Dinner wiht Mr. Archer
(July 23, 2013,05:30pm: The Escher House)Darren and Julia returned home to find their house guest folding and hanging their laundry on the kitchen table. The older chinchilla raised an eyebrow as he walked into the kitchen and asked, "Do I need to make a beer run before dinner?" Julia glared at her husband as she walked past him to the fridge. "What?" he responded to her look, "Last night she went through two cases while cleaning the kitchen. I just want to know how much it take to get a few loads of Laundry done.""I didn' drink nutin' taday," Alex said as she floded the clothing in the basket, "I didn' know were nutin' wen' so I just pu' it all on ya beds."The younger red squirrel looked at the eagle with a smile as she said, "You really didn't need to do any of that, we usually do Laundry on Wednesdays and Fridays.""I needed ta do some an' I wasn' gonna leave it all dere, da place was a mess," Alex said without slowing from her chore. Julia looked at her with wide eyes slightly embarrassed by the thought of Elise possibly leaving the laundry room a mess, "I'm so sorry, Elise usually does a good job of putting things in the hampers."Asteh squirrel woman was apologizing Susan slowly walked into the room, clutching her side. 'When Alex say it was a mess, she means that she saw one thing out of place or maybe some briefs in the hamper. The place was spotless as far as I could tell. You keep a lovely home Julia, don't mind the neat freak eagle."Julia breathed a sigh of relief as she turned ot the cabinet and asked, So is the gentleman coming to dinner?""Yes, ma'am," Susan said with a smile, "He said he would be here around seven. I know that might be a bit late but he is coming up from Marblecliff when he can get out of the office.""Oh, that's plenty of time to make some spaghetti," Julia said with a smile. She glanced at Darren and asked, "Do we have anymore of that frozen garlic bread we can heat up? And hand me that ground beef from the fridge." She reached into the pantry cabinet and pulled out to jars of pre
made red sauce and a box of noodles. "This should be fun it's been a long time since I made spaghetti.""Pahskety remin's me a worms," Alex said. "Dat chould be good 'ees a Bird," she added as she grabbed the stacks of clothing and left the room.Julia shivered at the comparison of the tasty food to wiggled crowley things as Susan sat down at the table and said, "Don't pay her any mind, I think everything reminds her of fish or worms." She grunted as she tried to find a position that did not aggravate her cracked ribs. "Elise should be home anytime now, I think. She said she went over to a friend's house and would be home for dinner. She wanted to meet Steven also.""That's good," Julia said with a smile as she started to brown the meat for the meal, "She's usually not that interested in people. You two seem to be having a good influence on her."(July 23, 2013,06:15pm: The Escher House)Alex sat at the table in her best white shirt and skirt as Susan snickered. "Wha' is it? I got my tie on crooked er sumtin'?" Alex asked as she looked down at herself."No I was just thinking you're going to an awful lot of trouble for a guy you're not even interested in," the Chinchilla said as she popped more pain medication. As Alex opened her beak to speak Elise yelled from the front door, "I'm back. What's for dinner?" She walked into the kitchen and was greeted by smiles as Julia answered."Spaghetti and meat sauce," The squirrel said as she took the last pot off the stove. "Geez," the young chinchilla sighed as she reached into the fridge for a coold Mountain Dew, " I was expecting steak or something with someone like the Mayor coming to dinner."The red squirrel spun on her paws, the boiling water in the pot slouching out onto the floor as she exclaimed "Who!?" her eyes as big as basketballs.Susan smiled a little as she thought about the situation, "Um... Yea, The guy that we invited is Steven Archer.""You invited Mayor Archer to dinner!?" She looked around the room and paused as her eyes met with Darrel's, "I can't serve the Mayor spaghetti." She turned to look at the clock on the stove as she said, "He's going to be here any minute. Darren, get out the good plates, I have to do something with this." She scrambled to put the sauce back on the stove as she rummaged through the spices."We only have one set of plates," the chinchilla man said as he watched his wife get nervous and fidgety while frantically adding more seasoning to the meal."What about the ones we got for the wedding?" She asked before she turned and shot out of the room, "I need to get cleaned up and changed. Elise go put on that dress mom got you.""Do I have to?" the young chinchilla girl asked dejectedly.With the squirrel moving at the speed of thought Darren tried to explain, "Those are the ones we..." Only to be cut short by the now frantic squirrel."This place is a mess," She shouted as the sound of her paws thundered up the stairs."Da Place cen't get much cleana den it is," Alex tried to shout to the panicked woman as she walked into the hall, "I cleant it mah self."Susan stood up