2022-02-14 - Open House

Nailing down timing was already tricky when Vyv and Bax decided that Valentine's Day, cliché and irritating to make reservations for though it might be, was the only really logical point in time to hang the name 'anniversary' on. And then an entire season just up and disappears? What does one even do about that, move the day three months forward? No. Vyv isn't having that. Not even if it would handily line it up rather close to the day they actually admitted they were a proper Thing. Yes, all right, he thought about it, but no. He isn't having it. There is to be no more mucking about with this. Whether they fell out of the universe for a month or three is irrelevant: they are having a second anniversary, and they are having it now.

They are also having dinner, and apparently this time, not in the form of a charcuterie board in bed. Not that Vyv has anything but the fondest of memories for last year's, mind, but it doesn't do to get stuck in a rut. And thus, Bax has been instructed to dress nicely (though demands have not been specifically made for either suit or tie, even if it was more or less a given that Vyv would likely have both, and indeed has gone with a dark purple suit with pale purple plaid shirt, tie in a grid of medium purples, and a neatly folded pocket square of several purples itself, and if the skater recognizes that as an outfit worn at any other time it's surely a coincidence), and at around five, as the sun is just starting to contemplate going down, he finds himself in the passenger seat of the Jag, headed away from the flat.

Bax notices the little things because they're interesting. When you care you get nosey, and Vyv's mood all day, though he keeps it close to his vest, has been...good? Really good. Aww! Grant's bust out one of the suits yv got him for his birthday that can be relegated to the 'things I will let my Grandmother confront you in' like it's social armor and a beacon of fine taste at the same time. Funny that.

His mood is relaxed, enough so that it may risk dancing in the foyer when they get to the restaurant. Maybe Vyv will-...give him the look (Bax always gets the look) and the look is 'I am not not joining'. Road noise is difficult and Vyv's driving but he signs anyways as he Mentally narrates to Vyv, "I keep thinking eventually we Valentines Day on a boat- us. Then I think, hmmm, so cold. More like spending Val Day in ER- hypothermia. Bad. Bad idea. This is great."

Anything Vyv deems safe suitable for Hazel's presence will certainly suffice for dinner, and any local doctors with opinions should take note that any fussing involving hair or pocket squares or ties here is entirely for the sake of things being Right and does not in any way qualify as doting. ...Okay, stopping partway through doing the tie to use it to drag Bax in to be fairly thoroughly kissed for a while might count, maybe. But there's no proof.

Yes, it's true: Vyv's in a good mood today. Though no, not dancing-in-a-restaurant-foyer good. That may well be beyond the range of Vyv Moods. Probably dancing-in-the-flat-without-other-observers good, though. Maybe even begrudgingly-public-dancefloor good, if properly incentivized. Hard to be sure unless one tries.

Signing while driving is not ideal, particularly with a manual transmission. So it's just the Mental coming back in reply, for now: [Southern hemisphere. It's summer there, after all. Or perhaps simply somewhere rather equatorial. I'm sure we could find somewhere pleasant to be boating if we put our minds to it.] Does he know how to boat? Does he intend it to be his problem if he doesn't? At least one of these answers is almost certainly 'no'. [Of course we'd have to plan that a bit further ahead.] A tiny pause, gaze flicking briefly sidelong from the road toward Bax, then back. [...next year, maybe.]

It is not a long drive. It's... an odd drive, a bit. As one might expect, it heads from the apartment toward downtown; not exactly overflowing with good restaurants, but there are some Vyv likes well enough. More likely would be to drive through it and onward, toward larger towns with other options. What isn't what one would expect is the turn that aims them nearly but not quite back the way they came, and it's not until and unless the chef feels Bax starting to notice it that he 'explains', [Small stop to make, while we're out.]

This news gets his mind spinning along several inspired idea threads. He signs back with a murmur, "Vyv... we even know how to boat?" Rightly, Vyv just covered that part didn't he? He slouches in the seat; elbow rests on the window ledge, fingers resting against his forehead as they drive. There's a small smile and there's a glance before a slight turn of his head follows. "Promise me if we ever get one we call it the Good Ship Lollipop." Oh, he is hilarious today. "Or we find like twenty more people and call all the boats Spartacus? Who doesn't love Tony Curtis?" Kirk Douglas but who is counting?

