Log: Tending the Twins

[ambitious_muse]

Who: Sigma Ai, Agent York (Native), any Ai siblings who are at home
What: Babysitting the little siblings during Delta's appointment
Where: Ai household
When: Friday morning (8 May)
Warnings: none

Before he picks up the twins from school, Sigma finds everything he should need. Paper, pencils, crayons, and even a few stickers, so they can decorate the room with "Get Well Delta" cards. Dishes, cups, and favorite juices. A rogue ball of string in case York wants to help the twins play the "secret agent" game that he proposed on their second date.

It's a lot for one morning of babysitting, but Sigma really wants this to go well. Delta needs it, and more importantly, he hasn't seen York since before finals. It's time to sit back, have fun, and pretend that nothing is wrong.

Thankfully, the twins are pretty docile by the time they get home. Both of them have been cranky in Delta's absence. Now, they just seem resigned. Sigma hopes York will help him cheer them up.

Comments

[depthlesslock]

Iota chees on his twin from the far side of the room as she picks her way through the threads.

'Nah. You've just never done this before.'

[ambitious_muse]

"Learning from the master," he says, squeezing York's side. "Though I don't think Louisiana would pay for this kind of lesson."

[depthlesslock]

'Pity, I'd say it's a good skill to have,' he returns the squeeze. 'Tell her it improves you spacial awareness and maneuverability.'

[ambitious_muse]

"She does want to teach me stealth," he admits.

Eta reaches the other side. "C'mon, Sig!" she calls.

[depthlesslock]

'Somehow, I'm not surprised,' he says. 'Now go on, show me how well you can slip through the threads.'

[ambitious_muse]

"Not surprised?" he says. "Oh fine, I'll ask later."

He steps forward and into the threads. It's easier this time, but he takes it slower, just to get the twins excited.

[depthlesslock]

York just grins and enjoys the view as Sigma works his way back through the threads.

[ambitious_muse]

Iota and Eta cheer and give him high fives when he successfully reaches the other side on his first try.

"Your turn," he calls back.

[depthlesslock]

York also cheers when Sigma makes it safely across, then starts picking his own way through again.

[ambitious_muse]

Sigma watches York's expression. He's so calm, as if he does this every day. Now that Sigma considers it, he probably does. It's fun to see this side of him, even if it's only a glimpse, and a very safe one at that.

[depthlesslock]

York makes it to the other side and accepts the high fives from the twins.

'How about we make it a bit harder?' he suggests.

[ambitious_muse]

"Yeah!" The twins say.

Sigma leans closer. "Tell me what to do," he says.

[depthlesslock]

York grins and taps Sigma on the nose. 'Wait here.'

He slips back out of the threads and goes to the crayon blx left on the kitchen table, finding three blue, three gold and three orange crayons. Then he goes back to the web and makes his way back to the others, scattering the crayons as she does so.

'Okay, now you have to pick up all crayons in your color before you can leave the threads,' he announces.

[ambitious_muse]

"That's tricky," Sigma says. "What about yours?"

Eta has already started toward her first crayon. Iota stands at the side, not so much waiting his turn as thinking.

[depthlesslock]

'Couldn't find three tan crayons,' he says, shrugging. 'This is mostly for them anyway.'

[ambitious_muse]

"Do I have to worry about you stealing mine?" he asks. Eta has retrieved the first crayon and she looks rather proud of herself.

[depthlesslock]

'Not if you get to them first,' he says, grinning widely. This hadn't been the original plan, but it'sa good Iidea. 'You get a head start.'

[ambitious_muse]

"I'm not supposed to wait my turn?" Sigma asks. Iota looks at them for permission to go.

[depthlesslock]

'Go whenever you want,' he says, gesturing for Iota to start.

[ambitious_muse]

"I think I'll wait for them," Sigma says. Eta has reached her second crayon. Iota scoots toward her on hands and knees and snatches up his first. "Don't want to inspire sibling rivalry just yet."

[depthlesslock]

'You mean more than what's already brewing,' he says with a smile as Eta and Iota try to beat the other to their third and final crayons.

[ambitious_muse]

"Maybe I just don't want to get beaten by my kid brother," Sigma says, grinning. "They'll come out even. Watch."

Sure enough, they both grab the third crayon at almost the exact moment. Another classic example of their weird twin connection.

[depthlesslock]

York chuckles. 'Proper twins are they?' he asks, only to watch as they both escape the threads to the other side of the room at the exact moment. 'That's awesome.'

[ambitious_muse]

"It's uncanny," Sigma says. "And if I had time, I would research it. But I have other distractions."

Speaking of which, he starts into the threads after the closest crayon. He'll get that one, then the far one, and double back for the one in the middle.

. . . Maybe. It depends how York moves.

[depthlesslock]

York counts to ten, then sets off after Sigma. He doesn't bother going for the first crayon as Sigma's already almost there, so he heads for the second one in a direction which will hopefully cut Sigma off from the third.