and grunted at the pain as she said, "I think the sauce is burning."As everyone rushed about trying to stitute things before their guest arrived the young chinchilla girl heard the doorbell ring and moved to answer it. On the other side was an kestrel dressed in a Patriot's jersey and jeans with a case of Sam Adams in one hand. Elise cracked open the Mountain Dew in her paw and took a drink as she turned into the house and shouted, "Dad! It's the Mayor, " then walked back into the house as she tilted the can of cold citrus drink down her gullet. She snickered as she watched Julia freeze at the top of the stairs with her paws behind her back trying to zip up the dress she had changed into.Steven stifled a smile as she watched the young chinchilla girl walk nonchalantly into the calamity of the house. She saw the eagle, Alex leaned against the railing of the stairs ass he turned
to look at him. the shock in her eyes evident as she moved to straighten the pleated black skirt. With a quick glance to the top of the stairs he saw a younger red squirrel in the midst of sipping a slightly wrinkled dress that looked like it came from last years fashion catalogue. His attention was brought to the opening of the kitech in the house as he heard a man scream and smoke roll out the the opening into the ceiling of the hall. The young chinchilla stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up to the squirrel, soda can still in her paw, and said, "He's dressed like a poser. Do I still have to go put on the dress?"Elise's words shocked Julia as her mouth dropped open. She quickly recovered and said, "Elise.." in a scolding tone. quickly looking at the Kestrel that stood in the door she apologized, "I'm sorry Mr. Mayor, SHe's young and..."Cutting off the woman in mid sentence, Steven looked up at her with a smile and said, "It's fine Miss. Kids will be kids. I still have my suit out in the car if I should change."As he spoke, the older chinchilla woman grunted as she leaned in the kitchen doorway. She held her side as she said, "The sauce is a little crispy, and if you're all going to dress up for this shit, Hank and I are out. I didn't bring anything and Hank doesn't own anything."Almost on cue the otter walked up behind Steven, and said, "Smells like Susans been cooking again. Sois it going to be Chinese or Pizza?" HE looked at the bird standing in the doorway as smiled, "You must be Mr. Archer," he held out his paw as he introduced himself, I'm Hank. You need a paw with that?" he asked as he pointed down to the case of beer with the other paw.With a smile at the otter dessin only overalls and a straw hat, Steven took hold of his paw and shock, "Seven Archer, pleasure to meet you." he started to walk into the house with the otter right behind him as he added, "Pizza sounds great. Tell you what, It's on me tonight.""Oh no ya don'," Alex said as she started to march toward the Kestrel, "I ain't gonna be own ya an odda meal. I cen pay fer my own."Susan reached out and grabbed a hold of Alex's wing and stopped her, "Boomer, He offered to buy pizza not a lobster dinner.Go change into
something more comfortable and relax."Alex turned to her friend and yealed, "I ain't changin' nutin' fer no one.""Calm down, Boomer," Susan said softly, "it's only a friendly dinner."Elise started up the stairs as she said, "jeez, take a chill pill." Alex turned swiftly toward the younger chinchilla and started to yell, "Ya lis'en 'ere ya lill..." She was cut off as she was grabbed around the neck and tossed to the floor. "Watch it Boomer," Susan said as she braced herself against the wall, "I don't want to have to hurt myself while I hurt you.""Okay," Hank Shouted, "Please step into the kitchen with and meet the man of the house while I clean up in her a little, sir." the otter quickly turned and moved to push the chinchilla woman toward the living room as she said, "You, stop doing stupid shit, you're in no condition to be tossing Alex. And you, get off the floor and come with me."Slightly dumbfounded by the scene, and shocked by the two women's actions Steven walked quietly into the kitchen to be greeted by a white chinchilla man that stood by the sink running water into a smoking saucepan. he turned his head and smiled as he said, "I'm really sorry for the commotion, sir. They didn't really tell us who they had invented for donner, and things go a little out of paw." He dropped the pan into the sink as he turned to properly his guest, "Darren Escher, sir. This is my house, and we are a little over run right now with house guests, but I guess you can see that."The kestrel smiled at the level headed chinchilla and as he reached out to shake his paw. "Please, just call me Steve tonight," he said, "So.. it looks like you have a lot going on here.""Yeah,I'd say so. It's been one hell of a weekend sinse Susy got back." Darren paused for a moment as he thought things through, "Susy is my late wifes sister, and my daughter's aunt. She's moving back to Marblecliff, but I guess you know that by now."Steven took a seat at the small table as he replied, "That's kind of what brought me out here tonight.
