2021-12-13 - The Art of Speed

Outside, there's the sound of a car roaring down the street. Benedict drifts into a parking space, and hops out. It's a quick little walk in the evening chill, dressed as he is in jeans and a t-shirt, and he's rapping on his cousin's door.

Usually it's Erin's car, that sexy low rumble as she pulls into the drive after work. This one was all together new. That or at least something she'd not heard for awhile. The sound of the car heralds the knock on the door and with a grin, she hops up from something she was gift wrapping on the coffee table to hurry to the door. There's a glass storm door then a decorative wooden and frosted glass door. The latter gets flung open and the younger Addington can't refrain from the whoop of joy as she pushes open the storm door and throws her arms around her cousin. Taller cousin. Much taller. That says a lot to her 5'9" frame!

"Oh damn, I thought you forgot about us in this part of the world." So, there's a little idolization and hero worship when she lifts her dark eyes to him. "I can't believe you're here!"

The embrace is returned, and it's clear Benedict's just as happy to see Erin as she is to see him. He basks in that idolization and hero worship for a minute. "Forgot? No, not even a little. It just took longer to track you down than I would have liked." Suddenly being catapulted forward in time probably had something to do with that. "And with the family split, I couldn't exactly ask certain people." He doesn't dwell on that unpleasantness. "It's really good to see you again, Erin."

Realizing they were standing there at the door, Erin gives him a sheepish smile as she releases him. "Would you come inside? Please, my home is your home and all that. I've even got a spare bedroom if you're here for any length of time. Or will you be staying at Grandmothers?" Old habits died hard. Erin will always call Margaret grandmother. Stepping back, she leaves space for her taller cousin. But not before peeking out in the drive and giving a wolf whistle. "Sexy beast of a car you have there."

Once he comes in, she will close the doors behind and make a sweeping motion around. "Mi casa es su casa." She spoke Spanish at times this was one of them. "Ah, my house is your house." There's a tree, a beautiful pine, real, decorated near the picture window overlooking the drive. A present is semi-wrapped. Enough so the contents aren't clear.

"Just when you think your Christmas shopping is finished, along comes a long lost cousin. A favorite cousin." Another smile for him and she walks towards the kitchen area, the open concept room allowing them to continue talking. "Want something to drink?"

"Thanks. She's my pride and joy, right after the planes." Benedict smiles, coming further in. "A drink would be great too. And no, Erin, I'm home. Really home. And staying here. I moved over to the Reserves. I've got a place, a job.....although I very much appreciate the offer of somewhere to stay."

"Modelo or wine?" He was driving though, so Erin adds as an afterthought, "Or a sparkling pear beverage, no alcohol?" Choices, choices! Peeking back towards him, she looks at first dubious then delighted! "You are really here to stay? Has something happened? You aren't sick or anything? Your parents are fine?.." a hesitation. "Grandmother is fine?"

The thought of him getting a place and staying seemed to be a wonderful thing if her expression is anything to go by. "You've already got a place and a job? Where are you staying?"

"Beer is good." Benedict shakes his head at that. "No, I just...I dunno, Erin. It's gotten harder and harder to leave the past few times I visited. Finally I decided it was just time to come home for good, and I can finish my twenty in the Reserves...I always intended to come home when I retired, I just figured I'd stay on active duty till then. But yes...everyone is fine, as far as I know." There's a sigh then. "The family split...it's made it more difficult to find people. And it seems like a lot of us have left, while I was gone." He gestures off in a given direction. "A fairly nice set of apartments. I'm going to buy a house, probably, but I haven't found the right one yet."

"I used to have a neighbor, but he left town also. The one next door may be for sale." His house she means. Erin reaches in to get a couple of beers and opens both before bringing him one and keeping herself one. "Whatever it is that brought you back, I'm glad you're here. Almost equally, I want to shake you and ask you why you've come back to hell." She tries for a smile and almost forms one. "A lot have left, but I'll always live here."

"Neat." Benedict says of the house, taking the beer and clinking it against hers before drinking. "I never saw myself living anywhere else, once I was done with my service. I was born here, I'll die here." He agrees, frowning slightly as his cousin fails to manifest a smile. "Back to hell. So it's that bad then, now?"

"Maybe I am exaggerating a little. It's not as bad as it was, things got weirdly crazy for awhile, then just stupid. Now though, I think something is settling it all down." Erin walks over to the sofa, "Want to have a seat? I'd like to see your apartment if you get one. I used to live in the fancy ones until I decided to get this house on the beach. I have zero regrets." She does look curious. "What sort of job did you get here?"

