Who: Shoshana, Phoenix, Zoe (Beerrito), Lorin, Claire and Aaron (alpha lyrae)
Where: The Arygris family's apartment in Durem
When: 4PM on a Saturday in October
Weather: Delightfully cool and calm
Where: The Arygris family's apartment in Durem
When: 4PM on a Saturday in October
Weather: Delightfully cool and calm
- - - - -
Quote:
The Argyris trio had settled in quite nicely over the past couple of days. It had been very quiet, owing to the fact that Phoenix had decided to refrain from inviting everyone over until Shoshana had been given some time to adjust to her new home. He hadn’t kept her birth a complete secret, but he had kept the information away from his family for now. He felt guilty about it, but he wasn’t sure introducing them immediately would be the best course of action.
Shoshana had been adjusting splendidly, however, and Phoenix was ready to start introducing her to people. The Frei had surprised him with how comfortable she seemed to be. So long as there was always someone there to answer her questions, she seemed fine. And Zoe seemed more than happy to oblige.
The girls were in the kitchen now, and Zoe was showing Shoshana some of her things from school. Phoenix had slipped away to the patio outside, where he dialed Aaron’s number eagerly. He leaned against the wall enclosing the patio, glancing over his shoulder through the window where he could see his daughters talking.
-----
Aaron was soaking up the early fall weather, still blessedly warm by Gambino standards, acoustic guitar in his lap. Claire had taken Lorin shopping; try as they might to make use of some of the old clothes in storage, Lorin was in desperate need of clothing for the turn of the seasons). This left Aaron to his own devices once his work was done - he was pleased he had been able to get away for a day and telecommute rather than make the drive into Durem, busy as Holmes Produce was. He strummed absently, dancing between a G chord and a C, when the phone on the table buzzed.
His face broke into a wide smile at the ID and he swiped to accept the call. “Hey!”
-----
Phoenix only wished that he could have done this in person, so that he could give the whole show. “Aaron,” he said dramatically into the phone. “I've made a grave error.”
-----
Aaron leaned back in his chair, guitar in lap and one eyebrow quirked. He did not know whether or not to be genuinely concerned and settled on a neutral ground. “What would that be?”
-----
A smile crept onto Phoenix's face. “Zoe has a new sister.” He continued speaking in over dramatic tones. “And she's a teenager.”
-----
It took Aaron a second to comprehend what Phoenix was saying, and when he did he straightened in his chair. “No way.” He laughed joyously. “No s**t, man? She’s here? Congratulations!”
-----
“She's here!” The laugh that came was ecstatic, but it cracked with the emotion that forced through. He covered his mouth, clearing his throat in an attempt to compose himself. “She's finally here, Aaron.”
-----
“That’s awesome, man, that’s great news!” Aaron’s hand came down on his thigh in excitement. “What’s she like, how’s she settling in? I bet Zoe’s having the time of her life right now.”
-----
He tried once to speak before having to stop himself again, stifling the sounds of his struggle. “She's doing great, man.” When he finally spoke he still sounded choked. “It's like they've been together forever. You guys have to meet her!”
-----
Despite knowing Phoenix for years, it still always surprised him how emotional he was. They were still getting to know each other better, but to hear the emotion in his voice only further confirmed that he was a very genuine person. “Yeah, you bet we want to meet her! Lorin’ll be over the moon when we tell him.” His fingers itched to text Claire and tell her the good news, get something worked out. “When would be good for you? Claire and I will get things hammered out over here.”
-----
Phoenix glanced over his shoulder at the girls again. “Are you guys free this Saturday?” The excitement at getting everyone together bubbled over, and he felt the tears subsiding. At least for now. “We can have dinner here!”
-----
“That works out perfectly, pretty sure we don’t have any plans.” Aaron rested his hand on the acoustic in his lap. “I’ll double check to be sure but that sounds great. I know Claire is dying to try your food.” Aaron had raved to her enough times about Ambrosia’s cooking. “They’re out shopping but I’ll get back to you officially, but everything sounds great over here.” He grinned. “Should we stop by around 4?”
