#scene 17

KENT Kent stroked Tater's face and smiled. "You bake with Bitty? That is fucking adorable." He ran his hand down Tater's arm and squeezed his hand. "I'm here for the kegster tonight and then I was going to drive over to your place tomorrow." Kent licked his lips and glanced at the door, about to tell Tater about the whole making-out thing when his eyes fell on the man in question. Not wanting to out his boyfriend, Kent dropped Tater's hand quickly and plastered on a wide media-smile. "Ransom! Good to see you, man. Have you met Tates?"

TATER Chuckling at that, Tater was about to lean down again to kiss Kent, but the blonde spoke before he could, alerting Tater that they weren't alone. The Russian man stepped back to be behind Kent and looked at the person Kent had addressed as 'Ransom'. "Hello." He greeted and stepped forward, offering his hand to shake the other's.

RANSOM All Ransom could do was stare down at the hand extended towards him, sure that his face was almost purple with how hard he was blushing. "H-hi," he said, forcing himself to do something other than stare adoringly, god, could he not be embarrassing for like thirty seconds, "hello, Mr. Tater Mashkov Sir, it's so good to meet you I am a huge fan and I really hope Kent didn't let you into the attic because I really would've wanted to put away my Tater action figure beforehand but I guess that's kind of a moot point now that I've just told you about it." Ransom stopped to breathe, because that apparently was something he still needed to do. He had been shaking Tater's hand for, like, over a minute so he figured he needed to wrap it up before it got weird...er. "...I'm Justin. R-ransom. Jack and I used to play together."

KENT Kent snorted and clapped Ransom on the shoulder. "Okay, hotshot, don't forget to breathe there." He nudged Tater in the side and fake-whispered, "I think Ransom has a thing for you, Tates. He definitely seems to like holding your hand." He winked at Ransom. "Not that I can blame him."

TATER Alexei furrowed his eyebrows whenever Ransom kept shaking his hand far longer than he should have, and called him about 4 different names. He thought it was charming, if anything, and took his hand back once the other let go of it. "Good to meet you.. Jack tell me about you and.. Um.. Holster? Yes, good d-men." He said and scratched the back of his head at Kent's statement, giving a forced smile and watching the other two for a moment. He clapped his hands together and looked back to the oven. "I am to watch the pies.."

RANSOM Ransom's eyes were wide as hockey pucks at Kent's words, for multiple reasons because, for one thing, could Kent just...do... that? Flirt with Tater? Was Tater cool with that? Did Tater know about Jack? Did Tater think he was the biggest idiot in the whole world because he was saying nothing? His stomach swooped at the mention of Holster, but he pushed past it, scrambling for a spare bit of paper in his pocket. "Sorry, Mr. Mashkov, this is probably so annoying especially since you have to..uh.. watch the pies, but do you think you could sign an autograph for Holster? He'd probably sit on me for about an hour if he knew I saw you and I didn't get one, and he's over two hundred pounds so that's not an optimal situation for obvious reasons."

KENT Kent rolled his eyes. "Oh my god. 'Mr. Mashkov?' Seriously, dude?" He shook his head and nudged Tater again. "You better sign that thing for him, Alyosha. I'm afraid he's gonna spontaneously combust. Or maybe hyperventilate." He glanced at the oven and tilted his head. "Do the pies really need to be...watched? Can't they just bake themselves?"

TATER Looking down at the other he smiled a bit and nodded, patting his pockets before he held up a finger to the other. "I have something in car." He said before he untied the apron that Bitty had put on him earlier and left it on the counter. "Bitty tell me to watch pies. You can watch pies for me? I be right back." He asked Kent softly, setting a hand on his boyfriend's waist for a moment. After jogging out to his car, he came back with one of the Falconers collectors cards that George had given him - he kept the stack in his glove box because fans normally ran into him outside the rink. "For Holster, yes?" He asked after entering the kitchen again, popping the cap off of his Sharpie and holding the lid between his teeth. "Here." He said, passing the Mashkov card to Ransom after he'd signed the back.

