Engine Noise

Date/Timing: fairly soon after "'napped"
Setting: Chantell's office; Vaucluse, Australia
.
Pietr perches on the visitor's chair beside Telly's desk, looking frustrated, and jabbing at his mobile.
- Ttly normal -
- Alwys happens -
"You have to admit it's odd."
He rolls his eyes.
- Not for me -
"Even so, you're the first one I've ever met, so I /really want to have you checked out, make sure it's not—"
- Lightcap sed nrml! -
"Pietr, what's the harm in a second opinion?"
He brightens, checks his watch—
"What're—" But he isn't looking and he can't hear her, so.
—pokes his mobile, whistles?—whistles into it, and stuffs it in Telly's hand.
She makes a face at him.
He smiles reassuringly.
She puts the mobile to her ear, says, "Uh, hello?"
""Hello. Who's this?"" replies a feminine voice.
"I'm Chantell Nguyen, she-her-hers, Marshal Nguyen's personal assistant." Realizes. "Mrs Vos?"
""'Griet', please, Ms Nguyen. 'Mrs Vos' is Pietr's grandmother.""
"Sure. Thanks. You can call me 'Chantell', too."
""How can I help you, Chantell?""
"I have a question about Pietr?"
""Yes?""
A small child shrieks happily in the background.
Griet muffles the microphone, gently scolds in an unfamiliar language.
A beat.
""I'm sorry—""
"No problem~."
""—what would you like to know?""
"Well, um, is it normal for Pietr to fall asleep in cars? Like, as soon as the engine starts?"
Griet laughs. ""Oh my god, yes! He's /always done that."" Snorks. ""Being inside anything with a running engine puts him to /straight to sleep.""
Telly's shoulders release tension. "That's /such a relief! We were starting to worry it was a sign of something new and bad."
Pietr pokes her knee, says, 'Told you so' with an eyebrow.
Telly sticks out her tongue.
Pietr replies in kind.
""It's a Vos thing. They all do it as kids, but some of them—like Pietr—never grow out of it."" 
"It's genetic?" giggles Telly.
""Seems that way,"" drawls Griet, then she snickers. ""Princess and Izzy still are, too. Would you like me to send you a picture of the three of them?""
"Ohmigosh I would /love that!" 
Pietr raises an eyebrow.
Telly waves, 'nothing'.
Small clicks.
""Have Pietr check his email on another machine.""
"On it!" Taps open the app on her tablet, passes it to Pietr, signals him to login.
He queries, but does and hands the tablet back.
Telly pokes open the first message, squees, "That's /adorable!"
""What about my babies and my husband /isn't adorable?""
"The babies are /perfect. Your husband has this unfortunate habit of /crushing people at Pokémon." Chantell says dryly, leaning back in her chair.
Pietr preens.
Griet laughs. ""You'll get used to it.""
"Never!"
""That's what I said in the beginning, too.""
"Any weaknesses you're willing to share?"
Pietr crosses his arms, loudly projects, 'no fair!'
""Use Chandelure against him.""
Chantell smiles saccharin.
""He still hasn't figured out a good defense that doesn't come back to bite him.""
Telly's grin curls to 'sly'. "Thanks for that. I'll try it next time."
Pietr frowns mightily.
""I'm sorry, but I need to make breakfast for the babies—""
Telly flutters. "Omigod, I'm sorry! Go! Go!"
""Thank you. Give my love to Pietr.""
"Shall do. Thanks so much, Griet!"
""You're welcome.""
A chime.
Telly passes the mobile back to Pietr. "Griet sends her love."
Pietr emits anime hearts.
"She also backed up your story about your sleeping thing—"
He huffs, 'of course'.
"—aaaaand told me how to beat you at Pokémon."
'Prove it,' says his eyebrow.
"After dinner? My quarters?"
- Ill be there -
"You're going down!"
Pietr makes a 'talk talk talk' gesture, stands, smiles, and strolls out.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Conversations via mobiles
Category:Chantell
Category:Chantell's POV
Category:Chantell (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Pietr is a Pokemon Master
Category:Pietr is a dad
Category:Griet
Category:Griet (ficlet)
Category:Griet is a mum
Category:Izzy (mention)
Category:Elize (mention)
Category:Pokemon (reference)
Category:Nguyen (mention)
Category:Pietr sleeping in vehicles
Category:Ficlets with images