Quite a Contrast

Posted on Thu Jan 26th, 2023 @ 10:04am by Ensign George Paxton & Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone

Mission: Character Development
Location: Malone family estate
Timeline: During shore leave
1503 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

"I hope everyone is here," Mason said as his hand rested on the doorknob, "at least my sister's and the children. I can understand the husband's not taking time off to meet with us as I'm pretty much a stranger to most of them." He chuckled wryly. "I'm the wayward one remember, even if I'm not the only fleeter in this house."

He swung the large door open and instantly a teenage white haired and pale skinned girl flew at him, nearly bowling him over. "Pappa!" She called out, using the French word for father rather than English. "You're finally here, and who's this?" She eyed her father's companion, sizing him up.

Mason smiled as he held her tight for a second or two. "This is my partner George Paxton," he introduced his boyfriend. "George, meet my daughter Angelique." He gestured ahead. "I'm sure the others are in there somewhere, or bound to be home soon."

"Hi Angelique," George replied. "It's nice to meet you," he did his best not to stumble upon his words. Meeting new people was never his forte in the social arena. He could keep his cool around those he knew, but first meetings were always a little awkward, especially when he wanted to make a good impression.

Squeezing George's hand in encouragement, he held the both of them close as they entered the big house. "Where's your aunties, Angelique?"

The girl smiled as she hop-skipped ahead in very un-teenager like fashion. "Auntie Miranda is in the yard with Tanya, Danielle said she'd be home later and Anita should be home shortly. SHe said she just needed a few more necessities. Leoni is upstairs with the baby." She looked over her shoulder, sending her long hair flying. "Danielle picked me up from Mars, did you know? And dad said to have fun and be careful, I'm surprised he said that though..you're not as reckless as dad."

"I'm not?" Mason looked sideways at George, blushing slightly at the mention of his ex. "Right... ready to meet the rest George?"

"Yea, I mean, I think so," he replied. "I'm a nervous wreck. I hope they like me."

"Why wouldn't they," Mason chuckled, squeezing his hand encouragingly. "C'mon..." He led George into the house, watching the teenage girl hop-skip ahead and singsong that the long lost brother had arrived. "So much for a quiet entrance huh," he huffed as they walked into a very spaceous living area. It was devoid of life as predicted, but giggles could be heard from the large yard ahead. Just then, slender arms wrapped around him from behind and he gave a yelp of surprise.

A blonde haired woman stepped around her startled brother, a beaming smile on her face. "And here I thought no-one could ever sneak up on you again," she laughed as she offered her hand to George. "And you must be George? I'm Anita, one of Mason's sisters though I'm sure he's bragged all about us by now?"

"Oh, yes, of course. He's...he's told me all about you. He always talks about uh, how wonderful you all are," George slightly stuttered through, but managed. "It's very nice to meet you. You have a lovely home, by the way."

"And you can tell by having only seen the hall and the living room?" Anita cast him a teasing smile as she hooked her arms through both of theirs and dragged them along. "Come on you stragglers, let's see the rest of it. Miranda can wait," she said as she did an about face and led them upstairs, showing George the abundance of rooms and areas which showed this house was very much big enough to accommodate several families.

A dark haired woman with the greenest eyes poked her head around a doorframe. "Mason!" She called out, stepping into the hall while cradling a tiny newborn in her arms. "Meet your nephew Joseph.." without much ado she dumped the infant in his arms, then wrapped her own arms around George, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Welcome," she smiled, "I'm Leoni."

"Oh, uh very nice to meet you. Your son looks adorable. How old is he?" George asked, just trying to piece topics together and not sound like a blubbering idiot.

"Eight weeks," the woman answered, before elbowing her baby brother. "He's cute....he's a keeper, right?"

Mason blushed scarlet at that comment. "I should hope so," he floundered, while still cradling the infant, "wouldn't have brought him otherwise, right?" He turned to George for help. "Right?"

"Uh, right," George said with an awkward smile. "It's very nice to meet you, Joseph," he said looking at the eight week old. George then looked at the rest of the family, bustling about the house. "Is there anything I can help with?" He asked.

"Hell no," Leoni smiled, punching her brother in the arm. "Guests get to sit tight right? Mason here on the other hand will be expected to help with dinner. Now shoo, Miranda's dying to see you." She took the infant back into her arms, then nudged the men towards the large sliding doors that led towards the yard. "Angelique why don't you help me with the baby for a moment?"

The white haired girl hung back, as Mason led George down into the garden. "This house has been in our family for generations," he explained the big mansion. "And all of the family pretty much lives here on and off. Depending on assignments and whatnot, but Miranda as well...family matriarch always resides here. "We all inherited when our parents died, and it'll be handed down to the next generations to live in eventually. It's put down in some document that the house has to stay in the family. Somehow. Weird huh? But... it does give us a place to come together, and to come home to."

"Seems like a pretty nice deal to me," George said. "I don't think everyone would fit in my parent's home. You saw how crowded it was just trying to eat dinner under one roof," he chuckled as they walked through the garden.

"Crazy crowded but all the same very nice. I don't think I've ever seen everyone in the same place here because several of us serve in Starfleet." He took George by the hand as they approached an older looking woman who was obviously his older sister going on the striking resemblance. "Miranda, this is George," he said as they approached, "George, my oldest sister Miranda, the heart and soul of the family." He smiled as he embraced the woman once she'd gotten to her feet.

"Welcome," the woman beamed, switching her attention to George. "So you're the one who made my baby brother's heart skip a few beats? Its nice to see him happy again, it makes us all happy because he did have me worried for a while."

"Mir!" Mason protested feebly, "don't..."

"Oh, well, uhm, I think it's probably the other way around. He had me smitten from the moment we met," George awkwardly chuckled and extended a hand to the woman. "It's very nice to meet you. Mason says you're the 'heart and soul of the family'."

"I suppose I am," Miranda smiled, "so are you two going to stay for a few days? Mase you'd better show him the house then and the guest room? Unless..." She gestured between the two of them. "Are you sharing?"

"I guess," Mason muttered as he started to draw George along again. "Are we?"

"Oh! Uhm, I mean...I don't want to take up any extra room or anything," George's face turned a deep shade of red as he shied away from the question. "Might just be easier if we weren't separated. I mean, if we were together. As in sharing. A room. Yes." He stumbled through the answer.

"Wouldn't want you to get lost in the house either," Mason mumbled in turn, feebly looking for an excuse.

"Oh for crying out loud... you're a couple, of course you should stay together," Miranda cut in, giving them a playful nudge. She brushed the back of her hand across George's cheek. "Honey, there's no reason to be all bashful. Mason knows better and still here he is. It's all new to you two, I get it. Go on, spend time together, just be there for dinner alright?"

George nodded. "Thank you, uhm, again. It's very nice to meet you and I can't wait for dinner."

"Thank heavens they can cook," Mason said, smiling brightly, "because you've tasted mine." He ducked just in time for the swat his oldest sister sent his way and grinned. "Well it's true!" Still laughing, he pulled George away and led him upstairs. "See what I had to endure growing up?" He mock complained as it was very obvious he loved his sisters dearly and very much respected the oldest of them.

"I'm starting to doubt you had to endure much. They seem absolutely lovely." George chuckled.