Chapter XXI
Invitati
The training went perfectly, Sedena, Stone, Rose and Zuli all enjoyed each other's company, visiting many locales in New Mexico, life was peaceful. The T or C police force finally got the right amount of man power and they did reduce the number of gang related crimes, and most of the young people went into hiding. Niuon and Asora emailed their child's progress, the seven months passed and one day, it was finally revealed via Internet cam, Asora had given birth to a healthy boy, named Lirui Siv. Niuon's face was ecstatic as he talked to Stone, he had been waiting with the thing on for hours, and he showed his son. The small Sangheili looked so frail, surprising Stone, who was used to seeing either huge, muscular men and women, or fast-growing girls and boys. Zuli had finally managed to grow over Sedena by three inches, though she did not grow at all since her growth spurt before.
Lirui was still a large baby though, compared to human babies atleast. He even had sharp teeth. He was awake and looked curiously at Stone through the camera.
"So, we'll wait a month, Asora will recover, Lirui will start building some immunities, then we'll be there for your new year," Niuon said to Stone.
"I'm glad, I wish you health and wealth," Stone replied.
"Thank you, Stone. Say goodbye," Niuon said softly to Lirui, but he began to cry instead. "Ugh, you already did that five minutes ago," Niuon groaned, holding Lirui to his shoulder. "I'll see you, be '(Sic)'," Niuon grinned.
"I always am," Stone replied, grinning too, then he turned off the camera. As Stone shut the lid, Sedena asked from the living room,
"Did he tell you to be sick?"
"Oh, inside joke for Slipknot fans," Stone said.
"Oh," Sedena said in distaste, looking back at the television. "How much different is your new years from Independence Day? One's just for your country and the other's for the new year, but both have fireworks. I would think you would show more splendor for celebrating your countries' independence," Sedena said.
"Do you have to question every human holiday?" asked Stone in annoyance, sitting next to her. She smirked.
"Why don't you celebrate Christmas?"
"You already know the answer to that."
"Why not Hanukkah? You said you grew up in a strict Jewish family."
"I'm an atheist...agnostic...I can't ever figure out what I am," muttered Stone. Sedena gave him a curious look.
"Well...you either believe in gods or no...right?" she asked.
"It's just that...I don't spend much time on the subject. With religious people, it's breaking your back over those beliefs, with atheists...it's breaking their backs over those beliefs. I? I just...I just don't really give a rat's ass, over the 'one truth' or 'ultimate truth' as they call it...I guess you could say I'm an Indifferent. I'm also anti-fundamentalist, I can't tell you how many times they've almost fucked up and gone and made humanity nearly extinct. Pre-Covenant," Stone explained. "What about you? Since you poke me with the subject so much." Sedena obviously didn't expect him to turn the tables on her, and she thought hard, and for a long time. Stone watched as she thought, waiting patiently for her response. Then she said,
"I don't know. It was always 'Forerunners, the Great Journey, the Covenant', and nothing else. It's what I believed in, what I believed my brother was fighting to accomplish for all of us...then there was hating humans, up until I met you," Sedena chuckled nervously.
"Yeah, I hate talking about religion too," Stone said, then he laughed, making Sedena laugh a little as well.
"Did Niuon say the exact day they would come?" Sedena asked.
"Three days before the new year, the twenty-eighth. And they'll be staying for a week. We have until then to make this place kid proof."
"No sharp or heavy objects?" asked Sedena.
"Ooh, it goes beyond just sharp and heavy objects. No crude objects, like violence and whatnot. Don't want to give the kid nightmares. Gotta lock up some things, particularly the laundry room, we don't want him sucking down detergent. N'tho said he'll be crawling and climbing by the time they get here...maybe even walking. Since you big oafs grow so fast," Stone smirked, giving a light punch to Sedena's shoulder, she gave an annoyed but still amused look.
"Better hide my energy cutlass then," she said.
"Yep," said Stone, leaning back on the couch. "And I've got to load the entire bed of my truck with extra food." Sedena giggled at that, and Stone glowered at her. But he didn't say anything. Then something came to his mind suddenly.
"Hey, I never found out when your birthday is," he said.
"Hm?" she asked. "Oh...um...why do you ask?" Stone blinked, kind of surprised.
"Well, to celebrate it. Don't you celebrate birthdays?" he asked.
"Oh, I see," she said, a look of understanding on her face.
"See what?" asked Stone, lost.
"Sangheilian birthdays are a celebration to the parents, not the child. We basically thank them for deciding to add us into their lives, and thank them for raising and caring for us. Most families, it goes both ways, give and receive love. But my father...well, you can imagine."
"All about him," Stone muttered in disgust, Sedena merely nodding. "But when is your date of birth?"
"I only know it on Sangheilian calenders," Sedena said.
"We can look one up on the computer, it can translate it to my calender," Stone said, sitting up straight.
"Oh, okay," said Sedena, getting up and Stone getting up too. They got to the computer and Stone opened up a Sangheilian calender.
"Here," said Sedena, pointing to one date.
"Alright," he said, clicking a button and coming up with a date to his calender.
"June fifth," Sedena stated, then she noticed Stone's surprised look."What is it?" she asked.
"That's my birthday," he said.
"Get out!" Sedena said in disbelief.
"Wow!" Stone laughed, Sedena laughing too.
"Wait Stone, why didn't you say anything about your birthday?" Sedena asked.
"Oh...well..." Stone shrugged. "I dunno."
"Really?" she asked, studying him.
"Well, I'm unsure, so I guess that falls under the category of 'not knowing'," Stone stated, closing the calender program.
"Fine, smart-ass," said Sedena, making Stone smirk. He then opened the program for his printer and selected a picture of Asora and Niuon holding Lirui (a rather tired but relieved looking Asora in a bed, with Niuon kneeling next to the bed).
"Was this taken right after Lirui's birth?" asked Sedena.
"Yeah. N'tho doesn't have a printer, so Niuon asked me to print a picture for him so he could look at it without having to go on his computer," Stone explained, going to his printer and putting in a high-def picture sheet, one that was sleek and crisp. He then printed out the picture and put it on the table.
"I can't wait to meet Lirui for real," said Sedena. "I really want to see Asora again too."
"I know, I do too," Stone said, going back in the living room, Sedena following. Just as Stone sat down his computer rang, but it was a specific ring, one that requested webcam use. He went back, expecting it to be Asora, since she had recovered enough to go about the house again, but he was surprised to see Dianos smiling on the screen.
"Well hello, Stone," he said.
"Grandfather?" Sedena asked from the other room, then rushing over.
"Hello Sedena!" he said when she joined Stone. Then Seris came into view.
"Hey, how are you guys?" asked Stone.
"We're good, we come with some news, hopefully you can accept our offer," Seris smiled slyly. Sedena and Stone glanced at each other then back at the two Sangheili on the screen.
"What is it?" asked Sedena.
