ptahrrific: Mountain at night icon (Default)
[personal profile] ptahrrific
Title: Why Should I Care? (3/?)
Series: Strangers With Candy
Pairings: Seamus/OMC; Chuck/Geoffrey
Rating: PG-13
Contents: Continued terrible parenting; hot, ass-thumping sex.
Beta: [livejournal.com profile] stellar_dust
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use.

Summary: Seamus finally moves out of his mother's house, gets some good sex, and starts classes. And then it all falls apart.

Previous chapters can be found here.


Why Should I Care?
Part Three



"Sweetheart, are you sure about this?" asked his mother for the hundredth time. "The new house is smaller, but there'll be plenty of space for the two of us."

In theory, they were clearing everything out of the place, throwing some of it in a pile for a garage sale and packing the rest. In practice, Seamus was clearing things out, while Mom hovered over him and criticized.

"The lease is already signed, Mom," he said, pulling things out of the basement closet and dropping them unceremoniously in a box. If they were down here, they hadn't been worn in years, and therefore automatically going to the garage sale as far as he was concerned. "Besides, I'm still not giving up the gay thing."

"You're sure it isn't just a phase? Have you tried stopping for a while? Maybe you'd grow out of it."

"I'm not stopping. And even if you decided you were okay with that, it's high time I moved out."

"You will still visit, though?"

"Sure," said Seamus, lifting out a hanger with something covered by a drape of dark blue plastic. "Hello, what's this?"

"Oh, that," sniffed his mother. "Get rid of it."

Seamus raised a corner of the plastic to reveal white satin, gathered with lace and tiny pearls. "No way," he breathed. "You still have your wedding dress?"

"If I had known it was still down here, I would have given it away years ago. Worst mistake of my life. I mean the marriage, dear, not you," she added quickly.

Time to change the subject, before this one picked up steam. Seamus knew that. Nevertheless, he found himself fingering the delicate lace. "If you don't want this," he said haltingly, "can I . . . ?"

His mother stepped forward and snatched the hanger from his hands. "Seamus Noblet, don't you dare! I don't know what sorts of things you people get up to in dresses, but you are not doing them in this one." She dropped it in the box of clothes, then picked the whole thing up. "I'm going to run this down to the Salvation Army this minute. If you finish down here before I get back, you can get started on the dishes."

Seamus shook off the pang of regret as he watched her go. Five minutes ago, he hadn't known the dress existed. Why should he care what happened to it?


§


Most of the boxes were still unopened when Seamus threw a party to dedicate the new place. George was the youngest person there, but if anyone thought this was odd, they forgot about it after a round of drinks.

When the other guests had cleared out and the dishes were piled high in the sink, Seamus flopped down on the cheap ugly couch. He probably could have gotten a better one—between the sale of his childhood home and a couple of soul-crushing loans, tuition for the year was covered—but it never hurt to be careful.

"The menu was a hit," observed George, flopping down beside him.

Seamus waved magnanimously. "All thanks to your teaching, O great one."

George grinned. "Hey, I like that. Say it again."

"Great one," repeated Seamus, who had a light buzz going and was feeling generous towards the whole world, his useless parents included. "Amazing one. Wonderful one. Incredible, wonderful, perfect George . . . ."

He was cut off by George's lips on his.

"What?" he stammered when the younger man had pulled away. And then, because saying it once didn't seem to cover it: "What?"

"I liked the other stuff better," said George. "Go back to that."

"Are you drunk?"

"Sober as a judge."

"But—I thought you didn't want this," protested Seamus, trying to wrap his head around the fact that George was now straddling his hips.

"What, because I didn't put out when we first met? I didn't want it then. I sure do now."

So saying, George leaned in and kissed him again. It was pretty convincing.

"I'm drunk," groaned Seamus when his mouth was free again. "You're taking advantage of me."

"Do you want me to stop?"

Seamus glared at him; but George was looking down with perfect sincerity. Also a flushed face, dark eyes, and slightly parted lips.