They're an interesting group.""You have no Idea." The chinchilla walked to the fridge and asked, "Can I offer you a drink?"'Anything cold would be fine," he said, "and you can put these on ice." He slid the Sam Adams case across the floor to the other man.As Darren handed Steven a cold beer and sat across the table the otter man walked into the kitchen and joined the pair. "I think I have the women folk settled for now." he glanced at Darren and added, "If you tell them I phrased it that way we might all be sleeping out on the lawn. But anyway. Sue is racked out on the couch for now, that toss went right through the pain killers. Alex is up changing and I think your wife is dressing down as well." "Painkillers?" Steven asked with a quizzical look on his face."Yea, Susy and Elise ran into a little trouble at Six Flags over the weekend," Darren said, "it was in the news.""That was them?" Steven aske surprised, "I thought they were arrested for that incident. At least thats what it sounded like.""Susan, did what she thought she had to to keep Elise safe," Hank started, "There was a little issue with her use of force. I say they should be glad it was Susan and not Alex or me.""So, Hank," Steven looked over at the Otter as he spoke, "You part of this Dark Riders group?""Yea," the otter answered with a smile, "The Dark Riders reborn with a new purpose and drive.""Tell me about it," Steven requested as he leaned onto his elbow on the table."Lets see, my version of the story." Hank muttered as she leaned back in the chair. "We're mostly the survivors of a special operations unit, I can't really tell you anything more about that angle, but our friend Lilly got us all together a little over a month ago because she had decided to adopt this girls she found. I'll tell you one thing, once you get this group moving on anything that we think is a good thing, there is no stopping us, and getting that girl out of the
system was definitely a good thing. Every life she has touched since I met her she has changed for the better. And when it was all over, the only thing she wanted to do... help more kids like her." He looked at the ceiling as he continued, "To give them a home and help them like we helped her, thats what she said. And what do we do? A bund of unemployed, disabled, war torn vets? We jump at the idea.""And now you're bringing that idea to Marblecliff," the kestrel said as big of a smile on his face as he could manage. "What I've heard so far sounds like a great opportunity for our community. I'd like to meet this young philanthropist that got you all moving. She sounds like an extraordinary young girl.""She is," As is her mother and everyone else involved. As the trio talked Alex and Julia both entered the kitchen wearing jeans and t-shirts. Julia immediately walked over and started to apologize to the kestrel, "I am so sorry about all of this, Mr. Mayor, I didn't know who they had invited until our daughter had said something. Now the dinner is ruined and we must have embarrassed you something awful.""Please, Mrs, Escher, Call me Steven, and it's really no big deal. And let me set things straight, and buy that pizza."(July 23, 2013,08:20pm: The Escher House)Alex stood back and watched as the kestrel played video games with the young chinchilla. She smiled a little as she heard him using the nickname she had given the girl. HE was good with the child and seemed to be having fun as he played and exchanged taunting remarks with her. She was obviously more skilled at the selection of games they had available, but watching him made her think of the times she watched Lilly and Cecily playing games at the cabin. The scene itself brought her back to the days before they had deployed to that final mission. The coffee table was covered with open pizza boxes with several half eaten pizzas. Everyone had relaxed and started to watch the small chinchilla lay waste to her opponents one by one as they took turns against her, laughing and joking as if it was just another night. Susan was laid across Hanks lap in the loveseat with her legs dangling over the arm like they had used to back in the day. Julia was
