lavandarlizard2 | some Sunday Banshee...

Maybe I can start a new tradition. ^___^ My fic hamsters seem to be prostrated by the heat at the moment. Hot flashes aren't just for dragons, it seems. >_< And Bubba took one look at those hyraxes and took off to recruit them. I do not want to know what he's planning, but it can't be good. >_>

We're only a week away from August, so it's time to mention Reach Out And Smack Someone. Due to the length of some smack lists, the ROASS Day was increased to a whole month. Election years are always good for long lists. ^__~ Anyway, it's that time of year when you deliver pointed virtual smacks to anyone and everyone who has annoyed or irritated you in the past year. I always caution that the smackage should be virtual, because I am not responsible for any RL violence that occur. If you have a sibling or SigO who needs a real-world smack, the consequences are all yours. ^_____^ But I would appreciate pictures and even video, should it happen to make the evening news. ^___~

In any case, my list is long and steamy, but I plan to pace myself over the whole month. It's a temptation to see how quickly I can get through all the names, but really, I am pushing a thousand, so I should relax. ^____^

Here we have yet a bit more of the Hunt for Suitable Housing. ^____^ (and I'm behind in replying to comments because my dragonette is deep into a game on my computer and is bouncing next to my elbow in an effort to get me off of here.)

On the basis of Inazuma’s assurance that Q wouldn’t mind, I buttonholed a few people in the dining room to ask questions about house-hunting and moving. Most of them offered suggestions that I already had, but one Witch reminded me about utilities. Sad to say, even after all my years with Humans, I’d completely forgotten about that. She probably thought I was a crazy person the way I reacted. We won’t go into that, since it was just a tiny bit theatrical. I added “UTILITIES!!!” to my list. Then I thought to ask “what utilities?” but she had already escaped. During that exchange Inazuma, my partner in vamp house hunting, was surely hurting himself trying to stifle his laughter. He had his head down on the table, burying his face in a napkin. I swatted him with another rolled-up napkin.

“Asshole. What do you know about utilities?” I demanded.

He sat up, still snickering and shaking his hair back into place – did I mention that his blond hair was streaked and tipped with purple today? – and poked me back. “I know that we don’t deal with them,” he grinned. “The Castle is run on magic; the only thing I know about utilities is that Wufei is forever bitching about their electric bill.”

I blinked. “He is? Why have I never noticed this?”

“Oh, I think he keeps it to himself when Heero’s around. He was bitching about the cable bill once and Heero sort of… flambéed him. Before your time,” he explained. “During a terrible round of storms. Trowa likes to watch the pay channels when it’s raining.”

“Oh.”

“Heero said that if he didn’t shut up about it, he would order them back into Castle quarters.”

“Ah.” I know that Wufei doesn’t like the idea of living in quarters, but I don’t think I want to know why. “Okay. I get it.” I returned to my list.

“So, what should I have besides cable and electric?”

“Um… Gas? I think that’s what they use for cooking and heat.” He ticked off on his fingers. “Cable, electric, gas… I think there’s something else… Water?”

“I’ll ask Trowa tomorrow.” I made a note to ask Trowa and another one *not* to ask Wufei. I don’t have time this week to stuff all *those* worms back in their can.

My phone rang then. Heero, I noted on the ID.

“Hi lizard,” I grinned in greeting.

“Hello angel. I miss you.” Uh-oh. An “I miss you” right off the bat usually means he’s about to tell me something I won’t like. I sighed and decided to cut the crap.

“Okay, what’s up that you think will piss me off?”

“I don’t know why,” he rumbled, “but I always forget how well you understand me.”

I snickered; he was stalling. “Come on; out with it. Spill it, let me pout and get it over with.”

“All right.” I could hear the smile. “I will not be home tonight.”

“Okay. Is that it? That’s not so bad. I don’t need to sleep,” I teased. “So what’s up?”

Inazuma reached over and snagged my glass and gestured toward the soda machines. I nodded; he’s great about giving me privacy when Heero calls.

Heero sighed gustily. “Just another ‘Human’ tradition, apparently. The person we’re dealing with is insisting on throwing an elaborate banquet for us. The idiot won’t agree to sign anything until tomorrow.”

“Even when you growled at him? Or her.”

“I didn’t get a chance to. I am here as Q’s body-guard; we have had some… difficulty with this particular group before.”

That made me sit up straight. “Is it dangerous? Should you have backup?”

“I *am* the backup, Banshee,” he snorted. “Remember?”

Oh. Right. Q = Master Wizard. Duh.

“Sorry. So you’ll be home tomorrow?”

“That is the plan, yes. You know how these things go, though.”

Unfortunately, I did. I sighed. “How’s the port lag?” I asked instead.

“As usual,” he grumbled. “I do miss you. I have things I want to do and say…” His voice dropped to a purr. Oh yeah; I knew that voice.

“You wanna tell me now?” I whispered back seductively.

“I would love to… Where are you?”

“In the middle of the dining hall with Inazuma.”

“Well, crap,” he growled. “So much for phone sex then.”

I laughed. “You can call me tonight. I guarantee I’ll be naked after 2200.”

“Good. I shall ravish you then. I love you.”

“Okay, big guy. Kick some of that recalcitrant Human ass. Kiss-kiss.” I closed the phone and waved at Zuma. He was beginning to get some looks, hanging about the machines as he was.

He hurried over and handed over my refilled soda.