So it is done

When 'rules' become 'details'

Jonathan arrived home in the evening, when Cinder and Neo were already home. Cinder with a book in her hands, enjoying the biscuits she'd baked earlier, and Neo, having already consumed her portion, and a few more, doing push-ups on her fingers. Not out of any great desire to improve on her previous record, but purely out of boredom. All her friends, or at least the people she usually hangs out with, were away.

Amber had left for Yang's training and Vernal had followed her, not for Yang's sake, though, but for Raven's, and Trifa had been at the ranges for the second week, training, day in and day out.

Cinder didn't want to play cards, and she didn't want to do her homework. Brothers save her from homework, Neo didn't want to do it when her grades mattered, she certainly didn't want to do it when it already no longer matters. So, it was quite the serious matter when she was considering just doing it to have something to do.

She was getting pretty tired of watching films, she hadn't seen anything worth watching on TV or at the box office in a long time anyway. But she forced herself to keep watching the boring shows rather than resorting to doing her homework. It's the principle of it!

So, when the low rumble of an engine stopped outside the house, signalling Jonathan's arrival, both of his adopted daughters looked at the door in anticipation. Cinder in her eternal anticipation of any sight of Jonathan, and Neo in anticipation of any news or business that might distract her from her boredom for a while.

Cinder even set her book aside, putting a bookmark like the nerd that she is. She was one of only two people in Neo's memory that used bookmarks at all, and that's not even include Jonathan. The moment Jonathan's first footsteps sounded in the hallway, with the rustle of a cloak in the hallway, followed by Jonathan's softer footsteps. Judging by the sound, Jonathan had removed his usual work shoes and changed into house slippers first thing upon entering the house.

When he entered the room a moment later, he didn't even put any notice to the fact that Cinder was waiting on him by the door, used to the routine of such events. Instead, he looked at Neo with a mute question, one eyebrow raised. Neo responded by pointing at Cinder, then at herself, then at Jonathan, shrugging, raising an eyebrow, pointing at her watch, and miming a pantomime of a hug.

A set of actions, especially considering the fact that Neo was not fluent in sign language, that would have sent anyone meeting Neo for the first time into a complete stupor... And even with their hundredth meeting, too. For Jonathan, though, the set of strange gestures and actions seemed to automatically translate in his mind into a completely legible sentence.

'Just like Cinder, I decided to wait for you from work, what, am I not your daughter too?'

"Of course you're also my daughter, Neo." Jonathan sighed at the strange question, as he made his way to the couch before falling onto it a little heavier than usual, before smiling slightly as he looked at Neo.

"But if I had to guess the real reason why you're waiting on me... I'd say it's more likely that you were bored and decided to meet me as soon as possible so that I could tell you some interesting news, rumor or otherwise help you have fun. Am I right?

At this accusation slash guess, Neo simply rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. 'Well, you could say that.'

Jonathan only grinned at that answer, not the least bit annoyed either by Neo's motivation or her honesty. While Cinder, casting a disapproving glance at Neo, only rolled her eyes and turned back to Jonathan, proof of how well Neo was actually treated and how close a person Cinder considered her to be. If it had been anyone else in Neo's place who had tried to use Jonathan for entertainment – well, there were fates worse than death in the world.