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"Yeah I imagine the vinegar is being used sparsely just to add a slight pickling." She thought aloud in response, before dismissing it and turning back to the conversation at hand.

She made a face at their choices of cook, but it was unlikely they saw it, as she was already facing the stove top again putting a steak in each of the 3 pans. 2 wells and 1 medium well. She'd be stuck there basting them in butter to make sure the lean meat didn't overcook.

"I hadn't made any in particular for tonight but I'm sure there is something that will appeal to you in the fridge."

While Aurora was fairly busy at the stove it gave Lallo, who tended to be the quietest of the family, an opening to fish. "Are you from Destiny City or did you move there like Aurora?" He'd already tapped Aurora pretty dry on information about DC and all the other places she'd stayed while at varying boarding schools.

Her hands clapped together once. A symbol of a job well done, a strange motion she'd begun to pick up in the semester that she did teacher's aiding at the elementary school. "Perfect. If you put it in the oven now everything should finish up close to the same time."

Placing three steaks on the griddle, Aurora went back to spooning butter over the steaks in the pans.

Lallo was listening with soft interest until the word Korea sounded, in which point his eyes snapped forward in full attention. He'd never met anyone from there before, it wasn't even really a place he'd read much on. "Korea huh? What was that like? It's practically a whole world away from here."

"Why don't you and Azzo start setting the table?" Maybe it'd save Azzo a couple of those twenty questions.

"Yeahh.. okay." He would have preferred to continue just sitting there but he got up dutifully upon the request, heading towards the cabinet that held all the dishes.

The sound of other people moving around the house could finally be heard. Doors opening and closing, boots on wood floors, the sound of running water and general rustling and shuffling.

But the click and clank of plates and silverware tapping the large table offered it's own special melodical accompaniment.

Lallo listened to intently as Azzo spoke, enough so that it kind of slowed his process, as he was more concerned with the words then arranging the place settings. When Azzo mentioned visiting Destiny City, he lit up again, turning to Aurora to try and beg her with his eyes. Luckily for her, her back was still turned to the boys, focused on the food.

Not that she didn't know better and feel his eyes on her back. She had a small, but very valid, concern that if Lallo came to visit DC he ran the risk of getting hurt or wrapped up in the drama and danger. But... there was the chance he wouldn't... and they could keep him safe. And how could she tell her baby brother no?

"Of course you can come visit us at some point. Maybe over the winter holiday?"

The three steaks on the griddle were pulled off, set aside to rest while she put the last three onto the griddle. They were probably 10 minutes or less out.

The next brother to join them was Chayton, and Chayton was by far the brother most excited by the prospect of this dinner. So much so that he almost seemed to strut into the kitchen when he entered, stealing Lallo's chair in the process. 6 years older than Lallo, he certainly looked the part, taller (he was even taller than Aurora by a couple inches), more muscular, his black hair styled in messy faux hawk.

Knee against the table, he rocked the chair back mildly, before his cheeky grin split calling out to Aurora. "I always knew you liked them snow white Rora. Too good for your own kind."

"This one looks like you might lose him in the snow though, good thing you're visiting in the summer."

The moment she realized which brother was speaking to her Aurora's shoulders had tightened, and as the actual words sounded, she turned shooting dagger at Chayton. "There aren't that many native Alaskians running around the lower states." She huffed, not really sure why she was even bothering responding. She knew quite well that his words were just in jest, that he was just trying to push her buttons.

"Azzo, don't bother listening to Chayton. Probably shouldn't talk to him either." She groused, shooting Chayton another 'behave yourself' glance. One that he promptly ignored.

"So. How long you been banging my sister?" He rocked, and grinned from ear to ear, absolutely eating up the fact that Aurora's spatula had just clattered across the ground. Oh he'd been prepping for this ALL DAY.

No no no no nooooo.. She was dying.

Azzo was doing his best as well, which almost made it worse. She couldn't just ignore it and Aurora wanted to crawl in a hole and promptly die. Her aggression was taken out on one of the steaks pressing the spatula down on it hard, watching the juices run out and sizzle.

Chayton's amusement was obvious as it was clear the two were getting flustered. "You're such a prude Rora." He picked further.

Azzo's answer and defense weren't bad, in fact deep down Chayton probably respected the answer. As much as he enjoyed screwing this his sister he did love and care about her. But a boy had to have some fun, especially after years of having his sister (who wasn't even a full year older than him!) try to lord over her and mother him.

"You can thank Aurora for raising me. I've had the joy of her lovely nagging voice since I was 6 years old." He chided playfully. His grin getting knocked off his face however as a hand slapped the back of his head.

"Don't talk like that in front of your younger brothers." A matter of fact statement from Tokala before he sat down next to Chayton.

"Well you can't win them all. 4 out of 5 good 'children' is pretty good odds." Having not one but two 'knights' Aurora was feeling a little better and a little less flustered. Even if they couldn't keep Chayton under control at least the appearance of Tokala could hopefully keep Bodaway from jumping in on Chayton's train of thought.

"Why don't you figure out where you'd like us to sit Azzo." She commented lightly. Preferably away from Chayton, maybe with Lallo or something.

She placed a medium rare steak in front of Tokala, and a well done one in front of Chayton. Complete with a stern 'I hope you choke on this' glare.

Chayton's grin returned sure enough, giving Tokala a roll of his eyes before rocking his chair back again. "Oh come on. You've got to let me have some fun. She's far too used to everyone just bowing down to her. I mean look at 'snow white'. Whipped and trained just like the rest of you."

He made sure to give Aurora a kiss face as she delivered his steak and her silent death stare.

