Chilly Boulder, Sunday Afternoon

[justalittlerepressed]

Heat was something Eddie could handle. He moved from Texas to California and literally fought fires for a living. But none of that was humid like this place.

Which meant it was so much worse.

That was why Eddie was at the ice cream place to not melt into a puddle after successfully moving his, Christopher's, and Buck's stuff into a house on the island this weekend. It was a reward for a job well done. Or just a job done. Let's go with a job done here.

Now was the time to wait for Christopher to deliberate on which flavor he wanted to try. Without any parental input. Though he'd definitely take Buck's advice into consideration. The betrayal.

[expecting one, but open!]

Comments

[firehousehimbo]

"That wasn't so bad." He had only felt like lying down and dying once or twice. "And it'll look like an actual house once everything is out of boxes."

[justalittlerepressed]

"Chris' stuff first and then we can focus on the rest," Eddie agreed because he was not looking forward to reassembling more beds than that right now. "Enjoy being told the correct height for each picture on the wall while I'm on shift tomorrow."

That last part was definitely said quieter to not get the requisite, 'daaaaad' sighed at him for just not understanding how important the feng shui was.

[firehousehimbo]

"It's good that he knows what he wants." Buck would not be saying that tomorrow when he was actually hanging stuff. "Although I guess that doesn't apply to ice cream."

[justalittlerepressed]

Eddie raised his hands in defeat at that. "I don't see what's so wrong with a basic vanilla."

Of course you didn't, Eddie.

[firehousehimbo]

"You just said what was wrong with it," Buck replied. "Basic vanilla."

[justalittlerepressed]

Hey, nothing wrong with being basic.

"It's good! You can dress it up if you really need to."

[firehousehimbo]

"Which is always, because it's basic," Buck said. "Come on, at least get something with caramel in it."

[justalittlerepressed]

"Oh yeah, just what I want in this weather. To be extra sticky," Eddie replied, even as he looked at the caramel sauce speculatively.

[firehousehimbo]

"Are you planning on rubbing it all over your face or something?" Buck asked.

[justalittlerepressed]

"I was thinking more my hands, honestly," Eddie replied, making a face. "I'll consider the caramel, okay?"

Or just ask to try Buck's. And definitely end up trying whatever Christopher settled on.

[firehousehimbo]

And he'd never hear the end of it if he asked to try Buck's. Which was a monstrosity of cookies and cream with gummy worms. "Chris, will you tell your dad he's boring?"

[justalittlerepressed]

"You're boring, dad," Chris said with a grin because it was very and there was a thing here called a Skywalker Special and he was gonna ask for it to try everything all at once.

Eddie sighed like this was the greatest insult possible and gave a little fake pout. "Moving here was a mistake. I see that now."

[firehousehimbo]

Buck laughed. Kids were so great. "Did you expect anything different?"

[stykera]

It was kind of unpleasant outside but the heat was always preferable to the cold as far as Stark was concerned. Of course, he hadn't been moving 3 people's belongings today. He might have a different opinion if he had been.

Still, warm days were good for consuming cold sugary things and sometimes iced or frozen coffee drinks weren't what an alien wanted. Sometimes an alien wanted ice cream covered in whipped cream instead.

There were two new faces in here, which he noted (new children were always going to be more notable than new adults) and acknowledged with a nod before heading to the counter to order something for himself.

[justalittlerepressed]

"Sorry, we're... debating the correct flavor to try," Eddie said even though he was mostly just happy to be in air conditioning right now.

[stykera]

"There are a lot," Stark said with another nod. "I usually get something with chocolate. I don't think I've had anything that wasn't good."

[justalittlerepressed]

Eddie shot his son a, 'See?' look, but was thoroughly rebuffed with an eyeroll and a, "You're being impatient."

Which. Rude to turn parenting words around on him, Chris.

[stykera]

Christopher got a small smile out of Stark for that.

"Maybe you could try more than one flavor?" he suggested. "Or just come back tomorrow for another."

Stark was a terrible influence when it came to sugary things.

[justalittlerepressed]

"Oh, I have tried that argument," Eddie said. "It did not fly."

[stykera]

There was always the Skywalker...

"More flavors are a good excuse to come back," Stark pointed out. "Unless you aren't staying?"

[justalittlerepressed]

"We're staying," Eddie replied. "Just moved in, actually."

And from Eddie's expression, moving back out in this heat was noooot in the cards.

[stykera]

"Oh. Welcome to the island then. It's a good place."

If you were okay with all the really weird stuff.

"I'm Stark," he added.

[justalittlerepressed]

"Eddie," he said, offering a handshake. "And that indecisive kid is Christopher."

[stykera]

"Oh, I saw your name from the squirrels," Stark said as he took the offered hand. It was the second time this weekend he'd said something to that effect this weekend because this island was weird.

"Welcome, then. And hello, Christopher."

[justalittlerepressed]

Eddie definitely winced at the squirrels mention. "That's going to take some getting used to."