lucetilogs | A short time ago, in a farm-house not so far away...

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A short time ago, in a farm-house not so far away...

Who: The Skywalker Family, immediate and extended and any close friends.
What: An evening with the family
When: August 4th
Where: Skywalker Ranch...or...something
Summary: Luke and Ami bring everyone over for a Sunday thing.
Rating: H is for Heartwarming

It's a bit of a monthly tradition, and has been for some time. The first Sunday of every month is the day the entire family gets together for an afternoon and has a nice dinner. Some might call the family a bit old fashioned, but it's just something that they do and have for as long as any of them can recall. It's never a fancy thing, but then does it really need to be? It's about the warm, fuzzy feeling of being surrounded by relatives and friends, sitting out on the porch and watching fireflies, and relaxing.

Food's been left to the people who can actually cook, because let's face it: Luke takes after his mother and Grandma Padme was not known for her fried chicken. But there's plenty of it. Chairs are set up on the large back porch so the weather can be enjoyed and tea along with a cooler of glass-bottled Coca-Colas, a bit of a splurge for the end of summer.

Everything's set to be a fairly nice afternoon and evening, provided the mosquitoes aren't too bad anyway.

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Trisha is, of course, one of the people who helps with the cooking. She handles the cooking at the Elric household usually, and these family get-togethers are nice partly because she doesn't need to handle most or all of it on her own, but also because she just gets to see everyone. Regardless of what's going on in Luceti with the strike and everything, they can still manage to all get together and have a nice family meal.

Even extended the family isn't that big; just Trisha and her brothers, and Luke and Trisha's families, and Ami's sister. Enough that it feels close even with friends dropping by. Being on the ranch is nostalgic, as well. It brings back countless memories of childhood, and countless family dinners...

Trisha can be found in the kitchen, setting the table, or sitting on the back porch chatting away or willing to chat. She's dressed nice-casual for the occasion, in a blue polka-dot dress with her hair tied back loosely, and seems happy overall.

For all her usual outgoing personality, Arya tends to enjoy just sitting with the family during these dinners, listening to the conversation and absorbing any news that might be shared. She'll speak up if someone talks to her, of course, but as far as she's concerned, dinner is for listening while she eats. She loves to hear her family's stories.

It's almost enough to distract from the fact that she's occasionally slipping scraps to her dog Mycah under the table. Almost.

Once the dishes are cleared, it's time for catching some fireflies in a jar. Because why not?

If someone had gotten Ami to sit down and answer absolutely truthfully, and asked her what she wanted her life to be...

It'd look a lot like this. These moments of having her family around (she's been more than willing to adopt Luke's as part of her own) are what she lives for. So she's quite happy as she bustles about the kitchen with Trisha, handing over things Trisha needs for her dish and occasionally grabbing a spoon or bowl or some spices she needs herself.

"It feels as though it's been awhile since everyone got together," she says, which is a little weird since it does happen regularly; but that's Ami for you: always eager for more time with her relatives, especially the whole group of them at once. "I'm glad you were all able to come."

Arya's a little like Ami in that, which is quite possibly why Ami occasionally tries to draw her out more, asking questions about her day and about school especially. She isn't willing to let her daughter become - or feel - lost in the shuffle.

Today is no different, with Ami directing a few remarks specifically Arya's way, and a few innocent reminders that dogs aren't meant to digest human food (so please stop feeding him, Arya, you know better). Once the meal is over and cleaned away and dark starts to fall, though, she holds up a jar, carefully punched with holes across the lid. She smiles.

"Shall we go outside together?"

"It does, doesn't it? I think because there's been less time to visit inbetween Sunday meet-ups this month, what with everything going on..." Trisha sighed, but she was smiling. Business was...well, it was business. But with the strike worrying everyone and tensions increasing, it was starting to get a bit worrying.

And then there were things like the school dance, and Edward's interest in chemistry (which would worry her less if it involved less explosions, really) and that sort of thing, and...well, it left them a little out of time for visiting, in the end.

Or at least made the time between visits seem a lot longer, stretched by everything going on inbetween. "And I'm glad we were able to come, too - though of course we wouldn't have missed it for the world. Daisy managed to make it, too, right? I'll be glad to see her again."

The Mizuno mansion was massive. Every roof had to be at least three meters tall even for the bathrooms and service areas. Which is why when Daisy sits upon her chair on a worn house she has already turned familiar with, she cannot always shake off the feeling she wishes there was a silent Air-Conditioning system and a height that would not make her fear she would hit the roof if she so much as sneezed.

She doesn't cook -supposedly, that task was laid for the chefs and lower classes, and she could damage her fingers if she tried-, but she still looks at her friends and family as they cook, still eager to see. The banquets in the palace were intrincate, elaborate, and huge, but they were meant to be measured for her diet.

In here? It felt a little more pure. There was something comforting in simply a beef stew with everyone, without as much fear of following social norms around aristocrats.