And even Tokala couldn't contain himself at that, laughing out loud. "Do you really mean to tell me you ever thought she'd end up with someone that didn't let her do whatever she wanted?" It was good natured though. Being the second child Tokala had never had a desire to lead. He was happy to let Mato take all the glory and even when his younger sister had taken up the reins he'd never really minded that. Always pretty go with the flow. He was in fact, almost Aurora's second hand when it came to wrangling everyone as children. Calm and cool almost all the time, except when it really mattered and he was really needed.

"What else are we eating?" Tokala asked, trying to help sway the conversation.

Azzo's smug smile received a happy nod from Aurora. And she slipped past him to pull the tray of vegetables out of the oven and pop open the bread maker.

When her father had been around they had followed the 'head of the table' formation, but since his passing.. it'd been a bit more of a free for all.

Waiting for Azzo to choose a spot she set his steak in front of him and her own rare one alongside his, before answering Tokala's question with the arrival of the other dishes. The full pan of vegetables sat at the middle of the table with two large spoons, the fruit set on the right, and the bread set to left with a stick of butter and a few small knives.

"Are we waiting for everyone?"

"She let you touch the food?" Tokala seemed genuinely impressed, Lallo expression as well also gave hint to the fact that it wasn't something that commonly happened.

"Oh they'll be here momentarily." Tokala added, waving his hand back behind his shoulder. "I already called Mato when we came in and he was on his way."

Aurora was hovering, waiting to put the right steak in front of each person, which meant she was stuck up until everyone arrived. However she took the opportunity to stand behind Azzo, squeezing his shoulder light with her hand. "Azzo is very helpful in the kitchen."

"He's also really talented and sweet."

Chayton had his fun teasing Azzo, but it was well time he moved on to Aurora, finally settling his chair fully on the ground and pulling up. He was dishing the sides onto his plate and Tokala's as he turned his attention to Azzo, smirking. "So has Rora told you about the time she almost burnt down the whole kitchen when she was 9?"

"Or how she spent a whole summer afraid of the buffalos after one of them sneezed all over her?" He glanced upward to make sure she was shifting uncomfortably at the prospect of embarrassing stories, and she was.

Lallo seemed interested in talking to Azzo more, but his with Chayton prattling he simply resigned himself to poking at the food on his plate, waiting for everyone else. Luckily the wait wasn't much longer.

Despite moving away Mato didn't bother knocking when he arrived, simply entering the place that they all pretty much still considered to be his home. It was easy enough to find everyone given the noise and ruckus coming from the kitchen. He filled the door frame, surveying the kitchen before finally entering and making his way over to Aurora. She looked like a doll as she hugged him, tiny and delicate compared to his mass. And then he dragged out the empty chair on the other side of Azzo, sitting down there. He was obviously sizing the young man up, but his extended his hand atleast in greeting. "Mato."

Before Mato could fully finish settling in Bodaway and Lila appeared as well, shuffling to fill the remaining few seats.

It was beginning to get chaotic. 8 people gathered around the large oval table, multiple conversations going on at once. It was a familiar and almost comforting chaos for Aurora, but she worried Azzo might get overwhelmed. Maybe it was good practice though. For the day they had a litter of their own children livening up their kitchen table.

"Here you are." She handed out the last few plates, making sure everyone had everything they needed before she stopped beside Azzo, giving one last final introduction. "Azzo this is: Mato, Bodaway, Tokala, Chayton, Lila, and Lallo." She motioned to each as she spoke their name and then finally settled into her own seat.

Well.. this would likely be fun.

"Eat up before it gets cold." Maybe she'd get lucky and they'd actually spend most of the time stuffing their faces.

"Well.. contrary to popular belief the farm isn't the only place that matters." She mused matter of factly. Defending her words from before. "I mean it is an important job and they are good skills to have, but there are plenty of other important jobs and thing to do with your life that have nothing to do with with farming and ranching."

"I think I'll have a little bit of everything tonight." She responded to his question, holding her plate out towards his offering. For the time being she had an appetite. Only time would tell if that lasted.

Hearing his name Lallo perked up a bit, nodding slightly but enthusiastically at Azzo's offer before turning to Lila. Despite being a step mother Lila was extremely close to the youngest child (he had been only 6 when his father remarried and Aurora left). The two seemed contented to talk quietly while they waited for the food to come to them, with Lallo filling her in on his day.

Bodaway, absent for most of Chayton's shenanegins, caught on to the conversation nonetheless as Azzo responded, piping up with amusement. "Oh man, there was so much snot. She was washing her hair for days."

This helped to re-rile Chayton's enthusiasm who chimed in again, nearly dying with laughter. "I swear she bought it for a whole week each time we told her she missed a spot and still had some on her!"

"Ewwww, not dinner appropriate!" Aurora whined unhappily.

"Dinner appropriate huh? Maybe we should tell her all about our day?" Chayton grinned mischeviously, his expression being mirrored on the face of younger Bodaway. Tokala, who had place himself strategically between the two, wrapped an arm around each brother giving them a squeeze. "Or we could just enjoy eating our food instead of wearing it."

As the group tussled lightly, chairs rattling Mato seemed unphased, simply turning to look past Azzo at Aurora, knife slowly attacking his rare steak. "So. What have you been up to. I'd always assumed you'd be married the day you turned 18. Maybe even begged Dad to sign the papers before you were 18. Be up to about 3 kids by now." A piece of meat was popped into his mouth 'innocently'. It was not innocent or subtle.

"You know I've been busy with school." There was slight annoyance in her voice, because she knew that HE knew perfectly well what she'd been up to lately. She'd filled them in quite throughly over the past year about anything she could you know.. that didn't involve magic and monsters. So why he was bringing this up here and now was.. exasperating.