As for where they are headed there are 0 concerns for Bax who is more pre-occupied with the drive, the weather, the look of Vyv with that air of purpose around him. Curiosity does bite him though and his brow knits, that feeling present, but ultimately being anywhere on time has never really been high on the Grant Baxter Hierarchy of Needs(tm). "You detect someone eating a hot pocket and we're going to save them?" Honestly that's as good guess as any.

[Kirk Douglas.] Vyv. Vyv is counting. He's also speaking aloud as he thinks it, but with road noise it's likely still a matter of telepathy and lipreading from Bax's point of view. [And for verisimilitude I believe all the boats would need to call themselves Spartacus.] He's got half an eye on the painter as he drives, enough to broadly catch signing, but it remains for the best that murmurs and mental magic are also being employed. The 'good ship lollipop' suggestion is not even addressed. [I suppose I know the rudiments of how to boat, but I absolutely know how to hire someone who knows the details. Or have my PA do so.]

It all sounds rather theoretical until he muses, [Saffron's likely got one we could borrow, somewhere.] Knowing that particular cousin, 'somewhere' might well be Dubai or Malta, but one handy thing about boats is that they are fairly good at getting from one spot to another.

Today, however? Well, they do seem to be heading broadly toward the coast. [Save, punish, put out of their obvious misery...] Maybe that really is the plan; they turn off onto Bayside, passing the smaller, older cottages nearest the center of town and continuing out toward where the driveways get longer and the houses higher and larger on the ridge. If someone's eating a Hot Pocket, they appear to be doing it out here, and up the driveway that Vyv turns the Jag onto.

At the top, unsurprisingly, is a house. Fair-sized but not immense, a single-storey Mid-Century design in white and wood and glass, with a pergola entryway connecting the house-proper to what looks like a fair-sized garage. No other vehicles or people are visible as Vyv parks. He glances over at Bax, the barest hints of a smile flickering around the corners of his mouth as his brows lift a bit. "Come along," he says, and opens his door to slide out.

Is he... a tiny bit excited? A Bax might get the impression he was a tiny bit excited.

Grant glances sidelong to Vyv, that smile hitting his eyes light and easy as he observes, <<It'll be a busy day for the DMV if they're going to rename all those other boats. Don't envy them.>> Life's so simple for Baxter some days. Is he thinking about this image in his head? Oh yes. There are broadcast images of a bunch of little boats in the harbor all named SPORATICUS. It's close enough. At the news regarding Saffron both eyebrows jump up and he half turns in his seat with slow adjustment. One finger signs Really? That wins marks for Saffron sliding to second favourite. Vylet is pretty boss.

There's a snicker to the punishment of hot pockets. <<I love you never change.>> They pull up the the moderately sprawling Frank Lloyd flat. There's confusion and curiosity rolls off the skater tilting his head *<<We visiting someone? My god this that lady you told me about that keeps asking about my art piece I did for you?" Is he picking up the excitement? he is. Brown eyes scope out the place and yes there's an image in his head that compares that broad flat roof to the skate park and an abrupt self-reminder not to skate people's roofs...or ask. Someone will probably not like that."

It's out loud he says "They're not going to mind us dropping by?" Fingers signing along, curious.

SPORATICUS gets a breath of a laugh from Vyv, and in thought only, [Sporadic Spartacus? I'm Spartacus... on alternate Wednesdays and one Sunday a month.] A nod to the 'really?', and slightly belatedly, [Really.] It does not elevate Saffron any from his current spot amongst the siblings and cousins as far as the chef is concerned, but to be fair, Vyv was already fully aware of the likelihood. Also, Vyolet is pretty boss.

The pleased look at Bax's snicker and comment is faint, but clear enough to someone who's been studying him regularly for the last two years. "It is not," he answers, now that he's out of the car, signing along now his hands are free -- though one promptly ceases to be entirely so as it dips into a pocket, then emerges again: "And no one will mind. I have the key." Neither of them need the key, of course. But while it may be irrelevant to ability, it does represent permission.

