Lemon Bars and Stars (open)

[Chuck Miller]

The last couple of weeks Chuck had considered Ricio's remarks. He considered himself to be responsible, cautious, and deliberate. But perhaps there was some merit in the accusation that this careful nature made him boring.

Spontaneity wasn't his strong suit, a fact that was reiterated for him as soon as he had determined to do something spontaneous.

Tattoos were out, as was anything involving excessive adrenaline. No driving miles to another city; he had work, after all. No going out to a bar and hooking up with someone he didn't know.

Or, worse, someone he did know.

Eventually he settled on spending the night at the lake. The weather looked to be nice, and if it began to rain his car wouldn't be too far away.

He spread out his sleeping bag by the side of the lake (far enough away he wouldn't worry about rolling into the water while asleep) and opened the tin of lemon bars he had brought with him when ducks began to waddle toward him.

"Oh no, these are mine," he warned, clutching his tin close. He wasn't that spontaneous.

[Jaythen McKay]

It wasn’t too late out. Jaythen had just finished his supper at home, and was feeling antsy. He had all of his lines rehearsed and memorized by heart. He really didn’t feel like spending time playing video games, it just wouldn’t calm his bouncing legs.

So he decided to put them to good use by going for a long, long stroll. He brought a snack with him, just in case. He was starting to wonder why he was getting so many stares, until he realized the brown paper bag might be giving people the wrong idea. He smirked, reminded of the last time he shared his sandwiches with someone. Ricio Miller was quite the card. Someone he hoped to meet again, beyond the family picnic. Until he found his friend again though, he decided it might be fun to mimic the hobo.

Slowly with each step, JT turned into a duplicate of Ricio Miller. Why not? He wasn’t really hurting anybody.

Finding himself at the Lake, Jaythen made his way towards the water. He really hadn’t expected to find someone setting up camp, trying to shoo the ducks away. He laughed. “Hey, those are my friends!” He even had Ricio’s personality and voice down to a t. Playing jokes on people was hardly hurting them.

Just how would this guy react to the apparent resident hobo?

[Chuck Miller]

"Reese!"

Chuck didn't stop trying to shoo the ducks out of the way; his brother might consider the feathered beggars friends, but he didn't. He had only planned on feeding one person this evening, not one person and a flock of birds.

He would, however, be willing to share with his brother, and in that spirit he added, "Then tell your friends to leave off, I didn't bring any food for them. You're welcome to some, if you want, though."

He held the tin up, out of the way of the hovering ducks. "If I had known I was gonna run into you I would have brought some beer."

Perhaps he should have expected this turn of events; after all, this was one of his younger brother's favorite haunts. He would just have to remember to bring beer with him anytime he came to the lake, since he couldn't very well offer to take his brother to a bar.

Ah, well, live and learn.

"I hope lemon bars will serve instead."

[Jaythen McKay]

Jaythen, or rather Ricio’s eyes grew wide in surprise. The first thought JT had about this guy actually knowing the hobo was: ‘shit’.

Scratching his head, JT wondered what was with Ricio and everyone he knew. Were they all a part of a bird watching club or something? He lifted his brown paper bag sheepishly. “No thanks, I’m good.” It really didn’t cross his mind to let the guy know it was sandwiches, but hey, JT could only deal with so much in one sitting.

He still couldn’t decide to actually reveal himself or not. Ricio smirked at the guy, whose name he didn’t know but evidently was supposed to know. Could this be on of his adopted siblings? He’d have to test the water and find out. “Yeah, it’s sort of hard to get a hold of you.” JT laid off the usual wink. Was he supposed to add ‘brother’ somewhere in that sentence? Was that racist?

JT/Ricio made himself comfortable beside the guy, opening up his bag. It seemed like fate had brought them together. He was just glad he had another sandwich. “Do you want one?” He asked, holding out a PB&J to the man.

[Chuck Miller]

Chuck accepted the proffered sandwich with a grateful smile and a murmured thank you. The ducks continued to hover, though he was glad to note that they didn't attempt to come any closer; perhaps he wouldn't have to fend them off after all, so long as they kept this distance.

"I've been trying to take your advice," He explained, placing the lemon bars between them before biting into the sandwich. He didn't think it was that hard to get a hold of him, but then again, he had been out on assignments frequently of late. Perhaps Ricio had only tried to stop by when he was interviewing people.

He squinted up at the stars as he chewed, adding, "It is nice out tonight, but I don't think I could handle it if it started to rain. I really don't know how you do it."

He knew that Ricio's powers helped ease what would be misery for other people, but even then he couldn't envision enjoying the sensation of being exposed to the elements.

[Jaythen McKay]

JT looked at the ducks, wondering if they wanted any food. Last time he met Ricio, he didn’t want to share his food with the birds. Not these ducks exactly, but he supposed that if he were a hobo, he wouldn’t be sharing his food with animals who weren’t really picky anyways.

JT reached for a lemon bar, since the guy had taken his other sandwich. Ricio’s double smiled. At least this look wasn’t too far of a stretch for Jaythen, though he had pulled off harder people, like females for example. He had equally long hair as Reese, which was nearly the same colour.

