The X-Project

Lockheed mourns for the lost 'fridge' and Lorna finds him at it.



It had taken quite a while to find an appropriate flower. For one thing, it was still cold outside, so nothing was blooming, which meant Lockheed had had to turn his seeking inside. He had finally found a boquet someone had sent to somebody else and swiped a small sprig of baby's breath. He didn't know what kind of a flower it was, but there were many on the stem, which would be appropriate for its new mission, and there had been many sprigs in the boquet, so maybe this one wouldn't be missed.

Flower clutched in his hand, Lockheed made his way to the ruined kitchen and landed lightly before the hole-riddled 'fridge'. He laid the flower on the ground before the 'fridge' letting out a mighty "Mer!" of woe. How could this great tragedy have happened? Who could do such a thing? How would they ever survive without All the Food in the World?!?

With a handkerchief tied over her hair to protect it from dust and a pair of work gloves stuck through her belt, Lorna strode briskly into the kitchen to start clearing away some of the debris. Though the very sight of it made her stomach twist, she was resolute in her mission. Besides it was better than thinking about how close it came to being more than just a kitchen that got torn up. She sighed and looked around at the mess, trying to figure out where to begin. The purple dragon in front of the refrigerator made her blink. "Hello, Lockheed. Are you looking for something?" Lorna glanced around for Kitty automatically.

Oh, it was the Green-haired Queen! That she should have to see her beautiful kitchen in such a state was too much to bear! The horror! Lockheed quickly snatched up the flower and spun around, holding it out to the Queen, a pitiful cry caught in his throat. He would not cry before the Queen, not when she had so many burdens of her own. He managed a little, choked sounding "Mer" and a sniff.

Lorna took the flower from the dragon and smiled at him sadly. "I know, it sucks doesn't it?" She sighed and leaned against the counter, twirling the stem between her fingers. "The fridge is a total loss and so is the stove. Probably the oven too. But we'll fix it. I've already called about nine million contractors. You wouldn't believe how many won't work for 'damn unnatural mutants'." She rolled her eyes.

The oven. The stove. The FRIDGE! She was such a strong person, to be able to face up to what had happened. Lockheed admired her, even as he knew he could never do the same. Giving in to the sorrow of it all, Lockheed launched himself, sobbing, onto Lorna's feet.

Having a dragon--even a baby dragon--attach himself to your legs was a jarring experience and one that made balancing difficult. She clutched the counter to steady herself before bending down to pat Lockheed's head awkwardly. "It'll be okay. Really. It'll be back to new before you know it."

Sniffling, Lockheed looked up at her with eyes that seemed to say, "Really?" even though he knew it could never be the same again. His illusions had been shattered, and the world as he knew it had come tumbling down. The kitchen was sacred. Untouchable. And yet, here all around them was the proof...

"I promise. Back to new and better than ever. This kitchen wasn't really designed to feed a school, the new one will be." Gently, she pried him off her legs and then knelt down. "I wasn't happy when I first saw it either. Alison still hides every time she sees me even though I told her I wasn't holding a grudge for using my kitchen as a battleground."

Lorna's words went a long way to calming Lockheed down, but her last sentance had his eyes flashing. The Shiny One had... Oh, how dreadful How could she! The Green-haired Queen was a good and kind soul to forgive such an act, but Lockheed? Lockheed would never... Could never! The 'fridge' had been destroyed, and the gods only knew what had happened to All the Food in the World. For this, the Shiny One must pay!

Lorna edged away at the fierce look in the little dragon's eyes. Granted, he didn't look upset at her but better safe than charbroiled and served with ketchup as one of her friends in high school had been wont to say. Lorna wasn't actually sure why Erynn had said it but it seemed apropos. "So, um, why were you down here? Hungry? Rahne and Kyle went hunting so there should be venison."

The fire in Lockheed's eyes died down as he was reminded of his solemn reason for coming to the kitchen - to properly mourn. His revenge upon the Shiny One would have to wait. In the meantime, he mused briefly on how to explain to the Green-haired Queen his solemn mission. How did you explain the depth of the mourning in your soul without speaking. And, when having been offered food as an alternative, did you really try? He cast a soulful look at the 'fridge', apologizing for shirking his mourning rites (although really, after leaving flowers, Lockheed wasn't sure what the mourning rites were. Of course, he had given the flower to the Green-haired Queen... Oh, it was all too complicated) then turned back to the woman and rubbed his tummy, doing his best to look sad and hungry, and pulling both off with great skill.

"Obviously that's a yes." Lorna laughed and stood. "Come on. We're using that most natural of fridges, outside. I know, I'm as skeptical of the sanity as you are but you gotta make do." She looked at the holey door of the fridge and winced. "Hang on a sec, I want to fix this." Reaching out, she ran her hand over the stainless steel and smoothed it back into place. The fridge was still a lost cause but at least it wasn't so ugly anymore.

Yet more proof of what a wonderful person the Green-haired Queen was. Lockheed clasped his paws together and bowed his head before the restored visage of the fridge, then turned to follow the Queen to the so called 'natural fridge'. The very idea. Hah. Lockheed scoffed.