March 30, 2007

Chapter 22c: Post Graduation

The Post Graduation Follow Up



Rather than move back to the vast Retrorocket compound (which is overflowing with science equipment, alien artifacts, and baby junk) Euphemia bought herself a modern little starter with a trendy country club lane address in the Strangetown Urban Complex. Just the place for an aspiring actress.






After calling Vasyl to tell him all about her new place, Phemey sat down to do a little body work. She knew she was going to have to have all her assets in tip top shape if she wanted to make an impact in the world of show business.






When she checked her email later that night, she found a note from Vasyl with an audition appointment.

"I guess he does have all those connections he was telling me about."







And so Strangetown's newest superstar hopeful heads off for her first day of work.

"Oh yeah! He has some serious connections! A limo right off the bat."

We're glad you... ah... appreciate your fiancé, Phemey.







Phemey stopped off for a little make over action on her way home from the set. I think we may need to lose the fur coat though, since it's still summer.

"But it's smink!"

You've got a cute designer dress to wear. Now hurry and change. Vasyl's on his way over.







It seems someone's been missing his little alien leading lady.






"Vasyl sweetie, how about you snag that diploma and move on in? There's plenty of room here for two, I'm lonely, and I've got all this rented wedding equipment to use and return by midnight."

"In a heartbeat Pheems."







"Whoa. Hey, what's going on here?"

You're just growing up. What, you thought you'd stay in that gangly young adult stage forever?







So after sending Vasyl to stock the buffet, Phemey invited her friends and family for a quick, semi-formal wedding on the lawn. I would've thought that the step-mother of the bride (Genesis there) would have at least changed out of her jeans and fuzzy sweater before showing up though.






Yes Euphemia, we're aware you think your fiancé is hot stuff. We're of the opinion he cleans up rather nice too. Do you think you could start this ceremony thing before the guys get bored and wander off to watch the game again?






Do you, Euphemia Elena Retrorocket, take this man, Vasyl Denis McGaw...






And do you, Vasyl Denis McGaw, take this woman, Euphemia Elena Retrorocket...






I guess that's an "I Do" all around then. *grin*

Ladies and Gentlemen of Strangetown, may I introduce you to your newest residents, Mr. and Mrs. McGaw.

Yes, I suck at those wedding vow things. *chuckle*







Ah, the ritual deep-throating of the WooHoo cake (and fork)






Afterwards, the men all headed back indoors to watch the game some more while the ladies had a nice sit down outside. That's the sister of the bride, Eugenia Deerfield across from Phemey and Solemnity Retrorocket (wife of Phemey's brother Eugene Jr) at the end of the table.

Vasyl, stop checking out your mother-in-law!







Ooo, the limo's here. Time for the honeymoon! Orrin, stop cleaning!

Note to self: Buy SK a new formal outfit. She's worn this one to the past two weddings. Besides, it looks like she's going to fall out of it at any moment.







Vasyl, the limo's waiting outside.

Vasyl?

Phemey's waiting in the limo.

Vasyl?

Yep, Vasyl skipped his honeymoon, preferring to sit at home and read a book instead. Oy.







"I'm mad at you Vasyl."

"Aw Pheems."

"I left for our honeymoon alone. Alone! Do you know what the gossip rags could say about this? Luckily I was able to convince people you had a touch of the stomach flu and got the travel agent to give me a raincheck on the trip."







"Pheems love, I'm so sorry. Really. I don't know what came over me. Is there anything I can do to make up for it?"

"Well..."







"...I'm sure we can think of something."

We can see where this so going, so lets give the lovebirds a little privacy. *smirk*







Before we head off to check on Cirrus, how about a quick family portrait, now that Vasyl's had a chance for a makeover? He is rather nice, now that he's out of that bandana. And Euphemia looks lovely in that hairstyle and dress. Yep, these two are just too cute for words.

Lets move on and check on Cirrus, shall we?







Cirrus moved back to his family home, just down the road from the Holldum Estate. Looks like someone needs to do a little yardwork around the place.






*sigh* "It looks like the gardener has been slacking off again. I told them I'd be moving back today. You'd think he would've stopped by to make sure the yard looked presentable."






Someone grew up nice and respectable. Not that I expected anything less from Cirrus, but I have had a couple college kids who transitioned poorly into adults.






"Ah, it's so good to be back home. Though I do miss all the activity at the Hoh House."






"It sure doesn't seem like anything has changed since I was here last."






"And the maid's been slacking off too?" *sigh* "Looks like I'm going to have to call their management in the morning. At least I don't need to call the exterminator for bugs or anything like that."






"Ah, my old room, just as I left it. It seems like it's been forever since I was a kid, sleeping in here."






