13480/A Retreat to Mercy's Garage

A Retreat to Mercy's Garage
Date of Scene:	11 June 2021
Location:	Mercy's Garage - Fort Joseph, Haven
Synopsis:	After the Shadowcaster ritual, Mercy brings Giles back to her place, dinner is had as is a good night of sleep, with breakfast and tea the next morning.
Cast of Characters:	Mercy Thompson, Rupert Giles

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Mercy Thompson has posed:
After all had been said and done -- at least for that night -- where the shadow caster was concerned, Mercy had offered the hospitality of her home to Giles for the night. He had metioned that he needed sleep, and her shop with the living space above it was closer than his home. It's late, and the experience was... wearing and odd. Mercy could use sleep as well. And they could both likely use at least a bite to eat. She was still driving the Vanagon, and the Rabbit was still out of the running currently. The gravel crunched beneath the tires of the vehicle as she pulled into the parking space.

After turning the vehicle off, she heads for the building with him, unlocking it so they can enter and locking it after they're within. She leads the way through the garage and to the door that leads up to her home. She unlocks it, lets him precede her, then pulls the door closed behind her to lock it. The furnishings in her apartment are mismatched at best. They seem a combination of hand me downs and other inexpensive finds. Functional, but there's nothing that's fancy or of very high quality. She makes grilled cheese for them both, and tea.

She gives him a brief tour of her apartment (there is, at least, air conditioning), and though there's a spare bedroom it doesn't have a bed in it. Her bed was the only place for comfortable sleep to be had. She takes a moment to rummage a bit in her closet, and she finds and offers to him a pair of boxers and a t-shirt (in the appropriate sizes for him), for sleeping in. She even found a spare toothbrush to offer him. She let him use the bathroom first. She retreats to the bathroom to change into a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top. Then she tucked herself ito her bed next to him and after a while, fell asleep.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Giles really had needed sleep. Quite a lot, in fact. He's not as young as he used to be and while a reasonably good warlock, he's not used to doing the magic so much anymore. He doesn't, often, for the reasons he'd stated once. Magic is dangerous and often has unintended consequences. Not only had he performed the shadow caster ritual, but the energy to fuel the magic had come from him. Plus the physical, which translated more to mental, activity he'd done whilst inside the spell induced dream.... And he's beat.

Considering this is the first time Giles as been to her home, or her garage, Giles actually tries to pay at least some attention. But he's stumbling by the time they get into the house proper. He consumes the food and drink which get placed before him. He accepts the boxers and t-shirt, and the toothbrush, and changes in the bathroom. He actually takes the time for a quick ten minute shower, too, to clean off the sweat of the day.

When he emerges, his hair is darker with damp, though the grey still shows. And he's in the boxers and t-shirt. He carries his other clothing over his arm and moves toward the livingroom to fold and put them out of the way on a table. While Mercy is using the bathroom, Giles sits down on the couch. By the time she returns, he's laid down and curled up a bit and is fast asleep.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
The Watcher was weary, and Mercy could not only see it in him but she could smell it on him as well. The garage itself is clean and as spotless as what it can be -- she's had limited success in rescheduling people to the time she'd taken off for her broken wrist, and even when she has regular appointments, she keeps the shop clean. The tools are all kept neatly in order, as well, with everything in its proper place.

The towels were easy to find, neatly folded and clea and tucked into an open cabinet in the bathroom. The scents of the soap, shampoo and conditioner are all mild, almost as though they've been muted. This, no doubt, on account of her sensitive nose. By the time she's finished in the bathroom, she finds him there on the couch, fast asleep. And that, at least to her, is not something she's willing to accept. She offered her bed so he'd get the sleep he'd need!

Mercy steps over to the couch, to where he's sleeping, and she crouches down before reaching out to claim his glasses, folding them and placing them on the coffee table. Though he might not appreciate it come morning when he realizes it, she slips her arms beneath him to pick him up and carry him to her bedroom, to put him in her bed. Only once he's settled will she actually get into bed herself, to nestle against him and sleep.

Rupert Giles has posed:
He's less likely to mind being put to bed, and more likely to mind not having his glasses to hand when he wakes up. Giles sleeps through the night without waking. In the morning, it's the sun in his face that wakes him. And he stretches, and then freezes in place, perhaps realizing there's someone nestled against him. Or perhaps realizing this isn't where he'd fallen asleep. Ever so slowly, he turns his head to confirm where he is and that it's Mercy there.

