2nd Infection

[togetherwestand]

[A: 749 Partridge Drive (Open to anyone passing by and housemates)]

[Winry and the little drone boy might not be her own children, and Sam most certainly was not her husband, but the town had given her a duty of care towards them. So she had finally buckled herself down in the kitchen, and was doing an excessive amount of baking. She was still so used to cooking for a huge family that she hadn't quite reined herself back to moderation.

So anyone passing by Partridge Drive is free to see the windows open of every room on the ground floor, an array of freshly baked cakes and pies all sitting there temptingly. Cooling. Come take a bite?]

[B: Phone (Filtered to children)]

[Madeline has been debating over using this contraption for a while, but having heard about all the children this town has taken... the decision was made for her. Her voice is gentle, with a very light Scottish brogue.]

It seems to me that this place tries to get us to forget where we've come from and who were important to us there, so it can make us believe we belong here. Well I know that's a load of rubbish, and not even a different home with a different 'mother and father' can make us forget where we come from.

You must all miss your families a lot, I know I do. But I thought maybe it might help to talk about it some, so they know they're still in your thoughts. If you want to talk, it doesn't have to be anything heavy, you can always come and knock on my door and I'll be glad to trade stories with you for as long as you want.

I know it can get scary here and we all miss the people back home, but the wonderful thing about families is that we can keep adding to them. All the people here you love, we can all be a family and help each other through this.

Comments

A

[demonhunting]

[...oh good god, that is a lot of pies. Sam isn't really all that inclined towards them--they're Dean's favorite food, not his, and that is just a painful reminder that he is alone in this town--but he didn't exactly eat breakfast before going out for a fruitless day of research, so when he comes home to find the results of Madeline's baking on the window sill? It's kind of inevitable that he takes one and strolls in, taking care not to disturb the salt lines he laid down days ago.

Mm, this is actually kind of good. Then again, he's gotten used to crappy diner food, so a homemade pie is a change of pace for him.

But when he overhears her on the phone, he pauses for a moment, then says,]

You know, my brother loved pies.

[togetherwestand]

[She still feels quite awkward with this man as her 'husband', but at least he seems nice enough. Even if the salt lines do seem a bit odd.

Tilting her head towards him when he speaks, she smiles gently and pats the seat next to her.]

What is his name?

[demonhunting]

Dean. Last time I saw him he was waiting for me to get back, and the next thing I know I wake up here.

[Sliding into the seat next to her.]

What about you? Anyone at home? [...he may just be trying to steer the conversation away from him.]

[togetherwestand]

[He's not as subtle as he might think, but she'll let him steer the conversation for now. Don't think she's forgotten though, young man, she'll pursue that later.]

I have children, they'll all be waiting for their mother. I live on a family farm with my parents, two of my brothers and their families as well.

A

[nyanpire]

[Pies! He smelled pies! Pies and good things, coming from a house that wasn't Ilsa's? Nyanpire HAD to go investigate.

So into the yard he goes, then around outback... and then HUP, there's a little black kitten on the windowsill. A black kitten with little bat wings.]

Nyaa, hello!

[That can talk.]

[togetherwestand]

[WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON HERE?!

She had been reaching a hand out to pet the cat, she had always liked animals, but this was... insane.]

You-- you talked?!

[nyanpire]

I talked!

[He looks pleased with himself! And then, after a blink and a tilting of his head, a little confused.]

...nyaa, are you okay?

[togetherwestand]

[Is she hallucinating? Is this normal for this place? She's heard of birds that can mimic and learn to talk, is this... similar?]

I've just never met such a clever cat before.

action ♥ housemates

[handsforhealing]

Miss Madeline?

[ Winry is returning for a long walk with Den, that ended with her buying some small appliances to harvest pieces from. She hadn't expected to return to find that so much... baking, had gone on. ]

Are you baking? [ Dumb question of the century. What does it look like she's doing? ] Do you need any help?

[togetherwestand]

[She's pleased Winry has come home. It's the two children, even if one of them was a drone, that she was most concerned with. She might miss her own brood so much it seemed unbearable at times, but she had determined she would care for the children here just as well.

So it's with a bright smile that she turns and wipes her hands off on her apron, nodding.]

You can help me taste test them, hm?

[handsforhealing]

Oh. Sure!

[ She can't help but giggle a bit. She's never been the taste tester before, except for the first baking experiment with Gracia. ]

I didn't know you liked to bake. I guess that's something we can have in common!

[togetherwestand]

Most children have a sweet tooth, I think it's an essential skill for a mother.

[She dishes out two pieces of cherry pie and some juice.]

[foreverandever]

But my family is right here! And they won't leave without me.

[togetherwestand]

I'm very glad to hear it, you're a lucky young lady.

[foreverandever]

Hey, hey, tell me. Do you have family here, too?

[togetherwestand]

I'm afraid not here, but we've all been given honorary family here in our houses, haven't we?

B

[notalady]

Who are you? [And there's a very strongly implied "and why should I trust you?" on the end of that. Arya is just naturally suspicious of this sort of thing.]

[togetherwestand]

[She can definitely understand that last bit, so her voice is gentle.]

My name is Madeline, and I'm just a mother missing her children.

[notalady]

I'm Arya.

How many do you have?

Phone

[adropofjupiter]

This really doesn't affect me when it comes to my family. I haven't talked to my father in years and my mother died a long time ago. Save this for the ones not used to taking care of themselves.

[togetherwestand]

[She's sorry to hear that, but it's hardly her place to pry.]

Family doesn't just mean blood relations, it can mean people we love and care for dearly.

[adropofjupiter]

They're all here.

...I guess that doesn't make it any better now that I think about it.

B) Phone

[begintheoperation]

I've gotten used to my father being away~ I hope he doesn't return home while I'm here~

I have two sisters at home as well, though they're both violent sorts~ I'm doing my best to stop Veronica from acting that way~

[togetherwestand]

[She is a little saddened to hear of so many people with unhappy home lives.]

I am glad to hear you are setting your sister a good example.

[begintheoperation]

Yes~ There may not be much help for Gavril, but with Veronica I was at least able to put a shock chip in her brain for a while~