"Well, it will be the peak of the Cool Cycle in about a month, and business with the company is slowing down, since we dedicate that month to rest. And, we have plenty of room for you two, even for Zuli and Rose, in case the lad wishes to see his home planet again," Dianos said.
"You're inviting us over?" asked Stone in shock. They both laughed.
"Why so surprised, Stone? You didn't think we wouldn't invite you over after you were such a good host when we came over," Seris said.
"Oh, I wish I could hug you!" Sedena said, glad that she would be able to return to her first home for a while, and see her grandparents. Dianos chuckled.
"We wish too, Sedena. We know you were planning on having your own company in the next month, Stone, and thought when their visit was over, you could travel with them back to Sangheilios to visit us, if you're able," Seris said.
"Of course, I'll be able to," Stone said.
"We're glad, Stone. Though we suggest you bring lots of that sunscreen. You'll need it," Seris told him.
"And from what we've learned from previous human visitors, you should drink lots of water too stay hydrated," Dianos added.
"Alright then, any other warnings you've got for me?" asked Stone.
"Don't drink urta milk, humans are highly allergic," Seris said.
"Alright...what's an urta?"
"Basically our equivalent of your cow. Common cattle, produces meat and milk, only the milk has a chemical that slows down your bodily functions to a...drastic level," Dianos said. "Basically, it'll put you in suspended animation until the chemical wares off, and after you come out you'll feel like you had a flu."
"And all you had to worry about was hot orange juice," muttered Stone, making Dianos and Seris chuckle. Both of them looked off the screen, and Stone and Sedena heard someone speaking faintly.
"We have to go Stone, you two have a good new year," Seris said.
"Goodbye, Sedena, we'll see you soon," Dianos said. "This time we will be able to practice together."
"Okay," said Sedena, beaming.
"Goodbye now," said Stone. The line was severed and Sedena hugged Stone suddenly.
"Whoa!" he said in surprise as he was nearly knocked out of his chair by the large Sangheili girl.
"We get to go to Sangheilios!" she said in glee, hugging him tightly.
"Uh huh," he chuckled, strained under her strength. She loosened her grip when she realized she was crushing him.
"Sorry," she laughed. "I can hardly remember it now, I spent so much time on that stupid Covenant city. Oh well, my memory will be jogged when we get there and I can show you all kinds of things."
"I look forward," Stone said, patting her on the back. She then let go.
"Oh, I can't wait to practice with Grandfather, and they said Zuli can come too!" she said in excitement. She gasped. "I have to tell him!" she exclaimed running to the phone and calling him. Stone hadn't seen her this excited since...ever. He wondered if she really wanted to live on Sangheilios, rather than here. He figured...even if he didn't like the idea, that she can stay with her Grandparents for several months on Sangheilios, then stay here for the rest of the year. He wouldn't want to be parted from her for months, but he wanted to make sure she was the most happy on her own planet.
"Zuli, my grandparents just talked with us on Stone's webcam, they said he and I can stay; better yet, they said you can come if you want!"
"You're kidding!" Stone heard Zuli cry on the other line.
"They said Rose can come too." There was a brief pause then Sedena said,
"That's great! We can see Her again, Zuli! Okay, goodbye," then she hung up, beaming.
"Who's 'Her'?" asked Stone.
"Oh, Sangheilios," Sedena said, but Stone gave her a troubled look. "What's wrong?" she asked, noticing his look.
"Sedena...I just thought...you miss Sangheilios allot, and you've never been so excited about something, not even when N'tho first offered to train you. I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but do you think it would be better for yourself to stay on Sangheilios for maybe...three months, with your grandparents. I'd have to stay here, of course, but you'd be home for a little while." Sedena looked troubled at this too, but said,
"No, Stone. Yes, I miss my home, but I would miss you more if I went there for three months, even with my grandparents. I'm still in the universe at all, thanks to you." She walked over and hugged him again. "I wouldn't want to be on any planet without you," she murmured, and Stone stroked her back, feeling good that she cared so much for him.
"Well alright. Maybe...someday, we can stay for longer than a week, maybe in the northern hemisphere, where I won't bake to death." Stone smiled as Sedena giggled.
"That would be better," she said, facing him.
"So...how excited is Zuli?" asked Stone.
"He was surprised," Sedena said. "So was Rose. She said she'll talk about it with you next time we all meet. But she said she'd be happy to take some vacation days off on there."
"Well good, this'll be interesting," Stone said, grinning.
0000000000
It was January twenty-eighth in Albuquerque, New Mexico, inside the space/airport terminal. Stone and Sedena waited impatiently outside the gate Niuon, Asora and Lirui were supposed to be exiting. The whole month leading up to this had been arduous, since they were so excited about the visit, and excitement slowed down the wait. Stone played a joke on Sedena by playing "The Waiting" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, until the point where she snapped and yelled, while in the car,
"I'd rather listen to that stupid fucking Slipknot shit!" And listen to that stupid fucking Slipknot shit they did. She was dismayed to learn that Niuon was now a big fan of Slipknot, even some of the people in his town were annoyed with him, while most of his friends enjoyed it too. Of all the types of musical genres Stone would expect an alien species to enjoy, the last was Metal.
Both he and Sedena looked up when they saw two towering figures walk out of the gate, one of them holding a small child, and they were receiving many surprised looks from the humans. They then stood and strode over. Asora, holding Lirui, while Niuon held their baggage, noticed them and smiled widely.
"Hello!" she called, striding over, Niuon following.
"Hey!" Stone said, shaking Niuon's hand.
"How are you?" Niuon asked.
"We're good," Stone replied. Asora knelt down and gave a one armed hug to Sedena, while her Mother's Arms kept a good hold on Lirui, who looked around at all the funny creatures in curiosity.
"How are you?" Asora asked Sedena,
"I'm fine. Hello," Sedena said to Lirui, who was looking at her.
"Staying (Sic)?" asked Stone to Niuon, grinning.
"You know it," Niuon replied, grinning also.
"And there they are!" called a new voice. Stone was surprised (but not) to see N'tho jogging up to them.
"And there he is," laughed Niuon, giving a fierce hug to his brother. Almost every person in the terminal was staring, but they didn't care. "Come, say hello to your nephew," Niuon led N'tho to Lirui.
"Well, hello there," said N'tho to Lirui. He smiled but shied away into his mother's chest. They chuckled.
"That's you're uncle, Lirui," Asora said to him. "Uncle N'tho." He made some noises close to 'Uncle N'tho'.
"Getting there," Niuon said.
"He's only a month old," Asora said in annoyance. "You don't want to rush him growing up, it's fun at the regular pace," she said, smiling down at her son.
"First comment, I'm freezing," said Niuon, looking around the terminal.
"Well, it's only colder outside," Stone said. Niuon sighed, reached into a bag, and then gingerly wrapped Lirui in a blanket, giving a small touch of his mandibles to his son's head. They all began walking to the exit of the terminal.
"So were you following me and Sedena on our way here?" asked Stone to N'tho. N'tho had said he was supposed to be working at this moment, but apparently not.
