Relationship Status: It's Complicated

Family Values

(Art by SerinityAInfernoArt)

"Good morning, my little deviants~" Serinity was fresh and bubbly as the six made their way down the stairs. The smell of food was an alluring call from the moment they woke up. Sega was at the head of the group, but he paused in the doorway, brows raised. "Was this formal dinner table always here?"

Serinity had settled at the head of a table heavy with covered trays of food. Kisho and Khalko sat together on one side and Lada and Johnson were at the opposite end of the table. "I wanted to have a proper breakfast so we could talk. I am the least of your worries, after all."

"Serry," Lada sighed and shook her head. "Come on and sit. You have a busy day and from the looks of it a busy week of parent pleasing to do. Best to start it off right."

"I picked fresh herbs for the meats!" Kisho smiled proudly, as Khalko pat his hand.

"Well this is...charming," Sega had a slight flush to his cheeks as Saalah came up and caught his waist, guiding him from where he had stopped at the foot of the stairs. "I don't think I've had a family breakfast before. Even with my mom we kinda rush out of the house early."

"DaJie makes sure we get a proper start to our day," Bai Yusheng smiled, taking Naki by the shoulders and guiding him to a seat beside Serinity.

Aiden sat by Johnson with Saalah at his other side. "Last time I was here I was spoiled by your cooking, Lada. It smells exactly how I remember."

"Thank you, Aiden." Lada replied, rising so she could remove the lids and set them on a side tray. "Kisho is the recipe guru. I just make sure everything stays on task."

"Like making sure mushroom hunting doesn't start midway through lunch prep," Johnson smiled at the lively young Fae who grinned back without an ounce of bashfulness.

"Our Master Chef may have his quirks, but his food is undeniably addictive. Let's dig in before we chat. There will be plenty of time for that later." Lada sat back down and laid a napkin in her lap as trays began to make their way around for everyone to pull from.

"I'm excited for all of you." Serinity passed the biscuits over to Naki, smiling giddly. "My baby boy is growing up and becoming so bold. He used to be so shy and withdrawn."

"Serinity," Saalah sighed, looking at her with a pleading look. "Let's just eat."

"He's shy until you draw out the horns," Sega chuckled, "then he's all bravado. I sometimes forget that he's broody and quiet. He is so reactive with us."

"What's reactive," Naki asked as he happily accepted a plate of homemade breakfast sausages dousing the air with fragrant herbs. Naki grinned at Kisho, his ears popping out making Kisho laugh. "Is that a proper way to say horny? Oh wait! I just did a pun!"

Bai Yusheng accepted the plate and passed it on, other things caught their eyes. "Baobei, horny is not a word for the breakfast table. It just means the normally reclusive Saalah comes more to life and shows his feelings and reactions with us."

"Yusheng don't aid Serinity in her relentless teasing." Saalah half pouted as a warm stack of pancakes slid into his sight, Kisho pouring him a great river of syrup.

"Surely no one could tease you more than Sega," Aiden chuckled as Johnson plopped him down a nice hunk of ham. "Oh my Gods I won't want to move again until dinner!"

"I'm definitely getting seconds! I am so hungry! I slept all night after lunch? I've never had only one meal a day, I need to make up for lost calories! I need bulk."

Sega had accepted a mimosa and he nearly spit it back into his cup. "Bulk what up! Your big, inflated head! I told you we have to keep the ratio even!"