Peter
slides into the car and slides to the middle seat and snuggles back up
against Kraglin and to relax as they head back. He took kraglins hand on
his and starts rubbing along his palm and wrist knowing it calmed and
relaxed him.Kraglin just sat there, making low growling-type noises. It was crazy – the bloated feeling he had seemed to be getting better now. Just a bit at least.
Carlos drove them home, still feeling kind of jittery and paranoid. They’d made a bit of a scene – did that mean someone was going to come after them? God, he hoped not. Or if someone was, they come after Yondu and the boys left. Can’t confront about aliens with no aliens around…
Peter snuggles him continuing his rubbing.
Once back at the house it was to find two new faces. Half but and Tullk were there the excuse was halfnut wanted to collect some wild herbs from earth to see if he could make something from it and why not visit there captain and other crew while they were at it.
Coming in and seeing Tullk talking and laughing with his dad like the were old friends… Carlos’ first thoughts were to the ship. “Who the hell is watching the ship?” he asked.
Tullk just shrugged. “Ship’s in the night cycle. Yer planet’s a bit on the fast side of standard. Anyway – the night crew’s got the ship and everyone else is sleepin’.”
“Ya got permission from Yondu ‘fore comin’ down, right?” Kraglin asked him.
Half was over near the table scanning some of the herbs and spices he’d found in the garden. “O..of c.co…course we did. W..we a..al always listed to the c..captain..” he frowns holding up a green leaf of some kind. “Hmmmm… this is listed as…a ..a n.nar ..narcotic…”
Edwardo looked. “Oh, that looks like hemp. People use it for oils and to make paper…. though I’m not sure where you found that…”
Carlos frowned at it. “Did that come from the forest?”
Half but nods. “Just.. s… south of. Y..you garden…. I. F.. f.. found some. T..tasty mushrooms too.” Looks over at Tullk and smiles at him.
Yondu hums. “Half I told ya not to wander past the garden….”
Half frowns. “S..Sorry I.. just saw a.. interesting p..plant…”
“It’s not dangerous,” Carlos told him. “Just… don’t leave any of it here. Make sure to take it with you when you go back to the ship. It’s kind of illegal here to have more than an ounce or so.”
“Sounds like I may have to… ‘stumble’ upon it myself later,” Mr Ramon said with a frown. “After you boys are back in space of course… we don’t want the police asking you all questions.”
Half finished and stores the plants before siding up against Tullk. “I know there have to be more herbs and spices …. but this is what I have..”
Tullk nodded with a smile, reaching around to rub at his shoulder. “I think that’ll keep ya busy fer a while, huh Jamie? Make sure you keep all that green ‘hemp’ stuff with you until we get to the ship.”
Half smiles and nods leaning against him and shivers. “Cold…..”
Peter blinks then grabs the bag with the blanket and brings it over. “I… got it for you…. it’s a electric blanket…. will keep you warm….”
Half blinks and takes it looking it over. “I…. thank you petey….”
Tullk lifted an eyebrow at the gift, but he gave Peter a grin. He reached up and rubbed the boy’s head. “Yer’a good ‘un, Pete. The Captain did right by you.”
Peter smiles at the pat and praise. “I gotta take care of my family you know.”
Half pulls the planner from the packaging and burritos himself in it.
“It should be easy to rig up something to give it power,” Carlos told Tullk. “There’s a physical plug on it, and if you just make a rechargeable battery pack to plug into it then you should be good to go.”
Tullk nodded. “Sounds good,” he said, and Carlos nodded before carrying the rest of their groceries into the kitchen.
Peter plugs it in and flips it on half purring as it warms up and he burrows. “Waaaarrrmmmm…..”
Peter smiles.
Yondu chuckles following carlos and nuzzles him.
Carlos blinked when Yondu came up behind him. He looked back and smiled slightly. “Hey, big guy,” he said. He reached into a bag and pulled out a small bag of Cheetos. “Look at what I got.”
“Terran beastie worms.well shit.” Opens the bag and blinks. “uhhhh these are bad… there dead… I’d go get yer money back.”
Carlos chuckled. “No, they aren’t dead,” he said. “It’s made of mostly plant-based products, not grubs. Give them a try. I promise, they’re good.”
Yondu pulls out one then pops it in his mouth and blinks. “Hey tastes just like a beastie worm!!” Keeps munching on them them.
Carlos nodded. “Yeah, they do! This gives you context now when Pete and I say it’s like a Cheeto.” He smiled. “I’m glad you like them, even though they’re not wriggly and silently screaming for every bite you take.”
“Yeah that’s true. Maybe swing the scream faces they make as they attempt to escape fate. Got your dad to eat a few with me. According to him the lunch we made should be done soon. We decided to add some Beasties to the salad mix. Warning … I’m converting your dad…. hehe.” Nuzzles his neck.
Carlos chuckled again. “My dad has eaten some weird shit,” he said. “He ate a snake heart once when he went to Vietnam. It was his birthday. It’s good for improving one’s sex life, apparently.”
The Perfect Scientist 