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 Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 4:42 pm
Mother's Day was usually a great time to get orders, and had Arias' been at his bakery today, he was certain that he'd be busy as hell. But, being pushed from two sides, here he was—at home—with his family. He'd been overworking himself, so the other employees nearly shooed him off the property (unfortunate, given that he lived upstairs), but thankfully he'd wound up at his mother's house—right where she'd wanted him, anyway.
He hadn't even bothered to unpack his bag yet; he and Carlee had just waved their mother and father off for dinner.
Arias had insisted he would be fine to look after his younger sister—not that she was at an age where she really needed babysitting, but it was nice to feel like it was important for him to be there for her. Of course, their parents were just pulling out of the driveway and he had no idea what he was going to do to feed the two of them.
He turned from the window when the car was out of sight and glanced at his little sister. "…So, two questions. First—what do you want for dinner, and second—what did you get mom?"
…Because he'd scraped together some pretty pathetic gifts, but the woman had given him next to nothing to work with—telling him to come over and spend the weekend with the rest of the family didn't feel like a gift when he was just as happy to be here as she was happy to have him.
While he loved Carlee dearly, Arias was still her big brother and he still had a decent height advantage; as he walked to the kitchen to see if there was anything to scrape together, he ruffled her hair.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 6:08 pm
Carlee was so happy to be able to spend the evening with Arias. It was literally the best treat she could think of, the night could only be made better by…”Hot Dogs, Arias. Grilled and crispy, how could you even ask? You know that is my most favorite thing ever in the whole world…Also, I want you to make your potato chips…The really crispy ones that you make with the lots of salt? You are the best cook ever.”
And that was literally to be expected, he was a fantastic baker and had a bakery and was just…magical.
“Mom bought lots of potatoes when she went to the store the other day, and I don’t think she’d miss a few if you made me some chips!”
She was hungry and her stomach rumbled as she continued to talk about the food.
“I didn’t get mom anything…but I did make her something.” The brunette ran off into her room, coming back a moment later with a box. “See?” She opened it up and pulled out a birdhouse made of sticks and glue and glitter. Clearly this was something she had been working on for quite a long time.
“Do you think she’ll like it?”
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 7:08 pm
"Chips take time," Arias warned as she ran off, but he had already started to make himself comfortable in the kitchen. It might have been a few years since he lived here, but his mother hadn't changed one bit and everything seemed to be right where it used to be. In his sister's absence he hastened to collect what he needed for their dinner. When Carlee came back, he drew away from his preparations to properly examine the birdhouse. He looked intently at it for a time, but a grin quickly split across his face.
"How could she not? Look at how much detail you worked to put into this—it must have taken you days! My present will never compare. After all my years of hard work, you'll finally be the favorite child. I'm heartbroken, Carlee."
He turned back to the potatoes he'd been slicing, but he was still smiling. "I made her some cupcakes and got her a trip to the spa, but. She's so hard to shop for," he sighed. "I'm the worst at presents. I don't think I'll ever get married, you know. Anniversary presents would just destroy me, I don't think I could handle that year after year."
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 7:09 pm
Carlee snorted at him. “Arias, I’ve always been the favorite child...this will just make sure that they love me for beyond forever.” She stuck out her tongue and pulled the birdhouse close, looking at it so fondly. “It took me three weeks, actually. I had to find all the sticks and get it all put together...and there are eleven layers of glitter on there just so it really sparkles, you know? Plus I earned a badge for it, so there’s that. You know how I feel about badges.”
The girl paused, listening to what Arias got her. A trip to the spa? Mom loved the spa...that wasn’t even fair. “You have money, so of course you can buy mom things...I’m still just a kid and you refuse to let me come work in your bakery so I can start getting money...so that’s not fair. Jerk. And you better get married and have some kids so I can be the best Auntie in the whole world...you know that’s what I want!”
And his kids would be scouts and it would be the best...she could mentor them and let them earn all the badges and sell all the cookies.