"I'm an investigator at the District Attorney's office. Badge, gun, justice. You know the drill." Benedict answers with a grin, flopping down on the sofa. "And sure. You'll have to come over. And then when I buy a place, we can do the whole house warming thing. And we'll have to go flying again, too."

"Oh, you're an officer of the law? Interesting. Have you met everyone you're going to be working with?" Erin asks casually. "I'm impressed, you've done so many things with your life." Tilting her dark head, she smiles. "We will definitely do the house warming thing. Are you going to Grandmothers for Christmas?" Her eyes widen and she laughs out loud, unable to contain her delight. "Yes, we'll go flying, I'd love that!"

"Most of them." Benedict smiles back. "Well, you know...we're Addingtons. Service is in our blood. That's what dad always says, anyway. That we're the little Kennedys of the Pacific Northwest. I guess I really took it to heart." There's a slight sigh at the talk of Christmas. "I...hadn't even heard if she was having one or not, this year. For everyone, I mean. She's become pretty reclusive, as I understand it. Really pulled back. I hear Hyacinth has taken over most of the family business." There's an awkward pause. "What happened, with you two? If you don't mind telling me."

"I think I have heard him say that somewhere before. The Kennedy's." Erin smiles just a touch, "Grandmother will always have Christmas as long as she is able to. It's always about keeping up appearances and all. And every family member will be invited so that it looks as if we are a solid and united front. It doesn't fool anyone though." She again gives a smile, even if a strained one. "Hyacinth was also disinherited. I don't know if she has regained her favor or not, but I hope for her sake she has. Things happened, a lot of weird things. This Alexander you spoke of could give you some answers you may be able to understand better than I could explain. Or even Ruiz, the chief."

"Oh, I missed that." Benedict winces. "I've met Ruiz, too. I'll have to check in with both of them." He'll come back to that. He's definitely more worried about what's going on with his family. "So you, Hyacinth..who an earth is holding things down at this point?" He sips at his beer thoughtfully.

"It was Patrick until he left. Now I have no idea. I don't ask. I don't visit. I don't bother anyone over there. I just do what I have to do. I work and that's about it lately. When I want to do something fun, I drive my car very fast out of town." Erin laughs a little. "Just like you taught me."

Benedict beams at that. "Well, I'm glad you haven't forgotten that at least." He joins in the laughter, before asking "How is work, anyway? Are you still happy you got into nursing?"

"I have zero regrets in that. Buying my car, taking the top down and just driving to forget. It's exhilarating, I admit." Erin glances towards the Christmas tree then back to him. "Whatever you choose to do for Christmas, I hope I at least get to see you that day. You're my favorite family member you know." She sips the beer before giving a response. "Nursing is something I love doing that I never really knew I'd be good at. I am good at it though. How about you? An investigator? Asking all of the right questions to all of the right people. If you need any scoops on some of the locals, let me know."

"Awww." Benedict beams at being told he's the favourite. "You and my little sister, for me. And no I'm not going to pick between you" He teases. "And I'll take any scoops you have, to be honest. The more I know the better, given the way this place is. But yes...essentially it's figuring out the right places to look, and the right questions to ask."

"Oh I would never ask you to choose. Your sister is a great person. I'm.. only great sometimes." Erin does look amused and she even has the audacity to blush. "Alexander is a fountain of information. Chief Ruiz is also. He protected me a lot in the past when things were going on. Benjamin.." She hesitates there before smiling. "His family does construction work, he's owner, he's very strong, very dependable. So if you need things done, I recommend him."

"I'm pretty sure you're great all the time." Benedict remonstrates, before considering the list. "Aexander, CHief, Benjamin..." Something about the way she hesitates, and then smiles, makes him cant his head. And then ask the next obvious question. "Are you seeing someone, Erin?"

"Honestly? I don't know." Erin muses mostly to herself. "Maybe it's better not to label it right now. I would really hate to make anyone uncomfortable. To be honest, I'm terrible at relationships, but I've also not had much of an example in my life. Not that it's an excuse." She tilts her head a touch, considering him. "What about you? Someone in your life from where you were, or someone you've met here?"

"Oh, I'm definitely going to make someone uncomfortable." Benedict grind, cracking his knuckles. "Come on Erin, you know how it is. Whoever this person is they need The Talk." There's a shake of his head at that. But he doesn't keep things from Erin, and she specifically included previous places too. "Nah. Things got pretty serious with someone while I was posted in the UK, but other than that I've avoided actual relationships."

Erin laughs, "You will run him off." Teasing, mostly, but she really is amused at the idea of him giving the talk to someone on her behalf. Another sip from her beer as she listens him speak briefly about his own history. "If you ever want to talk about it, you'll come to me won't you? You know you're more than welcome to. I'd love to be that listening ear, alright?"