Enter the Uncle

[mitochondriaaya]

It was a day like most others; sunny and bright with the sound of children screaming on the school playground. Recess always had screaming, usually it was the playful kind. Today the only anomaly was the principal standing outside next to a strange man whose gaze was weighing each of the running children in turn. The principal was trying to be helpful of course, pointing in the direct of one of the mobs.

Said mob was currently devolving into a medieval war on the monkey bars. The self-proclaimed King Braig was holding the top of the span with his loyal Knights holding either side for the moment. The barbarians were numerous though...and seemingly impervious to pain given the scraped knees and elbows they were gaining.

The man nodded gratefully to the principal so that the man could head back indoors...and waited. He wanted to see how this little war played out. And how the kid interacted with the two friends he'd been told about.

Comments

[mitochondriaaya]

"What time will they be there?" He...needed Braig's father to be present the same time as Braig's mother. He really did.

[sliceitwithwind]

"They're, like, already there dude." Braig says, confused, "They only work in the labs three days a week."

[mitochondriaaya]

"That's acceptable." Nevada allowed. "Now, a different topic...why were you attacking your schoolmates?"

Aya glanced back at said schoolmates, then set her chin stubbornly "They were being cruel." that was her newest word, 'cruel'. It was a very accurate one in her mind.

[sliceitwithwind]

"They called Dilan a bastard." Braig says.

"And even if I am, that's no excuse for calling me a mistake."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Children are never mistakes.' Nevada opined immediately. "No matter that idiots will say otherwise." he rather liked children, and anyone coupling was making a deliberate choice to engage in an act of procreation, so, no mistakes there. "And you're right, it's cruel. The violence is not excused though." he sighed. Maybe he could get Brea at least into karate? Get her a little more discipline...

"Are you required to stay here on the grounds for recess?"

[sliceitwithwind]

The two boys shrugged, "Dunno. We've never tried to leave before."

[mitochondriaaya]

"I see." he rolled ideas over in his mind for a moment, then glanced back at the school building. "Is there an exercise trail at the local park?" perhaps he could start taking the trio along that for recess, granted their parents permission and the school's cooperation.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yeah." Dilan says, "It's got marked botany stuff, too. Pretty cool."

"Dilan's a biology geek."

[mitochondriaaya]

"I see. Would it be acceptable if we attempted to take that trail during your recesses? I will need to speak with the principal and your parents."

[sliceitwithwind]

The boys shrug. Dilan pipes up with, "My mom won't care."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Then I'll speak with the principal before I leave. There are probably forms they should sign." at least he imagined there should be? Schools had to keep track of their children somehow...

Aya shuffled her feet. The exercise trail was really nice but...she was starting to feel weird about so much concern. They really hadn't been acting that bad right? "Hey...where are you staying?"

Nevada blinked as his mind changed tracks. "With your father. I stopped here first."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Is there enough room? Ayay's house is pretty small." Dilan pointed out thoughtfully, "But she could stay with us again and you could use her room, if you wanted. It's nice having her around." this meant he had to ruffle her hair. Obviously. "Momma says that having sleepovers is integral to Aya's ability to catch up on socialization. That's 'cause her dad is always moving her around, so she didn't get to make many friends."

"I can get the forms." Braig offered, "I help my teacher get stuff to the office after school anyway so that we can keep having our discussion about particle physics where it isn't annoying everyone else."

[mitochondriaaya]

Particle physics. Brea's had friends older than her who had coherent conversations about particle physics. Adding that to the vocabulary and he...rapidly changing his planned treatment of the boys. Upward. "There is plenty of room," given that he was happy to toss a sleeping bag down on Jerreg's floor next to the man's bed. "Though I do agree it would be best for Brea to live with you both for the foreseeable future. This will be something I discuss with your parents."