Very quietly, and with as little motion as possible, Giles rolls out of the bed. He exits the bedroom and closes the door gently behind him and moves into the livingroom to retrieve his bag with the spare clothing he keeps at the shop in case of.. emergency. He goes into the bathroom and takes his time. When he emerges, he's dressed in black. Black pants, black long sleeved shirt, brown shoes.

He moves around quietly, rummaging in the kitchen to see what can be made for breakfast. And finds eggs, potatos, cheese, and sausage, and sets to making a sausage scramble with cheese and potato cubes. Soon, the scents of breakfast just about ready wafts through the home.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
The night wanes towards morning, and it would seem that Mercy has slept through the full of the night as well. She normally doesn't sleep much past sunrise, but last night was a late night and she had been tired. She is, at least, in human form this time rather than in coyote form as she'd been previously when she'd shared a bed with him. She gives a quiet little murmur when he rolls to verify that it's her there so close against him. She doesn't wake up, though. There's another quiet little sound when he leaves the bed, but it would seem that it's not enough to wake her up.

It's the smell of food as it comes to tease her sensitive nose that causes her to stir. To wake up. She takes a moment to languish in a stretch before blinking a couple of times. Mercy yawns, and for a moment remains laying in bed. And then she catches another whiff of food. She scoots to the side of the bed before getting up to her feet, and then she quietly steps over to the door to open it. Her nose wiggles a little bit, and then she steps out of the bedroom in order to make her way towards the kitchen. And towards him, lifting a hand to lightly touch the small of his back once she's next to him. "Mm, it smells good," she says softly, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Shall I make tea for us or would you rather juice?" she offers, lifting her right hand to brush a bit of hair from her face.

Rupert Giles has posed:
The food smells quite delicious. The scent of hot cheese and potatos mixes quite nicely with that of hot eggs and sausage. Giles is humming quietly to himself, the tune and beat sounds like 'Behind Blue Eyes', though he's not singing words. Just a wordless hum for now. His eyes are closed as he stirs the concoction he's made, so he doesn't see Mercy come into the kitchen. And with the humming, he doesn't hear her either.

And then there's a touch. Which is followed by a yelp and jump that occur simultaneously. The jump takes him up and about a step away, whirling to face what logic dictates has to be Mercy, but what his reflexes say is probably a vampire or demon. His hands are up a little defensively, the long plastic spoon he'd been using on what he's making held up like it's a sword in a defensive gesture. "Mercy," he breathes, and lowers his arms, relaxing a little bit. Breathing is a little elevated from the adrenaline, as is his heartrate. Yikes!

It takes him a moment, but he turns back to the eggs and stirs them again, then steps away toward the toaster, which is loaded with four pieces of bread. "Tea, please," he says, as he pushes the lever down on the toaster.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
The smell of the food also causes Mercy to realize that she's hungry. A grilled cheese isn't a lot to feed her appetite, but it was all she had really wanted the night before. When her touch causes him to startle, she can't help but to startle back as well since there's suddenly and unexpectedly the plastic spoon wielded betwixt them. She exhales a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, then ducks her chin, her cheeks turning red. "Mmhmm... I'm sorry," she says quietly, giving a little nod. "Just me," she adds, a bit sheepishly. And she's distracted a moment, listening to the beating of his heart.

She gives a small nod at his request for tea. "Tea it will be, then," she says, a little smile touching at the corners of her lips. She reaches for the kettle, to pick it up and fill it before setting it on the stand and turning it on. Then she gets down a pair of mugs, loose leaf tea, and a box of sugar cubes. She snitches a cube from the box, popping it in her mouth and half crunching it and half letting it dissolve on her tongue. "Mmm, that was a pretty song that you were humming. I didn't mean to interrupt it," she says softly, glancing over to him before focusing on getting the tea into strainers and into the mugs.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Giles' heart sounds no different than anybody else's would having just gotten a little startle. So there's that, at least. "No, it's okay," he says. "I was just distracted." Which is true. Humming and cooking both! He goes back to the sausage scramble and stirs it again, then turns the heat off. Two plates he'd gotten out earlier are sitting on the counter next to the stove, and he dishes the scramble into two equal portions onto the plates. He sets the pan back on the stove and makes sure the burner is shut off.

