Ethan and Averi's Flat

[Ethan Cheng]

"Victoria said she might know a teleporter we could use."

[Averi Cheng]

"Wonderful. Once we bring her here, hopefully Ms. McManus will still be up for the job."

[Ethan Cheng]

"I don't know if that will work. I haven't been able to get in touch with Lumis for a long time, and I don't know who else I would request getting X-Team help from. Either way, since we found the teleporter, maybe a telepath will be sent our way soon enough. I hope."

[Averi Cheng]

"Well, Ms. McManus already said she didn't mind. The only one we'd probably need to be sure of is the one called Cassiel. Not sure if the question was ever thrown his way but she had suggested him." She smiled and stood up. "We should let dad know we at least have the teleporter. Getting mom out of China should be the priority."

[Ethan Cheng]

"Right. If we can get her here and wake her up, that's...well, that's one less thing to worry about."

[Averi Cheng]

"It's still possible. Least there's plenty of telepaths here." She smiled. "I guess I'll get the details on the teleporter from Victoria after I talk to her. So, anything else to make your day not so great?"

[Ethan Cheng]

"Nope. Potentially being a father and being drunk in front of a slightly pissed off babymomma is about it. But it's enough to ruin a day."

[Averi Cheng]

She smirked. "Does that...really bother you so much?" She asked curiously. "I hardly think that because you were drunk once you're quickly and unfit father."

[Ethan Cheng]

"I know it's not my first impression, but it was the first time she's seen me since...well, Valentine's Day. That must have been when it happened. It's still a bad impression, I guess."

[Averi Cheng]

"That's true I suppose." She shrugged and thought on the situation some more. "Anyway, we should really go out and do something. It's been fair too long. There's still so much of London to see."

[Ethan Cheng]

"You're right. Hell, I told Victoria I need to just hang out on campus some more. I guess you've got your lunch taken care of. Got anything to do tonight? No dates with four-eyes?"

[Averi Cheng]

"Actually, I haven't seem Claudius in quite some time." She said while lightly tapping her chin in thought. "I wonder if I finally scared the poor boy off."

"I have the preparation ready. I can always cook it later..or tomorrow for that matter. We can go get lunch still."

[Ethan Cheng]

"Go ahead, cook what you were cooking. I'm in no shape to go out right now. Just let me sleep this off."

[Averi Cheng]

"Whatever you wish brother." She stood up and returned to the kitchen, pulling out anything else she needed to make the meal. "We'll go out when you're feeling better."

[Ethan Cheng]

"Thanks." Ethan got up and made his way to his bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

[Averi Cheng]

[ A few hours later ]

"Oh Ethan!" She said, barging into his room. "Are you ready to go?"

[Ethan Cheng]

She wouldn't find him in bed, but light seemed to be on in the bathroom.

"Nearly. Did you have anything in mind? To eat, I mean."

[Averi Cheng]

"We've yet to find a really good Asian restaurant here. I think it's about time we do."

[Ethan Cheng]

"I found a great Thai place that I took Victoria to once." A few spritzes could be heard, probably cologne. "Or we could find something else. Sichuan, Korean barbeque, Japanese..."

[Averi Cheng]

"Any of those sound delightful Ethan." She said as she leaned against the door frame, waiting for him to be finished. "Korean Barbeque is sounding good."

[Ethan Cheng]

"Still in the mood for a little cooking then? Alright, we'll find something on the way. Did you call for a driver?," he asked, finally walking out, dressed in a button-down pressed shirt, a nice jacket, and slacks. He grabbed his phone and wallet in the main room as they headed for the door.

[Averi Cheng]

"Of course. He's on his way." She smiled. "Sure. I'm up for cooking some."

[Ethan Cheng]

Ethan was thumbing through potential restaurants on his phone already as they walked out the door and headed out.

[Victoria Valentine]

((April 2))
Humming after a day of shopping, Victoria knocked on the door to the Cheng apartment.

[Averi Cheng]

The door would open slowly, revealing Averi behind it. She smiled warmly. "Victoria. What a surprise." She stepped to the side to allow room for her to enter.

"It's a pleasure seeing you."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Oh, please darling, none of the formality. I've had just about enough of it to last me a week," Victoria said, smiling as she scooted past, kissing Averi on the cheek on the way.

[Averi Cheng]

"Understood my dear." She smiled at the kiss and closed the door behind her. "Have things settled down? You seem to be in a better mood."

[Victoria Valentine]

"A little better, darling," she said. "Less shocked, I suppose? More... resigned? Accepting? It's hard to tell, some days, honestly."

[Ethan Cheng]

"Who's at the-oh. Um, hey there," Ethan said, emerging from his bedroom, but stopping in his tracks on seeing Victoria. He wore a t-shirt and shorts he'd probably never be caught wearing in public, but he was at least wearing a nice robe over it.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria's lips quirked in amusement at his caught-off-guard look. "Sorry, darling... did I stop by too early?"

[Averi Cheng]

"Not that it matters. You've seen us both in much less than what we're wearing." Averi wasn't wearing much either. Just a white tank top and a pair of shorts. When she was home, she wanted to be comfortable. That meant not even looking at a dress again for the entire day.

"Anyway, either or, as long as you're feeling better than I'm happy." She walked into the kitchen. "Would you like something to drink?"

[Ethan Cheng]

"More like late. I just got through with classes a little while ago. It's a shame, if you came ten minutes sooner I'd still be presentable." One side of his mouth actually turned into a little smirk, to even his own surprise. Ethan wasn't one to joke about himself much, even lightly.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Darling, you're always presentable, and merciful Goddess, would I ever like a drink, but I've got a bit over seven months until I can have one," Victoria said, smirking a bit. "Especially today... I've just been checking the price of apartments and nannies, though I admit I'm unlikely to need the latter."

[Averi Cheng]

Averi couldn't help but laugh. "The drink didn't have to be alcohol. We do have other things." She smirked as she opened the fridge. "Various juices...always some water."

She glanced back at Victoria over her shoulder. "Do you already have some in mind? Surely, you shouldn't be with the baby twenty-four seven. You're gonna need some breaks to yourself..and then some."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Darling, please don't forget that I have a Madripoorian slave who's absolutely crazy about babies. I'm more worried that I'll be able to prize the baby away enough to actually get to know her."

[Ethan Cheng]

"Onyx, right? Still don't think I've ever run across her. Is she still adjusting here?"

[Victoria Valentine]

"Well enough, I think. It's an understandably slow process."

[Averi Cheng]

"Well, if you have someone that devoted supporting you with your child then it sounds like the both of you will be fine." She poured herself a glass of orange juice and walked over to the chair in the living room. She sat down.

"Anything in particular bring you over here today? Not that a plain visit is out of the question, it has been awhile."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Just fancied a visit. When two of my favorite people don't frequent the campus, I'm forced to come calling, woe is me."

[Ethan Cheng]

He seemed mildly surprised that Victoria would call him one of her favorites, but he didn't say anything about it.

"I've been staying around campus more recently. What passes as a salad in the cafeteria was just sad."