Her brows went up, as if Kori's words had been an actual warning. She managed that expression for a few seconds before her smile broke through. Truth was, since they'd reconnected, Kori was one of the few adults left in the world who could actually force Leah to do something. Of course, if it was something she didn't want to do, she'd bitch about it. But she'd still do it. “My little sister. So manipulative,” she remarked, rolling her eyes.
“Well, you're just gonna have to settle with the mental image because pictures aren't gonna happen,” she replied, her tone clearly tacking on a 'so there'. Leah scoffed when Kori referred to Brandon as scary. “Maybe dressed in drag he's scary. Everyday old Brandon isn't scary at all.” While it was meant as a joke, it was also somewhat untrue. Brandon could be scary. All the Stones had seen him at his worst. It was a different kind of scary, though, because they were family. “But if he did develop perma-scowl, we'd have to force him to wear a mask – of our choosing - so he didn't scare Baby or Mari. That'd be the only fun part about him being the only scary one in the family.”
She watched Kori's face twitch as she tried to maintain an annoyed expression, inwardly counting how many seconds her sister could hold the look. She smirked when it faltered. “In my head, I see you both making with the maniacal five-year-old giggles. It's hilarious. I'm cracking up laughing at it.” She wasn't, though she did find it funny. It was nice being in happy, teasing moods for a change.
Rocking her head from side to side as if weighing the options, Leah gave a nod. “True. Although it wouldn't take much to overshadow me.” Unless she was in one of her unpleasant moods. A social creature, she was not. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “There's always that Infected Awareness idea I suggested. Making him dress up in a costume and put him in front of a group of kids. It'd be both helpful to them and entertaining for us.”
Leah held up a finger to make a correction. “Twenty-nine. We'll be celebrating twenty-nine. I think Lilah and I are allowed a little immaturity on that day.” Being another year older was being another year older, in her opinion. She didn't know for sure about Lilah, but Leah didn't feel like she was thirty. To her it was a good thing, although she understood why people rolled their eyes whenever she or Lilah denied their real age. “I imagine Mari will have more fun than anyone that day, anyway.” The girl loved making a big deal about everyone's birthday.
She snorted. “Or if you're a pain-in-the-ass family member who wants to advertize the advanced age.” Not that she was calling thirty-one advanced, but people were still fondly teased for turning the big five-oh and whatnot. “If Kaija does say anything, she'll be getting the ugliest present I can find for her birthday this year.”