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 Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 4:24 pm
He'd opted to spend his last night as an eighteen year old with his best friend in the entire world. She just so happened to be his older sister - semantics - so when Alrik Rey woke up on January fifteenth as Destiny City's newest nineteen year old, Penelope Rey would be the first to celebrate the self-declared holiday with him.
Eyes opened and he stared at the ceiling of the guest bedroom-turned-Ali's-room-when-he-was-there-room. A lot of things had changed over the last few years. He'd graduated. He'd found a job. He was, slowly but surely, turning into a Real Adult that would soon be responsible for Real Adult things.
As it was tradition for this particular day however, he announced loudly, voice carrying out into the hallway for his sibling's benefit.
"Pizza for breakfast!"
Some things, regardless of age, never seemed to change.
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:01 pm
Penelope had grown accustomed to the fact that when he was able to, her brother crashed at her apartment more often than not. Sometimes it was aggravating, but today was an exception simply because of the day it was, or had been.
As of midnight, her younger brother was nineteen.
It was a wondrous thing in itself, because they were still as close as ever even if she disapproved of his girlfriend (gag). It meant more than he probably realized, for Penelope to know that she was always going to be able to rely on him and that, maybe, somethings didn't change.
"Do we really have to do pizza?" She groaned, peeling her blankets off and sliding out of bed to join the overeager younger Rey. It was what they always did but that didn't mean she couldn't whine and hope for something else.
"I make killer french toast you know."
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:12 am
"You can make french toast tomorrow," he snorted (and, in fact, would ask her to make french toast tomorrow for it was indeed a killer breakfast), "But I've earned this breakfast for suffering nineteen years so far."
It took a fair amount of effort to actually climb his way out of the bed, tossing back the blankets haphazardly as if he were twelve and not, in fact, newly nineteen. He already had his afternoon marked off for a particularly Bright person but the morning was dedicated to lounging around with his other favorite woman.
Bare feet padded their way across the room and into the hallway, messy blonde hair turning as he glanced towards her bedroom. He could already hear her moving around, which was a plus because he wasn't about to clean up the royal mess he was gonna make in her kitchen.
After all, it was his day.
Making a beeline for the fridge, he pulled out the premade frozen pizza from the freezer and then promptly began scavenging through the fridge drawers for various toppings to add on top of their soon-to-be breakfast.
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:56 am
"Hmph." Penelope huffed, socked feet padding over to the stove to set it to preheat while her brother retrieved the pizza they'd picked up the night before. "Fine but only because it's your birthday."
The amount of times they consumed pizza because Pen caved to the begging of her brother was ridiculous. She chose to be ignorant of the numbers.
Inside the fridge was also a plain white box that clearly housed Alrik's favorite dessert, for later, which they'd gone together to pick out. His present was tucked away in her bedroom and she would retrieve it later, after 'breakfast'.
Fetching the kettle from the counter, the older Rey filled it with water and set it on the stove to warm while she fished out a cup for herself and selected her preferred morning tea. Glancing over at her brother she seemed to debate what she was offering.
"Hot beverage this morning? Or are you going to default to your preferred Dew of choice?" It had been another thing they picked up the night before.
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:36 am
"Nah, I'm hot enough as it is." The tall blonde offered his sister a s**t-eating grin as he dumped a handful of extra cheese from the bag onto the frozen masterpiece. They'd picked up a "fresh" pizza from one of the local places that made it and fridged 'em - not quite like a pizzeria's pie but definitely better than grocery store quality.
Clearly, though, it lacked the amount of toppings that Alrik found suitable for normal pizza. "I'll grab a Dew, wanna get this puppy in the oven first. You want chips on your side or nah?"
Pepperoni and sausage pieces were added on top, despite there already being ample meat on it. He'd taken a few pot shots at his older sibling when they'd ordered it - don't you appreciate some good meat in your mouth, Pen? - but potato chips weren't exactly something the pizza shop offered with their topping list.