Even then, despite her being forbidden from cooking by her parents, she still chooses to help out by picking up something on the shelves above for the rest, as she watches and smells the meal. Again, something else she didn't get to do much at their mansion.

Ami was worried, too - more, as usual, than she liked to let on. She knew perfectly well Luke's views about the strikes, and she shared them; but she also knew it all meant risk and hardship for many of the villagers.

She was relieved not to truly have to answer to that, and focus on Daisy instead. She nodded quickly. "Mm. She'll be here in just a little while, I think."

Daisy wouldn't let her down by not showing up, she was sure. If she ended up being late, Ami would find out what happened. But for now, she was going to tell herself that Daisy would be here on time, that it was still early yet, that there was no need to worry or wonder about whether she'd been able to slip away for a few hours with her black sheep sister.

"That's good - it's always lovely to see her. And I'm sure that Arya will be pleased to see her Aunt again. Her other aunt, that is." Trisha has to laugh, because...well, she does fit that description, too, doesn't she? "Chouji and Artemis might be a bit preoccupied, with the dance tonight. My, I can't believe they're nearly out of high school! Time really does fly, doesn't it?"

And if she did the math she'd have a headache, but thankfully it doesn't even occur to Trisha to try. She just has memories of all the years of her younger brother and daughter growing up, and of how much time has passed since they were born...

"I suppose I'll have to leave the PTA when that happens."

Ami remembered that house very well. She remembered looking at the shiny marble tiled floors, hiding behind the furniture they were only allowed to sit on when there was company, or quietly filing into Mama's room where they could see her jewelry collection. There was never any shortage of any comfort or convenience money could buy. There never needed to be.

It wasn't easy for a girl used to that, to having everything she could want at her fingertips, to be suddenly out on her own, earning her way for herself, working hard. But she found this house comfortable, cozy, and loving. The Mizuno house had been loving, but it had rarely been comfortable or cozy.

She made sure to be the first to greet Daisy. "I'm so glad you've come," she murmured properly. And to emphasize that Daisy was welcomed here, she was glad she could truthfully play the amicable hostess and say, "Luke's sister was also asking about you and hoping to see you."

"It's hard to believe," Ami agreed. Somehow her mind didn't dwell on the questions of just what had happened in those years, aside from a few memories clear enough to seem real. She certainly remembered giving birth to her child. She had tried her best to bear it calmly and quietly, but she had been thankful for the painkillers and for the doctors. And she hadn't been nearly as quiet as she'd intended to be, which had resulted in deeply apologetic thank-you gifts to the people who'd attended the birth.

"The PTA will be losing a very valuable member when you stop," she said, a tacit compliment to Trisha's way of always seeming to be capably in charge of the type of school activities the PTA tended to chair.

"But gaining others; by that time Arya ought to be in high school." That sounds about right, at least...But turning aside from that topic as she added some more spice to the dinner-in-preparation, Trisha turned to look at her sister-in-law, smiling. "And how have you and Luke been, Ami? Anything new to report about the farm, or my brother?"

Ami takes a few moments to be sure some of her sister's favorite foods will be ready to go out as appetizers by the time Daisy arrives. She glances up from the plate at that question.

"We've been well," she says, which is true enough, but the superficial answer. The less superficial one would talk about the strike, but she was avoiding that. "There isn't any new news."

A doctor, at least, was a profession not jeopardized by the turmoil. People would always need doctors.

"I'm a little jealous of all the children in town," she admits pleasantly, "with Homecoming."

Luke definitely felt lucky, surrounded by friends and family. It's a little strange to be the patriarch of his own little clan, yes, but it is what he's always felt he wanted. A loving wife and a wonderful, rambunctious daughter, a sister with the patience of a saint and a brother too? And food, too. What more could a guy ask for?

During the dinners he makes it a point to spend a little time talking to everyone, because that was the reason behind all of this, wasn't it?

He can be found pretty much anywhere except the kitchen...because he's been barred from "helping" by the rest after the great turkey fiasco. Grab him on the porch with the others, setting up the table, outside playing catch, or anywhere in between.

Chouji always likes having both of his siblings around for the day. He sees plenty of Luke, but never quite as much of his sister. So when he finds her working in the kitchen, Chouji grins.

"Hey, Trish! Are you all set in here, or would you like another hand or two?" Chouji is in comfortable clothes he doesn't mind getting a little bit dirty. Upstairs, his clothes for the dance are laid across the bed, but for now, he can focus on his family. And of all the ways for a family to gather, meals are always Chouji's favorite.

Speaking of catch, Chouji calls out his brother's name to get Luke's attention before launching a football in his direction. He doesn't do much throwing in football games or practice. He rarely touches a ball, in fact, always better at blocks or tackles than handling it.

It's still a comfortable way to pass the time, though, especially when he and Luke have the chance to play together.

Arya beams at the sight of the jar. Hunting down fireflies with her parents is always more fun than going out with just Mycah, and knowing that her mother got the holes punched into the lid already just makes it even better. She nods.

"Yeah, let's go! There's a lot of lightning bugs out there already."

