Thread: More Than Blood [Saria & Banter]

Dietrich's low, bellowing laugh filled the room. This time his smile was genuine as he watched the couple go at it, although his focus was primarily on his brother. Kai's face burned with the flush that filled it and it was amusing to see him thrown off his guard. He had valiantly tried to hide the condoms and magazine from his girlfriend, ultimately failing. A smirk worked it's way into the curl of his mouth as Dieter watched the young couple. Were the two of them not intimate? Could it be his little brother was still virginal? Dietrich watched his brother open the rest of the presents. There was a shock resistant, water proof camera and a pair of shoes from his father, clothes from his mother, and a small plush box from their grandmother. It revealed a gleaming vintage airman's watch with a card explaining how in her old age she couldn't travel, but wished him the best. Dietrich let out a low whistle at the last gift. He recognized it as their grandfather's. He was surprised she had skipped over his father's inheritance, and had instead bestowed it upon the youngest man in the family. His grandmother had always favored Kai Dietrich had always thought it had something to do with him being cuter than Dietrich by far, but now he wondered if the perceptive woman had some other motivation. He often believed her keen eyes saw more than they should. He felt uncomfortable, as if the priceless gift was staring at him, daring him to fuck up, to do wrong. He knew, she knew, he always had the opportunity to wrong an innocent. He knew he fought with tempting demons, and that he, more so than Kai would ever be, could be the smear on the family name. He shifted in his seat. Their mother and father chattered excitedly over the watch. Dietrich turned to his brother. He tipped a finger towards the game Kai held, you know, if you put as much fanaticism into your study as you do those games, you might actually learn something. Hefting the last untouched gift in the pile, an obviously heavy rectangle, Dietrich dropped it in front of his brother, gesturing at him to open it. Within the wrapping were two books the first was an introduction to art history he believed his brother might be interested in, and the second was Noam Chomsky's Interventions. It was reminiscent of the time a young Dietrich had tried to get his younger brother to read Howard Zin with him, arguing, you need to know where you came from to know where you're going to go. You gotta understand why we're where we are. This time Dietrich simply smiled down at his brother, and made no attempt to get him to open the package. He patted the top of the present, you know where you're from, he glanced over at the watch laying atop the silken box, Now it's time to decide where you're going to go, and what you're going to do with yourself, Kai. The room seemed to hush, their parents holding their breath. Dietrich stared down at his brother, before straightening up and turning away to clear his plate. His mother made the suggestion they move out to the living room. Dietrich followed his parents, catching up on family and hometown happenings. They chatted easily, settling onto the couches facing the T.V and game console. Dietrich recounted tales from college and his internship under a professor of physics studying black holes and their effects on time he was soon absorbed in a discussion with his mother about the details of the research, having forgotten for the moment just how uncomfortably pleasurable it was to be near his brother once more.