Who: Brian and Marlowe
Where: Marlowe's place
When: Late morning

Even after living at Brian's for a whole week, it really hadn't taken that much to get Marlowe moved back to her own place. Mostly, it consisted of packing up her suitcases, bundling up laundry they hadn't had a chance to wash into a bag, piling her and her things into the truck, and driving her over. They hadn't really brought over much more than clothes, toiletries, books and movies, and the like. The dogs, left mostly alone all this time except when Brian swung by to feed them, play with them, and give them a little attention, were ecstatic when they walked in the door.

Brian stuck around to help Marlowe unpack and put her movies and things away-- that was largely his job, as he didn't think it wise to try and help her put away clothes or bathroom necessities. He didn't want to leave her alone just yet, in a house that might seem a little strange after everything that'd happened away from it-- or might feel comfortable, he didn't know, but he still figured sticking around was better than not. She didn't chase him away, at least.

That hadn't taken long, though, and now he was sitting on the couch waiting for her to finish in the bedroom, wishing he had something to do with his hands besides tap his fingers or play with the couch. He didn't even have a dog to pet, as they were trailing after Marlowe happily.

Marlowe had a flipped open, half full suitcase on her bed, something she would have been finished with already if it weren't for Roarke and Rogue. The two shepards, after greeting her excitedly upon her return to the house with happy whines, barks and rubs against her legs, trailed her every movement inside the house. So close did they keep to her that with every turn she happened to make she found herself bumping into one or both of the large dogs. So needless to say moving around her bedroom to get her things put away wasn't an easy task.

When she finally did get the suitcase unloaded, Marlowe closed it up and tucked it away in her closet, and then went downstairs to find Brian, Rogue and Roarke bounding down the stairs after her.

Looking up at the sound of feet on the stairs, Brian shot her a grin. Poor dogs, they really had missed her, and having a familiar but not quite as beloved man coming over twice a day really didn't make up for not having their owner around. And poor Marlowe, having two big dogs underfoot all the time. "Hey, Sparky. Got everything put away, then?"

"Yeah." She answered. And no sooner had Marlowe flopped herself down on the couch near Brian the piece of furniture found itself with two more occupants. Roarke settled himself in the space between Brian and Marlowe while Rogue leapt up and settled on the other side of the firestarter.

"Thanks for bringing me back here." She said giving a light petting to the two heads now settled on her lap. She'd kick the two beast off the couch, but that would've only last a few mere seconds as the shepherds would have just jumped back onto the couch to be nearer their owner. Laying at her feet just wasn't going to do it.

"Oof." Brian laughed a bit and scooted over to make room for Roarke, ruffling his ears amiably. "Hey, it's no problem. I need something to do on Mondays, anyway." The fact that Marlowe's house was entirely spirit-free, at least right now, helped. "Such ungrateful beasts," he added teasingly. "I feed and look after them all week, and the minute you show up, I get nothing." Which was the way it should be, of course, but that didn't mean he couldn't poke fun at it.

"See. Now you've done and gone hurt the Bossman's feeling, and after all he's done to see to your well being." Marlowe said in a playful scolding of her two "boys". "Go and apologize." She said sternly to the two lounging beasts, with a grin playing at her lips. And with the command the shepherds were up, Rogue walking over Marlowe's lap to reach Brian, and almost at the same instant the two dogs covered the willworker's face with doggie kisses, and no they wouldn't stop until Brian told them he had had enough.

"Aaaack," Brian laughed, going down under a pair of dogs that were nearly as big as he was, each. He tried laughingly to fend them off, but he wasn't trying very hard. Really, Brian liked dogs, especially big ones-- having a cat, demon or otherwise, wasn't something he'd ever imagined. If he'd ever gotten around to having a pet, it would've been a dog. "I give, I give," he finally cried, "they still love me. I get it."

Rogue sat back to give a bark, almost as if he were confirming Brian's words. The dog then rose, turned, and wandering back across Marlowe's lap to settle in again at her side. And only when Rogue moved did Roarke cease his lapping of Brian's cheek to settle himself comfortable once more between the fire elemental and willworker.

"No hard feelings then." Marlowe said with a smile. She had watched the interaction between man and beasts with amusement. If it had been anyone other then Brian who her boys pounced upon, she doubted they would have taken it as good naturedly as the Bossman did. Yep. He was the best. Pretty much a ten in her books.

Wiping his face clean of dog-slobber, or as clean as he was gonna get it without actually washing it, Brian casually wiped his now-damp hand on Roarke's coat before going back to just idly scratching at him. "No hard feelings, promise. --So you think you're gonna be okay, over here?" he asked, turning the conversation a little more serious.

