Charles: Charles watched his son wolf down his third bowl of cereal with fond amusement, sipping slowly at his morning tea. This was a rather late start for them, most of the school's residents having long-since breakfasted. He pulled out his mobile as his daughter slipped silently into the kitchen and made a beeline for the bread box. They were cutting it close.
{Text: Theo} We should be set to leave, soon.
{Text: Theo} Can you make it here, or do you need us to come by?
Theo: Theo finished packing the soft-sided cooler containing everyone's lunches (for later in their adventure) and glanced at his phone as it buzzed. Then he shrugged said item over his shoulder and headed for his son's room.
{Text: Charles} We can make it to you, we'll leave in just a few minutes.
"Dev, you all ready to go?" Theo asked as he knocked on Devlin's door and stepped into his son's room.
Devlin: "I can't find my shoe!" Devlin shouted as his papa walked in.
He was only wearing one sock and every pair of shoes he owned had been thrown all over the floor in his search while Ethel watched from the window seat.
"Can Ethel come to the museum too? She'll be quiet!"
Charles: Reading Theo's reply, Charles encouraged his children to finish their breakfasts. Their uncle and cousin would be there shortly and Cynthia's hair was still a mess.
{Text: Theo} See you soon!
Theo: An endeared smile passed over Theo's lips, and he set down the cooler so he could help out his son.
"I'm sorry sweet pea," he said as he walked up to Devlin's bed. He patted the edge, motioning for him to take a seat, "museums don't allow dogs, even ones as smart, and well behaved, as Ethel." Theo retrieved Devlin's sock, handed it to him to put it on, and a moment later he fished the missing shoe out from under Devlin's bed. "Your sneaker, fair prince!" he teased, giving Devlin's side a playful poke. Then he assisted where he could in the last steps of dressing.
Devlin: He frowned as he put on his sock. "Why? Is it because she's big? She won't chew on anything! Right, Ethel?"
The massive dog just stared and rested her head on the nearest stuffed animal. She was the picture of innocence.
Devlin giggled, sticking out his foot so his papa could put his shoe on but insisting on tying it himself. The only thing left, after asking one more time to bring Ethel along, was his jacket.
Theo: "It's because not all dogs are as good as Ethel, and the people that work at the museum don't know which dogs will be good or bad. So they only allow dogs with very special training inside, just to be safe," Theo slipped the shoe onto Devlin's foot, and while he tied it Theo retrieved his jacket.
A chuckle followed Devlin asking about Ethel one more time, but Theo shook his head. Then he grabbed the cooler and offered his hand to his son. "Ready?"
Devlin: Devlin was thoroughly unimpressed with these museum people and their rules and thought they should change them. He'd be sure to tell them when they got to the museum.
"I'm ready!" he exclaimed, taking his Papa's hand. "Bye, Ethel! We'll bring you a present!" Because Daddy always said you had to bring presents when you went on a trip for everyone who didn't get to go.
Theo: Theo nodded as Devlin took his hand.
"We certainly will," he agreed, and a dark smoke began to rise from beneath both of their feet. A visual effect that wasn't necessary to teleporting, but Theo always added it for Devlin's enjoyment. The smoke circled up and around them, Theo closed his eyes, and when they opened the smoke faded, leaving them standing in the entryway of the school.
"Shall we check the kitchen?" Theo asked Devlin as he fished out his phone to text Charles.
{Text: Charles} We're here! Where should we meet you?
Charles/Rory: His mobile buzzed in his pocket, but Charles didn't bother to read the text. He'd felt Theo's and Devlin's presences as soon as they'd arrived. He gave his son a mental nudge and carried on with his task.
Rory's head poked in through the front door just behind them, all smiles to see his cousin. "Hey, Dev! Hey, Uncle Theo!" he greeted, just a hint of his father's accent creeping into his cadence. "Daddy said to tell you he has to get the car. Aaaand did you want some breakfast? We have cereal and muffins and stuff."
Theo: "Hello Rory," Theo smiled to himself as he noticed the shift in Rory's cadence, and he looked down at Devlin as he nodded.
"I think that'd be great, right Dev? I think I'm hungry for a muffin."
Devlin: "Hi Rory! I want a muffin too. Take this first." He reached into his pocket and offered his cousin a smooth gray stone. Remembering this had taken priority over nearly everything else. "I got it from the creek! You can paint it! I got one for Cynthia too."
Another dive into his pocket revealed a similar stone, this one already painted with little starbursts of color. For demonstration.
Rory: Rory's smile was dazzlingly wide. It was the perfect present. "Cool!" He was already thinking of about a million things he could paint on his rock. He was half tempted to ask daddy if they could wait long enough for him to start on it, but he could already guess his answer. Instead, he shoved the rock into his pocket. "Thanks, Dev! Come on, let's get breakfast." Never mind that he'd already eaten. He felt very grown-up being the one to lead Uncle Theo and Devlin to the kitchen, pointing out the basket of assorted muffins on the counter. "What kind do you want?"
Theo: Theo followed along with a smile, letting Rory lead them to the kitchen for some breakfast. Theo picked a chocolate chip muffin for himself and set it to the side. "Rory, where might I find your dad?" he asked and glanced around.
