The Emporium is Open -- Wednesday

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Michael was still in deep sleep this morning, and Ben decided not to wake him. Ben brought his manuscript downstairs with him, and at times he can be heard quietly cursing at and scribbling on the pages.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_red_xiii_/]

Castor and Pollux, armed with their mission and being allowed out on their own and unsupervised, trot over to The Big Store, trying very hard not to get distracted.

They aren't heavy enough to push the door in, so they sit outside and stare in, tails waving lazily and hoping their Cub Telepathy of Cute ^tm will work and the Big People/Person inside will see them and let them in.

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben looks up from his manuscript to see the cubs sitting outside. With a smile, he walks over and opens the door. "Hey, you two. What are you doing out and about without your daddy?"

((ooc: OMGcute! :D))

[http://users.livejournal.com/_red_xiii_/]

They pranced between Ben's legs and into the store. Each held something in their mouth. Castor held up a piece of paper and Pollux was chewing at a white envelope.

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Okay, this was going to be a challenge. Ben knelt by the cubs and looked at what they had. He held out his hand to Castor and asked, "Can I see what you've got?" Either something was written on the paper, or they had been sent to get paper and envelopes. He wouldn't know til he saw if the paper had anything written on it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_red_xiii_/]

Gently, Castor released the paper once Ben took it. His voice squeaked, "Dadda!"

Written in neat script was the following:

Michael or Ben,

I'm under the weather today with a cold and was hoping you might have something to help ease the symptoms just a bit. Preferably not fizzy or in little plastic trays that are hard to get out of the packaging. Liquid would be good if you have it.

In the envelope that (I hope) Pollux still has is money to cover the purchase.

Thank you for your help...

-Red

Pollux sat in attention, bobbing gently and waiting for Ben to take his thing. He was helping too!

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"Aha." Ben claimed the envelope from Pollux and patted both of them on the head.

First he went down the pet aisle and got a couple of toys, which he gave to the cubs for free. That would help keep them out of Red's hair (so to speak). Then Ben found a bottle of all-purpose cold medicine and rang it up. He put the bottle and change in a bag, and worked it so that it would sit like a sling around one of the cub's necks -- easy to carry but not dragging on the ground. He gave each of the cubs a good tummy rub, then put the bag-sling around Castor's neck.

"You be good boys now and get that back to your daddy. And don't lose those new toys along the way."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_red_xiii_/]

Both sitting very still (and quite prettily) while Ben worked on the bag, they giggled with the tummy rubs.

"Dadda! DAAAdda!" Castor and Pollux squeaked out to Ben happily and stood at the door to go back out.

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben laughed. The cubs were just the cutest damned things; it was hard to be in a bad mood around them. He opened the door for them. "Go on now. No dilly-dallying."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_red_xiii_/]

They left the shop, running first one way, the wrong way, and then back the other on their way home to take Red his cold medicine.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

[ooc: That is the cutest thing ever! Red better bring those boys along next time he comes to the book shop!]

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

((ooc: Stalking the cubs now? :P))

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

[ooc: C'mon, cute lil red puppy-creatures! Of course I am. *g*]

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

Inara comes in, rather flustered. "Morning, Ben!"

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben looks up from his book. "Good morning, Inara. What can I do for you?"

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"Oh, not much. I understand you have some medications for sore throats and stuffy noses? I think I'm coming down with something." She assays a smile. "How have you been?"

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"Yes we do. Seems to be popular today, too. That'll be on aisle 12." Ben sighs. "It's been an interesting couple of weeks -- as in the 'may you live in interesting times' kind of interesting. But on the up side, Hunter asked his girlfriend to marry him last weekend, and she said yes."

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"That's lovely news," Inara says, smiling in spite of her mood. "Congratulations to Hunter - and to you and Michael, too." She sneezes, quickly applying a handkerchief and turning away.

She gets her purchases - including a large carton of orange juice - and returns to the counter. "This must be something going around right now," she said. "Or my body protesting the weather here in Fandom." A big sigh escapes her. "Being sick is very inelegant and undignified - neither of which is appropriate to a Companion."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"Seems there's something going around. Red sent the cubs over to pick up some cold medication too." Ben shook his head. "Being sick is just a part of life, unfortunately. Green tea will help, if you've got some." He rang up the items. "That'll be $12.14."

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"I've no shortage of tea," Inara smiles as she pays. "Thanks, Ben."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben returns the smile. "You're welcome. Take care of yourself, and I hope you feel better soon."