"It's gonna be strange. Last time I was here.......it's just gonna be strange being back here for a while." Last time Marlowe had been at the house, Eldon had been there as well. Now she was alone once more with not one, but two brothers having become victims to the gang of vampires that spread there killing and turning throughout this town, and the town of Munising among the places they hit. Marlowe snagged an arm around Roarke to draw the dog into a hug, with a light kiss to the tip of his head, she was quite needing at the moment.

"You need me for anything," Brian said, even more seriously, "you call. A'ight?" And he meant it. He might not be able to do anything about it at the time, and he might not necessarily like being interrupted whenever it was, but he still meant it. He wanted Marlowe to feel like she could call on him if she needed it, whenever, regardless of how he might feel at the time. He could put that aside if he had to. "Even if it's just to shoot the shit, if you need to hear somebody's voice."

"I will." Marlowe said with a weak smile. She knew though she'd try not to call him, but if things became unbearable or, as Brian said, if she just needed to hear a familiar voice, she'd probably be on the phone to him.

"I do have one little favor to ask of you." She said with a slight hesitation behind her voice. Brian had done so much for her already that she was debating even asking it of him. And on the off chance he said no, Marlowe would go the delivery route. The fire elemental, though, would rather do this herself.

"Shoot. What's the favor?" Brian asked simply. He'd do it, if he could.

"Can I borrow your truck tomorrow?" She asked. "I'm sure I'm running low on plenty of stuff so a run to the grocery is probably in order, and since I no longer have any wheels of my own." And that was another thing Marlowe was going to have to look into. She couldn't keep asking to borrow someone's car or bother them for lifts to places on a constant basis. She was too used to doing for herself to let that become a habit.

"Sure," Brian said, blinking at her. He remembered, a bit belatedly, that her car was a bit, er, missing. And probably in no condition to be driven, even if they went back to find it. Which he'd really prefer not to do, thanks. "You sure you don't want it today? I'm off all day, so I sure as hell won't need it."

"If it'd be more convenient for you." She'd thought tomorrow would have been better, but with Brian having the whole day off, and Marlowe really not intending to do more then putter around the house and play with her boys, maybe today would be a good day as any to make a run to the grocery.

Thinking that he pretty much intended to go out with Ash and get roaring drunk, not having the truck would probably be a good thing. "Today works, and then you won't have to be scrounging for food or ordering shit for takeout tonight. Long as you get the old girl back to me by the time I hafta be at the diner tomorrow, she's all yours."

"You got it." She could do that no problem. This way Marlowe wouldn't have to rush her little shopping expedition, she might even be able to swing by one of the fast food eateries to pick up dinner for her and the boys. The monster truck could easily be dropped off in the morning before Brian left for the diner. She'd do it this evening, but Marlowe really wasn't liking the night time at the moment. "And I promise to return her in current banged up condition. No additional bangs, bumps or scratches." The red head grinned softly to him.

"You'd better not. I know every bump and scratch on that baby and could tell you stories behind 'em all. If you bang her up any more, you'd better have a damn good story to go with it." Brian was, of course, teasing. Mostly. He didn't care if she scratched the old beast, as long as she did have a good story. Preferably a funny one.

"Anyways." Marlowe gave a lopsided smile. "You wanna order take out and toss a movie in?" She knew it was Brian's day off and was unsure of his plans, if he had any premade ones, and Marlowe didn't want to make it appear like she was chasing him out on the slim chance he did have someplace to be. Which is why she suggested the food and movie thing. It be just like there once a month weekend thing only instead it be on a weekday, and during daylight hours instead of after the sun had set.

Wincing a little, he said, "I would, but I promised a buddy drinks tonight, and until then...." He scratched a bit at his head, casting a sideways glance at the window and whatever ghosts might be out there. "I actually have something I really oughta work on, before it winds up getting me into trouble." Like, real trouble. Like the ghosts realizing he could see them, and starting to flock to him. He'd heard stories from his dad....

"So. Drop you off or should I walk over to your place to pick the monster truck up for borrowing today?" Marlowe spoke while finally shooing Rogue and Roarke from the couch with a wave of her hands. She'd figure her and Brian'd be getting up anyway.

Brian was briefly tempted to say he'd walk-- and then teleport home. But no, bad idea, he really didn't want his evening with Ash to include backlash.... "We'll both go, then you can drive it back. Your dogs want a ride in the back?" he suggested, grinning at the shepherds and pushing himself to his feet. The latter got a little groan out of him as his knee protested-- goddamn fucked up knee.

Marlowe simply smiled brilliantly as she took to her feet. That really was all the answer that was necessary. She just got back home and really didn't want to leave her boys alone again so soon, besides she figured they would enjoy the ride in the back of Brian's truck.

"I'll have the truck back to you first thing in the morning." She told him. The dogs trailing her as Marlowe made tracks toward the door. After dropping Brian off she'd come back to check and see what was really needed and then head off to the store for a bit of restocking..