RANSOM Ransom eyed the hand Tater placed on Kent's waist because, okay, seriously? Was every person Ransom was in love with also in love with Guy Who Would Be Eternally Cooler Than Him AKA Kent Parson? The awkward jealousy was wiped clean away when Tater came back and signed the collector's card for Holster, and Ransom couldn't bring himself to wipe the over-enthused expression from his face. "Oh my god, he's gonna..." well, Ransom didn't know what Holster was going to do because their friendship was in a weird place, so he didn't finish, instead letting out a hurried, "just, thank you. So much. You are so cool on and off the ice, and I really didn't meant to bother you guys, uh..." He looked between Tater and Kent carefully, "hanging out?"

KENT Kent kept a dutiful eye on the pies while Tater ran out to his car and his heart melted a little when he saw what he brought back in. Kent was so fucking lucky to be with this man. So lucky and so in love it was ridiculous. He wanted nothing more than to kiss him then and there, company be damned, but he didn't want to do something that Tater was uncomfortable with. So instead he clapped Tater's shoulder and said, "That was really cool of you, Alyosha." He turned back to Ransom and waved his hand. "Nah, dude, it's okay. We were just, uh. Catching up."

TATER "Is no problem. Jack telling me you are very good with hockey, hopefully will get to play with you some time. I give Bitty tickets for team to come to game so bring your skates." He said with a nod at the other. Tater smiled down at Kent and put the cap back onto his Sharpie before putting it in his pocket, humming as he stepped back towards the blonde. His eyes flickered over Kent's face, nearly forgetting that the other was even there because of how taken he was. "Yes - were just catching up.. Has been too long." He noted to Kent.

RANSOM Ransom wanted to be a little salty about Tater and Kent, he really did, but the way they were looking at each other at that particular moment... Ransom's chest ached with it. He had it, with March, but he couldn't help but feel like there was something...missing. "I see," Ransom said casually, making his way to the Haus fridge, "have you guys had breakfast?" The question was a formality, he was already pulling things out of the fridge. "I was gonna make frittatas. They'll be done before pie duty's up. And they're super healthy, 100% NHL nutritionist approved. Trust me, I'm pre-med."

KENT Kent was pretty sure his stomach rumbled the minute Ransom mentioned breakfast. He squeezed Tater's shoulder and tilted his head to the side. "You hungry, big guy? I don't know about you but I feel like I could eat about six frittatas on my own." He let his hand linger a little longer than necessary and then turned to Ransom. "You need help with any of that, dude? I make an excellent sous chef."

TATER Tater wound his own hand around Kent's waist as he spoke, hoping it didn't look too obvious - but Ransom was turned towards the fridge so he decided that it was alright. "No.. Have to be watching pies." He said and gestured to the oven. No way was he about to let Bitty's pies burn.

RANSOM Ugh, they were gross, and Ransom wanted to kiss March's forehead so so bad. He also wanted his own giant boyfriend, and the two desires didn't seem to conflict in his head. Fuck his life, even if he was standing in a kitchen with Alexei Mashkov. "Oh, pie watching and frittata eating don't sound like mutually exclusive activities. Especially for someone as talented as you, Mr. Mashkov," Ransom smiled, pointedly not looking at the arm Tater had looped around Kent's waist, instead directing his attention to throwing together breakfast. "Stay where you are, Parse," Ransom flashed Kent a faux stern look, "this is a one man job. 15 minutes tops, don't lose your appetite."

KENT "Yeah, ba--uh--Tates, you can eat while you watch. Piece of cake." He laughed to himself. "Or piece of pie, really." He leaned into Tater unconsciously, his body just gravitating toward the other man. Since Tater was the one initiating the contact Kent decided not to worry about it. He looked into the little window on the oven door and nodded. "Well if you insist," he said to Ransom. "It's probably best for me to help this guy watch Bitty's pies. Apparently it's a two-man job."

TATER Chuckling at Kent's antics, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Kent's lips - unable to resist it. He hadn't seen him in too long, and he just wanted to be close to him. "Bitty teach me how to make pies." He told Kent in a whisper, letting his nose brush over the blonde's temple affectionately.

RANSOM Ransom remained faced towards the stove, though he could see Kent and Tater from the corner of his eye and it was...stupid cute. God, he missed Holster. How long had it been since he'd said more than a few sentences to him? It felt like years. "Yeah, we take Bitty's pies very seriously around here. Dropping one is a hefty fine." Ransom shot a quick text off to the SMH group chat while Kent and Tater were...occupied, telling them a repairman was there to take a look at their garbage disposal, and to steer clear of the kitchen. He retrieved a few of the least cracked plates from over the sink and set them in front of Kent and Tater, along with forks and a few paper towels as well. "Either of you vegetarian?"

