Thanks to the wonders of global warming, by the end of September it's still warm enough that Bellenotte is serving guests on their outdoor patio, today in particular playing host to one Mr. Anthony E. Stark, accompanied by the lovely Ms. Maximoff.  Tony is looking dashing in business casual, and will be ordering the veal.

Or at least this is how it ( Read more... )

Late at night, the prodigal son returns to the streets of Minneapolis, hands tucked into his pockets and head down as he wanders, occasionally kicking at stray cans and other small, safely kickable objects ( Read more... )

Shortly after school, before four o'clock even encroaches on them, Maria is crossing the yard to Martel's house. She is also barefoot, so she minces along the sidewalk cautiously, just in case there's anything that might maim her feet. She doesn't have anything with her besides something--maybe a necklace, with beads?--wrapped in one hand, and ( Read more... )

Since school went back in August, things have been mostly same-old-same-old around St Jude's--which is to say educational, religious, and full of Bornpang's inexplicable announcements. On Monday 15th, however, as all the students will be aware, is a school fair day. The art club has acquired space to paint, the drama club is putting on a few scenes ( Read more... )

After their encounter in the park, Leto and Martel headed back to Martel's home, where they broke open the liquor cabinet and got quietly a little tipsy over a game of chess. Apparently at no point it occurred to either of them that perhaps--perhaps--they should consider cleaning themselves up, because when Kirkeby drives Leto home (Serafina ( Read more... )

Sunday lunch comes after church--Madre's attended with her family for decades now and Martel still catches his father looking at her in slight nervous askance, as though he half-suspects she's going to strike up an argument with the parish priest--and it's still a bit odd to have it without Elena and Marcus. He supposes they'll all get used to that ( Read more... )

Maria is picking Martel up at his house ( Read more... )

Maria pulls up in front of Martel's close to the appointed time (seven or so, she's pretty sure they said, and for once she's not terribly late--only a few minutes past), checking her hair and make-up in the rearview mirror. She's got her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and after judging that the five-year-old she'd be taking care of that evening ( Read more... )

Camp Crystal Hills has existed since 1970 and cannot be blamed for its unfortunate choice in names; regardless, it looks very hospitable, surrounding a large, glassy lakefront clear enough to see the hospitable and harmless-looking sandy bottom. It's about 25 minutes outside of Minneapolis proper, with five cabins per sex, and six students in each ( Read more... )

After lunch at Cafe Latte (curled up in a booth while Martel had tea and Maria mercilessly teased him for having the aforementioned tea), Maria and Martel are at the Minneapolis Central Library. It's a new building, four stories, with free-hanging stairways everywhere and glass exterior walls, more concentrated toward the front. While it's not ( Read more... )