Post by Alex Vipond on Mar 11, 2016 23:51:43 GMT -8
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne had been feeling kind of guilty, what with all the nights out they've had so far. Of course there hadn't been that many, but enough that she was worried she was neglecting their son. But at the same time? She just had to get the hell out of the house some days. So that's why they were roaming the mall, a muslin blanket draped over the stroller initially to block the rain but also for a little bit of privacy. "It's shocking how many people think it's okay to just walk up and touch a baby. But it's usually little old women so...how can you even be mad at them?" Asked around her Orange Julius. Sluuurp.
Alex Vipond: "I'm just waiting for the day when someone tries that and he either bites them or hikes a leg and pees on them." He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. He regarded her, one arm slipping around her as they walked, the other hand resting on the bar of the stroller. They were practically joined at the hip, and if it seemed like they'd pounce if anyone got too close... well, duh?
Wrinkled Black: They even had matching red sneakers, which was totally unplanned and bound to spark a Vans vs. Converse debate sooner or later. At the idea of Grayson lifting his leg to pee on someone, Adrienne was cracking up. "Oh my God, babe..." Snickering, she shook her head and leaned forward to lift up the blanket, since there was some cooing coming from the pram. "You wouldn't do that, would you?" Smirk. "Though...yeah, you probably would, if Daddy has anything to say about it...”
Alex Vipond: "I'm so teaching him to write his name in the snow..." Alex nodded, and smirked, then leaned over and took a slurp from her Orange Julius. He straightened as if it didn't happen and tried for that innocent look.
Wrinkled Black: Her eyes rolled. "Charming. Just make sure he knows not to eat yellow snow, please?" When he leaned for her drink, she laughed. "Do we need to go back and get you one?"
Alex Vipond: "Nope, I'm good." he chuckled and then leaned in to drop a kiss to her lips. "I just needed a taste." Of her drink or her lips, was anyone's guess, but he waggled his brows and then looked about the mall to see what they were near. If anything interesting jumped out at them, they could head for it. In the meantime, however, they were just strolling the mall, since the parks were wet, cold and dark.
Wrinkled Black: "You're such a--" Kiss! "Pain in the ass.." She was chuckling, though, glancing in the window as they passed The Children's Place. "Oh...my God..." She turned the stroller a bit so they could get closer to the window. "How cute would something like that be for Easter??" She was pointing to a little set that had suspenders and a bowtie. OMG.
Alex Vipond: "That is fucking awesome." He nodded as they moved closer and then he looked toward the door, and steered them in. "We have to see if we can find something in his size."
Wrinkled Black: "I'm sure we can, and we can hit up the department stores, too..." Because it was all about the Little Man now! As it should be. Heading toward the dressier, Easter-esque clothes, Adrienne chuckled. "I can just imagine Rosalie swearing at us up and down in Italian if he's not dressed to the nines for Easter Sunday mass."
Alex Vipond: "Oh yes." Alex nodded. "And sadly, she will not approve of any rock and roll t-shirts on him for Easter so yeah. Gotta go the full Easter outfit." Once they reached the dressier infant stuff, Alex started looking through them.
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne gasped in mock shock. "She wouldn't? I can't imagine why..." Liptwitch. Setting the brake on the stroller and keeping it close by, she slid her arms around Alex's waist from behind, cheek against his arm. "Luckily his daddy cleans up pretty nice, so I'm sure he can, too."
Alex Vipond: Alex chuckled, leaning into her, a kiss dropped to her hair before he looked at her once more. "We'll find him a nice outfit for Easter and maybe some fun stuff, and see what goes when we get there."
Wrinkled Black: Grinning, she stepped back to the stroller, released the brake, and started pushing it back and forth slowly, as much as the small space would allow. Didn't need a baby meltdown in the middle of the store. "I'm really excited to go back. I can't believe it's almost been a year."
Alex Vipond: Alex smiled and shook his head at her. "I know, right?" It seemed crazy. Just this time last year, he'd filed for divorce. Now he was about to be married and their Little Man was going to be ring security... as best he could be. "We have to spend at least a three days in Paris. See the things we didn't last time." He smirked. No, they'd not really gotten out of the flat much.
Wrinkled Black: "Oh, for sure. I'd love to see the Louvre, if he cooperates." He being Grayson, who was thoroughly enjoying the faces she was making at him. So long as that stroller kept moving, he was a happy camper. "Just don't forget the Angry Birds." GRIN.
