Adam doesn’t even look up, arms crossed, tone locked and loaded.
Adam: Pop quiz. Your kid asks for a banana. What do you do?
Alastor: Oh, give them a banana.
Adam: If you give them the banana, it will be the wrong banana.
Alastor: *blinks twice* There are multiple incorrect bananas?
Alastor: Then you allow them to select the banana themselves.
Adam: *scoffs* Do you have all day?
Adam: Kids picking their own banana equals a time vortex. You just lost half a day of productivity. You should’ve known that.
Alastor: *eyes narrows, patience thinning* Sure.
Alastor: *exhales, forcing composure* Fine. You peel the banana for them.
Adam: You just peeled it too much. Now it’s broken. You just started a meltdown.
Alastor: *stares, incredulous* A meltdown? Over fruit? What about peeling it just a little bit?
Adam: *crosses his arms like the letter X* BZZZ WRONG! You peel it too much, you’re the bad guy, now the banana is stupid. You just added 20 minutes to the meltdown.
Alastor: *slowly sets his drink down* The banana is… stupid. This is all stupid! …So what, precisely, is the correct answer?
Adam: *smirks confidently* You gotta think like a dad. You offer the banana. They refuse the banana. You threaten to throw the banana away. They scream for the banana. They eat the banana.
Alastor just… looks at him.
Adam: Because that’s parenting..
Alastor: *rolls his eyes* …uh huh, sure…
Evelyn: *toddles to the doorway* Nana!
She’s standing there in her little pajamas, hair slightly messy. Big eyes. Completely serious.
Adam: *without missing a beat, muttering* …Showtime.
Alastor: *quietly, to Adam* If this is a demonstration, I refuse to—
Evelyn: BABA! *points* NANA!
Alastor straightens, instantly composed, slipping back into his usual charm.
Alastor: Watch and learn my dear! I will be doing my own method *crouches slightly, all polished elegance* Of course, my dear. One banana, coming right up—
Adam: *snickers* Good luck.
Alastor turns, plucks a banana from the bowl, and presents it with a flourish.
Evelyn stares at it. Her face scrunches.
Evelyn: No! *pushes it away like it personally offended her*
Adam: *leans against the counter, arms crossed, not even trying to hide it* Wrong banana 🍌 ~
Alastor; *eye twitches* It is… the only banana.
Evelyn: No! *stomps once like a impatient deer*
Alastor: Very well! You may choose your preferred—
Evelyn is already toddling toward the bowl.
She stands there. Stares.
Alastor’s smile is starting to strain.
Adam: *leans into Alastor ear* Time vortex~🎶
Alastor: She is evaluating.
Adam: You just lost ten minutes.
Evelyn: *reaches… hovers… switches… hesitates again*
Alastor: …Any day now, my dear—
Evelyn: No! *turns away from the bananas entirely, as if betrayed by all of them*
Alastor: *freezes*…I beg your pardon little lady?
Adam: *snorts* Keep it up~
Alastor exhales slowly, then tries a new tactic. He picks a banana himself and begins peeling it—carefully, precisely.
Alastor: There. Problem solved.
Evelyn: gasps in horror* BROKE!!
She points at the banana like it’s a crime scene and the meltdown hits. Immediate. Loud.
Alastor stiffens, visibly overwhelmed for the first time.
Adam: And there it is. You peeled it too much.
Alastor: I peeled it correctly!
Adam: Should’ve known that.
Evelyn: *now fully crying, tiny fists clenched, outraged at reality itself*
Alastor: *looks at Adam—actually looks at him—like he’s asking for help without saying it*
Adam: *sighs, pushing off the counter* Move.
Alastor: *hesitates… then does*
Adam: *crouches in front of Evelyn, calm, practiced* Hey. *whistles to get her attention*
Evelyn: *looks over, sniffles, still upset*
Adam: *holding the peeled banana* You want ‘nana?
Adam: *nods, like that makes perfect sense* Okay then~ *stands, picks up the banana… and casually moves toward the trash* Guess I’ll throw it away then ~
Evelyn: NO!! *she runs over and grabs his leg* MINE!!
Adam: *pauses, glances down* You said ‘no’ Evie.
Adam waits one beat. Breaks off a safe bit for her to eat, then hands it over.
She takes it. Sniffles. …And starts eating it like nothing happened.
Then at Evelyn, happily chewing like the past minute never existed.
Alastor: …But why? Why did that work?
Adam: *shrugs, already walking away* That’s just parenting.