"The new manager is actually good, and allowed me to come here," N'tho said.
"You're still doing construction work?" asked Asora.
"Sure, in fact, I plan on making T or C my permanent living place," N'tho said.
"Father's gonna be pissed off," Niuon warned. N'tho snapped his mandibles in irritation.
"So what?" he asked. "I'm light years away, he won't bother to change my mind. He rarely writes to me, and when he does he asks if I plan to get a mate anytime soon. Maybe I will, maybe I won't."
"Mother's more open minded about it, she says that if you're happy that's all that matters," Niuon said.
"Well, she's the smart one, Father is just a block-headed, washed up Major. Hell, you got a higher rank than him," N'tho said back.
"He'd skin you alive if he heard you say that."
"Ha! Don't insult me, Niuon. I'm the young spec ops soldier. I'm even a teacher," he gave a pat on Sedena's shoulder.
"If you count being thrown down fifty times a weekend 'learning'," she said. N'tho gave her a dirty look.
"You know you're learning from me. Well that's it then, more beat-downs next weekend."
"Fine! I look forward," Sedena shot back.
"This is their new thing," Stone said to Niuon, though loud enough for both N'tho and Sedena to hear. "N'tho gets down on her level and argues with her."
"Hey now," N'tho said to Stone who smirked.
"It took me several years to get my Sergeant to get down to my annoying level," Stone said. Niuon laughed while N'tho scowled.
"You're calling me annoying?" asked Sedena, affronted.
"Well...yeah, I am," Stone said, smirking, while Sedena glowered at him. They walked outside into the frigid air, and Asora held Lirui close to her chest, wrapping him in her arms tightly. But Niuon made sure the blanket was snug, and the small child was comfortable. They went into a parking complex and saw N'tho's handy parking with that giant car of his.
"Nice," commented Stone, looking at the SUV next to N'tho's car.
"Oh shit," he said. The SUV had a big scratch on its fender, and N'tho's had black paint scrapes.
"I suggest a smaller car," said Niuon.
"I can't fit in any human cars," growled N'tho.
"I told you, either Cadillac Escalade, or Hummer H1. You'll fit," Stone told him.
"I don't have enough money-"
"I offered you half the price!" Stone said to him loudly.
"You did?" asked N'tho.
"Um...yes," said Stone. "You don't remember?"
"...well..."
"No you don't."
"Eyeah. I don't...you'd pay for half?"
"Yes, we'll talk about it later," Stone sighed.
"Oh, um, thank you."
"Don't mention it."
"I won't mention this," said a new voice. A security guard came walking up to them, nodding at the SUV.
"That was yours?" asked N'tho nervously.
"Don't sweat it, pal. I won't say anything, no wait, I will say something. Just that I never saw the guy who hit the truck. You're off the hook," the security guard said.
"Wha...I..." N'tho stuttered, flabbergasted.
"You better get out of here though, some other guy might come by, one that isn't to fond of your kind," the security guy warned.
"Thank you," said N'tho gratefully, hurrying into his car.
"I rented an Escalade for you guys," said Stone, walking to the the other giant SUV. He opened the back door and N'tho set all his bags in there, but he quickly extracted something from one bag, a small car seat of Lirui. As N'tho pulled out he said from his car window,
"I'll be at my home, come whenever you want," he said, then drove away, Niuon waving goodbye. Niuon set up the car seat in the back as Stone got in the driver seat, then Asora put Lirui in his seat, and sat next to him. Sedena was about to get in the back when Niuon said,
"You can stay in the front."
"No, it's alright. You can sit in the front," Sedena told him.
"Okay, thanks." They got in their seats, and Stone started the car. Though they had to stoop down only a little, the two Sangheili adults fit fine in the SUV. As he went through the city, towards the highway, Niuon said,
"You have any-"
"No he doesn't," growled Asora.
"Huh?"
"Slipknot?" asked Niuon, smirking.
"Uggh!" Asora growled, rubbing her forehead.
"In front of your kid?" asked Stone.
"Yes, Niuon, in front of Lirui?" asked Asora.
"We could play it quietly," Niuon proposed.
"Eh, how about something a little more mellow, but still Slipknotty. Stone Sour, same vocalist as Slipknot, and...well, a pretty much identical sound, only more mellow," Stone said, playing "The Wicked" by said band.
"Alright, not bad," said Niuon.
"Not much different," sneered Asora. "Don't you have something like...um...there's this one human band I like, I can't remember the name."
"Some wimpy band," Niuon said.
"Not like Genesis, or Journey. I'd ask Niuon to drive this SUV's tire over my head rather than listen to something like them."
"No, I've never heard of those bands...they play this one song, 'Brain Damage'-"
"Pink Floyd!? Why did you say so!?" asked Stone, chuckling as he turned the song on.
"Wait, you like them?" asked Niuon incredulously.
"Yeah, why not?" asked Stone. "I'm not limited to just mindless, generic metal and hard rock."
"You're dead to me," muttered Niuon, looking out his window.
"Oh stop being so dramatic," said Asora in annoyance.
"Eh, not when you see what's in my garage," said Stone, smirking. Niuon gave him a look of curiosity.
"And what is that?" he asked.
"You'll see," Stone assured, smiling slyly.
"So, how do you celebrate new years?" asked Asora.
"Oh the usual: fireworks, music, partying, drunkenness," Stone said. Niuon grinned.
"Sounds like a great holiday," he remarked.
"Yes, you would think so," Asora stated.
"Don't even start, I've seen how wild you get when the drinks begin to flow," Niuon shot back. "That woman," he jerked his thumb at Asora "You could take her to the most disgusting orgies with drugs, alcohol, sex and the like, and she'd go in smiling, and come out smiling."
"I've recently had a baby, in case you've forgotten," Asora said heatedly.
"So?" asked Niuon. Asora looked offended at that.
"It changes you! Eggh, you're a man, I can't expect you to understand."
"Why can't I?" asked Niuon, craning his neck to look at her.
"Well, considering men can't get pregnant..." Asora trailed off purposely.
"Okay, allow me to rephrase. 'why do I have to be a pregnant woman to understand?'"
"It's not something you can't explain with words, it's just a feeling," said Asora, quietly, stroking Lirui's head while he played with a small wooden toy, cut in the shape of, what Stone assumed was, a Sangheilios animal. Something similar to a wolf. Niuon saw the look in her eyes and knew she was serious, so he merely said,
"Alright," turning back in his seat. The three hour ride back to T or C was fairly quiet, broken by the occasional question or small spit over music types (Niuon discovered he liked Nine Inch Nails, but Asora wanted to listen to Bad Company, Stone just decided to turn the music off altogether; which was rather embarrassing to the couple, since that was the common option a parent would choose). They finally arrived at the house, and Stone pulled up on the driveway. His truck was put away in his garage for the rental SUV. They got out and Stone showed the three guests their room, his, only the bed was outfitted with the piece to keep Asora and Niuon's feet from hanging off over the bed. They had a small, portable crib for Lirui, and basically other baby needs in their baggage. They hardly packed anything for themselves, some clothes, a few personal effects, and a laptop. As they finished unpacking, Niuon asked Stone,
"What was that thing you wanted to show me?"
