Roasting (Ricio)

[Chuck Miller]

It was a lovely day for a picnic. Warmer than the spring had been, though the sun was veiled by thin wisps of white clouds scuttling across the cerulean sky at a lazy pace, pushed along by a light and pleasant breeze.

The lake rippled along with the clouds, reflecting the greenery of the trees that loomed large above, and bees and butterflies skimmed across the grass, winging from flower to flower, their little bodies yellow with pollen for anyone with keen enough eyesight to see.

Chuck sprawled out across an old navy blue comforter he had brought along as a picnic blanket, having decided to eschew any of the wooden tables and benches. With good reason, too; the last couple he had checked had been white with bird droppings. His blanket was far cleaner.

He had carted along a four pack of beer to go along with lunch, whenever the food was finished grilling. That would require Ricio to turn the grill on, first, however, and he uncapped a bottle, waving it toward his brother. "Need any help there?"

[Ricio Miller]

To Ricio, warmer weather was always welcomed. Not for his own personal comfort, but because everything else seemed to come alive. The animals, the plants, even the lake seemed to be enjoying the sun. It also meant that seeing his brother was much more pleasant. Ricio loved spending time with Chuck, but in the colder months it was harder. Chuck couldn’t take the freezing temperature as well as his little brother. And it took more than a “pretty please” to get Ricio to go inside.

And what better way to spend a glorious spring day than to have a little bar-b-que. Ricio wouldn’t have minded if Chuck had just stopped by to chat, but free food and drinks were always welcome. Especially when that food involved meat, since it was a treat for Ricio to have it.

“Help?” Ricio asked, grinning at Chuck splayed on the blanket. “If I could start fires any better I would have been a pyro.” He stepped to the side, to give his brother a clearer view of the smoke and hot charcoal on the grill. “I will take one of those if you don’t mind though,” he continued, holding out his hand for a beer. Alcohol was yet another treat for Ricio. He usually didn’t have the money to get any one his own. His smoking habit was hard enough to support.

“Shall I play the chef today? Or do you not trust me to mix in some road kill along with the beef?” he asked, jokingly.

[Chuck Miller]

Chuck handed Ricio the beer he had just opened, eyeing the smoke roiling from the grill. "A pyro, huh."

He squinted, trying to envision what life would have been like had his younger brother been a pyrokinetic. He didn't think their parents would have liked that any better than the more harmless power he currently had, although he didn't expect they would have reacted in n overtly negative manner; after all, they had an image to maintain of benign tolerance for freaks.

At the question of who was going to cook he began humming in thought. "Hmmm I think -- wait!" He yelped, bolting upright and giving his brother a glare filled with suspicion. "You wouldn't include roadkill." He accused, though his voice wavered with some doubt.

He certainly hoped Ricio wouldn't add roadkill to their meal.

[Ricio Miller]

Ricio took a swig of the beer Chuck handed him, and then proceeded to spew it back out as he burst out laughing. “Lighten up Chuck,” he said once he had finished sputtering enough to catch his breath. “Why would I need to add my personal touch? I think you’ve brought enough to feed ten people.” He gestured to the stacks of burgers, chips, and other picnic vitals that his brother had brought along.

“But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll stay away from the grill.” He grinned, offering the spatula to Chuck. He wouldn’t mind doing the cooking, but he didn’t want his brother to be keeping watch over his shoulder for an extra “spicing up” either.

He took another drink of beer, hoping to be able to swallow this one. “So you still enjoying your regular nine to five life?” Ricio asked. He often teased his brother for his “normal” life, but really he didn’t mind. He wouldn’t care what Chuck did for a living, as long as his brother was happy and the two of them could still see each other from time to time.

“Oh, and was thinking with the weather getting better an all I’d like to stop by and get my guitar sometime,” Ricio continued. “You got any plans this week?” Hopefully he could just swing by his brother’s place and get Chuck to bring the guitar out to him. Instead of Chuck wanting him to come in and hang out for a while.