"God, no," panted Seamus. "Don't you dare stop."


§


They didn't get much cooking done during their next few visits. Or much of anything else that wasn't sex, for that matter.

Seamus was immensely gratified to find that here, if nowhere else, George didn't have the faintest idea what he was doing. Oh, he had the general "tab A, slot B" concept down, but beyond that he was clueless to the point of embarrassment. (Well, anyone else would have been embarrassed. Sometimes Seamus wasn't sure whether George understood the concept.)

But he was enthusiastic, and that was something. And he was flexible, and that was something too. And he was more than willing to follow instructions.

Much as Seamus loved the results, the process scared him.


§


"So . . . back to school, eh?"

"That's right, Dad."

"You'll show your teachers proper respect, I hope? Not ask too many questions?"

"College professors like it when we ask questions. It shows we're thinking."

"It shows," said Dad sternly, "that you're not respecting the teacher's authority. Don't do it. I never stand for it in my classrooms."

Seamus knew this all too well. He had pleaded with the Flatpoint High administration to be allowed into his father's biology class in eleventh grade, and was pretty sure this was why he had never taken a science course again.

"Students should follow a teacher's instructions without questioning them," continued Dad. "That's what I did, and look how I turned out. So what else is going on in your life? Anything special?"

"No," said Seamus. "Nothing much."


§


"Going home in a week," said George, licking some of the extra cake batter from a spoon. He had been too preoccupied with finals to come over much, so Seamus had insisted that they bake something completely nutrition-free to make up for it. "You want to come over some time?"

"How far away are you, anyway?" asked Seamus, mildly distracted by the way George's tongue was flicking over the smooth metal.

"Didn't I tell you? Our house is right outside the Philadelphia metro. Hour and a half south of here. You could drive down for the day. Meet my parents."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"They'll love you. I promise. Well, Dad will probably give you dirty looks and make a point of announcing several times that you're too old for me, but he'll come around. And Other Dad will think you're great right off the bat."

"That's not the point."

"Well, what is the point, then?" asked George around his spoon.

"Do we have to talk about this now?" In a few steps Seamus crossed the tiny kitchen, pressing George against the counter. "This thing will be baking for at least forty minutes. Let's spend them doing something more interesting."

"Ooh, I like the sound of that." The spoon clattered to the floor as flour-covered fingers tangled in Seamus' hair.

A burst of anger shot through him. "Do you always," he growled against George's mouth in between rough kisses, "do as you're told?"

"What?"

Seamus thrust once, hard, slamming George's waist violently against the counter.

He didn't get the chance to do it a second time: George's arms went between them, elbows digging into his ribs, and he instinctively pulled away far enough that the younger man had room to wiggle free. "Seamus. What the hell?"

I wish I knew. "Oh, good, you can push back."

"Well, yeah, but that's gonna leave a bruise! And not the fun kind, either!"

Seamus ran a hand through his hair, sending a fine dusting of flour raining down onto his shoulders. "I know. Sorry. I got a little carried away."

"No kidding. What's going on? Are that you worried about my parents? Is that why you're freaking out on me?"

"I'm not worried!" And it was true. If he didn't care about his own parents' good opinion, why should he care about George's?

"So why don't you want to visit them?"

For all that Seamus wished the topic had never come up, it was a relief to have George finally dragging the words out of him. "It's just . . . come on, bringing me home to meet your family? It's not like we're in a serious relationship, here."

George looked at him, face carefully expressionless.

"Come on," said Seamus weakly. "You're always the laid-back one. You won't take this too hard, right?"

The younger man shook himself. "No. No, I guess not. But, look, I gotta run." He started for the hall.

"Already?" Seamus followed him out. "Wait, what about the cake?"

George pulled on his shoes without looking up. "It's just cake. You can handle it. I really should be studying. Finals are serious, whether I like it or not."


§


George didn't call all summer.

Seamus didn't call either. He worked; he hunted down cheap textbooks; he read up on material he hadn't paid attention to since high school.

Cartons of ramen piled up in the sink.


