Standards of Decorum (G&S&R)

[JENYFER SALAS-ORTIZ]

OUTFIT OF MISCHIEF

Jeny had awoken early, the day after she had arrived at her Brother's apartment. At first she tried to fall back asleep, as seven in the a.m. was no time for any person to be awake without reason, but worry made this impossible. After a half hour of fighting with sleep, she rolled out of bed, and tip toed into the living room to check on Guillermo.

But he was gone.

And in his place was a pie.

That was strange.

Jeny tried to think over the possible reasons for this peculiar turn of events, finally deciding that Guillermo must have gone for a run or something. That had been one of his many outlets growing up, after all. Whenever things became stressful at home, he'd disappear, but eventually return, exhausted from running around the neighborhood. As the problem had been assigned a cause, Jeny eased, but was left with a nervous energy. She looked around, trying to find a cause.

It was this apartment. This naked, boring, apartment that barely left traces of human life, besides the jelly that still clung to the ceiling. Her Brother had never been accused of having good taste, so this was really no surprise to her. She ventured into the kitchen, making some toast. As their was no jelly left (-_-), she looked around for a spread. Butter and a light sprinkling of sugar? Butter and a light sprinkling of sugar.

But when Jeny, who had always had a knack of finding things that were meant to stay hidden, was searching for said sugar, she instead found a canister filled with money.

Well, hello.

Inquisitive by nature, she counted the money quietly, the grand total rounding to $978.00. Her thoughts went to the living room, with it's naked boredom, and a smile crept on her lips. Yes, certainly that would be a good way to put use to that money. Perhaps the bland living room, with it's dull white walls, had been a factor in why Guillermo needed to bolt this morning. There was nothing to distract him. She nibbled her toast thoughtfully, trying to set a decorum in her mind.

Pink was out of the question, though it was the first place her mind went. Guillermo would throw a fit! No, she needed something more subtle than pink. More manly. Fuchsia? Fuchsia.

Excited at the prospect of a new project, Jeny got dressed quickly: blue dungarees, pink tee shirt, toe socks, her tye-dye converse, a pair of glasses she really didn't need, simple pink head band. There was no point in not looking cute while she worked, after all. Satisfied, she took the money and headed out, humming merrily as she went down to her car.

Step One: Buy the equipment and new furnishings, and do it with a budget. This was pretty easy. She got a lovely tope for three of the four walls, and a soft lilac for the fourth to make a feng shui flow to the living room. Then she bought a nice tan couch with various throw pillows, a few lamps, with fuchsia lamp shades, a cool coffee table that turned into two smaller tables, a antiqued rug, a book shelf. There were two things that she purchased that Jeny fell in love with on sight. One was the epic circle painting, which would give the living room an excellent plash of color. The second was a giant fuchsia ottoman, with a soft velvety feel. Epic love. It also had a very regal looking chair that had matching fabric, so she got that too.The men at the furniture store were ordered to deliver at 4:30, which meant she had to kick it into gear.

Step Two: Kick it into gear. First thing first, she sold Guillermo's HIDEOUS couch, that looked like it had been a good munching device for moths until he picked it up from whatever corner he got it from. It went to a young, scruffy looking Sir, in the apartment above, for ten dollars. Next, she laid down a tarp, so that paint would not get on the carpet. Then PAINTING. One layer, wait to dry, next layer. They turned out amazing, to the paint speckled girl, who smiled at her handy work.

Step Three: Wait for the paint to dry. It did.

Step Four: Just in time for the delivery guys to come and bring the new furniture, which they were happy to arrange for Jeny who served them soda's as she chatted happily. It all flowed beautifully. Jeny love it!

Step five: Start tacos for supper. Guillermo loved tacos.

Humming to herself again, still covered in dry paint, she stirred the meat happily, pleased with what she had accomplished that day.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth had slept for the majority of the day. He always slept more when he was stressed after all, even with all the banging that was happening in the living room. He put his headphones in though, and drowned it out, content to waste the better part of the day. He didn't dream, or if he did, he never remembered it. It was something that went hand in hand with being in juvie for so long. Dreams were dangerous, they could drive you mad in that place, because odds are your going to have a nightmare. So his body refused them. It made it quite peaceful, and he didn't envy those who could, namely Rose who was cursed with constant nightmares.

