LOG: Welcome Home

[protective_logic]

Who: Ai Family (Native), Maine (Native), York (Native) [Mingle]
What: Maine has dinner with the Ai Family
Where: The New Ai Household
When: Wednesday 3/30, Evening
Warnings: None, will add as needed.

Per Sigma's suggestion, Delta's prompting, and Omega's invitation, tonight is the first night Maine is welcomed back into the lives of the Ais. Dinner is set for an hour after Maine is due to arrive, giving him plenty of time to socialize, and there are board, card, and video games out in the family room for before dinner if needed and after dinner indeed. Everything is ready for the friend to be welcomed back by a joyful family.

Comments

Right before dinner

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine hasn't been to the house before. Omega never asked for his help in moving; if he didn't know better, he'd think Delta was involved in that somehow. Now that he's here, he's not sure what to believe.

But. Omega invited him, and he offered to bring cornbread. So. Here he is. Someone, orient him, please.

Re: Right before dinner

[protective_logic]

The doorbell. The twins jump from the table with their coloring and rush the door. They're big enough to open it now, to reach the keypad, and they know that he's coming, and they have permission tonight. So Iota hits the button and Eta bounces happily and when the airlock opens the two rush forward to cling to Maine's legs.

"Maine!" they cheer together.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Well, that's the best greeting he could have hoped for.

"Hello," he says, beaming down at them. He sets the cornbread down on a flat surface so he can ruffle their hair.

[protective_logic]

"We should show him around," Eta grins at her twin as her hair is messed with.

"Can we show you?" Iota asks. "Everyone is upstairs. The only stuff down here is the laundry and room with the windows and toys and homework space, and Eppy's room. Oh, and the locked door. Everything is really upstairs."

Shyness isn't much in front of his loyalty to team yellow.

"Come on," Eta smiles. "Omega and Gamma are playing games. They won't notice us showing you."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Has Iota grown? He seems like much more of a chatterbox. "Yes, please." The cornbread should be safe here, with the syrup hanging in the bag at his elbow and the two most dangerous culprits hand in hand with him.

He doesn't ask about the locked door. Either they'll explain it or he'll ask Omega, though he's not sure why the family keeps doors locked inside, given their history.

[protective_logic]

"We should get that if that's food," Eta says, pulling Maine's hand. "The kitchen is upstairs. I can take it in there if you want."

The twins had a few careful talks with Delta in the week leading up to this, so that they understand the changes, why Maine has been gone, and why not to bother Delta with him. Not that they really get it. Eta gets that Maine and Delta don't hold hands anymore and talking about it a lot could make people sad, so they aren't supposed to say things.

What she doesn't know is that she might be implying where Delta is.

"We should show him the new bookcases built into the living room. It might be taller than Maine," Iota says in excitement.

"Nuh-uh," Eta counters at her twin. "Nothing is bigger than Maine."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Like to see the bookcases," Maine admits. "Then kitchen." Maybe they'll make enough noise that Delta will know they're coming.

Besides, he's curious to see how tall the twins think he is.

[protective_logic]

The twins all but t rush Maine up the stairs, pulled my him up and around the corner to the living room which has seven foot book cases built into the walls. The carpet gives way from there into a wooden floored dining room and a gap between the further cabinets, both hanging and floor, gives a brief glimpse isn't the kitchen and beyond to a window heavy nook.

"See, bigger than Maine."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

They are, in fact, bigger than Maine. He grins at the sight.

"Very tall," he says, reaching up to examine some of the titles.

[protective_logic]

"Meg and D say we're going to get more books," Eta informs the man, a bit upset that hte shelves are taller.

"This is our shelf," Iota says, pointing to a low one covered with kid's books. "The others use higher ones. But we're going to get taller too. I've grown two whole inches since Christmas."

"Meanie," Eta pouts. Until this the pair have been nearly the same height.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Have you?" Maine squats down to look at him, then smiles. The kid really is taller. How much did he miss?

No. He won't think of that. "Which book is your favorite?"

[protective_logic]

"Yeah," Iota says. "I have new pants."

"I got new dresses," Eta supplies. At least that is something. "But I wanna be bigger."

Iota huffs and moves to grab a book about frogs in the rain. Eta gets one with talking cars.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"How much bigger?" How grand is her imagination?

Maine sits on the floor and gestures for them to join. Children's books are strange to him, but maybe these two can help orient him.

[trustandfireworks]

Theta has been listening out for the door. The first time it went, it was Sigma and York and he'd played with them and the twins until the door went again. The twins get to hug Maine first because they're younger and will get upset if they don't. He's bigger, he can be patient.

Mostly.

As soon as Maine is free of the twins, Theta rushes in for his hug.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine saw Theta in the back. He's not completely unobservant. So while he smiles and lets the twins take their turn, he's even happier to hug Theta back.

"Hi," he says. It's so good to see him. And excited as Maine is to sign with his friend again, he's not sure he wants to stop the hug yet.

[trustandfireworks]

'Hi! I missed you!' He hugs him tight, there's no way he's strong enough to hurt Maine. He's still so big and strong, Theta feels completely safe and almost enveloped in the hug. Signing can wait for the sake of hugging.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Hugging too tight might hurt Theta, so Maine is gentle.

"How's school?" he asks.

[trustandfireworks]

'I'm starting to get used to it again,' he says. 'Most of the teachers are nicer than the ones at my old school. And I've sort of made a few friends.'

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Good." Theta deserves better than what he'd had at the previous school. "Science still fun?"

[trustandfireworks]

'Yeah! We made mini rockets with bicarb soda and vinegar in little tubs that popped off into the air!' It had made a mess of the classroom, but had been great fun. 'And we're doing stars in physics.'

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Rockets?" That sounds fun. "What about stars?"

[trustandfireworks]

'Yep! We're doing star life cycles at the moment. I didn't reliase they'll end differently depending on how big they are.' It's so cool!

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Really?" Maine doesn't know much about stars. Maybe Theta will tell him more.

[trustandfireworks]

'Yeah! Like the really small ones become white dwarfs and the bigger ones become red dwarfs and the really big ones become black holes!' Which are awesome and scary.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"How small?" he asks. "How big? Could that happen to our sun?"