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

[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.

[protective_logic]

"Bigger... bigger than Omega!" Eta smiles.

"You wanna read books with us?" Iota asks, curious.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"That's really big," Maine says, grinning.

"Yes. What book is that?"

[protective_logic]

"This book is about the curious frog who goes out in the rain to find a puddle to splash in but all the puddles are taken," Iota announces.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"What does the frog do?" Maine asks, because isn't that what he's supposed to do?

[protective_logic]

"Well, in the end he finds a really big puddle with another frog and they share," Iota smiles, flipping to the last page.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

That sounds consistent with the images he saw. Maine nods and smiles. "Friends?" he asks. "A good ending?"

[protective_logic]

"Best ending," Iota agrees with a smile. "I really like it."

"Mine is about a car looking for a new family," Eta smiles. "Because the old family got too big for it."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Too big?" Maine never would have believed that until he met this family. "Does it work?"

[protective_logic]

"Yeah," Eta smiles. "IT finds a mommy and a daddy and a little kid and a dog."

A good family in her book.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"A dog?" he says. "Dogs don't make messes of cars?"

His cats aren't allowed in the jeep without their carrier, mostly for their safety.

[protective_logic]

"Rex is good in cars," iota points out.

"It is a happy story;" eta pouts at Maine. Don't criticize her book!

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Oh," Maine says. "Sorry. Rex is a good dog."

Clearly children's books don't like to talk about exceptions?

[protective_logic]

They are more about underlining similarities than highlighting differences and when rules aren't always right.

"It's a good book," Eta tells herself. "I can even read it."

"Most of it," Iota corrects her. They're only six. Reading is still a process, even if they are smart for their age.

"Yeah, we're getting better. We should get bigger books," Eta tells her twin. "Maybe with pictures like Omega and Theta read."

"Delta's ones with all the words are boring," Iota agrees with her before loking at Maine. "What's your favorite book?"

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Read it to me?" he asks. He wants to see them read.

What books does he like? "Like history books."

[protective_logic]

"Kay," Eta smiles, moving to sit not-quite in Maine's lap so she can open her book.

"History books? Boring," Iota declares as he scoots closer too. "DOn't you wanna say hi to people?"

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

What does that have to do with anything?

"Yes," he says.

[protective_logic]

"Can't say hi if we're here," Iota points out. "Cause dinner is soon."

"I wanna read him the book," Eta protests, snuggling fully into Maine's lap and going to the first page. "Once upon a time there was a little blue car."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

He wants to retort about history, but Eta is very determined. Maine looks at the pictures over her shoulder.

[protective_logic]

"And the little blue car..." Eta continues, only to be cut off by a soft voice with a chuckle.

"Eta, Iota, dinner is in about fifteen minutes. Why don't you show our guest to the bathroom and get your hands clean for me," Delta says, standing just barely inside the doorway to the room. Distance. Let Maine approach only if he wants. Smile in a friendly way and otherwise leave him alone. Check in all boxes he can manage.

"Can I read Maine my book in the bathroom while they wash their hands?" Eta asks.

"Ask him and not me," Delta shrugs before walking back to the kitchen. "Maine's the one you're reading to."

"You can," Iota tells his sister. "I don't mind."