Audience

Date/Timing: 9 January 2019, ~10pm; ~1pm in Koffiefontein
Setting: Pietr's suite, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Pietr stares blindly at his tablet. 
Taps his ring against his mug. 
Sets the coffee down, scrubs both hands over his face.
Mobile vibrates in his pocket.
not_a_monkey: Lightcap wants to know how youre doing
not_a_monkey: Are you doing well?
Sighs, still smiles.
p_a_vos: Yep!
p_a_vos: Since we lasted talked, I made it 2 my room
A beat.
not_a_monkey: Right
not_a_monkey: Sorry
p_a_vos: Its ok :) 
Sighs.
Drops the mobile on the worktop, leans back in his chair, stretches his arms over his head.
Mobile vibrates{ in his pocket}.
AGNIS: Princess Elize summons you to a royal audience, Sir Pietr.
Pietr smooches his mobile, tosses it aside, dives for the tablet, fumbles it awake. 
Drums his heels against the floor, frowning at the little spinny wheel. A blink and—
.::::Pappa!:::: cheers Elize.
Next to her, Izzy waves both hands and makes a happy face.
Griet ducks into the frame, grins, vanishes.
.::Princess!:: cheers Pietr. ::Izzy!::
Elize and Izzy glow at the camera.
.::What did you two do today?::
.::::We got presents!::::
.::Presents? From who?::
.::::Lace Twins!::::
Pietr grins. ::Can I see?::
Elize nods, slides off Griet's lap, and shoots off-screen.
.::Did you paint today, Izzy?::
Izzy bobs his head, makes grabby hands for something on his left.
Griet's hand pulls a sheet of paper into his grasp.
Izzy shows off a painting, swirls of crimson and royal and marigold.
Pietr grins so widely his cheeks hurt. ::Wow! What colours! And a /perfect circle, too!::
Izzy beams, sets the painting down, signs slowly, ::::By myself.::::
.::You're an artist!::
Izzy puffs up. ::::Make you one!::::
.::I'd /love it! I'll hang it up where everyone can see it!::
Izzy looks like he might explode from pride and happiness.
Pietr blinks rapidly.
Elize returns, clutching an armload of fluffy cloth in bright colours.
.::::See! Presents!::::
.::I /do see!:: Smiles. ::Which are your favourites?::
Elize paws through the pile—
Izzy joins the hunt.
—holds up a sun-dress in day-glo orange wound with layers of yellow lace. ““This one!”” 
.::That's gorgeous!::
Elize scrunches her face.
.::That's very, very pretty.:: Slowly, ::Gorgeous.::
Elize nods understanding.
Izzy waves a dress in a rather sedate—for the Costas, at least—fuchsia. ““This one!””
.::Beautiful! You two will be so /pretty!::
Elize and Izzy beam.
.::::What did you do today, Pappa?:::: asks Elize.
.::I played with a dog, ate blue doughnuts for breakfast—::
Elize twists around to Griet, says something.
.::::You can't have doughnuts for breakfast because the sugar makes you too fast for me,:::: replies Griet. ::::I'm sure Pappa only eats like this once in a while.::::
Elize turns back.
Pietr nods contritely. ::It was a goodbye party for some new friends. I usually have porridge.::
Izzy makes a face.
.::Don't like porridge?::
.::::Icky,:::: Izzy declares.
.::What do you like for breakfast?::
.::::Toast!::::
.::I like toast, too.::
Izzy smiles, relieved.
Pietr smiles back.
.::::When're you coming home, Pappa?:::: asks Elize.
.::Twenty-three days from now.:: Bounces a little. ::I can hardly wait!::
.::::Me too me too!::::
Izzy claps.
.::::I miss you,:::: says Elize.
.::I miss you both /so much.:: Wipes his eyes on his shoulder. ::But we'll talk every day like this.::
Izzy and Elize nod enthusiastically.
.::Cool!:: Pietr grins at the webcam. ::What else did you do today?::
Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:AGNIS
Category:AGNIS (ficlet)
Category:Elize
Category:Elize (ficlet)
Category:Izzy
Category:Izzy (ficlet)
Category:Griet
Category:Griet (ficlet)
Category:Pietr is a dad
Category:Costa twins (mention)
Category:Max (mention)
Category:Team DriftSci (mention)
Category:Chuck D
Category:Chuck D (ficlet)
Category:Caitlin (mention)
Category:Conversations via video
Category:Conversations via SMS
Category:Ficlets with comments
Category:Ficlets with images