LOG: The family that drinks together

[baruthumos]

Who: Agent Texas, Omega Ai
What: Sibling bonding and alcohol
Where: The Eagle and Asp
When: Monday night (backdated)
Warnings: Alcohol


Omega gets to the bar before Tex, and he saves her a seat again. He orders himself a scotch, and for her the tequila she was drinking last time.

And then he waits his turn for her attention.

Comments

[baruthumos]

Omega shakes his head. Tex doesn't get it. He wants to look like he belongs with her. "Pink with five umbrellas? Why one, let alone five?"

[soldierinblack]

"Because some people prefer their drinks to be fashionable above all else," she jokes. "If you're around base more, I'll have to let you try some of my favorite beers."

[baruthumos]

"That could be interesting," Omega says. "The beer, not the fashionable drink with the five umbrellas. Who even came up with that?"

[soldierinblack]

"I was joking," she answers flatly. "And I keep some around. Helps me unwind after a job."

[baruthumos]

"What kind of beer?" Omega doesn't know anything about beer. He's sort of aware how it smells, but that's it. But apparently Tex is going to teach him.

[soldierinblack]

"Dark, usually. I have a brand of porter I import for when I really want to celebrate," she answers. "What do you normally drink?"

[baruthumos]

"Diet coke," Omega says. "Ever since the accident." It's cheap, and he likes the bubbles.

[soldierinblack]

Diet coke? Well, whatever floats his boat. Though it makes her wonder about his drinking with her.

"I'll keep some around for you then. And you know you don't have to drink because I am, right?"

[baruthumos]

Omega blinks at her. "I don't like to drink in front of the littles. When was I not in front of the littles or about to go home to the littles?" He doesn't have strong feelings about alcohol either way, in reasonable amounts.

"I actually got annoyed at the twins today. I spent enough time with them today that I got annoyed. Do you know the last time that happened?"

[soldierinblack]

If he's spending time with them, that means Delta is getting a break. She's not sure if that's better or worse than how they had things working before.

"When was the last time that happened?"

[baruthumos]

"I don't know. That's how long." Omega grins. "They're starting to give me trouble, too. That's good, it means they're not afraid I'll disappear if they misbehave. They know I'm going to be around, no matter what."

[soldierinblack]

"If you say so." She's still not sure how that's a good sign, but he sure seems to think it is. "How often are you looking after then now?"

[baruthumos]

Omega shrugs. "Whenever Delta isn't, pretty much. We don't mind, most things I can put off until he can watch them or vice-versa. They're not babies anymore either, they don't need constant supervision. So I've been reading Sigma's textbooks while they play restaurant or whatever."

[soldierinblack]

"His chemistry textbooks?" Not her idea if a good read but she's not the one suffering through that. "If there's ever an afternoon where you both need to do something, let me know and I can try to watch them."

[baruthumos]

"Yes," Omega chirps. "Chemistry is part of the foundation. Do you know how antibiotics work? It's very exciting. They get inside bacteria, some of them, and when the bacteria go to divide, pop! They explode." He illustrates with a flick of his fingers. "That's chemistry. I can skip around to the interesting bits in the book, too.

He thinks about that for a second. "You know, you can just come over, we don't need to be busy. They really liked that movie. Iota has replicated the robot out of play-doh. It watches him sleep."

[soldierinblack]

She's just going to ignore all of that chemistry bullshit he spewed out at her. It's easier to focus on the part that actually matters

"I know, I'm trying. It's hard to know when I can be around reliably." She shrugs. "I want to take them out more, even if it's just to another movie and dinner. Glad the first one made a good impression."

[baruthumos]

"They didn't forget you," Omega says, because the tequila was stronger than he expected and it's finally hitting. "They're too young. But they like you. We all do."

[soldierinblack]

"Do they understand that I'm their sister?" she asks, a touch quieter than before. They've been told, but she's not sure it really hit home to them or if it ever would.

[baruthumos]

Omega draws circles in the condensation of the bar. "The twins and Theta understand that you are their sister, who lived somewhere else for a long time. It's not as hard as I imagine it would be for normal kids. We all just showed up at the house one day. Gamma..." He shakes his head. "I never know how much Gamma understands. He knows you're family, that you're Beta, but does he know you are the same Beta we used to argue about existing? I'm not sure he believes Alpha ever existed and wasn't just someone's imaginary friend."

That's what Omega thought for years. That Beta was his or Delta's imaginary friend that the Counselor didn't like for some reason. That's how he rationalized to himself what happened.

[soldierinblack]

"If I need to give him a punch in the arm to prove I'm real, let me know," she replies lightly and sighs. "Well, I'm glad they get that I'm their sister. Do they ask why I don't live at the house?"

[baruthumos]

"The twins do," Omega admits. "They're trying to fit another bed in their room for you. The others understand."

[soldierinblack]

There's a small smile at that mental image. "Let me know if they ever succeed. Delta was telling me your bed is usually empty because you sleep on the couch."

[baruthumos]

"No, sometimes I have things to do at night or I fall asleep on the couch after working all day," Omega says, "and since Theta wakes up if a lizard sneezes in Bjørndal, I stay there."

Why is Delta discussing his sleeping arrangements with Tex? Is he trying to move someone in on his couch? "Eta, especially, likes the idea of a sister. It wasn't a problem, before, but now she does like having another girl in the family. I think if she was older, it may have been an issue."

[soldierinblack]

"I'll try to be a good sister to her." Even if she's still figuring out what the hell a good sister even looks like. "I was thinking I could stay over some nights if there's space."

[baruthumos]

"You are a good sister," Omega says. "So just keep doing what you're doing. If you're staying over, I can be extra-sneaky and not wake Theta up. Or go crash on top of Epsilon. We can always make space for family."

It's been a while since he laid in bed and stared at Epsilon until the penguin woke up. That was always a fun game. Fun for Omega, at least.