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Cage takes a piece and sits on a stool. “Mmmmm, I love pizza. What’s your favorite kind, Mik?”
Kissa takes three pieces instead of two, just to be defiant, and heads upstairs to her room in a huff.
-
Violet gives Dio a smile, placing a napkin neatly on her lap. “Lovely. Spain is such a beautiful place. I used to live in London and Ben lived in Germany.” She tucks a curl behind her ear and takes a bite while waiting for his response.
Miki ripped a bite off her first piece, noticing and ignoring Kissa's spitefulness. "Anything." she replied to Cage. "I really like it when there's ham on it. But I'll eat pretty much anything that'll keep me alive."
–
Dio nodded. "Oh, so you've been around, been some places. I don't travel much. Mostly just been to Korea, Japan, you know, and here now. Do you like traveling?"
group
Vi slightly tilts her head to one side. “I prefer to have a home and stay put, though life doesn’t always allow it.”
Ben takes another bite of his food.
Ack, why with all of the small talk?
-
Cage squints at Miki. “What about raw deer. Would you eat that to stay alive??”
Miki surveyed Cage over her piece of pizza. "Cageually Stan, you underestimate my skills of fire making and roasting raw food over an open flame. If I had raw deer, I'm pretty sure I could come by some wood. Voila. Cooked meat."
–
Dio cut into his fish, carefully dividing it into bite sized pieced. "Ah yes. The comforts of home. I am glad you two have found a place to settle in that you enjoy. I asked Benjamin this but he lied to me; do you have children?"
group
’but he lied to me’
Ben clenches his jaw and continues to eat, trying to ignore them now.
Violet shakes her head lightly. “Not yet. We only just married a week or two ago.”
Dio’s words are quickly purged from Ben’s mind after Violet’s response.
’Not yet’
He can’t help but glance at her.
Пожалуйста, о, пожалуйста, Вайолет. детей нет. пожалуйста пожалуйста пожалуйста.
-
Cage gives Miki a small shove. “Ha. Whatever. And when you say my full name, say Cageually Azil. I like it better.”
Dio's face brightened and he gasped in delight. "Oh, really, now? So you're newlyweds? I offer you my most sincere congratulations then." he waved a hand as if to dismiss the thought. "I apologize for asking about children. I understand that's obviously not something you're focused on right now."
–
Miki rolled her eyes and took another bite. "Sorry. Your name is so stinkin' long I forget what all the words are. Azil." she repeated. "Cay-juu-alli AYE-zil. Got it."
group
Cage shoves her again. “AH-ZIL. Not AYE-zil. Eck, that one sounds terrible.” He finishes up his piece of pizza and sighs. “You’re just jealous.”
-
Violet gives him a beaming smile. “No worries. “Are you married, Mr. Diablo?”
Ben closes his eyes for a second, blessing Dio for changing the subject though now his mind is stuck on it.
Miki snorted. "I just said I can't even remember your whole name. Why would I be jealous? I shortened my name to 'Miki' for a reason."
–
Dio took a deep, dramatic breath and stared longingly at his fish. "There is a certain barista at the coffee bar in town who continually scorns my offers, but I will go to my grave consumed by my love for her."
group
Cage gasps, eyes wide. “MIKI ISNT YOUR FULL NAME??!?!”
Gabriel winces at the volume and quietly groans in irritation, smashing his face on her head.
-
Violet retrains herself from raising an eyebrow, but let’s a smile flirt across her face. “Oh? I’m sure she’ll come to her senses. After all, you’re such a gentleman.”
Ben rubs the bridge of his nose.
Ah, no. I think her senses are at their highest.
Miki cringed, slowly raising her shoulders up to her ears as if she could withdraw like a turtle. She closed her eyes, regretting everything. "I… well, it is now. So. Yeah. I changed it to be Miki. So it's just Miki. Yeah." she stuffed her pizza into her mouth.
Silver frowned and stirred, lifting her head a little. "Gabe…" she mumbled and then decided against letting him go, simply walking backward and pulling him with her until she backed into the couch and plopped down on it.