§


The first class was in a vast lecture hall, with what must have been a hundred desks, most of them already full when Seamus arrived. He found a seat towards the edge, though a little nearer the front than he would have liked, and busied himself with his books.

Most of the students were talking with each other or absorbed in similar paper-shuffling, but all the commotion crashed to a halt when a voice barked at them from the front of the room. "All right, you little runts, listen up!"

Seamus was so surprised that nearly dropped a five-pound textbook on his foot.

"Your honored professor will not actually be teaching the class in person," said the figure before them. "Instead, the job of molding your impressionable young minds will be left in my very capable hands." The familiar voice switched from a bark to a purr. "Oh, but don't you worry, my pretties. I'll be gentle. You may address me as—"

"—you stupid junkie whore!"

Seamus clapped a hand over his mouth, but the words had already come out.

Jerri Blank, sixty-six-year-old grad school freshman, squinted at him. "I can see you've met me before."

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 03:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lady-sci-fi.livejournal.com
HAHA, i've finally hunted down all the SWC eps and the movie!
ahem, that said, great job, as always. Oh dear, Jerri's entered the story.
I'm patiently waiting for Stephen and Jon to meet Seamus and Noblet. hehe

Oh, and will there be any pictures for this story too?

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 03:33 am (UTC)
From: [personal profile] fannishnonsense
OMG. If I was planning on having children I think I would have to offer you my firstborn right about now.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 03:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] muffin-love77.livejournal.com
Too. Fucking. Good.

Last paragraph was classic. Also, you've made me sad because Seamus is being a dick to George, who is amazing.

Fantastic chapter, can't wait for more.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 03:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] indiwise.livejournal.com
I wish I knew. - *ache* Just kill me, already.

"—you stupid junkie whore!" - so much love.

This is GOOD STUFF.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 04:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mshepley.livejournal.com
Yup, Seamus is definitely his father's son, even alienating his adorable lover.

OMG, the stupid junkie whore! HUGS TO YOU!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 05:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mshepley.livejournal.com
But there's no denying Geoffrey is adorable. ^^

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 04:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wishflower4.livejournal.com
"Seamus Noblet, don't you dare! I don't know what sorts of things you people get up to in dresses, but you are not doing them in this one."

Ok, I've always found Clair to be at least a little sympathetic, but this? This is just...ugh. I'm disgusted with her for this.

"Amazing one. Wonderful one. Incredible, wonderful, perfect George . . . ."

He was cut off by George's lips on his.


Oh God, so much cute. George IS wonderful, isn't he?

...DAMMIT, SEAMUS. *headdesk*

Echoing the love for the stupid junkie whore. This is getting good. =)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 07:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wishflower4.livejournal.com
...Only getting good? Tsk! Some mindless fangirl you are =P

Eh, I may have been eating too many brains for my own good. It's the holidays! I'll cut back soon!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 05:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sloppycronkite.livejournal.com
"I'm drunk," groaned Seamus when his mouth was free again. "You're taking advantage of me."

The poor boy. XD

Seamus being a prick, George being amazing (as usual) and hurt and an appearance by Jerri? Perfect. Also, Seamus recognizing Jerri like that is hi-LAR-ious.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 05:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gaiafaye.livejournal.com
Uh, oh. Jerri. XD This should be good.

As for Seamus... >O

(Apparently after midnight my emotions are best expressed in emoticon form.)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 05:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] seagullsong.livejournal.com
...I actually pumped my fist in the air and said "YES" when I saw the update. Whcich tells you all you need to know about my life or lack thereof.

Haha. Innocent George is cute.

Aw...Father-Son Communication fail. :(

"It's not like we're in a serious relationship here."
o_0 I can't look...holy crap, Seamus, you don't at least have the common sense to follow that with an "...are we?" Wow. Do you ever actually want a relationshp, or are you just a...never mind.

Yeah, Jerri! Aw, relationship. Yay for update!



(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-09 04:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] seagullsong.livejournal.com
Yeah, I got that from the series...