[Chuck Miller]

Chuck pushed himself to his feet, accepting the spatula with a suspicious glare at his younger brother. "You only suggested that to get out of the grilling," He muttered, though his accusation lacked venom.

Ricio was right about one thing, in any event: they had more than enough meat for the two of them. Perhaps they should have invited their sisters. But no, he enjoyed brotherly bonding time. He didn't dislike his sisters, but he had spent so many years away from home, and they had drifted further apart than was easily repaired.

"Always," Was his answer to the inquiry about his job. He carefully slid burger patties onto the grill the younger man had so helpfully heated up, watching them intently. "I get to talk to everyone."

He paused, and then added. "One at a time."

He liked people, and socializing, and he found it lonely to have as few friends as he did, but he preferred small groups to large crowds. This was especially true in Pilot Ridge, with so many meta humans around.

"I don't have anything particularly planned," He admitted. He wished that he did, but no such luck. "You know how boring I am. You can swing by and get it any time, I should be home."

[Ricio Miller]

“Maaaybe,” Ricio answered grinning. Although wouldn’t have minded cooking, he never passed up the chance to mess with his brother a little. After all, what were little brothers for?

Ricio nodded along as Chuck answered about his job. He understood the need to have a life that fit ones…needs. Although he saved if for times when Chuck was really getting on his case about being homeless, he saw that his brother had his own flaws to deal with. “Interview anyone interesting lately? Maybe someone opening up a soup kitchen that serves five-star meals?”

Although his brother worried about him, Ricio didn’t feel like he had any trouble keeping himself fed, soup-kitchen or not. Still if one opened up that served steak and three course meals, he might be tempted to stop by. He laughed at the image of a bunch of homeless guys sitting around being served by men in suits with towels over their arms.

“Yes, I do,” he said. Ricio always thought that his brother could use a little more fun in his life. Not that he thought his brother didn’t know how to have fun, it was just that he needed to lighten up a little. Be spontaneous and all that. “You should do something about that.” He grinned to show Chuck that he was only half-serious.

[Chuck Miller]

Chuck rolled his eyes as he flipped the burgers, grinning despite himself at the image of a soup kitchen serving fancy meals. "I have a couple of interviews coming up that should be interesting, one of those Operation Patriot agents people are so interested in, and some employees of Hammel. None of them are opening up soup kitchens as far as I know, though, sorry."

He gestured with his free hand at the beers sitting precariously on the blanket he had spread out, "D'you mind handing me one of those?" He asked as he debated whether or not to respond to Ricio's teasing. He thought that he liked being boring; being interesting was hard.

"And how do you propose I do that? Maybe I should get a tongue piercing? Some tattoos?"

He was too conservative in his dress for either of those suggestions to be anything more than absurd, but just for good measure he added, "Quit my job and become an astronaut?"

[Ricio Miller]

“Operation Patriot?” Ricio asked, one eyebrow raised. Ricio had never been exactly…trusting of most government organizations. Although some of them really did their part to try and help out, he got the feeling that wasn’t always their main commitment. “You’ll have to let me know how that goes.” He had heard some people talking about it in town, even dropped by the street the building was on, but no one seemed to know too much about what they were up to in Pilot Ridge.

Still, Ricio wasn’t going to worry terribly about it. He was too easy going for that. But it would be interesting if his brother could get him in the inside scoop.

“Sure thing,” he said, leaning over to grab a beer for Chuck. “Don’t suppose you brought anything a little stronger?” Although Ricio loved to drink, he couldn’t really afford to go out to a bar or visit a liquor store most of the time.

He almost spat out his beer at Chuck’s suggestions. The idea of his brother doing anything so spontaneous was so comical. “Yeah,” he said, coughing a little from choking on his beer. “Get a tattoo on your head that says ‘This Space For Rent’.” He barely had time to finished his sentence before he started laughing, clutching his beer so he wouldn’t spill it.

