A Few Small Repairs

[Macbeth]

"Oh, so sorry," she said, rolling her eyes. "I do try so hard to make myself 'becoming' for the new folks. Next time, I'll wear a fucking satin gown and a smile. And honestly, I don't give a damn what youse was discussing, but I'm sure it was very noble and heroic and it'll be the savior of the whole lodging house."

Actually, she was mildly curious, but Jo woke up and made a fussy sound, and then Macbeth was preoccupied lifting the toddler into her lap and murmuring to her in Hindi.

[Risk]

"Nate here is goin' to teach me how to use tools," said Risk proudly, ignoring their banter. "Well, fixing things around here in the house... just 'cause, y'know."

[Nate]

Nate rolled his eyes, his head shaking with disapproval. some people.... "Nobody ever said anything about a satin gown, but a little less profanity and maybe a lot less 'holier than thou' might do the trick."

When did females get so out of line? Seriously....

"And, although I know you think that you're higher up on whatever throne you've built up in your head, so my offer won't even matter to you... but I was talking to your friend here about maybe teaching him a thing or two. And, no, before you can respond with what you assume is a quick-witted quip about double-fisting drinks at Irving Hall, I'm definitely referring to something useful. A skill, also known as a trade. You know, the things people learn to earn money."

[Macbeth]

Macbeth completely ignord Nate this time and frowned at Risk. "What, didja sell him your soul or something?" Who the hell taught something like that for free to someone they just met? She really wanted to skip all the exhausting bickering and get to the part with drinks. Much as she loathed the idea of spending more time around this Nate guy, she needed drinks tonight.

[Risk]

"I just talked to him! Isn't that what nice people are supposed to do?" said Risk, shooting Macbeth a look. He looked over at Nate and smiled. "Look, don't worry about it... just don't take to heart everything she says, alright?"

[Macbeth]

Macbeth would have responded to that, but Jo was thrashing around in her lap, her whimpers turning to sobs, and this day had taken enough out of her already. "Risk?" she said simply, closing her eyes. "Help."

[Risk]

"Yeah, I got it," he muttered, reaching over to cradle Jo as he began to quietly hum. He glanced over at Nate. "She's not ours. It's Macbeth's niece. Er, if you were wondering."

[Nate]

"Oh, trust me, I'm not letting it bother me," Nate responded with a swift shake of his head. "But, I just hope that she doesn't think that I'm not going to give everything she tries to dish out right back to her. If she wants to try to mess with the boys, let alone when it's undeserved, she's going to get it right back."

He turned his attention to Macbeth again. "Again, miss, not that it is any of your business whatsoever, I did not ask or demand anything from him. It's called being genuine. Now, I know you're not used to that around here, and wherever you've lived before this probably, but it still exists. Just because you're as surly as the day is long, it doesn't mean that the whole damn city is, too. Remember that next time."

He grinned at her one more time, this time laying it on a little extra thick.

Looking at Risk, he finally noticed that there was, indeed, a baby around. "Does she always use such foul language around a child?" Nate asked, his eyebrows arched.
((guys... can we maybe try to keep some sort of replying order? It's kind of hard to keep up and reply and still have it be relevant when the chain keeps getting broken.))

[Macbeth]

((Me now, then Risk, Nate, me, etc.?))

"Funny how you're making all kinds of assumptions about me, too," Macbeth said coldly. "You don't know a damn thing about what I'm used to or where I'm from. But try taking that fucking condescending tone with me again and maybe we'll have a chat about it." She stood up, leaving Jo with Risk, her eyes narrowing to slits. "And you do not," she said softly, "say a fucking word about how I'm raising my kid."

[Risk]

((Got it!))

Risk sighed as he watched the two exchanged words.

"...So no drinking tonight?"

[Nate]

Nate looked over at Risk, who was now holding the baby, and shrugged. "We can still go if you want," he replied. "Listen, I don't want you getting the wrong idea about me or anything. I don't always talk to girls like that, but... I'm a firm believer in you get what you give. Know what I mean?"

[Macbeth]

Macbeth, who was still standing right there, felt her hands ball into fists. She didn't usually resort to physical violence, but it was probably only Jo's presence that kept her from taking a swing right now. Instead she turned and scooped Jo out of Risk's lap, boosting the fussy little girl onto her shoulder. "Enjoy your new friend," she told Risk, and went upstairs without a backward glance.

[Risk]

Once Macbeth was gone, Risk turned to look at Nate. "You... alright? She's usually nicer. Actually, that wasn't so bad for Macbeth's standards."

[Nate]

Nate looked over at Risk and nodded casually. "Yeah, I'm fine," he assured the other boy. "She's more of a pistol than I'm used to, I'll give her that, but I meant what I said just now. I have no problem with being respectful. Hell, I prefer being respectful, but I'm not going to give it unless it's returned."

He paused and lightly rubbed the back of his neck, hoping that the other boy wasn't going to hear an earful from the girl later on. "She's not gonna give you a hard time about this, is she?"

[Risk]

Risk scoffed. "It's Macbeth, I'll be fine," he said reassuringly. "I've dealt worse with Ershey, believe me."

He shook his head, still quite amused at what just happened. "I see what you're saying though. Don't worry, Macbeth can handle it. I know there's this whole 'treating a lady right idea' but it's a lot different around here... or maybe it's just this house, I don't know."