E-MAIL: eli @ popullus.net
RATING: PG
POSTED: Feb. 5, 2006
SUMMARY: Just another not-yet manic Monday.
NOTES: For Minnow, who requested Dan and Jeremy.
DISCLAIMER: Read
"Come get a paper with me."
Jeremy spun in his chair with the hand that clapped on his arm, and he kept on spinning until he grabbed the edge of his desk and came to a stop. "'Morning, Dan. What?"
"Come get a paper with me," Dan said over his shoulder. He was halfway to the elevators before he stopped and turned back with a considering frown. "And maybe a doughnut."
"Am I allowed to ask why?"
Dan's face cleared and he shook his head. "Nope." He started for the elevator again. "Come on!" he called.
"I want a chocolate doughnut," Jeremy informed him when he caught up. "A chocolate doughnut with icing."
~~
"So you've never had a travel umbrella? Like, never as in...never?"
"I'm a man, not a duck," Jeremy said, trying not to snap, because not explaining was one thing, but this was a new level of random even for Dan.
Dan held up a hand. "I do not need to know."
Jeremy would have stared at him, but he hadn't stopped staring, and frowning, and being altogether confounded from the moment he'd stepped into the elevator. "That's not--"
"Hey, man," Dan said, both hands up now as the doors opened and he backed into the lobby. "What you and Natalie do once you're outside of this building is between you, her, and the Animal Rights Commission."
"Yes, yes it--" Feeling like he should be grabbing his head in pain, Jeremy lunged forward before the doors closed on him, and he completely gave up on not looking like he'd been sideswiped by a horse on a bicycle. "No! No it's not," he protested. "Why are you--"
Grinning, Dan pointed to a spot behind Jeremy.
"No, really, Dan, what are you--"
Dan raised his eyebrows expectantly and pointed again, and then Jeremy was tackled.
He stumbled, but even before he managed to turn, he recognized the atonal laughter of the woman hanging onto him.
"Louise?"
She squeezed him tighter and bounced a little, and Jeremy had no choice but to bounce with her.
"Always glad to help a pretty girl," Dan said behind them.
His head spinning in a good way this time, Jeremy untangled himself from his sister and turned them around to face Dan together. Dan was bouncing, too -- rocking up on his toes, anyway -- hands stuffed in his pockets and grinning wide enough now that it had to hurt, Jeremy knew, because he was pretty sure a version of that grin was on his face.
"How?"
"You'll get a complete sentence in, one day, you've just got to work on it," Dan told him.
Jeremy made a face. Louise chuckled, shoulders shaking under Jeremy's arm.
Dan shrugged. "The basics are: she e-mailed me, I e-mailed back, and about five minutes ago, she sent up a note." He pulled out one hand to give them both a little wave. "I'll let her fill in the rest," he said.
Then, while Jeremy struggled to come up with one of those complete sentences, Dan nodded to Louise with another, smaller smile, and walked away humming.
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