Turning around, he plucked the pinned bag from the counter top and unfolded it, savoring the smell of the salty carbs before grabbing a handful and scattering them across the surface.
"So, you get me something good for my day, yeah?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2018 1:08 pm
She rolled her eyes at him once, then a second time, and once more for a third and exaggerated time in which she elbowed his stomach when he got close enough. "Please, you just a got the attention of a girl, who used to be a stripper for the first time in the last six months. You're nothing but hot air."
Alrik was much taller than her, at least six inches, but Pen stretched on her tiptoes when she reached up to ruffle his hair.
"Um, ew. God, I don't know how you can shove that garbage down your throat." Sometimes, Pen seriously questioned her brother's taste.
She'd taught him better than that, she was certain but he still liked so much trash. Which, was typical teenage boy, but still.
"Dunno, if you're not gonna behaved like the civilized person I know you are maybe I won't give it to you." She was bluffing, but her poker face was a good one.
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2018 3:44 pm
"Hey, lay off Cass - she's good people."
The bag was crumpled up when he was finished, greasy fingers wiping themselves across his pajama pants while his sister took advantage of his distracted state to ruffle his already chaotic looking hair. He grinned again, moving to take advantage of her shortness by wrapping his arms around her from behind and giving his only sibling as big of a brotherly hug as he could manage.
"C'mon Penny," he whined, moving her just enough to scoot her out of the way of the oven. Releasing his hold, he picked up the pizza just in time for the oven to ding. "I've behaved. In this world and, y'know, the other."
Eyebrows waggled as the pie was slid into the oven, the door closing behind it. Save for the slip-up with the Captain senshi, he'd been on his p's and q's when it came to being both teenage Alrik Rey and the up 'n coming Captain Epidote.
Or tried, at least.
Grabbing for the fridge door, his next course of action was to grab one of the Dews from the plastic six-pack they'd bought the night prior. "You can't keep presents from your favorite brother, you have too big of a heart to be cruel."
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Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 7:36 am
"Hmph."
Penelope didn't care what he brother had to say, she didn't like Cass and she felt like she had every right to. The girl was Trouble, with a capital T and her brother was too inexperienced and naive to see it.
And he wouldn't listen to reason. (i.e her)
Still, the bear hug seemed to soothe her for the time being and she watched as the abomination was slid into the oven. She would have preferred french toast and eggs, or even fruit and yogurt over pizza for breakfast.
But, Alrik was the birthday boy so she would be a good sister and deal.
"Don't think I've forgotten how you keep scaring off my targets." She scolded, waggling a finger at him before rolling her eyes. "Okay, okay. You're right. I wouldn't keep you from your present."
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Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 8:46 am
He offered the biggest puppy dog eyes he could manage when she brought up the embarrassment of his prior disgraces.
"You know I was just trying to look out for my favorite older sister." Cue the pout as he unscrewed the cap of his drink before taking a sip, then another. The Dew was planted on the counter before his fingers began to strum themselves across the surface. "I only have one and I want her to stick around for as long as I can. Her baby brother can't things without her - she's the brains to his brawn, after all."
Well... he wasn't sure how much brawn he was but at the end of the day, it was more than hers and he liked to think that she needed him as much as he needed her. It was true that Stella was the clever one and that Epidote wouldn't have gotten to the level he was at without her scheming and direction... but he wasn't terrible, either.
At least, in his mind.
"So what is it? Do I get it now? Pizza's gonna be at least fifteen, y'know - it'd be a good way to pass the time."
Hint, hint.
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Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:53 am
"Only sister," she countered, letting her face fall into a resting b***h one for a moment. She wasn't able to hold it, because Alrik always made her crack not matter how good her masks were with other people. "Yeah, yeah. You're hopeless without me, even when you ignore my advice."
She wasn't letting the Cass thing go and probably wouldn't ever.
"Don't worry, you know I wouldn't leave you behind." It was, after all, why she'd dragged him into this mess in the first place. For all her faux care of other people, she was incredibly selfish and she refused to go it alone, without her best friend.
