Chapter Text
Farah Dowling was sitting at the kitchen table, her head badly aching after a night of partying with the gang at Andreas' cottage.
“You can pour now” she said, looking at Sky.
The boy had his fascinated eyes fixed upon the coffee maker. His long blonde hair shined in the morning light.
“It's still going, auntie” he said, with clearly no intention of moving anytime in the near future.
“You are a tiny, cruel little creature” she uttered, rubbing her face. “The spitting image of your father, actually.”
“I know” he replied smugly, his eyes still not leaving the droplets.
Farah raised her eyebrows and after a second she smiled. “Mm.”
She watched Sky while he carfully poured her a cup of coffee. The pot was still a bit too heavy for him, but she knew he'd never admit it. A few moments later he toddled towards her and put the cup on the table with pride, looking expectantly at her.
Farah took a sip.
“Oh- what the hell is this?” she cried, sputtering the coffee back in the cup. “What are you trying to do, poison me? It's hideous” she said, pretending to be outraged. “What did you do, bail it out of the gutter, darling?”
Sky started to giggle.
“Ugh. We need some milk to dilute this catastrophe.”
“Yes, auntie” he answered, still laughing, and went to the get the milk for her.
“All right, what are you two up to?”
Andreas walked into the kitchen, followed by Ben and Saul.
“Your son is trying to kill me with your antique coffee” said Farah, nodding towards the other two.
Ben smiled. “Good morning. How'd you sleep?”
“As if sedated” she said, stifling a yawn.
“First party in a good long while for you, uh. Feeling any better?” asked Saul, grinning.
“Mm. Nothing forces me to embrace my regulated school life under Rosalind like a night on Andreas' polyblend sheets” Farah answered. “He's a prince, he should know better!”
Andreas glared at her. Before he could reply Terra entered, and Ben seized the opportunity.
“Oh, Terra, baby, look at you in your new floreal dress! You look great!”
“Thank you, daddy” she said, climbing the chair next to Farah.
“Hi, auntie.”
“Hi, sweetheart. What's the occasion?”
“Daddy is taking us out for a pic-nic while you patrol. I know it will only be me and Sam and Sky, but I still wanted to look nice. What do you think?” she asked, suddenly anxious. “Am I pretty?”
“Very pretty, darling. But I'm afraid your ensemble is missing something.”
“It is?”
Terra looked worried.
“Mm-hm” whispered Farah in a conspiratorial tone, trying not to laugh. “Linphean braid. Classic component of the perfect pic-nic uniform. Luckily for you, I'm a master. I guarantee you shall be the most glamorous girl to ever go to a pic-nic.”
She turned an excited Terra and started to braid her hair.
“Farah, don't pass to her your fixation for collected hair” said Saul while Ben pushed him away from the hob, far from the pancakes.
“What?” Farah said. “It's lovely. And it's much more comfortable for incantantions. And fighting”, she added defensively.
“Farah, she's five” said Ben. “Don't channel your inner Rosalind this early in the morning, please.”
“Actually, she might have a po-”
Andreas was half way through the sentence when Saul interrupted him: “Well said, Ben! Also, I like Terra's curls!”
"Auntie Farah, why do they call it a linphean braid?” asked the girl, oblivious to the whole discussion.
“Well, because it's mysterious and alluring” said Farah, winking mockingly at Saul.
“Where'd you learn how to do a linphean braid?” inquired Sky, who was looking with interest at the process.
“Why, Linphea, of course” said Farah.
She freed a single lock to frame Terra's face and concluded: “There.”
“Oh, Terra, honey, you look great” said Ben, putting a plate full of steaming pancakes on the table.
Terra beamed.
“Saul, don't you think she looks great?” asked Farah, playful provocation clear in her voice.
“Yes, I'll admit she looks perfect” answered begrudgingly Saul.
“Thank you, uncle Saul” said Terra sweetly. “And thank you so much, auntie” she added, kissing Farah on the cheek.
“You're welcome, sweetie.”
“Aunt Farah, can I have a braid as well?”
“Absolutely not” said Andreas, horrified.
“But dad, auntie said it would be good for fighting!” protested Sky.
Ben, Saul and Farah hid a smile behind their hands.
“It's just because the eyes- and... you're a boy and- you're five years old and-” babbled Andreas.
“You don't need a braid to be a good specialist, Sky” said Farah, gently stroking his hair. “It's just something that works for me. In a few years, when you start your training, you'll be able to tell what is more comfortable for you. And if you still want a braid, I'll be glad to do it for you, all right?”
“Okay, auntie” said Sky, satisfied. “Thank you.”
“And now let's have breakfast, pancakes are getting cold!” said Ben.
“Good idea” grinned Saul, grabbing the plate.
“Saul, leave some of those for the kids.”
“Sorry.”