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 Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 10:31 pm
Claudia was, in the kindest way possible, a brat. Lex loved his sister and everything she was and would be, many a fond memory of their childhood. Her demands he was used to, and the pout that resulted if he didn't abide them was nearly endearing by this point.
Yet, Claude was still his brat of a step-sister. She wanted cake, coffee, creamer, and she even went as far as to insist that he bring his French press, and they absolutely had to meet in the library he was so very familiar with.
Lex wasn't even quite sure why Claude wanted to make this meeting such an ordeal. He hoped she knew that the younger Jamil (despite her last name being Morgan) was always welcome in their home, even if Ami gave the girl icy looks and indifferent greetings on good days. Yet, he obliged her. An entire pineapple upside down cake had been miraculously and meticulously produced, as was coffee from Brazil, cream, and an entire bowl of sugar that Claudia would more than likely consume all of.
Lex had positioned two armchairs side by side, with a small table holding their lunch in front. He waited politely for Claude to join him, his nose deep in a book of heraldry and medieval weaponry.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 12:11 pm
The french press, the coffee, the creamer and the sugar were a given. Claude knew that would happen. The upside down pineapple cake though? Even she thought that was a long shot, but she'd try it anyways, because she was, indeed, a brat. It was the comfort and closeness she enjoyed with someone she grew up with. The trainee appeared in the library, with a small box tucked under an arm, staring at the pineapple upside with a look that bordered on surprise. She was silent for a moment, aware Lex was right there with his nose buried in a book. Finally she spoke up: "I love you." She dead panned at her older brother, and it should be noted those words only came out of her mouth right now because there was upside down pineapple cake.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:28 pm
"Bullshit." Was Lex's casual response, book still in his face. Claude was easy to hear coming - her footfalls had a familiar rhythm, the way she breathed was just as recognizable as her voice. The page of his book was given a simple grey bookmark before being closed shut and put down carefully, as though some ancient library Goddess were scrutinizing the way Alexei treated the book.
Claudia was given a smile as her older brother stood up and stretched, pulled into a quick hug and cheek peck combo. "You love my baking, not me." He chided, picking up the press and pouring coffee grounds in, having waited until she arrived to brew coffee; only the most fresh brew for the princess. "Do you know how hard it is to get pineapple this time of year? Especially on an island that's not supposed to exist."
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:52 pm
Claude smirked, and when Lex stood the gesture was reciprocated. She wrapped her free arm around him in the hug, and pecked his cheek in return. "Yes. I love your baking...but that extends to you as well." As he prepared the coffee, she placed the small box on the table between the arm chairs, and then proceeded to get comfy. The trainee pulled off her coat, and hung it on the corner of the arm chair. "I'll keep that in mind for future endeavors." Claude mused, because loved pineapple. She then slid into the chair she hung her coat on. "Thanks." She uttered in earnest, watching his hands work before glancing up at him. "Didn't have anything urgent to do soon, did you?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 3:21 pm
Lex's smile was knowing; of course her love extended to him. Why wouldn't it? He was charming, handsome, a great baker, a good big brother (despite abandoning her in Vegas), and an excellent entertainer. He was also, at rare points, full of himself. "My pleasure." He said, stirring the grounds and hot water with a cocktail spoon, and letting them settle for a few minutes.
"No, my infirmary shifts aren't until early in the morning. 3 AM for the next week. No scheduled appointments in hitting things for you?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 4:41 pm
"Ah, good." Claude replied, with a small nod. She then gave a soft snort. "Or...you mean no scheduled appointments in having things hitting me? No." She reclined in the chair, and crossed her legs. "I've been clocking in a lot of time into the training fields. I can spare today." She leaned, resting her head in her hand. "We talk better when it's just you and I." Claude uttered in earnest, in regards to why she wanted to meet him here. She didn't mind Ami, to be honest, even with her passionate loathing for any and all things, but she found Lex talked to her best when he wasn't in his own home.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:14 pm
Lex chuckled as he pressed the grounds away from the water, leaving only midnight, oily black coffee steaming above the metal barrier in the press. He waited for a few seconds, admiring the liquid, before he began pouring for the both of them. "Mm, I should probably be joining you. I'm no Agent Bond on the battle field, unfortunately." He handed a cup, half full, to Claudia. "I haven't memorized your coffee yet." He noted, indicating the cream and sugar with a quick glance to them.
He finally relaxed as well, sipping at his full cup. "I've always been better in private settings." Lex smirked, shooting Claudia a wink. The apples didn't fall too far from their respective trees. "What did you want to talk about?" He glanced at the box, a little curious. Knowing Claudia, anything could be in it.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:45 pm
Claude's eyes drifted down to the press, and like her brother, also admired the liquid. Real coffee. It was the small things, really, that made living. "Mm." The sound was amused. "Could've fooled me." She murmured in regards to being Agent Bond, and took the cup when it was offered. "That's fine." She held onto the cup as she began to spoon sugar into it. At that comment, a brow quirked. "Woah. Lex. I know we're not biologically related and all, but still." She then smirked at him, her gaze lidding, and after spooning three spoons of sugar into her cup, did she finally add the creamer. "Anything and everything." She mused. "I don't need a specific reason to talk to you all of sudden, do I?" She just wanted to talk and enjoy his company, like siblings do, but she did dip her head to the box she brought. "Photos." Was all she said, and all she needed to. "Brought them from..." She didn't like saying home. "That place."