And, they had similar personalities. “How’s that working out for you?” JT asked. He took a bite of lemon and sighed. “These are great, did you make them?” He had to get more information on this guy. Of course, if this was an adopted sibling, wouldn’t Ricio know if he could bake or not? JT was just testing the waters.

JT shrugged. “It’s not as bad as you think,” he smiled, “besides, I like the wide open space, so it sort of balances out.” JT finished the bar and started in on his own sandwich, just waiting for things to get interesting.

[Chuck Miller]

"You can see how it's working out," Chuck pointed out. He was camping, with only a sleeping bag. That was pretty bold for him. But then Ricio asked if he had baked the lemon bars himself, and he supposed that he had been rather too vague about just how far he was taking the advice to liven up.

"'fraid not. Although that's not a bad idea, baking. Do you think that counts, or is that still too predictable."

If it was something he didn't normally do then it counted....right?

He simply shook his head at the remark about enjoying the outdoors; he still didn't understand, and he didn't think he ever would.

"So where did you get the sandwiches? You have a stash of bread and jam somewhere I don't know about?"

[Jaythen McKay]

JT glanced around him. He had no idea what was going on. “You’re becoming a hobo too?” He asked, doubting he would hit the nail on the head with that answer. Lots of people sat on the shore of the lake. What was this guy’s big accomplishment if it wasn’t also becoming a hobo?

And then the topic about being too predictable. Jaythen wasn’t very bright all the time, but he caught onto hints most of the time. “Baking isn’t predictable. Unless you’re going to be making lemon bars all the time.” Just wait ‘til this guy spoke to the real Ricio. This little event wasn’t predictable at all.

JT laughed. “No, just a friend. He lives in a mansion and I’ve been stalking him.” Okay, this was an obvious lie, but he did have a friend who lived in a mansion. This guy was meeting him right now. “I should introduce you some time.” He said, unable to keep the stupid smile off his face. This was just too good.

[Chuck Miller]

Chuck snorted with laughter at the idea he would voluntarily become a hobo, even in the pursuit of being more spontaneous. He shook his head rapidly, wiping away tears of mirth that were forming at the corners of his eyes.

"No, no, I can't live without the a/c," He gasped, his comment meant to be a subtle reminder that he didn't share his brother's power. In fact, his own power was such that he thought being outside all the time would drive him as crazy as being indoors all the time seemed to drive Ricio.

But then Ricio mentioned friends living in mansions.

"What?! Since when?!" He nearly dropped the sandwich in surprise. Not that he didn't think his brother had friends; he knew that he did. But friends who lived in mansions?! That seemed rather far-fetched to him.

"If you mean that mansion that burned down last spring I'm not buying you beer for a month." He added, his threat not particularly serious, except as a warning that he wouldn't think it was funny.

[Jaythen McKay]

“People used to live without a/c all the time,” he said. It really wasn’t that big of a deal, JT thought to himself. Ricio liked living outdoors, twenty four seven, so, let him. He wasn’t hurting anyone. In any case, whoever this guy was, he seemed to be Ricio’s total opposite. JT would have to ask Ricio about it then next time he brought him sandwiches.

“I don’t know, not that long ago. He invited me to his family picnic,” JT said, shrugging his shoulders like it wasn’t a big deal, because it wasn’t. JT wondered just how many friends Ricio had, seeing as this guy was floored to know such a fact.

JT laughed. “Right, I’m friends with the ghosts who make me sandwiches,” he shook as head, as though he wasn’t the crazy one here. “No, the McKay mansion. Nice family. Adopted family even.” He smiled broadly. It was strange, the similarities JT had with Ricio. He wasn’t feigning happiness here.

[Chuck Miller]

"People used to do a lot of things." Chuck pointed out. And really, some people still lived without air conditioning, but that didn't mean he envied them. He was happy to take advantage of luxuries when he could afford to do so, and air conditioning was something he could afford.

"....The McKay family...." He mused, wondering why that name sounded familiar. Then it hit him. "Oh! Do you mean that actor you were telling me about? Jay....Jason? No, it was something more unusual than that..."

But he couldn't remember what it was.

"So they have a mansion?" There seemed to be quite a few of those on the outskirts of town; he wondered how he had never heard of them. "Do they live near Ms. van Drakke by chance?"

Then another thought occurred to him.

"Do you think anyone died when that other mansion burned down? I never heard anything about the people who lived there."

And that was unusual.

[Jaythen McKay]

"Yeah that's him, Jaythen," he said, grinning like he had a crush. Well, JT really did think Ricio had a small crush on him, but he wasn't going to outright say it. Besides, it was really weird to talk about himself int he third person with someone he wasn't even sure about.

"Yes, they have a mansion..." and the next question threw him off. Jaythen scratched his head, wondering who this Dragon person was. "Uh, I don't really remember," he said, trying to find a segue into a different conversation. JT realized he would be caught in in lies eventually. But that was the whole reason of doing it.

"Well I don't know for sure, but if there was a mansion there, maybe someone was living in it." JT was starting to wriggle in this new skin, knowing that he couldn't keep it up for much longer when he wasn't feeling confident.

"Well, I think it's about time I get going," he said, standing up. Maybe not the smoothest exit, but he had to leave before he changed back into his normal self.