“You could never be an astronaut,” he continued once his laughter had died down a little. “If you’re on the moon, who would take me out for picnics?” It was only partly a joke. Although Ricio believed he had been doing just fine before his brother asked him to move back to Pilot Ridge, he think it would be the same living apart from Chuck again.

[Chuck Miller]

"Sure, if I can dig up anything good I'll let you know," Chuck promised, although he wasn't sure that he would find out anything incriminating. That wasn't his objective, either; he wasn't an investigative reporter.

He accepted the beer gratefully, though he shook his head in apology as his brother asked about stronger beverages. "Sorry, this is all. I still have to drive home, you know. I'll try and remember to bring harder drinks for Memorial Day."

He fully expected to host a Miller family gathering. Well, maybe not host; his apartment didn't come with a yard, so they would probably have to come to the lake again, but he would provide food and beverages. He felt that counted as hosting.

"If I didn't want to eat this burger I would throw it at you," He grumbled, untruthfully. He would never throw anything at his brother, no matter how exasperating he was. "Maybe one of the girls?" He suggested, though with little hope that would happen. "But if I can't become an astronaut how do you propose I be less boring?"

[Ricio Miller]

Ricio nodded his head, even though he had already moved past most of his curiosity on the issue. If Chuck happened to find out anything and brought it back up, Ricio wouldn’t mind discussing it. Until then, he probably wouldn’t think about it much.

“Well you could always stay out here with me,” he suggested, although he doubted his brother would be up for that kind of spontaneity, even if Ricio always was. Besides, maybe his new friend Jaythen could hook him up with some stronger stuff. And speaking of him…”Would you mind if I ask someone to join us on Memorial Day?”

Ricio doubted that a Miller family gathering would actually happen. He couldn’t really picture his parents sitting by the lake enjoying hamburgers and hotdogs. As for his sisters…well it was hard to picture them without also hearing them lecturing him.

“Yeah, I’m sure they’d be loads of help,” Ricio muttered. It wasn’t that he didn’t love his sisters, he just didn’t particularly like them. Or their beliefs on how one should live. He tried not to let his aversion show on his face, not wanting to ruin the time with Chuck, but he’d never been very good at controlling his expressions.

“Just spend more time with me,” he said, grinning again. “I’ll lead you to your salvation.”

[Chuck Miller]

"Sure, who? Do I know them?" Chuck wasn't terrifically fond of large gatherings, but one other person wouldn't hurt. And if that one person wasn't meta then there wouldn't be a problem, given that it was really his power that made him prefer smaller groups of people. And besides, it was good for Ricio to have friends besides himself.

The request that they spend more time together was met with a raised eyebrow as he prodded the burgers to see if they were done. They weren't burnt to crisps, which was a fairly good indication.

"I think these are ready," He announced, gesturing for a plate with the spatula. "So hang out with you more....it's not like I have anything better to do." He teased, though in reality he was perfectly happy to spend time with his brother. "The weather's been nice lately, picnics every evening for dinner could be pretty nice, actually."

Although he wasn't sure if that counted to make him less boring. Oh, well.

[Ricio Miller]

“Well,” Ricio said, starting to explain. “I haven’t gotten around to asking him. But I owe him a picnic. His name’s Jaythen. I met him the other day when some birds tried to mug me.” He smiled at the memory. Even though Chuck didn’t get on Ricio’s case about being homeless, sometime he wondering if that was only because they were brothers. So it was nice to have a friend also didn’t think Ricio was a total nut for living how he did.

“He’s an actor,” Ricio continued. “He does great impressions.” He wondered if he should mention that the reason his friend was so good at impressions was because of his meta status. But he figured Chuck should be able to handle it. Then again, “Well that’s mostly because of his ability.” He glanced at Chuck trying to see how his brother would handle that bit of information.

He stood and grabbed a plate for the burgers. “Mmm,” he said, his nose inches away from the grill. “Smells great. Even better than possum.” He grinned and shoved Chuck playfully. “Guess you’re a better chef after all.”