Or sneakiness when the key's owner wasn't paying attention. But probably permission.

Another little smile. "Come along," he repeats, and leads the way to the door, which unlike the rest, appears to be painted a summery and extremely mid-century modern shade of aqua. The key -- which, yes, he uses -- opens it smoothly, into a warmly wood-paneled entryway. A step forward and he slides a portion of it back, almost accordion-like, to reveal a passthrough opening into the kitchen. Ahead is a dining area, bordered on one side by built in shelves, on the other by a large stone-clad fireplace, and beyond by floor to ceiling windows, beyond which a backyard and pool are visible -- and beyond that, the sea. It's not quite the same as the view from the 8th floor of Bayside... but one could judge it competitive.

The open plan shows a living room off toward the right, and from where they stand it's a bit harder to tell quite what's to the left, aside from that kitchen. There's furniture, obviously, but everything's neat as a pin, no sign of any actual human habitation bar a few potted plants. Vyv watches Bax rather than taking a proper look around, and there's a few seconds pause before he asks, keys away and signing again as well, "What do you think?"

Grant looks rather confused at first and then realizes belated he's projecting. There may be typos. LOOK, maybe a youth of random substances was not great for his spelling retention. There's a very amused, chagrinned look on teh skater's face. As for what he thinks? Well he's not quick to give an answer on that. That's not Vyv asking BAx as it is first and Artist asking another Artist (capitol A's) this very question.

He falls silent and lets his curiosity guide him through wandering. "Ooooooh pooool. Aww it's filled." Only skaters are truly saddened by such revelations. There is no rush, fingers tracing the texture on the wall and brick, a cabinet, but not the glass. So much glass. "I think...whoever designed this place loves Grey Harbor as much as we do. Not seeing any signs of cult activity, but I think it can be popular for other reasons." An eyebrow arches and he looks back to Vyv signing, <<Could always start one. Cults are very fashionable. You can chase me around the lawn. Throw scones at me. Just so long as they're fresh baked. I don't want to be sconed to death.>>

There's further contemplation. He really digs it but asks, "How you feeling? Other than hungry."

Likely the only person Vyv knows to be disappointed a pool's a working pool, yes. The chef remains where he is at first, then ends up wandering some small distance behind Bax, partly watching him, and partly taking things in again himself. There's a built-in bar alcove, all warm wood, at the front-yard-side of the living room, the only bit not really visible at all from where the question was first asked. Only slightly more evident before exploration is the 'den' sort of room on the other side of the dining area's shelves; currently, it seems to be set up as a sort of comfortable home office. But it could certainly be arranged to hold a couch more in line with Grant's preferences than the one in Vyv's living room, among other things...

Truthfully, though, Vyv's seen the place, and seen it quite thoroughly. Seeing it while Bax is there is a little different, yes, but it's also mostly Bax's reactions he's watching, this time. The place really doesn't lack for texture, and he probably didn't touch quite so many things before as he does while following the skater, adding that to his appraisals and trying to firmly ignore any anxiousness about the verdict that might possibly try to creep in. The reply he gets does a good job of helping with this, though less for its sense of general overall approval than for the way it's couched.

"...have I missed rumours of rampant cult activity by the sea?" he asks, arching a brow, "and I'm sure we could start one, but I'm not sure I'd been feeling the lack. Particularly if it requires the sacrifice of perfectly good scones. I'd broadly prefer you simply ate them." There's signing to go along with it, and an extra-tiny quirk of the lips, "I wasn't aware hot scone pursuit was a notable cult feature, in any case."

How is he feeling? Still anxious, much as he tries to repress it, the mostly-hidden excitement easily bleeding over that way with the relatively calm opinion from the frequently excitable painter. Is this an answer he's going to give? Absolutely not. "Come," he says instead, reaching out for Grant's hand and leading him past the kitchen and into the hall. Down to the left, two decently-sized bedrooms with a bathroom between, and on the kitchen side, the laundry alcove. Back to the right, and into the master bedroom, with its wall of closets and view of the sea. It's smaller than only the living room itself, thus far, and has a large and pleasant if somewhat dated bathroom attached. "That's one thing that would need a bit of redoing," he murmurs, glancing it over again.

