"Th...th...thanks." she said. "M...mommy named me that b-because she th-thought I was an angel."
Pita watched her with interest, "Well, you look like an angel." She smiled and looked over at Rika as she came back with the chairs.
"We live on top of a skyscraper. Top two floors. But it doesn't beat fresh air and nature."
Pita nodded, assuming it was a large building. "I've never been in one before.... I don't think...." Pita shrugged and looked out the window watching the trees.
"Up until a few weeks ago, I hadn't even been on a planet before..." She thought out loud to herself.
"Oh." Was all Rika managed to say. She knew how the girl felt...but it wasn't like she could say that with the Navy literally feet away.
"I've spent all my time on planets. Los Angeles, Manhattan...never really been off-planet."
Seraphim, meanwhile, was obviously ekbarassed by Pita's words. She managed a stuttered thanks before scooting her chair closer to Rika to hide her face agsinst Rika's bare shoulder. Rika merely smiled, stroking her "sister's" hair.
"It's alright Sera. No Ned to be nervous."
It took half a minute for Sera to pilull away, her hands on her knees as she focused on a spot of carpet. Her face had turned to a light pink by now as she grew more comfortable.
"Y-you sh-should go t-to LA. The beaches are a-awesome." Was all Sera managed to get out.
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
Lambert nodded. This was a familiar question, one he'd spent a great time mulling over during the past days.
"Well, Jorzza, it's hard. I wish I could do it, I really could. But not only do I feel an obligation to the Navy, but I'm under a pretty ironclad contract still for the rest of the year at a minimum, and the opportunity to slip out of that due to my capture is past.
"And that's not to mention the fact that I really do need the pay and benefits from my commission now. I spent most of the money I had getting this house and property, and while I don't regret it, it doesn't leave me with many options financially.
"But that means that despite my best efforts, I won't be able to be here with Pita all the time, which means she's going to need to get into some kind of school before long."
He paused, glancing out into the living room at Pita, where she was sitting and politely talking to the two girls Alexis had brought with her.
Jorzza looked at where Lambert was looking. It was a couple kids playing. "I get it, But things must look differently for you now. Anyway i'm gonna sit down before this leg cramps up like its usual annoying self." Jorzza said sitting down on a chair then rubbing his robotic prosthesis with his left arm. He looked around and saw other people from his days in the Navy. He looked over to his free right arm which was the robotic arm, he brought the hand up to eye level then watched the fingers move without him commanding them to. 'The shakes' He thought 'Gonna have to get that fixed.'
"I've spent all my time on planets. Los Angeles, Manhattan... never really been off-planet."
Pita nodded, she liked Los Angeles. "Being in space all the time isn't that fun. There's no grass, or trees, or fresh air. Most of the time there isn't any people to be friends with. I think living on a planet is far better."
"Y-you sh-should go t-to LA. The beaches are a-awesome."
"James and... Josie, they took me to a beach there. James is teaching me how to swim."
She grinned and brushed her hair out of her face with her hand. "I need a bit more practice though."
She stopped and thought for a moment "Do you go to school?"
Sera looked away. "Rika's supersmart. She graduated college already. She has a few degrees, so she's homeschooling me along with...mommy...before mommy got depressed." She looked back a bit. "And Rika taught me to swim."
This caused Rika to blush a bit out of embarassment. Sera was really refering to her a lot.
"Sh-she also cooks."
Rika looked even more embarassed. Sera wasn't stopping.
"You...I think she gets the picture Sera..." Rika said softly.
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
Lambert nodded. "Make yourself at home, Jorzza. In fact, have you seen Reginald and Alexis since the... incident? They look a mite lonely over there, maybe I should see if they want to join us."
He waved over the other two officers, and then went to the fridge and grabbed four beers. He set them on the table, and took a seat next to Clark, waiting to see if the other two would come to join them.
Pita grinned "I think that's cool that you can do that..... There's nothing wrong with being smart." She paused for a moment, having a look around the room. The people still made her feel a bit uneasy.
Rika blushed deeply, which caused Seraphim to giggle. Rika composed herself.
"Th-thanks..." she said.
Sera managed a tentative smile and relax just a bit.
__________________________________
Alexis glanced over, and got the hint.
She nudged Reginald.
"Hey. Cold beers, stage right. Shall we?"
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |