Entry tags:
HoS: Spring Cleaning
Title: Spring Cleaning
Archive: Domestic
Summary: It's a yearly tradition.
Chronology (if any): None
Warnings (if any): None
Spring Cleaning
One of the side effects of living with other people was the division of chores. It had taken Roy, Riza, Masuta and Ed a while to work out a tentative distribution when Al joined the household and promptly upset the balance again. None of the other four resented Al’s inclusion, but it did cause difficulties. Eventually, however, everything got worked out.
Cooking of course was mostly handled by Riza and Ed, as they were the only ones who could produce an edible meal on a regular basis. Roy helped with the dishes (when he was “reminded;” otherwise the dishes would pile up). Al and Masuta handled the errands, shopping and wash. The entire family pitched together during the weekends to sweep, mop and otherwise clean the entire house.
And of course, there was spring cleaning.
“Ed! Did you get those blankets put away yet?”
“Just a sec- ah!” There was a large crashing sound. Ed swore vividly, buried underneath the large pile of bedspreads. Riza stifled a laugh and helped her lover untangle himself. Together the two blonds successfully attacked the escaping material and dragged it into storage.
Riza returned to the task she had abandoned to help Edward: dusting. She continued around the main room, wiping down every surface. She was especially careful around the pictures. One was from their last anniversary. The military officer smiled at the happy picture. They had all gone out to celebrate; it had certainly been a wild night.
“I think we’re going to need to repaint in here.”
Riza glanced over at Ed who had taken to returning all of the loose books to the bookshelf in the far corner. She transferred her gaze to the walls. “I think you’re right.”
“Hopefully it won’t be such a mess next time.”
Riza gave Edward a reproachful look. The alchemist looked sheepish, as he should considering he had been a major catalyst in the paint debacle. “I’m sure it won’t be.”
The pair worked in silence until Ed let out a curse of frustration. He held up a blanket that had managed to hide out of sight behind a chair. Riza smothered a laugh at the look on the man’s face. She glanced at the clock she had just finished polishing. “I’ve got an idea.”
“Oh?” Ed looked up, interested. Riza’s ideas were always good.
“To the kitchen.”
Meanwhile, Masuta was in hot water.
Or at least his arms were. The Japanese man gave the current curtain he was on one last scrub, and then put it into the bucket filled with clean water. A few swishes later, Roy pulled the curtain along with several other pieces of wash out of the rising bin, allowed most of the water to drain back into the bucket and tossed the washed material into a waiting laundry basket. From there the alchemist carried the basket to a waiting clothes line outside. Roy made a mental note to look into those new “washing machines” he’d heard Gracia talking about last time they visited. They had to be more efficient than this. At least they had remembered to set up the buckets outside this year and he didn’t have far to go. Last time they had left a trail of water on the floor while carrying the wash outdoors.
The youngest of the lovers was also outside, only he wasn’t involved in the yearly washing spree. Instead he had his hands in the earth surrounding the home. “It looks good, Al,” Masuta smiled at his friend. His dark eyes traveled the length of the house where Al had been weeding the flower beds. Several new plants stood waiting to go in. “There, we’re done.” Masuta declared as he finished the last of the wash.
“Just in time,” Ed announced, exiting the house with a large blanket in his arms. Riza came right behind him, carrying several sandwiches and a pitcher of cold tea. Ed tossed the blanket to the ground and the five sat down for a spur of the moment picnic. As Ed munched on his sandwich he looked over Al’s work. “I think you inherited mom’s talent, Al. Those look great.”
Al blushed. “Well, I guess.”
“You did an excellent job, Alphonse,” Riza agreed. She finished off the last of her sandwich. “Time to get back to work.” The other four sighed but got up as well. It would take a quite to finish the all the cleaning, but it would be well worth it when it was done.
After all, everything of value took time and effort to become reality.
X-posted to![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
houseofsmex
Archive: Domestic
Summary: It's a yearly tradition.
Chronology (if any): None
Warnings (if any): None
Spring Cleaning
One of the side effects of living with other people was the division of chores. It had taken Roy, Riza, Masuta and Ed a while to work out a tentative distribution when Al joined the household and promptly upset the balance again. None of the other four resented Al’s inclusion, but it did cause difficulties. Eventually, however, everything got worked out.
Cooking of course was mostly handled by Riza and Ed, as they were the only ones who could produce an edible meal on a regular basis. Roy helped with the dishes (when he was “reminded;” otherwise the dishes would pile up). Al and Masuta handled the errands, shopping and wash. The entire family pitched together during the weekends to sweep, mop and otherwise clean the entire house.
And of course, there was spring cleaning.
“Ed! Did you get those blankets put away yet?”
“Just a sec- ah!” There was a large crashing sound. Ed swore vividly, buried underneath the large pile of bedspreads. Riza stifled a laugh and helped her lover untangle himself. Together the two blonds successfully attacked the escaping material and dragged it into storage.
Riza returned to the task she had abandoned to help Edward: dusting. She continued around the main room, wiping down every surface. She was especially careful around the pictures. One was from their last anniversary. The military officer smiled at the happy picture. They had all gone out to celebrate; it had certainly been a wild night.
“I think we’re going to need to repaint in here.”
Riza glanced over at Ed who had taken to returning all of the loose books to the bookshelf in the far corner. She transferred her gaze to the walls. “I think you’re right.”
“Hopefully it won’t be such a mess next time.”
Riza gave Edward a reproachful look. The alchemist looked sheepish, as he should considering he had been a major catalyst in the paint debacle. “I’m sure it won’t be.”
The pair worked in silence until Ed let out a curse of frustration. He held up a blanket that had managed to hide out of sight behind a chair. Riza smothered a laugh at the look on the man’s face. She glanced at the clock she had just finished polishing. “I’ve got an idea.”
“Oh?” Ed looked up, interested. Riza’s ideas were always good.
“To the kitchen.”
Meanwhile, Masuta was in hot water.
Or at least his arms were. The Japanese man gave the current curtain he was on one last scrub, and then put it into the bucket filled with clean water. A few swishes later, Roy pulled the curtain along with several other pieces of wash out of the rising bin, allowed most of the water to drain back into the bucket and tossed the washed material into a waiting laundry basket. From there the alchemist carried the basket to a waiting clothes line outside. Roy made a mental note to look into those new “washing machines” he’d heard Gracia talking about last time they visited. They had to be more efficient than this. At least they had remembered to set up the buckets outside this year and he didn’t have far to go. Last time they had left a trail of water on the floor while carrying the wash outdoors.
The youngest of the lovers was also outside, only he wasn’t involved in the yearly washing spree. Instead he had his hands in the earth surrounding the home. “It looks good, Al,” Masuta smiled at his friend. His dark eyes traveled the length of the house where Al had been weeding the flower beds. Several new plants stood waiting to go in. “There, we’re done.” Masuta declared as he finished the last of the wash.
“Just in time,” Ed announced, exiting the house with a large blanket in his arms. Riza came right behind him, carrying several sandwiches and a pitcher of cold tea. Ed tossed the blanket to the ground and the five sat down for a spur of the moment picnic. As Ed munched on his sandwich he looked over Al’s work. “I think you inherited mom’s talent, Al. Those look great.”
Al blushed. “Well, I guess.”
“You did an excellent job, Alphonse,” Riza agreed. She finished off the last of her sandwich. “Time to get back to work.” The other four sighed but got up as well. It would take a quite to finish the all the cleaning, but it would be well worth it when it was done.
After all, everything of value took time and effort to become reality.
X-posted to
houseofsmex