Alex Vipond: "Oh no. Angry Birds are going wherever we go." he smiled and leaned over to drop another kiss to her lips before he leaned down and made a few faces at Grayson. Chuckling him on the chin before he straightened, he smiled at Adrienne before he started collecting outfits. "This kid is going to have more clothes than he can ever wear...." But hey, that's what boxes and attics were for. So that shit could be passed down to the next one.
Wrinkled Black: "Well, yeah, because his Daddy has a spending problem. Doesn't he? Yes he does." Okay, that last bit was for the baby. "His suitcase is going to be as big as ours, that's for damn sure. Which reminds me... Are we going private or commercial?" Her voice was lowered for the question. Not for the need of secrecy, but they didn't need to be flaunting their modes of transportation in the middle of a children's store.
Alex Vipond: "I've arranged for the jet. I don't think we want him on a commercial airliner this early, do we?" He looked at Adrienne to make sure he'd made the right decision. The thought of the potential germs on a commercial airliner in proximity to their son... Nuh uh. Now in a year when he wanted to eat dirt, that would be different. So long as it wasn't toxic. He paused, his train of thought coming to a complete, screeching halt. "We need to have the soil on the yard tested for contaminants." Yes, he was completely serious.
Wrinkled Black: "Definitely not, I've heard traveling with babies is a pain in the ass. That'll make it so much easier." Here he's thinking germs and she's thinking crowds. Which was why she was blinking up at him like a deer in headlights. "Wait, what?"
Alex Vipond: "Next year, when he's playing in the yard, digging holes, eating dirt, doing what kids do, what if there's something toxic in the soil? I mean, we do live relatively close to a golf course that pumps out all kinds of chemicals for lawn care and pesticides and shit." One brow rose. "We have to move." Cart. Horse.
Wrinkled Black: For a moment she just stared at him, but then she was trying so damn hard not to crack up. "Alex, sweetheart, we don't have to move. Babies eat all sorts of shit, including their own shit. Thomas swallowed a marble once and thought it was the funniest thing in the world." Adrienne? Not so much. She at least could laugh about it now. "We'll start off with keeping him on a blanket, limiting where he can and can't go. It'll be okay."
Alex Vipond: Alex nodded, but he wasn't entirely convinced. "I still want to get the soil tested. At least that way we can have it cleaned up if needed by the time he's ready to play in it." In theory. He smiled at her. This parenting stuff was not easy, in the least. "Maybe we should keep him in a play yard when he's outside. "Baby cage. Same thing.
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne nodded, smiling. "That's not a bad idea. We wouldn't want him trying to chase after the animals and wander off somewhere that he shouldn't." Like stairs, the pool. Her back sort of stiffened suddenly and she nodded. "Yes, definitely a play yard."
Alex Vipond: The pool was fortunately fenced. But kids could be creative. "When he's older, maybe a tether..." He nodded. The kid would be sixteen and have to explain to his girlfriend that he couldn't come over because his parents had him trussed up and on a leash.
Wrinkled Black: Her nose scrunched a little as she watched Grayson, who was starting to get fussy. "I dunno, I always feel bad for those kids. We'll see how crazy he is once he's mobile." Some kids were just runners, then it was time for a leash. With a lean, she scooped the baby up out of the bassinet, holding him to her shoulder and starting a slow sway. "You won't be crazy, though, will you?"
Alex Vipond: "No, he's going to be fine." Alex smiled and ran his hand gently over Grayson's head, before he bussed his cheek. And then he spoke low to Adrienne. "What if he has our speed?" They were going to need motion sensors everywhere.
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne frowned briefly at the thought, turning her head so she could look at Grayson better--though it was pointless, his attention was on Alex. "We're just going to have to keep a close eye on him, is all. If he does, I blame you." She winked at Alex to let him know she was kidding. Mostly, anyway. Neither of her children had any kind of super speed, so it would likely come from the vampire side, if it all. "But we should probably buy stock in bubble wrap, just in case."
Alex Vipond: "Football pads." He nodded. "And a helmet." he reached out to take Grayson's fingers in his, giving them a caress and a gentle waggle, before giving be-ringed fingers over to be inspected, chewed on, whatever. "I guess the terror of being a parent is finally setting in. I mean, I thought I was scared before. What if I'm a bad father and all that but... There's so much more to it than just feeding and diapering and keeping them amused."