KENT Kent glanced a little nervously at Ransom but he figured that it was up to Tater if he wanted to take the risk. He kissed him back gently and closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the closeness. When it looked like the food would be ready soon, Kent nodded at the table. "Want to sit? I'm sure you can keep an eye on the pies from the table." He glanced up at Ransom and chuckled. "Definitely not vegetarian. Give me all the meat, my man."

TATER Tater smiled into the kiss and set his hands onto Kent's waist, having missed his west coast boyfriend a lot in the last month. "What is this? Vegetarian? Oh, is like when are not eating animals?" He asked and looked towards Ransom, shaking his head at the question. "No, am not the vegetarian." He confirmed before sitting down at the table, being sure he could still look over and make sure the pies were okay - as if they were going to burst into flame the minute they became too hot.

RANSOM Ransom really hoped they were more careful around other people if they were actually trying to keep that whole thing a secret, because seriously. What a mushy. He sort of understood, though. He incurred his fair share of fines whenever March came around the house, it was hard to keep his hands to himself when he knew he was allowed to touch. "Don't get too excited, Parse," Ransom warned, tossing various pre cut vegetables and meat into his frying pan (he did Frittata prep at the beginning of every week), "it's just grilled chicken. And a little sausage. A little." He paused, contemplating the correct way to go about his next words. "Breakfast is a great time to, uh... catch up, you know? Especially in the Haus kitchen right now, since we're all headed to..brunch... at Jerry's. This space should be empty for an hour or two."

KENT "Chicken is good. Sausage is definitely good. I'm just hungry, dude, I'll eat whatever you make." Kent raised an eyebrow at Ransom's careful words. "You're /all/ headed to brunch? Seems like someone would've mentioned it when I said I'd be here this morning." He narrowed his eyes at Ransom. "You know something, don't you?" He glanced at Tater and then back at Ransom. "What do you know?"

TATER Tater was too busy eating the leftover blueberries that Bitty had left a bowl of on the table, looking at Kent when he felt like he was being addressed with the stare, then back to looking at Ransom. "..?" He furrowed his eyebrows at Kent and ignored his cheek full of berries, chewing as he listened.

RANSOM Ransom slid the frittatas out of the pan and onto the plates in front of Kent and Tater, grabbing a bottle of Sriracha from the top shelf in the cabinet just in case they happened to be kindred spirits. "A lot about human anatomy and pathology, my dude. I'm a simple guy," Ransom answered, evasive and charming as ever. "Seriously, though, why the paranoia, Parson? Team brunch is a regular occurrence for the occupants of the SMH. And those that won't be in attendance are in their rooms, for sure, trying to get a jump start on the semester." Popping a blueberry from the bowl in his mouth, he winked at Parse and spared one last glance at The Alexei Mashkov Actually In His Kitchen Eating From A Bowl That Would Never Be Washed Again. "It was so good to meet you, Mr. Mashkov. That whole don't touch your idols with a ten foot pole thing is total B.S., I can attest to it now." And with that, Ransom strolled idly out of the kitchen, throwing a "we'll all be back in ONE HOUR, have fun catching up" tossed carelessly over his shoulder.

KENT Kent took a bite of the fritatta and hummed. "Oh man, this is great. Thanks, dude!" He tilted his head and frowned a little as Ransom made his hasty retreat. Turning to Tater he said, "I think he knows. About us. I mean, he knows I'm into guys and he was acting really weird and...I think he knows." He bit his lip and squeezed Tater's knee. "I'm sorry, babe."

TATER Tater stood to thank Ransom and offered his hand to shake again, setting his other hand on the other's shoulder firmly and looked at him with a smile. "Keep playing good, yeah? Good to meet you." He said before sitting back down next to Kent. He was a nice guy, but he seemed to be acting a little strange. Tater took a bite of his breakfast before he looked over to Kent, chewing slowly. "Oh? He will tell people? If he is not to tell people I do not be seeing problem." Tater said with a shrug, leaning over a bit to kiss Kent's cheek before he went back to eating.

KENT Kent relaxed with Tater's words and smiled. "I'm sure he won't tell anyone, babe." He chewed his food for a moment and then reached over to place his hand on Tater's knee, squeezing gently. "Hey. I'm glad I got to see you this morning. Even if it did ruin my surprise."