–
Dio looked up at her. "Thank you. You are so very kind." he pressed his lips together, thoughtful. "She is really tall though." he continued, looking regretful. "As you may have noticed, I am rather vertically challenged. Sugar is at least five feet taller than me." he shook his head.
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Ben lets out a small scoff, earning a glare from Violet.
“She is not five feet taller.” He states, catching Violet glare at the tail end of his sentence and slowing down.
She isn’t.
-
Cage raises an eyebrow, “okay but what was it? Bleckelmarian?”
Gabriel lets Sil sit on the couch, but stay standing and let’s her go. He blinks, almost going invisible but instead staying a bit transparent for a moment. He bites his lip.
Ah. I have to stay visible.
Dio rolled his eyes. "Okay, yes, but she may as well be. You saw how much taller she was. AND she wears heels. Can you imagine trying to kiss a girl like that? You were smart and found a woman appropriately sized to you, Benjamin."
–
Miki frowned at him. "How on earth could I get 'Miki' out of that?"
Silver sighed, looking up at him. "Sit down, Gabriel. You won't go hide somewhere, so sit down and relax. Please." she patted the seat beside her.
group
”appropriately sized” even though she was a good five or six inches shorter.
Relieved that Dio didn’t get angry or take it personally, Violet again smiles. “How tall is she?”
-
Cage giggles. “I dunno. I knew a girl who called herself Strinder and her real name was Victoria.” He shrugs. “You do you.”
Despite his longing for invisibility, Gabriel sits beside her and sighs, taking the phone he was left with from his pocket to see the time.
When will they be home?
"Five foot ten." Dio responded. "Which in actuality is only five inches taller than me. Not five feet. But it still presents it's challenges." he sipped his wine.
–
Miki gave him another weird look. "That's definitely different. But if I had the name Bleckelmartian or whatever you said I would change my name to 'Bob'."
Silver reached up and wove her fingers through his hair. "It'll be okay." she said. "We got through supper and Kissa is in her room and Cage and Miki aren't breaking or freezing anything. We'll be alright."
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Ben takes a sip of his wine.
*This is killing me. *
Violet glances between them and does her best not to sigh. The food is gone and the waiter returns only to gather the dishes and leave.
"Would you be interested in dining at our house, Diablo, so we could discus more privately?" she offers.
Ben almost chokes on his wine.
-
"Ew. Bob. That's your new nickname now. Bob. Hi Bob." He smiles and waves at her. "Like the haircut, Bob. Heh."
Gabriel sinks deeper into the couch and stares into the distance at seemingly nothing.
This last hour has been the worst hour. I think I may die tonight. Is this what true torture feels like?
Dio thanked the waiter as he took the dishes and sat back, still sipping the remainder of his wine. "That sounds delightful, Mrs. Stan. I wouldn't want to impose on your hospitality, but a private setting will most definitely be more comfortable for all of us."
–
"Ugh, no!" Miki grumbled, shoving him away. "That's worse than Mikela!"
An idea occured to Silver and she sat up. "Hang on. I just thought of something that might help." She pressed a quick kiss to his temple and jumped up, running upstairs. She returned a moment later with a blanket off his bed. "Here." She said, spreading it over him so he was completely covered. "Now you can still hide."
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Vi gives him a gentle smile. "Oh, no. You wouldn't be imposing. I must warn you though, we are currently housing Benjamin's younger brother and his friend. They wouldn't be present, but they can be noisy. "
Ben takes another sip.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THE OTHER FIFTY KIDS VI?????
-
Cage gasps, as if he's uncovered a scandal. "MIKELA!"
Gabriel sits in utter confusion for a few seconds before a smile crosses his thin lips and a small, scratchy laugh escapes.
Dio nodded and flicked his hand like it was nothing. "Of course. I don't mind at all. I won't be bothered in the slightest. What day works best for you?"
–
Miki clamped her hands over her ears and yelled, "YES, my name is Mikela Rose! Now you know!"
Silver sat down beside him and watched his blanket shrouded form. "Well? Does it help? Why… Gabriel, are you laughing?"
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Cage giggles. "HA. Mikela Rose. Hm. Not too shabby. Maybe your parents did know what they were doing."