"Follow me," said Stone, leading him to the laundry room "Watch your-" Bump!
"Dammit!"
"-head." On the other side of the laundry room was another door, one that led to the garage. They entered into the dark room, Stone turning the lights on. The cold, florescent lights flickered on, making that annoying buzzing sound. Stone then led him to the end of the garage and started digging around in the boxes.
"I found it a month ago...but..." Stone grunted, looking around, while Niuon examined the tools on the work bench off to the side.
"Lost it?"
"No, I didn't lose it...misplaced it. I know it's...here!" he said, pulling a large, flat, square object from a box. Stone flipped it over to face Niuon and he grinned.
"And this over-sized CD is what they used back then?" he asked, looking at the cover of Slipknot's self-titled album.
"Actually," Stone said, taking the vinyl gramophone record out of its slip, then placing it on a newer turn table "this was the first device to ever record music for...anything. Wait, that was the phonograph cylinder," remembered Stone. "But this was the second thing that did that." They listened to "(Sic)" for a moment, and Stone said "You hear that quality? Classic quality, not that soulless, crystal clear, digital shit. Scratchy and raw." Then it made a horrible noise, the needle catching onto an apparent snag in one of the lines on the record, then snapping off.
"And there's that," Niuon said. Stone picked up the needle and looked at it dismally.
"I bet I could sell the damn record for allot of money, then the suckers find out it's defective," Stone muttered, dropping the needle on the work bench. "Iowa should be in good condition, that's the one I listened too," Stone said, digging into another box.
"Iowhat?" asked Niuon.
"Another Slipknot album," said Stone.
"Oh, I didn't realize they made a second."
"They made several, I think one or two EP records." Stone said.
"What are those?" Niuon asked.
"Extended Play; not official studio albums, sometimes demos. Other bands like Alice In Chains usually do acoustic EPs," Stone explained, proceeding to play "People = Shit". "This album isn't as good as the first, the songs on the first are more memorable."
"You don't have Nine Inch Nails by any chance? And another turn table?" asked Niuon, smiling.
"Actually," Stone submerged himself in the boxes again and came up with Nine Inch Nail's vinyl "The Downward Spiral" and a second turn table. Niuon laughed.
"New years present for me?" he asked.
"Sure, why not?" Stone said, handing him the turn table and record.
"This is gonna piss Asora off so much, thanks," said Niuon, grinning.
"I can see why you two got married," Stone cracked, making Niuon laugh.
"Indeed," he said. "Well, I want to see my brother, if you'll give us a lift."
"What? No, I'm just gonna lock you in here so you'll never see the light of day again," Stone said, smirking, making Niuon roll his eyes. The two of them walked back into the house again, and Niuon went into his room, then placed the turn table and record on his bag. Asora, who just finished changing a diaper, looked at the record and scowled.
"Did Stone give that to you?" she asked.
"No, I just picked it up and walked away with it...keep your voice down," Niuon whispered sarcastically. Asora merely scowled at him, holding Lirui on her shoulder. "I don't want you playing that shi...that in front of Lirui."
"I'm not going to!" snapped Niuon. "I think I know how to take care of my own son, thank you very much."
"Stop flirting in there," Stone called from another room, succeeding in making them smile for a moment. "And no gross stuff in my bed at night...unless you're desperate."
"It's not gross, it's perfectly natural!" Niuon called back, walking out of his room, Asora behind him.
"Not gross? It'll be gross if I lie down in sweaty, sticky sheets," said Stone.
"We're not going to, Stone," said Asora, smiling.
"And sticky?" asked Niuon. "I would be careful not to spill."
"Let's change the subject," said Asora in irritation.
"Yes, to N'tho's," said Niuon. The five of them loaded into the car then drove to N'tho's trailer, where he was sitting on the front porch, waiting patiently. They parked and got out of the car.
"Splendid, N'tho," commented Niuon, looking over the trailer.
"It's all I need," he said in annoyance, still sitting down. Niuon went up on the porch and plopped down on a chair next to N'tho.
"You could atleast get a normal house, instead of a trailer," said Niuon.
"Well, maybe I don't want one," N'tho said officiously. He then offered Niuon a drink, which he accepted and took a big gulp of. Asora then sat next to Niuon, and Stone and Sedena on chairs across from the others.
"How are things with our old people?" asked N'tho.
"The usual. Father's mumbling about you 'not living up to your full potential' and Mother...well, her usual delusional self," Niuon said distractedly, as if his parents were a lesser thing.
"Maybe they should come here, see for themselves that this is my choice," N'tho muttered, who had the sudden urge to drink the entire bottle of wine on the table next to him. He sucked down his current glass, then poured himself a healthy second helping. Niuon snorted.
"Good luck trying to get them. Dad's still bitter about humans, and Mom is just plain afraid they would get shot by someone while walking the street, even in broad daylight," he said.
"Then you two are taking a big risk," N'tho said to his brother and sister-in-law.
"Ha ha, very funny," said Asora sarcastically, subconsciously holding Lirui closer, who squirmed in annoyance. He then reached out to his father, seeming to know he wouldn't be as uptight as his mother, which amused Stone. Asora smiled and so did Niuon as he took his son in his arms. Then he reached out to N'tho.
"Turncoat," said Niuon, smirking, letting N'tho hold Lirui. Lirui was content to sit on his uncle's lap
"Tell Mother and Father I said 'get a backbone'...really. You know how Dad is," said N'tho, smiling wryly.
"'Damn boy, thinks he's better than his father, I'll show him!'" Niuon imitated, then he and his brother laughed together.
"I bet you fifty dollars that's what he'll say...really," N'tho said, holding up a fifty dollar bill.
"You're on," Niuon said, gripping N'tho's wrist, and he gripped back. Both visibly squeezed for a moment before letting go and nodding.
"I've seen you do that before," Stone said. "That hand...thing."
"Heh, we call it a Hand Writ. Kind of like your shaking of hands, only ours goes literally. It's considered shameful for one to make a Writ of Hands but go back on it later," Niuon explained.
"So if Niuon went back on our Hand Writ, I'd have the right to kick his ass, and he wouldn't have the right to defend himself," N'tho said.
"Some people are thinking, what with all the political changes and ways of thinking, they can get away with breaking it...but we still take it seriously," Niuon said with a smirk. Asora smirked too.
"I sense something coming from you," N'tho said to Asora.
"I made one with a man, agreeing that he would reserve a certain medicine for Lirui in case he got sick. When I went to the pharmacy the next day, he said he had sold it with that little smirk...I punched it right off his face," Asora said, getting a little bitter.
"So you let him have all of it?" asked N'tho.