For a moment Ricio looked a little sad for his brother. “You really need to get out more,” he said. That was Ricio’s answer to most people’s problems. Everyone spent way too much time cooped up indoors away from the world.

“Dinner sounds nice,” he added. “I’ll try to fit it into my schedule.” Although Ricio might forget most meetings with other people, or at least arrive late, where there was free food and his brother he seemed to have better recall.

[Chuck Miller]

"Jaythen?" He repeated, wracking his brain for any memory of this friend of Ricio's. He came up blank; given how unusual the name was, he suspected he would have remembered it.

"That's no problem." He assured his brother, though he winced involuntarily at the confession that this Jaythen was meta. Well, he had managed to get through school, and Hammel was full of metas. And he had even come back to Pilot Ridge. One extra meta at their party wouldn't make a huge difference.

"An actor? Pilot Ridge doesn't seem the best place for those talents." Unless perhaps one was a drama teacher. There were local theaters, but he had always been under the impression the actors in local productions had day jobs.

He began sliding burgers onto the plate Ricio had produced, grimacing at the thought of possum for dinner. "Do I need to give you a meal allowance? I don't see how anyone can live off possum."

Of course, if they ate more dinners together that would take care of the problem to some extent.

"I get out. I'm out right now!"

This obviously counted!

"And if we have dinner together that'll be getting out. See? I get out all the time."

[Ricio Miller]

Ricio wasn’t surprised that Chuck didn’t seem to know Jaythen. After all Jaythen hadn’t known who Chuck was either. And Ricio couldn’t see the two of them meeting or hanging out either. Not that he thought his brother or his new friend were bad people, he just couldn’t picture them having much in common.

“Ya sure?” Ricio asked, raising one of his eyebrows. He had noticed the wince and he didn’t want to give Chuck a reason to not want to visit him. Beside, he could always drop by Jaythen’s house some other time.

“Yeah. Over at Playhouse. He invited me to see a show but…” he let his sentence drop off. There was no reason he would have to explain his fears to Chuck and he didn’t really want them to become the topic of conversation either.

“Chill Chuck,” Ricio said, grinning at his brother. He was certain that big brothers only existed to give younger ones someone to pick on from time to time. “I do just fine. And possum’s not so bad, Ya just have to know how to cook it.” He elbowed his brother playfully. “Seriously though, I’m fine. I don’t need to be babied.” Ricio wasn’t one to pay by the opportunity for free food, but he didn’t want to be totally dependent on others either. The occasional dinner or picnic was fine. But overall, he felt like he did a decent job of caring for himself.

“Okay. Okay. I see,” Ricio said, holding up his hands in surrender. He was all for teasing and kidding around, but he understood there was a time when his brother might be reaching the end of what he wanted to take. Maybe now would be a good time for a subject change.

Fixing himself a plate of food, Ricio sprawled out on the blanket again. “So…ya talk to The Collectors lately?” Maybe their parents wasn’t the best idea for comfortable topic, but it was the first thing he thought of.

[Chuck Miller]

Chuck didn't pry further into the issue of Jaythen the Actor. He assumed that the only reason Ricio was hesitating to see the play was because it would be inside, rather than any other issues, and so he simply said, "Maybe they'll do one of those plays outside in the park or something."

He made his way the short distance from grill to picnic blanket, burgers in one hand and beer in the other, continuing to grimace at the idea of eating a possum. Of course, human beings ate all sorts of things he thought of as inedible, and he knew there were cultural biases at work.

He didn't feel bad enough about them to even attempt reigning in his visceral disgust at the idea, however; he wondered if that made him as bad as their parents.

"Mmm. No. I'll call 'em tonight, ask about Memorial Day. Maybe they'll want to get together?" He suggested, though with little hope. He had far more hope for their sisters.

"Although maybe I shouldn't invite them. Last time we talked I sort of ended up telling them you were staying with me. It made mom shut up about how worried she was for you."