Gabriel bites his lip, trying to stifle his laugh. "No, I'm just choking." he teases dryly.
-
"Wednesday is fine with us, if it's clear for you. Six o'clock?" Violet asks.
Miki raised an eyebrow. "Cage, I named myself. When I was like five. I think my mother named me Rose but I didn't like it so I made up 'Mikela'."
Silver frowned at him, confused. "Why… why are you laughing then? What's funny?"
–
"Sounds perfect." Dio said. "If we have nothing else to discuss tonight then I shant take up any more of your evening."
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“You named yourself????” Cage gasps. “OMG. Why Mikela though?”
Without warning or hesitation, Gabriel sticks his fingers out from under the blanket and pokes her tummy a few times. “You’re silly.”
-
Violet and Ben stand.
“Thank you for meeting us, Mr. Diablo.” Violet gives him a nod with a lovely smile.
Ben slips his coat on and picks the check up off of the table.
Miki threw her hands on the air. "Cuz I was five?? I thought it was a pretty name?? Cuz that's the sort of name a five year old makes up??"
"Ah!" Silver squeaked in surprise and shoved his hand away, giggling. "Don't do that! I don't know why it was funny, I'm just trying to help. Is it better now?" But she thought she already knew the answer.
–
"The pleasure is mine." Dio replied, rising and donning his coat. He gave Violet a bow and shook Ben's hand. "I eagerly await our next appointment."
group
Ben and Violet head out together, paying and then heading to the car. Ben fumbles for the keys by the car. “To our house, Violet? What were you thinking!”
She rolls her eyes, pulling the keys from her purse and handing them to him. “Benjamin, he is an elemental himself. Calm down. I’m sure we can keep the other quiet for two hours.”
“I seriously doubt that.” He grumbles while climbing into the drivers seat.
-
Cage rolls his eyes. “You didn’t make it up. Mikela is an actual name. You wanna hear a weird name??”
Without second thought, Gabe takes her waist with his cold hands and pulls her down beside him on the couch, “what do you think? Hm?”
Silver let out another squeak as she dropped, her arms falling around his neck. She froze, realizing how suddenly close they were, and her cheeks turned pink. But Gabriel was still completely covered by the blanket, except for his arms around her. A cheeky grin spread over her face when she realized he couldn't see her, and she pressed her lips against the blanket where she knew his mouth was, keeping her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Miki shrugged. "I've never heard it other than just me. But sure, whatever. What's your–" she stopped dead in her sentence as her gaze fell on her sister and Gabriel in the living room. "Oh my goodness, she's kissing him through the blanket."
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Cage opens his mouth to speak, but turns to look, automatically taking his phone out and snapping a photo before Gabriel slips his hand over Silver’s mouth, laughing too hard to kiss.
"CAGE." Miki yelled, smacking him on the arm. "Rude! I'm gonna take a picture of you the next time you kiss Robby!"
Silver laughed too, gasping for breath and laying her forehead on his shoulder. "I have… I have… I got blanket fuzz in my mouth." She barely managed to say between peals of laughter.
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Cage shushes her, putting a finger to her lips. “Shut up! We’re never going to see them kiss again okay?!?” He fake whispers.
Gabe shoves her off playfully, scooting to the side as his laughter slows.
Miki huffed. "Well, yeah, but what are you gonna do with that, sell prints? You don't need a picture of my sister kissing her boy, Cage. Ugh, weirdo." She rolled her eyes.
Silver fell back against the side of the couch and tried to pick the fuzz off her tongue, only succeeding in making herself laugh harder and sneeze several times.
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Gabriel slows down till he’s silent again and turns his head to look her over, even though he can’t see well through the blanket.
Cutie.
Cage furrows his brow and turns to looks at them. “Was Gabe…laughing?”
She finally managed to be still long enough to keep her tongue out and retrieve the offending piece of fluff. When her mouth was finally free of it, she looked up to see him still and quiet. "…what?" She asked.
Miki paused, blinked, and then slowly turned to look at them again. "That wasn't… I think… I didn't know he knew how to laugh!" She ended in a disbelieving whisper.