Wrinkled Black: Her smile warmed as she watched her boys, then she leaned over to drop a kiss to Alex's lips. "You're already doing a wonderful job, I promise you."
Alex Vipond: Alex smiled at her and returned the kiss, before he glanced at the stuff collected. "What do you say we hit the check out counter and then the food court before they start shutting things down?"
Wrinkled Black: "Good deal, it's about dinner time anyway." Which Grayson was all too well aware of and he was starting to cry as if to remind them. Snickering, she shifted him so she could cradle him in one arm while grabbing the handle of the stroller with her other hand. "Ooor how about you hit the checkout counter and I try to diffuse this time bomb?"
Alex Vipond: "Got it." He smiled and kissed them both on the forehead and then after extricating his fingers, he took their baby swag up to the counter, laying it all out. He glanced back at Adrienne and Grayson to make certain they were alright and then looked back at the cashier as she started ringing things up.
Wrinkled Black: Stepping outside of the store, Adrienne lightly bounced the baby, alternating between shh's and "Oh, I know. Yes, I hear you." While she got looks of sympathy from passersby, Adrienne couldn't be happier. Okay, so she could probably use some more sleep, but still. If she had to sum up her life with one of Alex's songs? Euphoria.
Alex Vipond: About fifteen minutes a signature and two autographs later, Alex was leaving the store to stand with his baby mama and baby. "Hey, Little Man..." He smiled, and then slipped the bags onto the carabiner attached to the stroller handle. "Food court?" He could need a change, so a bathroom might be the more immediate need.
Wrinkled Black: She was totally laughing when Alex got delayed by autograph signing. "You get used to it, buddy, I promise." She grinned up at Alex when he joined her and nodded. "Food court, someone's hangry." Grayson at least stopped bawling--funny how that seemed to happen once Alex was in eye-sight--but was still fussy. "Yeah, yeah, I don't have to guess who your favorite is.." Snicker.
Alex Vipond: Alex chuckled. "I'm his favorite at playtime. You're his favorite at meal time." Face, Alex didn't have the right equipment for that. He smiled at Adrienne. "And you're my favorite." He dropped a kiss to her lips and led them off to the food court.
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne laughed, returning the kiss before following after him. "And you're my favorite adult. He's my favorite kid." Because it was impossible to choose one over the other! Once at the food court, she headed for a somewhat more secluded table so she could get situated. Murmuring quietly to Grayson to hang tight, she got the nursing cover situated so she could get to feeding. She wasn't at all concerned about offending anyone by breastfeeding in public, she just didn't want to whip her boob out for all to see.
Alex Vipond: Alex didn't want her to either. At least, not in public. Those were his. And Grayson's. Mostly Grayson's. Alex helped where he could, getting the blanket situated and all, and then he set the stroller within Adrienne's reach and set the brake. "What do you want?" There was a lot to choose from, it was just a matter of making a decision.... often easier said than done.
Wrinkled Black: "Hmm..." She stared around the food court, and then her eyes widened when they landed on Panda Express. "Oooo, honey walnut shrimp with flied lice?" GRIN. Lookit her being a good quasi-Catholic and going the fish Friday route!
Alex Vipond: Alex chuckled and nodded. "You got it." Alex on the other hand was a heathen and was going with the orange chicken and flied lice. He dropped a kiss to her lips because face it, he could kiss her until he was blue and it wouldn't be enough. He headed to the Panda Express counter and put in their order, as well as Dr. Pepper, and once it was paid for, he wandered back to the table.
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne grinned as she watched him, noticing a few people do doubletakes. Wait, is that..? There may possibly be a day where it grows old, but certainly not any time soon. When he came back she beamed up at him. "Thanks, babe. There's a gaggle of girls on your six that are staring in absolute disbelief." And Adrienne was amused as hell. Even at the one that's giving her the total stink-eye.
Alex Vipond: Alex chuckled, settling the tray to the table. "Even after all these years, it seems weird." Maybe it was because he shied away from publicity as best he could, or the fact that, deep down he was shy in general, but the fact thathe had people scream his name was still kind of wild.
Wrinkled Black: "Yeah, but it's kind of awesome, though. Especially knowing that this girl's giving me total bitch face but that doesn't stop me from getting to go home with you." It was muttered around the straw of her soda, on the off chance the kid could read lips. She wasn't that much of a jerk to flaunt.
