"Well, you certainly have the most interesting family," Aldrec said, sitting himself atop the porch's wooden railing, "far more interesting than I'd have originally thought. Skori, Sedriil, Noroa, Alaema … I never thought I'd see such diversity in androids. Thankfully, strength lies in diversity."
"Well, I think that Alaema could stand to be a bit less 'diverse,'" Mericlou said, thinking back to her comments during dinner. Her sister's tendency towards blunt questions and statements was always embarrassing, but today it seemed as though she decided to be flat-out rude. "I still can't believe that she toasted to our children before we had dinner."
Aldrec nodded somberly. "Yes, when I saw how Skori reacted, I don't think that even I would want to get on his bad side."
"Well, you have to understand," Mericlou explained, "Skori's the one who has to put up with Alaema most of the time, so he doesn't tolerate her shenanigans very well. Usually, he only has to deal with the times when she and Sedriil butt heads, but today was different."
"Then I guess she doesn't like me," Aldrec said, not seeming to care. "It makes me wish that we could have children together, just to spite-."
He stopped himself, but despite his being too late. Wide eyed, he turned towards Mericlou, with the most sheepish grin on his face she had ever seen.
"We are really putting our feet in our mouths today, aren't we?" Mericlou joked. She forced out a laugh to stem the moment's tension. "But it seems to me like you just put in a shin, knee and half a thigh!"
At this, they both broke into peals of true laughter that took more than a few moments to pass, both grateful that it defused the moment. A long silence passed afterwards as they stared out at the rest of the apartment complex, visible only by way of the street lamps in the moonless twilight. The buildings, beautifully designed by human standards, quaint by elven standards, consisted of flowing archways and spiraling steel railing for the upper floors. Specialized granite and quartz composed the outer walls, and the mixture of minerals in that stone gave off a lovely orange glow in the fast-fading sunlight.
"Days with you are too short," Aldrec said.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, It's nothing," Aldrec replied with a barely audible laugh. "I simply enjoy the time I spend with you, Meri. I really do."
"So do I," Mericlou said. "Sometimes I wish nights like this could last forever."