When he awoke, he was filled with a sudden confidence, despite being shot down. Rose was stubborn, it was one of the things he loved about her. He'd just have to work on her a bit, that was all. His stomach gurgled angrily at being neglected for the day, and Seth simultaneously caught a wiff of... Tacos.

Sweet.

Hoisting himself out of bed, he put on a pair of jeans and a simple gray tee shirt, heading out to the living room.

Holy. Crap.

Seth stared in awe, wondering if he had somehow fallen asleep in the wrong apartment. But this was stupid, because he had just been in his room. Hearing humming from the kitchen, he slowly ventured that way, seeing the culprit of this crime. He wondered vaguely if Guillermo was aware, and also how the hell she had managed to get it all done in a single day. Still, he had been known to do excessive amounts of work when the mood struck him-

Shit.

This was somehow going to be his fault.

Seth grinned at Jeny, who hummed happily, a certain amount of pride glowing around her. "Two things. One: I'm not going to be the only one dusting. It was different when all I had to do was worry about a stereo and a ceiling fan. Second, if Guillermo doesn't already know about this, I want the first things out of your mouth to him to be 'Seth had nothing to do with this'." He chuckled a little, fetching a soda from the fridge, finding many to be missing.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Unfortunately Eventually, Guillermo and Rose had to exit her apartment. And they did.
Going next door to his own apartment, he unlocked the door, turning his head to address Rose.
"I'm just going to check on Jen. You can come if you like."
He turned the knob and stepped into his home.
Or was it?
It was his number on the door, but it was not as he'd left it.
But Jenyfer's shoes laid next to the door.
What. The fucking. Hell.
His living room was pink.
Well, maybe purple.
OH WHO THE FUCK CARED!?
Where was his couch? And his normal, boring white walls? And his stereo?
His sister... Where was his sister?
His brown eyes narrowed, taking in a furious breath and letting it out, snarling slightly.
"JENYFER ALEJANDRA ELDORA SALAS-ORTIZ, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY HOUSE!?"
He stomped to the kitchen, glaring at her with disbelief.
"Why the hell would you just do this? This isn't a fricking home makeover show, this is my actual house. Where I actually live. And where you actually hang out."
He ran his hands over his face tiredly.
"God, Jen, couldn't you have waited until you got your own apartment? Did you really have to put purple shit all over my house?"
His friends were gonna have a field day.

[ROSE MERCER]

OUTFIT

Rose had not really wanted to get out of bed, but her stomach seemed to have something different in mind. She ignored as long as she could, occupying herself to chit chat with Guillermo, painting her nails, braiding her hair. But hunger eventually took her, and she reluctantly raised herself out of the bed to get dressed. Her cloths were simple. Form fitting batman shirt (it matched her nails), boot cut jeans, yellow and black heels, yellow and black bows, a black bracelet. There was an obvious theme going on here. She did her make up quickly, and smiled at Guillermo to signify they were ready to go. He seemed just as reluctant to leave their little oasis too.

They went to the hall, and he headed for his door, making her stomach lurch nervously. "I'm just going to check on Jen. You can come if you like." Rose smiled and shrugged, as if unfazed, following him in. Her first reaction was that they had entered the wrong apartment. It didn't look like Guillermo's apartment at least. It was... purple. So... very... very... purple. And tan. But it was well done. Though, given his face, Rose had a feeling Guillermo disagreed. "JENYFER ALEJANDRA ELDORA SALAS-ORTIZ, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY HOUSE!?" Oh dear. Rose stayed where she was, closing the door behind her as he went on his rampage.

Rose couldn't say she disliked it. It actually looked really nice. But nice for a girls apartment. Not so much for one with two dudes. Perhaps Jeny was staying longer than Rose thought... It unsettled her a little. She never really had to work for someones approval, and she could already see them butting heads.