"He tried to defend himself, but I beat him. It was only then a security group pulled me off him, and I told them he broke a Hand Writ, which he admitted in his arrogance, saying that it was an 'old way' and that I no longer had the right to beat him. And once he said he wanted to press charges on me...the security force let me go and stepped back, wanting to see if I would beat him again for his insolence," Asora smirked. "He tried to defend himself again, and that, is punishable by a day in prison. But since there was no one else to run the pharmacy, I said they could let him stay." N'tho chuckled.
"I wish I was there," he said.
"I wish I was too. I was watching him however," Niuon said, patting Lirui on the head and smiling. "Hm, we're going to need someone to watch Lirui when we get drunk."
"No way," said Asora, glaring at them.
"Asora, I haven't had a good drunken rampage in several months," Niuon in annoyance. "And really, stop saying that I would do these things in front of Lirui. It's actually getting a bit insulting."
"No, it's not that. It's just you're not dumping him off on me, because I deserve a good time as much as you," Asora jabbed him in the chest with a claw.
"Oh, so you want to leave our baby son alone with a stranger?" countered Niuon, a smirk tugging his mandibles.
"Me and Zuli can take care of him," Sedena piped up. Niuon and Asora glanced at her, then at each other.
"Um, you're kind of young to take care of a baby," said Asora.
"Yes...and Lirui is only a month old, he needs someone who know what to do-" Niuon said, but was interrupted by Sedena.
"I've studied," she said, crossing her arms and giving a challenging look to Niuon.
"Oh really?" he asked. "Fine then, a little Q and A won't hurt. What's the best thing to feed a child Lirui's age?"
"No meats, only fruits and vegetables. Particularly guras, opins, and atols," Sedena answered immediately.
"Anything you can get on wikipedia," Niuon said.
"What does that matter? I know what to feed him," Sedena shot back, making Niuon hesitate.
"She's got a point," N'tho said.
"Don't take her back on this," said Niuon in annoyance to his brother.
"I am. I know her best," N'tho said. "So does Stone."
"You'd be surprised what she's capable of," Stone said.
"Continuing," said Niuon, focusing on Sedena again. "What's the best thing for Lirui to drink."
"It depends on gender. Males, who are more fierce in growth than females, require fluids that give them the most energy. Water atleast twice a day, milk a little less. Females require only one serving of water a day, and one serving of milk is optional."
"I'm still not convinced, and I've never met Zuli." Niuon said.
"Sedena," Asora said, "I trust you."
"Huh?" asked Niuon, looking at her in surprise.
"She said she studied, and she's careful. And she'll have help from Zuli," Asora said.
"I agree," N'tho said.
"You only agree because you want to annoy me," Niuon snapped at N'tho, whose smirk was answer enough.
"You're out voted, Niuon," said Asora. "When new years night comes, we have some drinking fun while Sedena and Zuli watch Lirui."
"Fine," Niuon grumbled.
"Aw come on," said Stone. "You're gonna love the place we're going to. A really nice bar, with a Celtic theme. O'Leary's Bar and Grill."
"And Celtic is...?" asked Asora.
"A human culture, me and Stone have been there a couple times," said N'tho. "Drinking and music. The owners are pure blood Scots, had the place since the year 2030."
"Wow, that's an old place," remarked Niuon.
"It's survived fifty fires, and twenty floods, ten of the twenty floods involving plumbing problems," N'tho said.
"And a total of fifty thousand seventy-eight thousand brawls," Stone added.
"Several of which were the cause of some of the fires," N'tho added also, grinning.
"Haha! That place has got some history huh," laughed Niuon.
"Sounds like we'll have a good time," said Asora. They all looked up when there was a loud roaring from over head. A few thousand feet in the air, a Capitol ship soared over them.
"Trading ship," said Stone. "They stop by over there," Stone pointed to a large concrete pad in the desert, with security fences and guards around it. The ship hovered in the air, then descended.
"We get Iatao leaves, teas, alcohol and other food stuffs from them," said N'tho. Some would say that the military ship carrying goods was ridiculous, but that's all trade ships have been reduced too, since Brute skirmishes were common. But the Brutes were no more than measly pirates, too afraid to test the might of the Sangheilian fleet. The Sangheili kept a watchful eye allover the galaxy, making sure the hostile aliens species didn't try anything.
"How do you like the Iataos?" asked Niuon to Stone.
"They're great, I use them whenever I can," he replied.
"Yes, you do," muttered Sedena.
"I only did that twice," said Stone defensively. "Live a little, be the victim of a fool's prank." N'tho and Niuon snickered at that. A strong wind then blew, chilling everyone. Then little white flakes began to fall.
"What is this?" asked Niuon, looking up at the sky. Stone glanced at a smirking N'tho who winked.
"I don't know, I've never seen this before," said Stone, standing up.
"What!? Inside, get the baby inside!" Asora cried, getting to her feet also.
"Wait!" laughed N'tho, Lirui laughing with him (by impulse). "It's okay, we were just joking."
"Gods, Stone, don't scare me like that," breathed Asora, holding her chest and sitting down again.
"What, I thought it was a good one...even though I feared for my child's life," cracked Niuon.
"...actually...that was kind of funny," Asora admitted, smiling. Niuon patted her on the shoulder and she casted an annoyed look upon him. "Don't touch me."
"You're as big a baby as Lirui," pouted Niuon, removing his hand. As if the mention of him was the trigger, Lirui started fidgeting and crying on N'tho's lap.
"Not mine," he said, holding Lirui out to Niuon. They smelled the air then.
"Oh gods," sighed Niuon, taking his stinky son. "Are the diapers in the car?"
"How should I know?" asked Asora.
"Um, because I asked you to bring them," Niuon said.
"I asked you, Niuon," Asora retorted.
"Huh," said Stone, beginning to smirk.
"You know, I have work in a few hours anyway. I'll see you tomorrow," said N'tho, standing.
"Yeah, now we just have to ride in the car with a smelly, crying baby, while your climbing atop tall buildings with power tools, shootin' the breeze with co-workers," Niuon complained, grinning. N'tho simply patted him on the back.
"See ya," then he curtly walked into his house.
"Ass," muttered Niuon.
"Ahem," said Asora, glaring at him.
"Um, don't listen to what I say, Lirui," Niuon said to Lirui, who looked at him with blank eyes.
"And now he's never going to listen to what you say when he gets older," Stone cracked, making Asora laugh.
"Oh ha ha," said Niuon sarcastically, rolling his eyes. They all got in the Escalade and rode in, Lirui beginning to cry again. When they arrived home, Niuon hastily changed Lirui's diaper, but he then started whining for something else.
"Are you hungry?" Niuon asked the small child as he carried him to the kitchen, where Asora had already brought Sangheilios fruits and vegetables for Lirui. Lirui looked at the food and reached forward, making Niuon and Asora smile. "I guess so," Niuon said. He then set Lirui up at the table with some fruit and began to feed him.
"You two want lunch of your own?" asked Stone.
"As long as it isn't a prank," said Asora.