It might not be fully dark yet, but she still spotted quite a few little winking lights out over the fields.

Trisha has no desire to segue into the strike, either - not on such a pleasant day, spending what's meant to be a happy family get together with one another. Perhaps the boys will discuss it later on the porch, but...Trisha doubts that, all things considered. It's not the sort of atmosphere for that sort of thing.

The store is a bit more precarious; people would always need food and the like, yes, but if more and more of them couldn't afford it...

"Oh, me too. It takes me back to my school days...Artemis is even going, did I tell you? With that nice young Virgil boy. I'll have to get pictures - and I'll bring them to the next dinner, of course." Taking family pictures was pretty much one of Trisha's biggest hobbies. As long as there were smiling photographs of all of them together, she didn't mind what happened. That would be enough, wouldn't it? "And Hohenheim signed up to chaperone."

"If you don't mind peeling a few potatoes, I could use another hand. After that, I think we're just about set." Trisha greets her younger brother with an open smile, moving aside to clear some counter space for him. Said potatoes are a small pile near the stove, with a cutting board and peeler at the ready. Trisha herself is still stirring various pots and pans on the stove, sorting things out.

"How was school today? Learn anything exciting?" It's always strange to think of Chouji still in school; she and Luke were older when he was born, a surprise addition to the family, and it's always made Trisha a little more likely to dote on her younger brother, taking an active interest in his life.

Nodding, Chouji starts in on the potatoes immediately, moving to the counter she's cleared. "Anything to throw on the grill today, or are we sticking to the kitchen today?" The weather is nice, either way.

...And Chouji makes the usual face that comes with questions about his classwork. He sometimes feels a little bad he hasn't done better in school over the years, but at least he's made more of an effort lately. "School's going alright so far. I like my history teacher, at least." He ducks his head, knowing Trisha is involved enough to realize that said teacher is also football coach and father to Chouji's girlfriend. He'd better like Coach Rogers. Things would be a lot more complicated otherwise.

"All in the kitchen today, unless someone suddenly gets a craving for something grilled...in that case, I suppose we'd try to accommodate, of course. We are eating outside, however. It's too nice to stay cooped up, don't you think?" Besides, Luke had already set up chairs out there and everything. It's be a shame to let that hard work go to waste.

Trisha has to bite back a laugh at that expression. She admittedly was only average in her school years, as well, despite being friends with a number of prodigies. After high school, she'd planned to work on the farm until marriage - and that had been exactly how things had gone. She gave credit to Hohenheim entirely for Edward's rather precocious intelligence. "Well, that's good. Does that mean football is going well, too...?

Ami's had to cut her fees, but that's better than letting people go without the medical care they need. If implementing a sliding fee scale is what it takes, then that's what she'll do so that no one's pride is injured by accepting the help, either.

"I'll look forward to seeing those pictures," is what she tells Trisha, and of course it's entirely true. Ami keeps a collection of family photos herself, and it's the one personal touch in her office. Besides, she never minds encouraging Trisha to talk about her own branch of the family.

"Will you chaperone, too?"

"Do you know how fireflies began to glow?" Ami asks as she ushers her daughter outdoors. It's the preface to an old myth about the princess of fireflies from the south side of a castle moat and her prince from the north side; somehow Ami always seems to be telling Arya myths and fairy tales.

"It's a very cute story, but sometimes sad," she cautioned.

"I don't care if it's kind of sad," Arya said stubbornly. "I still want to hear it."

Cute but sad probably means it's some kind of lovey-dovey story, and she is solidly convinced that those are just pure fairy tale. Not that she doesn't enjoy hearing them; she just highly doubts that any of it is true.

But still, she walks along beside her mother, her dog tailing along behind her as always. The air is warm, but not too warm. This is how summer should always be.

Oh, of course they're pure fairy tale. What else could they possibly be? Ami's always encouraged flights of fancy and imagination, but she's always tried to draw the line between that and reality very firmly. If certain myths seem to tug at her, if certain stories feel oddly familiar, it's easy to tell herself it only means they touch her feelings somehow, and she's never considered it more deeply than that.

This story isn't one of those anyway, just a little tale about a firefly princess.

"One day, it was decided the Princess Hotaru of the fireflies at the south side of the castle moat should find a husband. This shouldn't have been very difficult, since she was very beautiful and bright and attracted many suitors. None of them touched her heart, however. Finally, she decided she would set them a task, and whoever could achieve it would be her groom."

Chouji laughs. "Well, I frequently do, but I think I'm fine with what's being made already. It all smells wonderful."

Nodding, Chouji tells her what she already knows, "That's always come easier than classwork, Trish. I've been a little more focused on football lately than class, too." Football and work on the farm just hold his interest better. As for what else he's been focused on, a very slight blush is the only hint Trisha gets about that at this point. He's looking forward to taking Prim to the dance tonight.

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A short time ago, in a farm-house not so far away...

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man this brings back memories of fireflies at my grandparents' growing up. <3

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