No, no. Rose could play nice. She didn't have to like Jeny, but Rose loved Guillermo. And Jeny, presumably, loved Guillermo too. No matter their differences, or Rose's social-tardation when it came to dealing with women. Yeah, everything was cool.

[JENYFER SALAS-ORTIZ]

Seth entered the kitchen, apparently quite amused by something. "Two things. One: I'm not going to be the only one dusting. It was different when all I had to do was worry about a stereo and a ceiling fan. Second, if Guillermo doesn't already know about this, I want the first things out of your mouth to him to be 'Seth had nothing to do with this'." Jeny chuckled, understanding the paranoia Seth had. Guillermo had quite a tem-

"JENYFER ALEJANDRA ELDORA SALAS-ORTIZ, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY HOUSE!?" ohhai, speak of the devil. Jeny grinned, winking at Seth to brace himself as she heard her darling Brother stomp into the kitchen. "Why the hell would you just do this? This isn't a fricking home makeover show, this is my actual house. Where I actually live. And where you actually hang out." Jeny flashed him a highly amused cry face, tracing her cheek where a tear would fall. "God, Jen, couldn't you have waited until you got your own apartment? Did you really have to put purple shit all over my house?"

While the taco meat simmered, Jeny starting chopping the tomato, tossing her brother an avocado. "I am obligated to tell you that I acted alone in decorating your FABULOUS living room. Second: Hi. That one would have been first, but I was told to tell you the first thing first. Also, I made tacos, so make your guacamole." Jeny's chipper, her smile wide on her dimpled cheeks. "And as for the living room, it's not purple you barbarian. It's fuchsia, and mixed with the tope I was assured that combined it made for a very gender neutral decorum. I think it looks fabulous, don't you Seth? Lime's in the fridge." Jeny had a gentle imperiousness to her voice, as she put the chopped tomato into a bowl.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth hoisted himself on the counter, grinning as Jeny chuckled. She had a nice laugh. Before he could make any form of small talk, it would appear Guillermo arrived home. "JENYFER ALEJANDRA ELDORA SALAS-ORTIZ, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY HOUSE!?"

Jeny winked at him, as Seth shook his head in slight disbelief. "Sounds like you're in trouble, Miss." Indeed, Guillermo marched in there, a irritation blatant on his face.

"Why the hell would you just do this? This isn't a fricking home makeover show, this is my actual house. Where I actually live. And where you actually hang out." Seth looked over at Jeny, who seemed immersed in the food she was preparing. "God, Jen, couldn't you have waited until you got your own apartment? Did you really have to put purple shit all over my house?"

Seth held back the urge to laugh, as Jeny began to give a flippant explanation. "I am obligated to tell you that I acted alone in decorating your FABULOUS living room." Seth lifted his soda can up to her, in thanks. Second: Hi. That one would have been first, but I was told to tell you the first thing first. Also, I made tacos, so make your guacamole. And as for the living room, it's not purple you barbarian. It's fuchsia, and mixed with the tope I was assured that combined it made for a very gender neutral decorum. I think it looks fabulous, don't you Seth? Lime's in the fridge."

Seth blinked twice, surprised and a little worried that he was brought into this sibling squabble. He grinned, shrugging a little. "Well, solong as it's not purple..." Laughter choked out of him, as he took a drink. "C'mon Moe, looks like she worked hard on all that." He wasn't entirely sure how Guillermo would react to being called Moe, and Seth didn't really much care.

He wasn't the one with a purple living room... True, he didn't have a living room, but it still wasn't purple.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