“You’re great with presents, so don’t even talk like that. You’re so dumb. But I love you.”
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 3:33 pm
The faintest look of sadness flashed in Arias' eyes; his brows knit worriedly and his lip pursed in a tight line. The expression was fleeting though, as though he couldn't bear to let anyone see it. He didn't want it to exist.
"Careful, you're starting to sound like Mom, now. All this talk of marriage and kids. I'd hate to disappoint the both of you. I'm already getting so old, I might just never find anyone. And never have to worry about Anniversary presents. Oh, or birthday presents. Christmas would be awful with kids. Even with money," he said, trying to lighten the mood. He'd gotten himself into the whole mess anyway, so if he could talk himself in, he could talk himself out.
"…And I'd have to have a favorite child. Ah, no. No, it's probably best I don't have any children. —You know I was the favorite for a few years before you were born at least, don't you? …But, if I don't have any children, you'll get to be my favorite child, too. So I'll just have to dote on you instead, how's that?"
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 4:08 pm
Carlee laughed. “Mom just wants grandkids, you know that...she misses having babies around...she’s really hoping that you’ll find someone soon, you know!”
The girl darted out of the room for a minute, returning when she had put the birdhouse away. “So...I do like the fact that I’m your favorite child...because then you spoil me completely, and you know that’s my favorite too, Arias.”
She moved close and snuggled against him, hugging him tightly. “Even if I don’t get to be an auntie, the most important thing is that you’re happy, and you know that, right? Mom thinks so too.”
Arias was her brother...him being happy was the most important thing in the world...because he was the only brother she was ever gonna have...so she had to cherish him forever.
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 4:11 pm
Arias had been hard at work with his sister gone; his thoughts had been repeating in his head and he was trying to distance himself from the rut he had put himself in. "Eh?" he asked out of instinct; he slowly lowered his arm to wrap around her. "I mean," he seemed thoughtful; her words carried heavy meaning, though he wasn't sure if she had even an inkling of what she was saying to him or if she was just so sweet an innocent.
Probably sweet and innocent; he couldn't imagine his sister as anything but.
"…I mean," he continued with a bit more conviction. "I am happy. As long as you two are happy, I'll always be happy. Well—and dad, too, but I don't get badgered about having babies from him. Honestly, I'd think you'd be grossed out at the idea of me having kids," he said slowly, hoping that would sink in and draw her away from the idea. "I mean, they don't just fall out of the sky, you know…"
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 6:27 pm
The girl giggled.”I know they don’t fall out of the sky...but that’s okay. Don’t feel bad if you don’t want babies, Arias! You’re such a silly goof. And we’ll always be happy so long as you’re around.”
Carlee hugged him tightly again, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
“Now, you finish up dinner, I have some stuff to work on in my room! Call me when it’s done and we can eaaaaattttttt!”
She ran to the doorway and laughed. “Maybe you and me can even go patrolling later...I did meet a patrol buddy and she’s super nice, so that’s good!”
The girl ran out of the kitchen before he could protest...or say anything at all, really...she didn’t want to argue about patrolling with him, not when he seemed so kind of upset about not wanting babies. It wasn’t a good time...especially if he really did think she was his baby!
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 6:39 pm
Arias laughed as she left, but it wasn't as delighted as he wished. It sounded the part, but when he was sure she was out of earshot, he just sighed. Maybe it was about the marriage, or the babies, or the fact that she wanted to go patrol. He had a bad habit on focusing on the bad though; he had so many good things lined up in front of him and it was ridiculous to let a few bad things eat him up the way they did.
If he could have changed anything about himself, it would have been that.
But he couldn’t change that, and he didn't have the faintest idea on where he ought to begin even if he could.
So he smiled until it felt right, and he kept cooking, because he was going to have a good time this weekend, and he was going to enjoy life.
That was something he could assure. That was something he could make happen.
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