RP:Ice Cream And Plotting

Summary: Meri returns from killing mobsters with Lionel and Hudson, and soon after Callum joins her after his failure with the Mage's Guild.

The Rochester-Boyce Home, Larket

It was evening and Meri was already within the four walls of the Rochester-Boyce home, flitting around the kitchen area of the first floor. She was hungry, killing dudes works up quite the appetite, okay? Yet she couldn't really decide what it was she wanted. So she would open the pantry, stare into it for a few seconds and then close the cupboard door. From pantry, to cupboard, to another cupboard, back to the pantry. Finally she settles on moving to the ice box to locate a carton of ice cream, chocolate of course. Presumably Cal is not home at this exact moment, which is why Meri is going to skip the battle of getting that ice cream from carton to bowl. She's just going to grab a spoon and dive in, eating straight from the container like a naughty person. Look, she deserved this. She worked hard today, beat up a few dudes, got herself this tacky gold medallion necklace that she was supposed to wear with pride. A spoonful of ice cream is shoved into her mouth, freeing up her hand for a moment so that she can examine this medallion.

Callum definitely hadn’t been home when Meri got there. As Meri settled in to eat her ice cream, the front door opened suddenly… and then slamed shut. -Now- he’s home. There’s no audible movement in the foyer besides a heavy sigh, for a few moments. While Meri might not be quite sure what he’s doing, -Cal- knows what he’s doing: he’s rubbing his temples and eyes in a irritated manner because he’s still not quite sure what to make of the situation in Xalious. Eventually, keys are heard hitting the small table in the hall and shoes hit the floor. The Catalian let out another sigh and shuffled on towards the kitchen--until he caught sight of Meri out of the corner of those blue eyes. “Hi,” was said, perhaps a bit too sternly, but the frustrated look on his face softened somewhat into an apologetic one. He’d shuffle on a bit more, but this time to the couch she was on instead, and plopped down onto it beside Meri.

Meri jumps, for a couple of reasons. First is the sound of the door slamming, second is the fact that she has been busted eating straight from the carton. Except Cal's day seems to have been bad enough that he is not going to comment or make fun of this. The stern 'hi' rolls off Meri's back like water, she knows Cal better than that by now. The man settles on the couch and Meri angles herself so that she is facing him, offering him her ice cream. Maybe he'd like to eat straight from the carton as well? "I can grab you a spoon too and you can tell me all about it?" She definitely does not think much of sharing the same utensil with Cal. They've smooched quite a bit by now. It would be much easier to eat said ice cream if each had their own spoon though. Meri will wait for Cal to confirm if he wants his own or not, and if he indicates that he does she'll only be gone for a few seconds before she is back in the same position.

Callum shook his head. No. No ice cream. He curled up against her, a throw pillow put in between her arm and his head so he’s not putting all of his weight on her. “How did your thing go?” ‘Her thing’. As if he didn’t know that she was going off to deal with a bunch of loser mobsters. Lionel had been there too so of course there’d have been killing--that was the way of things with that fire sword-wielding blonde. He’d bypassed the subject of his own day entirely, wanting to hear about hers instead. Most, he just wanted to cool down and not continue thinking about his own just yet.

Meri 's want for ice cream is put aside when Cal takes to leaning against her, setting the carton on a nearby coffee table so that she could give the Catalian a proper cuddle. Cal was shoving the subject of what had upset aside, which Meri would let him do. Not because she would rather talk about her day over his day, she was quite concerned about what might have him upset. It was a thing of respect to Meri, there would probably be times where she did not want to talk about a situation, appreciate not having matters pressed. The woman will just snuggle up to Cal and probably play with bits of his hair as she talks, "Went just fine. We met up with Don Santiago in some warehouse in Cenril. Told 'em we were going to hand Lionel over to him, kind of like a peace offering between mobsters. Except it was a trap. The plan played out perfectly. Except Lionel did almost get peed on when he was pretending to be beaten up and tied up. That was kind of funny..." Hudson was the nice one who put a stop to it. "You're officially living with Larket's new leading mobster lady."

Callum got a little wide-eyed at the mention of what would’ve been a terrible fate for Lionel and made a face at it. “Gross.” He’d nod though, eventually, when she was finished speaking about her own goings-on for the day. “I’m glad it went well then and that you’re not hurt. For once, I’m actually glad Lionel went with you. I doubt he would’ve let anything happen.” The raven-haired male shifted his position again, this time laying his head in her lap seeing as how she was finished with the ice cream for the moment, “The Mage’s Guild didn’t let me in. Not sure what I’m going to do about learning to heal. I don’t want to go back there and I guess Sabrina’s a tad busy from what it sounds like. I suppose I could just teach myself or--” he cringed “--there -is- the magic academy here in Larket.”’

Meri frowns heavily, continuing to fiddle with the strands of Callum's hair. The gesture was hardly a flirtacious one, but meant to be a comforting one. "They didn't let you in..." Meri says with obvious disapproval for their decision. "Well that was a poor judgement call on their part." A beat. "I have barely seen or heard from Sabrina as of late...Or Emilia for that matter. I am not really sure either of them specialize in healing outside of the herbal variety, but I could be mistaken. Emilia might...But I think the magic academy in Larket might be a worthwhile venture." Meri wrinkles her nose as she considers their options. "Perhaps also, we could consider making a trip to the Ranger's encampment as well? That might be a worthwhile trip for the both of us, given everything that we would both like to learn....But I think you should talk to Josleen about this academy. I am sure it has sufficient resources at its disposal."