As he spoke, Jeny pulled a finger down her cheek, indicating a "tear."
His jaw squared as he glared at her, very obviously saying, "Haha, very funny."
Her happy little windchime voice set into a short rant.
"I am obligated to tell you that I acted alone in decorating your FABULOUS living room."
Seth lifted his soda can up in acknowledgement. Guillermo's eyes rolled.
"Second: Hi. That one would have been first, but I was told to tell you the first thing first. Also, I made tacos, so make your guacamole. And as for the living room, it's not purple you barbarian. It's fuchsia, and mixed with the tope I was assured that combined it made for a very gender neutral decorum. I think it looks fabulous, don't you Seth? Lime's in the fridge."
Guillermo stared at her, furiously perplexed.
"Why the hell should I make guacamole when you did this to my house? And WHO THE FUCK CARES WHAT SHADE OF PURPLE IT IS?! It is not gender neutral, you idiot!"
Seth grinned, shrugging a little.
"Well, solong as it's not purple..."
Laughter choked out of him, as he took a drink.
"C'mon Moe, looks like she worked hard on all that."
Guillermo rounded on him instantly.
"Moe? Who the fuck is Moe, 'cause it's not me, unless you want me to call you Set, the Egyptian god who raped his own brother. And speaking of which, while I trust completely that she did this on her own, where the hell were you when she was destroying my apartment."
He had probably been sleeping, and Guillermo couldn't blame him for that, really. He gave an irritated sigh.
"You know Jen, you could have at least let me have a vote in this demolition. Did it really have to be purple?"

[ROSE MERCER]

Rose couldn't quite hear everything that was happening in the kitchen, but Guillermo's voice was the easiest to pull out, being that it was loud and angry. "Why the hell should I make guacamole when you did this to my house? And WHO THE FUCK CARES WHAT SHADE OF PURPLE IT IS?! It is not gender neutral, you idiot!" Rose wondered to herself if she should go back there, but she really didn't have an opinion one way or another. Though, after a moment, it occurred to her that he had just been talking about inviting his hard ass friends over. Snickering slightly, Rose stepped in a little further into the apartment.

The colors sort of grew on you, if you didn't stare directly into the ottoman. The painting was pretty cool, actually, the way the colors overlapped. She felt awkward in this unfamiliar setting, even though she had been in the apartment more times than she could count. It made it all the more uncomfortable that she was alone.

But... in there was Jeny, and probably Seth. Rose bit her lip, nervous for their reactions of her. At the most, Jeny would probably just scowl. Seth was honestly her bigger concerned, as her and Guillermo decided legit was the way to go, not even twenty-four hours after Seth dropped his doomed confession of love. And Seth, who Rose cared for deeply and had since childhood, was a bit of a spoiled brat. If he decided he wanted something, he didn't react well when given a no.

But she couldn't hide in the living room forever! Rose had to take the plunge! She wasn't afraid of them, and she had dealt with a distraught Seth before. She could do this.

Taking a deep breath, she entered the kitchen, with the appearance of being nonchalant.

[JENYFER SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Why the hell should I make guacamole when you did this to my house? And WHO THE FUCK CARES WHAT SHADE OF PURPLE IT IS?! It is not gender neutral, you idiot!" Jeny frowned at him calling her an idiot. Seriously. Not nice.

Seth at least had a good sense of humor about it. "Well, solong as it's not purple... C'mon Moe, looks like she worked hard on all that." Jeny squeaked at the name Moe, making it obvious that she found it POSITIVELY ADORABLE!

Guillermo was in no mood for cuteness. "Moe? Who the fuck is Moe, 'cause it's not me, unless you want me to call you Set, the Egyptian god who raped his own brother. And speaking of which, while I trust completely that she did this on her own, where the hell were you when she was destroying my apartment."

"Oh, chill out Drama Queen, it's no big deal. And here's a better question, where were you?" Jeny handed him a bowl and a knife, grinning widely. "I wanted to surprise you, take your mind off from last nights-" Rose suddenly appeared behind Guillermo. Instantly, Jeny felt herself get riled up.

Had Guillermo forgiven that slutbitchface? Already? What the hell! After all that drama? Really? Jeny's mouth pursed slightly, as Queenie walked in like she owned the place, like she hadn't had Guillermo wandering around in the rain for God knows how many hours. Keeping her voice calm, she looked at her brother, happy that they were the only Spanish speakers in the room. "¿Por qué está aquí? ¿No le causa suficiente drama de anoche?"

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth was lost in his head a bit, as brother and sister bantered like a verbal tennis match. He tried to think of what he was going to say to Rose, when he saw her next. On the counter, he saw a pie that he would have recognized anywhere. Rose! Well, Rose's mom, but still. He reached over to the pie, grabbing a fork out of the strainer, and bit into it. Cinnamon, honey, brown sugar! IT WAS A ROSE PIE!!!