"I thought we were going to buy frames for the family portraits. I'll have to send them to an art restorer; they starting to get dingy. Hmm... I guess they're not too bad. Grandma Artemesia and Grandpa Bob's is still in good shape, and so is Mother and Dad's. Only Grandfather Aristotle and Grandmother Athena's picture is on the grubby side.

"I'll look into that in the morning too."







"Well, I guess I should go tell everyone I'm back."






"Hey everyone, I'm home from college! I've missed you too. I graduated Summa Cum Laude. Yep, that's a 4.0 in Mathematics. Oh, I made the secret society too."






"It's good to be back home. Boy, do I have news for you."














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Chatper 22b: Graduation Day, part II

Graduation Day, part II



Well, it's time for the second round of parties. As you can tell, Cirrus' is already starting off hopping... not.






Okay, it got a little better as the night wore on.






And finally did top out at a "good time", mostly due to Orrin's grilled cheese sandwiches. That and there were plenty of people doing the crazy dance for the others to laugh at.






Dang it, hit the screen capture button too soon. But at least in this case Salina came over for the shot.

"Say cheese Lina."

"Orrin"

"I said cheese, not cheesehead."







Ooo, looking sharp there Cirrus. Hopefully the everyday clothes that are hiding under that aren't too bad. I'm not sure I can handle another purple smoking jacket yet.






The remaining residents of Hoh House rush out to wish Cirrus good luck as he heads back to his family home in Strangetown.






Once the cab's away, brother and sister settle down to the Hoh House's favorite pastime... well, third favorite pastime, after woohoo and peeping on Vidcund.

The next day would be a quiet and boring one... for Salina at least.







For Orrin, it was a little different.

He discovered there was some truth to the rumor about deadly Strangetown kitchen appliances.


"Aaaaiiiiieeeee!!!"

Salina, you might want to stop that painting and hurry over here, just in case you're needed.







"Oh by the Great Wheel of Cheddar, my whole life flashed before my eyes. All those lovely grilled cheese sandwiches. Like the Jarlsberg I had this morning. And the muenster from yesterday's lunch. Oh, and the lovely Double Gloucester I had as a midnight snack. It's really better when it's not in a grilled cheese sandwich, but..."

Ah, I don't think you need to rush Salina. Sounds like Orrin is just fine.







"Ya sure he's okay? He's all sparky an crispy an...ew... what stanks like burned cheese an' underpants?"

Um, that would be Orrin. He's babbling about dairy products so yeah, he's fine.

"...oh and there was that Roquefort and mayonnaise sandwich, which actually was a bad combination but..."







Oh Salina, he's already feeling pretty poorly. Do you have to lecture him too? You should be thankful he didn't piddle himself once the voltage stopped.






Well, at least the trash compactor got repaired without any further electrocutions. Now if someone could just open a window to try to clear out that crispy cheese smell.






Time for Salina's graduation party rolled around before we knew it. It seems Cirrus really missed his fiancée. They've been separated a whole... what... 18 hours?






Orrin finally found someone who was actually excited to talk about grilled cheese with him. Too bad I can't remember which of Salina's friends this was, otherwise I might have him ring her up later.






Hey Kasson, the door to the bubbleblower is open. Since you were pouting over it earlier and this is the last graduation party for a while I figured you might want to take it for a spin.

"Sorry Babe but I'm like kinda busy right now."

But it's your bubbleblower, your prized possession.

"Babe, I've like got somethin here right now that's so much better than a bubbleblower. So if ya could just like leave us alone for bit."

Fine, fine. Don't come waving your arms and stamping your feet at me later when I lock it up again.







And, once again due mostly to Orrin's grilled cheese sandwiches, the party ended with a Good Time. Seriously, the party can be dragging along and totally boring, but as soon as he serves his sandwiches, it shoots up to "good time".

Behold the Power of Cheese.







Hey look, I poked the screen capture button at the right time.

"Cirrus hun, when'd you git so short?"

"Ow, don't lean so hard. I'm gonna need this shoulder later.







Hmm... this must be the Drama Suit. Salina and Euphemia were both Drama Majors and they both got the same suit. Oh, and her everyday outfit matches her hair *shudder*






Orrin shows up to wish Salina bon voyage in his preferred outfit -- his pajamas. We give the boy an outfit made just for him and what does he do? Run around in lounge pants all day. Not that some of us are complaining but...

"Drive Safe Salina. Don't worry, I've got everything well in hand here."







So Orrin, you're the last remaining resident at Hoh House. How's it feel? Lonely yet?

"Hey, does that constellation look like a plait of mozzarella?"

Okay, maybe the solitude hasn't' settled in yet. Let's go and check in on our graduates who have already moved home and see how they're faring.




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