-----
“Sounds like a plan, Stan,” Phoenix replied sing-song, sliding open the glass door to the apartment. He made a mental note to be absolutely certain there was acceptable food for Lorin. “We’ll see you then!”
-----
“See you then!” Aaron agreed, and once the line cut out, he could only smile down at the phone for a moment before swiping over to text Claire the good news. Lorin was going to be ecstatic.
Shoshana had been adjusting splendidly, however, and Phoenix was ready to start introducing her to people. The Frei had surprised him with how comfortable she seemed to be. So long as there was always someone there to answer her questions, she seemed fine. And Zoe seemed more than happy to oblige.
The girls were in the kitchen now, and Zoe was showing Shoshana some of her things from school. Phoenix had slipped away to the patio outside, where he dialed Aaron’s number eagerly. He leaned against the wall enclosing the patio, glancing over his shoulder through the window where he could see his daughters talking.
-----
Aaron was soaking up the early fall weather, still blessedly warm by Gambino standards, acoustic guitar in his lap. Claire had taken Lorin shopping; try as they might to make use of some of the old clothes in storage, Lorin was in desperate need of clothing for the turn of the seasons). This left Aaron to his own devices once his work was done - he was pleased he had been able to get away for a day and telecommute rather than make the drive into Durem, busy as Holmes Produce was. He strummed absently, dancing between a G chord and a C, when the phone on the table buzzed.
His face broke into a wide smile at the ID and he swiped to accept the call. “Hey!”
-----
Phoenix only wished that he could have done this in person, so that he could give the whole show. “Aaron,” he said dramatically into the phone. “I've made a grave error.”
-----
Aaron leaned back in his chair, guitar in lap and one eyebrow quirked. He did not know whether or not to be genuinely concerned and settled on a neutral ground. “What would that be?”
-----
A smile crept onto Phoenix's face. “Zoe has a new sister.” He continued speaking in over dramatic tones. “And she's a teenager.”
-----
It took Aaron a second to comprehend what Phoenix was saying, and when he did he straightened in his chair. “No way.” He laughed joyously. “No s**t, man? She’s here? Congratulations!”
-----
“She's here!” The laugh that came was ecstatic, but it cracked with the emotion that forced through. He covered his mouth, clearing his throat in an attempt to compose himself. “She's finally here, Aaron.”
-----
“That’s awesome, man, that’s great news!” Aaron’s hand came down on his thigh in excitement. “What’s she like, how’s she settling in? I bet Zoe’s having the time of her life right now.”
-----
He tried once to speak before having to stop himself again, stifling the sounds of his struggle. “She's doing great, man.” When he finally spoke he still sounded choked. “It's like they've been together forever. You guys have to meet her!”
-----
Despite knowing Phoenix for years, it still always surprised him how emotional he was. They were still getting to know each other better, but to hear the emotion in his voice only further confirmed that he was a very genuine person. “Yeah, you bet we want to meet her! Lorin’ll be over the moon when we tell him.” His fingers itched to text Claire and tell her the good news, get something worked out. “When would be good for you? Claire and I will get things hammered out over here.”
-----
Phoenix glanced over his shoulder at the girls again. “Are you guys free this Saturday?” The excitement at getting everyone together bubbled over, and he felt the tears subsiding. At least for now. “We can have dinner here!”
-----
“That works out perfectly, pretty sure we don’t have any plans.” Aaron rested his hand on the acoustic in his lap. “I’ll double check to be sure but that sounds great. I know Claire is dying to try your food.” Aaron had raved to her enough times about Ambrosia’s cooking. “They’re out shopping but I’ll get back to you officially, but everything sounds great over here.” He grinned. “Should we stop by around 4?”
-----
“Sounds like a plan, Stan,” Phoenix replied sing-song, sliding open the glass door to the apartment. He made a mental note to be absolutely certain there was acceptable food for Lorin. “We’ll see you then!”
-----
“See you then!” Aaron agreed, and once the line cut out, he could only smile down at the phone for a moment before swiping over to text Claire the good news. Lorin was going to be ecstatic.