Grant can't help that his occupation has expectations. Still he might be able to Ollie into the pool. The view Vyv gets is one of interest and wonder as Bax gets nosy. That mental connection that is enabled also seems to project some blueprint extrapolations of how the space could be used to be made awesome, also add addendum to the patio near the pool for an outdoor kitchen space, and also a giant robot on the lawn. The mind of Bax is not for the faint of fun.

"Aaaaask anyone in the Baxter family our feelings on cults, boo. Pretty certain the Addingons are a related cult. Observation not a- well..." His hand wobbles with a squint before signing <<okay I'm judging>>. But the hand is offered to Vyv and he wraps his fingers around his chef's. "Yooooou've seen this place before. Awwww little retro 70's bathroom!" He positively beams, "Awww you hate it so much, this is badass." Not that he has a love or hate for the bathroom but he can feel the feelings on Vyv like an echo of his own awareness. "Penny for your thoughts?" He pauses curious, "You thinking about this place or somethin?"

Adjustments are made to the mental blueprints. The giant robot is nixed... for here and now, at least. Contrary to some people's impressions, the mind of Vyv is not allergic to fun. It's just choosy and insists on considering things like 'do we know, or know anyone who does know, how to build a giant robot (which will not destroy humanity or our lawn)?' A jacuzzi is added, connecting the pool and the patio extension, with the latter shielding it from rain and snow should someone wish to avail himself of it and its ocean view in the cooler parts of the year.

«You are absolutely judging,» he signs, with the hint of an upward curve to the corners of his mouth. Isn't it nice when couples can share interests?

The hand obtained and fingers laced, he leads that little tour onward, and answers the observation that he's seen it before with a little acknowledging inclination of the head. "Unfortunately vintage '70s bathroom; apparently someone then decided it needed an update. But this isn't bathroom hate, darling. The one that was redone in the early '80s with the gold-veined plastic fake marble jacuzzi and vanity counters and salmon pink pseudo-stone tiling, that was hate." Bax has not seen or heard of the house that contained that before. Vyv has probably attempted to banish it from existence, until referring to it became necessary. "This is merely..." he eyes the tiling, the particular configuration of the shower, "...definite disfavour."

The rest, though, he seems to like. The rest is nearly all as it was originally designed, in its well-maintained high-end mid-sixties glory. Oh, he has thoughts on potential updates here and there, but on the whole... "Mn. Let me show you one or two more things." Back out into the main portion of the house, out the front door, and across. A few steps lead up to a door into the garage, which could certainly fit two cars comfortably, plus built-in cabinets opposite the main garage door and another set opposite the one they've just entered. That set is part of a fair-sized alcove where one could work on things, but Vyv doesn't actually enter, just giving Bax a look before drawing him around the side to another door.

"Office," he says, as he does lead him into that one. It's a fair size, certainly reasonable for a home office, and has pleasant windows and a pair of doors leading out. And a third, which Vyv opens next, and holds for Bax. "...Workshop." It's large and well-lit, with big windows and another set of built-in cabinets along the wall it shares with the garage. Should one have, say, painting or skateboard construction or sculpture or other arts in need of doing... well. This is certainly well-suited to being the place.

Grant holds up his fingers an inch apart with a wobble of his hand. Only a little. he makes one sign before pointing to Vyv in that learned it from you manner. Fingers lace into Vyv's comfortably where they belong. He blinks at the bathroom, then to Vyv, blinks again and points out, "You're never going to be able to afford a down payment anywhere if you keep buying places to smelt their bathrooms." There's a faint grin looking back, "Maybe that's what really happened to Grego's trailer. Unacceptable bathroom. Paid the penalty."

