Steak and Spit-Takes

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

Wednesday night, at J.D. Hoyt's in Minneapolis, everybody gets the chance to laugh at Guido, and Alison makes him an offer he can't refuse.


Jamie led the group into JD Hoyt's, and looked curiously around; the crowd was a mixed bag of businessmen, university students, and families, but there was a distinct lack of Guido, and it wasn't like the big guy could hide.

A blonde waitress, hair back in a ponytail, flashed them a friendly smile. "Hi! Welcome to JD Hoyt's. It'll be a little while, we're pretty crowded tonight--oh! Are you the Carosella party?"

Jamie grinned back, relieved. "Yeah, that's us. Is Guido not here yet, or . . .?"

"Oh, no, he showed up maybe ten minutes ago? He's in the Founder's Room, which is where you'll be eating tonight--that's where we do special events and parties. Follow me."

The Founder's Room proved to contain a cheerfully blazing fireplace, one long table, and Guido Carosella, who stood up--and up, and up--as the group entered. Nearly seven feet tall, Guido dominated the room easily, a blue denim shirt straining over shoulders so broad they almost seemed misshapen, set incongruously atop normal-sized legs that seemed too small for the job. Merry blue eyes twinkled behind wire-framed Lennon-style glasses, and a broad grin split his face.

"Jamie! Good to see you, man. And Doug. You guys have gotta be the only two people in the world dumb enough to come to Minnesota for spring break. 'Course, maybe not, you conned everybody else into coming too . . ."

Jamie took the hint. "Guido Carosella, everybody. Guido, this is Lorna Dane and Alex Summers, Doug you know already, Marie-Ange Colbert, the short one is Miles, Fay Emmerson, my communications teacher, is technically in charge of the trip . . ." He grinned. "And this is Kitty Pryde, who I may have mentioned once or twice."

Sliding her arm around Jamie's waist, Kitty cocked her head at Guido. "Nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you." Not moving her arm, she held out her other hand to shake.

Guido shook Kitty's hand with a grin. "Same here. Hard to believe this maniac found someone who can put up with him."

Keeping to the back of the group for now, Alison grinned at the joke, Miles firmly hanging on to her hand and clearly torn between hiding from that many people or looking around the restaurant in unabashed curiosity. They'd had fun with the image inducers that morning, carefully selecting among the identity papers they had that matched each of the presents, and doing minor modifications that would pass scrutiny nonetheless, but all of that seemed to slip the boy's mind as he finally gave in to both urges - clingling to Alison's leg while looking around, wide eyed.

Doug stood close to Marie-Ange, his hand twitching slightly with the desire to hold her hand, but he didn't want to seem too forward. He smiled nervously. "Guido, it's great to finally meet you in person. Funny how things work out, me and Jamie being assigned as roommates, isn't it? I've told you about Angie, but now you have proof that she exists too, you big lug." He glanced hesitantly at the French girl.

Marie-Ange briefly raised an eyebrow at Doug, then smiled, first at him, then at Guido. "It is good to meet you. I do not believe I have heard half the stories Kitty has, but it is good to put a face to the name."

"Well, I'm fond of him," Kitty said, letting go of Guido's hand. "And I'm sure you'll get a chance to hear all the stories sooner or later, Angie."

Slightly to the side of the group, Lorna nodded pleasantly to Guido, her right hand linked with Alex's left. "Nice to meet you, Guido. Appalling weather you have here." She grinned, more amused by Kitty and Marie-Ange than she was at her joke.

"Great, isn't it? You should be here in January." Guido grinned at Marie-Ange. "I had the face for your name already, but yeah, nice to meet you. How tough was it to convince the Dougster you were really interested?"

Doug blushed rosily. "She's still working at convincing me. We were chatting on IM while she was in Europe, and discussing gender equality, and the next thing I know I'm agreeing to let her pay for dinner on our date. I'm still not entirely understanding what she sees in me, but I know better than to argue with her. She's stubborn." He gazed tenderly at Marie-Ange.

Angie smiled and nodded. "He learns fast," she said, and tucked her hand into Doug's.

"Handy, that." Kitty grinned at Angie, then glanced around the room. "Lovely set up you aranged," she told Guido. "One would almost think you'd been looking forward to seeing the boys... And their attendant entourage, of course."

