There's nothing that grounds Pippa more than having her little routines. A big part of her life, the subject she has made her life's calling has to do with parallel universe theories based on the intricacies of the human mind. A complex blend between metaphysics and neuroscience and most days it's tough to keep her head screwed on straight. If she didn't have a routine down, she would be a lot less sane than she is today.
She runs on a schedule, wake up early to get to university classes and be there ten minutes before class starts in order to have enough time to buy a cheap coffee from the cafeteria. Wednesdays, do fitness with Doran and work on that upper body strength, also stamina training. Friday nights are movies and pizza nights with Coby, they've recently started on campy '90s horror movies. Sundays, time for the weekly Kingston family dinner, which now also includes Heather, Maureen' s girlfriend and Eli, Sam's boyfriend. And on Saturday afternoons she meets up with her older brother Sam.
It started out with Sam asking her to meet up the day before family dinner to tell her he was bringing Eli to dinner the next day because they were finally officially dating. And he could really use someone already in the know at the dinner table who could diffuse awkward conversations.
Then Pippa had done the same but with announcing to their parents that she wanted to live on her own, closer to campus.
And now it's become another part of her routine. Where they meet up depends on the season and the weather. As it is now the middle of summer, their venue of choice is the bar in Arden Park, which allows them to sit back and sink their feet into the grass while enjoying a cool and refreshing cocktail, or iced tea whichever they prefer at the time.
The bar is crowded as is only expected with the hot temperatures, and Pippa and Sam find themselves a nice spot in the shade. It's not the most private place, but as the two most shameless members of the Kingston family it doesn't prove as much of an issue.
They are very much creatures of habit, so their conversations always start the same way.
SAM
How's uni?
PIPPA
Tiring. How's school?
SAM
The same. Way too many assignments.
PIPPA
Ugh, good luck with that. And Eli?
SAM
He's good. How's Doran?
PIPPA
Getting better every week. Building up that upper body strength.
With that out of the way, they can start on the actual conversation, and it seems Sam has something he's dying to talk about.
SAM
Speaking of upper body strength... is Eli fit?
PIPPA
Er, he's your boyfriend, I guess you should know that yourself.
If Sam could, he would've rolled his eyes, instead he shakes his head with a snort.
SAM
Yeah, trust me, I know he has biceps for days.
Pippa groans,
PIPPA
Sam, no one says that anymore. Wait, I don't even know if that was ever a thing people said.
SAM
Yeah, yeah, my lingo is old and outdated. We've been over this, Pipsqueak.
They have, many times in fact, but that isn't going to stop Pippa from teasing him when the occasion arises. And when Sam retaliates with one of his lovely nicknames for her, it is only fair.
SAM
So?
PIPPA
So what?
SAM
Is he fit? Like, in an attractive, “he looks fit”, way?
PIPPA
What does that even mean? Can you be fit and unattractive?
SAM
Of course, if your face is all-
And here Sam pauses to do a weird hand motion waving in front of his own face.
SAM
- ugly and gross, then it doesn't matter how muscular you are, does it?
Pippa takes in a deep breath, and pushes her sunglasses up in her hair, to really look at Sam. His shoulders are a bit hunched and he absentmindedly scratches his cheek.
PIPPA
First of, if you just dared to imply you look ugly I'm gonna need you to stop before I organize the next family intervention.
SAM
There's no n-
PIPPA
And secondly, since when do you give a flying fuck about appearance? Mister "Beauty is subjective and societal norms are a load of crap".
SAM
Well, yeah that's all true, but can't I just be curious? (beat) So, how would you score Eli, objectively?
PIPPA
This is ridiculous, I can't say that because as I've learnt from my older brother, how you perceive someone's appearance is inherently subjective.
SAM
What about Maureen? She- she ought to be a bit more objective about it.
Pippa can barely hold it together and has to stop herself from bursting out laughing.
PIPPA
Because she's gay?
Sam doesn't give a reply, doesn't even crack a smile, he just fidgets with the half-empty glass in his hand. His face turns to the ground, where their feet are resting in the grass. He's never acted like this, so self-conscious and fixated on his own and others's appearances. Something must've happened and Pippa is going to figure out what.
PIPPA
(continuing)
Let me text Maureen to ask her.
And if she texts someone else in the meantime as well, Sam doesn't really have to know.
PIPPA
There, done. (beat) Now spill.
SAM
Spill what, sister?
Oh, he's adding a little humor in now, trying to deflect and act as if nothing is wrong. Pippa isn't falling for it.
PIPPA
What happened, Sam?
SAM
Nothing. It's stupid, really.
PIPPA
Tell me anyway.
SAM
Last Tuesday Eli and I went to the Midsummer festival and because of the heatwave, we just went out wearing tank-tops and shorts. But because Eli's body is like a freaking furnace, he still felt too hot, so I just said, why don't you take your top off. Which he did and- and...
Sam sighs heavily and frown lines settle on his forehead.
SAM
(continuing)
Some woman turned up and started chatting and flirting with him while I was right there.
PIPPA
Surely, Eli blocked her off?
SAM
Yeah, he told her he was with me and when he did I just, I-I just felt this woman freeze up, as if she was thinking, "really, this freak?"
PIPPA
Hey! Don't call yourself a freak. People like her, they're the ugly ones.
SAM
(softly)
It's okay.
PIPPA
No, it's not. You deserve to be happy and I hate that this shit still happens. (beat) Did you talk to Eli about this?
SAM
No, no, I don't want to make him worried or upset.
PIPPA
Sam, he deserves to know what goes on in that head of yours.
SAM
I know, it's just... I've never had problems with this before and it's making me anxious.
PIPPA
All the more reason to talk about it, don't you think?
SAM
I'll think about it.
Pippa knows by now not to push him too much and this is about the best outcome she could hope for. Her phone buzzed a while ago, twice, but she only pulls it out of her jacket pocket now.
PIPPA
I've got a reply from Maureen. Do you still want to know?
SAM
... Yes.
Pippa's eyes scan over the text message and she grins.
PIPPA
She wrote that she doesn't know either and that quantifying the attractiveness of your partner is, in her words, "quite rude".
Sam reclines in the chair and throws his hands up in the air in frustration. Pippa notices the person standing behind Sam and waves at him. Sam doesn't notice, and complains loudly.
SAM
Can't anyone tell me on a scale from 1 to 10 how attractive my boyfriend is?
ELI
He's a ten.
Sam jumps up from his seat in surprise and Eli puts his hands on Sam's shoulders to push him gently back in his chair and leans in to give him a peck on his red cheeks. Sam smiles softly and places his hands on top of Eli's.
ELI
Oh, you were asking about me? Well, I guess I would be around a seven or eight? What do you think, Pippa?
PIPPA
I'm keeping myself out of this one.
SAM
(hissing)
Yet you didn't think to warn me.
Pippa slides her sunglasses back on her nose and completely slips back in her seat.
PIPPA
And ruin the surprise I so carefully and lovingly planned out for you? (beat) Nope, don't think so.
SAM
You're my least favorite sister.
PIPPA
Bastard.
I love you though, you stupid, sensitive, caring, insecure, cool, idiotic twat of an older brother.