Alex Vipond: Alex dropped his head, shoulders shaking as he laughed, and then he leaned over and kissed her cheek lips caressing her skin as he spoke low, "I'd be a bit miffed if you went home with someone else." Just saying.
Wrinkled Black: She leaned into the kiss, trying not to grin too much. "Well, yeah. It'd mean you're stuck with baby duty all night." Liptwitch. Don't retaliate, she's nursing!
Alex Vipond: Alex leaned back and cracked up. "I'd have to go buy a hazmat suit to be doing that all night." Okay so the kid really didn't have any kind of foul odor yet. But he knew once he started eating 'real' food that it would come. He had been reading.
Wrinkled Black: "Hear that, buddy?" She looked down through the peep hole of the cover. "He says you stink. So that makes me your favorite." She beamed up at Alex before popping a shrimp into her mouth.
Alex Vipond: "He doesn't yet, in all fairness, but it's going to happen. I just hope I don't gag like the dude on YouTube when it happens." He was completely serious. That was a fear. Not being able to handle diaper duty when it got down to the nitty gritty, so to speak. And not for nothing, but you know you're a parent when you can sit at a table, anywhere let alone in public, and talk about baby poo while eating.
Wrinkled Black: Adrienne wanted to laugh so much. But instead she smiled at him and lightly nudged his foot with hers, since patting his hand would've been a bit of a reach. "Just take a deep breath before opening the diaper. You'll do just fine, babe, I have total faith in you."
Alex Vipond: Alex was chasing his chicken around with his chopsticks and he smiled at Adrienne. "Thank you. I mean, I'm so freaking new to this it's not funny. I mean, most people, before becoming a parent, have at least some experience with kids. A friend's, a relative's, baby sitting while in high school..." He shook his head. "I don't have any of that."
Wrinkled Black: "You're not alone, Alex. There are plenty of people out there that jump in feet first, having no idea what they're doing." She tipped her head as she thought about it. "Come to think of it, I didn't really have much experience, either. I would've been completely lost and miserable if it hadn't been for my mother."
Alex Vipond: "Well, I have you." He smiled, his hand brushing hers before he resumed eating, speaking between bites. "We've been lucky. So very blessed." He knew his good fortune, not just in finding Adrienne again, but in creating a family with her. Building a life. "Ten days and we're off to Paris. I'm worried we won't take enough, or will pack too much."
Wrinkled Black: "Yes you do." Smiling, she blew him a kiss before looking down at Grayson. "We really have, in so many ways." The tranquility of the moment was interrupted by the thought of only ten days to pack. "We ought to list out the essentials. Anything after that, if we forget it, we can likely pick up something while we're there."
Alex Vipond: Alex pulled his phone out and started listing off items. "Stroller, Car seat... we're taking the convertible, right? The one with the bassinet? Is that the one that also has the car seat, or are those two different ones?" Yes he was not sure which was which.
Wrinkled Black: "We'll take this one and while we're in Paris we'll use the stand for the bassinet rather than renting a crib." Who knows what those hotel rentals go through, euw. "As for the car seat, we'll take the Cybex and install the base in the rental car whenever we get it. Until then, it'd mostly be cabs, right? There's a way to install it without the base, I just have to read up on it."
Alex Vipond: Alex nodded. "Kids have so many more things now, than they used to. It's amazing we ever made it past teething." Well him, at least. Dare he say it? Shit was downright medieval back then.... Yes, he smirked at the thought and yes he chuckled at his own stupid, untold jokes.
Wrinkled Black: "Oh my God, yeah." Her voice lowered as she snickered. "I held Thomas in my arms in the car. I'd be arrested for that these days!"
Alex Vipond: "Oh hell yeah. Back then, no one knew any different." He nodded, and chuckled. "You think about all the things that could go wrong and it's a miracle we didn't die out centuries ago."
Wrinkled Black: "Of course, centuries ago, it was harder to tip a carriage over than it is to crash a car." Yup, she too was thinking about just how relevant it was to Alex and was snickering. "Old fart..." Muttered under her breath while she readjusted Grayson, who was starting to fall asleep.
Alex Vipond: Alex chuckled and nodded. "Well a coach and four couldn't go anywhere near as fast as even a moped today, so...." It was a given that today's technological advances in transport were a lot more dangerous than the transport of old. "But today's shit is a lot more comfortable. Trust me, a carriage is not how you want to travel long distances." And yes, he kept his voice low as he spoke, and then glanced around to see if anyone was watching them still.