Man, how can anyone meet George and not want to keep him forever? He's adorable. Oh right...I keep forgetting most of these characters don't think like I do. The Ramen in his sink made me way sadder than it should have, as a pastafarian. But I guess homemade George pasta would be better. : )

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 09:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rehime.livejournal.com
Holy shit, that's one epic entrance for Jerri. I needed to comment because I'm very much enjoying this.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 06:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] punkishgrin.livejournal.com
Poor Seamus. All he wanted was a memento from a time when his mother was, dare he think it, happycontent? Yes, his parents have screwed him up, but that means he didn't become a dick on his own accord. Just as George couldn't have became so sweet and confident and awesome by having terrible parents. Of course, Seamus is confused about knowing and allowing himself what he wants... He needs to go to George's house so that he and Stephen can have a heart-to-heart (once the ice melts and the firearms are locked away, of course)

George didn't call all summer.
This statement crushed my heart. I can't even imagine hearing from him for three months;) But then I saw the picture on DeviantArt (they're so cute!) and my spirits dried off a bit.

OMG, what will Chuck think about Seamus's new professor? XD

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-07 12:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] punkishgrin.livejournal.com
True. I'd thought that Clair had married Chuck without knowing him long, and so was either unacquainted with his jerkdom or thought that she could "fix" it (my own parental history probably clouding my view). Then again, someone suggested that they had been married after a drunken one-night-stand resulted with Clair's pregnancy (another argument for the possible origin of Seamus's name).

Yes, he does. It's good that he's beginning to confront himself and his false conceptions at a somewhat young age, as opposed to Stephen.

Oh, come on. We both know "Stephen" well enough to know that no one is going to try to take away his precious little angel without looking down the barrel of a shotgunXD
"I don't trust his face. He looks like trouble."
"He looks like you!"


I can't wait to see his reaction!

I'm trying to imagine George's voice. Since chapter 1 he's sounded like Jon. Probably from all that rationality he's totingX)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 07:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] baracknophobia.livejournal.com
JERRRRRRIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 10:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wolfishinsanity.livejournal.com
Aww, George is such a cutie!<3

D: Seamus, don't be like your daddy!

Oh lord. Jerri. This is going to get veeeeeeery interesting.

I really, really need to read your mpreg Jon/Stephen story that results in this amazingly wonderful George.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 11:48 pm (UTC)
sarcasticsra: A picture of a rat snuggling a teeny teddy bear. (Default)
From: [personal profile] sarcasticsra
*facepalm* Seamus, you need to be smacked just as much as your dad does.

I'm really looking forward to overprotective!Stephen. I'm not sure if it is going to be the funniest thing in the world, the cutest thing in the world, the most ridiculous thing in the world, or a mix of all three. *waits excitedly*

I can't even describe how much it amuses me that George is as gay as his daddy and apparently also has a bit of sub streak, too. Lulz, seriously. =P

This story is so much win.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-06 11:58 pm (UTC)
ext_1512: (Default)
From: [identity profile] stellar-dust.livejournal.com
Ahahahaha, yay! I'm so proud of Jerri! XD

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-07 01:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] canadian-plant.livejournal.com
Oh, I can't even imagine what all has happened in Jerri's long journey to grad school. And is she a TA? Oh man, can you imagine being a professor with Jerri as your TA? Or a astudent, for that matter? I can't wait to see what 66-year-old Jerri is like!

For a second there I thought we might be in imminent meet-the-parents territory, but then Seamus had to panic or whatever it was that triggered such naughty behaviour ... I hope George went home and confided in someone or at least got some comfort :-(

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-07 02:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rissaofthesaiya.livejournal.com
I tried to imagine a sixty-six-year-old Jerri and I think I broke my brain. Ow.

Also ow at poor Seamus. And poor George for getting sucked into the Official Noblet Spiral of Damage and General Awfulness (or NAMBLA). Well, if anyone can handle it, he can.

Loving this story!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-01-12 11:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zelkovaserrata.livejournal.com
gotta love that last scene there.