"Prank? No, I was just gonna poison all of you," Stone replied.
"I don't remember you being this sarcastic back when we first met," Asora replied.
"I'm joking," Stone said back.
"You joked back then too, not as annoyingly," Asora said.
"Now, now," Niuon said as he wiped Lirui's mandibles with a cloth. "We're guests, he can subject us to his weird human customs."
"Oh please, from what I've garnered from the past year, Sangheili can be human too," Stone said.
"We're all sentient beings, we have our social needs and whatnot," said Niuon, shrugging.
"'Kay," said Stone, digging in the fridge. "Hope you've done your homework on human food."
"All the fish dishes sparked my interest," said Niuon.
"Those are dinners," said Stone.
"Um, why?" asked Niuon.
"They're harder to make than lunches," Stone replied.
"Humph. Fine, what do you propose?" asked Niuon sourly.
"You'll have to excuse Niuon, all he's eaten since he was a child was seafood," Asora said.
"Hey, you eat what's closest to you, and we lived in a beach town with healthy fishing routes," Niuon said.
"He told me once he was heartbroken when his family moved inland, since our landmasses and watermasses are so scattered, it's rarer to get fresh seafood inland," Asora told Stone, a playful smirk on her face.
"I never said that!" Niuon said vehemently, turning to Asora.
"You're being defensive, you obviously did," Stone countered as he placed some lunch meats, cheeses and bread on the counter for sandwiches. Niuon glowered at Asora then at Stone.
"Madroc fish is the most moist, flavorful and satisfying fish ever...of all time. Breaded, cheese sprinkled atop, and baked. Simple, but enough to impress a Covenant Prophet. You give me a recipe that simple, but absolutely delicious."
"Red salmon, tender, fresh from the fishing routes. Mix some brown sugar with Dijon mustard, and glaze the top of the salmon with the hot, spicy, but oh so sweet mixture. Then bake it in white cooking whine, and serve it with cumin seasoned wild rice...adding a little extra of the mustard sauce atop the rice. It'll blow your mind and your taste buds," Stone described. Niuon looked skeptical.
"I'll have to try it myself," he said.
"Good, I'll make it tonight," Stone said as he finished his and Sedena's sandwiches. "Okay, I've got a wide array of stuff here, sample it and tell me what you like best."
"I'll eat later," said Niuon. Asora stood and started tasting the different things. After she finished tasting jalapeño jack cheese, she said,
"It's all good...hm, I think..." she started organizing her sandwich, roast beef and ham, a slice of cheddar with a slice of jalapeño jack, honey mustard, and relish.
"Heh, I like improvising too," Stone remarked as she scooped a small spoonful of relish on her sandwich.
"Why, does this usually go on something else?" she asked.
"Some uptight people only stick it on hotdogs, I put it on almost everything," Stone said. Asora looked at him with raised brows.
"What?" he asked.
"You...eat...dogs?" she asked.
"...well, the Chinese do atleast. But not many people outside of the far east; hotdogs are actually just small, super tender sausages. You can make them from most types of meats," Stone explained, reaching into the fridge, and extracting a pack of the hotdogs. He showed the small, light red sausages to to Asora, then the bread buns to put them in.
"Since you can make sausages from most meats, do these Chinese actually use dogs for their hotdogs?" asked Niuon, smirking.
"Yeah, that was a fad they went through about a century ago," Stone said, smirking as well.
"Ha! Really?" asked Niuon, looking at him.
"Yeah, really. They still market them today, just not as big as when they came out."
"Interesting," commented Asora.
"It's okay if you think it's really weird and disgusting, they think us westerners are weird and disgusting, because we don't eat sharks or whales...or anything that crawls on the bottom of the ocean," Stone said.
"You portray them so well," remarked Niuon as he wiped Lirui's mouth, which was dripping with the juice of a blue fruit that resembled watermelon.
"I can portray all human cultures well," Stone said, smirking. "And actually the ocean thing comes from the Japanese culture...since they live on an island country. China is mostly an inland country. They only have an east coast."
"Then why can't they eat the same ocean crawlers as the Japanese?" asked Niuon.
"I don't know, I guess they can," said Stone, shrugging.
"You portray cultures you hardly know of?" asked Asora, smirking.
"That's what stereotypes are," Stone countered, and Asora and Niuon chuckled.
"Real good, Stone. Nice of you to lead us astray," Niuon said.
"You can look up all the cultures on Wikipedia," said Stone waving his hand at them.
"I thought I heard once that Wikipedia could be unreliable, because some people edit it just to be obnoxious," said Asora.
"Yeah, we call them spammers. They strike on public chatrooms and forums too," Stone said.
"Have you ever spammed?" asked Niuon.
"Only on people who had it coming to them," Stone said, smiling slyly.
"Niuon has been trying to learn to hack and do such stuff like that," said Asora distastefully. "Are you sure no one is going to barge into our house with a battering ram and guns?"
"Depends. What are you trying to hack, Niuon?" Stone asked.
"I just want to be able to kick out spammers from chatrooms," Niuon said.
"Hm...well, if you just do low level stuff like that, chances are they'll just ignore...your millions of light years away anyway, with giant fleets and stuff. No damn chance they'd send a swat team over just to bag you," Stone said.
"I'm not the one who's worried, Asora is paranoid," Niuon said defensively.
"I am not!" she snapped.
"Well doesn't Stone's statement make sense? Why would they send a small team of soldiers to just arrest me, knowing that they're going right on an alien planet, and attacking a fairly high ranked soldier himself?" asked Niuon.
"..."
"Exactly," Niuon responded, giving Lirui a drink of water.
"So I see your days are short in the cool cycle as well," Asora changed the subject, looking out the window at the orange landscape, the setting sun beautiful. It was already 3:30.
"Yeah, I hate it," said Stone. "A long day is better."
"We're rather indifferent towards day length," said Niuon. "Be awake at day, be asleep at night, that's all there is to it really."
"Well, humans are picky," Stone said.
"That's for sure," muttered Niuon.
"Huh?"
"Nothing." Asora merely rolled her eyes. When Niuon finished feeding Lirui, the little Sangheili then started to fuss.
"What now, kid?" groaned Niuon.
"I think he needs some fresh air," Asora said, walking over and picking up Lirui, smiling at him. "Any recommended place to go, Stone?"
"Elephant Butte, a nearby lake," said Stone.
"What do you say, Lirui?" asked Asora. The child looked at her with big eyes. "Go to the lake?" He made a small noise of definite agreement and she and Niuon chuckled. The lot of them then drove down to a small beech-like sand bar, within the Elephant Butte State park, that jutted from the mainland into the middle of the lake, and was connected to a small island that composed of a rather crumpled looking mesa.
"It was a dry season this year. The year before, you wouldn't have been able to walk to that island, since there was more rain," Stone said as they all walked down the dirt/sand beech. Some mobile homes were parked in some random spots, other people were walking their pets.