That's about the time the toaster finishes, and the bread pops up nicely toasted. He pauses as she compliments the song he'd been humming. "Oh. Uh..." He blinks once, a hint of a blush coming to his cheeks. "It.." He shakes his head and moves to put two pieces of toast onto each plate along with the scramble. "It was Behind Blue Eyes." That accomplished, Giles takes up the plates and moves them to the table. Silverware comes next, and is placed next to each plate. Only then does Giles turn back to Mercy, that blush thankfully gone now.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
At least his heart sounds normal for someone having just been startled, so that's a good thing! And at least it also means that Mercy doesn't worry too much. She glances towards the pan with the scramble in it, her nose wiggling a little bit. She likes the smell of it. She watches as he dishes up the food, and then she glances towards the kettle, visually checking it before her attention turns back to him.

She opens a cupboard door and snags the butter dish out, setting it on the counter near to the plates before giving him a warm smile. Then she tilts her head a bit to one side, noticing the blush in his cheeks but not mentioning it. "Will you sing it for me sometime, maybe?" she asks softly, looking to him through her lashes and sounding hopeful. She steps over to the kettle, picking it up from the stand and the pouring the mugs full of hot water. After setting the kettle down, she picks up the mugs to carry them over to the table.

Rupert Giles has posed:
There's actually been no further oddness from his heart. He's not as stressed as he had been. Maybe it had just been that? Giles doesn't really notice her attention to that aspect of things. If he did, he might be a little uncomfortable. "Oh.. um..." He clears his throat a little bit and swallows. "Uh.. sure. Either at my house or at the Magic Box." Because Giles doesn't have a guitar here, and he's not doing more than humming without it!

While she pours the tea, he pulls out the chairs, and then sits down in whichever one Mercy hadn't favored the evening before. This shows, once again, that he's not a werewolf. At least, not as she's used to such things. The werewolves that she's used to would never sit anywhere other than the head of the table. Giles just.. doesn't do that.

He reaches for the butter and draws it a little closer, then picks up a piece of his toast. His butterknife is taken up, butter put onto it, and from there spread onto the piece of toast. Butter is then put on the second piece of toast as well. "Thank you, Mercy," he says to her as she brings the tea. Tea is the thing that makes the world go round, as far as he's concerned.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
"I think at your house sometime," Mercy says softly, giving a small nod to him. Perhaps she has a preference or perhaps she's choosing that location so that there won't be the risk of others happening along to hear as well. To keep it more private. She settles to the chair that he had pulled out for her, and for a moment, she watches him. She'd noticed where he'd chosen to sit the night before, and this morning. She's trying not to think of him in werewolf pack terms, but she can't help it sometimes. "Thank you, for making breakfast, Rupert," she says, a warm note to her voice. The words are sincere, for he's made something wonderful out of not a lot of ingredients -- and her fridge is normally better stocked but things have been... unusual, lately.

"You're welcome," she says with a smile. For the tea. She doesn't keep coffee in her house, and tea or hot cocoa are the hot drinks she favours. she picks up her knife and butters both pieces of her toast, then munches the corner of one of the pieces as she sets her knife at an angle so the tip of it rests on her plate. And she picks up her fork. "How did you sleep?" she asks, a flicker of curiosity in the question. She seldom ever doesn't have questions. It's a queen size bed, at least, so it really was the best option for his height.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Giles isn't any stranger to playing and singing in front of people. But generally speaking, those are all people who really are strangers. People he doesn't know. Playing, and singing, in front of people he knows is a whole different thing. And is nervous making. And for werewolf pack terms.. well. Almost everything Giles does marks the differences between him and werewolves. He acts nothing like that in general terms.

"You're welcome," he says. There had been plenty of ingredients in the refridgerator. Plenty to make a decent scramble with toast. It will be a good breakfast. His butterknife is rested on the plate itself, the tip nestled amongst the eggs. He reaches for a fork, and takes a bite of his toast as he gets food onto the fork. "I slept well enough. And you?" He eats the bite he'd gotten onto his fork, and then another bite of toast. And so breakfast goes. It's tasty, and then there's things to do later. Like working, for both of them.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
If she likes the sound of his humming, then one might be able to extrapolate that she would also like the sound of his singing. But then... she likes the sound of his voice, period. She smiles warmly at him at his answer, and then she gives a nod, her brown eyes showing a brightness in them. "Mmhmm, I did. It's... maybe a little bit strange to say, but... I sleep better with you," she says softly, ducking her chin a little bit.

And she watches him for a moment, through her lashes, and then she settles in to eating her breakfast. She doesn't eat all of one thing first, but does intersperse the bites and have sips of tea now and again as well. And it likely won't be long before breakfast is gone, tea is had, and each of them (with Mercy driving Giles to the Magic Box) are settled into work. She does, after all, have the Rabbit to disassemble and sort out. The Vanagon works but it uses more fuel than the Rabbit does.