she's had the past few days off, which has been a welcome reprieve, but now she's already found herself stir-crazy. and when she finds herself stir-crazy, she makes irrational decisions. like inviting her siblings over for dinner. 

their bickering is incessant and adorable. she'll drink a few glasses of some of the bordeaux she picked up earlier (which is certainly not sweet enough for aaron's childish tastes. she has apple juice in the fridge for him) to help her better enjoy the night.

cassie purrs from her spot on the bar stool and lazily sits up, blinking away sleep. sylvie glances over and says, "let them in please." the espeon gives a biiiiiig stretch and harloomphs as she hits the ground. 

the door opens with a flick of her whiskers and she sits, looking up blankly at rory, before she trots back off to where she came from. 

"just taking the roast out," sylvie calls. "aaron with you?"

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cassie scrambles primly out of the way from aaron's lumbering footsteps and leaps nimbly on the couch where it's safe. her tail flicks crossly; royal purple eyes follow him as he moves about the kitchen. 

sylvie tugs the oven mitts off and tosses them on the counter. with the lechonk roast out of the oven and let to rest, the smell of herbs hanging pleasantly in the air, she can give full attention to her younger siblings. 

"i'm sure he's learned he needs to drain the pasta water out now," she says and lifts up the foil on the bowl. kraft mac and cheese had become kraft mac and cheese soup on more than one occasion. "mm, smells good, aaron."

red eyes glitter with amusement and as she yanks her brother in for a hug, she mouths, be nice, to her sister. 

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her nose wrinkles when she spies the first sign of annoyance on her little sister's face. they've always had a distant relationship; ten years her senior and at a very different stage in her life by the time rory finally grew into a personality of her own. 

but that doesn't mean her arms don't open to envelop her, that she doesn't squeeze her and aaron as hard as she can.

two more wine glasses are sat out on the counter next to the open bottle of red and sylvie ghosts away from them to pour. 

"of course," she says as she holds them both out. "glad you could both find some time. now tell me all about what you've been up to."

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it's a decent bottle - nothing to break the bank over, but it's not swill by any means. in no less words, it's a complete waste on her brother. she has hopes, though not very high, that rory might appreciate it a bit better. it complements the roast quite nicely, she thinks.

"nothing wrong with living with a roommate," she says. she, herself, has always been an introvert with an insufferable desire for her own space. people are just so draining. but for aaron? who shines in the spotlight, who needs attention 24/7 or he starts to wither away?

"wow, six badges. think you'll finish the circuit this year?"

she brightens when rory pipes up about her upcoming graduation. "'course, ror. not gonna miss it for the world. got your cap and gown all set? i can send some stuff if you need."

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her internal timer goes off and while rory prattles about her upcoming achievements, all while pretending that her brother's very presence doesn't irritate her, sylvie turns around and tugs her oven mitts back on. the pan isn't too hot, but no sense burning her fingers - she skirts around her siblings to place the dish on its centerpiece at the table, where a knife already lay ready to cut it. 

the plates have been set, along with their silverware. sylvie's attention slides away from rory; she mhms about the cap and then says, "aaron, could you get everyone a glass of water? and i'll take the pasta, thanks, aaaand we're all set."

she grabs her wine and starts cutting into the roast, giving the two time to sit. 

"well, even if they can't, we'll take pictures for them."

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