He chewed it thoughtfully, as Guillermo rounded on him. "Moe? Who the fuck is Moe, 'cause it's not me, unless you want me to call you Set, the Egyptian god who raped his own brother. And speaking of which, while I trust completely that she did this on her own, where the hell were you when she was destroying my apartment." Seth blinked a little, not quite sure what Egyptian God's had to do this. What a strange thing to be knowledged in, when he was a Communications major.

Jeny came to his rescue, as he took another bit of pie. "Oh, chill out Drama Queen, it's no big deal. And here's a better question, where were you? I wanted to surprise you, take your mind off from last nights-" As if by some weird timing magic, Rose entered, a vision in batman gear.

Seth slid off the counter, smiling hopefully, ever the little puppy dog. Good, now they could talk. Unlike Jeny, who was talking to Guillermo in Spanish again, Seth did not connect that Guillermo and Rose had been together. "H-hey Rose." His hand went to the back of his head, scratching it nervously. She just needed some time. They would talk, and she would see.

She loved him too. Seth knew it!

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Oh, chill out Drama Queen, it's no big deal. And here's a better question, where were you?"
She didn't want to know.
Jeny handed him a bowl and a knife, grinning widely.
"I wanted to surprise you, take your mind off from last nights-"
Jenyfer's voice trailed off, as she glowered past him into the doorway. Rose stood there, looking shyer than Guillermo had ever seen her.
"H-hey Rose."
Seth offered, clearly not catching Jeny's mood.
"¿Por qué está aquí? ¿No le causa suficiente drama de anoche?"
Jeny stared Rose down accusingly. Guillermo grabbed Rose's hand.
"Hay que ser agradable. Ella es mi novia ahora. Ayer por la noche ya no es relevante."
He tugged Rose gently, drawing her nearer.
Suddenly he remembered everything about last night and he threw a guilty look at Seth.
He didn't know.
How would they tell him?
Jen seemed to be really irked by the Rose thing, so he jerked his head in the direction of his bedroom, hoping she would speak with him in there to let him explain.

[ROSE MERCER]

"H-hey Rose." It was weird, that he didn't greet her as 'Chicken'.

She smiled at him, though it fell as Jeny spoke to Guillermo, apparently unaware that Rose could understand her. "¿Por qué está aquí? ¿No le causa suficiente drama de anoche?" That was awkward.

A part of Rose was grateful that Guillermo took her hand. It was comforting, and it made her feel a bit protected to Jeny's wrath. On the other hand, it made Rose hyper aware of Seth's presence. "Hay que ser agradable. Ella es mi novia ahora. Ayer por la noche ya no es relevante." She watched as he looked guiltily at Seth, and Rose squeezed his hand a little, but gave no indication she understood them.

Looking at Seth's big, hopeful, pale blue eyes, crushing a little. "Hey Foxy, c'mon, we should go talk..." Take it slow, take it easy. She'd let him down gently, explain the situation. Rose let go of Guillermo's hand, grabbing Seth's arm. They could work through this. And they could bring the pie! Which Seth had helped himself too. But so long as he had that pie, it was almost impossible for Seth to frown! ...Almost. It had worked when his goldfish died, after all. It could work for this.

Rose avoided Jeny's scathing eyes, deciding that was an issue for another time. Guillermo could talk some reason into her, he was good at that. And Lord knew he was stubborn.

[JENYFER SALAS-ORTIZ]

Jeny watched, as her Brother, her heartbreaker, lady killer, girlfriend stealing BROTHER, grabbed Rose's hand protectively. "Hay que ser agradable. Ella es mi novia ahora. Ayer por la noche ya no es relevante."

Now, 98% of the time, Jeny was the sweetest, kindest, most loving person in the world. Being mean, unlike Guillermo, was simply not in her nature. Everything from her dimples to her round brown eyes screamed: SIMP! But then their was that 2%...

Like now for instance.