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:01 pm
"You'll have to schedule appointments with my secretary from now on, I'm sorry to inform you. My time is so valuable, after all." Lex scoffed, playful sarcasm dotting his words. He snorted at her reply to the sexual, but continued sipping his coffee without spilling a drop. Coffee, not his time, was of value.
Three spoons of sugar, and then filled with cream. He'd lock it into his vault of coffee (or tea) orders.
"Siblings don't have to be related by blood." He smiled, genuine now and just as earnest as the younger. His eyes fell on the box. "Photos... like, of us? You brought them here?" Lex's cheeks flushed; it was a kind gesture of his sister, but embarrassing. If she'd stolen from the family photo album...
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:16 pm
"******** your secretary--Oh wait." Bet you did. She smirked at him, though that smirk simmered into something of a small, but genuine smile. A sentiment close to her heart. One she believed in more fiercely than anything else. "Yeah." She replied. It didn't need to be said, but photos were all she had to hang onto after he disappeared, that, and she always did love them for rainy days when she wanted to wax nostalgia. She stirred her cup with the spoon. She then took a sip, and uttered a content sigh, before she reached with one hand to unsnap the lid of the box, and open it. Inside was just a mass pile of photos. Claude reached in at random, and pulled one out. Her gray eyes went back and forth as she scanned the picture, and then smirked lightly, showing it to him. "First Christmas after I met you." There they were. So young. Dressed to the nines for kids of a rich folks typical holiday photo. Her hair was curled and her dress nice and the look on her face said she wanted to be anywhere but there as she stood awkwardly next to Lex, who she hadn't gotten along with at first.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:15 pm
Another snort from the older sibling. He had, in fact, ******** his secretary. All three of them. After Chanda, he quit having secretaries.
The photo Claude pulled out earned a small giggle, and a large finger pointed at his younger self. "Dear God, Mother, what were you thinking?" His hair was buzzed when he was younger, because 'the sun may overheat you if you have long hair, Alexei Evan!' She'd put him in a Peanuts tie that sported Snoopy and Woodstock in Christmas hats, and a suit that was tailored to perfection - he was barely a teen. No stubble, not too gangly yet. God, he looked so gross.
"What the photographer didn't capture - or refused to, I take it, were the hate filled glances I gave your dad." Lex snorted, analyzing the picture more closely. Lex was incredibly close to his mother, as far away from Mr. Morgan as he could be. The distance between he and Claudia at that point was palpable, but would disappear by the next year. "I despised him for a few years, you know."
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:42 pm
"I despised him all through childhood." She replied, her tone indicating that it was more than alright he only did it for a few years. She took a sip of her coffee, and then placed the photo off to the side of the box. She jerked her head towards it, glancing up at Lex. "Your turn." She said. His turn to pick out a photo, because that's how it was going to be. The pictures were in an unorganized cluster...so what he'd pull out next could have been from any time.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:44 pm
"Good thing we learned to be polite about our hatred, hm?" Lex smirked through another sip of coffee, placing his hand on the top photo and gingerly turning it around. These photos were at least 20 years old, if Claude had pilfered them from his mother's albums.
The picture showed the both of them, two years after the Christmas photo, on their first day of school. Lex was entering his Freshmen year, and Claudia into the third grade. He was tall, gangly, face covered in pimples and sporting a far too flashy designer shirt with a name splattered across it. Claudia was in frills and bows and curls that Ms. Jamil had spent much time and tears on getting her in. Claudia was clutching onto her stepbrother's leg, with Lex faking like he didn't enjoy it, because ugh little sisters are so not cool.
"Ha, wow. That dress was dirty when you came home, mother was furious. But hey, you never had to wear frills and lace again." He smiled, passing the photo to her with a chuckle.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 8:18 pm
"We were?" Claude feigned surprise, but knew better. Of course they had. It had been something of a game too. They played it well, very well, and then laughed about it when they were alone in private.
She peered at the photo, taking it in, smirking. "Damn straight. During recess I log rolled down the hill the entire time. Then I played pretend Pirates in the sandbox because I never wanted to wear anything like that again." She pointed at him in the photo. "This is blackmail material. The ugly duck turned into the beautiful swan." She teased, and then decided to keep it rolling by pulling up another picture.
Claude stared at it for a moment with a flat expression.
"I teased you too soon." She flipped it around to show him. She and Lex were standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, arms over each others shoulders. She was almost to highschool, smiling, braces, and starting to hit that awkward gangly stage where she grew like a weed, while Lex was starting to mature out of his.
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 1:22 pm
Lex snorted, looking away for a moment from the picture of himself as an awkward and gangly teen. Claudia was right, though - that would be the perfect blackmail. Ami would find some way to incorporate it into her insults, or worse; Evan would know. He'd rather be punched in the face again than teases about his teenage appearance by Evan.
Another sip of coffee and a bright smile at the next picture pulled. "Ah, our Peresian holiday. That was a relief." Lex sighed, easing more comfortably into his chair and letting go more of his formal appearances. It was just Claude, after all, and this was their time to be siblings again and not coworkers. "Not the only ugly duckling that grew into a swan." He chuckled, tapping specifically at Claude's braces. Lex hadn't had them, and had teased Claudia about them since day 1.
"I remember your father practically begging me to go with you. He wanted me out of his hair so badly. He hated how smart I got with him." Lex remembered it all quite fondly, the broad smile that lit his cheeks saying plainly so.
"Remember when we went to that cafe and you practically had to drag the waitress away from me? I still think she would have rode me on that table." Lex laughed, his usual small chuckle giving way to a more familiar booming racket that Claude was familiar with.
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