"Alright, alright," she sighed, moving to exit the kitchen and disappear into her room. When she returned there was a stack of neatly wrapped presents held together by a bow.
It was set on the kitchen's island counter top.
When Alrik opened it, he would find a copy of the latest game he couldn't shut up about, a small bound copy of the terrible fanfiction he wrote with a customized sketch cover from some artist she found on tumblr, and beneath that a nicely made leather bound journal. The last gift wouldn't mean as much to him as it might've to her, but inside was a letter handwritten by Penelope in her neat script detailing how grateful she was to have him as her brother and partner and how she looked forward to chronicling their achievements together.
In fact, the second page had a hand drawn achievement emblem that said Achievement Unlocked: Birthday Boy 2018.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 12:45 am
Eyes got wide and greedy when he saw her return with the stack of presents in her arms. He'd been on his best behavior and spent what time she'd left the room by putting up all of his extra toppings and accessories, clearing the counter for the pizza to come.
“Have I told you how you're the best sister ever? Because you're totally the best sister ever.”
Hands reached out to assist her in unloading them onto the island, eager fingers moving to make quick work of the carefully wrapped paper and ribbons.
The video game elicited a crow from him, his excitement almost palpable as he flipped from cover to back, eyes drinking in ever word. Pen was an excellent listener - better than he was, at least - and he already knew how he was going to spend the upcoming week.
The next gift earned even wider eyes as he stared at the cover of a buff looking teenager that looked suspiciously like himself. Upon glancing at the title and content, he could barely suppress his glee as he turned to share the book with his companion (despite, y'know, her being the one to give it to him). It was clear the book was even a bigger hit than the game, Alrik propping it in his lap before attacking the next.
He stared at the journal in mild confusion (because after All, Pen was the one who did all of the writing) but flipping through the assumed blank book revealed his “achievement”, drawing out a smile from the puzzled look. The letter would wait until he was alone - god only knew he could only take so much mush at once.
“You've got taste,” he teased, leaning over to sling one arm over her shoulder and drag her into a hug. “These are the best. Epic loot, even.”
A chaste kiss to the top of her head, a rare affection from the older Rey, then the teenager was going back to flip through his “book”, admiring his ab-tastic cover over and over again.
“Pizza and presents. You know how to do a birthday RIGHT, Penny.”
It wasn't exactly an outright thank you but the gratitude was clear in his reaction.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 8:00 am
Penelope waved her hand at him. "Yeah, yeah. I know you're just a**-kissing now." Still, she watched with bated breath for him to tear through the wrapping paper she had taken the time to fold into something neatly presentable.
She couldn't hide her grin when his face lit up at the sight of his fanfiction come to life in the form of a flimsy paperback book. That one had been the most work, with hours spent finding the right artist at an affordable price that she could turn into a book cover.
She'd even added a summary for the back, to prove that she had taken the time to read the work even if she found it absolutely ridiculous.
"Nothing but the best for my partner in crime," she replied, clearly pleased about the way he responded to all of the work she had put into his gifts. When she cared, Penelope was the most thoughtful person.
"You can play the game, y'know, after the pizza's done if you want."
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 7:21 am
"Thanks, Mom," he teased her lightheartedly at her comment, the compromise sounding something that the elder Mrs. Rey would utter to her children. "Pizza, dessert and then video games."
He continued to thumb through the fanfic, taking up enough time that he almost missed the sound of the ding to the egg timer, signaling that the pizza masterpiece had finished cooking.
Whipping around to the oven, he grabbed the nearby mitts and tugged the molten cheesy delicious goodness from the depths of the kitchen inferno and placed it on the cooling rack before promptly attacking it with a knife. Slices were distributed, drinks were fetched and with another giant, appreciative hug from the birthday boy himself towards his older sibling, the two Rey children settled in to enjoy a wonderful morning together.
........ and then some video gaming.
...................and it was a lot of video gaming.
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