Rose released Guillermo's hand, grabbing Seth carefully. Her eyes seeped manipulation. What was she going to do? Wank this guy off while Guillermo tried to convince Jeny she was a good person DEEP DOWN!? What the hell! "Hey Foxy, c'mon, we should go talk..." Talk... yeah, that was likely. MORE LIKE BANG HARD CORE!

Guillermo nodded to the bedroom, but Jeny held her place. "What do you mean 'She's your girlfriend now, last nights not important?" She said it, blatantly, in front of Rose and Seth, unashamed that she was starting a scene. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ¿QUÉ SIGNIFICA ANOCHE NO IMPORTA? ¿Viste lo que le hizo a usted anoche? ¿Cómo puedes decir NO IMPORTA?" Her voice's volume fluctuated, as yelled crossly at her brother, her eyes burning in anger. "¿Cómo se puede incluso hablar con esa Bruja?" Her voice was steadier, but full of disdain.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth's puppy dog smile faltered slightly, when Guillermo took Rose hand. Though she tried to come across confident, Seth could see she was nervous about something. They all spoke in Spanish for a moment, much to Seth's irritation. Always with the Spanish here. Oddly, Rose said nothing, until Guillermo had finished speaking. "Hey Foxy, c'mon, we should go talk..." He didn't like how she said that. It made him nervous, especially added with Guillermo's guilty face. Had they made up?

Jeny was struck with a sudden rage. "What do you mean 'She's your girlfriend now, last nights not important?"

A sudden urge to vomit overcame Seth, whose smile was gone. His face started to speckle with red, as he couldn't breathe. No. No. There was a failure in communication. He looked at Rose's eyes, those eyes he had dreamed about for so long, and saw it. It was true. "I-" No, he couldn't speak right now, not even to say he had to go. He shot Guillermo a scathing glance, as he passed them both, lip quivering in rage.

She picked... Guillermo. No. NO NO NO NO NO NO! This wasn't happening! He headed out the front, not quite sure he was going. Seth was blind to the world at the moment, rushing down the stairs, tears running down his face like fire, burning. The moment he was out the complex door, Seth strolled off the side walk way, leaning against a tree, on the brink of a panic attack.

Why did she pick Guillermo? Seth was so obviously the better choice! He knew her longer, loved her longer, knew everything about her! Guillermo couldn't even admit he loved her until Seth told him to move aside. Then suddenly he was sooooooooo in love with her. Bastard. Seth punched the tree violently, again, and again.

NO! ROSE LOVED HIM! SHE HAD TO LOVE HIM! HE HAD NOTHING ELSE!

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose released his hand, giving him a look and took Seth's arm, attempting to tug him into the other room.
"Hey Foxy, c'mon, we should go talk..."
He sighed quietly, then all hell broke loose.
"What do you mean 'She's your girlfriend now, last nights not important?"
Guillermo froze, his eyes widening. He suddenly remembered why his friends had nicknamed Jenyfer "Maldita Niña."
Her voice was loud and indignant, glaring at him viciously.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ¿QUÉ SIGNIFICA ANOCHE NO IMPORTA? ¿Viste lo que le hizo a usted anoche? ¿Cómo puedes decir NO IMPORTA? ¿Cómo se puede incluso hablar con esa Bruja?"
"Me encanta su."
"I-"
Seth looked a bit like he would pass out. He suddenly bolted from the room, throwing Guillermo a look like a double edged sword.
The door slammed and there was a silence.
His roommate and only friend (other than Hiro and Stefano) in New York hated him.
His eyes filled with fire and he stared at his half-sister, mouth slightly agape.
"What is your problem? Do you get a kick out of ruining shit?"
His voice was dangerous and quiet, his expression matching it.
Guillermo approached her, getting close to her face, making sure she could see the anger in his eyes.
"Seth was in love with Rose, Buitre."
His muscles were tensed up, focusing on not smashing anything.
He turned and raced for the door, flinging it open and barreling down the stairs after Seth.
Seth was outside, punching the hell out of a tree.
He winced a little, glimpsing into his own future.
"Seth, man. Let me explain..." he said as he ran up.
Explain what, he wasn't sure.
"I'm sorry, Seth. I'm really sorry."
He touched his shoulder lightly.