: Bad idea, Dad.
That's when James made his fatal mistake. He turned his head away from Mrs. Tiggywinkle and to his son. James didn't notice that Mrs. Tiggywinkle was already hatching a plan, but Amenaru certainly did.
James: Aw, don't worry. It's just a bit of teasing.
With James's attention diverted, Mrs. Tiggywinkle casually strode around to James's backside.
James: If she wants her bacon, she's gonna have to work... OW!
Just as Amenaru excpected, Mrs. Tiggywinkle bit James right on the butt. The bacon only needed a second on the floor for Mrs. Tiggywinkle to grab it and dash away.
Amenaru: Serves you right for stealing my bacon.
James rose, rubbing his bit butt, as he returned to the kitchen.
James: That cat is just too clever sometimes. Anyway, I promised you another one, so into the pan it goes.
Before James could deliver on that promise, more footsteps coming down the stairs. This time, it was Kit, sloppily dressed in Amenaru's jeans and one of his concert t-shirts. Naturally, Amenaru ran to him right away.
Amenaru: Kit! How are you? Feel okay?
Kit: Just tired... hungry too.
The bacon abandoned, for now, James started washing his hands.
James: I've got just the thing for you. Gotcha a nice carrot cake specifically made for tokki. No eggs, dairy, or anything that won't agree with you.
James dried his hands and opened the fridge, taking out a plate with a nice, hearty slice of carrot cake on it.
Kit: Thanks. It looks good.
Amenaru: If you want to rest for today, that's fine. we can go out tomorrow.
Kit: I think I'll be fine later. I would like to go out and do some clothes shopping.
Unable to hold back any longer, Amenaru let out a wide, toothy yawn.
James: Why don't you take a rest? We'll be fine together. I promise I'll make sure your mother doesn't give him anything weird. Maybe Meri or Ramses might have some fun ideas in the meantime.
Amenaru hesitated, loathe to leave Kit by himself again, but at the same time too sleepy to go on.
Kit: It's okay. Go sleep. I'll behave myself.
Amenaru: Alright, you win. I'll just finish up my bacon and eggs first, as soon as Dad gets me that extra piece he promised.
James: Coming up!
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