“The rangers--maybe the druids too? You’re right, it does seem to be up their alley. And, you’d think if it’s a ‘Healer’s Guild’ that they’d have -someone- there, but if she’s not even free enough for me to inquire, well…” He shrugged as he peered up at her. “Never should’ve mentioned I’m the Royal Botanist. I think that did me in. He -did- ask, though; told me to tell him about myself. Felt like I was back at that academy in Catal where everyone was a spoiled rich kid. I’m sure they’re not all like that, and perhaps it was just a clash of personalities, but it certainly -felt- that way.” Callum rubbed at his face again with a sigh, “Yeah, I’ll definitely talk to Jos about it. I’m not exactly the greatest at teaching myself magic things. It took an age just to get to where I’m at now with things.”

Meri 's frown softens as they discuss and make these plans, it really would not hurt for them to go off and explore ways to better themselves. Learning out plants, learning about healing, they may even learn a few unexpected tricks along the way. "I feel like...it is probably not a subject matter that you can easily teach yourself. How would we even experiment with that? I guess probably trying to tend to people with minor injuries. Even if you were better learning magic on your own, it seems like something you would want support in just in case....It's not like trying to summon up a storm, if you fail try again." It's someone's life. That frown finds its way across her lips again, "I'd say that you should just stop introducing yourself as the royal botanist...but it would be nice if people would stop making assumptions on your stance on things...They don't know. They just hear Larket and start making wild assumptions...Maybe they are not all like that but..." Meri shrugs. "A trip to see what the druids could teach you would not be wasted either. They may be a better starting point, but we can visit with both to see what lessons we might learn."

Callum nodded somewhat. “Yeah, that’s what I told that Pilar chick--about Larket--but she got her panties in a twist and never came back. Valrae thought the same too. Like I said before, I’m still sort of wondering if this job was a mistake, but… now it’s really going to be beneficial to you, so I’ll keep at it.” He stuck his tongue out at her. “Look at us--I’m trying to be some straight-laced healer like I’m an upstanding individual or something and you’re Larket’s mob-queen. I don’t know if our paths could be anymore different. Maybe we should do something to celebrate your new title.”

Meri considers everything that Cal is saying to her -- and his words are stirring up a lot of thoughts. They were walking completely different paths these days, weren't they? On the flipside if the man was willing to entertain the notion of going out to celebrate, then it must not be something that bothers him all -that- much. "Cal. If you wanted to give it all up and run off and live in that other house of yours again? I'd be just fine with that, just long as you're taking me with you. And our horses, they've got to come too." Meri sticks her tongue out right back at him. His job, the benefits to her, Meri didn't even want to touch that subject with a twenty-foot pole because she could not stand the thought of Cal doing something to put himself in danger on her behalf. "But if you want to go out and celebrate, I mean I have said Enchantment is one of my favorite places to go. We could run off there for a night, unless you have another idea in mind for a celebration?"

Callum isn’t bothered by it at all, really. It was more of an ‘oh that’s kind of funny’ sort of line of thought than anything. “What? No. I’m not taking you. Of course not. I’m a lone wolf. Rawr.” Or, something. Sometimes he’s bad at this being gruff and standoffish thing. Maybe he should study Brand more--from a distance. Or maybe he should ask him upfront about it. Or maybe there’s a book about it? ‘How To Be Super Bear Grumpy All The Time’. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been out that way. You could finally show me this absinthe you’ve talked about. It sounds a little worrisome, considering those pixies make it, but if -you- drink it, then I’m sure it’s fine.”

Meri 's thoughts weren't dreadfully bad thoughts. They consisted of things like...she didn't want Cal keeping his job just for her benefit, if this new role meant too much trouble for them then they'd figure it out, etc, etc. But she wanted to skirt around the issue for now, Cal had a rough enough day. Who wanted to have those deep talks on bad days? A wide smile is displayed when Cal 'rawr's at her, her gaze transferring to the ice cream on the coffee table that was melting away in its carton. She gives the man's shoulders a pat to suggest he should get up so that she can put it away. "You were a lone wolf." Okay maybe not a wolf. "Frakkin' she-devil's though. And now you're going to let one drag you all the way out to Enchantment? To drink some absinthe? Better watch out, sounds like trouble." When Cal let's her up, Meri rise and scope said ice cream up off the coffee table so that she can put it back in the ice box. "All joking aside, it will be good for us to celebrate and blow off steam. We could leave for enchantment tomorrow?"

Callum does get up, even following her into the kitchen. “Yeah, those she-devils. Nothing but trouble.” The good kind of trouble apparently. “Definitely tomorrow. Maybe you could show me around a bit too, if you’d like. But, for now… I think I need sleep. You too, probably, after the day I’m sure you’ve had.” After that, he’d lead her upstairs. There’d probably be some much needed making out and cuddling before they finally fell asleep too.

Meri is definitely wanting some cuddling and making out before sleeps, yes.