Aya nodded, wrapping her fingers in the boy's shirt sleeves as a sign of how tense she was getting. "I can pack when we get home today. I haven't gone hopping yet, so there's not a lot in the kitchen, but the freezer has some stuff for lunch, and eggs for breakfast..." And he'd be alright for dinner if he was coming to the cookout tonight and...

Nevada held up a hand to try to cut in on the babble. "We can do shopping, don't worry. The main thing that should be on your mind now is..." he tilted his head, bringing up the class schedule the principal had given him. "...math?"

OH RIGHT! "I HAVE A TEST AFTER RECESS!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Ears!" Dilan wailed quietly, reeling from Aya's shriek, "Ears, ears, ears!" Braig's eyes were slightly crossed, although he didn't comment on it. He's used to little people screams.

"My parents, Dilan's mom. Although Aunt Lenna is usually at work, so you might not end up talking to her at all. Technically Dilan lives with her, but he's at my place nine nights out of ten."

"Momma's a nurse and works a lot of extra hours, and mom and dad like having me around."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Sorry," Aya apologized immediately then clamped her hands over her own mouth just in case.

Nevada reached out and laid a large hand on Aya's head. "You'll do fine but you should go make sure you're ready now." His watch said it was almost time for recess to be over. That said he turned his attention back to the boys, weighing them. "I will be happy to meet them both and discuss arrangements. Is there anything I can bring to the cookout?"

[sliceitwithwind]

Both boys thought about Nevada's offer seriously, Braig finally saying; "You could bring a bottle of wine or something. Grandpa says that's an appropriate host-gift for dinner parties. We should have food covered, though."

[mitochondriaaya]

"That I can do." And at least a few bottles of bubbly fruit juices for the kids. "I will see all three of you after class, if you do not mind a ride home."

[sliceitwithwind]

"See you later, Mr. Nevada." Braig said with a nod and a half salute. Dilan echoed the sentiments, but didn't salute. He just offered a shy (if sharp and pointy) smile.

[mitochondriaaya]

Nevada spent the intervening hours well. He ate, then shopped around for sparkling juices (organic and real juice, he was worried about weird stuff in kids bodies), and a few bottles of decent wine. By the time he returned to the school to lean against his jeep, well, he had a snug little soft carrier that held six wine and wine-like bottles!

Aya, well, she was...moaning to the boys. "I know I wrote it wrong! I just know it! The answer is right, but I took a shortcut in the division and didn't show it and so it isn't written right!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"It should be fine, Ayay." Dilan was assuring her, patting her on her back, "Seriously. If the teacher has problems you can point out that she's not dealing with me again and at least you aren't going through and correcting the maths book."

"He totally did." Braig agreed, "In red ink."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Yeah, but when she was dealing with you she knew you were right usually. With me she always says I should do it the way I'm suppose to to and not get it wrong!" DIFFERENT APPROACHES!

Nevada stayed leaning against his jeep, but lifted a hand to wave at them. "Did you remember that paperwork for me?"

[sliceitwithwind]

Braig held the paperwork up while saying, "If you got the answer right and she marks it wrong, mom'll talk to her for you."

"So will momma. She really hates it when people are pedantic about things, she says as long as you get it right regularly it's okay not to show all of your work."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Effective shortcuts save time," Nevada added mildly as he scanned the paperwork. It seemed basic, he'd have to get other signatures, but he was meeting the adults so! "Which allows you longer to work on the trickier problems. It's important not to be rushed when you get to those."

Aya threw up her hands and huffed "I KNOW! She just doesn't listen. Anyway." Grump. "Ummm, nice jeep?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"So we'll have adults talk to her." Dilan said, then frowned at the jeep, "That's pretty high."

"You can do it, dude. Use those cat-like reflexes!"

Dilan smacked Braig in the shoulder.

[mitochondriaaya]

"If she marks me off." Aya sighed and twiddled a foot in the dirt. "Yeah, high. Maybe we could climb the tires?"

Nevada snorted, "Or I could toss you all in back. "You weigh what, a hundred pounds combined?"