"Hey, it's not every day you're the object of a spring break road trip. Besides, I eat here a lot. Food's good, portions are healthy, and the waitresses are cute. What's not to love?"

Jamie snickered. "How much do you eat these days, anyway?"

"Enough to make me glad I'm loaded, I'll say that much . . . so apart from some of the best steak in the Midwest, what can I do for you guys?"

"Basil Aileron got a gig while we're here? I've been playing that CD you sent me, and Fay's dying to see you guys live . . ."

Guido's eyebrows rose, and he favored "Fay" with a slow, speculative smile. "Well, anything for a fan, I always say. I'll make some calls just for you, see what I can rustle up."

"Golly, that'd be wonderful," she gushed, beaming at him - even as Miles favored the hulking man with a mutinous glare and a look that heralded trouble of the worst kind. "Jamie's been letting me listen to the CD, y'see, and I'd love to hear what the band sounds like live..." A firm grip on her leg kept her from stepping forward, and Alison glanced down to see Miles giving the 'strange man' a fearsome look, with all of his seven years of age to back it up.

Lorna burst into giggles and managed to change it into a muffled coughing fit. She turned her face into Alex's shoulder to hide her reaction. Peeking over his shoulder, she caught Miles' eye and gave him a wink.

Only some serious will power was keeping Kitty from giggling. Al... that is, 'Fay' seemed to be enjoying herself, even though it seemed likely to give Miles a coniption. "Golly?" she mouthed at Jamie, raising an eyebrow.

Jamie shrugged back, poker-faced except for one corner of his mouth that kept wanting to twitch upward.

Guido winked at "Fay." "I don't think your chaperone approves of me." He hunkered down closer to Miles' eye level. "Don't suppose I can tempt you with a cheesecake, could I, sir? They do a good one here. And I promise I'll be nice to her."

Narrowing his eyes, Miles crossed him arms and glared back. "Miles cannot be bribed," he intoned solemnly, not even wavering once at the offer of cheesecake, which was a fair indication of his resolve on this particular matter. Oh no, he knew all about 'being nice', as Marie-Ange and Doug has insisted on demonstrating during most of the trip, as well as Lorna and Alex (this earned both couples rather fearsome glares) and this one would be keeping his cooties for himself as far as Miles was concerned.

Laughing quietly, Alison grinned down at Miles. "Mmm, I think it may take a bit more than cheesecake for that." She transferred the brilliant smile to Guido, one hand drifing to pat Miles shoulder.

Kitty lost it for a second at the bribing comment, a sharp giggle escaping her. "I think the little guy's on to you, Guido," she said, trying to keep the giggles from getting out of hand.

Guido flashed a quick grin to Kitty, then turned back to Miles. "Incorruptible, huh? Good way to be. Tell you what: I'm certified cootie-free." He fished his wallet out of his pocket and presented Miles with a card on which, sure enough, was printed a notice that Dr. Sara Brightman, MD, had after detailed examination concluded that Guido Carosella was 100% uninfested by cooties of any variety. "Now, I have to admit, my certification's a little out of date, so you can keep an eye on me all during dinner and make sure I'm behaving myself." He winked at Alison. "I'm almost sure I remember how."

Doug snickered slightly at the "cootie-free" card Guido had produced, then caught Miles' eye, removing his hand from Marie-Ange's for a moment and "whispering" in sign language, his movements small and unobtrusive. ~Don't forget the plan, little guy. This is going to be the best prank ever. Your mom's just playing along with the big guy to make it even funnier.~ Touching a finger to his nose conspiratorially, he slipped his hand back into Marie-Ange's and joined the group as they moved toward the table.

Following as Miles determinedtly took her hand and actually led her to the table after stuffing the card Guido had given him the back pocket of his jeans, Alison winked at Guido in amusement, sliding a look over her shoulder as the door to the private room they had reserved swung shut. The waiter made sure to install them all at the table, Alison carefully maneouvring so she could sit in front of Guido, lips quirking as Miles glared stubbornly the entire time, both hands neatly resting on the edge of the table.

Once everyone was sorted out and sitting down, she leaned back in the chair and grinned cheerfully. "So, we're going to be hearing the band after this?" she asked, bouncing in the chair a bit in "anticipation", earning herself a kick in the side of the leg from Miles - who did not budge in the least for anyone else to see (save maybe Doug.)