Definite disfavour. There's a gasp, fingers splayed to chest. "Audible gasp. That means no invitation to the Winter Annual." Tch. He follows around and his eyes get bigger and bigger, "Duuuuuuuuuuude, lookit that workbench space. It's...got a shower. The hell they have this for I dunno but that's useful since we really don't have to winterize up here." The rando shit he worries about. There's a blink and a tilt of his head. "Vyv you getting ideas or what cause if you're suggesting 'is this useful in a blueprint' the answer is fuck ye- aaaw you can see the kitchen from here. it needs plants."

"That trailer had unacceptable everything. Aside from a subset of its complement of residents." One of them. One acceptable resident. "And I did not buy the other place to smelt its bathroom. Although I admit I did consider overloading the wiring and letting the situation handle itself." The world should be relieved Vyv has self-control to go with his electricity-control. At least the parts of the world with hideous bathroom decor.

Oh good, the eye-embiggening. Vyv looks quietly pleased with that, and the exclamation about the workbench space. The mention of winterizing gets a quirked brow -- yes, sometimes it's still hard to follow how Bax's train of thought picks its stations -- but there's a tiny smile, and a glance around taken himself. "Mm. I'm always getting ideas. But less 'is this useful in a blueprint' and more 'is this what you'd like in a house'? Because conveniently, it is in a house. Which, I am reliably informed, is for sale." The brow goes up again, this time questioning in a different way. "What do you think?"

"It had...good...acoustics!" God Bax fights the losing battle so hard. When Vyv talks about not buying the place to smelt but thinking about it brings a slow, widening grin to Bax's face. Grant turns to look to Vyv with that eyebrow arched high in that I know you did and I love you for it look. Was he thinking that out loud in his head? Yes. Whatever, oops. What does he think though. Hands come to rest on the Skater's hips looking around at the place and then back to Vyv in an accusatory, but not upset stare.

"You did a thing didn't you?" The grin slowly get hidden but it is there warming up like a lightbulb. "Well... I don't love it as much as I love you, buuuuut it threatens to try. Why's that sound like a buying question? We...we really doing this?" Dress shoes (that he doesn't hate) take him two step closer to Vyv surious and waiting for the answer before asking him with a murmur "Is it cause the kitchen overlooks the workshop so you can know 'what that noise was'?" Now the small grin unravels and shows itself.

"Mn, did it, though?" Vyv is distinctly dubious about even this; he's made it his business not to be in trailers as much as possible, but the few he's failed to avoid have not struck him as acoustically admirable. Or in any other way. That tiny quirk appears at the corner of his mouth when Bax gives him that arched-brow look, and it spreads further into definite hints of a smile at both sides when that thought is accidentally, albeit mentally, articulated. Sometimes, telepathy really does improve one's world.

By the time Grant's looking at him again with that look of accusation, the smile is gone again, though mostly because it would seriously impair the quietly innocent look being given in return. You did a thing, didn't you? Brows go up, transforming that expression to Who, me? That practiced composure serves him well in maintaining the look in the face of the gradually growing reaction, though Bax is on the short list of people who can probably spot and read the brightness in his eyes, and the way it rises at the 'but' on how much he loves it. There's a just-perceptible lift of his chin as the shorter man steps in closer, and when that little grin shows itself, the corners of the chef's mouth start to sneak upward just a touch again as well.

"I might have done a thing," he allows, taking one step nearer in return. "Most of a thing. Not all. But barring something unforeseen I can't sufficiently persuade, threaten, or stab... if you want it to be, it can be ours." That one side of his mouth curls up farther again, though this time no one could deny it's pushing into proper smile territory, and brows lift again as well, "And no, having a sightline from the kitchen to this area doesn't hurt. But the observation couch will be there." He points aside, at the wall that leads to the office. The space beside the door looks precisely the right size. But he already knows that, and doesn't bother to look; Bax and his reactions are of much more interest right now.

...and in the end, A Thing is Done. Vyv never does allow the pool to be drained for skating purposes, but somehow Bax perseveres. The skater is nothing if not creative. The hot tub and outdoor kitchen space make it in, as does the bathroom remodel. The house finds its balance between order and chaos; between Past, Future, and Now.

And someday, maybe, there's a very careful giant robot on the lawn.