#elise x bunny 01.

[ofwrxth]

+ BUNNY RUENG HOME, CENTER HILL

"Did you think of any other ideas for dad's birthday?" Elise asks Bunny as she walks into the living room, picking up her phone to check the time.. Their dad was sleeping off his most recent round of treatments and she wasn't sure he'd be up for much, even in a week. Still, she's trying to do better and involve Bunny in some planning. She knows if she moves ahead with her own ideas, without consulting her younger sister, she'd never hear the end of it. Probably something about how controlling she is or how she just wants to overshadow her. Elise has lost track of her sister's gripes against her. "If he's up to it, and if it's nice enough, we can go to the Botanical Gardens? Maybe Bento House for lunch?" @blackheartatl

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Elise is pleasantly surprised by all of Bunny’s planning but saying that would only cause her sister to be offended that she didn’t think so in the first place. But she didn’t. “Oh, that’s a good point. Okay. I can make sure that his favorite movies are available to rent somewhere?” She offers, rather than instructing Bunny to do so and being called bossy. “I mean, I think they’re all great ideas,” she reaffirms, catching her sister’s frown and frowning herself in turn. “I just want him to be able to do all of them!” Elise hates feeling like she’s got to defend every word she utters but she’s used to it by now, expecting Bunny to jump to the worst conclusion. “So that’s the only reason I suggest that.”

Their dad is holding steady but still undergoing treatment. She doesn’t want to overwhelm him. The thought makes her sad, thinking of how she and her sisters used to jump on his bed on his birthday, giggling and trying to wake him up. Of course, she realizes now he’d probably been awake the entire time as Eden led her and Bunny to his room with a tray of breakfast. But he let them feel like they were doing something special for him and that had meant the world. “Oh, okay, great. Wow, you’re really on it Bunny. That’s great.” She affirms with a nod before shrugging. “I mean, we can just do separate gifts, that’s fine too.” And it’s easier than Bunny deciding she doesn’t like what Elise already got. Pressing her lips together, she resists the urge to fix her sister with a stare at her question and instead shakes her head. “Actually, I think all your ideas are great,” never mind two were hers, “and I’m sure dad’ll think so too when you tell him you came up with them.” Which she most assuredly would do. 

Bunny was rather pleased with herself, a smug grin on her face at her sister's reaction. Ha, underestimating her ability to organize. That'll teach her. "I thought movie here seemed better, way more comfortable. And it'd be like a surprise too, he thinks the night is ending but it's not." she shrugged. An obvious frown then appeared but Bunny tried to force it into a smile, appearing much sweeter than she actually felt. Of course Elise had to pull the, I'm so kind and considerate card. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you feel is best. Splitting over two days or whatever." Bunny nodded, the smile dropping quickly. "Also, I already got him some gifts but if you wanna say some of yours are from both of us then I won't stop you." she waved a polite hand because she wasn't going to offer some of her gift ideas as a joint one and if they just so happened to get their dad the same thing, then that's Elise's fault. "So did you have any ideas or are we going with all of mine?"

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Elise isn’t expecting Bunny to have actually made a list so when her sister whips out her notebook, she pauses, looking up from her phone. “Oh, you really did,” she notes as Bunny lists off her ideas, choosing to ignore the appropriation of her own. She leans against the arm of the couch, nodding along as Bunny continues. “Breakfast in bed sounds good. Presents early too. We can also spread the out over a few days depending on what we get him,” Elise suggests, thinking that maybe he might get burnt out opening a pile of them. “Just clarifying – movie here or at the Cineplex? Here might be nice so he can pick out his favorite?” Knowing their dad, it’d probably be one of his Thai movies. “That all sounds great,” she encourages before pausing, knowing that her sister might take her next words as a critique. “Maybe we could split the activities between two days? So he’s got plenty of time to rest after them?” She watches her sister, before adding, “or we could just try and see how he feels? And if he’s tired, we can pivot?” It seems like a fair compromise to her. “I’ve got presents covered but if you want to contribute, one of them can just be from you instead of from us?” 

"I did." Bunny answered swiftly, grabbing her bag as if she had been prepared for this question all her life. She was making a point that she was just as organized if not more so than Elise, and more creative and more fun and more excited to do something. She retrieved a little notebook, flipping it open and clearing her throat. "I think we should start with breakfast in bed and then some of his presents. Cologne, some new clothes." she recited, waving her hand to show she wasn't done. "Then he can pick a movie, if he wants or he can like nap or whatever. Then botanical gardens and then Bento House and he can wear his new clothes and then, we will ask DJ or someone to stop by and like do balloons and a nice cake for when we get back." Bunny didn't care that she had stolen two of Elise's ideas and was claiming them as her own, so she smiled sweetly. "Then the rest of his presents like more practical ones which I'm guessing you'll know what he needs."