Enzo's third birthday - family

[a1enzo]

As soon as classes let out on Enzo's birthday, he goes to loiter near the Academy gates. He chats with his fellow cadets and accepts their well-wishes, but his eyes are on the sky, and he grins when he sees Dot's minivan coming in for a landing.

Comments

[nullofscience]

The exosuit of Welman Matrix was tied to the roof of the vehicle, and he was not currently occupying said suit. It would be most uncomfortable if he had been, even for a null. Instead, he was located in a different part of the van: The glove compartment. His reduced size allowed for certain accommodations which were...creative. Thus, opening the glove compartment would reveal a tiny Victorian-style lounge...complete with easy chair, data files for perusing, and an animated fireplace gif. Welman sat with one of his scientific journals in pseudopod, with a pipe in...whatever acts as his mouth...and a small fez on his 'head'. This glove compartment still contained what one places in these spaces, but it was neatly put off to the side. He waited patiently for their landing.

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa is as wedged in between two toddlers as one can be. They're a handful, what with both of them trying to get out of their seats to look around and Ana bouncing between peering out the window and twisting to chatter at her parents, questions coming a mile a minute.

She also has a firm hold on Mairi and is currently easing her back into her seat. "Don't worry, Bob. I got her."

[a1enzo]

From the ground, of course, none of this can be witnessed directly... but the van is wobbling slightly in its descent. One may also hear the sounds of arguing coming from atop the vehicle's roof.

"What are you two doing up there?" Enzo demands as it lands outside the gates.

[command_dot_com]

The two bots strapped to the roof of the van with Welman's exosuit turn towards the front, "HE started it!" "No, you started it!" "No, you." "You did!" "You did!" "No, YOU!"

"BOYS! If you don't stop doing that I will email you back to Mainframe in 32 separate files, bodyguards or not."

The bots share a look before responding to the thread they know full well that Dot will act on if they push this. "Yes sir-mum!"

Whang! ...it doesn't stop Hack from pouldron-punching Slash and whistling innocently.

[nofileext]

Mairi is the first out of the van, making a break for it through the window. "Unca Enzo! Unca Enzo! I made chocolate!"

"Mairi," her father tells her as he follows (more conventionally via the door). "That was supposed to be a surprise. Happy birthday," he adds apologetically.

"He's surprised!"

[a1enzo]

Actually, he's confused. "Thanks, Bob. Chocolate?"

[command_dot_com]

"The labs finally made the breakthrough for making our own chocolate. Not copying, but real creation of it."

Just as good as her own personal stash. And she's cornered the market for Mainframe again in production.

[a1enzo]

"No way! Alphanumeric!"

Mmmmm, chooooocolate.

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa unfolds herself from the car and lifts down Analog, who promptly runs over and attaches herself to Enzo's legs, chattering. The mother follows at a more sedate pace.

"Happy birthday, Sprout," she says, reaching up to ruffle his hair.

[very_anti_virus]

Ana's given just enough time to give her greeting before Matrix comes along to peel her off his copy's leg.

"So. Another week older, eh?"

Enzo gets a one-armed hug across the shoulders.

Because it's more manly and not as mushy as a full hug is.

Matrix has Images To Maintain.

[a1enzo]

Enzo flails at AndrAIa's ruffling hand, then counters the hug with a light punch to the shoulder. Because machismo.

[nullofscience]

Meanwhile, it did NOT take a while for Welman to gain access to his exo-suit. Easily able to go up sheer surfaces as need-be, the null-scientist made his way up to the roof uninhibited, and then when he was amidst the two mook-bots, he said...

"Pause."

...to make them stop for a bit as he entered the suit, and sat up. Then, as he got down from the van roof...

"Resume."

Welman checked the movements of his exo-suit and them proceeded over to give his son a heartfelt dad hug.

"Happy birthday, Enzo."

[a1enzo]

Enzo returns the hug happily. The exo-suit may be a bit unyielding, but it's also uncrushable. "Thanks, Dad."

[command_dot_com]

"Do you want your present first, or dinner first?" Dot smiles, standing up a little on tiptoe to hug her younger brother. "Either way it means everyone has to get back into the car."

[a1enzo]

Enzo considers as he hugs back. "Present," he decides, trying to contain his excitement.

Considering the minivan helps with that. "Man. First time I've ever rode in here with everyone. How bad is it?"

[command_dot_com]

"I haven't had to use the compression feature yet..."

[very_anti_virus]

"I already feel compressed, after being in that minivan," Matrix snarks quietly.

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa, who can hear him just fine, rolls her eyes. "We can't all be giant slabs of man-meat."

[very_anti_virus]

Still quietly: "Yeah, well...



Next time I'm taking the bike."

[command_dot_com]

"Mhmm...alright...everyone back into the van, we've got a specialist to get to."

"OhOH can we visit St. Eizbaht's Home for Distressed Nulls?" Slash pipes up from the roof hopefully.

"After all the partying and gifting and stuff!"

[a1enzo]

"Right! Let's do it!"

Welman's exo-suit is reaffixed to the roof, they all (with some effort) pile back inside, and Enzo directs them on their way to the well-regarded 'specialist' establishment known as Pings and Needles.