"Well, the show isn't until tomorrow, but I could probably roust them out for a jam session tonight . . . unless, that is, you'd like to see some more of the city first, maybe in the company of a knowledgeable native tour guide? I've been known to show people a good time . . ." He grinned, ignoring the dirty look Miles was giving him. "Interested?"

"I would just about die to see them tonight," she purred, leaning forward on the table, Miles squeaking in dismay. She beamed at Guido as he smiled in acknowledgement, waiting for the moment where he picked up his glass of water to take a sip to nudge Miles back, sliding him an impish look.

Miles fairly bounced with glee - and tapped the small image inducer she'd clipped to her belt once, eyes the locking onto Guido to see his reaction as Alison spoke again, this time in her normal voice.

"Think they'll mind setting up a show for me?"

A fine mist of ice water arced nearly all the way across the table as Guido overbalanced and toppled backward in his chair, landing spreadeagled on the floor. He picked himself up with a rueful grin. "Yeah, I think I can probably get 'em. How the heck did you do that?" He turned a dire look on Jamie and Doug. "And do I get to pummel these two?"

"Doubt it." Jamie wiped his eyes and tried heroically, and unsuccessfully, to stop laughing. "She likes us. Oh God, the look on your face!"

Kitty burst out laughing at the spit take, curling up to giggle into Jamie's shoulder. "Definitely no pummeling," she managed between giggles. "It was all Al's fault, anyway."

Doug, for his part, was bent over pounding on the table, wheezing with laughter. "I...that was priceless. Angie, tell me you got a picture of that."

Marie-Ange smiled brightly, and held up a hand in a gesture of "wait a moment" so that she could stop giggling. A few seconds later, she tapped the small digital camera in her hand. "Of course. Several, perhaps, if they all turn out."

"Didn't anybody ever tell you people not to conspire against the guy paying for your food?" Guido righted his chair and sat down, leveling a finger at Marie-Ange. "Copies of those pictures and we'll call it even? Not every day you get pranked by your favorite celebrity."

"If I did not send you copies, I am sure Jamie or Doug would." Marie-Ange responded, beaming. "I believe, if I know Doug, that you will have them in your email before tommorow morning."

Alison surveyed the scene with a grin of satisfaction, far outshone by Miles wide smile of delight at the scene, bouncing up and down on his chair gleefully. He leaned into Alison as she wrapped an arm about his shoulders and dropped a light kiss on his forehead, winking down at him before leaning on the table once more, smiling impishly at Guido.

"No pummeling. If for no other reason than I'd be the least of your worries," Alison grinned, sliding a look towards the boys' dates and then giving Guido an amused look. "Methinks the girls might protest a wee bit." She slid a look towards the door, their waiter still absent, and decided to chance a moment longer without the image inducer, even as Miles peered at the door as well, hand at the ready just in case, very serious about his role still.

Guido chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Never expected I'd actually get to meet you. I, uh . . . hey, were you serious about checking out the band?"

"Course I was!" She winked at Jamie, nodding towards him. "Jamie really did lend me one of the CDs, and-" she paused, giving him a conspiratorial look. "Well, since I'm starting my own label..." with a shrug she trailed off, giving him an innocent look.

"You're starting--" Guido's jaw dropped. "You mean you're here to--you want us to--Hang on one second." He pulled a cellphone out of one capacious pocket and hit the speed-dial. "Sash? It's Guido. Get everybody over to the loft right the hell now and get 'em warmed up, you'll never believe--yes, it's important, Alison Blaire is in town, she's starting a record label, and she wants to hear us." He paused. "Would I kid about something like this?" Pause again. "Okay, point, but I'm really not." Pause again. "No, she's in disguise." Pause again. ". . . Yes, yes I did. You do realize I can hit you with my van, don't you? I can pick it right up and hit you with it. Thanks, Sash. See you in a bit." He snapped the phone shut, his grin threatening to dislocate his jaw. "All set. We can go right after we eat, unless you'd rather have a night's sleep first. And wow."

"After we eat!" she laughed, delighted at the reaction, thrilled with the chance of being able to realize someone else's dreams - remembering only too well being in the situation Guido was in just now, as well. "And it'll give the band time to warm up before we get there, without spending a sleepness night worrying about things until tomorrow if we did it then." She figured she could stop grinning sometime tomorrow herself, maybe.