You're my only hope

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Anthony looked frazzled as he cast a careful glance over his shoulder before slipping back under what appeared to be a blanket fort so he could stare at his phone. ]

Ok look, bad week... shit happened. Lots of shit happened, most of it was my fault. Got engaged, broke it off the next day, had to spend most of the rest of the time at the hospital looking after a sick relative. The visit from the creepy alien hunting suit was incredibly spooky... But none of that compares to this!

[ He swallowed and hushed his tone so he wouldn't be overheard. ]

Mum is here. Actually here in my flat right now, cleaning everything and making dinner because she says I look unwell even though she has done the magic heat sensing mum hand trick three times already and I don't have a fever. What do I do!? I can't tell her about even half of this stuff without--...

[ A second voice, much sweeter and calmer broke in to ask... ]

What is this?

[ And Anthony paled as he and phone broke free of the covers to see his grey haired mom holding that conspiratorial message from the mysterious MMF. Never had a man shot so quickly from a blanket tent to snag the paper, crumbled it, and chuck it into the nearest bin. ]

Nothing! Just some chain letter, probably thinks he is being funny by sending weird notes... Nothing to worry about at all! I told you everything is fine!!

[ His mum merely gave her poor highly strung son a sympathetic look and once again set her hand to his forehead. ]

Honey, you really need to calm down. I know what will help!

[ She turned and dug through one of her many bags until she found a tattered old teddy bear wearing yellow wellingtons. This was pressed into Anthony's arms as he was ushered back to the blanket covered sofa. ]

Its Mr. Yellow Boots! Now you and he can sit here all cozy until dinner is ready.

[ Anthony was sulking but he sat back on the sofa and looked helplessly after his mom until she was well out of ear shot. ]

Send help. Anything... I need her to stop worrying.

Comments

[serpentinthegarden]

It's the only place to hide in here. I have a studio apartment its either hide in the bathroom and have her worried that I'm taking too long or duck under here and pretend to be napping.

[scotch_egg]

[fortunately he's alone in the quiet now. But he's exhausted from all that. It's only been four hours and already he's regretting leaving the hospital.]

She does. Now she doesn't.

[and he isn't going.]

[serpentinthegarden]

Maybe we can do name tags.

[ He joked lamely as he cast a quick look to the door. ]

Oh... you saw that.

[ Course he did it was on the network, everyone saw that. ]

Thought I could get a few hours out of the flat. Just let mum work out her worries while cooking. That's what she does. If she isn't gardening then she is cooking. Maybe you could slip over before the great escape? That way... we both will have an excuse to leave before the others get here.

[serpentinthegarden]

Did they miss out on hearing about that whole 'no stress' thing?

I mean if you need a rescue...

[ He waved his hand to his own mum who was cooking away in the kitchen and singing a happy tune. She wasn't shouting at least. ]

She would make you eat a salad or something, between filling my fridge and freeze to the top with home cooked meals.

[serpentinthegarden]

To a normal person not having these kinds of delusions I'm sure every last one of us seems mad.

[serpentinthegarden]

 Mr. Anthony? 


[ Mamma Crowley's voice took on a hint of suspicion but the looming emergency sounded too dire to not ask after. ]


You all must be very casual at the Gardens. I do know where he is, of course, tell me what the emergency is and I will pass on the message as soon as he is free? 

[hardtoignore]

For reals. Apparently I have some sort of magic ability but I'm not too sure if I should try to use it in any way. It seems dangerous.

[darkenedmoon]

You asked him how were you to know what his mum was like. ;)

[She reads, and he has very valid points--but she's been in the business for years.]

You needn't say it is for you. Perhaps one of your employees or some such? Mayhap they're the one who needs the help. And even if she decides to be nosey about it, I can work with that. I understand where she comes from, but I also understand how much pressure that puts on a person.

[She does try hard not to be a helicopter mom to Elliott, after all.]

[temptationaccomplished]

[Brightly] Could we?
...Oh, you were joking.

And yes, I did. I'm sorry, that was terribly invasive and nosy of me.

I could. She wouldn't think it awfully convenient, would she? Is she staying with you, or does she have a hotel room?

[scotch_egg]

[he curled up on his side. He was tempted to say that he was fine, but really he was tired. And with Aunt Evie they would at least behave themselves]

...I don't want to be in the way.

[he swallowed]

And you'll have to help me downstairs.

[chenqing_player]

[He flinches a little. It was hard enough to add the Mr to the name..mother's are sharp. But he needs to stay with his role.]

There was a small fire in one one of the exhibits and it has to be ready for opening tomorrow! He had such specific instructions for it that we are afraid there isn't a way to fix it the way he wanted it now. He really needs to see it for himself.