snuggled into Darren's lap as they exchanged quick conversations with who ever was not being demolished by the gaming champion. What she had thought was going to be some kind of formal dinner with the Mayor to discuss the Dark Rider house had some how devolved into a pizza party that any teen would have loved to be a part to. Other than the few words she had heard him exchange with Hank, Steven had not mention the Dark Riders or their project. As Elise beat the kestrel yet again and cheat, "Yea, ain't nothing but noob posers in here. I bet I could kick your ass at Sim City too." She stood over him as she praised herself and offered the challenge"Oh, is that so," Steven said as he look up a young girl, "We'll just have to see about that, Mini Muffins." Alex hopped over the back of the couch and slid into the space left by Elise, next to the kestrel and said, "Da'll 'ave ta wait," as she snagged the controller from the chinchilla girl's paw, "Imma kick 'is ass at dis firs'.""I bet you can't say that to where he can understand what you said," Susan prodded the eagle as she poke fun at her accent. "Hey Steven, you ever hear an eagle cluck like a chicken?""Don' ya dare," Alex said as she eyed the chinchilla woman, "I'll 'urt ya, and ya know I cen.""I have five dollars that says you can't recite the pledge of Allegiance without missing a 'th'," Susan spouted as she reached into her pocket."Hay now," Steven spoke up, "It's not far to target someone with a speech..."Alex interrupted him as she leaned over and staged the bill from Susan's paw as started in a clear voice smoothly, enunciating each syllable as the words flowed out of her almost naturally, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." She dropped back into her seat as she said, "Whatcha gotta say 'bout dat Fluffy Muffins?""You're not drunk enough yet," the chinchilla said with a smile.Slightly awestruck at the
sudden change in the eagle's tone and accent, Steven looked between the two women and asked, "What just happened?""I lose 5 buck to a sober eagle," Susan said as she reached down to the floor for her drink.He smiled as she said, "So, Boomer's got a few more tricks up her sleeve than just knowing French?.""French, German, Arabic, Spanich an' a few oddas," Alex said as she picked the controller up again, "Ya gonna play da game er sit dere wit' ya tongue 'angen out? An' stop callin me Booma", feda'ead."Steven licked his beak as he leaned forward to concentrate on the game challenge ahead of him. He had just finished the first round of Need For Speed against the resident gaming master and was uncertain of the eagle's skills at the racing game. They each selected their car and a random corse. The both leaned forward as if the game was going to push them back into their seats with the acceleration. He watched as she leaned with each movement of the controller as they raced through the city scape. As he pulled ahead of her, Steven felt her foot against his. Every moment he drew farther ahead of her until he felt her grab his leg with her talons and jerk it away from him,pulling his body forward with it. The sudden movement caused him to lose control as the virtual car slammed hard into a building."Hey," he blurted out only to see her smile, "that's cheating."""I slippet," she replied without taking her eyes off the screen, "Ya gonna lose if ya just sit dere and whine."Steven readied himself as he got his car back into the race. As he got closer to her car he swung his elbow out and tapped hers with a similar affect to her earlier action with less effort. "Sorry," he said as the digital vehicle raced away from the scene, "I slipped."Julia giggled at the almost childish display from the two adults playing the game as she offered, "Am I going to have so separate you two?""Nah," Susan said with a smile, "I just think its about time for spin the bottle."As the chinchilla finished her jest,
Alex stood up, and tossed the controller at her friend, "Ya chut ya trap, fluffy," the action only sending her car careening off a bridge and setting her father back in the race."You're ganna loose like that Boomer, " Susan said as she tossed the controller back.Elise sat back on the floor against the love seat as she watched the scene that reminded her of sleepovers. She looked at her father and said, "If grown ups act like this during a pizza party, why do you get on me and my friends fro doing the same thing?""That's right,Elise," Susan said, "let that old stick in the mud have it," as she poked her tongue out at the oder chinchilla.Darren stifles a laugh as he watched the group from beneath his young wife who hugged him tighter as she felt the sudden movement of his chest.Alex remained standing as she grunted and struggled to force the car to catch up in the race only to be within sight of the finish as Steven's car rolled over the line. She tossed the controller over her shoulder onto the couch as she huffed, "I woulda 'ad it if fluffy wans' bein' a bitch." Then she walked to the kitchen while asking, "Anaone need anodda drink?""I'd better call it for tonight," Steven said, "two is more than enough, and I still need to be back in the office tomorrow."Susan glanced up at hange then back at the mayor, "you really shouldn't drive that distance after drinking." She looked over at Darren for a moment as she added, "Why don't you just stay until you sober up and leave in the morning.""How many more people are you going to try and cram into this small house?" Elise asked as she looked at her aunt. 'Elise," Julia said through her gritted teeth."I was thinking a hotel or something local," the chinchilla said, "But that sounds even better. Hank is sober So we'll go get a room, and Steven can have the guest room. It'll be even less crowded that way."Alex burst back into the room. "oh no ya don'. I know