"This is a beautiful place," remarked Asora, looking at Turtle Back Mountains. "But isn't an Elephant a type of animal that lives on this planet?" she asked.
"Yeah, you see that cliff over there?" he said, pointing. Niuon and Asora looked to see a cliff that seemed to bend as coming down.
"It...looks like an Elephant," said Niuon.
"You know what one looks like?" asked Asora.
"Looked them up," Niuon stated.
"Well, that's the namesake," Stone said. They walked down the length of the very long beech and onto the sand bar that led to the small island with cliffs.
"I've never been here before," said Sedena, looking up at the cliffs. Suddenly, Niuon leaped into the air, and grabbed the cliff side a good twenty feet in the air.
"Show off," said Stone, while Niuon grinned back at him smugly. Niuon then quickly climbed to the top then looked around.
"This is a nice—wort!" he yelped, jumping back as Stone suddenly appeared next to him.
"Please, don't insult me. It's not like I can't climb," said Stone, smirking at the startled Sangheili.
"But-"
"He took the ramp!" Sedena laughed from below, pointing to a natural lamp that climbed up to where Stone was standing in front of Niuon.
"Cheater," said Niuon "...but you ran fast."
"I had to to get away from you lugs back in the war," Stone countered.
"Fair enough," said Niuon. Asora then came up with a complaining Lirui, though she walked slowly and away from the edge.
"He got angry when you left," Asora told Niuon.
"Gimme a break, kid, why can't I go solo for a while?" he asked in dramatic irritation, but he walked over and started tickling Lirui, who giggled incessantly at his father's dancing claws. Stone jumped when someone clapped their hand on his shoulder. He whirled around to see Sedena grinning at him.
"Don't sneak up on me," he said, smiling, seeing she had climbed up the same way Niuon had.
"I always do," she replied.
"Yeah, and I always tell you not to," Stone shot back.
"But I do anyway."
"Smart ass." Then Niuon climbed to the tallest peak in a manner of seconds. Lirui then started whining again, reaching up.
"Niuon, get down here before your son starts to scream," Asora called up. She couldn't get up since there was no natural ramp like the one before.
"Let me look at the place quickly, gods above!" Niuon said in annoyance. Lirui began to whine louder. "Alright dammit!" he snapped, jumping down and landing on the dirt with a heavy thump! "What is it you little banshee?" asked Niuon, a smile jerking his mandibles.
"Ehhh!" Lirui cried, reaching to Niuon who scooped him up out of Asora's arms and lifted him high into the air playfully. Lirui giggled while Asora screeched,
"Not on the cliff you blooming idiot!"
"He's fine, and so am I! I won't let our son fall to his death," Niuon said in irritation. "Seriously, you're starting to offend me, acting like I can't take care of him."
"I just want you to be careful," Asora said back, her brown eyes burning.
"I am being careful!"
"Your swinging our boy around on top of a cliff!"
"The edge is over there! Miles away!" Niuon exclaimed, exaggerating the distance. But he was fairly away from the edge.
"Oh hey, there's an eagle," said Sedena quickly (Stone knew she was fibbing to get them to stop arguing).
"Eyei!" Lirui chirped. Niuon and Asora forgot their spat and looked up in the sky.
"Where?" asked Asora.
"And what's an eagle?" Niuon asked also.
"It's gone now, you missed it. Went behind the mountains," Sedena said.
"You'll be able to see one again, there's a whole bunch of them over in the cliffs by the marina," said Stone, pointing down to the small dockyard with the boats tied up to it.
"Oh wow," said Niuon.
"We can rent one if you want," Stone offered.
"It's alright Stone," Asora said politely.
"You're vacationing on an alien planet for the first time ever, it's not troubling to me," said Stone.
"Well, if you insist," said Asora.
"I'm sure Lirui would love it," said Niuon.
"Just as long you don't drop him overboard," Asora said vehemently.
"Stop it! Come on already, give me some slack!" Niuon snapped.
"Alright, let's go," said Stone loudly, walking down the ramp with Sedena. But the wife and husband continued to bicker as they walked to the car and drove down to the marina. Lirui merely looked back and forth at them while they argued. As the two got to the climax of their argument, probably going result in two days of silence and moodiness towards each other, Stone interrupted angrily,
"We're here!" actually taking the two by surprise. He then turned red after realizing he had yelled at them. "Sorry." Sedena merely tried to stifle her laughter with her hand. Though Asora and Niuon looked embarrassed too. They all got out of the SUV and rented a small sailboat. It was windy enough for a small cruise. As they skimmed down the water, Asora leaned over the edge and dragged her hand through the water.
"Be careful, you might fall in because I think you're an incompetent buffoon with no common sense," said Niuon sarcastically.
"Jesus fucking Christ," growled Stone under his breath. "And I thought your grandparents were bad," he said to Sedena.
"Me too," she mumbled.
"Come off it you big baby!" Asora snapped. "And I bet you would fall in, Lirui somehow going in with you."
"And you think Lirui has suffered my 'mistakes'before? Has he ever winded up in trouble that was originally my doing?"
"He could," sneered Asora.
"Hey, maybe you'd get so protective and paranoid over little things, that he would wind up in trouble over an obvious peril," Niuon shot back.
"I would never let something like-"
"I wouldn't either!" Niuon yelled in return. Then Lirui began to cry.
"Now look what you did!" Asora snapped, sitting upright, but a gust of wind made the boat warble. "Whoa!" she exclaimed, warbling too. But a second gust hit the boat and it rocked even harder. "Waah!" Asora screamed, going overboard.
"Shit!" Niuon yelled, while Lirui simply laughed as Asora splashed into the water. "Stop the boat!"
"I can't it's a sail boat...hold on," said Stone as he pulled the sail up. He turned the boat back around to the bobbing figure which was Asora. But the boat lost speed and momentum as there was no wind to propel it, so Stone had to use oars to get over gently.
"Are you alright?" called Niuon as they came near her.
"It's freezing in here!" Asora yelled.
"I'll take that as a yes," murmured Niuon, smirking. He then helped Asora back into the boat. Her dress was soaked and she was shivering terribly.
"I-I th-think it'ssss t-t-time to guh-go hommme," Asora stuttered, hugging herself. Niuon sighed and wrapped his arm around her and pressed his body to hers' to give body warmth.
"Well, I can give you points for not having Lirui."
0000000000
Asora stepped out of the bathroom, dry dress on and damp clothes in her hands.
"Where should I put these, Stone?" she called.
"Just put them in a basket in the laundry room," he called back. Asora did so then looked in her room. Niuon was just finishing wrapping a napping Lirui in a blanket then looking at Asora with amused eyes.
"I've never seen you so eager to swim," he said quietly as she shut the door behind him, but left it open a crack. Asora pouted at him.
"Well, it wasn't as enthralling as I had hoped for," she replied sarcastically. Niuon merely smiled and stroked her cheek and she smiled back, hugging him. "Sorry I was being such a..." she trailed off.