[Come on woman...can't you hear the panic in his voice?]

[serpentinthegarden]

 A fire! Oh good lord! Was anyone hurt? I'm sure Anthony will want to know. 

[ She turned from the phone then, raising her tone in her best mom voice. ]

Anthony! You better hurry! There's been a fire! Sounds like the whole gardens might have gone up in smoke!!

[ The message might have been a touch muddled, but while she panicked Anthony rushed back out to collect the phone from her. His tone was much more calm but with an edge of, 'really?? Over selling it a bit aren't you?' ]

You said the whole garden was on fire?

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Blasted damn elevator. At least they were going down the stairs and not up. Gravity would be on their side. ]

I'm a master at helping people downstairs.

And actually you would be the opposite of in the way. Going to pick you up is an excuse mum couldn't possibly object to.

[serpentinthegarden]

I mean... if you are really into the idea of name tags we could give it a try. No one is going to get your name right though, not even if you spell it phonetically. And don't worry about the spying thing. Its not like you slipped over and had a look while I was in the shower.

[ Just a smirk not a suggestion! ]

Mum is amazingly smart and able to spot a lie from across the room but with the phone call and the kid coming over, one of those has to work. It will be fine!
She will actually be staying at Lilith's penthouse as I don't have a spare bedroom for a guest. That... actually was the plan when I bought into the place. They can visit but then they have to go somewhere else to sleep. One of my best ideas.

[serpentinthegarden]

You too? Seems like everyone is getting them. Why do you supposed it's dangerous?

[serpentinthegarden]

He seems like a good kid. Aside from the whole being willing to lie to my mum thing, which you are surprisingly cool with.

[ He can see where that trouble-making gene comes from. ]

It might work if I say its for some one else. Alec maybe. He could use a better flat so at least it's believable.

[ Now if only the family doesn't take that for fact and force his cousin to actually move. ]

If you don't mind I might keep the reality scam in the back-wings, use it tomorrow or the next day. She is going to be staying for a while and its always nice to have an escape route on standby.

[scotch_egg]

Alright, alright. [he sighed, and if the sound was a bit shaky, be decent for once and pretend not to notice]

I'll be here.

[though he might just pass out in waiting so Anthony will have to let himself in.]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ He pouted as he noticed how much worse Alec sounded than when he was in hospital. Family really could take it out of a person and his cousin didn't have so much energy left in the first place... ]

I'll be there soon.

[ It actually took a few hours to get across town as the wreck of the century had plugged up large portions of Manhattan. Then there were the stairs... Anthony was huffing and puffing when he went to blow the door down to enter Alec's flat.
He picked up the discarded hospital provisions bag on the way by, tossing the previously worn clothing into what he hoped was a hamper so it could be filled up again with new fresh things. ]

Oi, Alec. Want to pack your own bag this time?

[hardtoignore]

Um. I can tell you sometime but I don't feel comfortable posting it here.

[scotch_egg]

Wha--? [he blinked blearily at Anthony, wondering why the hell he was here. Then remembered.

He barely felt capable of moving but...]

Yeh. Give me a sec--

[he hoisted himself into an upright position and then... remained where he was to gather the energy to stand]

[chenqing_player]

I didn't!!! I said there was a little fire in an exhibit!! ONE EXHIBIT. Do mom's always stretch the truth??

[But it worked didn't it?? But now he found himself panicking over a fire that didn't even exist!]

[darkenedmoon]

I would not tell Elliott this, but his grandparents and I are as close as Pluto is to the Sun. Likely why I'm fine with it. Though honestly, I have no intent to encourage harm to come to your mother. Her heart is in the right place, as annoying as you may find it.

[Quite unlike the history between her and her parents, though no one need know the details. But Yotsuyu snorts upon reading the next sentence.]

You certainly need the best of luck to convince him of anything, so if you truly desire him to move, I wish you quite an amount of it!!

[A pause, then.]

You did mean realty, I trust? But yes. You have my number now, I can be at your disposal any time it is necessary.

[serpentinthegarden]

Right.

[ Bond would never have made that mistake. ]

Later then, when things are less hectic. Not sure when that will be with nearly the whole clan coming in.

[serpentinthegarden]

Take your time.

[ Anthony just got a head start on things by grabbing up those same bathroom items he had collected the first time. No one should go anywhere without a toothbrush. ]

Are they all gone then? Likely to return?

[scotch_egg]

Don't know. [after a time he gets to his feet. Only to stumble across the room far enough to sit in a chair, head rolling back]

Probably.

Though hopefully one at a bloody time.

[Christ, he just wanted a nap]