wha' ya tryen ta do. I'll go ta da 'otell and he cen have my spot."Steven looked around the room as he argument grew, "How about, I get a room at a hotel, Hank can give me a ride to it. And I'll come back in the morning for the car."With a sigh of relief from both Darren and Julia, the red squirrel said, "That sounds like it might be the best plan. Besides how would it look if the Mayor of Marble Cliff was seen spending the night as someone else's house?""Oh, That's not an issue, Mrs. Escher," she said, "I just don't want to put anyone out. I am only a guest here for dinner after all." He stood up and started to walk to the kitchen where Alex was as he added, "And with those plans settled I guess I can have one more. Let me give you a hand Miss Hawkins.""It Boom... Alex," the eagle said in an almost angry voice, as she spun and walked into the kitchen followed by the kestrel.He leaned over her as she leaned into the fridge to grab some drinks and said, "Alex, Thank you for inviting me to this dinner. It was very enjoyable and insightful."She nearly pushed him over as she stood up quickly and asked, "Wha' da ya mean? insightful?" He steadied himself as he took a few steps back. "We'll, I have learned a lot about your group, and what kind of values you represent. And I have learned a lot about you." He looked at her as she stood there holding a can of Sam Adams in each hand, "And I would like to ask you to accompany me to a charity dinner next weekend.""Wha' do ya mean, accompany you?" she asked as she tilted her head."I mean just what I said. I would like you to go with em to a charity dinner that I have been invited to.""Bu' I ain't been invited," SHe protested."I just invited you. The invitation is for me plus you. I would like you to be my plus one," he explained."Wha' kinda charity dinna
we talkin' 'bout?""Oh, it's your Basic charity dinner, they happen two or three times a month for this charity or that. They invite all the influential people to the." he said, "There is always a lot of important people at them.""Would I 'ave to do anytin speshul?""Special? No, it's just a dinner, I can introduce you do people and all you need is an evening gown," he smiled as he finished.Alex shrugged as she handed him one of the beers, "Sure, whateva. Jus' le me know when. We chould be in da new 'ouse by den.""Great," he said as he turned to leave the kitchen, "it's a date then."Alex froze as the words hit her ears. 'it's a date' echoed in her mind and the realization that she was completely unprepared for any event like that knocked her into a chair by the table. After what felt like only seconds Susan walked into the kitchen holding her side, "Hey there Boomer, I thought you might have died in here or something. It's been like a half hour, you okay?""I don' 'ave a dress," was all she managed to say."Susan scrunched her brow as she asked, "what do you mean? You have tons of dresses.""I don' 'ave no evenin' dress fer no fancy dinna er nutin.""What the hell you need..." Susan trailed off as the situation hit her, "He asked you out?""As a plus one to a charity dinna," She said, the now room temperature can unopened can of beer still in her hand. "Wha' does dat mean?"Susan sat doen by her friened as she said, "That means we need to get you an evening gown, girl. What the hell do you think? This is the perfect opportunity for you to spread the word about the Dark Rider House and our project. He's a very influential person and needs someone to go to things like this with him, and he's offering to take you. What
did he say?""'e said 'e wan'ed me ta be 'is plus one and 'e'd intradus me ta importan' people and stuff.""That's great," Susan said with a smile, "It's just what we need. You can go to these things as his 'plus one' and need all the important people of the city and possible state." The chinchilla was almost giddy with excitement, "And you're hot, what kind of political figure doesn't want some sexy arm ressing when he's out and an event like that."Alex looked down at the beer can as she mumbled "Yea, sexxa arm dressin.""Well come one I think he's getting ready to leave," Susan said as she grunted to stand up."I'll be riht dere," Alex said as she looked at her beer. 'Sexy arm dressing, is that all I am?' she thought to herself ass he reached down and cracked the can open and pounded it down.