"Bitch?" asked Niuon. She glared up at his grinning face.
"Is this why I fell in love with you? You were always blunt?" He then gave her a love nip on the neck and she laughed softly, stroking his neck.
"Boy we really pissed off Stone before," Niuon said under his breath, and the two of them snickered.
"Well you were annoying," Sedena said suddenly. The two of them jumped a mile high, gripping each other tightly, then whirled around to see her. She was standing in her doorway, smiling at them.
"Stone is right, you need to not sneak up on people," breathed Asora.
"Sorry," she said, only a tad embarrassed.
"I never realized our arguments were that annoying to others," Niuon said.
"All arguments are annoying to others," said Sedena.
"Ah, but it's ours that are especially annoying," Niuon replied, smirking.
"You act like that's a good thing," said Sedena, crossing her arms and studying him.
"Yeah, you do," said Asora. Niuon shrugged, but didn't say anything. Then Niuon sniffed the air.
"What...is that amazing smell?" he asked. The smell was sweet, but hot and spicy at the same time.
"Stone's making that salmon recipe for dinner," Sedena said. Niuon merely walked melodramatically into the kitchen.
"He always does this when I make fish for dinner back home," said Asora rolling her eyes to a giggling Sedena.
Niuon crouched down and pressed his face to the warm, insulated glass pane of the oven. Inside, in a white cooking bowl was a sizzling fillet of the pink/orange salmon fish, the bubbling brown sauce of Dijon mustard mixed with brown sugar glazed atop. Niuon then stood and opened a steaming pot lid, seeing wild rice with spices steaming inside, mixed with a healthy amount of butter.
"No gawking," said Stone, and then Niuon yelped when something snapped his backside. He whirled around to see Stone brandishing a dish towel, which he had snapped Niuon with.
"I don't think it's very nice of the host to try and molest his guests with kinky towel fetishes," Niuon said. Then he and Stone laughed together.
"I've noticed something," murmured Sedena as she and Asora watched the two men joke around with each other.
"What is that?"
"Stone once told me humans have an irrational fear of sexuality, including himself...and yet...we see men doing this to each other freely, but are nervous to talk about it around women...that's something I guess I have to ask Rose," Sedena muttered, while Asora chuckled.
"The opposite gender has always been, and still is, a mystery, and they always will be. Just remember that, Sedena," Asora told her. "And of course, they say the same thing about us."
The oven clock beeped and Niuon looked with excited eyes.
"Oh boy! My first alien fish!" he exclaimed. Stone laughed as he opened the oven and pulled out the extremely large portion of fish. He was lucky to get this, since fish didn't last long in Bullocks. And not because it went bad, either. Stone placed the hot cooking platter on the table, then he put the rice in a bowl. Asora and Sedena then made their appearance and sat at the table with the men.
"Alright, calm down," said Stone in amused annoyance as he placed a wedge of salmon on Niuon's plate. He had already helped himself to the rice. As Stone served the others, he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, Niuon had frozen. Asora merely smiled and sighed in loving weariness. Stone then looked at Niuon, who was looking at the salmon in amazement.
"Stone," he said.
"Yeah?"
"I love you." Asora slapped her hand to her face and groaned and Sedena laughed.
"I love you too," Stone replied.
"Oh!" Sedena took her turn slapping her face. Then the two laughed at the comical scene in front of them.
"Just stop it already," said Asora.
"This...I...next to the madroc fish, this is the best fish I've ever had...except for the bottom," said Niuon in disgust, looking at the bottom of the fillet.
"That's the skin, you can ignore that part," Stone said as he filled his fork with rice and fish at once. "And actually my favorite fish would have to be haddock. Since you can do different things with it. Beer batter it, serve it with homemade chips...bread and fry it, make it into a sandwich with tomato and lettuce...and make a simple buttery bread topping, baking it...oh man, I haven't had haddock for such a long time. Oh yeah, I forgot about tarter sauce, oh man you'd have to be the stupidest motherfucker of all time to not eat haddock with tarter sauce," Stone said, shaking his head.
"Will you be my husband?" asked Niuon, grinning a goofy grin. Stone chuckled.
"Ahem," said Asora, pouting at Niuon.
"Oh calm down, you're my wife, Stone however will be my husband. There's a difference. You can get a wife if you want, Sedena?" asked Niuon.
"Niuon, please," said Asora.
"Yeah, can't you see Sedena isn't her type?" asked Stone in mock accusation. Niuon laughed at that.
"You're both sick," Asora said.
"Should we take chill pills?" asked Stone. Niuon snorted.
"That phrase is so lame," he said.
"You're lame," Stone retorted in mock childishness.
"Whatever you say," Niuon replied, smirking. Later that night, after dinner was finished, Niuon quietly slid under the covers of the borrowed bed. He slipped his arms around Asora's bare waste, and she held his hands. She made a small hum as he pressed his front to her back and made a small tickling to the back of her neck by wiggling his mandibles. She giggled softly and reached her arms over her shoulder and stroking his neck in return.
"Hey, wait. We promised Stone no naughty stuff in his bed," she said, purposely stalling and leaving Niuon out to dry temporarily. He snorted.
"We're not doing 'naughty stuff'," he said in annoyance. Asora was always amused whenever he got whiny when he didn't get his way with her.
"Our hormones might get the best of us," she replied.
"You say that every time," he said in sulkiness. Asora giggled and rolled over to face him, then they touched mandibles, and their tongues. She then made a small bite on his cheek and slipped her tongue over the surface of his cheek, and he chuckled softly but deeply as he held her tighter to himself. Both were interrupted as Lirui began to cry.
"Mm, I'll get this one," said Asora as she got up to tend to the baby.
"I almost had you," he said, propping himself up with his elbow and resting his head on his hand.
"In your dreams, I'm the one that gets you."
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Stone was quickly pulled out of sleep by the baby crying.
"Aw man," he muttered, but smiled despite himself. The kid was such a cute guy, and he chuckled as he remembered Asora going overboard. He could only imagine the ball they would have at O'Leary's on new years' eve. But he wondered, why would Sedena volunteer to watch a baby...he figured it was for the best though. He didn't want Sedena, or Zuli likewise, to see him in a drunken state. He then bit his lip. He shouldn't be getting drunk. But the party loving side of him said,
If Sedena can face up to Flood, Brutes, and psycho army teachers then she can take seeing me passed out. She wouldn't really witness my drunkenness...it might teach her a thing about hangovers, seeing me, and Niuon and N'tho in our states. He knew Rose and Asora wouldn't get drunk. Someone had to be the designated grown-up, and women always made more sense than men...nah, they liked saying "Told you so" to the guys in the morning, and then gloating of all the crazy things they couldn't remember doing. Stone sighed. Either way, this was going to be an awesome week, and he was excited to bring Sedena to Sangheilios too. He knew that deep in her hearts, she would return...and he knew deep in his heart, with some sorrow, he would have to let her go her own way. But that was years from now. He would enjoy his time with her now.