[LOCATION: MAIN STREET]

[friar_trip]

[Trip liked his alcohol. That much everyone knew. Rarely a day went by when he didn't have a drink of some sort. But given the responsibilities of both of his jobs, he rarely got drop dead stinking drunk.

At last call tonight, he'd passed that 5 beers ago. Everything, from Mal's admission then avoiding him to the usual feeling in the pit of his stomach that was somehow made worse by the situation, had come to head and he just hadn't been able to stop.

And now he was walking home through the deserted street, abet slowly and with many detours, so as to avoid the disappointed looks from Leo and Felix. Everything was funny and nothing hurt. For the moment.

And that telephone pole looked fun to swing around right about now.]

Comments

[friar_trip]

[Used to taking care of the kids in the church's care, Trip recognizes that hiss and stands up automatically. He reaches for Chris' hand while turning on the facet so cold water poured out.]

Don't do that. Doesn't help as much as ya think it does.

[scarlock]

[Now Mal's gonna slip past Chris to save the food and let Trip handle the burn.]

He's right, you know.

[pettythief]

[ Chris gives them both an incredulous look, and makes the token effort to reclaim his hand from Trip. ]

And you would know? [ Mr. Perfect In the Kitchen. :| ]

[friar_trip]

[You get the same look he gives 5 year olds in this situation Chris and he doesn't let go, keeping the hand under the stream.]

Don't know how he does but look where I live and who I live with.

[He'd been helping Felix and Leo fix up small scraps and boo boos for as long as he could remember.]

[scarlock]

[Mal gives a slight smile at that before he frowns at the food.]

You forget that I'm usually working on security systems. I've gotten a few burns from the systems shocking me when I'm not paying as much attention as I should.

[pettythief]

I know who you live with. [ Chris huffs, obviously embarrassed to being treated like this... by someone who isn't Mal, anyway. ] It's not that bad. Both of you.

[friar_trip]

[One day, Trip is going to find out the deal with Chris and Leo. But right now, he had his hands full with the other cousin.]

And it'll be even less bad if ya let me look at it.

[Once he was satisfied, he pulls Chris' hand out from under the water and inspects it.]

Got any cream or aloe? It's not bad but better to be safe then sorry.

[scarlock]

[He chuckles at Chris acting like a big child about all this and puts his attention back on the food. Maybe he could salvage it. If not, he always has a backup plan.]

In the bathroom under the sink.

[pettythief]

I don't need cream. It's barely anything. [ Chris gives his hand another tug, pointing a Look toward Trip. ] Just let me finish breakfast or something.

[friar_trip]

And it'll be nothing if ya let me fix it. [He pointedly holds onto Chris' hand for a moment longer then he has to to prove a point. Then he lets go and turns to head back to the bathroom.]

An' I think Mal's got a hand on breakfast. [He throws over his shoulder as a parting shot.]

[scarlock]

Yes, breakfast is under control. Don't be such a child, Christopher, and let him take care of that burn. I don't need you acting like how you were when you got sick.

[pettythief]

I have no idea what you're talking about. [ His tone says that he does, though it's really only through hearsay. He genuinely doesn't remember most of the time he was ill. ] You know, I was the one who started that.

[friar_trip]

[Trip knows the way to the bathroom and slips in quickly, shuffling through the cabinets until he finds what he is looking for.

But before he returns to the kitchen, he goes back to the bed room he'd woken up in and looks around with a more sober eye, in hopes of possibly finding out a little more about the mystery that was Mal.]

[scarlock]

You were complaining about the bed not being as comfortable as the hammock and acting like a giant child. And I'll be the one to finish this.

[If you're looking for info on Mal, Trip, you're definitely not going to find it in the bedroom of all places. His room is empty for the most part beyond the bed and a small desk. Most of the items in his room are different shades of red, another point towards the fact that it's his favorite color. On his desk is a mechanical book and a piece of equipment Mal has been tearing apart in his free time. Other than that, there's nothing on interest in view.]

[pettythief]

The bed isn't as comfortable as the hammock. And I was sick, you can't expect me to be the model house guest.

You're not even going to let me help, are you?

[friar_trip]

[This was so frustrating. Trip just wanted to know something about this man who claimed to love him. A part of him wondered if he stayed in here, would Mal come looking and answer his questions...but deep down he knew it was futile so he finally returned to the kitchen.

Not before picking up the mechanical piece, inspecting it and giving it a tweak before setting it back down, naturally.]

Took me a moment but I found it. Give me yer hand, Chris.

[scarlock]

When you're sick, you stay in the bed, especially with an injury like you had.

...If you behave and let Mr. Tucker take care of that burn, I'll let you taste it.

[Bedrooms are not where answers lie, Trip. Clearly, you need to go poke around his study a bit. Though his study is right in the large open area that was the living room and the kitchen, so your stealthy poking will not succeed there really.]

[pettythief]

I'm perfectly capable of staying in the hammock. Not like I don't have plenty of practice with that already.

Excuse me? [ Chris looks between both of them, face twisting in incredulity while he skirts away from Trip's direction. ] I am an adult, you know. I can take care of my boo-boos and you—[ points at Mal ]—don't need to bribe me.

[friar_trip]

[Trip glowers at the Mr. Tucker including a glare at Mal, but turns his attention to making a grab for Chris' hand.]

Jus' give me yer hand. It's easier this way. Trust me.

[Study. Got it. Trip is not ashamed to poke around if he could get away with.]

[scarlock]

[Mal just decides not to get himself involved any more with this and goes back to taking care of breakfast, thinking Trip probably has everything under control with Chris and if not, Mal could always bribe Chris with food, which always worked despite his cousin's insisting otherwise.]

[pettythief]

You know I'm not one of the kids from your youth group, right?

[ Chris scowls, making another jerky motion to keep his hand away. It's instinctive, the want to take care of himself or only allow family to have it — even if Trip is the closest thing he has to a friend, that doesn't mean the barriers aren't there. ]

[friar_trip]

I know ya aren't. They're better behaved.

[Despite the annoyance, Trip does manage a quirk of a smile to show Chris he is kidding. Mostly.]

You two sure ain't used to people bein' nice to you, are ya?

[scarlock]

[Well, it looks like it's time for a distraction, so he picks of a bit of sausage with a fork and holds it out for Chris.]

Christopher, I need you to taste this for me.

[He almost laughs at what Trip says just because it should be obvious why they aren't used to people being nice to them.]

Well, he's a criminal and the people here think I'm one, so we're not exactly the favorites of the townspeople.

[pettythief]

And our personalities don't exactly sparkle, either.

[ Chris acts before he thinks and raises his hand to take the fork and try the food. It pretty much gives Trip the perfect opening to gank the burned hand and do his thing. ]

[friar_trip]

[Trip does just that, snatching the hand with practiced ease and starts tending to it, all while frowning softly.]

No, neither of ya make it easy. Why not? I don't think people dislike either of ya as much as you think they do.